Indiana, the reigning national champion, sits at the center of the storm. The Hoosiers’ rise under Curt Cignetti from plucky spoiler to full‑fledged powerhouse has already rewritten the conference hierarchy, and the league wasted no time testing their staying power. Their midseason stretch—Ohio State at home, Michigan on the road, USC in Bloomington, and Washington in Seattle—reads like a referendum on whether last year’s magic was a coronation or a prelude. The Oct. 17 rematch with Ohio State, a reprise of the 2025 Big Ten Championship, may be the most anticipated game in the conference this fall. Bloomington has become a fortress, but the Buckeyes arrive with a roster built to reclaim what they believe is rightfully theirs.

Ohio State and Ryan Day, for their part, face a schedule that feels almost punitive. A November showdown with Oregon looms as a potential top‑five clash, the kind of game that can swing a first‑round bye in the expanded playoff. The Ducks and Dan Lanning, who have embraced their Big Ten identity with a mix of swagger and steel, face their own gantlet: at USC, at Ohio State, Michigan, and Washington all in the same season. It’s the kind of lineup that tests not just talent, but depth, conditioning, and the ability to survive the cumulative weight of elite competition.

Michigan, meanwhile, enters a new era under new head coach Kyle Whittingham with a schedule that offers both opportunity and peril. A November trip to Autzen Stadium—where the Wolverines haven’t won in more than half a century—could define their season. And, of course, “THE GAME” remains the league’s gravitational center. No matter how the standings look by late November, Michigan‑Ohio State will once again carry playoff implications, coaching‑staff scrutiny, and the emotional heft of a rivalry that refuses to soften.

Elsewhere, the league’s newcomers continue to shape the landscape. USC and Lincoln Riley, temporarily (at least that is the hope) without the annual Notre Dame anchor, must navigate a cross‑country slate that includes October trips to Happy Valley and Madison. Washington’s late‑season date with Indiana could carry unexpected weight. Illinois and Bret Bielema, quietly building momentum, hosts Oregon, Nebraska, and Iowa in a stretch that could determine whether the Illini are ready to step into the league’s second tier.

And then there’s Penn State, the beneficiary of a favorable rotation that avoids Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon altogether. In a league where survival often feels like success, the Nittany Lions may find themselves in the enviable position of controlling their own destiny. Even without those 2025 playoff participants, new Penn State head coach Matt Campbell will have his share of challenges in October, when USC visits on October 10th and the Nittany Lions travel to Ann Arbor on October 17th.

What makes the 2026 schedule so compelling is not just the star power, but the stakes. The Big Ten has produced three straight national champions, and the path to a fourth winds through stadiums packed with playoff hopefuls, Heisman candidates, and coaching staffs under pressure to deliver. Every Saturday feels oversized. Every loss feels heavier. Every win feels like a step toward something monumental.

In a conference defined by tradition but reshaped by expansion, the 2026 season promises clarity. By Thanksgiving, we’ll know which programs have adapted to the new order—and which are still clinging to the old one. The schedule offers no hiding places. Only collision points. Only truth.

The post A Season Built on Collision: The Big Ten’s 2026 Schedule Delivers Heavyweight Drama appeared first on Saturday Glory.

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.

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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.

Summer is underway, and each passing day gets us closer and closer to the start of the college football season. June has prospective recruits visiting college campuses, July will have The Big Ten Media Days, and then August will have stories and news trickling out from teams about their respective depth charts are shaping up for the 2025 season.

While every team within The Big Ten has its share of non-conference opponents throughout the season, with most games falling in the first weeks of the season, the conference match-ups will start to materialize before the end of September. While not serving as elimination games, getting off to a good start within the conference can only help in the race for one of the coveted College Football Playoff berths.

September 20th: Michigan at Nebraska (3:30pm ET kickoff, CBS); Illinois at Indiana (Kickoff and network TBA)

Nebraska won the first two games versus Michigan as B1G opponents back in 2012 (Nebraska 23, Michigan 9) and 2013 (Nebraska 17, Michigan 13), but the Wolverines have been on the winning side of the ledger the last four times the teams have played, with Michigan decisively beating Nebraska 45-7 in Lincoln in 2023. For a program that earned its first bowl game visit since the 2016 season, this could be a barometer game for Matt Rhule and his coaching staff in seeing how far the Cornhuskers have come, and possibly how much further they may need to go to ascend to the level of the perceived conference elite.

Last season, the Indiana Hoosiers were the surprise team of The Big Ten, under their first year of coaching by Curt Cignetti. While Illinois had a tremendous 10-3 season under Bret Bielema in 2024, this game at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington could provide some clues as to how much either team will factor into the conference championship race.

September 27th: Ohio State at Washington/USC at Illinois (Kickoffs and networks TBA); Oregon at Penn State (7:30pm ET kickoff, NBC/Peacock)

Both Ohio State and Washington will begin their Big Ten conference schedules in this contest at Husky Stadium. This will be their first meeting as conference opponents, as Ohio State last visited Husky Stadium in 2007 (Ohio State 33, Washington 14) when Washington was still a member of The Pac-12. As Jedd Fisch begins his second year at the helm for Washington, this game against the defending national champions will be scrutinized to see how the program is developing. Ohio State will begin conference play in their first road trip of the 2025 season.

USC will be making their first trip to Champaign as a member of The Big Ten, as the Trojans easily handled Illinois 55-3 as a Pac-12 member back in 1996. USC will have already played at Purdue (September 13th, 3:30pm ET CBS/Paramount) and Michigan State (September 20th). It will be interesting to see how Illinois plays after the aforementioned game at Indiana on September 20th.

The most anticipated game of The Big Ten season in September is the night game featuring Oregon at Penn State. A rematch of last season’s Big Ten Championship Game, the Penn State faithful are understandably excited about a “White Out” contest against one of the premier Big Ten teams, and it will be interesting to see how Oregon handles what promises to be a raucous environment when the game kicks off. This will be the first time Oregon has played at State College since October 3, 1964, when the Ducks defeated the Nittany Lions, 22-14.

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While recording an episode of Around The Big Ten with @MarcGivler, something dawned on me, and I can only hope that people at NBC have come to the conclusion ~

Make the USC/Notre Dame game the first game of the season. At night. Every year.

Think about it. NBC has the contractual rights to all Notre Dame home games, and will hold these rights through the 2029 season. NBC also is a media partner of The Big Ten, and traditionally has televised Big Ten games for night games since the 2023 season, and will until the 2029-2030 academic year.

The USC/Notre Dame series usually is set up for USC to host Notre Dame at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at the end of November, and Notre Dame will host USC usually in the middle of October. Here is where USC’s concerns may lie – no matter at the end of November, or the middle of October, USC’s focus is on how this game could physically impact them while in the midst of a Big Ten conference schedule. I want to emphasize the word “may“.

Here is how this could work – NBC could make this game, no matter in Los Angeles or South Bend, the focal point of the first (or second) week of the college football season by having it on at night. It is a win-win for NBC, because they know that college football fans will be excited to see either/both of these teams. And for USC, a non-conference loss in the first or second week of the season will not have any impact upon them within The Big Ten conference race, unlike how the series is presently constructed.

C’mon NBC. Pull up a chair to the negotiating parties for USC and Notre Dame, and offer this as a solution to keep this intersectional rivalry going, like everyone wants.

The post Could NBC Hold The Key To The USC/Notre Dame Series? appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Caleb Williams had a historic draft night on Thursday.

After the Chicago Bears chose the former USC Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback No. 1 overall, many Williams jerseys sold quickly at Fanatics — so much so that it broke a draft night record.

READ: First Round Live Reaction: 2024 NFL Draft

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Williams “broke the Fanatics record for draft night merchandise sales for any draft pick in any sport, beating the previous record set last week by Caitlin Clark.”

Williams pointed to that record when asked about processing all of the events transpiring in the past 24 hours for him.

“I ended up — reposted it saying, ‘Well I guess that’s Chicago for you,’” Williams said. “So that’s probably my answer to that is all the love and support. It’s strong. I’ve heard about it, and so to get it, to get some of that love and support, that early is really awesome, really exciting.”

READ: Heisman Trophy Trust reinstates Reggie Bush’s 2005 Heisman

READ: ‘Adversity teaches a man a lot about himself’: Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. pens letter to NFL GMs in Players Tribune

It wasn’t a surprise that Williams went first in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Bears. While he collected All-Pac 12 Conference Honorable Mention passing for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns, Williams said he “watched the Bears a little bit more than I ever have” last year.

“The anticipation part I’ve been waiting on,” Williams said. “I’ve been waiting for that day — yesterday — and now that it came true I’m excited. But I got a couple other goals to hit over the next few years so I’m excited.”

A long list of goals is likely for Williams, who shouldn’t have trouble getting to work in Chicago.

Williams showed he could pick up quickly in a new environment during his college career. He arrived at Oklahoma in 2021 earning the starting reins midseason before transferring with head coach Lincoln Riley to USC in 2022. The Washington, D.C. native won the Heisman that season throwing for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns to five interceptions.

READ: Florida State’s Braden Fiske motivated by ‘huge impact’ leading up to NFL Draft

At USC Williams took the Trojans to the Pac-12 championship game and helped them reach as high as No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings as a sophomore in 2022.

Williams knows the expectations will be different in the NFL. He’s been preparing for that workload, and he already has his focus set.

“Just do my job,” Williams said. “I’m always going to have scrutiny. I mean, I do things like — I paint my nails. I’m always going to have scrutiny over that. I wear funky clothes and things like that, so you know, just do my job on the football field. Win games. I think you win a bunch of games here, you’ll make a lot of people, a majority, happy.”

USC became the record holder with six No. 1 draft picks after Williams’ selection. He joined Ron Yary in 1968, O.J. Simpson in 1969, Ricky Bell in 1977, Keyshawn Johnson in 1996 and Carson Palmer in 2003.

READ: Malik Nabers showcases ‘dog mentality’ at LSU’s Pro Day

Williams carried an intelligent approach throughout the lead up to the draft. He’s handled a strong work ethic proven to win games and hardware, and that’s something Williams hopes to continue to do, only this time in the NFL.

Williams said “it’s been a journey” navigating the draft process and becoming accustomed to the Bears. He also said he’ll start learning the playbook next week and he’s “excited” to get deeper into the X’s and O’s. The former All-American departs college football leaving a legacy at the quarterback position.

“It’s a team sport. That’s why I love the sport so much,” Williams said. “But you know, my reason to go out there is to win games. My reason why I play is to win games and championships, and so I want to be a big portion of it. I want to go out there. I want to have fun. I want to enjoy. I want to do it with my teammates, and so what better place to do it than the Chicago Bears?”

The post No. 1 pick Caleb Williams says he wants to be part of ‘a big portion’ of winning with Chicago Bears after NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Williams, who began his career in 2021 at Oklahoma before transferring with head coach Lincoln Riley to USC where he won the Heisman Trophy, will begin his NFL career with the Chicago Bears who selected the Trojans quarterback first overall on Thursday.

Williams captured college football’s top prize in 2022 after throwing for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns, which led the sport, to five interceptions at a 66.7% completion rate. He also led the NCAA with an average of 22.3 points responsible for per game. The Washington, D.C. native earned First Team All-America honors.

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, among those sitting in the Bears war room at the draft included Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus and former Big Ten Conference commissioner Kevin Warren.

Williams embraced NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he walked onto the draft stage shortly after his name was called with the No. 1 overall pick.

Williams departs college football holding a handful of USC program records, including the single-season highs of 4,919 yards of total offense and 42 touchdown passes thrown.

Williams opted not to throw at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. Instead, Williams said it was “a team decision” not to participate and he took part in USC’s Pro Day on March 20.

Williams departs USC and college football holding the Trojans single-season record with 4,919 yards of total offense, 52 touchdowns scored rushing and passing, 333 passing completions, 500 passes attempted, 4,537 passing arcs gained, 42 touchdown passes thrown, 613 rushing and passing plays, a 1% interception rate and 168.5 passing efficiency rating.

At Oklahoma in 2021, Williams threw for 1,912 yards and 21 touchdowns to four interceptions with a 64.5% completion rate. He was named a True Freshman All-American by several outlets.

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Bush forfeited it in 2010 following an NCAA investigation into receiving impermissible benefits at USC in 2004-05.

READ: Former Miami (OH) K Graham Nicholson transfers to Alabama

On Wednesday, the Heisman Trophy Trust announced the historic reinstatement of Bush’s Heisman Memorial Trophy after it “considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” President of The Heisman Trophy Trust Michael Comerford stated in a release. “We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the Trophy for Reggie.  We are so happy to welcome him back.”

READ: ‘Adversity teaches a man a lot about himself’: Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. pens letter to NFL GMs in Players Tribune

READ: Steve Sarkisian says Longhorns had to ‘recreate ourselves this spring’ after Orange-White Game

During his Heisman-winning season in 2005, Bush totaled 2,218 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns while the Trojans made it to the Bowl Championship Series national championship. He received the fifth-most first place votes in Heisman Trophy history with 784.

According to a release, the Heisman Trust returned the Heisman to Bush and the replica to USC. Bush will also receive invitations to all future Heisman Trophy ceremonies.

“The Trust’s decision to reinstate the Trophy follows a deliberative process in which it closely monitored the enormous changes in the college football landscape, including the Supreme Court’s 2021 decision, which questioned the legality of the NCAA’s amateurism model and opened the door to student athlete compensation; the ability of college football players to be paid for their name, image, and likeness (NIL); and the NCAA’s recent proposal to remove the cap on education-related payments,” the Heisman Trophy Trust stated in a release. “Recognizing that the compensation of student athletes is an accepted practice and appears here to stay, these fundamental changes in college athletics led the Trust to decide that now is the right time to return the Trophy to Bush, who unquestionably was the most outstanding college football player of 2005.”

Bush posted Wednesday on Instagram a photo of his 2005 Heisman along with a caption stating, “No one can take from you what God has for you.”

READ: Former Trojans WR Mike Williams joins USC as Director of Player Development

Bush also released a statement via Shore Fire Media.

“I am grateful to once again be recognized as the recipient of the Heisman Trophy,” Bush stated. “This reinstatement is not only a personal victory but also a validation of the tireless efforts of my supporters and advocates who have stood by me throughout this arduous journey. I want to make it abundantly clear that I have always acted with integrity and in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA. The allegations brought against me were unfounded and unsupported by evidence, and I am grateful that the truth is finally prevailing.”

The USC football team welcomed Bush back to the Heisman family on social media, posting on X, “back where it belongs.”

“What a historic day!” USC head coach Lincoln Riley stated in a release. “Reggie’s reintroduction to the Heisman Family is a special moment for every person that has been associated with USC football. We are thrilled that Reggie’s athletic accomplishments as one of the greatest to ever play the game can officially be recognized. For a long time, the Heisman and USC have been synonymous and being able to acknowledge all eight of our winners is extraordinary.”

READ: NCAA penalizes Arizona State for ‘impermissible in-person recruiting contacts’

READ: NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approves ‘optional technology rules’ for 2024 season

The Heisman Trophy Trust is represented by Ted Wells and Joshua Hill of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, and Bush is represented by Levi McCathern and Ty Sheaks of the McCathern firm and Ben Crump, and both parties “worked collaboratively” with the Heisman Trophy Trust’s counsel, according to a release.

“We thank attorneys Ted Wells and Josh Hill for their excellent work and counsel for the past two years in helping us come to this decision,” Comerford stated in a release.

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On Friday, USC posted on social media a call between Riley and former Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart who were joined by former wide receiver Mike Williams.

READ: NCAA penalizes Arizona State for ‘impermissible in-person recruiting contacts’

“I know we’ve been talking a lot about this player development job,” Riley said. “I thought what better than to have a guy that delivered a lot of touchdowns to you and a lot of big plays. He’s got one more ball here for you. He’s got one more opportunity here for you, man, so I thought let’s get your teammate on here to let you hear it.”

USC posted Williams will be the Trojans’ Director of Player Development. It’s a hire that will bring Williams back to his alma mater.

READ: NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approves ‘optional technology rules’ for 2024 season

According to Luca Evans of The Orange County Register, Williams has been a high school football coach in Tampa, Florida, at Wharton High and T.R. Robinson High.

Williams earned All-America honors in 2003 after hauling in 1,314 yards and 16 touchdowns as the Trojans beat Michigan in the national championship at the Rose Bowl.

READ: Arizona State QB Jaden Rashada announces transfer

Across two seasons at USC, Williams caught 2,579 yards and more than 30 touchdowns. It led him to being selected No. 10 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Williams will replace former director of player development Chris Carter, who took an assistant general manager role at UCLA according to The Orange County Register.

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Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and widely projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, spent the past two seasons with the Trojans. 

READ: Full list of Power 5 bowl games

The third-year quarterback followed Riley from Oklahoma to USC when the two moved prior to the 2022 season. 

Across 26 games with the Trojans, Williams holds nine single-season program records, including total offense of 4,919 yards and most touchdowns scored rushing and passing with 52. 

Williams followed his 52-touchdown sophomore campaign with a 41-touchdown junior season this fall. He threw for 30 touchdowns and ran for 11 more, a career high. 

Williams has 3,633 passing yards and 30 touchdowns to five interceptions this season. He’s No. 7 in college football with a 170.15 passing efficiency rating. 

Backup quarterbacks Miller Moss and Malachi Nelson are expected to play in Williams’ place when the Trojans play No. 15 Louisville in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27. 

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According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports, Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley announced Sunday that Grinch was fired. 

PODCAST: Lance Leipold is the Exact Opposite of Deion Sanders

Defensive line coach Shaun Tua and inside linebackers coach Brian Odom will serve as interim co-defensive coordinators, according to Dellenger.

USC is coming off of its third loss in its past four games. The Trojans allowed 52 points to No. 5 Washington as the Huskies claimed a 52-42 shootout victory. 

Grinch had been with USC since the 2019 season. The Trojans currently allow 34.5 points and 345 yards per game. 

READ: ‘Never lost the fight’: Swinney becomes Clemson’s all-time winningest coach

USC has given up at least 34 points in its past six games. Opponents have scored 40 points against the Trojans in four games this season. 

The post Reports: USC fires DC Grinch  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

The top-ranked Buckeyes will hit the road for a second-consecutive week when they travel to face Rutgers, which boasts a 6-2 record on an upward trajectory. The Scarlet Knights have won each of their past two games. 

PODCAST: Lance Leipold is the Exact Opposite of Deion Sanders 

Sticking in the Big Ten Conference, No. 3 Michigan will play host to Purdue as the Boilermakers look to play spoiler to the Wolverines’ undefeated season. 

Here are several games to watch this week. 

No. 23 Kansas State at No. 7 Texas 

There are plenty of Big 12 Conference title implications in this one. 

No. 7 Texas will play host to a hot No. 23 Kansas State team entering Austin, Texas, on a three-game winning streak. 

Quinn Ewers continues to deal with a shoulder injury. The Longhorns will have a question mark at quarterback. 

Maalik Murphy quarterbacked the Longhorns for the entirety of the game against BYU. Murphy completed 64% of his passes for 170 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while the Texas defense terrorized Cougars quarterback Kedon Slovis for two interceptions. 

The Wildcats have outscored their past three opponents 120-24, and they’ve done so with a rolling offense. Kansas State has posted three-consecutive games of at least 394 total yards of offense, peaking at 587 yards recorded against TCU. 

“This is a really hot team right now. They’ve been playing as good as anybody in the country in all three phases for the last two to three weeks,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “I think it’s really important that we focus on us and what we need to do, that the details and the level of physicality in which we play the game are at the forefront of what we do. I do believe our best football is still ahead of us, and that part is exciting to me, and we’re going to need to play complimentary football Saturday against a very good, well-coached football team in Kansas State.” 

No. 12 Missouri at No. 2 Georgia 

The No. 2 Bulldogs will face their second ranked opponent of the season on Saturday when No. 12 Missouri comes to town. 

These two teams faced off a season ago in Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers had Georgia’s number for most of the game, getting out to a 13-0 lead that turned into a 16-6 halftime advantage. 

Georgia scored two rushing touchdowns in the final 10 minutes of the game to complete its comeback and win 26-22. 

This season, Missouri’s Brady Cook will get another chance to upend the Bulldogs against first-year starting quarterback Carson Beck, who is second in the Southeastern Conference with 2,462 passing yards. Cook is third with 2,259 passing yards. 

READ: Big Board: Week 10 

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said “it helped” trailing last season against Missouri and having to come back from a double-digit deficit. 

“Being down in a game or not playing well maybe because of them playing well and you not playing well, it makes you question yourself,” Smart said. “There was a lot of things they did to help us and a lot of things that we did to help them but at the end of the day, we didn’t play very well until the fourth quarter and a lot of that had to do with them, and give them credit for the way they played. But, yeah, last year’s team, retrospect, it helped build the resiliency of that team.” 

No. 5 Washington at No. 20 USC 

A matchup between last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and this season’s frontrunner is on tap in Southern California on Saturday. 

Caleb Williams and No. 20 USC will host Michael Penix Jr. and the No. 5 Huskies. Washington came out on top 28-14 in their last meeting during the 2019 season — before either head coach Lincoln Riley or Kalen DeBoer took their posts at their respective programs. 

Both USC and Washington are atop the Pac-12 Conference standings at 5-1 and 5-0 in conference play this year, respectively. The Trojans are reeling from having lost two of their past three games but bounced back in a close win against Cal 50-49. 

READ: Ohio State, Georgia lead first CFP rankings 

The Huskies are second in the Pac-12 in total offense behind an average of 501.3 yards per game. They’ve had a couple of relatively close calls the past two weeks against Arizona State and Stanford, winning 15-7 and 42-33 in those games, and is seeking to make another statement win. 

Riley said Washington is “a good football team” that has “done a great job this year.” 

“Their quarterback has obviously played at a high level and does a great job distributing to their playmakers which they’ve got a really good group of playmakers,” Riley said. “Runs the offense really, really well. You can tell obviously he’s got a lot of experience with Kalen and his system, and you can tell, right, that it shows up and he’s played at a high level. They’ve got some really good players defensively as well. It’s a very, very talented roster. You got a number of guys that are projected pretty high NFL draft picks, a couple on both sides of the ball so a good group. A good group, a good challenge, I mean, like it should be here at the end to have two good football teams going at it so it’s going to be great.” 

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