Indiana football reaction to win vs Penn State, Fernando Mendoza Heisman moment
The Hoosiers have plenty to improve upon but they found an important way to win a challenging game. Here’s what stood out to IndyStar IU insider Zach Osterman.
Once November rolls around, college football tends to get wacky and the Big Ten is no exception.
It was a thrilling week in the league, with Oregon going into Kinnick Stadium and outlasting Iowa with a last-second field goal, Indiana surviving by the skin of its teeth – or the tip of its toes – with a last-minute victory at Penn State (that could be Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman Trophy moment) and Wisconsin picking up its first win in more than two months with a 13-10 victory at home over Washington.
Indiana and Ohio State both still control their destiny to meet in the Big Ten title game, but Oregon, USC and even Michigan football are all still in the running for the league title.
Here’s a look at the power rankings for the conference with just three weeks remaining in the regular season.
1. Ohio State (9-0)
Last week’s ranking: 1.
This week’s game: vs. UCLA.
What to know: The Buckeyes rolled over Purdue and will do the same to UCLA this week. Julian Sayin has thrown for 1,012 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception in the past three weeks. He will be a Heisman finalist.
2. Indiana (10-0)
Last week’s ranking: 2
This week’s game: vs. Wisconsin.
What to know: Speaking of Heisman finalists, Mendoza saved the day for the Hoosiers, who nearly were on the wrong end of the upset of the year: Also shoutout to Omar Cooper Jr. for the toe drag swag.
3. Oregon (8-1)
Last week’s ranking: 3.
This week’s game: vs. Minnesota (Friday).
What to know: The Ducks went to Iowa, lost their lead late and Dante Moore was able to orchestrate a game-winning drive in the final two minutes. That’s what College Football Playoff teams do.
4. USC (7-2)
Last week’s ranking: 4.
This week’s game: vs. Iowa.
What to know: USC beat Northwestern by 21, but it should’ve been much closer than that. The Wildcats fumbled through the end zone on a potential pick-six, and the Trojans ran a fake punt play in which their backup quarterback wore the same number as their punter. It worked, but it felt scummy – watch out for the college football karma, Men of Troy.
5. Iowa (6-3)
Last week’s ranking: 5.
This week’s game: at USC.
What to know: A soul-snatching loss to Oregon eliminates Iowa from any hope of a Big Ten title game or CFP berth. How the season will be remembered will be determined by this week at USC.
6. Michigan (7-2)
Last week’s ranking: 6.
This week’s game: at Northwestern (at Wrigley Field in Chicago).
What to know: The Wolverines got to rest over the bye week. They might not need their A-game against Northwestern, but they at least need their B-game, and it’s been a few weeks since we’ve seen that.
Last week’s ranking: 8.
This week’s game: vs. Maryland.
What to know: The Illini beat teams like Maryland fairly easily, and Bret Bielema is 7-2 at Illinois when he has at least 10 days to prepare for an opponent.
8. Nebraska (7-3)
Last week’s ranking: 9.
This week’s game: Off.
What to know: Quarterback TJ Lateef was simply stellar in the first start of his career, completing 13 of 15 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns. That has to excite ‘Huskers fans about what the future could be after Dylan Raiola.
9. Washington (6-3)
Last week’s ranking: 7.
This week’s game: vs. Purdue.
What to know: It seems clear the Huskies don’t travel well. They scored seven points in Ann Arbor last month and just 10 in a loss at Camp Randall Stadium. A date with the Boilermakers this week should deliver a dose of good feelings, but it’s a good thing it’s not in West Lafayette.
10. Northwestern (5-4)
Last week’s ranking: 10.
This week’s game: vs. Michigan (at Wrigley Field in Chicago).
What to know: The Wildcats got outpaced by the Trojans but now face a Wolverines team with a similar style to Northwestern’s. It will likely be a pro-Michigan crowd at the, ahem, Friendly Confines, but don’t be surprised if this is a game in the fourth quarter.
11. Minnesota (6-3)
Last week’s ranking: 11.
This week’s game: at Oregon.
What to know: “Six-win Minnesota” does not feel like an accurate representation of the Golden Gophers’ skill level. The Ducks should clear that up.
12. Rutgers (5-5)
Last week’s ranking: 14.
This week’s game: Off.
What to know: The Scarlet Knights kept their bowl hopes alive by beating the Terps. Now they get a week off before playing Ohio State. Seems like it will all come down to the finale the following week vs. the Nittany Lions, who could be playing for a bowl themselves.
13. UCLA (3-6)
Last week’s ranking: 12.
This week’s game: at Ohio State.
What to know: The UCLA magic seems to have worn off, with the Bruins unable to beat a ‘Huskers squad with a freshman quarterback making his first career start. Things could get ugly this week in Columbus.
14. Penn State (3-6)
Last week’s ranking: 15.
This week’s game: at Michigan State.
What to know: It’s not often teams move up after a loss, but that truly was an inspired performance against Indiana. There are no moral victories in college football, but that was about as close as a game gets.
15. Maryland (4-5)
Last week’s ranking: 13.
This week’s game: at Illinois.
What to know: The Terrapins are in a freefall and now face a rested Illini team. That 4-0 start in September feels like an entirely different season.
16. Wisconsin (3-6)
Last week’s ranking: 18.
This week’s game: at Indiana.
What to know: Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh publicly backed coach Luke Fickell earlier in the week, saying he will return in 2026 and the department will increase its investment. Fickell returned the favor with the Badgers’ best win of the year.
17. Michigan State (3-6)
Last week’s ranking: 16.
This week’s game: vs. Penn State.
What to know: The Spartans and Nittany Lions have both lost six consecutive games, all in conference play. That streak will end for one of them when they meet this weekend in the final game of the season in East Lansing.
18. Purdue (2-8)
Last week’s ranking: 17.
This week’s game: at Washington.
What to know: The Boilermakers haven’t won a league game in nearly two years – since a 35-31 win over a pre-Curt Cignetti Hoosiers squad – and going across the country to Seattle feels like a step too far to expect an end to that streak.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
