Even with the two of the league's top three teams on bye, the Big 10 was littered with upsets in Week 8 and surprising results. None were more surprising than Indiana's beatdown of Nebraska, despite an injury to Kurtis Rourke. Now past the midway point of the 2024 season, team's have started to show their true colors. Rutgers, USC and the aforementioned Cornhuskers are fading while Wisconsin and Michigan State are soaring. Still, there's plenty of football left to be played, and plenty of room for teams to climb and fall.
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Week 8 Result: Lost 35-0 versus Oregon
The Boilermakers reclaim the worst ranking in the Big 10 after being shut out by Oregon at home. Not counting a one-point loss to Illinois in overtime, Purdue's average margin of defeat is a staggering 35 points. Until they find some answers on defense, wins, or even close losses, will be hard to come by.
Week 8 Result: Won 35-32 at Rutgers
It's a big win for the Bruins, snapping a five-game losing streak and creating some positive momentum for the final stretch of the 2024 season. Ethan Garbers was outstanding, completing 32-of-38 passes with 431 all-purpose yards and five scores. Four of UCLA's five losses this season have come against opponents currently ranked in the top 15 of the AP poll.
Week 8 Result: Lost 23-3 versus Wisconsin
After a massive 27-point victory over Maryland in Week 7, Northwestern reverted to their previous -- and much less successful -- form against the Badgers. Jack Lausch struggled to find a rhythm against a strong Wisconsin secondary, finishing 9-for-24 with 82 passing yards. Northwestern will look to bounce back in Week 9 at Iowa.
15.) Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-3) | Previous: 13
Week 8 Result: Lost 35-32 versus UCLA
The Scarlet Knights have dropped three consecutive games, and although the offense stepped up in Week 8, the defense was carved up by Ethan Garbers. Athan Kaliakmanis threw for a season-high 287 yards but didn't throw a touchdown for the third time this season. In his last five games, Kaliakmanis has merely two touchdowns and four interceptions. Rutgers will look to get back on track in Week 9 against a USC team that's lost four of its last five games.
Week 8 Result: Won 29-28 versus USC
Doing their best Jeckyl and Hyde impression, Maryland rebounded from a 37-10 loss to Northwestern to take down the Trojans of USC. The Terrapins rallied back from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on a USC missed field goal and scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 53 seconds remaining. They'll look to pick up a second conference win in Week 9 at Minnesota.
Week 8 Result: Idle
The Huskies got a week to recoup after a 40-16 loss in Week 7 at the hands of Iowa. Still, they drop one spot in the rankings with several upsets occurring across the conference. Washington will face Indiana in Bloomington during Week 9.
Week 8 Result: Lost 32-20 at Michigan State
After routing Washington in Week 7, Iowa came out flat against the Spartans and never led in the 12-point loss. Perhaps the only positive for the Hawkeyes was Kaleb Johnson, who accumulated 147 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches. Iowa is set up for a bounce-back in Week 9, playing Northwestern at home.
Week 8 Result: Lost 29-28 at Maryland
The Trojans' squandered a double-digit lead in the second half for a third straight game, allowing Maryland to come back from a 21-7 halftime deficit in Week 8. The Trojans have dropped four of their last five games and have been plagued by their inability to put together a complete game. Now 1-4 in conference play, USC willl host Rutgers in Week 9.
Week 8 Result: Won 32-20 versus Iowa
The Spartans snapped a three-game losing streak with Saturday's decisive win over Iowa. Michigan State never trailed and the underclassman duo of Aidan Chiles and Nick Marsh was excellent again. Sparty joins Ohio State as the only teams to score more than 21 points against Iowa this season. Michigan State is scheduled to play Michigan at the Big House in Week 9.
Week 8 Result: Lost 56-7 at Indiana
It was another subpar performance from the Cornhuskers offense, putting up just one touchdown while turning the ball over five times. Nebraska has combined for just 21 points across the last two weeks, which is not ideal considering they travel to Columbus to face Ohio State in Week 9.
Week 8 Result: Lost 21-7 at Illinois
Michigan repeatedly shot themselves in the foot, fumbling the ball twice in the first half which resulted in 10 points for the Illini and throwing an interception in the redzone during the fourth quarter to end a 12-play drive. Jack Tuttle threw for 208 yards -- the most by a Michigan quarterback this season -- but his inconsistent ball placement yielded too many missed opportunities. The Wolverines have dropped back-to-back games and haven't won a game by more than three points since Week 3. They'll get a home matchup with Michigan State in Week 9.
Week 8 Result: Idle
Minnesota is one of the Big 10's biggest winners of Week 8 despite not playing a game. Three of the four teams directly ahead of them in last week's rankings lost, bumping the Golden Gophers into the top eight. They'll get Maryland in Week 9.
Week 8 Result: Won 23-3 at Northwestern
The Badgers have stacked three consecutive convincing victories, a stretch in which they've outscored opponents 117-16. It seems as though Wisconsin's second-half collapse against USC in Week 5 lit a fire under the team after a slow start. Braedyn Locke has thrown an interception in all four starts in 2024, but he's delivered several big plays and has been assisted by Tawee Walker, who's rushed for 418 yards and six touchdowns in his last three appearances. Wisconsin will host Penn State in Week 9.
Week 8 Result: Won 21-7 versus Michigan
The Illini didn't need an outstanding performance to defeat Michigan, they just needed to play a clean game. An that they did. Illinois won the turnover battle 3-0 and generated 10 points off turnovers. Luke Altmyer completed 9-of-18 passing attempts for 80 yards and a score, but he added 48 yards and a score on the ground while leading the Fighting Illini to their third win over a ranked opponent this season. They'll have a chance to add to that total in Week 9, when they travel to Euguene to face undefeated Oregon.
Week 8 Result: Won 56-7 versus Nebraska
It was complete and utter dominance from the Hoosiers, who outscored the Cornhuskers 28-0 in the second half without Kurtis Rourke, who left with a hand injury. Tayven Jackson was exceptional in place of Rourke, completing 7-of-8 passes for 91 yards and two scores. Though Jackson could be passable in the short-term, Rourke avoiding a serious injury is critical to Indiana's championship hopes. They'll host Washington in Week 9.
Week 8 Result: Idle
No game means no movement for PSU, but it's a well-timed off week. Penn State travels to Madison to face a surging Badgers team during Week 9 in what's considered one of the best atmospheres in college football.
Week 8 Result: Idle
The Buckeyes got a week off to recover from its heartbreaking loss at the hands of Oregon in Week 7, With the Nittany Lions also on bye, OSU remains in the No. 2 slot. They'll have a chance to bounce back in Week 9 against Nebraska, who just got stomped by Indiana.
Week 8 Result: Won 35-0 at Purdue
After a massive win over Ohio State in Week 7, it wouldn't be surprising to see Oregon start slow against the inferior Boilermakers. in West Lafayette. Yet, Dan Lanning's Ducks didn't show any signs of a hangover, scoring touchdowns on their first three drives en route to a lopsided shutout. The Ducks host Illinois in Week 9.