Week 9 in Big Ten football feels like another quarterback showcase, and a few names are lined up to shape the weekend. From Wisconsin’s Colton Joseph to Illinois freshman Michael Clayton, there are several players who could turn strong recent momentum into another big outing. UCLA’s Ty Dieffenbach is also in line for a bigger role, while Aidan Chiles and Antwan Raymond headline the most intriguing individual matchups of the week.
Colton Joseph gets the toughest assignment of the bunch, but the expectation is that he handles it. After not needing a star-level performance to help Wisconsin beat USC last week, Joseph now faces an Iowa defense that is described as stifling.
That means the Badgers will need more than a routine outing from the transfer. He is expected to do damage both on the ground and through the air, running for 60 yards, throwing for at least 200 yards and accounting for three total touchdowns in a win over the Hawkeyes.
Michael Clayton’s first impression was hard to top. In his debut as a true freshman, he helped Illinois pull off a huge home upset against Oregon.
Now the matchup gets much friendlier, with Maryland’s defense standing in the way. The forecast here is another sharp performance from Clayton, who is projected to throw for 250 yards and three touchdowns as the Fighting Illini try to keep rolling.
At UCLA, Ty Dieffenbach looks like a backup who is starting to settle in. He played much better last week, and the Bruins’ run game has already given the offense a strong foundation.
If Dieffenbach can add to that in the passing game, the offense becomes even more dangerous. Against Nevada, the expectation is that Bob Chesney lets him air it out and keep building confidence.
The marquee name of the week is Aidan Chiles. Northwestern’s offense is facing an Oregon defense that has been a disappointment this season, and Chiles is positioned to take advantage.
High-powered attacks have already had success against the Ducks, and Northwestern is expected to join that list. Chiles is projected to throw for 200 yards, run for 50 more and produce three total touchdowns in a big Wildcats win, furthering his Heisman dark-horse push.
The underrated performance to watch belongs to Antwan Raymond. Rutgers is trying to crack one of the country’s best defenses in Michigan, and Raymond is the player expected to give the Scarlet Knights a fighting chance.
After rushing for 150 yards against Northwestern and averaging 8.3 yards per carry last week, Raymond is projected to keep pounding away. This time the number is expected to be closer to 6 yards per carry, but he is still expected to top 100 yards again and make life difficult for a physical Wolverines front.
In Other News...
USC Faces A Defining Ohio State Test Jide Abasiri Set The Tone
With No. 2 Ohio State coming to town, USC is spending the week where these kinds of games often get decided: at the line of scrimmage. Junior defensive tackle Jide Abasiri helped set that tone as the Trojans prepared for one of their biggest tests yet, stressing the need to match the Buckeyes physical style and treat the matchup like a true measuring stick. His voice carries extra weight after working back from a leg injury, and he also made clear that the young players around him have been part of the reason the defense has kept moving forward.
Abasiri pointed to the growth of a true freshman and a Michigan State transfer as examples of the kind of contributions USC needs if it wants to stand up to an elite opponent. He also offered a glimpse into the teams mindset and the culture around fan behavior, framing this game as part of a larger standard rather than a one-off event. For the Trojans, the challenge is bigger than the opponent on the schedule. It is about whether they can turn that talk about physicality into something that holds up for four quarters. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Just Became Texas Biggest Quarterback Watch
Arch Mannings future at Texas has suddenly become one of the sports most closely watched storylines, and the ripple effect reaches all the way to USC. Even with no public indication that Manning is ready to leave Austin, the speculation around a possible move for the 2027 season has already turned into a broader recruiting and roster-watch conversation, with analysts and insiders floating familiar powers like Ole Miss, Georgia, USC and Miami as possible fits.
For the Trojans, the intrigue is obvious. USC has been tied to the discussion because of the kind of quarterback talent it always attracts and the way coaching connections and roster openings can shape these high-end decisions, even if nothing concrete has surfaced. For now, it is still a theory more than a timeline, but when a name like Manning enters the portal rumor mill, every program with quarterback ambition has to pay attention. [Read more 🡒]
USC Has No Margin For Empty Talk Against Ohio State
After the loss to Wisconsin, USC players spent the week sounding less interested in making promises than in fixing the basics before Ohio State arrives. The defensive side of the ball in particular talked about the need for sharper fundamentals and a more consistent edge in practice, a reminder that the Trojans know they cannot afford a loose stretch with a heavyweight opponent waiting next on the schedule.
Lincoln Riley also addressed the outside noise and confirmed he remains with the program, cutting off at least one distraction as USC tries to steady itself. Amid the football fallout, freshman wide receiver Ethan Feaster added a different kind of note to the week by launching a breast cancer awareness merchandise campaign to support related charities, a small but notable off-field effort as the Trojans try to regain traction. [Read more 🡒]