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(10/04/18 3:16pm)
Five Big Ten teams were on a bye this past weekend, making my job of ranking them a lot more difficult having not seen almost half of the Big Ten play. Because of that, there was little movement in the rankings.
What I did gather from Saturday is that there is officially clarity at the top, and tons of confusion from No. 7 down. Purdue is starting to win again, Northwestern keeps losing, and Indiana is winning but it doesn’t look pretty. Maryland, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin will be back in action this weekend, so hopefully with 6 matchups of Big Ten vs Big Ten, I will have a better grasp on where everyone stands for next week’s power rankings.
For now, here’s where I see everyone heading into week six…
14. Rutgers (1-4, 0-2)
Last week: 24-17 LOSS vs Indiana
This week: vs Illinois (12:00 BTN)
Rutgers was competitive this week. They went down 24-7 at halftime and things seemed to be heading in a very familiar direction. However, the Scarlet Knights fought back and made it a game in the fourth quarter. However, IU was just enough to get past Rutgers, and now the Scarlet Knights have lost four straight.
Artur Sitkowski was better against IU. He threw for 154 yards, a touchdown and a pick, but most importantly, wasn’t ever subbed out. He and backup Giovanni Rescigno have combined for two touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The good news for Rutgers is that Illinois comes to town this week. This is a winnable game for Rutgers to try and create some positive vibes in New Jersey.
Previous Ranking: 14
13. Nebraska (0-4, 0-2)
Last week: 42-28 LOSS vs Purdue
This week: at No. 16 Wisconsin (7:30 BTN)
It keeps getting worse and worse for Nebraska. Scott Frost said after the Michigan game that this was a “winnable game” for them. That statement was right after a 46-point loss at Michigan, but it was certainly used by the Boilers as bulletin-board material.
Adrian Martinez had his moments, throwing for 323 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a critical interception in the second half after the Cornhuskers had cut it to a two-score game.
The last four drives for Purdue were all punts, but Nebraska couldn’t capitalize, with their last three drives being an interception and two turnovers on downs. You can’t say Nebraska didn’t have their chances on Saturday, but the young Huskers weren’t able to come back and are still winless. It won’t get any better this week in Madison, Wisconsin.
Previous Ranking: 13
12. Illinois (2-2, 0-1)
Last week: OFF
This week: at Rutgers (12:00 BTN)
An off week for Illinois and a game against Rutgers this upcoming Saturday could help the Illini start to move up the rankings a little bit and create some positive momentum in Champaign. The Illini still have Rutgers, Purdue, Minnesota and Nebraska on their schedule. I’m not saying they’re going to win all four of those, but they have some opportunities to improve upon a couple really poor seasons to start the Lovie days at Illinois.
The bye week should help with some injuries for Illinois. However, they aren’t totally sure when AJ Bush will be back at quarterback, and they already lost star wide receiver Mike Dudek for the rest of the season.
Previous Ranking: 12
11. Minnesota (3-1, 0-1)
Last week: OFF
This week: vs Iowa (3:30 BTN)
Again, not a ton of movement in some of these teams in the middle/back of the standings because of all the bye weeks this past Saturday. Minnesota had a week to regroup after a really poor performance at Maryland two weeks ago. They got off to a 3-0 start that makes fans think they could make a bowl game in P.J. Fleck’s second season at Minnesota.
After Iowa and Ohio State, the Gophers play Nebraska, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue and Northwestern. They will have some opportunities to get those three wins they need while also giving true-freshman quarterback Zack Annexstad some valuable Big Ten reps and experience.
Previous Ranking: 11
10. Purdue (2-3, 1-1)
Last week: 42-28 WIN at Nebraska
This week: OFF
The Boilers finally had to leave Ross-Ade Stadium, and they didn’t skip a beat. David Blough was still impressive, throwing for 328 yards and a touchdown, while also running for 38 yards and a touchdown. Purdue looked good in spurts against Northwestern and Missouri but lost those games by one possession. Now, they’re still playing well, but they’re finishing games and they seem to be getting back on track.
After their bye week they will take on Illinois before a tough stretch against Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa. Boiler fans are trying to find four more wins on the schedule. If they want that to happen, Purdue cannot afford to slip up to any of the unranked teams remaining on their schedule.
Previous Ranking: 10
9. Northwestern (1-3, 1-1)
Last week: 20-17 LOSS vs No. 14 Michigan
This week: at No. 20 Michigan State (12:00 FS1)
I talked about how that Northwestern vs. Michigan game would be closer than the spread. I still can’t believe the Wildcats couldn’t hold on. It was a quick 17-0 lead for Northwestern, but after that their drives were: punt, punt, end of half, punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, end of game. That’s seven punts in their last nine drives, with three 3-and-outs.
The big issue for Northwestern was the rushing game. The team had 34 carries (including sacks) for 28 yards. Their longest carry as a team was nine yards. The loss of Jeremy Larkin is going to force this Northwestern team to be a pass heavy offense, and we saw how that worked out against the Wolverines. Thorson was sacked six times. That won’t get the job done.
I do believe that both Northwestern and Purdue are better than their records. However, that was a big missed opportunity for the Wildcats on Saturday.
Previous Ranking: 9
8. Indiana (4-1, 1-1)
Last week: 24-17 WIN at Rutgers
This week: at No. 3 Ohio State (4:00 FOX)
The Hoosiers won their road conference opener for the first time in over a decade. While it was a sloppy win at Rutgers, a wins a win. Indiana didn’t play the prettiest game, but they got the road win and are now only two wins away from bowl eligibility with seven games to go. The running game seems to be an issue all of the sudden for IU, as Stevie Scott had 18 carries for just 58 yards against the Scarlet Knights. They also struggled the week before that at home against the Spartans. Peyton Ramsey was efficient, throwing 27-for-40 for 288 yards and a touchdown. The defense had another takeaway, this time from freshman Jamar Johnson.
This week will be tough for IU, but if they can keep it close, it will give Hoosier fans some confidence before they come home for Iowa and Penn State.
Previous Ranking: 8
7. Maryland (3-1, 1-0)
Last week: OFF
This week: at No. 15 Michigan (12:00 ABC)
Maryland comes off a bye week to take a trip to the Big House to take on Michigan. Maryland already has a win over a proven Texas team and a dominating win against a previously undefeated Minnesota squad. We will learn a lot about this Maryland team this week. I’m still a little skeptical, only because of the shocking, multi-score, home loss against Temple. If they can just hang around at Michigan this week, Maryland can solidify its spot at No. 7 on this list. I don’t see anyone from the 7-10 group making a move to No. 6 anytime soon, however.
Previous Ranking: 7
6. Iowa (3-1, 0-1)
Last week: OFF
This week: at Minnesota (3:30 BTN)
Another Big Ten team that rested during week five. Not a whole lot to say about the Hawkeyes after they lost to Wisconsin last week. They will make a bowl game, but they are more than likely out of contention in the Big Ten west. I would expect a seven or eight win Iowa team once the season is finished.
Previous Ranking: 6
5. Wisconsin (3-1, 1-0)
Last week: OFF
This week: vs Nebraska (7:30 BTN)
Hey look, another Big Ten team that didn’t play last weekend. After their disappointing loss to BYU in week three, they bounced back at Iowa and are now in perfect position to return to Indianapolis again, and if they could knock off that Big Ten east team, they could throw themselves back into the playoff conversation. But I’m getting way ahead of myself. Let’s focus on this week, where Wisconsin will probably win by a lot.
Previous Ranking: 5
4. Michigan State (3-1, 1-0)
Last week: 31-20 WIN vs Central Michigan
This week: vs Northwestern (12:00 FS1)
I’m not too worried about Michigan State letting their big lead slip away toward the end of the game. They had it sewed up and the Chippewas scored some garbage time points to make it close. I’m a little concerned about Brian Lewerke. He didn’t look good against IU, and he was just 16-for-25 for 185 yards and an interception. While they have a solid rushing attack, they will need Lewerke to be better to knock off the top teams in the Big Ten east.
I hope they’ve learned from Michigan this past week that you can’t sleep on the Wildcats, even though they come into the game with a 1-3 record. Northwestern is better than their record and I wouldn’t be shocked to see them pull the upset.
Previous Ranking: 4
3. Michigan (4-1, 2-0)
Last week: 20-17 WIN at Northwestern
This week: vs Maryland (12:00 ABC)
Shea Patterson has yet to really impress me. He is efficient in taking good care of the football, with seven touchdowns and only two interceptions this season. However, he’s averaging 181 passing yards per game this season. However, this offense doesn’t have to be world-beating with the talented defense on the other side of the football.
It was an impressive comeback on the road against a feisty Northwestern team, holding them to seven punts in their last nine drives. This is how Michigan will win games this year: the defense will get a ton of stops, and eventually the offense will strike. Karan Higdon was great, rushing for 115 yards and two touchdowns to help the Wolverines complete the comeback. The defense had six sacks and 10 tackles for loss to help shut down Northwestern.
Previous Ranking: 3
2. Penn State (4-1, 1-1)
Last week: 27-26 LOSS vs No. 4 Ohio State
This week: OFF
Penn State was so close to becoming the new No. 1 team in the Big Ten. They had a 26-14 lead about midway through the fourth, and then, down one, they had the football with a fourth down and five. James Franklin calls, not one, but two timeouts to set up the play. Then, shocking everyone except for Ohio State’s front seven, the Nittany Lions ran the football and were stuffed for no gain. A shocking play call to end a really good game.
This Penn State team is good. Their defense shut down Ohio State for three and a half quarters. The offense started to get rolling in the second quarter and into the second half. McSorley threw for 286 yards and ran for 175 more. He is talented, but they decided to put the ball in someone else’s hands on fourth and five.
I’m worried that Penn State was in this game only because of the atmosphere. If this game is in Columbus, I think this could have gotten ugly. However, there’s no doubt in my mind the Nittany Lions are the second-best team in the Big Ten and are heading toward another New Year’s Six bowl game, on the outside of the playoff looking in, for the third year in a row.
Previous Ranking: 2
1. Ohio State (5-0, 2-0)
Last week: 27-26 WIN at No. 9 Penn State
This week: vs Indiana (4:00 FOX)
It took a while to get going, but once he did, Dwayne Haskins started to deliver in the second half for the Buckeyes. He finished with 270 yards and three touchdowns. The running game wasn’t amazing, but they got the job done when they needed it most. The defense was superb, coming up with four sacks and 11 tackles for loss, including the final defensive play of the game.
Now the Buckeyes appear to be in prime position to get back to Indianapolis again for the Big Ten Championship. They will still have to go to Michigan State, but Michigan will come to the Horseshoe at the end of the year.
I’m not saying this will happen by any means, but I’m just saying that the week after Ohio State won an emotional game against Penn State, they went to Iowa and were absolutely embarrassed, 55-24, to essentially be knocked out of the playoff. I’m not saying Indiana can do that at Ohio State, but just keep you eyes out for a bit of a letdown after that game on Saturday.
I do believe Urban Meyer remembers that feeling at Iowa and will have his team ready to go Saturday.
Previous Ranking: 1
(09/27/18 8:09pm)
The Big Ten hasn’t had the greatest start to the season. They’ve lost to several MAC and American opponents. However, the national spotlight will be on the conference Saturday night when Ohio State and Penn State square off in Happy Valley.
The middle of the conference is impossible to figure out. Maryland beats Texas, loses to Temple, then destroys previously unbeaten Minnesota. Purdue starts 0-3, but clobbers No. 23 Boston College. Indiana looked really good through three weeks, but they hit a wall against Michigan State in week 4. This doesn’t even mention Northwestern, who’s 1-2 but had an off week this past weekend.
Here’s how I see things stacking up heading into week five…
14. Rutgers (1-3, 0-1)
Last week: 42-13 LOSS vs Buffalo
This week: vs Indiana (12:00 BTN)
Another week, another blowout loss for Rutgers. After a solid week one win, they have been beaten by 49, 41 and 29. True-freshman quarterback Artur Sitkowski has a 49 percent completion percentage, one touchdown and seven interceptions so far this season. Senior backup quarterback Giovanni Rescigno has completed 50 percent of his passes and has thrown zero touchdowns and one interception.
They don’t have a good option at quarterback, and head coach Chris Ash has not named a starter yet and doesn’t seem too pleased with his options at the moment.
There isn’t a whole lot else to say about the Scarlet Knights. Ash’s days could be numbered at Rutgers if this continues.
Previous Ranking: 14
13. Nebraska (0-3, 0-1)
Last week: 56-10 LOSS at No. 19 Michigan
This week: vs Purdue (3:30 BTN)
This has not been how anyone expected Scott Frost’s first season in Lincoln to go. This season could really test the patience of Husker fans. I don’t doubt that Frost is the right guy, I’ve said that a lot in these rankings. He has had some injury issues to deal with and still doesn’t have his guys in Lincoln.
Their one scholarship quarterback, freshman Adrian Martinez, was back in limited action against Michigan. He went 7-for-15 for 22 yards and an interception. Their running game struggled, like most against Michigan, with 30 carries for 39 yards.
A lot of teams will struggle with Michigan this season. However, the loss to Troy stings, and the lack of competitiveness last week certainly leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many Husker fans.
Previous Ranking: 11
12. Illinois (2-2, 0-1)
Last week: 63-24 LOSS vs No. 10 Penn State
This week: OFF
Illinois moved up this week because they competed with Penn State for three quarters on Friday night. I’ll talk about why that was when we get to Penn State. Illinois was outscored 35-0 in the fourth quarter, but they only trailed by four at the end of three quarters. M.J. Rivers is starting to become more comfortable under center, going 17-for-28 for 149 yards and a touchdown. They also ran for 245 yards as a team, between six different backs.
Lovie Smith doesn’t seem to be making a whole lot of progress in Champaign. A lot like Chris Ash at Rutgers, I’m starting to wonder how much longer Smith will be at Illinois.
Previous Ranking: 13
11. Minnesota (3-1, 0-1)
Last week: 42-13 LOSS at Maryland
This week: OFF
“I am a big fan of freshman-quarterback Zach Annexstad.”
This was me last week, and I’m not going to steer away from this take, even after his troublesome start at Maryland. Annexstad went 14-for-32 for 169 yards, a touchdown and two picks. He’s a true freshman. He’s going to have these games. It’s never easy to start on the road in the Big Ten, especially when you’re a true freshman. I’m sure P.J. Fleck will use this as a learning experience as he builds for the future at Minnesota.
The defense is where the trouble is for Minnesota. Maryland ran all over them, rushing for 315 yards, 8.5 yards per carry. If Minnesota wants to capitalize on the three early wins and make it to a bowl game, the defense will need to get better. They have a week off to fix some of the issues from the Maryland before they host Iowa on October 6.
Previous Ranking: 8
10. Purdue (1-3, 0-1)
Last week: 30-13 WIN vs No. 23 Boston College
This week: at Nebraska (3:30 BTN)
Purdue was probably the most talented 0-3 in the country, and they proved that by clicking on all cylinders in their dominating win over a ranked Boston College team. While I don’t know why BC was ranked, it was still a good win for the Boilermakers to get the season somewhat back on track. David Blough threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns, while the defense picked off the Eagles four times.
Now, Purdue can start to create some momentum as they take a road trip to Nebraska, followed by a trip to Illinois. If they can get those two wins, get to 3-3 before a stretch of Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa, they could position themselves to get six wins and get back to a bowl game. They will need to run the ball better, however, as they rushed for less than 100 yards as a team for the second straight week.
Previous Ranking: 12
9. Northwestern (1-2, 1-0)
Last week: OFF
This week: vs No. 14 Michigan (4:30 FOX)
You’ve gotta love when you can move up a spot in the rankings and not even have to play, especially for a team like Northwestern that has lost their last two games. The middle of the Big Ten is extremely difficult to figure out, and Northwestern is no exception.
With the bye week, quarterback Clayton Thorson should be good to go this week and be able to take most, if not all, of the snaps for the Wildcat offense. This is the consistency they need offensively.
The big news around Northwestern, however, has nothing to do with the quarterback. Starting running back Jeremy Larkin suddenly retired after being diagnosed with cervical stenosis. This is not a life-threatening condition, but it will prevent him from participating in football. He had run for 346 yards and five touchdowns this season, so Northwestern will now have to replace Larkin, only three weeks after he took over for arguably the best running back in program history, Justin Jackson.
Previous Ranking: 10
8. Indiana (3-1, 0-1)
Last week: 35-21 LOSS vs No. 24 Michigan State
This week: at Rutgers (12:00 BTN)
Indiana’s momentum through the first three weeks was quickly halted in week four. Michigan State went up 28-7 midway through the third quarter, and Memorial Stadium started to empty quickly. While they came back and started to make it a game, it didn’t erase the ugliness of the game as a whole. The Hoosiers ran the ball for 29 yards. Stevie Scott has 11 carries for 18 yards, a 1.6 yard per carry average.
There were plenty of positives thought. Wide receiver Whop Philyor had 13 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown. The defense forced had four takeaways, and when you really break down the touchdowns for Michigan State, you start to see how well the defense played. Michigan State scored a touchdown off a tipped pick-six, a controversial pass interference no-call, a fake field goal and a 75-yard touchdown run to seal the deal at the end of the game.
The defense was better than the 35 points on the board, but the offense couldn’t help them out. If Indiana wants to knock off these top Big Ten teams, they have to be able to run the ball against them.
Previous Ranking: 8
7. Maryland (3-1, 1-0)
Last week: 42-13 WIN vs Minnesota
This week: OFF
I can’t figure out the Terrapins. First, they beat a Texas team that in the past few weeks has started to look like a good football team. Then they lose to Temple in week three. Most recently, they destroyed a previously unbeaten Minnesota team to kick off Big Ten play. I think they’re a pretty solid team, but I’m not 100 percent sold on Maryland yet.
I’m certainly sold on their rushing attack. They ran for 315 yards against Minnesota. Ty Johnson and Anthony McFarland have rushed for 300 and 291 yards respectively. McFarland is averaging 10.8 yards per carry. They’re averaging just over 250 yards per game on the ground, and 11 of their 15 touchdowns this season have come on the ground.
The issue is through the air. Kasim Hill is the guy, but he’s only averaging 129 passing yards per game. He will need to be a little more effective, because one-dimensional football isn’t going to get the job done in the Big Ten East.
Previous Ranking: 9
6. Iowa (3-1, 0-1)
Last week: 28-17 LOSS vs No. 18 Wisconsin
This week: OFF
This was a dog fight, as every Iowa vs. Wisconsin game tends to be. However, Iowa couldn’t get the job done at home, and have now seemed to have solidified themselves as the No. 6 team in the Big Ten for the foreseeable future. Wisconsin could still slip up and bring them back into play in the West, but this was a big missed opportunity for the Hawkeyes at home.
Nate Stanley was good throwing for 256 yards and two touchdowns. However, they didn’t get a ton of yards on the ground against the tough Wisconsin front-seven, and I think most Hawkeye fans would tell you they will struggle to win if Nate Stanley has to do everything.
The defense also didn’t force any turnovers from the Badgers, and that was a big difference in the game, as the Hawkeyes fumbled twice and threw one interception. In that aspect, it was not your ordinary Iowa football game.
Previous Ranking: 6
5. Wisconsin (3-1, 1-0)
Last week: 28-17 WIN at Iowa
This week: OFF
Was the BYU game a fluke? I can’t definitely say yes, but this week’s result certainly helped the Badgers escape from that brutal loss in week three. This was a game that in all likelihood could get them a spot in the Big Ten Championship game. Hornibrook was effective, throwing for 205 yards and three touchdowns. Jonathan Taylor ran for 113 yards. Most importantly, they didn’t turn the ball over. On the road, at Iowa, that’s huge.
They are still fifth in my rankings, but the gap between them and the rest of the top five has closed with that solid win. Someone has to be fifth, and as of right now, the team that lost at home to BYU will continue to be in that spot until something changes. That doesn’t mean that this team couldn’t beat any of these teams ahead of them. I’m looking forward to Oct. 13 at Michigan and Nov. 10 at Penn State to see if Wisconsin can hang with the best of the East.
Previous Ranking: 5
4. Michigan State (2-1, 1-0)
Last week: 35-21 WIN at Indiana
This week: vs Central Michigan (12:00 FS1)
Michigan State took advantage of their buy week and came out with tons of energy and a sense of desperation in Bloomington. The Spartans know they can’t lose again this season after the early stumble in Tempe, and they played like it Saturday night.
The Spartans dominated in the trenches. Indiana ran for 29 yards, while MSU ran for 131 yards. They sacked Peyton Ramsey five times and had nine tackles for loss. They forced two Ramsey interceptions, including the pick-six in the first quarter.
The issue for MSU is the turnovers themselves. The Spartans turned the ball over four times; two interceptions and two fumbles. They will have a chance to clean things up against Central Michigan this week before they head into the thick of things in the Big Ten East.
Previous Ranking: 4
3. Michigan (3-1, 1-0)
Last week: 56-10 WIN vs Nebraska
This week: at Northwestern (4:30 FOX)
Michigan continues to impress against lesser teams. After their third-straight blowout win, the offense seems to have some confidence and are scoring plenty of points. The defense looks fantastic, pressuring whatever quarterback was in the game at all times. The Wolverine defense held Nebraska to 39 yards rushing, with four sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
This is a scary week for Michigan. Northwestern is talented. They have had a couple tough losses, but after a bye week, I would expect Pat Fitzgerald to have this team ready to go for a home matchup with a top-15 team. Northwestern can make a game ugly, and beat you in an old-fashioned, ground-and-pound game. The issue for the Wildcats is that this Michigan front-seven is incredible, and Jeremy Larkin is no longer in the backfield.
All I’m saying is to keep an eye on this game Saturday. I expect it to be closer than the two-touchdown spread.
Previous Ranking: 3
2. Penn State (4-0, 1-0)
Last week: 63-24 WIN at Illinois
This week: vs No. 4 Ohio State (7:30 ABC)
Before we talk Ohio State, let’s break down why the Illinois game was only a four-point game heading into the fourth quarter.
This had “trap game” written all over it. It was a Friday night game, a 9 pm eastern time kickoff and they had a game with Ohio State the next week. That’s why this was such a close game for a good amount of time. However, they showed in the fourth quarter what they are capable of and ran away from the Illini, scoring 60+ points for the second straight game.
Now onto this week. It’s No. 1 vs No. 2 in the Big Ten. There are plenty of big games in the East, but this one is the biggest. This could very well decide who goes to Indianapolis in December. Penn State has home-field advantage this time around, and they are trying to erase last year’s collapse in Columbus from their memories with a big win this season.
Previous Ranking: 2
1. Ohio State (4-0, 1-0)
Last week: 49-6 WIN vs Tulane
This week: at No. 9 Penn State (7:30 ABC)
Urban Meyer was back, and the rout was back in Columbus, as the Buckeyes destroyed another team at home. Here are some numbers for you.
Dwayne Haskins: 21-for-24, 304 yards, five touchdowns
Parris Campbell: 8 catches, 147 yards, two touchdowns
Tate Martell (backup QB): 10-for-14, 115 yards
They have athletes at every position. They have athletes at every backup position. And now they have Urban Meyer back to orchestrate everything as they head to Happy Valley.
The biggest question mark is the health of Nick Bosa. He is out for a few weeks, possibly even through October, with his abdominal injury. However, Ohio State still has plenty of athletes on the defensive side of the ball. We will see how much of a difference not having Bosa will make in Happy Valley. For now, Ohio State has a pretty strong hold on this No. 1 spot, but that could change after this week.
Previous Ranking: 1
(09/25/18 8:51pm)
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/user-303673382/the-other-guys-s2-e3-tigers-back[/embed]
Austin is excited about Tiger's return to the winner's circle and the upcoming Ryder Cup, while Connor makes Tiger (the animal) jokes. Kurt is still talking about the Browns and Mark is making a hot statement about something in March. Check out the newest episode of The Other Guys.
(09/19/18 7:29pm)
If last week wasn’t great for the Big Ten, then what was this week? It was not pretty. In 13 Big Ten non-conference games, only six Big Ten teams won. The seven losses were against the American (two), Sun Belt, MAC, Big 12 (Kansas), SEC and one independent. This was the first time that the Big Ten lost seven non-conference games to seven unranked opponents in AP Poll history. Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Indiana and Minnesota are lone undefeated teams left.
The Buckeyes helped the Big Ten out in a big way with a solid win against TCU. They remain atop the rankings.
Here’s how the rest of the rankings stack up…
14. Rutgers (1-2, 0-1)
Last week: 55-14 LOSS at Kansas
This week: vs Buffalo (12:00 BTN)
Rutgers solidified its spot as the worst team in the Big Ten this past week with an embarrassing loss at Kansas. The Big Ten had a lot of bad losses, and this one probably wasn’t the worst, but this Kansas team lost to Nicholls State in week one. That same Kansas team beat Rutgers by 41 points.
The freshman-quarterback experiment in Piscataway is not going well. Sitkowski went 7-for-19 for 47 yards and three interceptions and a QBR of 0.8. Kansas ran for 400 yards, with three backs rushing for at least 60 yards and a touchdown.
I had Rutgers more toward the middle of the pack at the beginning of the season, thinking that this program may have been heading in the right direction. They have quickly proven that they are definitely not moving forward and may in fact be moving in the wrong direction after this most recent defeat.
Previous Ranking: 14
13. Illinois (2-1, 0-0)
Last week: 25-19 LOSS vs South Florida
This week: FRIDAY vs No. 10 Penn State (9:00 FS1)
Last week I thought Illinois could turn the program’s direction around with a solid win over a decent South Florida team.
“If Illinois could find a way to win this game, there would be a little more optimism around the program.”
However, a blown coverage with a little over two minutes to go allows South Florida to get the lead that they would eventually finish with. South Florida finished the game with 626 total yards, including 411 yards in the air. USF quarterback Barnett’s two interceptions helped keep the Illini in the game, but they couldn’t finish the deal down the stretch.
The injury to starting quarterback AJ Bush last week forced M.J. Rivers into the starting role. He went 20-for29 for 168 yards. The Illini have a solid running game but if they want to win games, or even hang around in a matchup like this upcoming one against Penn State, they are going to need to be more efficient through the air.
Previous Ranking: 13
12. Purdue (0-3, 0-1)
Last week: 40-37 LOSS vs Missouri
This week: vs Boston College (12:00 ESPN2)
There are a lot of grumbles in West Lafayette after a third consecutive loss, all at home, to start the season. They’ve had chances in every game so far this season, but two personal fouls and a game-winning drive from Missouri have contributed to the 0-3 start. This is a Purdue team that surpassed expectations last season and made everyone believe that they would build off that season again this year.
However, losing three of their seven home games already, they are going to have a difficult road back to six wins. David Blough took all the snaps at QB, throwing for 572 yards and three touchdowns. However, they had no running game and the defense couldn’t stop either aspect of the Missouri offense. An 0-4 start may cause some Boilermaker fans to wonder if Jeff Brohm is the right guy for the job.
Previous Ranking: 12
11. Nebraska (0-2, 0-0)
Last week: 24-19 LOSS vs Troy
This week: at No. 19 Michigan (12:00 FS1)
Andrew Bunch became the first Nebraska walk-on starting quarterback in school history, but his debut with the Huskers did not go well. He threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns, but also had two crucial interceptions. Troy didn’t do anything special, but they started fast, with a 17-0 lead, and held on from there.
This is not how Nebraska fans thought the first few games of Scott Frost’s Nebraska coaching career would go. However, it’s still year one and it’s only two games into his career, and he’s being forced to start a walk-on quarterback due to injury. If Nebraska fans have enough patience, I still think they have the right guy in Lincoln, but this could be a long season one for Frost and company.
Previous Ranking: 10
10. Northwestern (1-2, 1-0)
Last week: 39-34 LOSS vs Akron
This week: OFF
Northwestern started the season with a road win at Purdue, their ninth win in a row dating back to last season. Since then, they were shut down at home against Duke and outscored in a shootout with Akron. The Wildcats are now 1-2 and searching for answers with an off week before conference play begins.
Everything seemed to be alright for the Wildcats at halftime, leading 21-3. Thorson was taking most of the snaps and appears to be healthier. He threw for 383 yards and three touchdowns. However, his two interceptions were both returned for touchdowns, contributing to the 36-points Akron scored in the second half to overcome the 18-point deficit and take down the Cats.
This is an important bye week for Northwestern. They are 1-0 in the Big Ten, and if they can turn things around after the bye week, they can get themselves in the conference race and try and forget about weeks two and three.
Previous Ranking: 8
9. Maryland (2-1, 0-0)
Last week: 35-14 LOSS vs Temple
This week: vs Minnesota (12:00 BTN)
Maryland seems to have come back to Earth this past week with a surprising loss against previously winless Temple. Kasim Hill was 7-of-17 for 56 yards and an interception, while Temple’s quarterback Anthony Russo went 15-for-25 for 228 yards and a touchdown.
Maryland had run the ball well through weeks one and two, but with only one back rushing for more than 25 yards, that aspect of their offense seems to have gotten lost last week.
This could be one of those weeks where they just didn’t have it. However, Maryland will show us in the upcoming weeks which week was a fluke: the big win against Texas or the rough loss to Temple.
Previous Ranking: 7
8. Minnesota (3-0, 0-0)
Last week: 26-3 WIN vs Miami (OH)
This week: at Maryland (12:00 BTN)
I am a big fan of freshman-quarterback Zach Annexstad. He’s not going to put up mind-boggling numbers, but he avoids the big mistakes. In his first three games as a Big Ten starting quarterback, he’s thrown for 537 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. His competition hasn’t been the stiffest, but that’s still impressive for a true-freshman.
Things will start to ramp up for Minnesota this week as conference play begins at Maryland. This will be the first big test for Annexstad, and if he can avoid the big mistakes, I like Minnesota’s chances not only in this game, but for a bowl berth by the end of the season.
Previous Ranking: 11
7. Indiana (3-0, 0-0)
Last week: 38-10 WIN vs Ball State
This week: vs No. 24 Michigan State (7:30 BTN)
Indiana fans may see this past week’s result as the best sign of the season. Indiana beat a team that they should beat, and they didn’t mess around either. After Ball State made a field goal on their first possession, the Hoosiers rallied off 31 unanswered and cruised to the 38-10 win.
Ramsey was solid, throwing for 173 yards, and freshman running back Stevie Scott had another 100+ yard game on the ground this week, scoring a pair of touchdowns. Four-star freshman running back Ronnie Walker Jr. saw some time as well, with nine carries for 41 yards and a touchdown in his first action of the season.
There’s a lot of excitement around this team in Bloomington, and with a home game against Michigan State and then a trip to Rutgers, this great start to the season could get even better the next few weeks.
Previous Ranking: 9
6. Iowa (3-0, 0-0)
Last week: 38-14 WIN vs Northern Iowa
This week: vs No. 18 Wisconsin (8:30 FOX)
With the chaos surrounding the Big Ten, get ready for Iowa to have the quietest 10-2 season and earn a berth to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship in December. This team is experienced, talented and well coached. Nate Stanley had another great game, throwing for 309 yards and two touchdowns. They also held Northern Iowa to six yards rushing, with three tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble.
Iowa will win with their defense, but with one of the more tenured quarterbacks in the Big Ten, Stanley is capable of producing when called upon for the Hawkeyes. This week is the biggest test of the season for Iowa. I know they go to Penn State, but this one matters for a trip to Indy in December. If Iowa can take down an angry Wisconsin team this week, watch out for the Hawkeyes to be a sleeper in the College Football Playoff conversation.
Previous Ranking: 6
5. Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0)
Last week: 24-21 LOSS vs BYU
This week: at Iowa (8:30 FOX)
I’m not sure if this will just end up being a fluke, but a home loss to BYU is bad. Especially when you’re ranked sixth in the country and you were a 23-point favorite. It was ugly in every aspect for Wisconsin fans, all the way until the end with a missed 42-yard field goal to tie. In the Big Ten West, it is so important to not only take care of business against the non-conference opponents but beat them pretty soundly. Wisconsin now has a blemish on their resume that I’m not sure the committee will be able to get past.
Jonathan Taylor could still win the Heisman though, as he put up another 117 yards on 26 carries.
This is a big week for Wisconsin. If the Badgers go into Iowa City and beat the Hawkeyes, people will start to think the BYU game was a fluke. But if they go and lose to Iowa, the Big Ten West all the sudden runs through Kinnick Stadium.
Previous Ranking: 2
4. Michigan State (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: OFF
This week: at Indiana (7:30 BTN)
Michigan State had an oddly early off-week in week three. It came at a good time, however, as the Spartans look to rebound off a tough #Pac12AfterDark experience in week two. Hoosier fans are starting to get more and more optimistic about their team, and all the sudden there’s a belief they could knock off Michigan State this week.
However, Mark Dantonio and company have had an extra week to regroup and prepare for conference play. They haven’t looked sharp, but this is still a majority of the 10-win team from a year ago. If they can figure things out, they’re still in the thick of things in the East.
Previous Ranking: 4
3. Michigan (2-1, 0-0)
Last week: 45-20 WIN vs SMU
This week: vs Nebraska (12:00 FS1)
Slowly but surely Michigan continues to move up the ladder in the Big Ten. After week one, it looked like they could be the team leapfrogged by whoever would come out of that next group of teams. Now, they’re third in my rankings and the offense seems to have figured out how to score. Patterson looked good, throwing for 237 yards and three touchdowns, all to Donovan Peoples-Jones. It was another balanced rushing attack, with six Wolverines contributing to nearly another 200-yard rushing game. Defensively, they had eight tackles for loss and stifled an SMU team that hung around with TCU a week ago.
Michigan has a decently easy start to Big Ten play, with Nebraska and Maryland coming to the Big House, sandwiched around a trip to Northwestern. After that, they get Wisconsin, Michigan State and Penn State all in a row. I still need to see if Michigan can beat a team better than them, either home or away, before I can move them up into the top two.
Previous Ranking: 4
2. Penn State (3-0, 0-0)
Last week: 63-10 WIN vs Kent State
This week: FRIDAY at Illinois (9:00 FS1)
There are too many people who are going to continue to hold the Appalachian State game against Penn State. Yeah, they struggled in week one and probably should have lost, but they didn’t, and since then, they’ve won their two games by a combined 114-16. Engineered by senior quarterback Trace McSorley, this offense can score, and score fast. With a trip to Illinois coming up this week, we could see more of the same before they square off with the Buckeyes in week five.
ESPN’s Playoff Predictor as the Nittany Lions with the sixth best chance (37%) to make the Playoff, three spots behind Ohio State (54%). Penn State is still undefeated and is still very much in control of their own destiny, starting in week five with Ohio State coming to town. However, with that being said, they cannot overlook Illinois and somehow slip up in Champaign Friday night.
Previous Ranking: 3
1. Ohio State (3-0, 1-0)
Last week: 40-28 WIN vs TCU (Arlington, TX)
This week: vs Tulane (3:30 BTN)
Ohio State was the lone bright spot for the Big Ten this week. The Buckeyes made it past their biggest (and possibly only) non-conference test this past week, thanks to three touchdowns in about five minutes of game action. Dwayne Haskins continues to impress, throwing for 344 yards and two touchdowns. J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber split carries, each with 18 carries. Dobbins finished with 121 yards while Weber ended with 64 yards.
There are two big headlines in Columbus after this game. First, what is the status of star defensive end Nick Bosa, who exited Saturday’s game with a lower abdominal strain. He doesn’t really need to play this week against Tulane, but a long-term injury for Bosa could hurt this Buckeye defense.
Second, the return of Urban Meyer. It may be Tulane, but Buckeye fans will be excited for this game solely to see their signal caller back on the sidelines. This gives him a week to get back in the swing of things before they head to Happy Valley for the biggest game on their schedule (outside the Michigan game of course).
Previous Ranking: 1
(09/11/18 9:55pm)
It's a new year of The Other Guys. We talk about the Browns not winning but also not losing, how the RPO is apparently "communism," and some hot takes about Indiana football. Take a listen to see what the new, revamped Other Guys is all about.
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/user-303673382/the-other-guys-s2-e1-a-new-era[/embed]
(09/11/18 7:01pm)
This wasn’t the best week of football for the Big Ten. The conference went 3-3 against teams from other Power-5 conferences. They also had a team lose to a MAC school for the 13th consecutive season.
The conference still has a lot of talent and a few top-10 teams. Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan all won convincingly, and look like they have things all geared up and ready for Big Ten play. I’m looking forward to learning more about teams like Minnesota and Maryland, who are 2-0 and are slowly climbing up the rankings.
Here are my rankings after week two…
14. Rutgers (1-1, 0-1)
Last week: 52-3 LOSS at No. 5 Ohio State
This week: at Kansas (12:00)
I knew things wouldn’t be pretty in Columbus on Saturday, but I didn’t expect to get this ugly so quickly. It was 35-0 Ohio State by halftime. With a quick glance, you may have saw this score and thought it was another one of those FBS powerhouse vs. FCS foe. However, it was a conference game, and it wasn’t pretty.
The two quarterbacks who played for Rutgers combined to throw 11-of-30 for 65 yards and two interceptions, while the Buckeyes passed for 354 yards and ran for 225. The total yardages: 579 vs. 134. These are two Big Ten opponents. This was a conference game. And yet, it felt like an out-of-conference FBS vs. FCS type game. I don’t think Rutgers will be the only Big Ten team to be stomped by Purdue, but at some point they are going to have to start being somewhat competitive.
Previous Ranking: T10
13. Illinois (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 34-14 WIN vs Western Illinois
This week: vs South Florida (3:30 BTN)
Illinois moves up, not because they’ve looked great, but because Rutgers hasn’t looked good. And I’m sick of ties, it’s week 3 already. The Illini got a convincing win, but they lost their starting quarterback AJ Bush to an apparent knee injury. Lovie Smith said he is “Coach Smith not Dr. Smith” so we won’t know any further news on the injury until Monday.
M.J. Rivers stepped in and sparked some offense for the Illini. He threw for 105 yards and two touchdowns while running the ball nine time for 36 yards.
Illinois hasn’t really been tested yet, but they will this week against South Florida. If Illinois could find a way to win this game, there would be a little more optimism around the program.
Previous Ranking: 14
12. Purdue (0-2, 0-1)
Last week: 20-19 LOSS vs Eastern Michigan
This week: vs Missouri (7:30 BTN)
This was the biggest blemish for the Big Ten this week. A Big Ten team has now lost to a MAC school the last 13 years. This time around it was Purdue losing at home to Eastern Michigan. This is Purdue’s first 0-2 start in 15 years. There was so much excitement in West Lafayette, and now all the sudden you start looking at their schedule and wondering if they can even get to five or six wins now.
The saying “If you have two quarterbacks you have no quarterbacks” has certainly been true for the Boilers. They seem to be dealing with two quarterbacks that have not been able to separate themselves from each other. Both are making big mistakes, and both are underperforming. Purdue has a chance to turn things around this week at home against Missouri. If they lose, things could get ugly quickly in West Lafayette.
Previous Ranking: 9
11. Minnesota (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 21-14 WIN vs Fresno State
This week: vs Miami (OH) (3:30 BTN)
Minnesota hasn’t done anything wrong so far this year. In fact, a 2-0 start with a freshman quarterback is solid. Zack Annexstad avoided the big mistakes on Saturday. His numbers aren’t flashy, but with a solid running game and a talented defense, he doesn’t need to be.
P.J. Fleck is slowly rowing the boat. He’s building for the future. That’s why you’re seeing a freshman quarterback for the Gophers.
Annexstad and company have one more tune-up before they start Big Ten play with a road trip to College Park to take on Maryland. This is his final week to make sure he’s ready for Big Ten football. A few more wins and Minnesota will start moving up this list.
Previous Ranking: T10
10. Nebraska (0-1, 0-0)
Last week: 33-28 LOSS vs Colorado
This week: vs Troy (12:00 BTN)
The Scott Frost era didn’t get off to a great start. The stadium was hyped up for the first game for the new head coach and they had a 28-20 lead midway through the third quarter. However, a missed field goal, a turnover on downs and an interception late in the game doomed the Huskers and sent them to 0-1.
Adrian Martinez showed flashes of athleticism, passing for 187 yards and running for 117 yards. He scored three touchdowns but threw a costly interception late and ended up having to leave the game with an injury. The Huskers can run the ball, however, with 329 rushing yards against Colorado. I think this program is heading in the right direction. They have the coach, they have the quarterback (when healthy) and they have the buzz in Lincoln. It will only be a matter of time before this team is winning big games and conference championships again.
Previous Ranking: T10
9. Indiana (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 20-16 WIN vs Virginia
This week: vs Ball State (12:00 BTN)
This game was a mess, as many were around the Midwest on Saturday. Bloomington was caught right in the middle of the rainstorm, causing this game to be sloppy and weird. Somehow, in the middle of all this rain, four of the five touchdowns in this game were through the air. However, when the Hoosiers used the ground game, they fed freshman Stevie Scott, who ended the game with 204 yards and a touchdown.
Ramsey was alright, going 16-for-22 for 150 yards and two touchdowns. He wasn’t incredibly sharp and was bailed out by several pass interference calls, but you don’t want to put too much stock into a game played in those conditions. He managed the game well.
That being said, this was a big win for IU. They “finished,” Tom Allen’s word for this season, and they are now 2-0 and set for a possible hot start to begin the season.
Previous Ranking: T10
8. Northwestern (1-1, 1-0)
Last week: 21-7 LOSS vs Duke
This week: vs Akron (7:30 BTN)
This wasn’t pretty. Northwestern started the Big Ten’s tough week with an ugly home loss to Duke. The offense was completely out of sync with the rotation of Thorson and Green at quarterback. No one really knows when Thorson will be cleared to take the full allotment of snaps, but until then, this offense could really struggle to click and score points, or at least that’s what their last three halves of football have shown.
Northwestern scored 31 points in the first half against Purdue. Since then, they’ve scored only seven points. They are still undefeated in conference play, and if Thorson can get fully healthy and take the bulk of the snaps, they could still make some noise in the Big Ten West.
Previous Ranking: 6
7. Maryland (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 45-14 WIN at Bowling Green
This week: vs Temple (12:00 BTN)
Boy can Maryland run the football. Ty Johnson has run 256 yards over the two games. Against Bowling Green alone Maryland ran for 444 yards and five touchdowns. Their top five rushers ran for 124, 102, 86, 69 and 42 yards respectively. Running the football will never be an issue for the Terps.
The issue may be the quarterback spot. They were excited to have a healthy Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill back this year, but neither has impressed. Pigrome got the bulk of the snaps against Texas, throwing for 175 yards and two touchdowns. In game two, Kasim Hill got all the snaps, throwing for 121 yards and a touchdown. Neither has made big mistakes but neither has looked great. There’s certainly a quarterback decision to be made in College Park. They’ll have one more week to figure it out before Big Ten play begins.
Previous Ranking: 8
6. Iowa (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 13-3 WIN vs Iowa State
This week: vs Northern Iowa (7:30 BTN)
Is everyone ready for another 10-2 season from the Hawkeyes? Well get ready, because that certainly seems to be the path they’re taking so far. They’ve allowed only six points all season long. While the offense wasn’t great against the Cyclones, they got a double-digit win against a rival using a stifling defense.
We are two weeks away from Wisconsin coming to Iowa City for the Big Ten West showdown on September 22. Until then, Iowa has one last game to fine-tune everything against Northern Iowa before they have to take on the Badgers. This is an experienced team with a long-tenured head coach, a seasoned quarterback and a defense that doesn’t mess around.
Previous Ranking: 6
5. Michigan State (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: 16-13 LOSS at Arizona State
This week: OFF
If you didn’t stay up until 2:30 am Sunday morning, you missed Herm Edwards and Arizona State knocking off Michigan State with a last second field goal. However, you didn’t miss much from the Spartans’ offense. Lewerke was solid, throwing for 314 yards, but the running game was non-existent. The leading rusher on the Spartans ran for 22 yards. L.J. Scott, arguably their best running back on the roster, ran for only 19 yards on seven carries.
This has not been a good start at all for Michigan State. They struggled and needed a two-minute drill to beat Utah State in week one, then they forget how to score and lose at Arizona State in week 2. Now they have a week off before they head to Memorial Stadium to take on the Hoosiers. The last time Michigan State came to Bloomington, in 2016, the Hoosiers upset the Spartans on a game-winning field goal. They will have an extra week to figure out what’s gone wrong through the first two weeks before their trip to Bloomington.
Previous Ranking: 4
4. Michigan (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: 49-3 WIN vs Western Michigan
This week: vs SMU (3:30 BTN)
Michigan moves up because of someone moving down, but they also showed they can score points this past week. The Wolverines hung 49 points up on Western Michigan. Patterson threw three touchdowns, Higdon ran for 156 yards and the defense held the Broncos to 85 passing yards. This was the Michigan team everyone was excited about to start the season.
I’m not sure how good Notre Dame is after they struggled with Ball State, but if Michigan can keep winning and put a hard-fought, close road loss to a top-15 team behind them, they can start to prove that they are improved this season and they can make some noise in a stacked Big Ten East. If the Wolverines want to win, Patterson has to take his game to the next level. They have the defense and the running game to contend in the Big Ten, they just need Patterson to be a playmaker.
Previous Ranking: 5
3. Penn State (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 51-6 WIN at Pittsburgh
This week: vs Kent State (12:00 FS1)
Penn State quickly silenced the critics in week two by destroying Pittsburgh. They exploded for 37 points in the second half to possibly prove that week one was a fluke. The numbers don’t stand out offensively. McSorley threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns, while Miles Sanders ran for 118 yards. However, it’s the defense that showed up for Penn State.
They weren’t great against the run, but the Nittany Lion defense allowed just 55 passing yards on nine completed passes. The defense had four sacks and 10 tackles for loss. McSorley is going to need to improve his play when they start to play some more talented Big Ten teams, but seeing the defense take a big step up after a rough week one was a really good sign for Penn State fans as they come home for a game with Kent State.
Previous Ranking: 3
2. Wisconsin (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 45-14 WIN vs New Mexico
This week: vs BYU (3:30 ABC)
It was 10-7 Wisconsin over New Mexico at halftime. However, Jonathan Taylor and company took over in the second half, outscoring the Lobos 35-7 in the second half to cruise to another easy non-conference win for the Badgers.
Taylor is proving that he is proving he is a legit Heisman candidate, rushing for 234 yards and three touchdowns. The issue for Wisconsin is through the air. While experienced, Hornibrook isn’t going to put up big numbers. However, he may need to spread the wealth a little bit more. Against New Mexico, A.J. Taylor had five grabs for 134 receiving yards. The rest of the receiving core had four grabs for 17 yards. They’re going to need to use more of their weapons through the air for Hornibrook and this offense to be more explosive come Big Ten play.
Previous Ranking: 2
1. Ohio State (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 52-3 WIN vs Rutgers
This week: vs No. 15 TCU (8:00 ABC- Arlington, TX)
Another easy win for the Buckeyes, and another opportunity for the Buckeyes to show off their athleticism and their depth at so many of their skill positions. Dwayne Haskins is really good, going 20-for-23 for 233 yards and four touchdowns. The running back group ran for 225 yards, and the defense had three sacks.
I am excited to see this team against the Horned frogs this weekend. They’re so talented, but we haven’t seen them tested yet. Ohio State has done a good job of scheduling at least one non-conference game against a power-5, ranked opponent. This time it’s at Jerry World against a Big 12 team that can put up points in a hurry. With the talent on the offensive side of things, this could be an old-fashioned, Texas-sized shootout.
Previous Ranking: 1
(09/04/18 6:52pm)
Week one featured some impressive wins, some lopsided results, and some surprisingly close results between top-tier Big Ten teams and out-of-conference opponents. Penn State, Michigan State, Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois all got their week-one wins, but they weren't pretty. But a win is a win right? In week one, they definitely are.
I got a look at every Big Ten team (except Nebraska, who had their game canceled), and there is a bit of shakeup in the rankings. There's also a big group tied for tenth, because they all have a chance to show me a little more this week but haven't yet proven they are better than the others.
Here's how things stack up after week 1 of the college football season.
14. Illinois (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 31-24 WIN vs Kent State
This week: vs Western Illinois (7:30 BTN)
At halftime at Memorial Stadium Saturday, Illinois fans weren’t feeling so good, down 17-3 to Kent State. While they did pull out a 31-24 win, I’m not sure how much better the Illini faithful feel now. However, there’s a theme you’ll notice from Big Ten teams this past week: a win is a win. Quarterback A.J. Bush wasn’t incredible throwing the ball, but with his 139 rushing yards, he ended up with 329 total yards.
This is year three for Lovie Smith at Illinois, and from the way week one went, it could be another long year similar to his previous two. The Illini are in the west, so they have that going for them. However, it’s hard to see more than three or four wins for this team.
Previous Ranking: 14
T10. Minnesota (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 48-10 WIN vs New Mexico State
This week: vs Fresno State (7:30 FS1)
This is where the Big Ten gets very fuzzy. None of these next four teams deserve to be higher than the others at the moment. Let’s start with Minnesota.
The Gophers used a 28-point second quarter to help take care of New Mexico State. P.J. Fleck went with freshman Zack Annexstad, and he had a solid night; 16-for-33 for 220 yards and two touchdowns. The Gophers also had two 100-yard rushers, including the starter Rodney Smith, who ran for 153 yards on 24 carries. The best way to help a freshman quarterback is to have a solid running game, and it appears Minnesota has that.
Minnesota starts the Big Ten schedule in a few weeks with a gauntlet. They will need to use these next few games to continue to develop Annexstad and get him ready for a trip to Maryland in a couple weeks.
Previous Ranking: 13
T10. Rutgers (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 35-7 WIN vs Texas State
This week: at No. 5 Ohio State (3:30 BTN)
Rutgers did what you would expect from them in a matchup with Texas State. They won convincingly without being very convincing. The Scarlet Knights also started a freshman quarterback, Artur Sitkowski, and he struggled. He threw for 205 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw three interceptions. They seem to be running a backfield by committee plan in Piscataway, with three backs with 11 or more carries, all with 60 or more rushing yards.
This will be quite the test for a freshman quarterback this week in Columbus. Rutgers fans, don’t expect much. Also, don’t overreact to getting destroyed by Ohio State. That’s going to happen to a lot of teams this year.
Previous Ranking: T11
T10. Nebraska (0-0, 0-0)
Last week: CANCELED vs Akron
This week: vs Colorado (3:30 ABC)
I was ready to move Nebraska up my list this week if they played well against Akron. However, we didn’t get a chance to see the Huskers due to the weather conditions in Lincoln. That means that the first game for first-year head coach Scott Frost and freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez will be a stern test against Colorado. There is a lot of hype around the program and a lot of cautious optimism around Martinez, but now Husker fans have to wait another week to find out what they have to cheer for.
This is a team that will need to find wins anywhere they can and losing a game against Akron certainly hurts that. If they can add a 12th game, expect it to be something like IU last season when they added Charleston Southern to make up for their cancelation with Florida International.
Previous Ranking: 10
T10. Indiana (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 38-28 WIN at Florida International
This week: vs Virginia (7:30 BTN)
Indiana was another team following the “a win is a win” mentality this past week. Indiana was up several scores a couple times throughout the game, yet IU fans probably never felt comfortable until the game went final. There was a lot to talk about though for the Hoosiers.
Peyton Ramsey started, going 20-for-27 for 156 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Freshman Michael Penix Jr. stepped in throughout the game, finishing 8-of-10 for 96 yards and a TD. There were certainly good things from both quarterbacks in a game that seemed to be played pretty safe by the Hoosiers. The use of freshman athlete Reese Taylor throughout the offense was a positive sign, however the run game still seems to go stagnant at times. This week’s matchup with Virginia will test the quarterbacks and the team itself much more than last week and it will give the fans a good measurement on where this team is at.
Previous Ranking: 9
Purdue (0-1, 0-1)
Last week: 31-27 LOSS vs Northwestern
This week: vs Eastern Michigan (12:00 BTN)
I wouldn’t have moved Purdue if it weren’t for Maryland’s big week (see below). However, Purdue did drop their opener at home against Northwestern. Purdue showed some resilience, being down 14 twice throughout the game. However, that 14 point deficit at halftime proved to be too much for the Boilers.
Purdue also has a quarterback competition. Elijah Sindelar went 18-for-30 for 196 yards and a touchdown, but he threw three interceptions, leading to three Northwestern scores. David Blough went 12-for-16 for 74 yards. The real storyline however is how good Rondale Moore is and is going to be for the rest of the season. He set the all-purpose yards record at Purdue with 79 rushing, 109 receiving and 125 returning. Jones is going to be a matchup problem for a lot of Big Ten teams this year.
They may have lost, but Northwestern is good, and I would still expect Purdue to be a solid team this season.
Previous Ranking: 8
Maryland (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 34-29 WIN vs No. 23 Texas
This week: at Bowling Green (6:00 ESPN+)
They’re experiencing déjà vu in both Austin, Texas and College Park, Maryland after the Terrapins upset the ranked Longhorns for the second straight season. Kasim Hill is back from injury and was again solid, throwing for 222 yards and a touchdown. The Terrapins only had one back take more than seven carries. They will need to figure out something out of the backfield if they want to continue to win big games.
That being said, the defense was pretty solid for the Terrapins against the run. With the quarterbacks healthy again and another big win to get some excitement around the program after a tumultuous offseason, there’s a chance this Maryland team could make some more noise in the Big Ten than we may have expected.
Previous Ranking: T11
Iowa (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 33-7 WIN vs Northern Illinois
This week: vs Iowa State (5:00 FOX)
Iowa was another team that struggled but found a way to win. Don’t let that final score fool you, this game wasn’t easy for the Hawkeyes. The score was 3-0 Iowa at halftime. However, they were able to pull away in the second half to win. Quarterback Nate Stanley was less than impressive, throwing for 108 yards, a touchdown and an interception. They have to replace former starter Akrum Wadley in the backfield. Sophomore Ivory Kelly-Martin got the bulk of the carries (16), but sophomore Toren Young had the most yards; 84 yards on eight carries.
Iowa should be fine. I would expect Stanley to play better in the future. However, the defense is still strong, and Kirk Ferentz is still the coach, so this team will be fine. They will have a chance to prove that in their annual rivalry game against the Cyclones this Saturday.
Previous Ranking: 6
Northwestern (1-0, 1-0)
Last week: 31-27 WIN at Purdue
This week: vs Duke (12:00 ESPNU)
Northwestern was the second most impressive team of the week from the Big Ten. The Wildcats went into a hostile environment in West Lafayette and got off to an incredible start and then held on in the second half to win. The health of starting quarterback Clayton Thorson forced him to a “pitch count.” I would expect him to get the bulk of the play from now on once he gets healthier.
Jeremy Larkin looks like he will be a solid replacement for Justin Jackson. Larkin ran 26 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Northwestern is good and will probably be the west’s best chance at knocking off Wisconsin.
Previous Ranking: 7
Michigan (0-1, 0-0)
Last week: 24-17 LOSS at No. 12 Notre Dame
This week: vs Western Michigan (12:00 FS1)
This week was the exact reason I didn’t rank Michigan any higher than I did last week. They have struggled to beat teams better than them. They have one of the longest losing streaks against ranked teams on the road in the country. Offseason addition Shea Patterson went 20-for-30 for 227 yards and an interception in his Michigan debut. The Wolverines had one player rush for more than 10 yards. The offense stalled out again, something Wolverine fans had some issues with a year ago, and something that Patterson was supposed to fix.
Michigan will have more opportunities this season, being in the Big Ten East, to get some big wins over highly ranked opponents. But for the time being, Michigan continues to be unable to beat teams that are better than them and continue to be a solid fifth best team in the conference.
Previous Ranking: 5
Michigan State (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 38-31 WIN vs Utah State
This week: at Arizona State (10:45 ESPN)
Friday night did not go as planned for Michigan State, but a win is a win, right? The Spartans struggled against Utah State at home in their season opener, allowing the Aggies to score 31 points and hang around until the end. The Spartans outscored the Aggies 11-7 in the fourth quarter to pull out the win.
The defense was great against the run, allowing only 25 total rushing yards on 25 Aggie carries. However, while they had two interceptions, they allowed 319 passing yards from Utah State. The Spartans are going to have to tighten up the defensive side of the football if they want to contend in the Big Ten East. The Spartans and Nittany Lions are in the same position right now. They won, but there are some issues that have to be addressed before week two, which for the Spartans is a trip out west to take on Arizona State.
Previous Ranking: 4
Penn State (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 45-38 (OT) WIN vs Appalachian State
This week: at Pittsburgh (8:00 ABC)
More issues for an elite Big Ten team, this time in Happy Valley. McSorley was fine, the running game was solid, but the defense struggled to make stops. They got the interception in overtime to finish the game, but they allowed 270 passing yards and 159 rushing yards throughout the game. Their issues are similar to Michigan State; the defensive side of the ball.
We have to remember this Penn State team had to replace a lot of talent, including Saquon Barkley. That being said, a loss against Appalachian State, or even Pittsburgh this week, would be unexpected and a step in the wrong direction for a team that still has playoff aspirations. When you’re in a division like the Big Ten East, you can’t afford to lose games against teams like Appalachian State. Penn State survived, but they have some issues to work on.
Previous Ranking: 3
Wisconsin (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 34-3 WIN vs Western Kentucky
This week: vs New Mexico (12:00 BTN)
Hey look, Wisconsin dominated a game in the trenches and held a non-conference opponent to three points and ran the ball well. It looks like Wisconsin hasn’t changed a bit.
Jonathan Taylor picked up right where he left off in his freshman campaign, rushing for 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 18 carries. Alex Hornibrook is exactly what Wisconsin needs at quarterback, throwing for 257 yards and two touchdowns. The Badgers continue to win the battles up front, both on offense and defense.
There wasn’t anything flashy about the win. There wasn’t anything special about a 31-point win over Western Kentucky. However, that was exactly what we expected, wasn’t it? Wisconsin looks like they could threaten to once again run the table.
Previous Ranking: 2
Ohio State (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 77-31 WIN vs Oregon State
This week: vs Rutgers (3:30 BTN)
Okay, so, Ohio State is really good. This team is loaded with athletes at every position. Dwayne Haskins was great, throwing for 313 yards and five touchdowns. Mike Weber was again spectacular, rushing for 186 yards and three scores.
The question is how bad is Oregon State? How much does a win like this actually mean for the Buckeyes? I don’t think much, but not much will change this week when they host Rutgers this week. I would expect more of the same, more explosive offense, more defensive takeaways, and another lopsided victory, this time in conference play.
The test will come in week three when the Buckeyes will challenge No. 16 TCU, without Urban Meyer on the sidelines. If the Buckeyes can get through that game and look good doing it, watch out.
Ohio State was definitely the most impressive Big Ten team in week one of the college football season, and I wouldn’t expect anything to change this week.
Previous Ranking: 1
(08/27/18 6:46pm)
The Big Ten begins play Thursday, and the top five teams in the conference seem to be in their own grouping, with the likes of Iowa, Northwestern and Purdue a good step or two behind them. If the Big Ten wants to prove it’s the best conference in the country, it may need some of those teams from 6-14 to make strides toward the top and make bowl games. Some teams are looking to build momentum, while others are trying to keep it.
(All records are from last season)
Here’s how I see things stacking up before the season starts…
14. Illinois (0-9, 2-10)
This week: Saturday vs Kent State (12:00 BTN)
Lovie Smith will be facing a similar situation to Chris Ash at Rutgers. Smith is in need a third-year jump. The issue has been the talent level in Champaign. The Illini were 118th in the S&P+ rankings last season. With a schedule that will feature them as underdogs in most of their last 10 games, it will be tough to improve upon the past couple years’ win totals.
They have a solid mobile quarterback in Cam Thomas, who is working under a new offensive coordinator who is expected to improve the Illini offense. The defense was solid last season, especially the secondary. Most of their defensive backs return and should continue to be good defending against big plays. If Illinois can show some sort of improvement, even four or five wins, that would be a good step up for Smith and company in Champaign.
13. Minnesota (2-7, 5-7)
This week: Thursday vs New Mexico State (7:00 BTN)
The Golden Gophers are projected to have nine games finish within a touchdown. So, there will be plenty of chances in P.J. Fleck’s second season. However, Minnesota will most likely be starting a freshman quarterback and a lot of their weapons on the outside aren’t returning.
In his first 17 games at Western Michigan, Fleck won three games. After that, he went 27-8, most notably that incredible 2016 season where Western Michigan went 13-1 and lost in the Cotton Bowl to Wisconsin. There’s still excitement around the football program at Minnesota, and with an energetic coach like Fleck, there’s still plenty of upside. However, it will take some patience for Minnesota to eventually reach their full potential under Fleck.
T11. Rutgers (3-6, 4-8)
This week: Saturday vs Texas State (12:00 BTN)
T11. Maryland (2-7, 4-8)
This week: Satuday vs No. 23 Texas (12:00 FS1 at FedEx Field)
I think Maryland and Rutgers are moving in completely different directions. Rutgers seems to be on the rise, while Maryland’s stock seems to be dropping.
I won’t get into any of the off-the-field stuff involving Maryland. All I’ll say is our thoughts and prayers are with the McNair family and the Maryland football.
For Maryland, both of their QBs they lost to injury last season return. If they can play at the level they did pre-injuries, Maryland’s offense could be explosive. The main issue for the Terrapins is the same as the Hoosiers and Scarlet Knights: they play in the Big Ten East. They also have a non-conference matchup with Texas, so Maryland cannot afford to slip up against any equal or lesser opponents this season.
Rutgers is the opposite, building their identity on their defense. Chris Ash has developed some really solid defenses in his two years in Piscataway, and this year should be no different. The offense has to pick up though if Rutgers wants to show any improvement in such a difficult conference and division. Quarterback Giovanni Rescigno won’t have a ton of returning weapons to work with from last season. They are a good running offense, but a one-dimensional offense doesn’t get you very far in the Big Ten East. The third year for a coach is usually a very important one for his future, especially somewhere like Rutgers. Ash will need a big step up in year three, mainly on the offensive side of the football.
10. Nebraska (3-6, 4-8)
This week: Saturday vs Akron (8:00 FOX)
Everyone is so excited about the Scott Frost hire, so why are the 10th on this list? I think it’s a really good hire, but it’s going to take some patience from the Husker faithful. Let’s talk quarterbacks. Frost’s options are junior walk-on Andrew Bunch, redshirt freshman Tristan Gebbia or true freshman Adrian Martinez. Both of the latter are former four-star recruits. Bunch has the arm strength while Martinez has the legs.
Now defensively, they were one of the least disruptive in the country. They ranked 130th in stuff rate (run stops at or behind the line), 128th in adjusted sack rate and 129th in overall havoc rate (tackles for loss, passes defensed and forced fumbles divided by total plays). Frost brought along his defensive coordinator from UCF, Erik Chinander, who will certainly have his work cut out for him this season.
9. Indiana (2-7, 5-7)
This week: Satuday at Florida International (7:00 CBS Sports Network)
If Bloomington was a few miles west, the Hoosiers could have ended up in the Big Ten West division, completely changing expectations for this football team. Instead, they are in the East, with games against Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and Penn State guaranteed every year. Add a cross-conference game with an up-and-coming Purdue team and usually either Wisconsin, Nebraska, or Iowa, and that’s a tough schedule to get more than six or seven wins in.
The quarterback situation will be one to monitor in Bloomington. Sophomore Peyton Ramsey, who got the starts last season while Lagow was hurt, will start week one at Florida International. The offense on paper has plenty of weapons, and the defense, even though they lost a few big-time playmakers, is Tom Allen’s specialty. If the Hoosiers can “breakthrough” and win some of the games like Virginia, Iowa or Purdue (all at home), this season goes from an early winter vacation to a bowl game.
8. Purdue (4-5, 7-6)
This week: Thursday vs Northwestern (8:00 ESPN)
A lot of people liked the Jeff Brohm hire in West Lafayette. I don’t think many people thought the results would come so quickly. In his first season, Brohm and company rallied off three of their last four to make a bowl game, then they won the Foster Farms Bowl in a thriller over Arizona.
It was the defense that sparked the identity change at Purdue, but a lot of those starters from a year ago are gone. Can Brohm turn the Purdue offense around this year? There are a lot of returning pieces on that side of the ball for him to continue to work with. With a schedule that in theory can yield a lot of different results, week one against Northwestern, under the lights at Ross-Ade, will tell us a lot about the direction Purdue is going this year.
7. Northwestern (7-2, 10-3)
This week: Thursday at Purdue (8:00 ESPN)
There’s a chance you forgot about Northwestern’s eight-game winning streak last season. They have struggled to start seasons, most notably last season’s 2-3 start. Two years ago, they lost to Western Michigan and Illinois State in back-to-back weeks to start the 2016 season. However, the past two seasons they’ve ended with 7-6 and 10-3 records respectively.
This year they start out at Purdue on Thursday night and then Duke comes to town the next Saturday. If they can get off to a better start this year, this could be more than a rebuilding season for Northwestern. QB Clayton Thorson will need to improve without the school’s all-time leading rusher, Justin Jackson, in the backfield. But for now, I’m expecting another six or seven win season for the Wildcats.
6. Iowa (4-5, 8-5)
This week: Saturday vs Northern Illinois (3:30 BTN)
Let’s be honest, Iowa will probably win seven or eight games again this year. That’s just how things work in Iowa City. Quarterback Nate Stanley is back. He’s your typical Iowa QB, one that doesn’t make too many flashy plays but doesn’t make many mistakes. Other than their yearly tilt with Iowa State, the non-conference schedule doesn’t offer a whole lot. However, they host Wisconsin in week four. We all know it’s not easy to win at Iowa, so that will be a big game to see where this season will end up in Iowa City. For now, expect another seven or eight win season.
5. Michigan (5-4, 8-5)
This week: Saturday at No. 12 Notre Dame (7:30 NBC)
Austin, why do you have a team as talented as Michigan 5th in the Big Ten? Well, a few reasons. First, the Big Ten is loaded, and someone has to be 5th. On a serious note, Michigan hasn’t proven that they can beat the teams ahead of them on this list since Harbaugh came to Ann Arbor. They lost to all four of the teams ahead of them on this list last season.
There’s also the big question mark of Shea Patterson. A lot of people are excited that he was named the starter. Yes, Michigan struggled offensively last season, but it is still to be determined if Patterson is the answer. I’m willing to move Michigan up this list only if they prove they can beat the teams ahead of them. They’ll have a great chance to prove themselves in South Bend week one.
4. Michigan State (7-2, 10-3)
This week: Friday vs Utah State (7:00 BTN)
Michigan State was one of the most surprising teams in the nation last season. After a seven-win improvement, where does Sparty go from here? Well, last season’s team was very young, so all of that experience should pay dividends for Michigan State. The Spartans are a double-digit favorite in nine games on this year’s schedule.
Last season’s big wins over Michigan and Penn State were both in downpours, while when they played OSU and Notre Dame in normal conditions, they were beat by a combined 86-21. While they got a bit lucky last season with the weather, they will need to prove this season that they can in fact beat the big name teams in the East in normal weather conditions.
3. Penn State (7-2, 11-2)
This week: Saturday vs Appalachian State (3:30 BTN)
The heart and soul of this team last season, Saquon Barkley, has moved on to the NFL. Offensive Coordinator Joe Moorhead has moved on to Mississippi State. However, QB Trace McSorley and an incredible offensive line return, keeping this team in the thick of things in the East.
Penn State played a ton of people on the defensive side of the ball, so the backups last year that are now starters this season saw plenty of snaps last season. The schedule sets up well for the Nittany Lions. Their big road trip is at Michigan, while they host both Ohio State and Michigan State. Having McSorley back is enough for me to keep them in the top of the conference.
2. Wisconsin (9-0, 13-1)
This week: Friday vs Western Kentucky (9:00 ESPN)
It’s the age-old question: How good is Wisconsin? Last season, they ran the table all the way until the Big Ten Championship game, and people were still asking if they should make the playoff with a win and a 13-0 record. Part of that was because of their very weak schedule. That changes this year. They have road trips to Penn State, Michigan, Iowa, Northwestern and Purdue on the schedule.
However, they return a lot of talent in a lot of positions. QB Alex Hornibrook is back. RB Jonathan Taylor is back after nearly running for 2,000 yards last season. Their linebackers and linemen are some of the best in the conference. The secondary will be their only “weak spot.” We will learn how good Wisconsin truly is this year with a much more difficult schedule. Another run like last year and they could find themselves in the playoff.
1. Ohio State (8-1, 12-2)
This week: Saturday vs Oregon State (12:00 ABC)
Once again, Ohio State has one of the most talented teams in the country. They have, in my opinion, a potential upgrade at quarterback with Dwayne Haskins. They have all their running backs and receivers back and will once again be solid in the trenches. The defense is where there are a few holes to fill, but players like Nick Bosa should help lead that defense in the right direction.
There are two questions facing the Buckeyes. How will Urban’s suspension affect the team, mainly in Texas against No. 16 TCU and will OC Kevin Wilson be able to score in the red zone? We should have a good answer to both of those questions after week three.
(06/10/18 3:21am)
The three future Hoosiers captained the Indiana All-Stars Saturday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Romeo Langford, Robert Phinisee and Damezi Anderson all showed IU fans what they’re bringing to Bloomington this season in their 109-81 win over the Kentucky All-Stars.
Langford registered a game-high 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting. He also added eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.
After missing all six of his three-point attempts Friday night in the loss against the Kentucky All-Stars, Langford hit 2-of-5 from beyond the arc Saturday.
“Making my first shot, seeing the ball go in on my first shot was pretty cool, but really I just came out more focused and more locked in,” Langford said, “We didn’t want to be the team to go 0-2 versus Kentucky.”
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/1005645300839612418[/embed]
IU ranked second to last in the Big Ten shooting 32-percent from three-point a season ago. This trio of newcomers can help improve the Hoosiers tremendously from range as they combined to shoot four-of-nine beyond the arc on Saturday.
The All-Star games also gave Hoosier fans a glimpse at what could be the backcourt for IU next season, with Phinisee at point guard and Langford at shooting guard. In Saturday’s game, the two combined for seven assists and just two turnovers.
“It was very fun. We’ve known each other since we were younger in AAU,” Phinisee said, “We just want to compete. We’re competitors. But off the court, we’re pretty good friends.”
Turnovers are another area IU could use some help with. The Hoosiers were 10thin the Big Ten in turnovers per game (12.5) and 11thin assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1).
Anderson ended the game with ten points and six rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Phinisee finished with three points, four rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes.
These players are highly thought of both with their play but also with their unselfishness. Not only are they good passers, but they are also unselfish with their minutes.
“All week long, these guys had great attitudes,” Head Coach Jim Shannon said, “There aren’t many D-1 players that will come by and say ‘Hey it’s okay if so-and-so gets some of my time.’”
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/1005634834969038848[/embed]
Saturday also served as the final high school game of their careers. The freshmen will be reporting to Bloomington next week and Langford announced after the game that he’s heading to campus on Tuesday.
Shannon was emotional about getting to coach Langford one final time.
“I’m almost in tears, or I almost was,” Shannon said, “Part of it was because I had to let Romeo go tonight for good. That is it. I don’t think they’re going to let me coach anymore All-Star games, unless we can make one up.”
Before the men’s game, another future Hoosier, Grace Berger, took the floor for the women’s Kentucky All-Star team. She finished with 18 points and seven rebounds on six-of-11 shooting.
The future is bright for both the men’s and women’s teams in Bloomington this upcoming season. Langford, Phinisee and Anderson will join Jake Forrester and Jerome Hunter in a top-10 recruiting class.
Berger is the second ever five-star recruit in program history, joining the other, Jaelynn Penn, in Bloomington this fall. She is part of the No. 46 recruiting class in the nation.
(04/24/18 8:58pm)
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On the final edition of The Other Guys, our cast ranks their top five sports moments of the school year. Check it out!
(04/17/18 9:05pm)
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The Other Guys are back, this week discussing their top-five moments from the 2017-18 seasons, including many different sports. Take a listen!
(04/12/18 5:08pm)
Two years ago, the NCAA changed the landscape of declaring for the NBA draft, in a good way.
Starting in 2016, players were allowed to declare for the draft without an agent, go through workouts with NBA scouts, receive feedback, and retain their collegiate eligibility the next season.
Last season, three Hoosiers did not sign with an agent and had the option to return. In the end, Robert Johnson was the only Hoosier to fully utilize this new system. Johnson declared without an agent, received feedback from NBA scouts, and returned for his senior season at IU.
Johnson isn’t the only player to utilize this new rule change last season. There’s a long list, including some of the best players in the country, that went through this process last offseason.
That’s why Juwan Morgan declaring for the NBA Draft makes sense.
Why This Works: Big Ten
Players across the country have declared for the draft without agents, and many greatly benefited from the experience.
Some of the Big Ten’s best players tested the waters of the draft before returning and having incredible years.
*Vince Edwards: 2016-17 – 12.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG
2017-18 – 14.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG
*Moritz Wagner: 2016-17 – 12.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG
2017-18 – 14.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG
Corey Sanders: 2016-17 – 12.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG
2017-18 – 15.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG
*Isaac Haas: 2016-17 – 12.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 58% FG
2017-18 – 14.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 62% FG
Three of these players were named to All-Big Ten teams after their 2017-18 efforts. Their statistical improvements speak for themselves.
Why This Works: Nationally
It wasn’t just Big Ten players that improved after testing the waters of the draft. This has become a popular route in only two years of being allowed.
Several of the top players across the country decided to declare and then come back and improve their play.
*Jevon Carter (WVU): 2016-17 – 13.5 PPG, 5.7 APG, 2.5 SPG
2017-18 – 17.3 PPG, 6.6 APG, 3.0 SPG
*Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Kansas) 2016-17 – 9.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 40% 3PT
2017-18 – 14.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 45% 3PT
*Aaron Holiday (UCLA): 2016-17 – 12.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.4 APG
2017-18 – 20.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 5.8 APG
Theo Pinson (UNC): 2016-17 – 6.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 38% FG
2017-18 – 10.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.1 APG, 47% FG
Deng Adel (Louisville): 2016-17 – 12.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.1 APG
2017-18 – 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.8 APG
*Omer Yurtseven (NC State): 2016-17 – 5.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 46% FG
2017-18 – 13.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 57% FG
* -named to an all-conference team
This is still a fairly new process, only in year three. However, plenty of athletes have used it to their advantage and had great seasons the year after testing the draft. This list above includes four players named to their all-conference teams, including two first team all-conference players.
Why This Works: Juwan Morgan
No, I cannot promise that Morgan would have the statistical increases all of the players above had this season, but it is very possible.
Robert Johnson returned from testing the draft process by increasing his PPG, but most of his other statistics remained the same. However, if you watched his progressions this season, you understand sometimes the results don’t appear on the stat sheet.
People may say that these increases in stats come because of another year of experience, and this is true. However, getting graded and receiving advice by NBA scouts is certainly a factor in all of these players’ improvements.
There have been plenty of players that go without an agent, get feedback and head to the NBA instead of coming back to college. Take IU last season. Both Thomas Bryant and James Blackman Jr. went to the draft without agents but did not end up coming back to IU.
Is this a possibility for Morgan? Of course.
No matter what decision Morgan makes, it will be the best decision for himself. If he declares and stays in the draft, that means he heard what he wanted to hear from NBA scouts and could be drafted in the 2018 draft. If he comes back, he can use the feedback he got from scouts to make himself the best collegiate player he can next season.
It's important to understand that Morgan declaring doesn’t mean he’s gone. He can still come back. And if he does, the Big Ten and college basketball as a whole better watch out.
(04/10/18 9:09pm)
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The Other Guys are back to talk about IU baseball and The Masters, including Reed's unpopular victory, Tiger's disappointing week and the CBS telecast. Take a listen.
(04/03/18 9:08pm)
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The Other Guys are back to discuss the national championship Monday night as well as the WNIT championship won by the Hoosiers. They also dive into a preview of the Masters starting this Thursday. Check it out!
(03/30/18 6:29pm)
The winningest senior class in Indiana women’s basketball program history of Tyra Buss and Amanda Cahill are one win away from hanging a banner in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Only Virginia Tech stands in their way of a WNIT championship.
The WNIT crowds have been some of the largest in program history and have made some of the loudest roars all season. However, the loudest cheer of the WNIT may have come after the semifinal, when public address announcer Chuck Crabb announced that Virginia Tech would be coming to Bloomington Saturday at 3 p.m.
“For everybody to stick around the way they did… that was a pretty cool moment not just for our basketball team but for our university,” IU coach Teri Moren said.
On February 17, Indiana defeated Nebraska 83-75, led by Buss’ 37 points on a special senior night for two of the best players in IU history.
Fast forward over a month to March 31. After receiving five bonus home games throughout the WNIT, Indiana will get one last opportunity to play in front of their home crowd, and the crowd will have one last chance to watch Buss and Cahill play.
“It’s kind of like senior day, round two,” Buss said, “We get to be on our home floor, in front of our home crowd one last time. And we want to go out with a win because not a lot of people get to say they end their college careers with a win.”
The list of milestones and records reached and broken by this senior class is almost too long to list. Buss is the program leader in career points, assists, steals, and free throws made, while Cahill has over 1,000 points and rebounds, only the third Hoosier to reach such numbers.
The win Wednesday night added one more accolade to the list. Buss and Cahill are now the all-time winningest senior class in the history of the program, with 81 wins. They’ve won 55 times at home, an 80-percent winning percentage.
If they could get win number 82 and hang a banner, it would be the most fitting way for two players this great to finish their careers.
“For Tyra and B to be able to walk out of here with a win would be really special,” Moren said.
Indiana’s opponent, Virginia Tech, was 6-10 in the ACC this season, but at 23-13 overall have rallied throughout the WNIT and are coming off a 74-71 road win at West Virginia Wednesday night.
It won’t be easy to win in Bloomington. The crowds have shown up throughout the WNIT. 5,564 fans were in the building to watch IU defeat Purdue in the third round. Over 6,000 attended Indiana’s quarterfinal win over UC-Davis. Then on Wednesday, 7,815 watched Indiana defeat TCU in the semifinal, the fourth highest attendance in women’s basketball history.
On Saturday, Coach Moren thinks the attendance record of 10,022 could be broken.
“Now the goal becomes, 2004 we had 10,000 people. 2018 we need to have 12,000 people," Moren said. "That’s the challenge for Bloomington and Indianapolis and the surrounding areas to come out and support this team on Saturday."
This would also be the first championship Moren has brought to Bloomington since she began her tenure at IU in 2014. With a win over Virginia Tech, the Hoosiers will win their first ever WNIT championship.
“We’ve always talked about winning championships here,” Moren said, “As I’ve said before, championships come in a variety of different ways, and we have an opportunity to win a championship on Saturday.”
(03/29/18 10:37pm)
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Zachary Seidel, the man behind the UMBC Twitter page on March 16, joins The Other Guys to talk about that magical night, his tweets that captivated the nation, his unexpected media exposure, and much more. Give it a listen!
(03/29/18 2:56am)
Tyra Buss, Amanda Cahill and the rest of the Indiana women's basketball team live to see one final game with a 71-58 win over TCU in the WNIT semifinals.
58 points. That’s from a TCU team that averaged over 81 points per game in its four WNIT games, and over 75 on the season. The Horned Frogs shot 23-of-66 from the floor (34.8-percent). They were shooting 54 percent in the tournament heading into tonights matchup.
Indiana’s defense has continued to improve as the season has progressed. IU coach Teri Moren took a page out of Archie Miller’s playbook, implementing the pack line defense against a much taller TCU squad. TCU had four starters standing over 6 feet and three others coming off the bench.
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/979177017747918849[/embed]
6-foot-3 center Jordan Moore was averaging 17.8 points per game in the tournament heading into Wednesday's matchup; shooting 30-of-35 (86-percent) from the floor. Indiana’s defense held her to 3-of-12 from the floor and just six points.
“We’re not winning these games because of Tyra and B alone," Moren said. "We’re winning these games because we have a great supporting cast, and we’re defending."
It wasn’t the cleanest game Indiana has played this season, as the Hoosiers ended the game with 16 turnovers. However, Indiana handled TCU’s press much better than they had earlier in the season, most notably a 65-53 loss against Auburn, who pressed throughout the game.
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/979189240276930560[/embed]
“We say every now and again ‘we can’t get Auburned.’ What an experience that was for our young kids that had never seen a press quite like it,” Moren said, “You look back and you think about that moment to where we were and where we are now and how we handled ourselves tonight completely different, and that’s just growth.”
The Hoosiers won their 10th straight home game and fifth straight in the WNIT in front of 7,815 fans. That number ranks fourth on Indiana’s attendance list since 1997-98, when records became available.
The 7,815 included the IU softball and men’s basketball teams as well as University President Michael McRobbie. At times, the crowd was so loud they couldn’t hear each other, an atmosphere the Hoosiers hadn’t played in all season.
The loudest cheer, however, may have come after public address announcer Chuck Crabb announced that Virginia Tech would be coming to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Saturday afternoon.
“When we first ran out, it kinda gave me chills a little bit,” Cahill said, “It’s just really special seeing all the support around Bloomington.”
Now the attention shifts to winning a championship. The Hoosiers have been taking the WNIT one game at a time. Now, 40 minutes is all that separates Indiana from hanging a banner as 2018 WNIT Champions.
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“We’ve always talked about winning championships here,” Moren said, “As I’ve said before, championships come in a lot of different varieties of ways. And we have a chance to win a championship on Saturday.”
5,564 fans were in attendance for the third-round matchup against Purdue. 6,001 were in attendance for the quarterfinal tilt with UC-Davis. 7,815 were there Wednesday to watch IU advance to the championship. The record for an IU women’s game is 10,002 in 2004. Coach Moren expects that and more on Saturday.
“Now the goal becomes, 2004 we had 10,000 people. 2018 we need to have 12,000 people.”
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(03/20/18 9:33pm)
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The Other Guys are back! Join Austin, Connor, Mark and Jacob as they discuss everything from March Madness to #iuwbb to Tom Crean and Tony Romo. Give it a listen!
(03/16/18 1:22am)
Indiana kept its season alive Thursday night with a 74-50 win over UT-Martin in the first round of the WNIT.
After a back and forth first half, the Hoosiers won the third quarter 20-7 and coasted to their 18th victory of the season.
Coming off narrowly missing the NCAA tournament for the second season in a row, the Hoosiers look to make another deep run in the WNIT, after an elite eight run a year ago. With their first-round win, the Hoosiers will take on Milwaukee in the round of 32 at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday..
Amanda Cahill had 14 points and nine rebounds, while Tyra Buss added 14 points and three assists. However, it was the play of freshman Jaelynn Penn that not only provided promise for a WNIT run, but for years to come.
Penn was the second-highest rated recruit in the Big Ten entering this season, and she has not disappointed for Indiana. Thursday night was a Penn IU hadn’t seen all season.
She set a career high in points with 25, and also added six rebounds. She shot eight-of-12 from the field including a three-of-five clip from long range.
Penn has been big in so many important games for the Hoosiers this season. Penn introduced herself in California when she scored 21 points in their loss to St. Mary’s. She scored 17 against a one-seed in this year’s NCAA tournament, the Louisville Cardinals.
In Big Ten play, Penn put up 18 points at Maryland, 21 points vs Nebraska, and 16 points in the quadruple-overtime thriller in the Big Ten tournament against Michigan State.
This season for Penn has included 10.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg and a Big Ten All-Freshman team honor.
Bigger picture is the impact this could have on the Indiana women’s basketball program. One of, if not, the best duo, is leaving the program this season. Buss and Cahill will be difficult to replace. However, Penn may be the player Coach Teri Moren was looking for.
Buss averaged 11.7 her freshman year. Cahill averaged 10.8. Penn’s 10.2 isn’t far behind that. Penn may not break all of Buss’ records and become the best player to ever wear the candy stripes, but it’s not out of the picture after what she has shown as a freshman.
More importantly, the future is bright for this program, and Penn could shine brightest in the coming years. A team led by Penn, with Royster and Yeaney returning in the starting lineup could be good. Go ahead and add the two transfers, Ali Patberg and Brenna Wise, and this team could be really good. Add a solid recruiting class led by five-star Grace Berger, this team can be great.
So, enjoy this run in the WNIT for the Hoosiers. Enjoy the great opportunity to send Buss and Cahill off the right way. But while you do, watch Penn, watch Yeaney, and realize that the future is bright for IU women’s basketball.
Penn’s 25 points vs UT-Martin was a little taste of the special talent she could be next season.
(02/28/18 5:49pm)
It’s that time of the year again. Conference tournaments and the bubble watch. March madness is upon us.
The Big Ten finds itself squarely on the bubble heading into the women’s conference tournament this week in Indianapolis. Charlie Creme, ESPN’s women’s basketball bracketologist has six Big Ten teams somewhere in his Last Four In, First Four Out or Next Four Out.
Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, Nebraska, Indiana and Michigan State all head to Indianapolis in hopes of either securing their NCAA tournament spots or forcing themselves into the field with a few wins this week.
These next few days at Bankers Life Fieldhouse will be play-in games for six different Big Ten teams.
(All numbers in parenthesis are Sagarin rankings.)
Last Four In
Minnesota (22-7, 11-5 B1G)- 32nd in Sagarin rankings; 75th SOS, 2-1 vs Top 25, 4-3 vs Top 50
Minnesota won five of their last six to finish the regular season, including solid wins over Purdue and Maryland, ranked 10th at the time.
It wasn’t until that win over Maryland that Creme put them in his field of 64. Now, after the loss last week to Indiana at home, they are clinging to their last four in position.
Minnesota’s good wins include that Maryland win, as well as at Purdue, vs then No. 20 Iowa and Michigan State. They have some bad losses, at North Carolina (92) and San Diego (141).
Minnesota will have a great opportunity to punch their ticket on Friday. With the four-seed in the tournament, they have the double-bye and will wait on Wisconsin, Northwestern, or Iowa.
The Hawkeyes are the five-seed and would be the expected opponent for Minnesota. They split with Iowa in the regular season. If they can break that tie with a win on Friday, that should be enough for the Gophers to feel safe. If they lose, they will be very nervous come selection day.
Purdue (18-12, 9-7 B1G)- 58th in Sagarin rankings; 45th SOS, 2-1 vs Top 25, 5-8 vs Top 50
Purdue can hang their hat on their strength of schedule at the moment. They may have lost eight times to top-50 teams, but they’ve also won five times, and challenged themselves all season with a plethora of top-tier talent.
Purdue is hobbling into March, losers of four of their last six. However, one of those two wins was at No. 10 Maryland.
Purdue is ranked 125th in the recent Sagarin rankings. These rankings are score-based rankings that weight recent games heavier than earlier games.
The Boilermakers have some good wins, including that Maryland win. They have knocked off a few other ranked teams; vs Rutgers and at Michigan and Iowa. They also have a solid win over Central Michigan early in the season.
Their only “bad loss” is vs Ohio back in December. The Hoosiers are outside the top-50, and they beat Purdue in both meetings. But that’s a bubble team, so those aren’t bad losses.
Purdue will need to beat Rutgers, the next team on this list, in the first round of the tournament to have a chance. That may be good enough, but an upset of Ohio State on Friday wouldn’t hurt.
Rutgers (19-11, 7-9 B1G)- 42nd in Sagarin rankings; 30th SOS, 1-4 vs Top 25, 5-5 vs Top 50
Rutgers is trending in the wrong direction. After a 2-5 record in February, and having lost nine of their final 12 games after starting the season 16-2, the Scarlet Knights have fallen hard in the rankings and in Creme’s bracket.
Right now, Rutgers is clinging to an 11-seed in the newest bracketology. Rutgers, like Purdue, have a poor recent Sagarin rating. The Scarlet Knights are 191st in the recent Sagarin metrics.
Their one top-25 win is Michigan (24). They also have good wins in conference vs Purdue, Minnesota and at Michigan State. Their good non-conference wins include NC State (26), Virginia (47) and Princeton (54).
Their bad losses are all in Big Ten play. Losses at Penn State (84) and Northwestern (103) stand out. They also have several losses to fellow bubble teams Purdue, Nebraska and Indiana.
I think Rutgers is in the same boat as Purdue. If they can beat the Boilers in the first round, they could squeak in. An upset over Ohio State would help make sure their selection day is much less stressful.
First Four Out
Nebraska (20-9, 11-5 B1G) 53rd in Sagarin rankings; 69th SOS, 0-4 vs Top 25, 5-5 vs Top 50.
It’s hard to believe the three-seed in the Big Ten tournament could miss out on March. However, a glance at the numbers makes it more believable.
Nebraska’s strength of schedule isn’t anything to write home about. Fellow Big Ten teams on the bubble have much better ones, like IU (24), MSU (27), Rutgers (30) and Purdue (45).
Their zero wins vs. top-25 teams is also concerning. Their good wins are all in conference, winning vs Iowa twice, Purdue and on the road vs Minnesota, Rutgers and Michigan State.
Nebraska doesn’t have that many “bad losses.” Their one blemish is a loss vs Clemson (174) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in November. Other than that, no losses stand out as horrible. Their loss vs Washington State (76) isn’t great, but not “bad.”
Nebraska waits until Friday to play their first game. They may have wanted to get a Thursday game for another possible win, but a win vs Michigan on Friday would be enough in my mind to put them into the tournament. Michigan defeated Nebraska 69-64 in overtime back in January.
Next Four Out
Indiana (16-13, 9-7 B1G)- 59th in Sagarin rankings; 24th SOS, 0-5 vs Top 25, 3-9 vs Top 50
Indiana’s overall record is by far the worst of any of these teams. However, their SOS is the toughest. They went out in the non-conference and scheduled very difficult. The issue is, they didn’t win many of those games.
The Hoosiers have had close calls with many of the best teams on their schedule. They hung around with Louisville (5), Ohio State (11), Maryland (14) and Michigan (24).
The good wins have come late in the season as a part of their eight-game win streak. During that streak, they won at Michigan State, Purdue and Minnesota, and also beat Rutgers and Nebraska at home. That’s a perfect 5-0 vs the bubble teams in the Big Ten. Their lone loss to any of these bubble teams was a loss in December to Michigan State at home.
Their only bad loss in conference play was at Penn State (84) on January 3. They also lost in non-conference play to Auburn (72), St. Mary’s (96) and Chattanooga (124).
While the stats may not back them up, the Hoosiers are one of the hottest teams in all of college basketball. They have finally appeared on Creme’s bubble watch, but they will need to do some work in Indianapolis this week.
The Hoosiers can’t stumble against Michigan State, that’s a given. Then the question is whether or not a win over Maryland would be enough. It depends a lot on what happens to bubble teams around them, but I think a win over Maryland for their 10th win in their last 11 would be enough to get them through.
Michigan State (17-12, 7-9 B1G)- 34th in Sagarin rankings; 3-5 vs Top 25, 3-9 vs Top 50
Michigan State doesn’t have a great overall record or Big Ten record. They’re also the ten seed in the tournament. However, their 3 wins over top-25 teams is the best of the bunch.
The Spartans have a 34 recent Sagarin ranking thanks to winning 3 of their last four. They had previously lost 6 straight.
Sparty has some good wins. In conference, they have knocked off Maryland, Michigan, Indiana and Purdue. They defeated South Florida (19) in non-conference play.
The problem isn’t bad losses either. It’s just a lot of losses to the middle tier. The loss that stands out is at Penn State (84). Their record against bubble teams isn’t great either. They have losses to Purdue, Indiana, Nebraska, Minnesota and Rutgers, all the teams mentioned in this article.
So where does that leave Michigan State? They have the furthest to climb to get into the tournament. They for sure need to wins, Indiana and Maryland, and may even need a third to get in. But that Maryland win would be their fourth win over a top-25 team so that may be enough.
What does this all mean?
Seeds three, four, seven, eight, nine and 10 are all entrenched in this year’s bubble. Three of them are in a “win and you’re in” circumstance, and Nebraska may be there as well from that “first four our” group.
For the winner of Indiana and Michigan State, they will need at least one more win to get into the picture.
The Rutgers vs. Purdue and Indiana vs. Michigan State games on Thursday are play-out games. The loser is out. The winner of the Purdue/Rutgers game should be in. The latter will still have work to do.
No matter what happens this week in Indianapolis, there will be plenty of eyes on Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Creme will certainly have his eyes on the Big Ten tournament.
And whether they win or not this week, Monday, March 12, and all the time leading up to that day will be extremely nerve-racking for all six of these teams. The Big Ten could have anywhere from probably five or six teams to up to around eight teams in the NCAA tournament.
While it may not technically be a part of the NCAA tournament, the Big Ten tournament this week in Indianapolis will be a play-in tournament for these six teams to punch their tickets into the NCAA tournament.