In a week with both close games and blowouts, the Big Ten contenders began to truly stand out.
Week 9 saw some blowouts, but also some really close matchups in the Big Ten. The top teams are starting to really show, while the rest of the conference is jumbled. Here’s what happened in the Big Ten this week:
Bye Weeks: UCLA and Purdue
The Blowouts
Rutgers 20 @ USC 42
Northwestern 14 @ Iowa 40
No. 20 Illinois 9 @ No. 1 Oregon 38
Maryland 23 @ Minnesota 48
The Close Games
Washington 17 @ No. 13 Indiana 31
Indiana football being undefeated after Week 9 still doesn’t feel right. After losing Kurtis Rourke indefinitely against Nebraska, Curt Cignetti still got the job done. After scoring on an early pick-six, the Hoosiers led the rest of the way. Even when Washington cut the lead to only three in the third quarter, IU scored the next two touchdowns, giving them the buffer needed to secure the victory. Backup quarterback Tayven Jackson didn’t crumble under pressure and delivered a fairly clean game, throwing for a touchdown and running one in as well. Running back Justice Ellison ran for over 100 yards and had a touchdown himself as well. The Hoosiers defense was what really shone, as D’Angelo Ponds picked off Will Rogers twice, including the first quarter pick-six. Indiana also added to their sack total with three against Washington. With only one ranked team (Ohio State) on the docket for the rest of the regular season, IU has a path to actually winning the Big Ten. If they can somehow come out of Columbus with a victory in a few weeks, who knows how high the true ceiling of this team could be.
Nebraska 17 @ No. 4 Ohio State 21
After Indiana destroyed Nebraska a week ago, Ohio State was expected to do the same, especially coming off a bye week after a heartbreaking loss to Oregon. These expectations were far from met, however, and the Buckeyes needed all they could get in order to weather the visiting Cornhuskers and hold on for a win. After falling down 14-3 early, Nebraska made a field goal and headed into halftime down by only eight. The third quarter was littered with sloppy play from both sides apart from a Nebraska field goal. On the first drive of the fourth quarter, Dylan Raiola and company drove down the field, scoring their first and only touchdown of the day, including a successful two-point try. The Huskers now led 17-14. The next drive, the Buckeyes answered with a touchdown of their own, all the while taking just under five minutes off the clock. Nebraska had a quick three-and-out and punted the ball back to Ohio State, which had a three-and-out as well. Raiola had the ball down four, and Nebraska started to move down the field thanks to a targeting penalty on Ohio State. On a 3rd-and-19, Raiola tried to get all the yards back but threw a duck of a pass, giving the Buckeyes the ball back with an interception. Will Howard then kneeled the game out, giving OSU the win. Coach Ryan Day has been very good against unranked opponents in his career, but his Buckeyes will face a much bigger test as they are heading to Happy Valley to play the Nittany Lions. Speaking of Penn State…
No. 3 Penn State 28 @ Wisconsin 13
Penn State went into the locker room at halftime down by three. After three consecutive punts, Wisconsin QB Braedyn Locke threw a pick-six. On their next drive the Badgers got three points and only trailed by one, 14-13. But that was the last score of the game for Wisconsin, as Penn State scored two touchdowns and shut out the Badgers the rest of the way. The Nittany Lions continue their trend of the defense locking down in the second half. Next week they are hosting the Buckeyes. The big question mark for this team, however, is at the quarterback position. Star QB Drew Allar got hurt at the end of the first half and didn’t return for the rest of the day. His status is now up in question for the Nittany Lions’ biggest game of the year. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula did look solid in this one though. Pribula was 11/13 passing for 98 yards and a touchdown along with 28 yards on the ground, but he was clutch when his team needed him to be. In the fourth quarter alone, Pribula was responsible for two touchdown drives, in which he was also responsible for four big third-down conversions. Whether it’s Drew Allar or Beau Pribula behind center for Penn State, they will need to be at their best. And with College Gameday coming to town, all eyes will be on Happy Valley as the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes clash for (potentially) a spot in the Big Ten championship game.
Michigan State 17 @ Michigan 24