Oregon has emerged impressively in its inaugural season within the Big Ten, contrasting sharply with the struggles of other former Pac-12 teams who are adjusting to their new conference environment.
Midway through the season, UCLA, USC, and Washington find themselves positioned in the lower half of the conference standings, combining for a 4-10 record in Big Ten matchups.
USC and UCLA, the first two teams to announce their departure from the Pac-12 before its eventual disbandment in summer 2023, have each secured just one victory in conference play thus far.
Currently, USC holds a record of 3-4 with one Big Ten win, having suffered three consecutive losses, including a narrow defeat of 29-28 against Maryland last Saturday. Despite leading in the fourth quarter of every game this season, the Trojans have been unable to secure enough wins.
Coach Lincoln Riley acknowledged various challenges this week, noting, “We’ve had a myriad of different issues. We’ve been in a lot of really close games, had some chances to pull away but ultimately haven’t capitalized. There have been unfortunate breaks that we couldn’t overcome.”
Starting their season with a notable victory over LSU, the Trojans, who peaked at No. 11 earlier in the season, aim to reverse their fortunes during a home match against Rutgers this Friday.
The Big Ten’s teams have struggled when traveling across multiple time zones, holding a 5-11 record in such cases. Collectively, the trio of USC, UCLA, and Washington has only mustered a single victory on the road in conference play.
Washington, with a record of 4-3 (2-2), is set to compete against No. 13 Indiana on Saturday in their second road game, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. Pacific time.
After clinching the Pac-12 championship and appearing in the national championship game last year, the Huskies are facing a rebuilding season following significant player changes. Coach Jedd Fisch is navigating these challenges in his first year, acknowledging that new players are acclimatizing to unfamiliar roles and an altogether different competitive environment.
Meanwhile, UCLA, sitting at 2-5 with a 1-4 conference record, recently ended a five-game losing streak by defeating Rutgers 35-32. Coach DeShaun Foster expressed his enthusiasm for the victory while highlighting the team’s aspirations for bowl eligibility as the season progresses.
In an interesting twist, Oregon State and Washington State—the last remaining teams in the Pac-12 after reorganization—have found success against Big Ten teams this season, with Oregon State defeating Purdue and Washington State triumphing over Washington.
As for Oregon, they are experiencing a remarkable season, currently ranked No. 1 nationally for the first time since 2012, following a significant win against then-No. 2 Ohio State two weeks ago.
Coach Dan Lanning remarked on the challenges of entering the Big Ten, stating, “Throughout the summer scouting reports, it became clear that there are exciting challenges ahead. At Oregon, we are determined to embrace those challenges.”
Despite an uncertain start marked by unconvincing wins against Idaho and Boise State, the Ducks have since found their stride, recently blanking Purdue 35-0. Next, they prepare to host No. 20 Illinois.
Oregon is on track to be a major contender for a spot in the expanded College Football Playoffs unless an unexpected setback occurs.
Lanning emphasized the team’s mindset, saying, “You don’t sit halfway through a meal and declare you’re finished when there’s still food on the plate. We’re only at the midpoint of the season and there’s much more we want to achieve. Therefore, our ranking is of little consequence right now.”