14 Big Ten teams were in action this weekend (two on Friday, 12 on Saturday). We’re running out of lessons to learn this season as we have entered the final month, but there are still plenty of takeaways as teams prepare for the postseason–whatever form that will take for them–or for the offseason and 2026. So, what did we learn from the Big Ten teams that played this week?
1. USC is making a Playoff push
The Trojans would have loved to have beaten Notre Dame (or Illinois) to feel safer about a Playoff bid, but this team is no nonsense right now. Quarterback Jayden Maiava had a touchdown-saving forced fumble, and this team cruised from there. The games won’t be easy, but USC is probably three wins away from a Playoff berth.
Advertisement
2. Northwestern is trying but just outmatched
The Wildcats need one more win to reach a bowl game this year. They will be underdogs in each remaining game. They fought hard in this one against USC, but the Trojans were just too good. But if Northwestern keeps playing like this, pulling off one upset isn’t impossible.
3-4. Ohio State cruises; Purdue didn’t give up
There’s not much to say at this point. The Boilermakers fought hard for 60 minutes, but Ohio State is just so much better. The Buckeyes are cruising and probably one win away from locking up a Playoff berth.
5. Did Indiana have a championship moment?
Moments like these create college football legends. Last-second comebacks in do-or-die situations. Of course, with the 12-team Playoff one loss isn’t do-or-die like it used to be, but it still felt like it for Indiana. If the Hoosiers can go on to win the National Championship this year, that catch will live on as the greatest moment in Indiana football history.
Advertisement
6. Penn State is still fighting
This Nittany Lions team still has elite talent, and it now has a good rhythm with a new (interim) coach. It needs three more wins to go to a bowl game, and if Penn State keeps playing like it did against Indiana, the Nittany Lions will get there.
7-8. Oregon outlasts Iowa
This was an amazing game between two very good teams. The Hawkeyes are probably ruing that loss to Iowa State in Week 2 as it likely cost them a shot at a Playoff bid. Still, losing to Indiana and Oregon by a combined six points is nothing to sneeze at. This Iowa team is very good, and came up big in clutch moments. Oregon is just a tad better, and came up equally big in those same moments.
Oct 25, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) throws a pass during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
9. Washington can’t win long-distance games
I’m a bit embarrassed that it took me so long to notice this, but since joining the Big Ten last year, the Huskies have played seven road games against non-West Coast teams. They have lost six of them (Maryland by four points earlier this year is the one win). This team struggles mightily when it has to leave the West Coast for conference games, and that just cost them a potential Playoff bid.
Advertisement
10. Wisconsin has life
Maybe we should have seen this coming after the Badgers fought hard to stay close to Oregon last week, but this was the best game Wisconsin has played all year. It will probably also be the biggest win, as the only way to make it to a bowl game is upsetting Indiana next week (and then beating Illinois and Minnesota after that).
11-12. Rutgers and Maryland are going in different directions
The Terrapins have too much talent to keep losing games, but that’s not stopping them. Maryland likely won’t go bowling this year after a fifth consecutive loss, four of them winnable games. Rutgers, meanwhile, showed heart and fight. Reaching a bowl game would require upsetting either Ohio State (unlikely) or Penn State (maybe).
Advertisement
13. Nebraska has learned how to win
For two years, Nebraska was snakebitten in close games. After losing a heartbreaker to USC last week and their starting quarterback, there was reason to think Nebraska forgot how to win. Those concerns were put to bed after holding on to a victory over UCLA.
Aug 28, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) passes against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the first quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
14. UCLA probably isn’t winning another game
UCLA can take credit for derailing Penn State’s season and ending James Franklin’s tenure there. And the Bruins parlayed that win into two more victories. Three wins this year is three more than Bruins fans expected. With the rest of the schedule containing Ohio State, Washington, and USC, don’t expect another win.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: What we learned from each Big Ten team in Week 11
