Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, left, runs past Iowa defensive back Koen Entringer during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. - AP Photo/Jay LaPrete
Week six of the college football season was filled with many surprises. On Oct. 6 the AP Top 25 poll was released with big changes. It was revealed that there are three Big Ten teams in the top four. The three teams are the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes the No. 3 Oregon Ducks and the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions. Here is a look at the three teams and a look forward at their schedule.
No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are 5-0, and it does not look like they are slowing down. They have been the most consistent team in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have been dominating in each game, and it makes sense why they are ranked second in the most recent rankings.
Only one team that Ohio State has faced has scored more than seven points which was against Marshall. At the beginning of the season, there were a couple of slow starts, but since then Ohio State has been dominating.
On Oct. 12, Ohio State will face the Oregon Ducks. The number two and number three teams will result in one falling in the rankings. The Buckeyes also will be facing the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions on Nov. 2. These two games will be changing the AP Top 25 Poll in a big way, and have major playoff implications.
No. 3 Oregon Ducks
Oregon Ducks are ranked third in the most recent AP Top 25 Poll. The Ducks are 5-0, coming from a win against the Michigan State Spartans. The Oregon Ducks have had some defensive issues this year, resulting in some close games. Despite the close games to start the season they still came out on top.
The Ducks seem to be improving each week but they have a very tough matchup in week seven. The Ducks will face the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. If Oregon loses to Ohio State they will fall in the Top 25 Poll. If Ohio State wins, Oregon should not drop too much based on Ohio State being ranked above them but it is still a big game. If Oregon wins, they would likely take Ohio State’s spot at two, or one if something changes with Texas.
Ohio State is the toughest matchup that Oregon has left on the schedule. Every game matters though. As seen in week six, upsets can happen at any moment and no team should ever be taken lightly. The number one team was taken down by an unranked opponent. Oregon will have to take this one week at a time but if they win against Ohio State this will be a big boost to having a high seeding in the college football playoffs this year.
No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions
The number four ranked team is the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State is another 5-0 team coming off of a win against the unranked UCLA Bruins. Penn State has had a couple of close games. The Nittany Lions do have to step up earlier in games. The slow starts are likely what has kept them lower, but with all the upsets and still being undefeated, Penn State has jumped into the top four.
Penn State still has a couple of big tests left this year. On Oct. 12, they will face the USC Trojans. The Trojans are coming off their second loss of the season. They are officially unranked based on the last AP Top 25 Poll. Despite being on rank USC could still put up a fight, especially in the run game. This will be a big test for Penn State, especially having to travel to California.
On Nov. 2, Penn State will have to face the Ohio State Buckeyes. As of now, the Buckeyes are ranked second in the Big Ten, which could change by the time these two teams space. Ohio State and USC are the most difficult opponents that Penn State still has to face. Penn State was a big conversation point with the college football playoff expansion. At number four, the expansion would not have mattered. Now, it will only help them in playoffs if Penn State continues to win.
Other Big Ten Teams in the Top 25
Though the three teams in the top four should be highlighted, other Big Ten teams have made the Top 25 Poll. The Indiana Hoosiers are tied for 18th. The Hoosiers are 6-0, a sleeper team heading into the season.
The Illinois Fighting Illini are number 23. Illinois has one loss this season, which was against Penn State. Illinois still put up a major fight in that game.
The final team is the Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines sustained their second loss of the season and are now 24th. This is not the type of season that Michigan fans are used to, but they are still in the top 25.
Week six of the season demonstrated that no game is an easy win. No matter what a team’s ranking is, it is still a football game at the end of the day. Just because the teams are ranked in the top four now, does not mean they will be the following week.
Having three teams ranked in the top four is great news for the Big Ten conference in the long run. The teams are being dominant, and making the Big Ten a true competitor.
