It’s been a minute since we last checked in on the Big Ten, but a few general trends have continued over the past couple of weeks. Michigan and Oregon keep spiraling, UCLA and Indiana keep winning, and here in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes seem to be more of a week-to-week thing. Let’s check out some of the biggest games coming up in this first weekend of November.
Northwestern vs. Iowa
Without quarterback Aidan Chiles in the mix, the Northwestern Wildcats look a lot less daunting this weekend. Even without their star signal caller, the Wildcats pose the biggest test remaining on the Hawkeyes’ schedule. Seasons can’t be won in November, but they can certainly be lost.
And more often than not in recent seasons, in November, the wheels fall off the Hawkeye bus.
Thankfully for Kirk Ferentz and company, this is one of their tamer Novembers in quite some time. After the injured Wildcats, it’s a home game against Purdue (who beat Minnesota 41-13, so by the transitive property…), a road contest at Illinois, and Nebraska, who were too busy making their field look intimidating to remember that they had to play and win a game on said field.
One more loss for the Hawkeyes would end their college football playoff campaign and shift the focus squarely into basketball season, but I’m choosing to remain cautiously optimistic right now.
Minnesota vs. UCLA
Up in the cursed land of Minnesota, a Big Noon clash between the Big Ten West and the Big Ten-Wester is set to take place. I don’t know if there’s a single matchup that screams “New Look Big Ten” more than Minnesota and UCLA.
Until they came to Iowa last week, I thought Big Noon was contractually obligated to go to only Ohio State, Michigan, or Indiana. This week, they’re mostly there for UCLA, who have slipped through the college football cracks to an 8-0 start under first-year head coach Bob Chesney. But the Gophers have been upset-minded these last few weeks as well.
Between P.J. Fleck’s strange quarter-zip-over-suit-and-tie fit and Chesney’s shades, this game is the ultimate battle between coaches who know how to look the part.
For my money, I’m betting on Bob the Roster Builder’s Bruins to burn the boats in this bout. How about that for a bit of alliteration?
Ohio State vs. Oregon
Now, let’s take on a more somber tone as we head to our next location: postapocalyptic, quarterback-less Columbus, Ohio. After a shoulder injury left quarterback Julian Sayin with an indefinite timetable to return, the Buckeyes national championship aspirations were put in jeopardy, falling on the shoulders of true freshman, three-star quarterback Luke Fahey.
Fahey, try as he might, was unable to topple USC on Halloween, granting the Trojans the fakest field storm of the year.
Oregon’s in a similar situation with backup quarterbacks Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas. Raiola even led the Ducks to a win at home against Northwestern.
Ordinarily, that would probably be the least impressive thing you’ve ever heard, but this season is just plain weird, and the mighty Oregon Ducks have looked more like the Ducks in the Dawn Dish soap commercials before they get scrubbed clean of oil and grime.
I’ve got the Buckeyes winning this one comfortably at home, hoping that Fahey realizes he has Jeremiah Smith in his hip pocket whenever he wants.
Michigan vs. Michigan State
Our final game is the nightcap, the battle for the Paul Bunyan trophy between the Wolverines and the Spartans.
Before I talk about the game, I have a bone to pick. I don’t know who decided that Paul Bunyan is from Michigan, but he’s not. If he’s from anywhere, it’s Minnesota.
Anyway, in 2026, it feels like we’ve never been further away from the days of Michigan State’s Jalen Watts-Jackson’s signature game-winning touchdown. That being said, there’s always something, however minuscule it is, to like about a rivalry like this.
Michigan are winners of four straight, and none of them have been particularly close. This year though, the Wolverines are as bad as they’ve been in some time, but the Spartans are somehow even worse under noted locker room guy Pat Fitzgerald.
I’m approaching this one with what I call a morbid curiosity. Give me Michigan to make it five in a row.
Roundup
Now that the College Football Playoff poll is in effect, every week is a chance to trim down the field of postseason suitors.
If you ask me, the Big Ten has only six candidates, each of which has two or fewer losses. UCLA, Indiana, Ohio State, USC, Iowa, and Northwestern.
Because the Hawks and Wildcats play this weekend, that number will be down to five at best. Buckle up!
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