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Kirk Herbstreit names which Big Ten programs could challenge Ohio State, Indiana

The Big Ten’s title race is far from settled despite Ohio State and Indiana’s dominance in recent years. Both teams remain undefeated in conference play, with the Buckeyes and Hoosiers emerging as the clear favorites after back-to-back national championship runs.

Indiana, the defending national champions, has not lost a game since 2024, while Ohio State, the 2024 title winners, also made the College Football Playoff last season before falling to Miami (FL). However, college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit has highlighted other programs that could disrupt the Buckeyes’ and Hoosiers’ stranglehold, including UCLA, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.

UCLA leads the conference at 3-0, while Wisconsin sits at 2-0, with both teams showing strong form. Nebraska and Northwestern, though, have each suffered a conference loss this season, adding a layer of unpredictability to the race.

Herbstreit’s assessment suggests the Big Ten is wide open beyond the traditional powerhouses like Michigan and Penn State, leaving fans eager to see if any of these contenders can pull off an upset.

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