USC-Oregon is a pivotal matchup Saturday in Eugene, while Michigan's narrow win over Northwestern last week kept the Wolverines in the playoff conversation. USC's rain-soaked win over Iowa was effectively a playoff elimination game for the Trojans, and similar stakes accompany their Week 13 clash with the Ducks.

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is pushing a $2.4 billion plan, to which Michigan and USC have been vocally opposed.

"We're the richest conference in college sports, but didn't get there by accident," Michigan regent Jordan Acker said in a debate over private equity.

The University of Michigan governing board publicly declared its opposition on Thursday to the possibility of giving up a stake of the Big Ten in exchange for $2.4 billion in private investment.

The Spartans still do not have a win in Big Ten play this year. That continues Saturday. Michigan takes care of business and sets up a massive rivalry matchup with Ohio State next week. Penn State gets a win in the final home game for its star-studded senior class and clinches bowl eligibility.

As one of the longest-standing members of the Big Ten conference, could Michigan football be on its way out in the future? In the short term, the answer is no.

Gigi Cervantes, who resigned from her position as a theater teacher at a Fort Worth school rather than teach in a classroom where the Ten Commandments are hung, poses for a photo at her home, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)