Iowa's Big Ten Rivals Face Crucial Week 6 Tests as Ohio State Visits After Hawkeye Win

College football's Week 6 slate brings significant Big Ten action with direct implications for Iowa fans, as the Hawkeyes' recent opponent Ohio State looks to build momentum and several conference rivals face pivotal matchups. The Buckeyes, who beat Iowa 31-14 last week in Iowa City, hit the road again this Saturday to face Maryland in a game that will air on BTN.

The weekend's full schedule features eight games across the FOX family of networks, plus three national marquee matchups, including a top-five SEC showdown between Georgia and Alabama. For Iowa readers, the Big Ten storylines carry the most weight as the conference race begins to take shape.

Ohio State Looks to Extend Win Streak at Maryland

No. 5 Ohio State enters Saturday's contest at 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play, having won three straight since a narrow 24-23 loss at Texas in September. The Buckeyes' most recent victory came at the expense of Iowa, a 31-14 decision that showcased Ohio State's balanced attack.

Maryland, meanwhile, has stumbled to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play after three consecutive losses, including a 48-23 defeat at Nebraska last week. The Terrapins will need a dramatic turnaround to keep pace with the Buckeyes in Columbus.

Unbeaten Indiana Visits Nebraska in Big Noon Kickoff

The FOX network's flagship noon slot features two undefeated Big Ten teams as No. 7 Indiana travels to Lincoln to face Nebraska. Both programs enter at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play, making this one of the most intriguing matchups of the early season.

Indiana cruised past Rutgers 47-15 last week, while Nebraska handled Maryland 48-23. The Cornhuskers have won all five games by at least 18 points, suggesting they may be the more dominant of the two unbeaten squads. Indiana's closest contest came in a 29-23 win over Northwestern in Week 4.

The Hoosiers won the most recent meeting between the programs, a 56-7 blowout in 2024.

Minnesota at Purdue Features Two Teams Trending in Opposite Directions

Minnesota brings a 4-1 record and a three-game winning streak into West Lafayette, including an impressive 20-14 victory over Michigan last week. The Golden Gophers also notched a 27-24 road win at Washington in Week 4, establishing themselves as a legitimate contender in the Big Ten West race.

Purdue enters at 2-3 overall and 1-1 in league play after snapping a three-game losing streak with a 24-17 win at Illinois. It was the Boilermakers' first victory since Week 1, and they will look to build on that momentum against a Minnesota team that beat them 27-20 last season.

Illinois at Michigan State: Two Struggling Teams Seek First Conference Win

Both Illinois and Michigan State enter Saturday at 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play, making this a critical game for two programs desperate to avoid falling further behind in the conference standings.

Illinois has lost two straight, most recently a 24-17 defeat at the hands of Purdue. Michigan State has dropped three consecutive games, including a 31-3 loss at Wisconsin last week that highlighted the Spartans' offensive struggles.

Northwestern Hosts Ball State in Nonconference Tune-Up

Northwestern, at 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, hosts Ball State of the Mid-American Conference in a game that should provide the Wildcats a chance to build on their impressive 34-13 win over Penn State last week.

The Cardinals enter at 1-4 and have lost three straight, including a 56-3 defeat at Ohio State in September. Northwestern's lone loss came at Indiana, 29-23, in Week 4.

Big 12 Action Features Houston at Kansas State

No. 22 Houston brings a 4-1 record to Manhattan, Kansas, having won two straight including a 27-17 victory over UCF. The Cougars' only blemish is a 28-26 loss at Texas Tech.

Kansas State sits at 3-1 overall but 0-1 in Big 12 play after a 31-26 loss at Cincinnati on Sept. 26. The Wildcats had a bye last week and will be well-rested for this conference clash.

National Marquee Matchups

No. 1 Texas vs. Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry

The Longhorns remain the top-ranked team in the country at 4-0, with wins over Ohio State and Tennessee on their resume. Oklahoma enters at 2-2 with losses at Michigan and Georgia. Texas has won the last two meetings in Dallas, 34-3 in 2024 and 23-6 in 2025. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

No. 21 UCLA at No. 13 Oregon

UCLA is unbeaten at 4-0 and 2-0 in Big Ten play, while Oregon sits at 3-1 with its only loss coming at Oklahoma State. The Ducks have won five straight in the series. This game airs on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET.

No. 2 Georgia at No. 6 Alabama

The marquee game of the weekend pits two 5-0 SEC powers against each other in Tuscaloosa. Alabama has scored at least 45 points in every game this season, while Georgia has been equally dominant on defense. The teams split two meetings in 2025. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

How to Watch College Football Week 6

The FOX-family games air on FOX, FS1, or BTN and stream on FOX One. Indiana at Nebraska and Houston at Kansas State are on FOX. Illinois at Michigan State, Nevada at UTEP, and Hawaii at Arizona State air on FS1. Ball State at Northwestern, Maryland at Ohio State, and Minnesota at Purdue are on BTN.

Texas vs. Oklahoma and Georgia at Alabama are available through ESPN Unlimited via the FOX One / ESPN Bundle. UCLA at Oregon airs on CBS. Subscriptions and availability vary by service and location, so fans should check local listings before kickoff.

The Week 6 FOX-family Saturday begins with Indiana at Nebraska at noon ET and concludes with Hawaii at Arizona State at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Photo: FOX Sports