Around the Big Ten: Week 12

Week 12 was another week of chaos in the FBS. With five unranked teams getting victories over ranked opponents, this season continues to keep its theme of madness. The Big Ten almost saw a huge upset, but the top teams stay at the top. Here’s how the conference shook out in Week 12.

Bye Weeks: No. 5 Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota

The Blowouts

No. 2 Ohio State 31 @ Northwestern 7

No. 4 Penn State 49 @ Purdue 10

Michigan State 16 @ Illinois 38

The Close Games

No. 1 Oregon 16 @ Wisconsin 13

The 2024 season of chaos almost had another victim in the Oregon Ducks. Dan Lanning’s squad travelled to Camp Randle to take on the Wisconsin Badgers as 13.5-point favorites per ESPN bet. The Badgers went three-and-out to start the game, but the Ducks couldn't find the end zone on their first drive. They settled for a field goal, taking a 3-0 lead. Wisconsin then had another three-and-out. This time, however, Dillon Gabriel followed by throwing an interception. The Badgers couldn’t capitalize though, going three-and-out for the third-straight time. Oregon’s next drive ended in another field goal. The Wisconsin defense was really showing up in this game. After going up 6-0, the Ducks gave up a long drive that culminated in a field goal for the Badgers. Oregon then punted twice with a single Wisconsin punt in between as the first half was nearing the end. Despite starting at their own 25, the Badgers started to click on offense and got the ball moving. This was highlighted by a 43-yard completion from Braedyn Locke to Vinny Anthony II to get the Badgers inside the redzone. A few plays later, Locke found Will Pauling in the end zone to give Wisconsin a 10-6 lead at half.

The Badgers forced a punt to open the second half and then went down the field in 16 plays, draining just under nine minutes off the clock. On a third-and-goal situation, Wisconsin was pushed back by both a penalty and a big sack from Matayo Uiagalelei. They had to settle for a field goal, but were still up by seven at home over the No. 1 team in the country. The Ducks finally got the offense going on their next drive with a 13-play, 81-yard touchdown drive courtesy of Jordan James punching it in. Oregon tied the game up at 13 while also bringing the game into the fourth quarter on its long drive. Wisconsin then went three-and-out, but also then forced the Ducks to punt. Unfortunately, the Badgers punted the ball right back. With their offense starting in Wisconsin territory after a 12-yard punt return from Gary Bryant Jr., Jordan James and Gabriel ran Oregon into a goal-to-go situation. The Ducks couldn’t get into the end zone, but a field goal gave them the lead back. Up 16-13, Oregon forced a turnover-on-downs. The Ducks, who were in fairly easy field goal range, had a turnover-on-downs of their own after failing to convert a fake field goal. With under two minutes to go, the Badgers had one last shot to either tie the game or pull off the upset. On the second play of the drive, Braedyn Locke threw an interception, sealing the victory for Oregon.

The Ducks will likely remain as the No. 1 team in the country with the CFP rankings coming out this Tuesday, but with how the FBS has been this season, they don’t fell like the actual best team in the country. Oregon will almost definitely have a spot in the Big Ten Championship, but its opponent is still not confirmed.

UCLA 19 @ Washington 31

Nebraska 20 @ USC 28

Rutgers 31 @ Maryland 17

Other News

Curt Cignetti’s new eight-year contract

How could there be an Around the Big Ten without mentioning the iconic Curt Cignetti? Over Indiana’s bye week, Cignetti inked a new deal that will keep him as the coach of the Hoosiers through 2032. Prior to becoming the head coach at IU, Cignetti was at James Madison. He coached the Dukes through their transition from the FCS into the FBS, including an 11-1 season in just their second season in the Sun Belt. His success there convinced the Hoosiers to give him a shot. That gamble more than paid off. Indiana has typically been a laughing stock in Big Ten football, but the Hoosiers have completely flipped the script in just one season. Cignetti has his squad at 10-0 and is now going to be with the program for the foreseeable future. He’s now the fourth-highest paid coach per year in the Big Ten, coming in at $8 million annually. Next up for the Hoosiers is their biggest test yet: a trip to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. With a win, Indiana will almost definitely guarantee both a spot in the Big Ten Championship and also in the College Football Playoffs.