Woah! Week 7 has shaken up the college football landscape. Two top-10 teams were taken down with eight ranked teams losing overall. In the Big Ten, it was all about slaying the giants. Here’s what happened
in the Big Ten this week with all 18 teams playing:
Friday
Rutgers 19 @ Washington 38
Under the Friday night lights, Demond Williams Jr. delivered. He was 21-of-27 passing for a career-best 402 yards with two touchdowns, while also having a career day with 136 rushing yards on 13 carries, also punching in two touchdowns on the ground.
Rutgers started the game up 10-0 at the end of the first quarter, but Washington took over at the end of the first half into the second half. Three third quarter touchdowns for the Huskies put them far ahead of the Scarlet Knights as they now sit at 2-1 in Big Ten play (their only loss was to Ohio State). Rutgers on the other hand remains winless at 0-3 in the conference as it still looks to get a conference win this season. In simple terms though, Washington should be ranked.
Saturday
No. 1 Ohio State 34 @ No. 17 Illinois 16
Ohio State this, Ohio State that. It doesn’t matter. Noise will be noise, and the Buckeyes are still unbeaten. They allowed their first touchdown since September 13, but still dominated all facets of this game. Julian Sayin had a clean game, throwing for two touchdowns. True freshman Lamar “Bo” Jackson (amazing name for a football player) and CJ Donaldson led the way on the ground: the former with 10 carries for 47 yards and a receiving touchdown, the latter with 13 carries for 44 yards and two touchdowns. Jeremiah Smith led the way with five receptions for 42 yards and a score, while Carnell Tate was right there with four grabs for 41 yards including an impressive toe drag catch. Four sacks as a team helped the Buckeyes control the game, 1.5 of those coming from budding star Arvell Reese. The Buckeyes still have to play Penn State, UCLA and Michigan along with some other easier-looking matchups. The one against the Wolverines will be at the Big House as the Buckeyes will look to get their first win over their rivals this decade.
Luke Altymer was fine for Illinois, throwing for 248 yards and a touchdown, plus an interception. The running backs couldn’t get much going, but Aidan Laughery did punch one in. The Fighting Illini aren’t bad, they just haven’t been able to beat the top tier teams in the Big Ten. The last five games for them does get easier, with no ranked opponents remaining, as of now.
UCLA 38 @ Michigan State 13
Woah! Just a week ago, UCLA was winless before taking down then No. 7 Penn State in Pasadena. Now, the Bruins have won their second consecutive game and look like a completely different team. Jerry Neuheisel has brought a new fire to this UCLA offense since taking over as the offensive coordinator as Michigan State didn’t pose any threats. Nico Iamaleava threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns, Jalen Berger ran one in on 12 carries for 89 yards while also catching two of Iamaleava’s touchdown throws and Jaivian Thomas had 54 rushing yards and a score himself. Despite the 2-4 record, the Bruins are 2-1 in Big Ten play and have a path to making the Big Ten Championship Game — the beauty of college football.
No. 7 Indiana 30 @ No. 3 Oregon 20
Indiana is officially a national championship contender. Curt Cignetti has completely changed the culture in Bloomington, transforming the Hoosiers into a football school. Fernando Mendoza is undoubtedly a top-three quarterback in the country as he threw for 215 yards and a touchdown at Autzen Stadium. His one interception thrown was returned for a touchdown, but that speaks to how well Indiana still played in this one. Roman Hemby carried the rock 19 times for 70 yards and two touchdowns as he continues to be one of the better transfer additions in all of the FBS. Elijah Sarratt caught eight passes for 121 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers sacked Dante Moore six times and picked him off twice, proving that it’s not just their offense that is a strength.
Moore had his worst game of the season, throwing for just 186 yards and one touchdown to go alongside his two interceptions. The Ducks couldn’t get much going on the ground either, only rushing for 81 total yards. All in all, it wasn’t the best day for Oregon, as Indiana showed up and showed out in Eugene. The Hoosiers now sit at No. 3 in the Week 8 AP Poll, while U of O drops to No. 8.
Nebraska 34 @ Maryland 31
This one was back and forth the whole time. Nebraska took a 10-0 lead, Maryland responded, Nebraska then went up 24-14, Maryland then tied it at 24-24 in the third quarter. A pick six thrown by Dylan Raiola gave the Terrapins a 31-24 lead before the Cornhuskers kicked a field goal to cut the lead to four. With under four minutes to go, Nebraska drove down the field as Raiola threw his fourth touchdown pass of the day with just over a minute remaining to take a 34-31 lead. That lead held as the Cornhuskers got the big road win and a No. 25 ranking in the Week 8 AP Poll. Raiola threw for 260 yards and four touchdown passes, but did throw three interceptions. Nyziah Hunter was Nebraska’s leading receiver, catching five passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns, but it was Raiola’s touchdown throw to Luke Lindenmeyer that became the highlight of the game. Emmett Johnson excelled on the ground, rushing for 176 yards on 21 carries.
For Maryland, Malik Washington was 27-of-37 for 249 yards and a touchdown. Shaleak Knotts continues to be his favorite target as he led the Terrapins with 62 receiving yards against Nebraska. Dontay Joyner’s pick-six was huge as it gave Maryland the lead in the second half, but the Terps couldn’t do enough as Nebraska moves to 5-1 on the season.
Northwestern 22 @ Penn State 21
Northwestern was the final nail in the coffin. What an upset, what a game, what a homecoming spoiler. Read more about this game on the rest of the InsideNU site!
Iowa 37 @ Wisconsin 0
Luke Fickell’s time at Wisconsin may be dwindling to an end. The Badgers have fallen to 0-3 in conference play and are arguably the worst team in the Big Ten this season. Hunter Simmons got the start at quarterback and had a rough day, completing only eight passes and throwing two interceptions. Mark Gronowski got his weekly rushing touchdown, but it was Kamari Moulton who led the way on the ground with 15 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. Xavier Williams also had a good day, scoring twice on the ground on just seven carries. The Hawkeyes next host Penn State and are favored in that game despite the line opening up as Penn State -10.5 to start the season.
No. 15 Michigan 13 @ USC 31
The loss to Illinois feels like a blip on USC’s timeline. The Trojans returned home and dominated the Wolverines, even with two turnovers. Jayden Maiava came out firing on all cylinders, throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-32 passing. Waymond Jordan had been the lead back all season for the Trojans, but him getting injured allowed King Miller to put on a show, rushing for 158 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Makai Lemon caught nine passes for 93 yards and a touchdown as he continues to stand out among all receivers in the FBS. His star teammate, Ja’Kobi Lane, caught Maiava’s other touchdown pass. Devan Thompkins had two sacks on defense as the Trojans look like they could be sneaky contenders in the Big Ten.
Bryce Underwood was alright, throwing for 207 yards and two touchdowns along with an interception. Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes combined for 119 rushing yards but both failed to score (Haynes did get banged up too). Andrew Marsh led the way for the Wolverines with eight receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown. Michigan isn’t a bad team whatsoever; USC is just different this season.
Purdue 20 @ Minnesota 27
Drake Lindsey did enough to get the win at home against Purdue. The Boilermakers, although 0-3 in conference play, have been a tougher-than-expected opponent this season. Purdue led in the fourth quarter 20-13 before missing a field goal, allowing a Minnesota touchdown, then throwing a pick-six and being held scoreless the rest of the way to fall 27-20. Koi Perich was the hero who scored on that interception as the Golden Gophers will be hosting Nebraska next week. Purdue travels to Evanston to take on Northwestern and try to end the Wildcats’ three-game win streak.
