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Big Ten Football: The Sunday Morning Recap

Posted By: DJ Hoyt

Week six lived up to the hype, and reminded us all why we love college and Big Ten football

The Lead

It was a top five match up that figured to be a defensive battle, with points coming at a premium. Boy, did it deliver.

The #3 Hawkeyes welcomed in #4 Penn State and battled back from an early deficit to win, 23-20. An emotional Kirk Ferentz told his team in the locker room after the game this was a team win. It truly was, as Iowa had to rely on all three phases of the game at certain points to pull out the win.

Down 17-3 in the second quarter and looking like this game was on the brink of slipping away, Iowa would see their offense put a drive together that would end with a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 17-10. It was the first time in the game that Iowa had shown any true success moving the ball against a solid Penn State defense.

The Hawkeyes would then see their vaunted defense rise to another level, as they held the Nittany Lions to just three points in the second half and prevented the game from slipping away. They were assisted by their special teams unit, where punter Tory Taylor had six of his nine kicks pinned inside the Penn State 20 yard line.

Through field position, a strong defensive effort, and a crowd that made it extremely difficult for Penn State to hear their own cadence, the Hawkeyes were able to eventually break the PSU defense and take the 23-20 lead on a 44 yard pass to Nico Ragaini with 6:26 left in the game.

Penn State looked to be in control early, but when starting quarterback Sean Clifford was knocked out of the game in the second quarter, the Nittany Lion offense became largely ineffective. Backup Ta’Quan Roberson had some success running an up-tempo attack, but Iowa made their adjustments and Roberson could not save Penn State from falling on the road.

You can argue if Clifford wasn’t injured perhaps the outcome would be different. However, Iowa deserves credit for making a number of in-game adjustments to help seal the win. The same cannot be said of Penn State, who couldn’t move away from a clap cadence when the noise was clearly a factor for the offensive line.

Either PSU hasn’t practiced silent counts, or just never made the adjustment to one. No matter the excuse, it was an example of the Penn State staff not putting their players in a position to succeed.

After their win and Alabama’s loss, the Hawkeyes should see themselves sitting #2 in the next AP poll. If someone wanted to argue that they should be #1, they would have a fairly strong argument as well based off their resume six games into the season.

For Penn State, even with the loss everything is still in front of them. All they truly lost was any wiggle room for errors. Should they win out and avenge themselves against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship, they could easily find themselves as one of the top four teams selected for the playoff.

Michigan Survives Nebraska’s Push

Jim Harbaugh and his team knew going into the game against Nebraska that they were going to be tested. The Cornhuskers that they would play Saturday night was not the same team that started the season with a loss to Illinois.

In one of the more entertaining games of the season so far, Michigan was able to fend off Nebraska, 32-29.

The first half saw both teams unable to really separate themselves until a late touchdown by Michigan had us with a halftime score of 13-0. Michigan was having intermittent success on offense, but could not sustain anything as the Nebraska defense was making more plays than they allowed.

Up to that point, it was looking like Michigan’s defense would be able to contain Nebraska, and just allow the Wolverine offense to pound the rock and Nebraska into submission.

However, the Cornhuskers would not go quietly. Just like the past three weeks, Nebraska came out with energy and focus and would begin moving the ball on Michigan.

Quarterback Adrian Martinez began playing the second half with some of his best football to date. He ran the option to great effect, and was throwing dimes to his receivers who were also making some outstanding grabs in traffic.

In the second half, four of the first five drives for Nebraska resulted in touchdowns. However, as good as the Cornhuskers were, Michigan was able to at least keeps pace.

After Cade McNamara threw his first interception of his career, and Nebraska scored a touchdown to put the Wolverines behind for the first time all season, they came right back with a 10 play drive to reclaim the lead.

With three minutes to go in the game, and Michigan just tying it up on a field goal at 29, Nebraska got the ball with an attempt to close the game.

With third and one, Martinez would keep the ball for the first down. However, before he would be considered down, defensive back Brad Hawkins would make the play of the game, ripping the ball out from Martinez and recovering his own forced fumble. The result was Michigan with the ball deep in Nebraska territory, and Michigan would be able to add another field goal.

Nebraska would get the ball back with little time and no time outs, but no miracles would happen in Lincoln. Final, Michigan 32-29.

For Harbaugh, he finally got to see his team truly tested. His vaunted defense ran into a team that began to do as it pleased in the second half, and it’s something that unit can grow from. Meanwhile the offense continues to work on the passing game, slowly combining an adequate attack through the air with a strong run game.

For Scott Frost and Nebraska, it was a night that again ended in frustration. However, if this team continues to play at the level it’s shown of late, it’s hard to see the Cornhuskers not finishing above .500 for the first time since the 2016 season.

OSU Giving Off 2014 Vibes

In 2014, Ohio State hosted Virginia Tech in week two and lost 35-21. It was thought then that OSU may not make the first CFP after the stunning defeat at home.

As I am sure all of you recall, OSU would go on to win the rest of their games in the regular season and trounce Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship. Their overall performance after week two allowed the Buckeyes to re-enter the conversation for the CFP, and would eventually become the number four team selected for the first playoff.

OSU would go on to beat Alabama in the semifinal, and then Oregon in the title game to become national champions.

So when OSU lost this year to Oregon in week three, 35-28, some immediately pointed to 2014 as evidence not all was lost.

While technically true, OSU was looking like a team that was struggling in significant areas. The Buckeyes had a defense that couldn’t make basic reads or adjustments, and an offense that had all the talent in the world, but seemed to lack an identity and consistency.

Four weeks removed from the loss, Ohio State now feels like a different team. The offense has found an identity rooted in a balanced approach. Ryan Day turned to true freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson to jump start OSU’s rushing attack, and rely on it while C.J. Stroud grows at quarterback.

Well, it appears that Stroud has grown quickly, as he has put up 736 yards and 10 touchdowns, with no interceptions the past two weeks. He gets to play point guard on an offense that has so many weapons now, it’s turned into a pick your poison for a defense.

Speaking of the defense, OSU seems to have resolved the fundamental issues that plagued them earlier this year with the reshuffling of defensive responsibilities on the staff. OSU will not have anything close to an elite defense this season, but even being average could be more than enough when the Buckeyes possess an offense as lethal as theirs.

Like Penn State now after their game to Iowa, Ohio State has no wiggle room. They lost that luxury when they lost to Oregon. However, if they are the ones to run the East gauntlet, and take the championship at the end of the season, they could be right back in the CFP once more.

Battle of the Chop goes to MSU

Michigan State and Rutgers both use the mantra “Keep Chopping” as a way to motivate their teams. On Saturday, it was MSU that chopped its way to 6-0 on the year as they beat the Scarlet Knights, 31-13.

Michigan State used a number of explosive plays to separate themselves from Rutgers. All four of MSU’s scores came on plays that were over 60 yards long.

It was a record day for two of MSU’s star players. Receiver Jalen Nailor set a new SHI Stadium’s single-game reception yard record in the first half. The record was previously held by Larry Fitzgerald who set it in 2003 with 207 yards. At halftime, Nailor had 208 yards.

NCAA leading rusher, Kenneth Walker III, ripped off a 94 yard touchdown run in the third which was the longest rushing TD and longest play from scrimmage in school history. Walker would finish with 223 yards, and combined with his overall body of work this year, should officially be in the conversation for the Heisman Trophy.

Michigan State improves to 6-0, and if they are able to take care of Indiana next week, will enter their bye at a perfect 7-0 before facing Michigan.

Rutgers on the other hand drops to .500 on the year after starting 3-0. Their losses against Michigan, OSU, and MSU have seen the Scarlet Knights play well at times. However, each loss has showed that Rutgers still has a ways to go before competing with the big boys in the East.

Wisconsin Runs Over Illinois

Brett Bielema used to pound opponents into submission with the run game when he was at Wisconsin. On Saturday, Wisconsin pounded another opponent into submission. However, this time it was Bielema’s team on the receiving end.

The Badgers put together a classic Wisconsin like performance, using the rushing game to great effect as they beat their former coach and Illinois, 24-0.

Wisconsin would use a team effort in the running game to pile up 391 yards on 61 attempts. Chez Mellusi led the way with 145 yards on 21 carries and a score.

For Wisconsin, this may need to be the identity moving forward on offense. Even though the offensive line is not living up to the standard the program has set for itself, the Badgers just don’t have any passing game to speak of. QB Graham Mertz has regressed to a game manager, only throwing for 100 yards on 10 completions.

Go run heavy, and rely on that elite defense that showed up once more in holding Illinois to 93 total yards.

For Bielema and Illinois, it was always going to be a rough first year in terms of wins and losses. They’ll now have the bye to work on overall improvement and health before facing Penn State.

Tweets of the Week

Players of the Week

Offense:

Jalen Nailor – WR – Michigan State

Nailor had himself a record day when Sparty beat Rutgers. By halftime, he had already broke Larry Fitzgerald’s record of 207 yards receiving at SHI Stadium. He would ultimately finish with 221 yards on 5 receptions, and 3 touchdowns.

Defense:

Brad Hawkins – DB – Michigan

Sometimes it’s not about the overall numbers you had, but the key play you make that wins you the award. Michigan’s Brad Hawkins would only have five tackles in the game against Nebraska, but his strip and recovery of Martinez late in the fourth was the straw that broke the Cornhuskers back Saturday night.

Tuesday’s Post

Michigan State’s new found love for an explosive offense.