The penultimate Saturday of the Big Ten season carried the weight of inevitability. November 22 was less about surprises than it was about sharpening the edges of what comes next: rivalry week, the conference championship, and the College Football Playoff. The league’s giants held serve, the strivers clung to hope, and the stage was set for the kind of drama that defines late November in college football.
In Columbus, Ohio State looked like a team intent on leaving nothing to chance. The Buckeyes, ranked No. 1, dismantled Rutgers 42–9 in a performance that was as clinical as it was ruthless. Quarterback Julian Sayin directed the offense with poise, spreading the ball to a deep cast of receivers while the ground game churned out steady yardage. The defense, meanwhile, suffocated Rutgers from the opening snap, stifling the offense and forcing punts that kept the Scarlet Knights from ever threatening. It was the kind of win that underscored Ohio State’s identity: efficient, relentless, and undefeated heading into “THE GAME.” Ohio State is undefeated at 11-0, while Rutgers sits at 5-6 as the Scarlet Knights need one more win for bowl game eligibility.
Michigan, their eternal rival, answered in kind. The Wolverines traveled to College Park and, after a shaky first quarter, rolled past Maryland 45–20. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood showed flashes of brilliance, throwing multiple touchdown passes and displaying the composure of a veteran. Running back Bryson Kuzdzal provided balance, pounding out tough yards and breaking free for a long score that broke the game open. Michigan’s defense, though tested early, tightened as the game wore on. With the win, the Wolverines improved to 9–2, ensuring that next week’s clash with Ohio State will carry not only the weight of tradition but the gravity of playoff implications. Maryland fell to 4-7 on the season, and will miss a bowl game after the regular season concludes.
Elsewhere, Iowa survived a scare in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes edged Michigan State 20–17 on a late field goal as time expired, a win that preserved their path to a strong bowl bid. It was not pretty—few Iowa victories are—but it was emblematic of the program’s resilience. Michigan State, already out of bowl contention, nearly spoiled the Hawkeyes’ season, and have to deal with another heartbreaking loss. Iowa is now 7-4 for the season, while Michigan State fell to 3-8, and the Spartans are still seeking their first Big Ten win of the season.
Penn State, under interim coach Terry Smith, fought to keep its season alive. Hosting Nebraska under the lights at Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions handled the Cornhuskers, 37-10. Nebraska is now at 7-4, hoping to regain some positive momentum heading into the final week of the regular season. For Penn State, a program in transition, it was a moment of pride and survival, keeping bowl hopes intact, as the Nittany Lions are now 5-6 on the season.
In Chicago, Northwestern and Minnesota staged a back and forth struggle at Wrigley Field. The Wildcats emerged 38-35, rallying from a 28-13 deficit in the second half. With the win, Northwestern ensured themselves a bowl game, as they now sit at 6-5 on the season. For Minnesota, the frustration of not winning a road game in 2025 manifested itself in the most painful fashion, as Northwestern kicked the winning field goal in the final seconds of the game. Minnesota now sits at 6-5 for the season.
Wisconsin, meanwhile, protected home turf in Madison, dispatching Illinois 27-10. The Badgers leaned on their rushing attack to wear down the Illini, who saw their postseason hopes dim further. It was a workmanlike win, the kind Wisconsin was hoping for from Luke Fickell when Fickell arrived to take over the program. Illinois is now at 7-4, while Wisconsin has improved to 4-7 this season.
Oregon defeated USC 42-27 in Autzen Stadium. The victory by the Ducks may have eliminated the Trojans from any possibility of a College Football Playoff berth, while also ensuring Oregon of a probable home game in the first round. Oregon now sits at 10-1, while USC fell to 8-3, and USC head coach Lincoln Riley is tasked with rallying the Trojans for the final game of the regular season.
Washington had little difficulty with UCLA, defeating the Bruins 48-14. Washington improved to 8-3, while UCLA is now at 3-8, and the glow of the three game winning streak by the Bruins in the middle of the 2025 season is looming more like a distant memory.
Taken together, the day’s results clarified the Big Ten’s hierarchy. Ohio State remains the standard-bearer, a machine rolling toward the playoff. Michigan lurks with renewed confidence, ready to test the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor. Rutgers and Penn State cling to their postseason ambitions, while Northwestern and Iowa remind the league of its depth.
And then there is Indiana, idle but undefeated, waiting in the wings for its first Big Ten title game appearance since 1945. Oregon, too, looms as part of the expanded Big Ten picture, its win over USC keeping it firmly in the national conversation.
November 22 was not about chaos. It was about inevitability. The giants held their ground, the contenders survived, and the conference’s storylines converged on what comes next. Rivalry week will decide not only bragging rights but the future of the College Football Playoff. For Ohio State and Michigan, the stakes are as high as they have ever been. For Iowa and Penn State, survival remains the theme. And for the league as a whole, the drama of late November is alive and well.
The Big Ten has always thrived on tradition, but this season it thrives on possibility. November 22 was the calm before the storm. Now, the storm arrives.
