The Large Ten’s bragging rights over the SEC are well-earned. Whenever you win the final three nationwide championships you get the appropriate to chirp a little bit bit.
Although it’s getting tougher and tougher to see if the Large Ten will have the ability to maintain chirping for a fourth consecutive offseason.
Positive, Ohio State is likely one of the greatest groups within the nation. The No. 5 Buckeyes confirmed it in a straightforward 31-14 win over No. 14 Iowa. No. 6 Indiana doesn’t look as indefatigable because it did a season in the past, nonetheless the Hoosiers are nonetheless actually, actually good.
However after Ohio State and Indiana … who else are you comfy contemplating a nationwide title contender?
The apparent reply is No. 15 Oregon, however the Geese have already got a loss to their identify and, sadly, a query at quarterback after Dante Moore’s concussion. Head accidents are critical and may be finicky. No matter is greatest for Moore’s well being must be the precedence, even when it means an prolonged absence.
Even with Moore at 100% sooner slightly than later, Oregon’s working with out a lot margin for error. A loss at Ohio State on Nov. 7 is about all Oregon can afford to nonetheless comfortably make the playoff.
Behind these three groups, there’s No. 23 UCLA, a feel-good story within the making beneath new head coach Bob Chesney. He led James Madison to the School Soccer Playoff a yr in the past. And simply two ranked groups stay on UCLA’s schedule the remainder of the season.
That previous sentence, nonetheless, is a damning assertion concerning the high quality of the remainder of the convention.
The Large Ten has been a high heavy league in latest seasons and it’s on the danger of tipping over this yr. Michigan and Penn State are each 0-2 after losses to Minnesota and Northwestern, respectively, in Week 5. Illinois, a crew that received 19 video games over the previous two seasons, can be 0-2 and misplaced to Purdue on Saturday. Purdue! The Boilermakers final received a Large Ten recreation in 2023.
Groups like Minnesota, Nebraska and even Wisconsin may flip into shock contenders this season. We’re not going to rule that out. But when we have been making a mixed high 15 between groups from the Large Ten and SEC, we’re unsure we’d have greater than 5 Large Ten groups in that group.
Will that be an issue within the postseason? The Large Ten’s relative lack of depth hasn’t confirmed to be one within the final three years. Nevertheless it additionally could also be shallower than ever in 2026. We went on report with Oregon as our title choose earlier than the season and aren’t able to abandon that alternative simply but. Nevertheless it’s additionally inconceivable to not see how the SEC’s title odds are growing just because the convention has extra groups who may earn the chance to make a deep playoff run.
Listed below are the remainder of this week’s winners and losers.
Winners
Purdue: The Boilermakers lastly have a win over an influence convention crew. Purdue went to Illinois and received 24-17. It was Purdue’s first win over an FBS crew in over a yr and, effectively, simply take a look at how lengthy it had been since Purdue had crushed a Large Ten crew.
PURDUE WINS! 🚂🚂
– First Large Ten win in 1,043 days.
– First highway win in 1,120 days.
– First Large Ten highway win in 1,407 days.
– First win vs. Illinois in 1,099 days.
– First FBS win in 399 days. U
— Cody Nagel (@CodyNagel247) 6
Boilermaker soccer has been within the abyss for a very long time. Purdue remains to be one of many worst packages within the Large Ten, however there are no less than indicators of life now. Illinois, in the meantime, what the heck is occurring?
Northwestern: The primary recreation on the brand-new Ryan Discipline couldn’t have gone a lot better. The Wildcats had Penn State’s run protection in a blender in a 34-13 win over the Nittany Lions to christen the crew’s new stadium. Caleb Komolafe rushed for 188 yards on 25 carries whereas Joseph Simon II had 162 yards and two scores on simply 10 rushes as Northwestern rushed 55 occasions for 413 yards. Penn State, in the meantime, had simply 291 complete yards every week after shedding at house to Wisconsin.
Florida State: This was a rating that appeared like one from the late Nineties or early 2000s for the Seminoles. Nevermind that this iteration of FSU closed as a slight house underdog. Florida State beat Virginia 38-7 as QB Ashton Daniels rushed 17 occasions for 136 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The protection was additionally a terror, as Florida State sacked Virginia QB Beau Pribula 10 occasions. It was a nightmarish recreation for a Virginia offense that had scored no less than 27 factors in every of its first 4 video games of the season.
Pitt: The Panthers shall be ranked within the AP Prime 25 on Sunday after a 35-33 victory over Virginia Tech. Nevertheless, that win did come at a big price. QB Mason Heintschel suffered a torn proper ACL when he was hit whereas sliding and he’ll miss the remainder of the season.
Holden Geriner takes over because the Panthers’ starter and there’s a good likelihood that Pitt can get to 7-0 earlier than enjoying Miami later this month. The Panthers’ subsequent two video games are in opposition to North Carolina and Boston School. And video games in opposition to Georgia Tech, Florida State, Louisville and Cal after that don’t look as daunting as they might have. Pitt could be a formidable ACC contender with a wholesome Heintschel. The potential for an excellent season remains to be there although.
NDSU: Are the Bison actually going to win the Mountain West of their first season on the high degree of faculty soccer? The Bison are actually 5-0 total and 2-0 within the MWC after a 28-0 house win over Wyoming. The Bison are permitting lower than 10 factors per recreation and QB Nathan Hayes added a speeding component Saturday that he hadn’t but supplied. Hayes rushed 10 occasions for 79 yards and two scores.
Losers
Michigan: What’s there to say concerning the Wolverines’ offensive output thus far this season? Title a pessimistic adjective and it applies. Michigan hasn’t scored greater than 19 factors in any of its 4 video games in opposition to opponents who aren’t UTEP and had simply two first-half touchdowns in a 20-14 loss to Minnesota on Saturday. Three second-half turnovers doomed the Wolverines on this one, although these may have been overcome if the Michigan offense may have sniffed the tip zone. The 180 yards Michigan had in opposition to Minnesota is by far a season low.
West Virginia: Mountaineers coach Wealthy Rodriguez was one exasperated man about his protection after WVU’s 45-42 loss at Iowa State.
Iowa State had 29 first downs and 577 yards of offense within the win as operating again Aiden Flora rushed 22 occasions for 212 yards and scored 5 complete touchdowns. The lackluster protection overshadowed West Virginia’s personal offensive effort; West Virginia had 518 complete yards on simply 63 performs. However the Mountaineers additionally fumbled twice within the second half, together with on their remaining drive.
Louisville: Are issues unraveling early for the Cardinals? After shedding on a last-second area aim to Ole Miss in Week 1 after which beating SMU by 10 in Week 3, Louisville has misplaced two straight video games. Saturday, the Cardinals fell 31-28 to NC State as Wolfpack QB CJ Bayley threw for 373 yards and two scores. Louisville QB Lincoln Kienholz is banged up — he took the sector with closely taped ankles and was not the speeding risk that he sometimes is. However Louisville fumbled 3 times to detract from the 213 yards on 17 mixed carries from operating backs Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown.
Western Kentucky: A program that has received no less than eight video games in every of the final 5 seasons now sits at 1-4 after a 34-13 loss at New Mexico State on Friday night time. The Hilltoppers’ solely win thus far this season came visiting Mercyhurst they usually haven’t scored greater than 20 factors in opposition to an FBS opponent throughout the opposite 4 video games. Sure, two of the losses got here at Georgia and at Indiana, however video games at Nevada and New Mexico State are ones that WKU sometimes wins. As an alternative, they have been losses by a mixed 56 factors.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks have performed two SEC house video games. They’ve constructed early two-touchdown leads in each of them. They’ve misplaced each of them. The most recent loss got here Saturday in a 35-34 additional time defeat to No. 24 Kentucky. South Carolina led 17-0 early, earlier than failing to shut out the Gamecocks within the second half after which giving up the game-winning 2-point conversion in additional time. South Carolina is now 0-3 within the SEC a yr after going 1-7 in convention play.