The loser would have to beat Michigan and possibly get help from other sources later in the season. Winning this game is a necessary step toward not only the Big Ten title, but a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions are both unbeaten, and they both know that later in the season, they will face the Michigan Wolverines in the battle for the Big Ten East Division championship and a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, most likely against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Let’s grab those big showdowns and look at other games involving top-25 teams: Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio State Buckeyes There are a few of note in Week 8, with more to come later in the season. We have arrived at that precise point in the season where these really big matchups are going to appear on the slate each week. Television networks generally like to have the bigger conference showdowns later in the season, so that the stakes are higher and teams don’t pick up losses in the first few weeks of the year. The 2023 college football season moves into Week 8 with some very big games on the schedule.