Big Ten football came back this past week. There were almost two big upsets the Big Ten was on the wrong side of; the best teams in the conference mostly looked the part as title contenders. USC, after another great win, could be ready to join that conversation.
Here is what we learned following Week 1 in the Big Ten:
Michigan will fall short of expectations this season
Michigan was seconds away from getting handed one of the biggest upsets in quite some time. Bryce Underwood was great on the last drive, but he still left a lot to be desired in this performance. This was not a convincing win for the Wolverines, and if anything, they should not be looked at in the same way they were prior to the game. This team will not be the contender they were expected to be.
Julian Sayin-Jeremiah Smith connection will be unstoppable this year
As expected, the Ohio State Buckeyes
offense looked great in game 1. Julian Sayin was amazing last season in his first season as a starter. His connection with Jeremiah Smith, however, looks automatic. Jeremiah Smith had 8 catches for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns, all in the first half. While Julian Sayin was 21-for-25 for 320 yards and had 3 touchdowns on the day. The Sayin-to-Jeremiah Smith connection will be a big problem for every team they face this season. For USC to knock off the Buckeyes, they will just have to match that production on offense.
Indiana will be just fine at quarterback this year
The Hoosiers lost Heisman winner and #1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza this offseason. It would have been safe to assume that quarterback would be a position that regressed this season. Josh Hoover helped lessen the doubt by delivering a great season-debut performance. Hoover showcased toughness, and he delivered strikes all game long. Hoover had 4 touchdowns and 231 yards on the day. He won over this team and gave the reassurance that the Hoosiers will still be a force this year.
Oregon is human
Oregon came into Week 1 as the title favorite, and they got punched in the mouth early by Boise State. They went down 17-7 to start the game against the Broncos. Thankfully for the Ducks, this team found its rhythm, and Dante Moore was special in the second half. Oregon was good enough in the end to come out victorious. However, the slow and sluggish start still paints the picture that Oregon is not the dominant force many thought they were.
Rutgers will be the worst team in the country this season
In Game 1 of the season, Rutgers suffered one of the worst Power 5 losses in quite some time. UMASS dominated Rutgers in this game. It was 24-7 at halftime. UMASS got the biggest win in its program against Rutgers. UMASS looked like the better team, and that does not bode well for Rutgers hopes of being competitive in the Big Ten this season. KJ Duff looked like an NFL receiver, but he can only do so much. Duff was the lone bright spot for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers made UMASS's season, while their season looks over just as soon as it started.
Contact/Follow @TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: 5 key takeaways from Big Ten football after Week 1
