I am always amazed at the speed with which a college football season passes. Penn State, and others in the Big Ten, have now completed 25 percent of their regular season schedules. Conference games got started on a small scale this past weekend with huge league showdowns marking the schedule for the next couple weeks. Before all that, let’s take a look at the highlights from another Saturday in the Big Ten.
Best Win of the Week: Ferentz Becomes Winningest Coach in Big Ten
Iowa bounced back from a loss
against in-state rival Iowa State to beat hapless UMass at Kinnick on Saturday afternoon. The real story here was Kirk Ferentz earning his 206th career win, setting the conference record for most wins at a school while in the Big Ten. Ferentz passed Woody Hayes for the mark.
Worst Loss of the Week: UCLA Drops to 0-3
It’s not just that UCLA lost to New Mexico as a heavy favorite on Friday night at the Rose Bowl. It’s the fact that UCLA went down 35-10, while never looking competent against the Lobos. There are a lot of bad P4 teams – even Northwestern isn’t out of this discussion. But, the Bruins, with their highly touted and compensated quarterback, could be looking at a long, long season.
Offensive Player of the Week: Omar Cooper, Jr., Indiana
I usually have rules about not hyping up guys after wins against FCS programs, but Cooper was special on Friday night in a 73-0 Hoosier win against Indiana State. He caught 10 balls for 207 yards and tied former Hoosier James Hardy for most touchdown catches in a single game (4). Cooper had three of those scores in the first half as Indiana moved to 3-0 ahead of next week’s primetime showdown against Illinois.
Defensive Player of the Week: Tony Rojas, Penn State
Yes, so a little homer pick here and also the success came against Villanova. But, Penn State’s defensive starters have allowed only one score all season – a field goal in the opener against Nevada. On Saturday, Rojas had a pair of sacks. He looks healthy following off-season shoulder surgery and looks like a big-time playmaker with Jim Knowles calling the defense.
Offensive Play of the Week: KJ Duff, Rutgers
Check out this catch. By the way, the Scarlet Knights are now 3-0 following an easy win against Norfolk State on Saturday. Rutgers will open conference play on Friday night against Iowa.
Defensive Play of the Week: La’Khi Roland, Maryland
Speaking of 3-0, the Terrapins got an easy home win against Towson on Saturday to stay unbeaten ahead of their conference scheduling opening next week at Wisconsin. This 100-yard interception return was the longest in school history.
Most Big Ten Moment of the Week: Jamaal Jarrett, USC
Nothing is more B1G than a defensive lineman housing an interception to help turn a game’s momentum. Jarrett did just that for the Trojans, who were reeling a little bit on the road following a long weather delay at Purdue. USC ultimately moved to 3-0 with the win over a much-improved Purdue squad. This was the first interception return for a touchdown by a USC defensive lineman since 1999.
Most Big Ten West Moment of the Week: They are who we thought they were edition
Wisconsin and Minnesota were both 2-0 entering road games on Saturday. As was the case back in the old Big Ten West days, they were not competitive against teams that had a pulse outside of the West bubble. Wisconsin was down its starting quarterback for its walloping at the hands of Alabama. More embarrassing was PJ Fleck’s crew. They lost at Cal late Saturday night and looked pretty weak in doing so.
Most Iowa Moment of the Week: Punt (Return) Game Strong
We’ve already covered Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz reaching a coaching milestone. Of course, he’d have a hard hat, bring your lunch pail to the field, stay after practice-type punt returner have a huge day while getting the win.
What We’re Looking Forward to the Most: Conference Play Heats Up
There are five Big Ten games on the docket next Saturday. The biggest of those will be Indiana at home against Illinois – two teams that entered 2025 with legitimate playoff hopes.
