The Week 6 AP Top 25 Poll was released Sunday morning. While there is always movement in college football, the Big Ten is heavily represented as the calendar shifts to October.
Seven teams – No. 3 Ohio State, No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Penn State, No. 10 Michigan, No. 11 USC, No. 23 Indiana, and No. 24 Illinois all represent the conference amongst some of the elite teams. The newest addition is Indiana, off to its first 5-0 start since 1967 under first-year coach Curt Cignetti.
How did the rest of the ranked Big Ten teams fare in Week 5?
Meanwhile, Ohio State continues to roll at 4-0, earning its first conference win Saturday night in a 38-7 rout against Michigan State. The win extended the Buckeyes' streak against the Spartans to nine wins and saw a breakout performance from must-watch freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Smith has caught five touchdown receptions, including a jaw-dropping one-handed snag just before halftime to extend the then-Ohio State lead to 24-7.
Oregon went on the road and won at the Rose Bowl in its first non-Pac-12 matchup against UCLA, 34-13. While the Ducks dominated the game, a program-record 11 receptions from Taz Johnson made the difference in the win. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel kept his hot streak alive, throwing for 278 yards and three touchdowns. It's the fourth-straight 200-plus-yard game for Gabriel, who has only allowed one interception thus far this season.
Michigan survived a scare against a Minnesota team that was one onside kick away from a potential last-minute upset drive -- squeaking out a 27-24 for the second-straight week. Despite the near-collapse at home, the win was enough to move the defending national champions up two spots, extending the Wolverines' winning streak to three.
Penn State used "Whiteout Energy" and a pair of touchdowns from Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen to end all dreams of a potential undefeated season for Illinois. It was the Nittany Lions' third win against the Illini, taking away the surging offensive attack of quarterback Luke Altmyer and running back Kaden Feagin. The Nittany Lions defense forced Altmyer into unchartered territory. Forcing his first interception of the season and holding a dangerous Illini rushing attack to 25 yards after they took a 7-0 lead on the game's opening series. To make matters worse, Illinois' offensive line failed to keep Altmyer upright, allowing an unthinkable seven sacks.
With the loss, Illinois fell from No. 19 to No. 24, entering its bye week. Meanwhile, Penn State bumped up two spots to No. 7.
USC overcame a double-digit deficit to beat an upset-minded Wisconsin team, which entered the game off a bye, plus a non-conference loss to now-No. 1 Alabama two weeks earlier. Things don't get any easier for the Trojans as the season progresses.
For now, more movement is paramount, but given that 38.9 percent of the conference has national recognition, it is a sign that, just maybe, expansion was needed.
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