What is the story about?
Does
the Big Ten have any good teams outside of UCLA? As we enter the final month of the season the Bruins are the last undefeated team in conference. Everyone else has serious flaws.
- Indiana and Michigan can’t offense.
- Ohio State looks mortal with a backup QB.
- Everyone else can look great one week and awful the next (looking at you, Wisconsin).
- Even Maryland and Rutgers showed some fight this week.
UCLA, Indiana, and Ohio State are really the only three teams that have a chance at winning the conference, and both Indian and Ohio State are shaky. That means we move into a second straight week with the Bruins on top.
- UCLA (Last Week: 1, 8-0, 5-0) – Beat Nevada 27-0 – The defense gave them three first quarter interceptions, one returned for a TD, and the result was never really in doubt. They absolutely stifled Nevada.
- Indiana (Last Week: 3, 8-1, 5-1) – Beat Minnesota 23-16 (OT) – If you want to beat Indiana you have to make sure they are good and dead. That’s two weeks in a row they survived in overtime, and four of their conference wins have come down to the final play. They aren’t dominant, but they still win.
- USC (Last Week: 10, 7-2, 4-2) – Beat Ohio State 30-18 – They are only 4-2, but USC still has to play Indiana and UCLA, so they are very much alive in the league race. Also, beating the brakes off of Ohio State elicits a big move up.
- Ohio State (Last Week: 2, 6-2, 4-1) – Lost to USC 30-18 – The Bucks are a contender thanks to name recognition and sheer talent, but it has been a long time since Ohio State has been pushed around like that.
- Iowa (Last Week: 7, 6-2, 3-2) – Beat Wisconsin 30-0 – Just lock in their 9-3 finish now. They are the 6.3 roentgen of Big Ten teams. Not great, not terrible.
- Northwestern (Last Week: 4, 6-2, 3-2) – Lost to Oregon 34-26 – Northwestern was in firm control out in Eugene… they weren’t. The Ducks outscored them 14-3 in the fourth quarter to steal one.
- Minnesota (Last Week: 6, 5-3, 3-2) – Lost to Indiana 23-16 (OT) – It really looked like Minnesota pulled off the shocker in Bloomington, but they are now winless in the state of Indiana in Big Ten play.
- Oregon (Last Week: 13, 5-3, 3-2) – Beat Northwestern 34-26 – The second half defense was vastly different from the first at Oregon finally played up to expectations. Can they pull an upset in Columbus this coming week?
- Wisconsin (Last Week: 5, 5-3, 3-2) – Lost to Iowa 30-0 – They pretty much did the exact opposite of last week, just like USC. Fortunately for them they get Rutgers, Maryland, and Purdue’s defenses all in a row to fix things.
- Washington (Last Week: 9, 5-3, 2-4) – Beat Nebraska 17-10 – Washington had -3 yards rushing vs. Iowa, 186 against Purdue, and had 1 deep into the fourth quarter of this one before finishing with 26. The Purdue defense!
- Illinois (Last Week: 12, 5-3, 3-2) – Beat Maryland 20-17 – I guess winning is winning, especially on the road in the Big Ten. Illinois is hardly the worst team in the league, but they have found ways to win two weeks in a row.
- Penn State (Last Week: 17, 4-4, 1-4) – Beat Purdue 31-17 – I really don’t think Penn State is good, but they easily pushed Purdue around on Saturday to get that first league win.
- Nebraska (Last Week: 8, 5-3, 2-3) – Lost to Washington 17-10 – God hates Nebraska football. That is the only logical explanation for this.
- Michigan (Last Week: 14, 5*-3, 2-3) – Beat Rutgers 28-21 – It is not exactly reassuring that they outgained Rutgers 427-249 and had 23 first downs to 9 for the Scarlet Knights, yet they only won by 7 late.
- Purdue (Last Week: 11, 3-5, 2-3) – Lost to Penn State 31-17 – The defense absolutely could not stop the run and the offense had probably its worst outing of the year. It’s a great time to get Maryland at home, because the Boilers have lost the confidence they previously had.
- Rutgers (Last Week: 15, 2-6, 1-4) Lost to Michigan 28-21 – I will give them this: They have not quit on the season when many others would have. Rutgers is at least getting better as the year goes on.
- Michigan State (Last Week: 16, 2-6, 0-5) – On BYE – Oh man, is this week’s Michigan-Michigan State game going to get real stupid after dark or what?
- Maryland (Last Week: 18, 2-6, 0-5) – Lost to Illinois 20-17 – They played with a lot of heart against Illinois and almost came away with one. Was that a last hurrah? Thanks to NIL who knows who is coming back next year for this team.
