Hey all,
Another football Saturday had come and gone. There were the usual amount of ups, downs and surprises. Let's take a look back at it with another edition of Notes on a Big Ten Scorecard. We still miss you, Bill Gleason
Summaries
Alabama 42- Wisconsin 10: Madison, WI- Alabama 's recent sluggishness on the field led folks to believe that the Badgers had a chance of upsetting the Crimson Tide. That chance ended shortly after Badger QB Tyler Van Dyke suffered a knee injury that ended his 2024 season on the first drive of the game. However the Badgers fought through that to take an early 3-0 lead on a 53-yard FG from PK Nathaniel Vakos. They then forced a missed FG and then drove to the Bama 39-yard line where they faced a 4th and 1. Wisconsin went for it and RB Tawee Walker was stuffed for no gain. Nothing much went right for the Badgers after that. The Tide then rolled to a 21-3 halftime lead. TD passes of 31 and 26 yards from Bama QB Jalen Milroe were sandwiched around a three-yard Milroe run for a TD to account for the 21 points. Alabama then put the game away on the opening drive of the third quarter when RB Jam Miller capped off a five-play, 75-yard drive with a 34 yard trip to the end zone to make the score 28-3. Wisconsin did make bit of game of it cutting the Bama lead to 28-10 when QB Braedyn Locke threw a three-yard TD pass to WR Will Pauling. The Badgers wouldn't really threaten again. Another TD pass and a TD run by Milroe would finish off the scoring. Milroe's final stat line read 12 of 17 completions for 196 yard and three TDs with 75 yards rushing on 14 carries and two more scores. In relief of the injured Van Dyke, Locke was good on 13 of 26 throws for 125 yards and a TD. Pauling was his favorite target catching nine passes for 83 yards and a TD.
Telling Stat: Down +2 + Miss = L; Wisconsin had a chance to be in this game but the Badgers were held for downs once, fumbled twice and missed a field goal. Alabama turned those four miscues into 28 points.
Michigan 28- Arkansas State 18: Ann Arbor, MI- The restless Wolverine crowd in the Big House was anxious wondering if their team would shake off last week's whipping by Texas and grab a win over Arkansas State in impressive fashion. The Maize and Blue won, but it wasn't impressive. The Jekyll & Hyde Michigan offense took turns looking both efficient and erratic. The Wolverine offense scored three TDs and also turned the ball over twice on interceptions from QB Davis Warren in the first half and took a 21-3 lead into the break. Another interception was followed by another TD and the Wolverines held a 28-3 lead with 12:49 to play. The interception was Warren's third of the game and it got him benched. Backup QB Alex Orji came in and threw the TD pass that made it 28-3. Up until then Michigan's defense had done a good job holding the Red Wolves out of the end zone. Then, they took the last half of the final period off allowing the Red Wolves to score two more TDs to cut the score to 28-18. However, the last ASU score came worth :08 left in the game, so there was no danger of a comeback win for the Red Wolves. The Michigan offense was led by their one-two punch of RB's Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards. Mullings ran for 153 yards on 15 carries and two TDs, while Edwards ran for 82 yards and a TD on 17 carries. As a team Michigan ran for 301 yards on 44 carries. Warren threw three interceptions but he did complete 11 of 14 other passes for 122 yards. For the Red Wolves, QB Timmy McClain completed seven of 11 passes for 82 yards and two scores.
Telling Stat: Defense saved them; Michigan won this game despite turning the ball over three times with two of those turnover being deep in their own territory.
Illinois 30- Central Michigan 9: Champaign-Urbana IL- It wasn't pretty, but Illinois just kept griding away at Central Michigan until they came away worth a lopsided looking win. Illinois started the game with an 11-yard TD pass from QB Luke Altmyer to WR Pat Bryant. The game then turned into a FG kicking contest for the rest of the first half as CMU's Tristan Mattson made short field goals of 32 and 29 yards. Illinois then boomed them from long distance. PK David Olano nailed a 49-yard FG and missed a 54-yard attempt. Then as time ran out in the half, the Illini gave PK Ethan Moczulski a shot at a 59-yarder. His kick was true and Illinois held a 13-6 halftime lead. Illinois got the ball to open the third quarter and drove 75 yards in four plays to take a 20-6 lead. Altmyer hooked up with Bryant again. This time it was from 20 yards away. While the Orange and Blue defense was busy shutting down the Chippewas, Olano added a 34-yard FG in the third quarter and RB Kaden Feagin put the game firmly in the win column when he crossed the double stripe from the two-yard line with 9:34 to play. In the middle of the Illinois scoring, Mattson kicked a 25-yard FG to finish CMU's scoring. Altmyer had a good game connecting on 19 of 29 aerials for 242 yards and two TDs for the Fighting Illini. In the losing clause, QB Joe Labas threw for 125 yards and an interception.
Telling Stat: 59 is one for the books; Illinois PK Ethan Moczulski's 59-yard FG is the new Illinois record long kick.
Oregon 49- Oregon State 14: Corvallis, OR- Reser Stadium was packed to the gills with angry Beavers fans looking to exact some revenge on the Ducks for abandoning them for the Big Ten when the Pac 12 collapsed last year. Oh, and the chances for a Beavers upset looked decent as they trialed just 22-14 at the half to the Quacks. Then the roof caved in on the Beavers. The Webfoots came out and scored on their first five drives of the second half to silence the crowd and give everyone around the nation a glimpse of how good they could be this year. While the offense rolled, the Ducks defense held OSU to 74 total second half yards with no drive getting deeper than UO's own 46-yard line. UO QB Dillon Gabriel had himself a game completing 20 of 24 passes for 291 yards and two TDs. He also ran for 64 yards on four carries and a score. WR Tez Johnson was Gabriel's best receiver grabbing seven aerials for 110 yards. RB Jordan James led all rushers with 86 yards on 12 carries and two TDs for the Webfoots. For the beaten Beavers QB Gevani McCoy completed 22 of 34 passes for 172 yards while RB Anthony Hankerson gained 57 yards on 15 carries with two TDs.
Telling Stat: 334-74 = 27-0; Oregon outgained Oregon State 334 yards to 74 yards and outscored the Beavers 27-0 in the second half to turn this rivalry game into a rout.
Notre Dame 66- Purdue 7: West Lafayette, IN- After losing to Northern Illinois last week, it looked like Purdue had a chance of handing Notre Dame another loss. Purdue beat their big drum in pregame, then ND beat the absolute heck out of Boilermakers showing us why many had them ranked as the 18th place team in the Big Ten coming into the season. The Fighting Irish moved the ball with ease putting up a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter on a 48-yard TD run by RB Jeremiyah Love and a three-yard TD jaunt by QB Riley Leonard. Leonard's ground game then staked the Irish to a 28-0 lead on TD runs of 34 and 13 yards. Then ND put the game away late in the period with a 34-yard pick six form DL Boubacar Traore and a 70-yard TD run from RB Jadarian Price. ND emptied then benches to start the second half and immediately went up 49-0 on a 28-yard TD pass from QB Steve Angeli to TE Cooper Flanagan. The rest of the day was ND just getting the rest of their frustrations out on the hapless Sons of John Perdue. Leonard ended up rushing for 100 yards on 11 carries and three TDs. He also completed 11 of 16 tosses for 112 yards. Purdue's only sign of life was a five-yard TD pass from QB Hudson Card to De'Nylon Morrissette long after the game was decided.
Telling Stat: Running Roughshod; Notre Dame ran over, around and through Purdue for 364 yards on 43 carries. That's a nifty 8.5 yards per carry.
Michigan State 40- Prairie View A&M 0: East Lansing, MI- The Panthers of the FCS were a perfect cupcake game for the Spartans to work on things and move to 3-0 for the first time since 2021. The Spartans are still a work in progress as they had two TDs called back on penalties and racked up 11 total flags for 102 yards. Turnovers have also been a problem for MSU but hey didn't hand out any freebies to the Panthers. QB Aiden Chiles completed 12 of 19 passes for 173 yards and one TD. He also ran for a score. His backup, Tommy Schuster completed eight of 10 throws for 97 yards in mop up duty. Spartan RB Nate Carter led all rushers with 91 yards in eight carries and a TD. MSU was up 27-0 at the half, the rest of the game was a glorified scrimmage with everyone earning their letter for the Spartans. In the lopsided loss, QB Cameron Peters completed nine of 17 aerials for 123 yards and an interception for the Panthers.
Telling Stat: 3 of 4 = Rout; Michigan State scored on three of their first four possessions and the rout was on against Prairie View A&M.
Minnesota 27- Nevada 0: Minneapolis, MN- The Golden Gophers moved to 2-1 on the season and picked up their second shutout of the season as well in a win over the Wolfpack. It was pretty sloppy first half with both teams combining for a missed FG and three interceptions. However, the Golden Gophers forged a 20-0 halftime edge on a pair of FGs that covered a 52 and 21 yards form PK Dragan Kesich and two TDs from RB Darius Taylor. The first TD was a 10-yard pass from QB Max Brosmer and a the second was a four-yard run to paydirt. Kesich's 52-yarder was a career long kick. The second half saw Taylor strike again, this time it was an 80-yard sprint to the end zone to give Minnesota a 27-0 lead with 8:58 to go in the third quarter. The rest of the game was a sloppy snoozer with the Gophers defense easily keeping the Wolfpack form anywhere near the end zone. Taylor was the Minnesota offense gaining 124 yards on 11 carries with two TDs and catching five passes for 37 yards and. another score. For the outclassed Wolfpack, QB Brendon Lewis completed 15 of 22 passes for 114 yards and three interceptions.
Telling Stat: They took the air out for the ball; With 6:55 left in the game, Minnesota went on a 12-play, 68-yard drive that killed the clock and gave the Golden Gophers an second straight shutout.
Washington State 24- Washington 19: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA- Strong CeeLo Green vibes could be felt all afternoon in Seattle as the Cougars upended the Huskies for a huge upset win and possession of the Apple Cup. This was a hard hitting, sloppy affair with Washington piling up penalties and Wazzu piling up missed opportunities. Going into then half, Washington held a 13-10 lead and looked like it would go into the half at worst tied with the Cougs. WSU faced a 3rd and 20 a the UW 25-yard line. Then QB Jason Mateer scampered his way through the Dawgs defense for 25-yard TD run and a 17-13 lead at the half. UW would never lead again. UW PK Grady Gross kept his team in the game with a pair of third quarter FGs from 24 and 43 yards out, but a 16-yard TD pass from Mateer to WR Josh Meredith gave the Cougars a 24-19 lead heading into the final period. With 3:40 left in the game, Washington started driving towards the Wazzu goal line. It looked ike WSU would Coug it again and allow the Dawgs to claim the win. UW had a 4th and Goal from the one-yard line with 1:07 to play. This next play call by Washington HC Jedd Fisch will be debated for decades. He called for a speed option to the short side of the field and QB Will Rogers had nowhere to go. The Cougars stuffed him back at the three-yard line. A couple of plays later, WSU had the win and the trophy that goes with it. Mateer accounted for all of Wazzu's scores. He completed 17 of 34 passes for 245 yards with a TD and an interception. He also ran for 62 yards and two scores. For the stunned Huskies, Rogers completed 23 of 31 passes for 314 yards and a TD.
Telling Stat: 2 Plays, 2 Halves, 1 Win; Washington State scored a TD to end the first half and stopped the Huskies with a goal line stand in the second half to win the game.
Iowa 38- Troy 21: Iowa City, IA- After suffering a stunning loss to Iowa State last week, the Hawkeyes had to dig deep to bounce back for a win over the Trojans of the Sun Belt Conference. After a scoreless first quarter, Iowa went up 7-0 on four-yard TD rumble by RB Kaleb Johnson. Troy tied the game on the ensuing drive when QB Matthew Caldwell connected with WR Devonte Ross for a 63-yard touchdown. After Iowa took a 10-7 lead on a 42-yard field goal from PK Drew Stevens it looked like the Hawkeyes would take a 10-7 lead into the break. Then Ross struck again. With 1:00 left Ross fielded a punt from P Rhys Dakin and raced 77 yards to the end zone and a 14-10 halftime lead. The stunned crowd watched the Hawkeyes forge a 24 -14 lead on a two-yard TD pass to TE Addison Ostrenga and a 28-yard pick six from CB Jermari Harris. Iowa seemed to have distanced themselves from the Trojans then Ross struck again. This time it was a 62-yard scoring strike from QB Tucker Kilcrease. Troy trailed 24-21 to start the final period. The fourth quarter saw the Hawkeyes dominate both sides of the line of scrimmage. The result was Iowa scoring on runs of 33 and 39 yards to put the game away. Johnson had a great game for Iowa lugging the leather 25 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns. For the other Men of Troy, Ross had an amazing day catching five passes for 142 yards and two TDs to go with his 77-yard punt return TD.
Telling Stat: 146-25= 14-0; Iowa outgained Troy 146 yards to 25 and outscored them 14-0 in the final period. to win the game.
Nebraska 34- Northern Iowa 3: Lincoln, NE- Coming off their spanking off Colorado a Cornhusker letdown against FCS contender Northern Iowa could be expected. QB Dylan Raiola and the Huskers defense did not let that happen. Raiola had a fine game leading three TD drives. He threw for scores of 24 and 18 yards while RB Jacory Barney, Jr. had a 10-yard TD jaunt. The second half saw Raiola and the offense struggle a bit as they had against Colorado with some miscues and untimely penalties, but the Huskers defense was not going let this one slip away. They allowed just an early field goal then never let UNI get close to the end zone again until the game had long been decided. Raiola completed 17 of 23 passes for 247 yards with two TDs and an interception. QB Aidan Duane threw for 117 yards and a pick in the lopsided loss.
Telling Stat: Red Zone blues for the Purple Panthers; Northern Iowa drove into the red zone three times in this game and came away with a grand total of three points.
Indiana 42- UCLA 13: Pasadena, CA- The Hoosiers hadn't been to Pasadena since January 1, 1968 when a capacity crowd some guy named Simpson run for two short TDs that set the stage for USC to send IU down to a 14-3 defeat in the Grandaddy of Them All. Cut to last Saturday afternoon when an announced crowd of 47,000 watched the Hooisers dismantle the bRuins in UCLA's first ever Big Ten Conference game. Indiana marched 75 yards in 12 plays on the game's opening drive to take a 7-0 lead on a three-yard scoring pass from QB Curtis Rourke to WR Miles Cross. On the ensuing possession, UCLA fumbled the ball right back to IU when QB Ethan Garbers coughed up the rock on his own 19-yard line. Three plays later IU led 14-0 when Rourke hit WR Ke'Shawn Williams for a TD from 14 yards out. The teams then traded scores to get to the break with IU ahead 21-7. UCLA would cut their deficit to 21-10 on a 28-yard FG from PK Mateen Bhaghani on the first drive of the third quarter. The bRuins would never be that close again. Indiana finished the game off in style going on a 21-3 run to get to our final score of 42-13. Rourke shredded the UCLA defense completing 25 of 33 passes for 307 yards and four TDs. Cross caught six of those passes for 90 yards and a TD. Garbers completed 14 of 23 passes for 137 yards and an interception in the blowout.
Telling Stat: 6 for 7 is heaven; When you throw out the two possessions that Indiana used to run out the clock in the second and fourth quarters, the Hoosiers scored TDs on six of their seven possessions and the seventh one stalled on the UCLA 33-yard line for a turnover on downs.
Northwestern 31- Eastern Illinois 7: Evanston, IL- The Wildcats made change at Quarterback after losing in 2OT to Duke last week. Mike Wright was benched in favor of Chicago native Jack Lausch. Launch led the Wildcats to a win over the Fighting Tony Romos of the FCS. Lausch and the Wildcats started slowly on offense and made their mistakes, but in the end he completed 20 of 31 passes for 227 yards and two TDs. RB Cam Porter gained 77 yards on 15 carries with a TD. Northwestern turned a 14-7 halftime edge into 31-7 win thanks in good part to their defense that held EIU to 63 total second half yards. QB Pierce Holley was the EIU offense competing 17 of 31 passes for 167 yards a TD and an interception.
Telling Stat: 1-0; Northwestern QB Jack Lausch is 1-0 and that's the most important thing to the Wildcats and their fans.
Maryland 27- Virginia 13: Charlottesville, VA- These two revived their ild rivalry last year after a decade hiatus and Maryland took that last year's tilt, 42-14 at College Park. Could they make it two wins in a row? It sure did not look like after the Terps stumbled their way through a first half that saw the Cavaliers take a 13-7 lead into intermission. The only reason that Maryland was still in the game was that the Wahoos turned the ball over twice deep in Maryland territory. The second half turned out to be a whole different animal as the Terps defense completely shut down the UVa offense while their offense woke up and scored 20 straight points to claim another win in this old rivalry. Terps QB Bill Edwards, Jr. completed 28 of 43 passes for 263 yards and a TD. He also ran for another score to account for all of Maryland's trips to the end zone. WR Tai Feltonn had his third straight 100 yard receiving game catching nine balls for 117 yards and a touchdown. In the loss, UVa QB Anthony Colandrea completed 21 of 37 passes for 247 yards and two interceptions. He also ran for the Cavaliers only touchdown.
Telling Stat: Second half freeze out; Maryland's defense never let Virginia near their end zone in the second half. The Cavaliers offense never got farther than the Terrapins 37-yard line in the final 30 minutes of play.
Observations
...It is alive!; The Pac 12 will live on with teams that never would have gotten into the old Pac12. Hmmmm. Funny enough this news broke after dark last Wednesday night. The new Six Pac
...Land! Lots of Land!; Purdue's defense gave up so many yards it looked like Notre Dame was reenacting the Oklahoma land rush at Ross-Ade Stadium.
...Cal gonna Cal; Bad fan behavior and Cal football have gone hand in hand for many years, So it was no surprise when the Golden Bears picked up two 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties due to their student section hurling the cards used for card section stunts onto the field. Here's Cal HC Justin Wilcox pleading with the crowd to stop the card throwing. Knock it off!
...Surf and Sin; The new Pac 12 needs two more teams to meet the minimum NCAA requirement for a Conference by 2026. Just add Hawaii and UNLV. League trips to paradise and sin city sound cool to me.
...Fashionably Late; The Ivy League begins play this week. Something seems so quaint about the Ancient Eight starting up on the last day of Summer.
...Puke Happens; Green Bay Center Josh Myers' digestive issues led to a run by QB Malik Willis. Best excuse ever
...They want the house and the car too; Wazzu HC Jake Dickert's musings about the status of the Apple Cup Trophy after the Cougars upset of Washington dripped with bad breakup vibes. He said in the post game shuffle, "I think we might retire this trophy. I think it's a Pac-12 trophy. I think that might stay at our place and we'll bring a new one next year."
...Florida (State) of mind; The fact the Florida HC Billy Napier and FSU HC Mike Norvell are both still employed this week is shocking.
...Trivia Time; Northwestern opens up Big Ten play at Washington this week. The two schools haven't met since 1984. Who were the HCs for both schools from that last game in 1984?
...Evoking the name of Randall; UNLV is 3-0 for the first time in 40 years. That's when some guy named Randall Cunningham was the QB of the Rebels.
...For more than a trophy; After the announced exodus of four Mountain West schools to the Pac 12, Air Forces is drawing considerable interest from the American Athletic Conference. How cool it would be if Air Force does joined the AAC? Those rivalry games with Army and Navy would then be conference games too. Wow!
...They didn't show me; Missouri won't be highly ranked for long.
...Passing blues; Iowa can't throw a deep pass and they can't defend the deep ball either.
...Desporation or Inspiration?; Michigan has switched out QBs for this week's matchup with USC. Starter Davis Warren has been benched and Alex Orji will now run the Maize and Blue offense. Hmmmmmm
...Historically bad; UCLA actually has good talent, what they don't have is good coaching, infrastructure or administration.
...He's great but; Colorado two-way players Travis Hunter is great and is deservedly in the Heisman race, but don't you want a Heisman winner from a good team? Heisman winners elevate their team not just shine on a 4-8 squad.
...Bruin Brutality; UCLA's next three games are at LSU, home for Oregon and at Penn State.
...Manning speed; Filling in for injured Texas starting QB Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning ran for a 67-yard touchdown to make him the only Manning to ever run that far, that fast ever. Arch's dad, Cooper gave the praise where it was due and posted on instagram, "Definitely got his speed from his mom."
...Delusions come in many forms; Seminioles HC Mike Norvell on lackluster QB D.J. Uiagalelei in a Monday press conference, "I am pleased wih the way he is prepping. I am pleased with the things he is doing. You see the moments where he's giving us a chance. He's giving us opportunities to have big plays."
...Gone; Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke is out for the year with a torn ACL.
...Stark days in Starkville; Mississippi State is 1-2 and just got boat raced at home by Toledo, 41-17. Ouch.
...Trivia Time; The two HCs for that 1984 UW-NU gam were Don James for Washington and Dennis Green for Northwestern.
Big Ten Overreactions
You can't stop Indiana, you can only hope to contain them.
Washington isn't as good as they thought they were.
Nebraska's defense will cost them three games.
Minnesota is a very hollow 2-1.
Michigan isn't as bad as they've looked.
Maryland is a seven win team.
Michigan State is farther along than anyone thought they'd be.
Wisconsin needs an offense transplant.
Iowa is an 8-4 team.
Purdue will Purdon't their way to maybe four wins.
Oregon can be great, but will they be?
Northwestern found a QB, but they need so much more.
Illinois will win ugly or not at all.
Calling UCLA a 2-10 team presumes that they will get a second win.
Keeping Tabs on Your Exes
...Just a rumor; There's no truth to the rumor that Stanford lost to their bye week.
...Streak Stopped; Arizona had their nation leading nine-game winnng streak stopped emphatically by Kansas State in a 31-7 loss. However, those new red helms looked cool.
...Not so hot; Utah didn't look good in a struggle to beat Utah State, 38-21.
Ugly Uniform of the Week
This week's winner is UNLV. Seriously, UNLV has a pretty decent color combo of Silver and Red. These all-gray uniforms against Kansas were just flat and ugly.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Manchester, NH- It was a defensive slugfest between the Bentley Falcons and the St.Anselm Hawks of the Northeast 10 Conference in D-II. PK Mason Campbell split the uprights from 34 yards out with :25 left in the second quarter to give Bentley a 3-0 lead. That's all they would need as their defense would pitch a shutout to ensure a 3-0 victory. The Falcons defense especially stood tall in the final quarter picking off two St. Anselm passes on drive deep into their territory.
Blowout Game of the Week: Bridgewater, VA- We got to the D-III ranks where the Bridgewater College Eagles opt the Old Dominion Conference wiped out the Southern (VA) Knights of the USA South Athletic Conference, 80-0. The Eagles were up 28-0 after the first period and 45-0 at the half. Then they emptied the benches the rest of the day for the 80-0 final. BC QB Jaciere Bateman complete 14 of 16 passes for 227 yards and three TDs while his backfield mate Brendan Robinson gained 130 yards on 14 carries with a TD to lead all rushers. The Eagles defense picked off four passes on the day.
Razorback Report: Fayetteville, AR- Forget Cardiac Hogs, our field agent in Bismarck called this team the Heart Attack Hogs after they did just enough to outlast UAB, 37-27. The Razorbacks were on the wrong end of a 17-3 score in the second quarter when they fought back to tie them game 20-20 at the half. Arkansas held a slim 30-27 lead late when QB Taylen Green rumbled nine yards to paydirt for a 37-27 lead with 3:36 to play. In the win, Green completed just 11 of 26 passes for 161 yards, a TD and an interception. He also ran for 96 yards on 17 carries with two scores. Up next for the Hogs is a trip to Auburn.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
Started wearing my jacket again for the last few hours of work each night. Fall has arrived.
Yellow and white corn dominate in our markets, multicolored flint corn is just beautiful.
Why do hardwood floors look dusty again within minutes of sweeping them?
Until Next time folks, remember that teams with their backs up against the wall are the most dangerous.
-The Commissioner
