About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Week 5 of the 2026 college football season is now in the books! And while USC went on the road and took down Penn State , there were numerous other Big Ten games played over the weekend as well.
So what did we learn from the rest of the conference? Here are a few non-USC takeaways from Week 6 in the Big Ten:
The Bruins just went into Eugene and took down Oregon—a program that Lincoln Riley has infamously yet to beat—in Bob Chesney's first year. As much as USC fans might hate to admit it, UCLA looks like the real deal.
For a while Saturday, it looked as though the defending national champions were in serious danger of losing to Nebraska. When the game came down to the wire, however, it became quite clear which program knows how to win, and which one has continuously found excruciating ways to lose.
Washington's ugly loss to Iowa Friday night dropped the Huskies to 0-3 in Big Ten play. Washington's offense has been a disaster, and it feels as though head coach Jedd Fisch's days in Seattle are numbered.
As massive as USC's victory over Penn State was for the Trojans , the loss was equally demoralizing for the Nittany Lions . With Penn State now 0-3 in conference play, this is clearly a rebuilding year in Happy Valley.
Prior to last week, Purdue had not won a Big Ten game in nearly three years. After dominating Minnesota (the same Gophers team that beat Michigan the week prior), however, the Boilermakers have now won two in a row!
Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lion players run onto the field as fireworks explode overhead prior to the game against the Southern California Trojans at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; The Southern California Trojans mascot looks on from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; The Penn State Nittany Lions mascot entertains the fans during the third quarter against the Southern California Trojans at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Southern California Trojans at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) looks to throw a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell looks at the video board from the sideline during the second quarter against the Southern California Trojans at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Tanook Hines (16) makes a catch in the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Andrew Rappleyea (87) breaks a tackle during the third quarter against the Southern California Trojans at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (17) makes a catch in the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojan fans celebrate as Penn State Nittany Lion fans leave following the game at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans fans cheer for their players following the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojan players celebrate following the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 1 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lion players run onto the field as fireworks explode overhead prior to the game against the Southern California Trojans at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 1 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lion players run onto the field as fireworks explode overhead prior to the game against the Southern California Trojans at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 2 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; The Southern California Trojans mascot looks on from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 3 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; The Penn State Nittany Lions mascot entertains the fans during the third quarter against the Southern California Trojans at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 4 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 5 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Southern California Trojans at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 6 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) looks to throw a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 7 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell looks at the video board from the sideline during the second quarter against the Southern California Trojans at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 8 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Tanook Hines (16) makes a catch in the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 9 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Andrew Rappleyea (87) breaks a tackle during the third quarter against the Southern California Trojans at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 10 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (17) makes a catch in the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 11 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 12 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojan fans celebrate as Penn State Nittany Lion fans leave following the game at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 13 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans fans cheer for their players following the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 14 / 14 Photos from USC’s 31-23 road victory over Penn State Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojan players celebrate following the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images (Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Contact/Follow @TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: What we learned from Week 6 of college football in the Big Ten
Source: Sports
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