Ohio State Holds Top Big Ten Spot as Quarterback Questions Mount

Ohio State occupies the top position in the Big Ten, though the Buckeyes enter Week 9 without a confirmed starter at quarterback. Coach Ryan Day has not decided whether Luke Fahey or Tavien St. Clair will take the field against USC on Saturday. This matchup marks the first game without Julian Sayin.

UCLA sits in second place. The Bruins remain unbeaten, but their offense has cooled since Nico Iamaleava was injured. Ty Dieffenbach has secured two victories through the air, and the defense has improved. UCLA faces Nevada this week.

The conference rankings reflect a lack of clear contenders. CBS Sports notes that injuries and upsets have created more uncertainty than confidence. Defenses from Ohio State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan are considered elite. UCLA joins that list after its midseason turnaround.

Wisconsin jumped from eighth to fifth after defeating USC 24-7 on Saturday night. The win alleviated concerns about head coach Luke Fickell's job security in Madison. The Badgers travel to Iowa next. Minnesota rose to sixth by beating Iowa 13-10 and retaining the Floyd of Rosedale trophy. That victory relied on defense and special teams.

Indiana slipped to fourth following a win at Michigan. The passing game remains a struggle for the Hoosiers, with Josh Hoover viewed as a downgrade at quarterback. Their defense still provides a competitive edge. Indiana will face Minnesota and USC in upcoming weeks. Northwestern moved up to third after a decisive win over Rutgers and now plays at Oregon.

Nebraska is eighth after a bye week that followed two consecutive losses. The Huskers host Washington and need a win to reach a 6-2 record. USC is ninth at 6-2 after falling to Wisconsin. The Trojans face Ohio State at home this week, with later games against Indiana and UCLA.

Illinois climbed to 12th after beating Oregon. The Illini travel to Maryland, which is currently led by an interim coach. Oregon dropped to 13th following a poor performance in Champaign. Quarterback Dante Moore is out for the season with a concussion. Michigan is 14th after losing to Indiana, where its defense performed well but the offense failed to produce. Maryland is 18th, joining NC State and Baylor as Power Four programs that fired their coaches this past weekend.