Big 10 Weekly: Raiola blow for Nebraska but future remains bright
The first College Football Rankings were unveiled this week, and three Big 10 teams would make the prospective playoff bracket as it stands. As we enter Week 11, we’re at the business end of the season where every game counts. This Big 10 Weekly column focuses on rough injury news out of Nebraska, a big week for running backs and travel concerns on the West Coast.
Raiola injury derails Huskers' season, but hope remains
Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola broke his fibula on Saturday against USC. The injury will require surgery and end what was an encouraging season from the sophomore signal caller. The Cornhuskers were still in with a shot against the Trojans, but couldn’t get over the line without Raiola. It was a devastating blow, but you had to be impressed by the leadership Raiola showed.
You’d have thought it was merely an ankle sprain as Raiola prowled the sidelines, interacting with the crowd and sticking around to show support to his teammates. It was a sign of the maturity that Raiola has developed, complementing his elite playmaking skills. It certainly bodes well for a playoff run next season.
With Matt Rhule tied up thanks to a recent contract extension, the future looks strong for the Cornhuskers. Raiola and Rhule could be the two pieces needed to restore Nebraska to their former glory years. It won’t be easy in a stacked Big 10, but the ingredients are in place.
Michigan says ‘nein’ to Germany
Reports this week suggested the Michigan Wolverines were set to announce a foray into Europe by arranging their 2026 tilt against Western Michigan to be held in Frankfurt. However, that idea was quashed midweek as the Wolverines announced the game would remain in Ann Arbor.
As a UK-based American Football blog, we absolutely support the idea of increasing access to European fans by bringing games across the Atlantic. The annual curtain raiser in Dublin is now paired with the Union Jack Classic at Wembley, adding a third game would have extended that reach to German fans, known for their passionate support of the game.
However, this episode should act as a warning for colleges. The pushback from Michigan fans was strong, likely what led to the idea being scrapped. Teams should also be wary of the standard of game they wish to export. In the last four meetings of these two, the lowest margin of victory was 24. As ferocious as European support is, the abundance of choices between college and NFL games hosted on this side of the water means crowds may be less receptive to the one-sided matchups that college football can serve up.
What it does signal is that teams are looking to tap into a lucrative market and extend their brand visibility globally. With player payments to fund, boosters are no longer the only source of revenue. With CFB travelling to Europe in its infancy, teams have an opportunity to get their claws into a captive audience who may become ‘lifers’, a la the Jacksonville Jaguars’ connection to the UK. For now, that team won’t be Michigan.
Riley complains as Big 10 schedule forces tight turnaround
Lincoln Riley has been outspoken this week about the Big 10 schedulers, as USC face a tight turnaround having travelled to play Nebraska late on Saturday before returning to face Northwestern for a Friday night kickoff. Riley had this sarcastic soundbite for reporters:
“Thankfully the Big Ten took care of us schedule-wise and we’ll get home at 3 o’clock in the morning and turn this thing over, and we’ll go play on Friday, and it is what it is.”
It’s hard to shed tears for Riley or the Trojans, who knew exactly what they were getting into when joining the Big 10. USC were a key player in the group that tore the Pac-12 apart and effectively put an end to traditional regional conferences. Being upset that you have to travel across half the country feels a little hollow when you pushed so hard for it.
Ultimately, those in charge at the Trojans thought it was more important to protect their own brand rather than that of their conference. If facing up to Northwestern on a Friday night is the worst the Big 10 can throw at you, then I’m sure Riley is on a big enough salary to find a solution.
Running Backs dominate across the conference
Wherever you looked on Saturday, it felt like the running games were dominating the Big 10 matchups. Nebraska vs USC was a back-and-forth battle where Emmett Johnson ran for 165 yards and USC QB Jordan Maiava had 71 yards on the ground, backed up by the ultra-impressive King Miller, a preferred walk-on who has gone over 100 yards rushing on two occasions this year.
Elsewhere, Michigan’s Jordan Marshall grasped his chance as lead back with Justice Haynes out due to injury. He ran for 185 yards and three touchdowns against Purdue, averaging an impressive 7.4 yards per carry.
Fame Ijeboi was instrumental in Minnesota overcoming Michigan State in a close one, while Indiana had three running backs combine for 278 yards of offense and three touchdowns. Will Big 10 defenses react accordingly and look to slow the run down in Week 11?
Nebraska at USC, 4PM ET / 9PM GMT, FOX
Julian Sayin won offensive player of the week for the conference in a near faultless display vs Penn State. He hooked up with Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith regularly, racking up 316 passing yards, 4 TDs and an impressive completion percentage of 87.
On defense, Michigan’s Derrick Moore earned an 87.5 pass-rushing grade from PFF and lived in the backfield for most of the afternoon. He had two sacks, two hurries and a pass rush win % of over 20. He’s another elite edge defender in this year’s draft class.
Week 11 in Focus
The big matchup this weekend is, of course, Oregon travelling to Iowa for a sellout showdown in Kinnick Stadium. The Ducks are 6.5-point favourites and will be hoping not to slip up here, given they still have games against USC and Washington to navigate before the season’s end. The 20th-ranked Hawkeyes could still be a playoff contender if they go unbeaten, and will be relying on their defense to stop Oregon QB Dante Moore. Iowa have allowed 13.1 points per game on average this season and will need to keep it low-scoring to have a chance. Defensive stars like Max Llewellyn and Zach Lutmer need to be at their best.
Elsewhere, Penn State face more punishment, having been soundly beaten by the No. 1 team in the country; they now face No. 2 Indiana. When it rains, it pours. Despite being two-touchdown underdogs, a 5-3 Northwestern could ask questions of a travel-weary USC on Friday night, while the Buckeyes shouldn’t face any issues against Purdue on the road.
Full Schedule
Northwestern @ USC
Indiana @ Penn State
Ohio State @ Purdue
Maryland @ Rutgers
Oregon @ Iowa
Washington @ Wisconsin
Nebraska @ UCLA
Rory-Joe Daniels
NFL & Cfb contributor
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.