UNDATED (AP) — The most interesting game on the Big Ten schedule this week has UCLA attempting to continue its remarkable turnaround as it visits No. 2 Indiana. UCLA has won three straight games since staggering to an 0-4 start. BetMGM Sportbook still has Indiana as a 25 1/2-point favorite. Another interesting Big Ten matchup has Iowa hosting Minnesota. Iowa and Minnesota are two of the seven schools tied for third place in the Big Ten with 3-1 conference records.
UNDATED (AP) — Indiana coach Curt Cignetti understands UCLA has a losing record. He still sees the Bruins as an unbeaten team. No, it’s not because of some old coaching cliche about going 1-0 or it’s the most important game because it’s the next game. Cignetti views it through the reality of today’s college football environment. Since firing coach DeShaun Foster and changing offensive and defensive coordinators in September, the Bruins have looked like a different team, posting three straight wins under interim coach Tim Skipper. So Cignetti is tossing out the book — and the game tape — from those first four losses and asking his second-ranked Hoosiers to study only the last three contests heading into their game Saturday.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State's football team is taking a tailored approach during their second off weekend of the season. Coach Ryan Day says some players need rest, while others need more practice. The defense has been a standout, ranking first in points allowed and second in yards allowed. Despite losing key players, they've excelled in various defensive categories. The offense, however, is still developing. Quarterback Julian Sayin recently had a strong performance, but the running game struggled against Wisconsin. Day plans to address these issues before their next game against Penn State.
UNDATED (AP) — The Badgers have lost their last two by a combined score of 71-0 heading into Saturday’s daunting game against No. 6 Oregon at Autzen Stadium. Wisconsin has fallen 37-0 to Iowa and 34-0 to No. 1 Ohio State over the last two weeks. It’s the first time since 1977 that the Badgers have gone scoreless in consecutive games. Overall, Wisconsin has lost five straight. The Ducks got back on track with a 56-10 rout of Rutgers last Saturday after a loss at home to Indiana two weeks ago.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki can’t explain Penn State’s futility so far this season. But he has learned a hard lesson that might still benefit the Nittany Lions (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten) as they continue their bye week soul-searching before visiting No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 1. Kotelnicki, who spoke with reporters Wednesday for the first time since August, admitted it’s time to remold the offense. The Nittany Lions have two weeks to do so.
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA has approved a rule change that will allow athletes and athletic department staff members to bet on professional sports. Two weeks after the Division I cabinet approved the change, Division II and III management councils signed off on it on Wednesday, allowing the new rule to go into effect Nov. 1. This doesn’t change the NCAA rule which forbids athletes from betting on college sports. The NCAA also prohibits sharing information about college competitions with bettors. The institution also doesn’t accept advertising or sponsorships of NCAA championships by betting sites.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota's defense is thriving under first-year coordinator Danny Collins. The Gophers in a 24-6 win racked up a school-record nine sacks on a Nebraska team last week that was ranked 25th in the AP poll and averaging 41 points per game. Collins has been with coach P.J. Fleck for all nine seasons at Minnesota and four at Western Michigan before that. He was the safeties coach and defensive pass game coordinator before his promotion this year to replace the departed Corey Heatherman. He went to a higher-profile program at Miami. The Gophers are 5-2. They play at Iowa this week.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The transfer portal and NIL money have helped level the playing field across college football. The result is the type of parity that makes the NFL must-see TV with the competition tighter than ever, especially in the Power Four conferences. In the Southeastern Conference, the average margin of victory is just 10.0 points per game. That is on pace to be the lowest for any power conference since at least 2000. Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea says he feels like he's coaching in the NFL now.
