Rivalry Week in the Big Ten delivered everything fans could ask for - statement wins, defensive grit, and a few nail-biters that came down to the wire. While Penn State and Rutgers battled it out in Piscataway, the rest of the conference was deep in the trenches of their fiercest matchups. And with the regular season now in the books, two teams are heading into the Big Ten title game with perfect records - but they got there in very different ways.
Buckeyes Snap the Streak, Hoosiers Keep Rolling
Ohio State finally got the Michigan monkey off its back. After three straight losses in The Game, the Buckeyes flipped the script with a 27-9 win that wasn’t just about revenge - it was about dominance.
Michigan struck first with a 6-3 lead in the opening quarter, but from there, it was all Ohio State. The Buckeyes rattled off 24 unanswered points, shutting down Michigan’s offense and controlling the tempo the rest of the way.
Quarterback Julian Sayin continued to look like a seasoned veteran, completing 19-of-26 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns, with just one interception. Sayin’s efficiency has been a theme all season, and he delivered again on the biggest stage. Running back Bo Jackson was the workhorse, grinding out 117 yards on 22 carries and keeping the chains moving.
Meanwhile, Indiana put an exclamation point on its undefeated season with a 56-3 demolition of Purdue in the Old Oaken Bucket game. That’s the sixth time this year the Hoosiers have hung 50 or more on an opponent - and this one might’ve been their most complete performance yet.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza didn’t need to do much through the air - just 8-of-15 for 117 yards and two touchdowns - because Indiana’s defense stole the show. The Hoosiers held Purdue to just 44 rushing yards as a team, and defensive lineman Stephen Daley was a wrecking ball in the trenches, racking up 4.5 tackles for loss. In total, Indiana’s defense stopped the Boilermakers for a loss 10 times.
Now, it’s Ohio State vs. Indiana for the Big Ten Championship.
Two 12-0 teams, two very different identities - one power program with a legacy of titles, and one upstart that’s been lighting up scoreboards all season. Buckle up.
Rivalries That Went Down to the Wire
Not every game was a blowout. Several rivalry matchups came down to key plays in the fourth quarter, and a few defensive performances made all the difference.
Illinois edged out Northwestern 20-13, thanks in large part to a pair of clutch interceptions by defensive back Miles Scott in the final quarter. Torrie Cox Jr. added another pick as the Illini forced four turnovers in total - a defensive masterclass that bailed out an offense that didn’t eclipse 300 total yards. Illinois leaned on its ground game, punching in two rushing touchdowns to secure the win.
Minnesota, on the other hand, pulled off a gritty 17-7 win over Wisconsin despite being outgained in total offense. The difference?
Running back Darius Taylor, who broke loose for 100 yards on 19 carries, including a 49-yard touchdown that flipped the momentum in the second quarter. The Gophers’ defense did the rest, intercepting Badgers quarterback Hunter Simmons twice and pitching a second-half shutout.
Michigan State had a bit more drama to deal with. After building a lead, the Spartans had to weather a third-quarter surge from Maryland, who put up 21 points in the frame.
But MSU held firm down the stretch and walked away with a 38-28 win. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic delivered a strong performance, throwing for 292 yards and four touchdowns on 69.2% passing.
Special teams also got in on the action - Alante Brown took a kickoff 92 yards to the house in the third quarter, giving the Spartans a crucial momentum swing.
Blowouts Out West
Not every rivalry game was a nail-biter. Some teams made sure to leave no doubt.
Iowa handled Nebraska 40-16, even with Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson going off for 217 yards and a touchdown. The problem for Nebraska?
That was just about all the offense they had. Iowa’s balanced attack - led by quarterback Mark Gronowski’s dual-threat performance (166 passing yards, 64 rushing yards, three total touchdowns) - kept the Cornhuskers on their heels all game.
Running back Kamari Moulton chipped in two touchdowns of his own, finishing with 93 yards on 18 carries.
USC bounced back from a sluggish first half to take down UCLA 29-10. Trailing 10-7 at the break, the Trojans came out firing in the second half behind quarterback Jayden Maiava, who threw two touchdown passes after halftime and finished with 257 yards on 21-of-29 passing. Running back King Miller was the workhorse, racking up 124 yards on just 17 carries - a 7.3-yard average - and scoring twice, including a 41-yard dagger in the fourth quarter.
And in a Pac-12 clash that stayed tight until the final minutes, Oregon closed the door on Washington with a 26-14 win. After Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. cut the lead to 19-14 with a touchdown pass midway through the fourth, Ducks QB Dante Moore responded with a 64-yard bomb to seal it. That’s the kind of knockout punch championship-caliber teams deliver when the pressure’s on.
As the dust settles on Rivalry Week, the Big Ten title picture is set. Ohio State and Indiana - two teams with perfect records and contrasting styles - will square off for the crown.
But across the conference, this weekend reminded us why these matchups matter so much. Bragging rights, bowl positioning, and in some cases, just pride - it was all on the line.
And the Big Ten delivered.