News Article
Published
Oct 17, 2026 at 12:48 PM EDT
Entering Week 1, the Big Ten had several teams believed to be in the chase for the College Football Playoff this season.
Penn State was ranked No. 18, and was thought to have a chance to make the CFP in the first year of head coach Matt Campbell because of a relatively easy schedule. Michigan was ranked No. 16 under first-year head coach Kyle Whittingham. After convincing Dante Moore and several defenders to return to Eugene, Oregon was ranked No. 2.
Michigan and Oregon have two losses headed into Week 7. Penn State is on a three-game losing streak and is searching for its first win against a Power 4 program this season when the Nittany Lions host Purdue on Saturday.
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During an appearance on ESPN's "College GameDay" on Saturday, Nick Saban named his biggest disappointment for the Big Ten this season. He thinks Michigan has underperformed the most as the Wolverines have not been able to figure out what works on offense.
“The disappointment for me is Michigan,” Saban said, via a transcription from On3. “They haven’t found a way to utilize the personnel they have on offense, including Bryce Underwood.
"If they could figure that out, they have the best defense in the Big Ten. If they could just play offense and score a few more points, they’ll have a chance to turn it around. But, they’ve been a disappointment so far.”
The Wolverines scored a big win in Week 2, beating then-No. 11 Oklahoma 17-10. However, Michigan put up just 19 points in a one-point loss to Iowa and lost 20-14 to Minnesota.
Michigan is on a bye this week before hosting No. 5 Indiana in Week 8. The Wolverines have two weeks to get their offense right before playing another tough defense in the Hoosiers.
A loss to Indiana would kill their hopes of making the CFP. A win would save their season, but the offense will have to improve for that to happen.
For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.