Week 4 Big Ten: Know your enemy
B1G Games of the Week: Illinois-Nebraska, USC-Mich, UCLA-LSU
Know Your Enemy is an series made for college football geeks like us who love to scout the Big Ten race all the way to the CFP — Get time, TV and fan gear in a weekly preview delivered to your inbox:
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This week in B1G Football
This week’s Big Ten schedule includes two ranked vs. ranked conference games — No. 24 Illinois at No. 22 Nebraska, and No. 11 USC at No. 18 Michigan.
Oregon has a bye week — the Ducks play next at UCLA on Sept. 28.
No. 24 Illinois at No. 22 Nebraska
(FRIDAY 5pm Pacific | FOX)
Nebraska beating Colorado in Week 2 was one thing — whether the Huskers and their true freshman QB can keep it up is another question. We’re not looking for CFP implications from Illinois vs. Nebraska, but this game is worth a look on the off chance the Big Ten eventually produces a dark horse for the lower playoff seeds or a spoiler in its conference championship race.
No. 11 USC at No. 18 Michigan
(1230pm Pacific | CBS)
One of the top two or three games in the nation this week — we’re putting it second only to No. 6 Tennessee at No. 15 Oklahoma.
Clear fight for playoff survival on both sides. No. 11 USC can’t afford to slide out of the top 12 this early — especially with No. 10 Penn State (Oct. 12) and No. 17 Notre Dame (Nov. 30) looming in an otherwise favorable schedule.
Michigan (2-1) lost to No. 1 Texas in Week 2, stumbled into a three-pick QB change in Week 3, and still has to contend with No. 9 Oregon and No. 3 Ohio State in November. A loss to USC in Week 4 could put defending national champ Michigan’s CFP hopes on the rocks in a hurry.
Gang Green 30-Year Throwback:
Chapter 2 — The 1994 players-only meeting sparked a decisive Week 4 win over Iowa and started Oregon’s transformation from a 1-2 start to ‘94 Pac-10 champions.
Reality check
(Northwestern at Washington: 4pm Pacific | FS1)
Coming off an Apple Cup loss in Week 3 and unranked so far this season, the cost of 2-1 Washington’s offseason attrition could be coming into focus — the Huskies lost their entire 2023 starting offense to transfers and the Draft, their coach to ‘Bama, and their best returning DB (Jabbar Muhammad) on a transfer to arch-rival Oregon.
On one hand, it’s a little early to be calling unranked Northwestern a must-win. Other hand, Washington has to contend with No. 18 Michigan in October, then No. 11 USC, No. 10 Penn State, and No. 9 Oregon in November — there’s no September margin for error in Washington’s schedule.
Scouting Week 6
Michigan St at Boston College: 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PT | ACCN
After Oregon faces UCLA in Week 5, the Ducks will open October with Michigan State at Autzen. We’re watching MSU every chance we get with the question — Did Michigan State hire a legit coach or just a guy they think can beat Oregon once or twice a decade?
Former Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith brings a mix of old Pac-12 nemesis and Oregon’s first 2024 opponent with old-growth Big Ten roots. Surreal after all those OSU years for Oregon fans to see Smith wearing green — in a way MSU at Oregon is another shot at avenging the Ducks’ 2022 loss in Corvallis.
B1G Week 4:
Friday, Sept. 20
No. 24 Illinois at No. 22 Nebraska: 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PT | FOX
Saturday, Sept. 21
Charlotte at Indiana: 12pm ET/11am CT/9am PT | BTN
Marshall at No. 3 Ohio St: 12pm ET/11am CT/9am PT | FOX
Villanova at Maryland: 12pm ET/11am CT/9am PT | BTN
Kent St at No. 10 Penn St: 330pm ET/230pm CT/1230pm PT | BTN
UCLA at No. 16 LSU: 330pm ET/230pm CT/1230pm PT | ABC
Rutgers at Virginia Tech: 330pm ET/230pm CT/1230pm PT | ACCN
No. 11 USC at No. 18 Michigan: 330pm ET/230pm CT/1230pm PT | CBS
Northwestern at Washington: 7pm ET/6pm CT/4pm PT | FS1
Iowa at Minnesota: 730pm ET/630pm CT/430pm PT | NBC
Michigan St at Boston College: 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PT | ACCN
Purdue at Oregon St: 830pm ET/730pm CT/530pm PT | The CW
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