Oregon Ducks Face Crucial Big Ten Matchups for College Football Playoff Bid

The Oregon Ducks, holding a 7-1 record with a 4-1 mark in the Big Ten, are entering a bye week before facing four critical games to secure a College Football Playoff spot. Their upcoming schedule includes challenging matchups against the Iowa Hawkeyes, Minnesota Golden Gophers, No. 23 USC Trojans, and Washington, with particular emphasis on maintaining momentum post-bye and improving offensive explosiveness while defending against strong run and pass attacks. Meanwhile, Ohio State Buckeyes, undefeated at 7-0 and leading the Big Ten, remain the top-ranked team in college football according to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), which projects a strong chance of an undefeated season despite a tough final stretch. Ohio State's remaining schedule features key games against Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, Rutgers, and Michigan, with the latter being a pivotal postseason-deciding encounter. The Buckeyes focus on maintaining defensive dominance, efficient red-zone offense, and avoiding errors in critical road games to preserve their top ranking and playoff positioning. Both teams face decisive late-season contests that will shape their postseason opportunities in a competitive Big Ten landscape.