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Big Ten Football: The Sunday Morning Recap

Posted By: DJ Hoyt

Recapping the action from the weekend as Wisconsin falls, the programs in Michigan roll on, and a shock in Minneapolis

The Lead

In Chicago yesterday, Wisconsin had a chance to retake control of their destiny. In a season that has seen the top of the sport look vulnerable, even a team with one loss could still have a strong shot at one of the four playoff spots.

Then Notre Dame came into soldier field and dropped 41 on the Badgers. A season that began with much promise now resembles a smoke and mirrors type of year.

In the off-season, head coach Paul Chryst took over the offensive play calling responsibilities from offensive coordinator Jeff Potrykus. It was a move that many celebrated, as Chryst has been regarded as one of the better offensive minds in the game. Some in the national media speculated that the move also was done because Chryst and others around the program felt they had the talent to achieve something special this year.

Promising quarterback Graham Mertz would be leading a team put back together after a disruptive pandemic season. Top receivers Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis III would be returning from injury. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard would turn away the Green Bay Packers DC job to remain with the team. These were a few of the things building the belief of a bright season to come for the Badgers.

Saturday’s game against Notre Dame did more than just squash dreams of the playoff for Wisconsin, it raised a heightened level of concern around if the right people are running the show in Madison. Those concerns should begin with how the offense looks this year with Chryst calling the plays.

Reaction on social media during the game had a common theme: from week one, Wisconsin has called an offense that is not nearly as dynamic as hoped.

Some observers bemoaned the constant play action, even when the running game wasn’t gaining anything. Some were disappointed in the lack of jet sweeps or RPOs, plays that have become more commonplace in today’s game.

However, when Wisconsin would call a play that would attack Notre Dame in a more aggressive fashion, the quarterback couldn’t hit his target. This brings about another concern for the Wisconsin faithful. Is the guy they believed to be the answer at quarterback actually contributing to holding the team back?

Mertz would continue his trend of poor play against top competition.Yesterday he would finish completing just under 44% of his throws, while throwing four interceptions.

The Badgers can still win the Big Ten West and play for the conference title this season, but with the way this offense is playing it feels like that goal is so very far away.

Michigan Remains Unbeaten

Both Michigan and Rutgers entered yesterday with 3-0 records as they opened divisional play. Both were tied at eighth in scoring defense, allowing 11.33 points per game. On paper, and perhaps due to the perception from the past eight years of Rutgers football, Michigan was seen as the heavy favorite.

What played out though was a game that was tighter than many expected, and that finally saw Michigan get pushed on offense when their ground game was taken away. The Wolverines however, behind their revamped defense and a solid first quarter, would prevail 20-13.

Michigan’s first two series ended in touchdowns, and gave the perception that this team and its number one rushing offense was set for another big day. However, Greg Schiano and the Rutgers defense made the correct adjustments and limited the Michigan rushing attack the rest of the way.

Michigan’s first four series after the half ended with three and outs, before the fifth series saw them move the ball some, only to miss a field goal. Credit Rutgers for limiting Michigan to 112 yards on the ground, and forcing the Wolverines to beat them with the passing game.

Michigan will have to find ways to attack opponents through the air, as Rutgers won’t be the first opponent to try and take away the run. If quarterback Cade McNamara and these receivers cannot get opposing teams to respect the pass, the Wolverines may have to ask even more out of their defense in hopes every game turns into a low scoring affair.

Michigan State Survives Nebraska

Coming off their impressive win in Miami, the Spartans returned home to open conference play against Nebraska. In a contest that I thought had the potential to be the best game of the weekend in the Big Ten, MSU prevailed in overtime, 23-20.

The Spartans received a strong test from a Nebraska squad that appears far different than the one that opened the season with a loss to Illinois. Kenneth Walker III, the NCAA’s leading rusher, was held to just 61 yards on 19 carries for the night. The Nebraska defense did a fine job of clogging the lanes on the ground for much of the night, forcing QB Payton Thorne to throw. Thorne would finish with a respectable stat line of 14 for 23, 183 yards, with a touchdown and interception.

Nebraska would find some success through the air, attacking a Michigan State secondary that entered the day 107th in passing defense. Michigan State however would play an equally strong game on defense, and was able to create turnovers in both the fourth quarter and overtime to help seal the win.

Nebraska under Scott Frost has had a pattern of issues on special teams, and once more a disaster from that unit helped contribute to the loss. With just under four minutes in the fourth, and Nebraska up 20-13, Jayden Reed for MSU caught a punt and returned it 62 yards for the score, tying the game at 20 after the PAT.

For Michigan State, it was a solid team win where players from all three phases of the game needed to step up and execute. Games such as these where an opponent is able to limit what you do best, but you find a way to win anyway, can turn out to be season defining moments that help bring a program even further together.

PJ Fleck and Minnesota Turn in a Dud

It seems that anything tied to the USC program these days crashes and burns. Apparently, that includes the coaches that are rumored to be candidates for their head coaching position after the season.

In another Saturday that saw upsets across the college football world, none were as shocking as 31 point favorite Minnesota losing at home to Bowling Green, 14-10.

The Falcons entered the game 122nd in total offense, but watching the game you would have thought it was Minnesota that held that distinction. In what may have been his worst performance at Minnesota, senior quarterback Tanner Morgan completed just five passes on the day for 59 yards. His two interceptions in the fourth quarter effectively sealed the game for Bowling Green and completed the upset.

Minnesota was another team that many thought could be a bounce back program after the pandemic, but after the performance on Saturday that thought is in serious doubt.

P.J.Fleck’s star was never brighter than after the 2019 season: A young, upcoming coach, who is charismatic and had a track record of success at Western Michigan. He then built what looked to be a winner in Minnesota before the 2020 season.

Now, Fleck may not only have to try and rebuild this offense and program to a standard he set himself, but also his reputation as a coach on the rise.

Tweets of the Week

Players of the Week

Offense

Sean Clifford – QB – Penn State

Clifford and Penn State took care of Villanova this weekend, 38-17. For the game, Clifford would finish 19 of 26, for 401 yards, and 4 touchdowns.

Defense

Xavier Henderson – S – Michigan State

Henderson stepped up big on a night his team needed it, recording 17 tackles on the night as MSU held on to beat Nebraska in OT, 23-20.

Tuesday’s Post

Can Purdue play the role of Northwestern from a year ago and contend for the West title?