Overview
- James Franklin urged a raucous Beaver Stadium, calling for a White Out environment that makes Oregon “uncomfortable” in a nationally spotlighted rematch.
- Sportsbooks list Penn State around -3.5 vs. Oregon, Georgia as a slight home favorite over Alabama, and LSU–Ole Miss as a near pick’em with differing numbers by outlet; Ohio State is favored at Washington with line movement toward the Huskies.
- Oregon enters with one of the nation’s most prolific starts behind Dante Moore’s 11 TDs and a 74.7% completion rate, while Penn State’s passing game under Drew Allar remains under scrutiny after a quiet nonconference slate.
- Indiana vaulted in power rankings after a 63-10 rout of Illinois behind Fernando Mendoza’s 21-of-23, five-TD day, and Iowa improved to 3-1 with a 38-28 road win at Rutgers led by QB Mark Gronowski’s three rushing scores.
- A loaded slate also features USC at Illinois to open Saturday’s Big Ten action and SEC showdowns LSU at Ole Miss and Alabama at Georgia that analysts say will shape early conference pecking orders.