Week 10 Predictions – 2026
Last Week: Ohio State looked great on the stat sheet in every category but the scoreboard. For some reason, they could not get it together to win in LA. The 30-18 loss to USC is not a backbreaker for the season but it now leaves no room for error. Win out and they are still likely in the B1G championship and the playoffs. For our game predictions, John Siebert was able to go 4-1, would have been perfect if not for the Buckeye loss. Overall, Steven and Gregg are on top the standings but there is only 5 games that separate the top from the bottom. Should be fun to see how it finishes down the stretch.
This Week’s Games: The Buckeyes FINALLY return home after only having one game in the ‘Shoe during the month of October. Everything is still available to them this season but they will need to take care of business against Oregon and may need to do it with style points. …. The ‘Holy War’ is played on Utah campus this year. Both the BYU and Utah find themselves int he top 12 in the playoffs right now. Would a Cougar loss knock them out of the playoff hunt? …. The big game this weekend will be Miami at Notre Dame. The Hurricanes are on top of the rankings now, can the Irish get the win at home? …. Georgia goes to Mississippi as a rematch to their playoff game last year. Can the Bulldogs win this time around on the road? …. Iowa is on the outside looking in for the playoff race, but will they move into the top 12 with a win over Northwestern.
Buckeye Greats: As in the past, we will continue to include former Buckeye players in our prediction fun, and we are thrilled to have Vaughn Broadnax back with us as a regular participant for the 12th straight year.
Let’s have some fun! Here we go with our Week 10 Picks – Good Luck to All – Gregg
Oregon @ (12)Ohio State
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Oregon upsets OSU 21-17
Andy Steger: This game is suddenly fascinating. With Ohio State coming off their second loss of the season and Oregon playing for their pride, this game and every game after is an elimination game for Ohio State. Oregon looked better last week after firing their offensive coordinator. Last week Oregon rallied from a double digit deficit against a really tough Northwestern team to get the win at home. I won’t bore people with the stats in this game because honestly I think this will be a game where the team that wants it more will win. Oregon was one of the favorites to win the national championship this year, now they’re locked out of the playoffs. How big would it be if Oregon came into the Horseshoe and beat Ohio State and eliminated them from playoff contention? Ohio State has to pressure and confuse Dylan Raiola when the defense is on the field and the offense simply has to execute better. They can’t keep missing blocks, dropping passes and committing penalties. Oregon’s defense really stepped up big last week in the second half, Ohio State cannot afford to get behind like they did last week, they need to come out swinging even if they miss because at this point they have nothing to lose. Ohio State 27 Oregon 17
Cory Steger: Oregon made an impressive comeback to beat a ranked Northwestern team last week, but the Ducks still have problems. The Ducks were outgained and outrushed by the Wildcats last week, and if it weren’t for a 75-yard bomb to Dakorien Moore, the Ducks may have lost that game and fallen to 4-4. Ohio State, meanwhile, is coming off an ugly loss on the road to USC. New starting quarterback Luke Fahey did an OK job, but the rest of the team failed to show up. Penalties, poor execution, missed tackles, and bad performance in the red zone cost the Bucks in Fahey’s first start. Fahey, for his part, looked good in the pocket but will want some throws back, especially the one he overthrew to a wide open Devin McCuin in the end zone. Playing at home, and Oregon having to come all the way to Columbus, gives confidence that the Buckeyes will right the ship this week. Ohio State 28, Oregon 20
Dave Culver: Ohio State 28 Oregon 14
Gregg Watson: Ohio State fans seem to be caught up with the idea that the Bucks are now in a ‘must win’ situation. The Buckeyes are ALWAYS in a must win mode. Have you seen what the fans are like any time they lose? This is not new for this team or Ryan Day and his coaching staff. Oregon, on the other hand, is in must win mode. They know if they win out, they can play themselves back into consideration, but they would need some help. When the season began, this was supposed to be a big match-up between Donte Moore and Julian Sayin, but season ending injuries to both quarterbacks have made this a different looking game. I think Ohio State makes some adjustments this week, continues their growth toward becoming the championship caliber team we know they can be and secure a solid victory. Ohio State 34 Oregon 20
Jason Harris: The #12 Buckeyes enter at 6-2 after a disappointing 30-18 loss to USC, while the #23 Ducks improved to 5-3 with a 34-26 comeback victory over #20 Northwestern. Ohio State will once again turn to freshman QB Luke Fahey, who is making his second consecutive start with Julian Sayin sidelined by an elbow injury. Fahey showed some promise against USC but struggled under pressure, and protecting him will be a major priority against an elite Oregon defensive front. The Buckeyes still have one of the nation’s most talented receiving corps, led by Jeremiah Smith, who has 62 receptions for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns and is currently the Heisman favorite. Oregon counters with QB Dylan Raiola, who threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns against Northwestern, along with explosive WR Dakorien Moore. However, the Ducks will be without leading RB Jordon Davison, who is sidelined with an injury.
The key matchup will be Ohio State’s offensive line against Oregon’s pass rush. The Buckeyes cannot afford to allow Fahey to face consistent pressure, particularly against a defense capable of creating negative plays. Ohio State must also establish its running game, which was excellent last week, to take some pressure off the young QB and create opportunities for Smith and the rest of the receiving corps. On the other side, the Buckeyes’ defense will need to contain Raiola and prevent Oregon from generating explosive plays through the air. The Ducks have enough offensive talent to make this competitive, but Davison’s absence and Ohio State’s defensive advantage are significant factors. Playing at Ohio Stadium should also provide a major boost for the Buckeyes, who have won 12 consecutive home games. Expect Oregon to stay within striking distance, but Ohio State’s defensive talent is healthier than a week ago and will bounce back and that along with home-field advantage should be enough to secure an important bounce-back victory and keep them in the driver’s seat for a return trip to Indianapolis. Prediction: Ohio State 31 Oregon 21
Joe Hylton: OSU
John Siebert: Well, just about everything the Bucks could do wrong last week, they did – bad turnovers, dropped passes, bad red zone play calling, no consistent QB pressure on D, and gave up big plays on D without responding on O. The biggest concern, bad QB play, didn’t happen. Fahey played well enough for OSU to win. Unfortunately, the play callers and the defense let him down. If they don’t play angry and solve most of the issues from last week, it could be another long day on Saturday. Oregon is almost as schizo as Ohio State. Get “bad” OSU v “Good” Oregon, and this one could get ugly. I’m picking the Bucks, because I trust Day to get the issues fixed, but that trust is quickly eroding. Ohio State 27 Oregon 24
Josh Watson: Ohio State returns to Columbus facing its most important game of the season. The Buckeyes’ 30-18 loss at USC did not eliminate them from the Big Ten Championship race or the playoff discussion, but it removed almost all remaining margin for error. Winning out would still give Ohio State a compelling résumé. A third loss would likely end any realistic path to the conference title game. The final numbers from Los Angeles were both encouraging and frustrating. Ohio State accumulated 464 yards, including 193 rushing yards from Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, while Luke Fahey completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate start. Jeremiah Smith caught 10 passes and broke the Big Ten career record with his 40th receiving touchdown. Yet all that production resulted in only 18 points. Ohio State’s failures in scoring territory told the story. Fahey completed only two of his 10 red-zone attempts, and the Buckeyes settled for four Connor Hawkins field goals before finally reaching the end zone with just over two minutes remaining. Penalties, dropped passes and a costly third-quarter fumble made life more difficult for an inexperienced quarterback who needed his supporting cast to play cleanly. Oregon arrives with renewed confidence after rallying from a 20-6 deficit to beat Northwestern 34-26. Dylan Raiola completed 22 of 31 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns in his second start since Dante Moore was ruled out for the season. Dakorien Moore supplied the game-breaking play with a 75-yard fourth-quarter touchdown, giving Ohio State’s secondary another dangerous receiver to contain. The Ducks are better than their 5-3 record suggests, but they remain inconsistent and have struggled to protect the football and finish drives throughout the season. Ohio State should be able to run successfully again, and playing at home removes some of the pressure Fahey faced in Los Angeles. The Buckeyes respond with a cleaner performance and remain alive in the Big Ten race, but Oregon’s passing game keeps the margin inside double digits. Ohio State 27, Oregon 20
Steven Smith: Last week was an embarrassment, and while there were missed assignments and procedural errors, the blame must be levied straight at the coaching staff. It felt like a loss that the team doesn’t readily come back from.The team has progressively been deteriorating, and if coach Day doesn’t right the ship this week, more players will mentally check out. The lack of focus and intensity at USC cannot be allowed to continue. The bull-headed offensive play calling cannot continue. We lose this one, heads will roll, or should. I’m not really sure the Bucks bounce back, primarily due to on the field leadership. The last two years the Buckeyes have teemed with on the field leaders such as Downs, Styles and Simon. The safety blanket is gone and it is time for the kids to step up. I reluctantly will go with a bounce back game, but it won’t be pretty, and it is doubtful anyone in the stands will have any hair left by the end of the game. OSU 27-24.
Stefan Armintrout: My hope is that Ohio State’s defense plays better than whatever that was last Saturday. Luke Fahey was not the problem. He look pretty good for a first time starter. This matchup is a little scary. Oregon hasn’t been great this year, but they still have some good players. Much like USC, whom they beat. I still have hope, but I think it’ll be a close one. Buckeyes win it by a late score. (Ohio State, 24-19)
Final Score: Ohio State xx Oregon xx
(9)BYU @ (3)Utah
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Utah over BYU 28-24
Andy: This is a big game that may have an impact on the teams that get into the playoffs. Right now this game is a three point spread which means this is a pick’em game. These teams are very similar on paper. BYU is averaging about 33 points per game on offense and allowing an average of 18 points per game, while Utah is scoring an average of 38 points per game while allowing about 16 points per game. Where will this matchup be won or lost? I wonder if BYU can finish drives against Utah’s stout defense. BYU is a run first team, Utah is excellent at stopping the run, they’re only allowing about 88 rush yards per game. That spells big trouble for this BYU offense which is a run first offense. Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier will have to play a nearly perfect game if BYU hopes to win. I just think Utah is well matched in this game. Utah 24 BYU 16
Cory: The year’s version of the Holy War should be a doozy. Utah enters as one of the last remaining unbeaten teams in FBS, and BYU has just one loss from two weeks ago. A top-10 matchup that is essentially a play-in game for the playoff, there are massive implications based on the result of this game. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier and Utah quarterback Devon Dampier will be a terrific matchup, but it’s actually the running game that should have the biggest effect in this game. Utah is 14th in the country in rushing yards per game, and the Utes have 20 rushing touchdowns. For BYU, I think the Cougars are too reliant on Bachmeier to make plays and between that and Utah’s running game, I give the edge to the Utes. Utah 35, BYU 31
Dave: Utah 24 BYU 21
Gregg: Utah and BYU playing in to solidify their respective places in the playoff rankings. Which sounds stranger, that statement or the fact that these two teams are playing for the top spot in the Big 12 conference? I am still not used to that dynamic but that is the world we live in for college football with these super conferences. With that said, both of these teams are very good and deserve the attention they are getting. Utah comes in at #3 and with a win they ‘might’ move to #1 in the new rankings Tuesday. BYU also finds themselves in the top 12, and a win likely makes them a lock for the playoffs. A loss, and they will move to the bubble. I predict Utah wins this game but both teams will find themselves in the playoffs when the regular season ends. Utah 27 BYU 20
Jason: #7 BYU travels to Salt Lake City to face #3 Utah in the first top-10 matchup in the history of the Holy War rivalry. The Cougars enter at 7-1 after a 27-20 victory over Arizona State, while the undefeated Utes are 8-0 following a 34-21 win over Cincinnati. BYU QB Bear Bachmeier has been a major part of the team’s success, throwing for 1,750 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 336 rushing yards and seven scores. However, the Cougars have struggled to establish their ground game without leading RB LJ Martin, who is listed as doubtful with an ankle injury. Utah counters with QB Devon Dampier, whose dual-threat ability has helped lead one of the Big 12’s most productive offenses. RB Wayshawn Parker has also been outstanding, rushing for 726 yards and nine touchdowns.
The key matchup will be BYU’s ability to establish the run against a Utah defense that has been particularly effective at limiting opposing rushing attacks. Without Martin, the Cougars have struggled to generate consistent production on the ground, placing additional pressure on Bachmeier to make plays through the air and with his legs. Utah will look to take advantage while relying on Parker and Dampier to control the tempo offensively. The Utes also have the advantage of playing at home, where the atmosphere should be electric for one of the biggest rivalry games in recent memory. BYU has enough talent to make this competitive, but Utah’s overall balance, defensive strength and home-field advantage make the difference. Expect the Utes to remain unbeaten and take control of the Big 12 race and in prime position to secure a spot in the CFP. Prediction: Utah 31 BYU 20
Joe-S-U: Utes
John: This is maybe the best of the early games. Somewhat like Ohio State and Oregon, which BYU team that shows up will go a long way to determining the outcome. If Notre Dame BYU shows up, the Cougars have a shot. UCF BYU, on the other hand and the ‘Utes roll. This rivalry can get nasty. I think this one will be close, but I’ll give the nod to Utah simply because the game is at Rice-Eccles. Utah 30 BYU 28
Josh: The Holy War has rarely carried stakes this significant. Utah is 8-0, owns the nation’s longest active winning streak at 14 games and sits alone atop the Big 12 standings. BYU enters at 7-1 with an opportunity to avenge neither of the last two meetings—because the Cougars already won both—and place itself back in the conference championship race. Utah continued its dominant season with a 49-25 road victory at Cincinnati. Devon Dampier threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense produced a fumble return and an interception return for touchdowns during a 42-point first half. The Utes controlled possession, created turnovers and eliminated any possibility of a letdown following their victory over Houston. BYU bounced back from its double-overtime loss at UCF by beating Arizona State 27-20. The Cougars survived, but Kalani Sitake acknowledged that the offense struggled on third down and could not consistently establish the run. Those weaknesses become much more problematic against a Utah defense that thrives on creating long-yardage situations. Rivalry games are rarely as straightforward as the statistics suggest, and BYU has won the last three meetings in the series. Utah is currently the more complete team, however, and Rice-Eccles Stadium provides another advantage. Dampier creates enough with his arm and legs to keep BYU from loading the box, while the Utah defense forces multiple turnovers. The Utes reclaim rivalry bragging rights and remain undefeated. Utah 31, BYU 20
Steven: Utah has been playing lights out whereas BYU has been squeaking by over the past few weeks. The closest game the undefeated Utes have had this season is a 3 point win over the Colorado Buffaloes. Outside of that game, their average margin of victory has been 25 points. With the boys from Provo making their way to SLC, the Utes should win handily. Utah 34-21.
Trout: I will go with the Utes. I think the Cougars will keep it interesting, but Utah seems like the better team. Or they’re at least playing better at the moment. I can see it being really close and Utah escaping with the win. (Utah, 31-27)
Final Score: Utah xx BYU xx
(1)Miami @ (11)Notre Dame
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Notre Dame over Miami 31-17
Andy: This is a huge matchup for both teams. An old rivalry that rarely gets played because Notre Dame and Miami have never shared a region of the country and Notre Dame has never been in a conference. This should be an interesting game to watch because Notre Dame is one of the best defenses in the country right now, allowing just 13 points per game. The Fighting Irish have one of the best secondaries in the country headed by All-American corner Leonard Moore. Miami also lost their best offensive player in Malachi Toney who had surgery this past week and will miss this game against Notre Dame. Miami will have to run the football a little more now that their best pass catcher is out, however that will be difficult to do because Notre Dame is only allowing 2.7 yards per rush on average and 85 yards rushing per game to their opponents. Star quarterback Darien Mensah can catapult himself into the lead for the Heisman. I think Notre Dame has their back against the wall with one loss. Notre Dame 27 Miami 24
Cory: We have a matchup of top-five teams in Miami and Notre Dame, and it’s weird to say that even though we’re more than halfway through the season, I don’t know how good either team actually is. Miami hasn’t played anybody yet, and almost lost to North Carolina last week. Notre Dame lost two weeks ago to the only good team they’ve played so far in BYU. Last year’s game was an epic one that came down to the last minute, and we can only hope that this game lives up to the hype. One big concern for Notre Dame is they struggled to contain the running ability of Bachmaier in the loss at BYU – Bachmeier ran for 45 yards and had two scores on the ground. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah is not as good of a runner as Bachmeier, but he can scramble well. I am concerned that Miami has played to the level of their opponents recently, and with this game being in South Bend I give a slight edge to the Irish. CJ Carr finally gets his statement win. Notre Dame 38, Miami 35
Dave: Miami 18 Notre Dame 14
Gregg: Must win for the Irish, and I would prefer to see them in versus a 6th SEC team. The Irish probably should have been in last year, don’t think they deserve to miss as a two-loss team. Miami is in either way, win or lose. The crowd will make a dfference as well, so it is time for the ‘Canes to lose. Notre Dame 27 Miami 17
Jason: #1 Miami travels to South Bend to take on #4 Notre Dame in one of the biggest games of the college football season. The undefeated Hurricanes enter at 8-0 after escaping North Carolina with a 38-35 victory, while the Fighting Irish are 7-1 following a closer than expected 35-13 win over Navy when they pulled away after half. Miami QB Darian Mensah has been outstanding, throwing for 2,425 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading one of the nation’s most explosive offenses. However, the Hurricanes will be without star WR Malachi Toney, who suffered an ankle injury in practice and is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season. Notre Dame counters with QB CJ Carr, who has thrown for more than 2,000 yards and has helped lead an offense averaging over 40 points per game. The Irish also bring one of the nation’s best defenses into the matchup, allowing just 13.4 points and 236.3 total yards per game.
The key matchup will be Miami’s explosive passing attack against a Notre Dame defense that has consistently limited opposing offenses. Mensah will need to find other playmakers without Toney, while protecting the football against an aggressive Irish defensive front. On the other side, Carr and the Notre Dame offense must take advantage of Miami’s defensive vulnerabilities and avoid putting their defense in difficult situations. Playing at home under the lights should provide a significant advantage for the Fighting Irish, and the absence of Toney could be a major difference in a game featuring two national championship contenders. Expect a physical, closely contested matchup, but Notre Dame’s defensive strength and home-field advantage should help the Irish avenge last season’s loss and avoid what would be a damaging loss to their CFP hopes. Prediction: Notre Dame 31 Miami 21
Joe-S-U: Fighting Freemans
John: Given how the committee dis’d OSU this week, it will be interesting to see how they justify keeping the Irish in the top 12 after this one. Miami 31 Notre Dame 24
Josh: The nation’s top-ranked team enters South Bend as an underdog, which speaks to both Notre Dame’s talent and Miami’s recent vulnerability. The Hurricanes are 8-0, but their last three games include a double-overtime escape against Florida State and a 38-35 victory over North Carolina. Miami trailed during the fourth quarter in Chapel Hill before scoring two touchdowns and forcing the turnover it needed to end a five-game losing streak against the Tar Heels. The Hurricanes deserve credit for surviving, but their defense has shown enough cracks to make this road trip particularly dangerous. Notre Dame improved to 7-1 by beating Navy 35-13. The Irish trailed briefly during the first half before scoring touchdowns on four consecutive possessions. Their defense held Navy to 56 yards after halftime, while CJ Carr threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Nolan James Jr. added 107 rushing yards and two scores on only nine carries. Miami won last season’s meeting 27-24, a result that eventually helped send the Hurricanes to the playoff while Notre Dame remained home. That history adds another emotional layer to an already significant matchup. The Hurricanes possess enough speed to create explosive plays, but Notre Dame is better equipped to control the line of scrimmage. The Irish use their running game to keep Miami’s offense on the sideline and force the Hurricanes to play from behind. Miami makes one final push, but Notre Dame finishes the upset at home. Notre Dame 31, Miami 27
Steven: Notre Dame’s season is basically on the line with this game. Miami is a formidable opponent and still in the top 25 in defense but in their last 3 games they have given up an average of 31 points to a mixed schedule. This looks to be a race to the finish with the team who can make the stop when necessary, coming out on top. Neither team’s schedule has been spectacular, so it is a bit of a toss-up. Domers 35-31.
Trout: I’ll go with the Irish. I might be completely wrong, but I think this Maimi is going to be hurt significantly by the loss of Toney. I still think it’s a bitter fight until the final second, but Notre Dame does just enough to win the game. Marcus Freeman and his Irish get their first signature win of the season. (Notre Dame, 28-24)
Final Score: Notre Dame xx Miami xx
(2)Georgia @ (9)Mississippi
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Georgia over Ole Miss 31-20
Andy: I really think this game heavily favors Georgia. Georgia has one of the highest scoring offenses in the country averaging 41 points per game and one of the best scoring defenses in the country allowing just 14.9 points per game. Georgia runs the football to set up downfield passing throws for its offense whereas Ole Miss is the opposite, they’re going to come out and throw a lot of quick passes to try and establish a rhythm on offense and get star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss some momentum early. Ole Miss’ best chance to win this game is to get some scores early and get Georgia to play from behind. Georgia has a more talented roster than Ole Miss and they say that the run game and defense travel well. So despite this game being on the road for Georgia I expect them to win this one. Georgia 31 Ole Miss 27
Cory: Georgia is the best one-loss team in the country and the Bulldogs responded from their first loss by smashing Florida last week. Georgia forced four turnovers in that game, showing that the defense is in top form right now. Gunnar Stockton and the passing game weren’t great, but with a good run game and that defense, Georgia will be hard to beat. Ole Miss also rebounded following its loss to Texas by dominating Auburn. This game is a rematch of what was an epic College Football Playoff quarterfinal last season, and we can only hope this year’s meeting is just as fun to watch. Georgia is in better form right now, and is still a more well-rounded team, so I’ve got the Dawgs in a close one. Georgia 31, Ole Miss 28
Dave: Georgia 21 Ole Miss 14
Gregg: The Bulldogs are going to remember their loss to the Rebels in the playoffs last year. The only way Georgia losses this game is if the fix is in and they try to keep an extra loss off the Ole Miss record (did I say that out loud). Plus a Rebel loss helps the Buckeyes so ‘Go Dawgs!’ Georgia 27 Mississippi 24
Jason: #2 Georgia travels to Oxford to face #12 Ole Miss in one of the biggest SEC matchups of the season, with significant CFP implications for both teams. The Bulldogs enter at 7-1 after a convincing 27-8 victory over #17 Florida, while the Rebels improved to 6-2 with a dominant 45-15 win over Auburn. Georgia QB Gunner Stockton has been highly efficient, throwing for 1,570 yards and 16 touchdowns while leading an offense averaging 41 points per game. The Bulldogs also feature one of the nation’s best defenses, allowing just 14.9 points per contest. Ole Miss counters with QB Trinidad Chambliss, who has helped lead an explosive offense averaging 37.1 points per game. Chambliss has the ability to make plays both inside and outside the pocket, but the Rebels will be without leading RB Kewan Lacy, who remains sidelined with a shoulder injury.
The key matchup will be Ole Miss’ explosive offense against a Georgia defense that has been particularly effective at stopping the run and forcing opposing teams into difficult passing situations. Chambliss will need to make plays through the air while avoiding costly mistakes against an aggressive Bulldogs defensive front. Georgia, meanwhile, should look to establish its rushing attack and take advantage of an Ole Miss defense allowing 24 points per game. The Rebels have won 16 consecutive home games and defeated Georgia 39-34 in last season’s Sugar Bowl, giving them plenty of confidence heading into this rematch. However, the Bulldogs have been more consistent defensively and have the balance necessary to win in a difficult road environment. Expect a competitive, high-scoring game, but Georgia’s defensive strength and ability to control the ground game should make the difference late. Prediction: Georgia 35 Ole Miss 24
Joe-S-U: Ole Miss
John: Georgia will beat Ole Miss, and the committee will move them from #10 to #7 because SEC. Georgia 38 Ole Miss 34
Josh: Georgia and Ole Miss enter after convincing rivalry victories. The Bulldogs forced four turnovers in a 27-8 win over Florida, while the Rebels responded to their loss at Texas by overwhelming Auburn 45-15. Georgia’s defense was the central story against Florida. Chris Cole returned a fumble 66 yards for a touchdown, and the Bulldogs held SEC rushing-touchdown leader Jadan Baugh to 38 yards on 17 carries. Georgia led 24-0 at halftime despite Gunner Stockton throwing for only 101 yards. Ole Miss was far more explosive offensively. Trinidad Chambliss threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns while adding 65 yards and a score on the ground. The Rebels outscored Auburn 31-0 after halftime and demonstrated the balance required to challenge Georgia’s defense. The most important matchup may come on third down. Georgia converts more than half of its attempts, while Ole Miss allows opponents to convert at a rate above 42 percent. If the Bulldogs consistently extend possessions, they can limit the number of opportunities Chambliss receives. Oxford will provide Ole Miss with a meaningful advantage, and Chambliss should create more problems than Florida’s offense did. Georgia’s defense and running game remain the most reliable units in the matchup, though. The Bulldogs survive a late Rebels possession and earn a valuable road victory. Georgia 30, Ole Miss 27
Steven: For some reason, the Rebels can’t get over the hump to bring the juice against the top opponents on their schedule. The talent level is comparable between the two teams, and some could argue that Trinidad Chamblis is a better QB than Gunner Stockton, but somehow, Stockton and the Bulldogs know how to turn that talent into wins. UGA 28-21.
Trout: Bulldogs win it by a few scores. I think Ole Miss is good, but Georgia is still the top of the SEC (unless they play Auburn). The game may be close for a while but Georgia will eventually pull away and win by double digits. (Georgia, 37-21)
Final Score: Georgia xx Mississippi xx
(19)Iowa @ Northwestern
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Northwestern upset Iowa 31-27
Andy: This is another instance of a Strong offense vs a Strong defense. Northwestern is scoring just about 34 points per game using a lot of run plays to set up the pass and Iowa’s defense is top 5 in the country only allowing on average 12.5 points scored. If Northwestern can score 30 points or more against this Iowa defense, they win. Why 30 points? That is four scores and Iowa is only averaging 28 points scored on offense. That includes when they ran up the score against teams like Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa and Washington, games in which they scored 40 points or more. Northwestern uses the run to set up the pass and I think they will find a way to get yards and a score or two, but Iowa has the 4th best rush defense in the country only giving up on average 79 yards per game. I think Northwestern’s offense will be too limited in this matchup. Iowa 20 Northwestern 16
Cory: Northwestern’s playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread after losing at Oregon last week. On the other side of this matchup, Iowa looks to be hitting its stride as the Hawkeyes were dominant in a 30-0 win over Wisconsin last week. Expect Iowa to key in on Aidan Chiles, who is Northwestern’s do-everything quarterback. Shutting down Chiles makes the rest of the offense easy to defend since he is what keys their running game with all the fakes and misdirection. As for Iowa, the offense has been inconsistent, but capable at times. Expect a low-scoring affair with Iowa edging ahead in a close game. Iowa 21, Northwestern 17
Dave: Iowa 28 Northwestern 24
Gregg: Northwestern has been a good if not surprising story for the football landscape this year but the last few weeks the luster has started to fade away. I expect Iowa to take care of business in that new football stadium in Evanston and makes a statement they deserve to be in the top 12 rankings. But I don’t expect a lot of scoring, this is still a Ferentz team! Iowa 17 Northwestern 13
Jason: #19 Iowa travels to Evanston to face Northwestern in a Saturday night Big Ten matchup between two teams tied at 6-2 and looking to strengthen their postseason positioning. The Hawkeyes enter riding a four-game winning streak after shutting out Wisconsin 30-0, while the Wildcats are coming off a 34-26 loss to Oregon. Iowa’s defense has been outstanding, allowing just 12.5 points per game and ranking among the nation’s best against the run. QB Hank Brown delivered one of his best performances of the season against Wisconsin, completing 20 of 24 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Northwestern counters with QB Aidan Chiles, who has thrown for 1,898 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding another dimension with his mobility. RB Caleb Komolafe has also been productive, giving the Wildcats a balanced offense averaging 33.6 points per game. However, Chiles is listed as questionable heading into the matchup, which could significantly impact the Cats offense.
The key matchup if Chiles can go will be Northwestern’s balanced offense against Iowa’s physical defensive front. The Wildcats have the ability to create explosive plays through Chiles and Komolafe, but Iowa has been particularly difficult to run against, allowing just 79 yards per game on the ground. The Hawkeyes will also look to take advantage of a Northwestern defense allowing 374 yards per game, using their rushing attack to control possession and keep the Wildcats’ offense off the field. Iowa does have some injury concerns along the offensive line, but its defensive consistency and recent momentum are difficult to overlook. Northwestern’s home-field advantage should keep this competitive, but the Hawkeyes have the more reliable defense and should find a way to win a low-scoring battle. Prediction: Iowa 24 Northwestern 20
Joe-S-U: Northwestern
John: Northwestern at 6-2 is unranked, in large part because their nonconference was awful. Meanwhile, Indiana is 6-1 with a worse nonconference schedule and a home loss and are #5. Make it make sense. I would expect whomever wins this one to be ranked around #16 next week and the loser will be unranked. However, several 3-loss SEC teams will still be in the top 15. I guess money talks. Iowa 17 Northwestern 14
Josh: Iowa and Northwestern enter with identical 6-2 records, but they arrive through very different Week 9 experiences. The Hawkeyes responded to their disappointing loss at Minnesota by shutting out Wisconsin 30-0. Northwestern led Oregon by 14 points before surrendering a second-half comeback in a 34-26 defeat. Hank Brown produced his best performance of the season for Iowa, completing 20 of 24 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. The Hawkeyes scored on six of their first seven possessions, accumulated 362 yards and controlled the football for more than 36 minutes. Defensively, Iowa forced three turnovers and held Wisconsin to 52 rushing yards. Northwestern presents a more dangerous offensive challenge. Aidan Chiles threw for 281 yards and rushed for 93 against Oregon, while Griffin Wilde caught five passes for 146 yards. The Wildcats scored on their first four possessions and built a 20-6 lead before Oregon adjusted and held them to six second-half points. Iowa allows only 12.5 points per game and 79 rushing yards, ranking among the nation’s best in both categories. Northwestern may find occasional success through the air, but becoming one-dimensional against the Hawkeyes is rarely sustainable. This should remain close into the fourth quarter, but Iowa’s defense and improving quarterback play make the Hawkeyes the more trustworthy team. Brown leads one decisive scoring drive, and Iowa earns the road upset. Iowa 23, Northwestern 17
Steven: I’m not sure Iowa’s offense can muster the firepower to keep pace with a surprisingly good Wildcat offense. The Hawkeye defense will keep things close. Northwestern seems to have gotten a bit of juice from their new stadium, so this one being on home turf, let’s go Northwestern 21-17.
Trout: I think I’m going to go with the Wildcats. Both teams have been good, but not great. But Northwestern seems to have the better offense. The game will be a back and forth contest throughout the game, but Northwestern will be able to score late and the Hawkeyes won’t have the firepower to counter. Northwestern wins and keeps their Big Ten championship hopes alive. (Northwestern, 17-12)