2024 Big Ten Football Week 13 Power Rankings: Can Indiana Topple Ohio State?; Week 13 picks
Ohio State and Indiana Clash for a Spot in the Big Ten Championship: Can the Buckeyes Earn an Oregon Rematch, or Will the Hoosiers' Unbeaten Run Continue?
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Ohio State and Indiana meet to battle for a chance to play Oregon in the Big Ten Championship game. Can Ohio State earn a rematch against the Ducks? Or will Indiana’s dream season continue?
The power rankings see USC rise three spots, with Nebraska falling two spots after USC beat Nebraska 28-20. Wisconsin, Nebraska, USC, and Michigan all have five wins, one win short of bowl eligibility.
Tier 1 - College Football Playoff Contenders
1. Oregon (11-0, 8-0)
Trend: -
CFP Ranking: No. 1
Last week: 16-13 win at Wisconsin
This week: BYE
54,000. That’s the seating capacity at Autzen Stadium. While that’s less capacity than Husky Stadium . . . it is arguably louder than Husky Stadium. Oregon fans will be ready and anxious for a blowout over rival Washington.
2. Ohio State (9-1, 6-1)
Trend: -
CFP Ranking: No. 2
Last week: 31-7 at Northwestern
This week: vs. No. 5 Indiana
32. That’s how many career tackles for loss in senior defensive end in JT Tuimoloau’s career. Remember Tuimoloau? He was one of the top recruits in the country while he starred at Eastside Catholic.
3. Penn State (9-1, 6-1)
Trend: -
CFP Ranking: No. 4
Last week: 49-10 win at Purdue
This week: at Minnesota
6 . Penn State is one six FBS teams who have appeared in each of the last 15 rankings.
4. Indiana (10-0, 7-0)
Trend: -
CFP Ranking: No. 5
Last week: BYE
This week: at No. 2 Ohio State
.853. That’s Curt Cignetti’s career win percentage Only three FBS coaches have higher win percentages than Cignetti.
Tier 2 - Outside, Looking In
Tier 3 - Bowl Bound
5. Iowa (6-4, 4-3)
Trend: -
Last week: BYE
This week: at Maryland.
150. That’s how many passes Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara has completed in 13 games for the Hawkeyes after transferring from Michigan last season. Writers covering the program speculate that he may have already played his final game in an Iowa uniform.
6. Minnesota (6-3, 4-3)
Trend: -
Last week: BYE
This week: vs. No. 4 Penn State
17. The Golden Gophers and the Nittany Lions meet for the 17th edition of the battle for the Governor’s Victory Bell. After beating Minnesota 45-17 in 2022, Penn State has the Bell. Penn State also holds the all-time series record, 10-6.
7. Illinois (7-3, 4-3)
Trend: -
CFP Ranking: No. 25
Last week: 38-16 win vs. Michigan State
This week: at Rutgers
20. Illinois has 20 wins over the last three seasons. It’s the program’s most in three years since 2000-2002.
8. Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4)
Trend: -
Last week: 16-13 loss vs. No. 1 Oregon
This week: at Nebraska
3. Three consecutive games between Nebraska and Wisconsin have been decided by a touchdown or less.
9. Washington (6-5, 4-4)
Trend: +1
Last week: 31-19 win vs. UCLA
This week: BYE
1120. When Oregon and Washington meet next week, it will have been 1120 days since the Oregon Ducks last beat the Washington Huskies on November 6, 2021.
10. USC (5-5, 3-5)
Trend: +3
Last week: 28-20 win vs. Nebraska
This week: at UCLA
6. Running back Woody Marks has 6 100-yard rushing games this season — the most of any running back at USC during the Lincoln Riley era.
11. Nebraska (5-5, 2-5)
Trend: -2
Last week: 28-20 loss at USC
This week: vs. Wisconsin
10. Nebraska defensive lineman Ty Robinson has 10 tackles for loss this season, leading the Huskers.
12. Rutgers (6-4, 3-4)
Trend: -
Last week: 31-17 win at Maryland
This week: vs. No. 25 Illinois
16. Rutgers is 16-2 since 2020 when it doesn’t commit a turnover in a game.
13. Michigan (5-5, 3-4)
Trend: -2
Last week: BYE
This week: vs. Northwestern
.688. By opponent’s win percentage, Michigan has the nation’s toughest schedule with its opponents compiling a total record of 77-35.
Tier 4 - Bottom 5
14. UCLA (4-6, 3-5)
Trend: -
Last week: 31-19 loss at Washington
This week: vs. USC
94. UCLA and USC will meet for the 94th time on Saturday. The teams have split the last 12 meetings.
15. Michigan State (4-6, 2-5)
Trend: -
Last week: 38-16 loss at Illinois
This week: vs. Purdue
67.9. Michigan State freshman wide receiver Nick Marsh ranks third among all FBS freshman in receiving yards per game.
16. Maryland (4-6, 1-6)
Trend: -
Last week: 31-17 loss vs. Rutgers
This week: vs. Iowa
80. Senior wide receiver Tai Felton has 80 receptions this season, which is the most receptions amongst power conference receivers. His next reception will give him the single-season record for receptions at Maryland.
17. Northwestern (4-6, 2-5)
Trend: -
Last week: 31-7 loss vs. No. 2 Ohio State
This week: at Michigan
0. Northwestern has zero wins against Michigan since 2008.
18. Purdue (1-9, 0-7)
Trend: -
Last week: 49-10 loss vs. No. 4 Penn State
This week: at Michigan State
3. Three of the of Purdue’s last four games have been against the CFP’s Top 5 (No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Penn State)
Week 13 Picks
2024 Record vs. the spread: 30-34
2024 Record, straight up: 50-17
Week 13 Record vs. the spread: 2-3
Week 13 straight up: 5-0
No. 5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0) at Ohio State (9-1, 6-1) (Saturday at 9 a.m., FOX)
The spread: Ohio State is favored by 10.5 points
The pick: Indiana 27, Ohio State 23
No. 14 BYU (9-1) at No. 21 Arizona State (8-2)(Saturday at 12:30 p.m., FOX)
The spread: ASU is favored by 3 points.
The pick: ASU 27, BYU 23
No. 4 Penn State (9-1, 6-1) at Minnesota (6-4, 4-3) (Saturday at 12:30 p.m., CBS)
The spread: Penn State is favored by 12 points
The pick: Penn State 35, Minnesota 17
No. 19 Army (9-0) at No. 6 Notre Dame (9-1) (Saturday at 4 p.m., NBC/Peacock)
The spread: Notre Dame is favored by 14 points.
The pick: Notre Dame 39, Army 21
USC (5-5, 3-5) at UCLA (4-6, 3-5) (Saturday at 7:30, NBC)
The spread: USC is favored by 5 points.
The pick: USC 31, UCLA 26