With both programs trailing in the Big Ten standings, a loss may end the Buckeyes or Nittany Lions hopes of competing for a conference title.
While the week nine slate of college football failed to bring any major upsets or shake-ups to the Associated Press’ top 25 rankings, there were a number of concerns shown from programs placed near the very top. Ohio State managed to withstand an incredible effort from the Nebraska Cornhuskers, needing to make a late comeback and final defensive stand to claim a 21-17 victory. The narrow win didn’t shift the Buckeyes down from its number-four ranking, but the program will now gear up for a road matchup with the number-three ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State has played a couple close games of its own in recent weeks, escaping USC with a 33-30 win in overtime and defeating Wisconsin in a matchup that was 14-13 heading into the fourth quarter.
The two will go to battle with a victory needed to keep pace in a tough Big Ten conference, with both programs currently behind Oregon and Indiana in the standings. Penn State has a perfect conference record like the Ducks and Hoosiers, while Ohio State lost to Oregon during week seven for a record of 3-1 in Big Ten play.
With a loss to its conference rival, either the Nittany Lions or Buckeyes would essentially be eliminated from the opportunity to play for a conference championship in December. The Buckeyes have struggled at times to generate offense against formidable opponents, failing to muster even 300 yards of offense against a Nebraska defense that has been exposed multiple times this season. Penn State will hold a 7-0 record heading into the matchup, but are still 3.5-point underdogs on ESPN Bet despite having the home-field advantage.
If Ohio State is to re-enter the top three spots of the AP top 25, it will have to walk out of Beaver Stadium with a victory, otherwise it could see itself dropped near the bottom of the top 10 and fighting for its Playoff lives. Even with an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format, having two losses puts a program on the brink of qualification and the Buckeyes still have #13 Indiana and its biggest rival, the Michigan Wolverines, on tap in 2024. Penn State should feel fairly secure even with a loss as the Nittany Lions currently don’t have a ranked opponent left on its schedule after the game with Ohio State.
The Buckeyes haven’t lost to Penn State since 2016 and have been victorious in 11 of the previous 12 matchups. With a win needed to keep not only its Big Ten title hopes alive, but possibly a spot in the College Football Playoff as well, the Buckeyes should feel highly motivated going into the road environment. The Nittany Lions are a top-three program for a reason, however, and the game should shine a light on which Big Ten team will be seen as a top contender for the National Championship this season. Quarterback Drew Allar will be a game-time call for the Ohio State game, which could be a factor in regards to the spread also.
While Penn State and Ohio State represent the only game that directly impacts the top 25 rankings, there are plenty of other intriguing matchups that contain upset potential. Oregon will head to Michigan as a 14.5-point favorite on ESPN Bet and -800 on the moneyline, but it will also be the Ducks first trip to the Big House as a Big Ten member. The Wolverines have struggled for much of 2024 after winning the National Championship last season, mainly due to the play from its quarterback position. The program has used three different starting quarterbacks through eight games and is choosing to start Davis Warren after a positive performance against Michigan State in week nine.
Michigan had been going with seven-year college player Jack Tuttle the previous two games, but Tuttle announced he would be medically retiring from the sport as a result of suffering the fifth concussion of his collegiate career. Oregon should handle Michigan quite easily as the top ranked program in the country, but the Wolverines are fighting for its lives with a record of 5-3, needing a sixth win to qualify for a bowl game in 2024-2025. Michigan is +500 on the moneyline, but taking the Wolverines to cover the two-touchdown spread seems like the smarter play for bettors heading into week 10.
New top 10 entrant Texas A&M will travel to South Carolina as a 2.5-point favorite over the Gamecocks, with the Aggies coming off a 38-23 victory over LSU at home in week nine. South Carolina holds a respectable 4-3 record, but has been a thorn in the side of every opponent it's played throughout the season up to this point. The Gamecocks lost to both LSU and Alabama in 2024, but the two games had a combined score difference of just five points. The program is only +115 on the moneyline, showcasing ESPN Bet’s faith in the Gamecocks to put up a competitive fight against the Aggies.
Texas A&M will also have to figure out its quarterback situation prior to the game, as starter Conner Weigman was only able to complete six of his 18 pass attempts against LSU for 64 yards and no scores. Despite entering the top 10-ranked teams in the nation after its week nine upset, the Aggies will have yet another tall task ahead if it hopes to qualify for the College Football Playoff in 2024.
In ACC conference play, the Louisville Cardinals head to Clemson to take on the #11-ranked Tigers in a matchup that will help to determine if Clemson will make the College Football Playoff this season. The Tigers have a solid 6-1 record on the season, with its only loss coming in week one against the currently second-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Clemson has shown that the program should still be taken as a serious title contender in 2024 and would face an easy path to the ACC Championship game with a victory over the Cardinals. Louisville is a 10.5-point underdog against the Tigers and +300 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The team has only lost to ranked opponents throughout 2024, but the stat doesn’t exactly inspire much confidence due to the near top 10 ranking Clemson holds.
As a road underdog, Louisville has an uphill battle to climb if it hopes to rejoin the top 25 after exiting with a loss to Miami in week eight. The program has played its competition tough in every game this season and will have to put forth its best effort of 2024 in order to knock off the Tigers and create a little chaos in the ACC title picture.