There’s a rising College Football Playoff contender in the Big Ten in 2026: the now-No. 12 UCLA Bruins. In Bob Chesney’s first year in Los Angeles, UCLA is 5-0 after Saturday’s win in Autzen Stadium against then-No. 13 Oregon.
From the Bruins establishing their case to defending champion Indiana taking care of business, check out the biggest storylines from the weekend.
Bruins Run to First Win at Autzen in 22 Years
Ten months ago, Bob Chesney's tenure at James Madison ended at Autzen Stadium with a loss to Oregon in the first round of the College Football Playoff. On Saturday, Chesney returned to Eugene in blue and gold as UCLA handed Oregon a 17-15 defeat — completing a full-circle moment and steering the Bruins to their first win in Eugene since 2004.
Chesney’s Bruins have established a physical identity, leading the Big Ten with over 250 rushing yards per game. Though held below that average on Saturday, UCLA still outgained Oregon 140-73 on the ground, powered by Wayne Knight’s 103 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving).
“From the start, we came out, we punched them, and we just kept on going,” Knight said. "We had a couple of mishaps, but we bounced back every single time.”
That resilience was tested when quarterback Nico Iamaleava exited with a leg injury and backup Ty Dieffenbach stepped in. The Bruins' defense delivered the game's biggest performance, forcing seven turnovers — five fumbles and two interceptions — to push its second-nationally pick total to 10.
UCLA continues to establish itself as a postseason contender, entering a hostile environment and walking out with its first ranked win of the season.
“This is not the normal UCLA,” Chesney said postgame. “Today is a good start to that. Really proud of what we’ve done.” More on the Bruins’ win.
Hoosiers Rally Past Huskers in Lincoln
For three quarters, defending national champion Indiana was on the ropes against Nebraska. Down 17-6 early in the fourth quarter after an Anthony Colandrea touchdown sent Memorial Stadium into a frenzy, the No. 7 Hoosiers needed a spark.
Quarterback Josh Hoover and wide receiver Nick Marsh provided it, connecting for two fourth-quarter touchdowns on back-to-back drives. After answering Nebraska's score with a 75-yard strike, the duo delivered the game-winner on a gutsy 4th-and-1 call — a 44-yard touchdown that gave Indiana the lead for good.
“We've been through a lot of adversity this season so far, and for us to come out on top today meant a lot,” Marsh said. “We know we've got a lot of guys that can mentally fight, physically fight. I think today was more of the mental challenge.”
Indiana’s defense clamped down on the final possessions to secure a 20-17 road victory. Behind Hoover's 263 yards and two touchdowns, the Hoosiers showed their championship mettle and improved to 6-0 heading into next week's showdown with Ohio State. Hear from the Hoosiers.
Trojans Silence Beaver Stadium’s White Out
Entering one of the most intimidating environments in college football, No. 19 USC stood tall under the night lights at Beaver Stadium, spoiling Penn State’s annual White Out with a hard-fought 31-23 victory.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava was clinical, throwing for 301 yards and three touchdowns — including a 10-yard strike to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt early in the fourth quarter, which gave the Trojans an eight-point cushion. USC's offense racked up 430 total yards in the back-and-forth battle.
When Penn State mounted a late drive, Christian Pierce forced a fumble that sealed the victory for Lincoln Riley’s squad. Read about the Trojans.
Hawkeyes Stifle Washington in Seattle
No. 20 Iowa showcased its brand of football on the road, rolling to a 41-24 victory over Washington.
With quarterback Hank Brown sidelined due to an injury, Jeremy Hecklinski stepped up smoothly, throwing for 202 yards and three touchdowns. However, it was Iowa’s ground game that truly overwhelmed the Huskies. The Hawkeyes racked up 263 rushing yards, fueled by a career-high 208-yard, two-touchdown performance from running back Kamari Moulton. His 56-yard score was the first touchdown of the game and sent the Hawkeyes on their way.
Iowa's defense was ruthless, stifling the Huskies' offensive line with backfield pressure and holding Washington to negative rushing yards (-3). Hear more from the Hawkeyes.
That wasn't the only action across the conference this weekend — Jeremiah Smith scored touchdowns on his first two touches to lead Ohio State past Maryland, putting him just one receiving score shy of the all-time Big Ten career record. Check out all the results here.