The Big Ten race is wide open heading into Week 8, and the league’s title game picture could end up looking a lot stranger than anyone expected. With parity everywhere you look, two former Pac-12 programs have a real chance to crash the party and meet in the Big Ten Championship Game: UCLA and USC.
That possibility starts with UCLA, which just lost starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava for the rest of the season. Even without him, the Bruins still have plenty to lean on. Wayne Knight has already shown he can tilt games with his work on the ground, Ty Dieffenbach is gaining confidence at quarterback, and the defense has improved every week.
The schedule also sets UCLA up well. Its two toughest games arrive at the end, against USC and Michigan, and the Bruins could be 10-0 before that stretch even begins.
That would put them in position to be favored in both matchups. Bob Chesney has already helped shift the program’s culture, and it does not sound like a turnaround that took long to take hold.
A 12-0 finish is on the table, and so is 11-1. In this view, UCLA has the strongest path to the Big Ten title game in the conference.
USC’s road is just as fascinating. The Trojans still have Ohio State and Indiana coming up, but both opponents have issues of their own. Indiana is described as a very gettable team and one that should have more than one loss by now, while Ohio State is likely to be without Julian Sayin for the rest of the season, leaving the Buckeyes vulnerable.
There is still reason for caution with USC, but the ingredients are there. The Trojans have the best quarterback in the conference and freshmen who have not shown any fear in big moments.
If they can take care of business, there may not be another chance like this. Run the table, and USC would more than likely end up facing UCLA with the Big Ten title on the line.
In Other News...
USC Is Chasing A Local Recruiting Win Lincoln Riley Needs
USCs push for the 2028 class already has a local name at the center of it, and CaRon Williams has become one of the early targets worth tracking. The four-star defensive back has drawn attention from a long list of heavy hitters, but the Trojans have a built-in advantage with multiple visits to campus already under his belt, giving Lincoln Riley and his staff a chance to sell him on staying close to home.
For a program trying to build momentum early in that cycle, landing a player like Williams would matter well beyond one commitment. USC currently has just one pledge in the 2028 class, and the Trojans are expected to ramp up their recruiting efforts in the spring of 2027, which makes this a situation to watch as the next stage of the process gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Former Utah Star Took A Fresh Shot At USC Before Wisconsin
Before Wisconsin ever lined up across from USC, Dalton Kincaid was already leaning into an old Pac-12 rivalry that never seemed to lose its edge. The former Utah tight end, now with the Buffalo Bills, made his feelings clear on the October 24 edition of ESPN College GameDay, publicly taking a shot at USC and backing the Badgers to pull the upset.
Kincaid pointed back to Utahs history of success against the Trojans, including that 43-42 win in 2022, as part of why he liked Wisconsins chances. It was a pointed pick against a USC team that entered the matchup as a slight favorite, and it added another layer to a game already carrying some extra intrigue. [Read more 🡒]
USC May Be Further Along Than Fans Expected Under Eric Musselman
For a USC team still settling into life under Eric Musselman, the early signs were more polished than many expected. The No. 21 Trojans handled San Diego State in exhibition play, leading from start to finish in an 85-68 win that showed a group already buying into the defensive edge and efficient offensive pace Musselman wants.
Rodney Rice poured in 23 points, and Alijah Arenas added a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double to anchor a performance that had plenty of balance. USCs 15-0 run in the first half was the kind of stretch that can hint at real progress, even if the bigger test of how far along this roster truly is will have to wait for games that count. [Read more 🡒]