The Big Ten Conference remained with four programs in College Football Playoff territory after a hectic rivalry weekend in college football.

In the final regular season USA Today Coaches and Associated Press Top 25 polls, the Big Ten earned five appearances despite having one of the conference’s headliners – Ohio State – falling nearly out of the top 10 after a disappointing13-10 loss at home to Michigan. The Buckeyes (10-2, 7-2 B1G) fell out of contention for the Big Ten Championship game after their home defeat, dropping them to No. 7 by the AP and No. 8 in the Coaches rankings.

Oregon (12-0, 9-0 B1G) remained at the top as the only undefeated college football program remaining. All other programs in previous week rankings moved up, including No. 2 Texas (11-1, 7-1 SEC), No. 3 Penn State (11-1, 8-1 B1G), No. 4 Notre Dame (11-1), No. 5 Georgia (10-2, 6-2 SEC), and No. 6 Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC). The Ducks received all first-place votes in this week’s rankings from both polls.

Rounding out the top 10 included No. 7/8 SMU (11-1, 8-0 ACC), No. 9 Indiana (11-1, 8-1 B1G), and No. 10 Boise State (11-1, 7-0 MWC). Despite the loss, Ohio State remained inside of the top 10 – unlike Miami (10-2, 6-2 ACC) that fell out of contention for the ACC Championship game due to its 42-38 loss at Syracuse Saturday. The Hurricanes dropped seven spots to No. 14 in each poll.

The Southeastern Conference held firm with seven programs in the top 25, adding in No. 11 Alabama (9-3, 5-3 SEC), No. 12/13 South Carolina (9-3, 5-3 SEC), No. 15 Ole Miss (9-3, 5-3 SEC), and No. 20/22 Missouri (9-3, 5-3 SEC). Texas A&M, LSU, and Florida also received consideration as the Aggies were the only other SEC program ranked last week.

The Big Ten rounded out their fifth appearance in the polls with No. 21 Illinois (9-3, 5-3 B1G). The Big 12 featured four programs as Arizona State (10-2, 7-2 B12) rose to No. 13, Iowa State (10-2, 7-2 B12) moved up to No. 16, BYU (10-2, 7-2) inched up to No. 18/17, and Colorado (9-3, 7-2 B12) sits at No. 22/20.

The ACC included the Mustangs inside of the top 10, while Clemson (9-3, 7-1) fell to No. 17/18. After the Orangemen’s upset over the Hurricanes, Syracuse (9-3, 5-3 ACC) snuck into the top 25 for each poll at No. 25/23.

Non-Power Four conference programs included the now-top 10 Broncos, No. 19 UNLV, No. 23/24 Army, and No. 24/25 Memphis.

Conference championship weekend matchups are now set for Friday and Saturday, with top 25 matchups in nearly all of the conferences in college football. Friday features the American Championship Game included RV Tulane v. No. 23/24 Army and the Moutain West Championship Game with No. 19 UNLV visiting No. 10 Boise State for the Group of Five College Football Playoff bid.

Saturday’s slate includes No. 16 Iowa State and No. 13 Arizona State at AT&T Stadium for the Big 12 title, the SEC Championship Game features No. 5 Georgia and No. 2 Texas in Atlanta, the ACC title contest welcomes No. 17/18 Clemson and No. 7/8 SMU, and the finally the Big Ten Championship game pits No. 3 Penn State against No. 1 Oregon.

Associated Press Top 25

1. Oregon
2. Texas
3. Penn State
4. Notre Dame
5. Georgia
6. Tennessee
7. Ohio State
8. SMU
9. Indiana
10. Boise State
11. Alabama
12. Arizona State
13. South Carlolina
14. Miami (FL)
15. Ole Miss
16. Iowa State
17. BYU
18. Clemson
19. UNLV
20. Colorado
21. Illinois
22. Missouri
23. Syracuse
24. Army
25. Memphis

Coaches Poll

1. Oregon
2. Texas
3. Penn State
4. Notre Dame
5. Georgia
6. Tennessee
7. SMU
8. Ohio State
9. Indiana
10. Boise State
11. Alabama
12. South Carolina
13. Arizona State
14. Miami (FL)
15. Ole Miss
16. Iowa State
17. Clemson
18. BYU
19. UNLV
20. Missouri
21. Illinois
22. Colorado
23. Army
24. Memphis
25. Syracuse

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BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti told reporters he’s tried to avoid the chatter surrounding the College Football Playoff rankings, but the final score on Saturday said otherwise. 

The No. 10 Hoosiers (11-1; 8-1 Big Ten) won 66-0 over Purdue in the most one-sided victories in program history.

Indiana’s starters stayed in the game into the fourth quarter — longer than they did in a similar blowout win over Western Illinois — and Cignetti even called for a fake punt with a 38-point lead late in the third quarter.

“Obviously style points are important this time of year, right?” Cignetti said. “And style points are earned.” 

More: Indiana football’s win over Purdue was most dominant victory in team history. Here’s 3 stats that prove it.

Those style points are what the CFP committee are using to help separate teams in the 12-team field. Committee chair Warde Manuel said as much when he talked to reporters earlier in the week about what separated Indiana and SMU, a fellow one-loss team with a weaker strength of schedule. 

The Mustangs benefited from the eye-popping offensive numbers they’ve put up during a win streak they extended to nine games on Saturday. 

“SMU has been playing really dominant football as of late,” Manuel said. 

Indiana football needed to remind the committee this was a team that won its first nine games by 14 points or more while putting up 40-plus in seven of those games. Cignetti even brought up their impressive margin of victory after the game. 

“I think we had the largest margin of victory of any team in the country up until last week. I’m not sure where we were coming into this game because obviously we did not beat Ohio State,” Cignetti said. “Most of the games we played, we’ve handled the opponent pretty well where we wouldn’t have the largest margin of victory in the country.”

Cignetti wasn’t the only coach looking for style points either over the weekend. 

Penn State added a touchdown as time expired in a 44-7 win over Maryland that clinched them a spot in the Big Ten title game. The score led to a tense post-game conversation at midfield between PSU coach James Franklin and his counterpart Mike Locksley. 

“We are trying to play as long as we can, make the playoffs and be seeded as high as possible, and scoring as many points and a point differential matters,” Franklin said, after the game. “All that matters.”

More: IU football grades vs. Purdue: Hoosiers do just about everything right in historic blowout

Indiana will now have to wait until Selection Sunday on Dec. 8 to find out their final postseason destination. The Hoosiers who spoke to the media after the game all expressed confidence their body of work was worthy of a CFP bid. 

“Oh yeah, for sure, we’re going to be in there and the first game you are all going to see the dominance we put on tape,” Indiana defensive end Mikail Kamara said. 

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

A northwest Indiana resident, who served as an administrative assistant at Portage High School, was killed in a murder-suicide that left a second victim seriously injured, authorities said Saturday.

Brandy Manville, 46, was found deceased, having sustained gunshot injuries, after Portage police responded to a domestic disturbance Friday evening in the 6300 block of Monument Avenue, police said in a Facebook post. At approximately 7:41 p.m., someone inside the home had called 911 to report that her father was intoxicated and throwing items inside the home.

Moments later, 911 operators heard a man saying that everyone was going to die following sounds of gunfire, police said. As officers arrived on scene, they heard gunshots erupt as well. Officers from several agencies entered the home and discovered Brandy Manville, as well as two other individuals. Charles Manville, 45, was found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police stated.

A third victim, a 21-year-old woman, sustained gunshot injuries and was transported by medical helicopter to an area trauma center. She remained hospitalized in stable condition, but with serious, life-threatening injuries, law enforcement said Saturday.

Police said the incident was isolated, and as of Saturday evening, there was no ongoing threat to the community. A motive for the shooting remained unknown.

“…We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victims of this shocking crime,” authorities said in a Facebook post, in part. “We pray for a full and speedy recovery of the surviving victim, who we are choosing not to publicly name at this time without her consent…”

Portage High School, where Brandy Manville worked, will have counseling services available Monday morning for students and staff.