We have a full slate in the Big Ten this week with all 18 teams in action across 16 games.
Conference play gets underway as well, with USC and UCLA kicking things off. The Trojans cross the country to Rutgers while the Bruins host Purdue.
Oregon and Washington both face in-state FCS foes to close out the non-conference portion of their season.
Here are my previews for the four teams from the West, plus UTEP at Michigan and Virginia Tech at Maryland.
Portland State at No. 21 Oregon
Friday, September 18
7:30 PM PT, BTN
(Mark Followil, Rhett Lewis and Kenjon Barner)
Line: Oregon –58.5
Over/Under: 65.5
Oregon’s season did not get off to a good start with the lackluster showing in knocking off Boise State in the opener.
Things got far worse in Week 2 as the Ducks fell to Oklahoma State, and the Cowboys snapped their 12-game losing skid.
It was the first time in history a team broke a losing streak of 10+ games with a win over a Top 10 opponent. This is not the way 2026 was supposed to start for Oregon.
Now, the Ducks must start over, and the new season begins this week.
The Vikings should pose little threat to Oregon in this one; PSU is an FCS squad that has struggled to an 0-3 start this season.
So, a get-right week for sure, but what exactly do the Ducks need to get right?
Well, in the first two games, Oregon certainly has had a multitude of problems. The loss of both coordinators seems to have had a bigger effect than was expected. The defense was supposed to be a strength of the team, and it currently is a disaster.
Against OSU, the Ducks failed to record a sack and were torched for 554 yards. The unit has been marred by missed tackles and blown coverage assignments. This is where the Ducks can use the week to shore those things up.
On offense, the line has not been able to establish a push in the run game, and there have been plenty of issues with pass protection.
Oregon should dominate all facets against the Vikings, and they should be much better up front. If they are not, then it is going to be a very long season.
Give me the Ducks by 60 in this one, only because they need to improve on those aspects and the starters could see more run than they normally might in a game like this.
Winner: Oregon
ATS: Oregon
O/U: Over
No. 12 USC at Rutgers
Saturday, September 19
12:30 PM PT, CBS
(Brad Nessler, Charles Davis and Jenny Dell)
Line: USC –24
Over/Under: 59.5
While some teams have struggled to start the season, others have rolled. One of those teams rolling through the opening weeks is USC.
Jayden Maiava looks to be in complete control of the offense and has developed a connection with Trent Mosley, though the freshman receiver is injured and is not expected to play this week.
In the first three games, Maiava has completed 80.7% of his passes and thrown 10 touchdowns, becoming just the sixth QB nationally since at least 2000 to throw at least 10 TD passes with a 80%+ completion percentage in the first three games of a season.
Simply put, the Trojans offense is firing on all cylinders and is looking unstoppable.
If there is a cause for concern, it has come on the defensive side of the ball, where the Trojans have allowed some late scores to make things tighter than they should have been.
But the starters have looked good, and they shut out Fresno State, seemingly their best opponent thus far.
The opposition has been soft ahead of a challenging Big Ten slate, but the challenges will not start this week.
Rutgers has played some of the worst football in America this season and certainly among Power Four teams. The Knights are among the worst in the nation in both total offense and defense through their first two games.
Rutgers is 0-43 in their last 43 games against ranked opponents, with 39 of those 43 losses by 10+ points and the average defeat by 29.8.
That trend continues: SC wins big, as they remain unbeaten while the Knights start 0-3 for the first time since 2008—and Greg Schiano’s seat gets scorching hot.
Winner: USC
ATS: USC
O/U: Under
UTEP at No. 19 Michigan
Saturday, September 19
12:30 PM PT, Big Ten Network
(Jeff Levering, Jake Butt and Brooke Fletcher)
Line: Michigan –35
Over/Under: 48.5
The round-robin play in the Okla-TEP-igan cup concludes this week with the Miners traveling to the Big House as Michigan looks to conclude the non-conference slate 3-0 (ish).
Of course, UTEP played Oklahoma to open the season, hence the round-robin slate. UTEP is hoping the trip to Ann Arbor is a bit better than that trip to Norman was, with the Miners falling 51-0 and not even topping 200 yards of offense.
The go-go attack of UTEP rebounded in week two with a convincing win over Texas Southern. The Miners put up 51 points and were balanced on offense with 252 on the ground and 239 through the air.
It was a big improvement over the shutout loss to Oklahoma. Obviously, the competition was a bit different as well.
Kyle Whittingham admitted that he and the staff did not have a good game plan in the opener for Bryce Underwood. They rectified that in game two against Oklahoma as Young was electric with the ball in his hands.
Underwood still has not been able to throw with any real effectiveness, but he was a problem for the Sooners on the ground. The QB accounted for 87 of the Wolverines 152 yards on the ground.
So which Michigan team shows up—the one that struggled with Western Michigan or the one that rebounded against the Sooners?
I think we will see more of the latter this season and definitely that version this week. Underwood will need to get better throwing the football, but he won’t need to make a jump this week.
Michigan should be able to run all over the Miners, and the defense of the Wolverines will stymie UTEP throughout.
Winner: Michigan
ATS: Michigan
O/U: Under
Eastern Washington at Washington
Saturday, September 19
4:15 PM PT, BTN
(AJ Kanell, Marcel Reece and Alyssa Charlston-Smith)
Line: Washington –42.5
Over/Under: 56.5
The Huskies are looking to find some rhythm, especially on the offensive side of the ball, in a week when they could also be shorthanded with several players out with injuries.
This is a game to work out the kinks and get healthy.
Washington’s win over Utah State last week was far closer than expected. Similar to their PNW conference rival Oregon, UW has been inconsistent in its offensive line play.
Against the Aggies, the Huskies only managed 2.67 yards per rush. Against the Eagles, Demond Williams should be able to make all kinds of plays all over the field. The line should also be able to create the physical push that has been lacking.
The UW offense has found the end zone only four times this season in the two wins over Washington State and USU. I’d expect that output to more than double in this game.
The win over the USU last week may have been alarming in just how tight it was, but it is better to get a win out of it than a loss. Hopefully, for UW fans, the alarm will signal improvement.
This week is a chance for Washington to get things right and hopefully get and stay healthy before conference play opens.
Winner: Washington
ATS: Washington
O/U: Under
Virginia Tech Hokies at Maryland Terrapins
Saturday, September 19
4:30 PM PT, FS1
(Eric Collins and Spencer Tillman)
Line: Virginia Tech –3
Over/Under: 53.5
There was a time, 2009 in fact, when James Franklin was named the coach in waiting to replace Ralph Friedgen at Maryland. Things went sideways, and Franklin ended up at Vandy, then Penn State, and now Virginia Tech.
Maryland might be in a better spot over the last 15 years than they could have been. I guess that part is debatable, but I lean towards UM on this one. Either way, any time Franklin faces off with the Terps, I like to keep my eyes open.
The Terps will welcome the Hokies to College Park this weekend in an intriguing battle. Both teams are unbeaten, albeit against opponents they both should have handled and did.
But three weeks ago I would have said Tech wins this one easily. Now, I am not so sure. Maryland has played much better in the opening two weeks than I had expected.
Malik Washington is a talented playmaker and put up big numbers as a freshman, but through the first two games this season has looked like a far better passer. He is completing 73.6% of his passes this season and has yet to throw an interception.
This week will be a challenge. Va Tech leads the nation in sacks this season, getting to the QB 12 times in their two games. Last week they recorded seven sacks against ODU. The Terps have only allowed one sack this season.
Offensively, the Hokies did not get the push at the line they needed against the Monarchs, averaging just 2.1 yards per rush as they totaled just 89 yards against the Sun Belt squad.
The team that controls the trenches is going to win this game. And I like the Terps to be stingy against the run. Washington’s ability to make plays outside of the pocket will create the upset.
Winner: Maryland
ATS: Maryland
O/U: Under
Purdue Boilermakers at UCLA Bruins
Saturday, September 19
8:00 PM PT, BTN
(Jason Horowitz, Brock Vereen and Kelsie Kasper)
Line: UCLA –14
Over/Under: 53.5
UCLA has looked good in the opening of the Bob Chesney era. The Bruins have embraced a run-first approach, running on almost 63% of their offensive snaps.
Purdue allowed Wake Forrest to run for 186 yards on 41 carries in their loss last week. The Bruins ground game could be in for a big day.
Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods, and Jaivian Thomas have all been effective on the ground and the rotation will continue to work. Nico Iamaleava looks like a natural fit in this offense.
The Bruins have already run for 10 touchdowns this season, two more than they had all of 2025.
Purdue will look to throw the football; Ryan Browne leads the Big Ten in pass completions this season with 27.5 per game.
UCLA completely took the passing game away from San Diego State and while Cal racked up a ton of yardage through the air, it was a bend but don’t break. Cal threw the ball a bunch and UCLA weathered it.
Simply put, UCLA is the far better team in this. Purdue is traveling across the country. The Bruins will run the ball at will and win this one going away.
Winner: UCLA
ATS: UCLA
O/U: Over
Straight-Up Staff Picks for Selected Games
|
2026 Week 3 Games |
Dane Miller |
Stephen Vilardo |
Nick Bartlett |
Spencer McLaughlin |
Jack Follman |
| ASU @ Kansas |  ASU |
ASU |
ASU |
ASU |
ASU |
| Utah St at Utah |  Utah |
Utah |
Utah |
Utah |
Utah |
| USC @ Rugers |  USC |
USC |
USC |
USC |
USC |
| Stanford @ Duke |  Duke |
Duke |
Duke |
Duke |
Duke |
| UNM @ OU |  Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
| BYU @ CSU |  BYU |
BYU |
BYU |
BYU |
BYU |
| CU @ NW |  Northwestern |
Northwestern |
 Colorado |
Northwestern |
Northwestern |
| SDSU @ BSU |  Boise St |
Boise St |
Boise St |
Boise St |
Boise St |
| NDSU @ Sac St |  NDSU |
NDSU |
NDSU |
NDSU |
NDSU |
| Montana @ OSU |  Ore St |
Ore St |
Ore St |
Ore St |
Ore St |
| FS @SDSU |  Fresno St |
Fresno St |
Fresno St |
Fresno St |
Fresno St |
| Purdue @ UCLA |  UCLA |
UCLA |
UCLA |
UCLA |
UCLA |
| Staff Records | 26-8 | 25-9 | 28-6 | 27-7 | 9-3 |
