The Big Ten ramps up league play this week with seven conference games on the slate.

Purdue and Rutgers both started Big Ten play with losses to the LA schools last week. This week, both step out of conference for the final time as the Boilers welcome Notre Dame to Ross-Ade while the Knights host Howard.

We have a big West Coast matchup on Saturday as the blossoming rivalry between USC and Oregon is renewed in the Coliseum. It is one of two conference games to feature a pair of ranked opponents.

Iowa travels to the Big House to face Michigan in the other one. We have both of those covered, along with UCLA visiting Maryland and Washington hosting Minnesota.

Rounding out our coverage of six games, we look at Indiana and Northwestern—both in our previews for the first time this season. The Cats visit Bloomington to kick things off on Friday night.

Rounding out our previews this week is Wisconsin at Penn State.

Northwestern Wildcats at No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers

Friday, September 25
5:00 PM PT, FOX
(Connor Onion, Robert Griffin III and Alexa Landestoy)

Line: Indiana –21
Over/Under: 49.5

Oh, the price that you pay for building expectations. Indiana fans are displeased with the performance of the Hoosiers following a 38-0 shutout of Western Kentucky.

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Sure, it is the first time Indiana has posted back-to-back shutouts since 1993 and just the third time since the 1950s.

Well, need not worry, Hoosiers fans; Indiana will not make it three shutouts in a row. Northwestern will score some points.

The new-look Cats offense under Chip Kelly looks to have some bite, averaging 37.7 points in the first two outings and dominating Colorado 41-7 a week ago.

The question is, how much will they be able to score against an elite defense like Indiana?

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Aidan Chiles has looked great to start the season, making good decisions and limiting the turnovers (no interceptions in 46 pass attempts).

Now, has Chip Kelly completely fixed him, or will we see the Chiles of old who forces passes or tucks the ball too soon once the pressure heats up? Indiana will try to bring the heat.

The same question applies on the other side of the ball with Josh Hoover.

The TCU transfer has looked sharp for Indiana this season, and his own turnover issues from the past seem to be fixed, but against a ball-hawking defense like Northwestern, will issues creep back into the fold?

Northwestern picked off a pair of passes vs. Colorado. The opportunistic Wildcats are currently fifth nationally with a turnover margin of +2.0 per game.

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I think, in the end, Chiles plays much better, and Northwestern looks like a team that will be problematic for a lot of teams this season, but not for 60 minutes in this one.

The Indiana defense is too good, and the offense will wear out the Wildcats in the end.  The first half might be tight, but the Hoosiers win comfortably in the end.

Winner: Indiana
ATS: Indiana
O/U: Under

UCLA Bruins at Maryland Terrapins

Saturday, September 26
10:30 AM PT, BTN
(Mark Followill, Rhett Lewis and Caroline Hendershot)

Line: UCLA –1.5
Over/Under: 56.5

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The Bruins will look to open the season 4-0 for the first time since 2022. UCLA just beat a Purdue team that has now lost 19 straight Big Ten games, the longest conference losing streak in the country.

This week they will face a Maryland team looking for their first Big Ten win in a calendar year. The Terps dropped their last eight games of 2025 to finish 1-8 in conference play.

The Bruins look like a team ready to make some noise in 2026, with a big rebound season.

Maryland, sadly for Terps fans, looks like a team that might hope next season brings the same sort of turnaround for them under what will likely be a new head coach.

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The Bruins have gotten excellent play from Nico Iamaleava this season. The QB is coming off a career-high 276 passing yards and three TDs in the win over Purdue.

Wayne Knight is the weapon that was missing from the Bruin offense last season. The back leads the nation in two categories, with eight rushing TDs and 8.85 yards per carry.

Maryland’s defense will have a hard time slowing down UCLA’s offense.

Defensively, the Bruins have allowed some yardage and points this season, but their seven forced turnovers are tied for the sixth-most in the nation this season.

This one will be a shootout.

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Malik Washington has looked sharp under center for the Terrapins and has yet to turn it over. The Terps will end their Big Ten losing streak, but not this week.

Winner: UCLA
ATS: UCLA
O/U: Over

No. 17 Iowa Hawkeyes at No. 18 Michigan Wolverines

Saturday, September 26
12:30 PM PT, CBS
(Brad Nessler, Charles Davis and Jenny Dell)

Line: Michigan –5.5
Over/Under: 38.5

There was a HS football game in Indiana last week that went to overtime, and the final score was 5-2. This game seems like it has the potential to be similar.

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I jest a bit, but the point remains: This one will not see a lot of points scored!

Both defenses are in the Top 10, and neither offense is going to be confused with the “Greatest Show on Turf” from the Rams in the early 2000’s.

The key for Michigan is Bryce Underwood. The Wolverines need their QB to make good decisions and create plays with both his arms and his legs.

The Hawkeyes will need to find a way to bottle him up and keep the passer (who is also the leading rusher for Michigan this season) under wraps.

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The Wolverines have rebounded from their “win” over Western Michigan with victories over Oklahoma and UTEP.

The win over the Sooners resulted from their defense forcing some turnovers, including a key interception at the end. The Michigan defense was not able to do much of anything in that contest.

The Hawkeyes’ defense might be better than OU’s, and nobody enjoys an old-fashioned rock fight more than Kirk Farentz and the Hawkeyes.

Iowa has posted a pair of shutouts and held two of their first three opponents to under 200 yards of offense.

While the Hawkeyes are never going to look like an offensive juggernaut, the unit has gone over 500 yards twice this year. The last time Iowa posted a pair of such games in a regular season was 2006.

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I think the Hawkeyes will run the ball and, quite simply, I trust them more in this one.  They leave Ann Arbor with the win.

Winner: Iowa
ATS:  Iowa
O/U: Under

Wisconsin Badgers at No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions

Saturday, September 26
2:00 PM PT, Peacock
(Dave Flemming, Matt Cassel and Ashley ShahAhmadi)

Line: Penn State –10
Over/Under: 44.5

The Badgers visit Happy Valley this week as Penn State celebrates Homecoming Weekend. This one is interesting as we will start to see what these teams actually look like.

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The Nittany Lions have looked like world beaters but have done so against inferior competition. Even in the 27-9 win at Temple, Penn State did not look like a team that is ready to challenge for any titles.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, has looked very solid in their two wins, both against teams they should look good against.

The Badgers fell quite handily to Notre Dame, but they kept it tight for a half. And the Irish just might be a team that is ready to challenge for titles.

I still think the Badgers will be in good shape this season with Colton Joseph at QB. He has been effective as a passer and has been able to use his legs to extend plays.

As much as I like Joseph, I like the supporting cast around Penn State’s Rocco Becht a lot better.

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The Badgers will be improved this season, but look for a Happy Homecoming for Penn State

Winner: Penn State
ATS:  Penn State
O/U:  Under

No. 20 Oregon Ducks at No. 12 USC Trojans

Saturday, September 26
4:30 PM PT, NBC
(Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge and Kathryn Tappen)

Line: Oregon –3
Over/Under: 61.5

The marquee matchup in the conference this week sees Oregon travel to USC. The Ducks will be looking to extend their four-game winning streak in the series.

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The Trojans have not beaten Oregon since 2016, and in their last seven meetings dating back to 2012, Oregon owns a 6-1 mark, having gone 8-2 in their last 10 vs. SC.

The form this season has leaned towards the Trojans, but last week’s performances leave a few questions, and obviously the oddsmakers took note.

Oregon looked shaky, to say the least, in the first two weeks of the season but seemed to have gotten things right last week, albeit against Portland State.

Dante Moore looked polished playing only the first half, completing nearly 83% of his passes with four TDs and 280 yards.

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Despite all that went right in the prolific shutout win over PSU, the Ducks still allowed two sacks, not terrible, but still indicative of what has plagued Oregon this season, especially in the loss to OSU.

Portland State probably should not be getting to the Oregon QBs, especially in the game that was played last week.

Oregon now ranks 102nd in the nation with 2.33 sacks allowed per game. That could be problematic for the Ducks against a Trojan defense that has gotten to the QB a fair amount this season.

USC looked about as good as any team in the nation heading into last week, but a shaky performance at Rutgers raises some eyebrows there. USC never trailed in the game, but they allowed the Scarlet Knights to stick around.

And this was against a Rutgers offense that did not look good against UMass and Boston College. The SC defense stepped up when they needed to, but questions have certainly arisen.

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Jayden Maiava still looks like he is the best QB in the nation, and the SC defense will cause just enough issues for Dante Moore that I like USC to end their series losing streak in this one.

Winner: USC
ATS:  USC
O/U: Over

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Washington Huskies

Saturday, September 26
8:00 PM PT, FOX
(Jack Kizer and Mark Helfrich)

Line: Washington –9.5
Over/Under: 46.5

The Huskies have the schedule set up so they can potentially make a lot of noise this season.

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In order to do so, they need to make sure there are no slip-ups, and the Gophers could be the type of team that could cause a problem.

With USC on the horizon, Washington must not lose sight of the Minnesota team in front of them this week.

Both the Gophers and Huskies have been hit by the injury bug, particularly at the running back position.

Demond Williams has helped pick up the slack for UW, making plays with his legs. He will be a difference-maker in this one.

The Huskies have also been far more efficient in the turnover department with a +6-turnover differential on the season. Minnesota has only given the ball away twice but has not done a good job of creating miscues.

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Drake Lindsey is a capable QB and makes good decisions, but I think Washington could force him into a couple of mistakes on Saturday.

It won’t be a comfortable win, but I think Washington gets it done. I could see a late Gopher score ruining the cover in a low-scoring game.

Winner: Washington
ATS: Minnesota
O/U: Under

writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).

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Avery Anna has announced herself as a promising talent with a debut win at Geelong.

The Ladbrokes Popular SRM Maiden Plate (1125) on Wednesday was a captivating contest decided between three first-time starters.

The filly, prepared by the partnership of Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin, was the outsider of the three, with her odds drifting from $3.80 at acceptance time to $5 at the start.

In contrast, the second-placed Voltrix was the $2.30 favourite after early support saw her odds firm from $2.15 on-course. A significant market move was also noted for Big Lap, who officially opened at $4 but tightened to $3.10 after being backed from $17 the previous day.

It was Avery Anna, under the skilled riding of Craig Williams, who showed the most grit in the concluding stages to win by a half-head from Voltrix, with Big Lap a similar margin behind in third.

Larkin indicated the stable had expected a forward showing from Avery Anna but conceded the filly would benefit from the race experience.

“She’s a filly that I think has a lot of ability, but she is still not all there quite yet,” Larkin told racing.com.

“She was over-racing at times in the mid-stages. She’s got a good turn of foot but was floating around late.

“I thought she was going to get headed at the 100 (metres) and run a nice third, but she stuck on and wanted to be there.

“It’s good signs for a horse going forward and we did say to the owners this morning that she was still six months away from being at her best as she’s got quite a bit of maturity still to come.”

Williams aligned with Larkin’s post-race analysis, stating Avery Anna possesses a strong engine but needs further racing experience to refine her race-day tactics, despite the narrow, hard-fought victory.

“The stable was very confident with her today and she still has all her future in front of her when she develops a bit more and she will learn a lot from this race experience,” Williams said.

“Most importantly, she has a good motor.”

If you’re looking to get involved with the next exciting race, consider checking out Australian betting sites for the latest racing markets.

Pune will host the UCI Road World Championships 2032, bringing cycling’s global showcase to India for the first time.

The historic bid was a joint effort by the Government of Maharashtra and the Cycling Federation of India with the support of the Government of India, built around a shared vision to establish Pune as a global cycling destination.

The decision was announced at the UCI Congress in Montreal, Canada, following Pune’s final candidature presentation to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

A senior delegation from the Government of Maharashtra was present in Montreal to champion Pune’s candidature. Maninder Pal Singh, secretary general, Cycling Federation of India; and Onkar Singh former secretary general, Asian Cycling Confederation were also present.

The candidature process culminated in a two-way race between Pune and Groningen/Drenthe, Netherlands, after Colombia and Mexico were eliminated.

Pune’s bid gained momentum following a three-member UCI inspection team’s September 46 visit, which assessed key venues and proposed race infrastructure, including Balewadi Stadium and the Pune University circuit.

Both finalists presented their bids in Montreal during the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, ahead of the final announcement at the UCI Congress. Check Asian Games 2026 latest news here Check Asian Games 2026 medal tally here

The event will bring the world’s leading road cyclists to India.

The UCI Road World Championships are among the most prestigious events in the international cycling calendar, bringing together the world’s leading riders to compete for the coveted rainbow jerseys.

“The report on the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour presented to the UCI Management Committee by the delegation led by Pune District Collector Mr Jitendra Dudi is extremely encouraging. Cycling continues to develop in new territories where it has the potential to become a leading sport,” UCI president David Lappartient said in a statement.

“India is a country where our sport has a bright future, thanks to the commitment and enthusiasm of key stakeholders.” In the last five editions, the UCI Road World Championships have travelled from Wollongong, Australia (2022), Glasgow and Scotland (2023), Zurich, Switzerland (2024), Kigali, Rwanda (2025) and Montreal, Canada (2026).

The 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships will take place in Haute-Savoie, France, while the UCI Road World Championships will be hosted by Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 2028; Denmark in 2029; Brussels, Belgium, in 2030; and Trentino, Italy, in 2031, before arriving in Pune in 2032.

CFI secretary general Maninder Pal Singh added: “For Indian cycling, this is an opportunity to move from participation to performance and from hosting international races to becoming a part of cycling’s global conversation.

“The years leading to 2032 will be about creating stronger pathways for our athletes, coaches and technical officials, bringing international expertise into India and giving our riders greater exposure to the highest standards of the sport. The Cycling Federation of India is committed to using this opportunity to build an ecosystem that can compete with the best in the world.

Sep 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws the ball against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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The Premier League and Championship are taking an unprecedented THREE-WEEK international break – meaning football in the English top flights won’t return until 10th October.

The season has barely started and all the momentum and noise generated by the Premier League grinds to a halt.

But in adversity there’s always opportunity – and you have the perfect chance to try out lower league football before the dark nights draw in.

The smell of fresh-baked steak pies. The sound of a crunching tackle yards in front of you. The crisp taste of a pint on the terrace.

They are just some of the reasons why lower league football is booming and the masses are binning VAR checks and replacing them with a good old fashioned moan at the linesman.

So for those of you who are a bit non-plussed about international football, fear not. Our new interactive allows you to find lower league matches taking place near you.

Simply enter your postcode and a list of nearby games this weekend right down to the eighth tier will be provided…

Man Utd fans continue to protest against the club’s ownership, hoping to remove the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Manchester United fans have launched an online campaign against the club’s sponsors and partners.

Several United social media accounts announced the cyber protest on Tuesday evening. Using the hashtag #BoycottUnited, they encouraged fans to leave negative reviews for the companies, email their press offices, and leave comments on their social media posts.

A graphic with United’s sponsors and partners has been created. The poster reads: “You have a voice, no matter how small or big. Let your feelings be known to these companies via reviews and socials.”

Qualcomm Technologies has sponsored the front of United’s shirts with their Snapdragon brand since the 2024/25 season. The California-based company is United’s biggest commercial partner, and fans have littered their social media with negative posts about the club’s ownership.

Snapdragon have have responded by hiding some replies from some angry supporters under their posts. United’s sponsorship deal with Snapdragon is understood to be worth around £60million per season.

The online campaign has been launched against United’s sponsors and partners because a portion of fans have suggested that protests do not work.

United matchgoers have consistently protested against the Glazer family since their leveraged buyout in 2005, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe has become just as much of a target during demonstrations over the last 18 months.

United fan group The 1958 last organised a protest against the treatment of season-ticket holders following a controversial ticket-touting investigation before the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

The police estimated that around 500 fans were in attendance, but more supporters joined as the protest moved onto Sir Matt Busby Way and marched toward the stadium.

United fans were unhappy with the club’s activity in the transfer market this summer. The Reds spent £150million to sign Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba, while Karlow Darlow was signed on a free transfer.

The club failed to sign a back-up left-back to cover for Luke Shaw, who has already missed three games, and signing a back-up striker was not a priority.

Manchester City spent a league-high £458m during the window, followed by Chelsea (£342.4m), Tottenham (£334m) and Newcastle (£275.2m).

Former Ireland and Munster star Simon Zebo believes the BKT United Rugby Championship has improved “ten-fold” and has named Leinster as the team to beat heading into the new season.

The 35-cap Ireland international says the variety of playing styles and growing number of international players across the competition have helped transform the URC into one of rugby’s most entertaining leagues.

Zebo, who retired from professional rugby in 2024 and is now part of the Premier Sports punditry team, believes defending champions Leinster remain the benchmark as the new campaign gets underway.

Simon Zebo: URC standard has gone up ‘ten-fold’

Now entering its sixth season in its current format, the BKT URC brings together teams from Ireland, South Africa, Scotland, Wales and Italy.

Zebo believes that mix has become one of the competition’s biggest strengths.

“How it’s evolved is how attractive it is to watch on the eye. I think the standard of the league across the board and the style we are being treated to, there’s a lot of quality on the pitch.

“That’s why there’s such a good connection with a lot of the supporters who are mad keen to go to the stadiums and watch live matches.

“It all boils down to the quality of the product. We are being treated to some amazing games, great cross culture matches.”

The former Munster and Racing 92 star believes the contrasting approaches across the competition provide both entertainment for supporters and an important test for players.

“There are loads of different styles that we are able to watch on view instead of just one country specifically. You’ve got the South African style versus the Irish style, the Italians, Scots and Welsh.

“It’s a great crossover and the difference in styles naturally prepares you for international rugby.”

Why the BKT URC is so difficult to win

Zebo believes the variety teams encounter from one weekend to the next is a major reason why winning the United Rugby Championship is such a difficult challenge.

“I think the difficulty in the league is that it’s so hard to win. That’s connected to the crossover in styles, the different cultures and different tests that come at you from week to week.

“It’s preparing for a Scottish team like Glasgow who can run at you from everywhere and then the following week playing the Bulls who are going to scrum you off the pitch to then maybe playing Munster or Leinster who can bring the aerial game into it.

“There are just so many different styles and lots of crossover and so many international players who are on display in the BKT URC now.

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“They are nearly like smaller international matches with the quality of player on the field.”

Zebo feels the overall standard of the competition has increased dramatically.

“The competition is continuing to grow. The standard of rugby we are being treated to has gone up ten fold. That’s why I think it’s continuing to drive engagement, get people talking and there is a lot of excitement around now for the new season.”

Simon Zebo names Leinster as the URC team to beat

When it comes to the title race, Zebo believes Leinster remain the side everyone else has to catch.

Leinster enter the campaign as defending champions and will be looking to add another URC crown during Leo Cullen’s final season as head coach.

“I would say that Leinster are still the team to beat,” said Zebo while speaking at a BKT URC Round Table.

“Yes, there’s a lot of quality in South Africa in particular. The size and tactics of their teams can be a bit of an Achilles heel for the Irish sides at times.

“But given what Leinster have done to the Bulls in previous finals, their squad is so deep, they have so much quality.

“There’s a confidence there as well when you are champions. It’s tough to knock over the current champs.

“With the South African sides, Glasgow and Munster, there are plenty of teams in the mix.

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“But, as of now, Leinster are probably still favourites going in by the bookies. It’s hard to begrudge them that.

“I think they are still very much the team to beat.”

Why a fast start matters in the URC

Zebo believes the opening rounds can have a major influence on a team’s title challenge, particularly in a competition where the battle for the play-off positions can quickly become congested.

“Finding a rhythm early on is probably the hardest part,” he said.

“Getting an early start breeds confidence for the rest of the season.

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“Then other factors come into play about squad health, fatigue and all other things.

“But if you can get out early ahead of the pack, avoid that mosh pit and stay top three, top four, it just has a massive bearing on the rest of your season.

“You are not chasing points as heavily in the later rounds. The knock-on effect is huge.

“You are far better off getting a good early start and getting that confidence in your game plan early doors.”

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Simon Zebo enjoying life after rugby

The 36-year-old has moved into broadcasting since calling time on his playing career in 2024.

Having represented Ireland 35 times along with spells at Munster and Racing 92, Zebo says remaining close to rugby has helped with the transition from playing.

“I love it. I’m incredibly fortunate to work with Premier Sports and get to stay up close with the action and remain in contact with the current players and past buddies that you played with.

“It’s nice to give insight and have a bit of fun at the same time. It comes back to the rugby we are being treated to. The product is so good at the moment.

“It’s always a joy. I wouldn’t call it work to be honest. It’s a privilege to be involved in the game still. It’s a nice transition out of playing the game.”

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Munster v Glasgow Warriors

Zebo will be part of the Premier Sports team at Thomond Park on Saturday for Munster Rugby v Glasgow Warriors.

He will be joined by Ross Harries, Ryan Wilson, Darren Cave, Ryle Nugent and Paul Marshall.

Premier Sports will show every BKT United Rugby Championship game live throughout the season.

Simon Zebo was speaking as part of a BKT United Rugby Championship Round Table.

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