The Big Ten conference title race intensified this week as 15 of the 18 teams remain in contention for a spot in the championship game in Indianapolis.
With only three weeks left in the regular season, the stakes for the expanded playoff are rising, according to Yahoo Sports.
UCLA solidified its position as a frontrunner by defeating Illinois 22-14 on Friday, Nov. 13.
This victory keeps the Bruins undefeated at 10-0 for the first time since 1998, as reported by USA Today.
UCLA now requires only one win in its final two games against Michigan and USC to secure a championship appearance.
This would mark the program’s first conference title game since 2012, when the team competed in the Pac-12.
While UCLA and Indiana currently lead the standings, a large group of teams including Oregon, Ohio State, and Iowa are working to improve their standing.
The conference has implemented specific tiebreaker procedures to manage the crowded field, which include head-to-head records and common opponent results, noted the league’s official tiebreaker guidelines.
Several programs have already been eliminated from contention, specifically Maryland, Michigan State, and Rutgers.
The remaining schedule for Week 11 features pivotal matchups that will significantly shift the paths for teams like USC and Oregon.
For example, USC must win out to maintain its hopes for the title, while teams like Northwestern and Minnesota require significant help from other results to advance, per USA Today.
The final conference championship game remains a primary goal for these teams, as it serves as a gateway to the expanded College Football Playoff, as noted by ESPN.
As games conclude throughout the weekend, the standings will continue to evolve, shaping the final bracket for the postseason.
Fans are closely monitoring the outcomes of games such as USC at Indiana and Michigan at Oregon to see which programs will survive the final stretch.