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.
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
Haaaaaapy Thanksgiving and latsgooooooSeaaaaaattle!