Five Big Ten games that will shape the CFP

The Big Ten is the big dog in college football right now, boasting the last two national champions and eight playoff teams in the last three seasons.

Storylines captivate the league from Michigan's dominance over Ohio State to the Wolverines' sign-stealing scandal and Lincoln Riley's job security at USC. It should be another wild year.

Here are five games that will shape the College Football Playoff in 2025:

Illinois at Indiana | Sept. 20

Head coach Curt Cignetti engineered the most remarkable first-year turnaround we've ever seen, taking Indiana (11-2) to the CFP last season. Bret Bielema had Illinois closer than some might think, going 10-3 with two losses coming against Penn State and Oregon.

It's likely that Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State will vie for the Big Ten title, but there is a real battle for the fourth spot in the league. Remember, Indiana snuck into the CFP as the fourth Big Ten team last season. Both of these programs will attempt to grab that fourth spot. It makes this game ultra-important for their respective resumes.

Oregon at Penn State | Sept. 27

Until he proves otherwise, Penn State head coach James Franklin is always going to be questioned for his ability to win big games. ESPN's Bill Connelly recently highlighted that Penn State is 34-2 as a favorite and 0-6 as an underdog in the last three seasons.

With the Ducks coming into Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions have an opportunity for their first marquee win of the season. A trip to Ohio State looms, making this all-the-more important.

Week 7

There are several games to keep an eye on in Week 7. Ohio State travels to Illinois, marking its first visit to Champaign since 2015. The Illini haven't beaten OSU since 2007. It's going to be an electric atmosphere and a chance for Illinois to announce itself as a true CFP contender.

The same is also true for Indiana as it travels to Oregon. The Hoosiers shouldn't have more than one loss as they go into Autzen. Elsewhere, Michigan travels to USC. By Week 7 we will know which way the season is going for both programs. There's a chance both could be ranked, but both could have multiple losses too.

Penn State at Ohio State | Nov. 1

At best, Ohio State comes in undefeated. At worst, it comes in with a loss to Texas or Illinois. Either way, with a trip to Michigan and a potential Big Ten title game coming up, this is big for the Buckeyes.

For Penn State, this is another game to prove it can compete at the highest level. Ohio State has won eight in a row against the Nittany Lions. Want a bye in the first round? Win this game and it's in play.

Ohio State at Michigan | Nov. 29

There was plenty of talk that rivalries would be diminished in the 12-team era. The 2024 edition of "The Game" proved otherwise. Last season, the only playoff implications were that Michigan could ruin Ohio State's hopes. This year, both teams could be competing for a spot or the opportunity for a first-round bye. 

As if the game needs any more hype around it, Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith recently sounded off to "The Athletic's" Manny Navarro about the 2024 loss to Michigan.

“I’m not a sore loser, but I hate losing, and losing to that team up north was pretty crazy,” Smith said. “In the end, I think it really helped us play the way we did in the playoffs. But I didn’t want to go to Ohio State and lose to that team up north. I just hate them. Just something about them. For the next two years, I promise you, I will not lose to them. I can’t lose to them in the next two years.”