Ohio State and Indiana remain undefeated, and seem to be headed toward a showdown for Big Ten supremacy in Indianapolis on December 6th. Ohio State easily handled UCLA 48-10, while Indiana took control in the second half of their game versus Wisconsin and won 31-7. Ohio State is 10-0, while Indiana is 11-0. Both UCLA and Wisconsin are 3-7 for the season.

Oregon had little resistance from Minnesota as the Ducks defeated the Golden Gophers 42-13. With only one loss, Oregon remains squarely within The College Football Playoff and could possibly factor into The Big Ten Championship Game, if either Ohio State or Indiana stumble along the way. Oregon is now 9-1, while Minnesota is 6-4.

Michigan had to rally in the final seconds at Wrigley Field against Northwestern, winning 24-22. The Wolverines were able to overcome five turnovers, and like Oregon, are also only one game out of The Big Ten Championship Game. Michigan improved to 8-2, while Northwestern fell to 5-5 for the season. The disappointment by Northwestern head coach David Braun postgame was understandable, as he said, “None of us want to hear, ‘Hey, good effort, guys. You gave Michigan a run for their money. That was a great effort…We came here to win a football game and that was the expectation.”.

USC rallied to defeat the visiting Iowa Hawkeyes, 26-21. The Trojans are still alive in their hunt for a College Football Playoff berth, but at 8-2, cannot lose the remainder of the regular season. Iowa is now at 6-4 for the season. USC head coach Lincoln Riley said, “The energy in that room at halftime, I felt very strongly we were going to come back out and make a run.”.

Illinois had little difficulty with Maryland, winning 24-6. The Fighting Illini are now at 7-3, with faint hopes of making The College Football Playoff. Maryland lost their 6th straight game, and are now 4-6 for the season. “We’ll keep pushing and we’ll keep fighting for each other and finish this thing up the right way,” said Maryland coach Michael Locksley. “I’ll remain positive, and make sure we do all we can for the older players who deserve it.”

Washington rebounded from its defeat at Wisconsin a week ago by handling Purdue easily, 49-13. The Huskies are now 7-3, and hope remains that a College Football Playoff berth is obtainable if they win out the remainder of their regular season games. Purdue is now at 2-9 on the season.

Penn State snapped its losing streak, going on the road to East Lansing and defeating Michigan State, 28-10. Penn State can still gain bowl eligibility by winning their last two games and getting to a 6-6 record, as Penn State is now 4-6 on the season. Michigan State fell to 3-7.

What does it all mean? With Nebraska and Rutgers on bye weeks, The Big Ten has a clear pecking order of Ohio State and Indiana well situated to play for the conference championship. Michigan, Oregon, and USC are all one game behind, with some type of resolution coming after the November 22nd weekend when USC travels to Eugene to take on Oregon.

Michigan State and Purdue are both winless in The Big Ten, and the Spartans will have two more opportunities to get that elusive conference win with games at Iowa on November 22nd and versus Maryland on November 29th, while the Boilermakers will not play until their season finale versus Indiana on Black Friday, November 28th.

The post Big Ten Teams Are Narrowing Their Playoff Options This November appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Second-year head coach David Braun and Northwestern will host Ohio State on Nov. 16 and Illinois on Nov. 30 at the home of the Chicago Cubs. The Wildcats are rebuilding Ryan Field across the next two seasons after a historic $480 million gift from the Ryan family, the largest in Northwestern history, and will remain playing home games in the Chicago metropolitan area in 2024.

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The Wildcats will open the season with three-straight home games against defending Mid-American Conference champion Miami (OH), Duke and Eastern Illinois, and those games will be played inside the Lanny and Sharon Martin Lakeside Facility.

While the Big Ten Conference expands welcoming Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington — all from the Pac-12 Conference — and goes divisionless in 2024, Northwestern will play a nine-game conference schedule including bouts against last season’s College Football Playoff National Championship participants on the road against the defending Pac-12 champion Huskies on Sept. 21 and reigning national title winner and Big Ten champion Michigan on Nov. 23.

Kickoff times and television networks along with additional game information will be announced by the Big Ten office at a later date, according to a release.

READ: Joe Alt cherishes Notre Dame career, hopes to put ‘best foot forward’ with Los Angeles after No. 5 overall NFL Draft selection

Braun and the Wildcats are building on an 8-5 season in 2023 which ended with a 14-7 win over Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. Braun earned Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading Northwestern on a seven-win turnaround, the largest by any Football Bowl Subdivision team in college football.

Former Mississippi State and Vanderbilt quarterback Mike Wright announced his commitment to transfer and join Braun and the Wildcats last week. Wright is expected to command the starting quarterback competition, and he has over 2,500 passing yards and 20 touchdowns at the college level.

Here is Northwestern’s full 2024 schedule.

Week 1 (Aug. 31) — Miami (OH) at Northwestern (Lanny and Sharon Martin Lakeside Facility)

Week 2 (Sept. 7) — Duke at Northwestern (Lanny and Sharon Martin Lakeside Facility)

Week 3 (Sept.14) — Eastern Illinois at Northwestern (Lanny and Sharon Martin Lakeside Facility)

Week 4 (Sept. 21) — Northwestern at Washington (Husky Stadium)

Week 5 (Sept. 28) — BYE

Week 6 (Oct. 5) — Indiana at Northwestern (Lanny and Sharon Martin Lakeside Facility)

Week 7 (Oct. 12) — Northwestern at Maryland (SECU Stadium)

Week 8 (Oct. 19) — Wisconsin at Northwestern (Lanny and Sharon Martin Lakeside Facility)

Week 9 (Oct. 26) — Northwestern at Iowa (Kinnick Stadium)

Week 10 (Nov. 2) — Northwestern at Purdue (Ross-Ade Stadium)

Week 11 (Nov. 9) — BYE

Week 12 (Nov. 16) — Ohio State at Northwestern (Wrigley Field)

Week 13 (Nov. 23) — Northwestern at Michigan (Michigan Stadium)

Week 14 (Nov. 30) — Illinois at Northwestern (Wrigley Field)

The post Northwestern announces 2024 schedule, will play 2 games at Wrigley Field appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Mike Wright, who played in all 12 games and started three at Mississippi State last season, announced Thursday on social media his commitment to the Wildcats.

READ: Former Rutgers QB Gavin Wimsatt transfers to Kentucky

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Wright visited Northwestern and was hosted by receivers A.J. Henning, Calvin Johnson II and Bryce Kirtz, who combined for 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023.

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Wright will enter his fifth season of college football this fall. He arrived at Vanderbilt in 2020 as a three-star recruit from Fayetteville, Georgia. The 6-foot-4, 195 pound quarterback also claimed Woodward Academy’s record in the 200-meter dash.

Wright spent three seasons at Vanderbilt earning 11 starts, 2,067 passing yards, 21 touchdowns to 11 interceptions and a nod as one of the Commodores captains in 2022.

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Overall, Wright has played in 38 games, passing for 2,520 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushing for 1,229 more yards and 10 more scores at the college level.

The talented multi-sport athlete also joined Mississippi State’s track and field team in apiary. He competed in his first track meet Jan. 13 at the Vulcan Invite part of the Bulldogs 4x200m Relay Team.

Wright will use his final year of eligibility with Wildcats head coach David Braun and Northwestern. The Wildcats saw starter Ben Bryant graduate from the program after last season, and backup Brendan Sullivan transferred to Iowa, according to ESPN.

The post Former Mississippi State, Vanderbilt QB Mike Wright transfers to Northwestern appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Braun served in the interim role after former head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired after hazing allegations were uncovered. 

“We asked Dave to support our student-athletes this season, and he has done an exceptional job,” Northwestern University President Michael Schill stated in a release. “Under his guidance, Northwestern’s football team has exceeded expectations on the field and excelled in the classroom. The turnaround he has led, under very difficult circumstances, is nothing short of phenomenal.” 

PODCAST: Week 12 could shape up conference championship game match-ups 

The Wildcats are 5-5 this season with a 3-4 record in Big Ten play. They’re tied for second in the conference’s West Division. 

The post Northwestern removes interim tag, names Braun full-time head coach  appeared first on Saturday Glory.