2024 Big Ten Football Week 14 Power Rankings: Contenders Eye CFP; Week 14 picks

Breaking Down the Top Big Ten College Football Playoff Contenders and Key Matchups for Week 14

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Happy Thanksgiving! As the college football season barrels toward its conclusion, the stakes have never been higher for teams jockeying for a spot in the College Football Playoff. At the top of the heap is Oregon, still unbeaten and primed for a rivlary game against Washington. Right behind Oregon is Ohio State, fresh off a dominant win over Indiana and eyeing a long-awaited victory over Michigan in “The Game.” Penn State and Indiana round out my Tier 1 playoff contenders, both looking to keep their playoff hopes alive with conference games they should win this weekend.

Tier 1 - College Football Playoff Contenders

1. Oregon (11-0, 8-0)

Trend: -

CFP Ranking: No. 1

Last week: BYE

This week: vs. Washington

Dan Lanning is 0-3 against Washington. Will he finally get his first win against the Huskies on Saturday?

2. Ohio State (10-1, 7-1)

Trend: -

CFP Ranking: No. 2

Last week: 38-15 win vs. No. 5 Indiana

This week: vs. Michigan

It seems like this is the year that the Buckeyes break their three-game losing streak to Michigan.

3. Penn State (10-1, 7-1)

Trend: -

CFP Ranking: No. 4

Last week: 26-25 win at Minnesota

This week: vs. Maryland

Penn State’s win over Minnesota gave the program its third straight 10-win season for the first time since 1980-82.

4. Indiana (10-1, 7-1)

Trend: -

CFP Ranking: No. 10

Last week: 38-15 loss at No. 2 Ohio State

This week: vs. Purdue

The Hoosiers are still in the playoff picture after a letdown last week against Ohio State.

Tier 2 - Outside, Looking In

Tier 3 - Bowl Bound

5. Illinois (8-3, 5-3)

Trend: +2

CFP Ranking: No. 23

Last week: 38-31 win at Rutgers

This week: at Northwestern

Illinois and Northwestern play for the “Land of Lincoln” trophy this weekend. This is a young rivalry with only 15 meetings. Illinois is 5-10 against Northwestern.

6. Iowa (7-4, 5-3)

Trend: -1

Last week: 29-13 win at Maryland

This week: vs. Nebraska

Iowa has won 20 of its last 23 games in November dating back to 2019, the third-best winning percentage in November in the country.

7. Minnesota (6-5, 4-4)

Trend: -1

Last week: 26-25 loss vs. No. 4 Penn State

This week: at Wisconsin

Did you know Minnesota-Wisconsin is the most-played rivalry in college football? The teams have met 133 times with Wisconsin holding a 63-62-8 record over Minnesota.

8. Washington (6-5, 4-4)

Trend: +1

Last week: BYE

This week: at Oregon

The Huskies have nothing to lose on Saturday. They’ve secured a bowl game. Their home win streak will extend to next season. A team with nothing to lose is probably not ideal for the Ducks.

9. USC (6-5, 4-5)

Trend: +1

Last week: 19-13 win at UCLA

This week: vs. No. 5 Notre Dame

Is Notre Dame getting a pass for its loss to Northern Illinois? This is a type of win that keeps Lincoln Riley safely employed.

10. Michigan (6-5, 4-4)

Trend: +3

Last week: 50-6 win vs. Northwestern

This week: at No. 2 Ohio State

Can Michigan play spoiler in “The Game”? Probably not. Senior running back Kalel Mullings ran for three touchdown and 92 rushing yards on 12 carries last weekend.

11. Nebraska (6-5, 3-5)

Trend: -

Last week: 44-25 win vs. Wisconsin

This week: at Iowa

Nebraska’s win last week over Wisconsin clinched the Cornhuskers’ first bowl berth since 2016.

12. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5)

Trend: -

Last week: 38-31 loss vs. No. 25 Illinois

This week: at Michigan State

Rutgers lost a heartbreaker to Illinois last week, giving up a go-ahead touchdown with four seconds left. Rutgers looks to finish the season strong on the road against Michigan State.

13. Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5)

Trend: -5

Last week: 44-25 loss at Nebraska

This week: vs. Minnesota

Wisconsin is fighting for bowl-eligibility this weekend. The Badgers have made a bowl game for 22 straight seasons.

Tier 4 - Bottom 5

14. Michigan State (5-6, 3-5)

Trend: +1

Last week: 24-17 win vs. Purdue

This week: vs. Rutgers

Can Jonathan Smith pull off a victory and get the rebuilding Spartans into a bowl game? Rutgers won’t make thing easy, but having this game at home is helpful for Michigan State.

15. UCLA (4-7, 3-6)

Trend: -1

Last week: 19-13 loss vs. USC

This week: vs. Fresno State

After a three-game win streak, the Bruins have dropped two straight to Washington and USC. They look to cap their season off with an intrastate win over Fresno State.

16. Maryland (4-7, 1-7)

Trend: -

Last week: 29-13 loss vs. Iowa

This week: at No. 4 Penn State

Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. has quietly had a solid season, leading the Big Ten in completions (273) and ranks third in passing yards per game (261.9).

17. Northwestern (4-7, 2-6)

Trend: -

Last week: 31-7 loss vs. No. 2 Ohio State

This week: vs. No. 23 Illinois

Northwestern has won 7 of the last 9 games against Illinois. The teams will play at Wrigley Field, having last played each other at Wrigley Field in 1923 and 2010.

18. Purdue (1-10, 0-8)

Trend: -

Last week: 24-17 loss at Michigan State

This week: at No. 10 Indiana

Purdue and Indiana play each other for the Old Oaken Bucket. Purdue leads the all-time series 77-42-6.

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Week 14 Picks

2024 Record vs. the spread: 33-36

2024 Record, straight up: 54-18

Week 13 Record vs. the spread: 3-2

Week 13 straight up: 4-1

Oregon State (5-6) at No. 11 Boise State (10-1) (Friday at 9 a.m., FOX)

The spread: Boise State is favored by 18.5 points.

The pick: Boise State 35, Oregon State 21

No. 5 Notre Dame (10-1) at USC (6-5, 4-5) (Saturday at 12:30 p.m., CBS)

The spread: Notre Dame is favored by 7.5 points.

The pick: Notre Dame 30, USC 27

No. 3 Texas (10-1) at No. 20 Texas A&M (8-3) (Saturday at 4:30 p.m., ABC)

The spread: Texas is favored by 5.5 points

The pick: Texas 30, Texas A&M 20

Washington (6-5, 4-4) at No. 1 Oregon (11-0, 8-0)(Saturday at 4:30 p.m., NBC)

The spread: Oregon is favored by 18.5 points.

The pick: Oregon 32, Washington 13

Fresno State (6-5) at UCLA (4-7, 3-6) (Saturday at 12:30 p.m., Big Ten Network)

The spread: UCLA is favored by 7.5 points.

The pick: UCLA 27, Fresno State 24