The last football Saturday of September for this year is in the books and it is was a good one. Let's take a look back at it with another edition of Notes on a Big Ten Scorecard. We still miss you, Mal Florence.
Summaries
USC 38- Wisconsin 21: Los Angeles, CA- It was a picture perfect day in LA for USC's first ever Big Ten home game which also marked the Wisconsin's first trip to the Coliseum since 1966. The Trojans once again came out and had a miserable first half and fell behind to the Badgers, 21-10 at the half. Was it a Michigan hangover or is it a disturbing pattern emerging for the Trojans? Either way, it was a pretty bad first 30 minutes. The teams traded punches right away as SC's first drive ended in a 32-yard TD pass from QB Miller Moss to WR Ja'Kobi Lane and with Wisconsin QB Braedyn Locke throwing a beautiful 63-yard bomb down the left sideline to WR Vinny Anthony to tie the game at 7-7. Nothing much went right for SC the rest of the half as the Badgers took the game to the Trojans. The Badgers took a 14-7 lead after SC's suspect special teams set up the score. USC PR Zach Branch muffed a punt and UW recovered the muff for a 1st and 10 at the Trojans 18-yard line. One play later, RB Tawee Walker ran through the left side of the SC defense 18 yards for the TD. USC would cut the lead to 14-10 on a 41-yard FG from PK Michael Lantz on the ensuing drive. Then the Badgers would extend their lead to 21-10 on their next possession with another TD run from Walker. It covered four yards. The Trojans went into the half down 21-10 and only the people without tans wearing red and white were happy in the stands. The second half began and SC got some special teams help to spark a huge comeback. Wisconsin retuned the muffed punt favor and SC had a 1st and 10 at the Badgers 30-yard line. Nine plays later SC made the score 21-17 on a six-yard TD pass from Moss to Lane. On the next drive, the USC defense made the play of the day and swung the momentum decisively in the Cardinal & Gold's favor for the rest of the afternoon. Safety Kamari Ramsey sped in off the left edge and nailed Tawee in the backfield short of the first down at the USC 33-yard line. Nine plays later Moss hit TE Duce Robinson with a nine-yard TD pass and a 24-21 lead. On The Badgers next possession, Ramsey struck again. This time absolutely leveling WR Will Pauling on 3rd and5 for a two yard loss. The hit had the Colisuem all abuzz and also forced Wisconsin to punt. The Trojans then marched 77 yards in 10 plays to take a 31-21 lead. Moss got the tally when he kept the ball on 4th and 1 at the UW seven-yard line. He juked one defender and then dove over the goal line for the score. He also almost gave himself a concussion in the process as he landed. After an exchange of punts, the USC defense put the game away when LB Mason Cobb picked off Locke and took it back 55 yards to the peristyle end for a 38-21 game-clinching touchdown with 5:04 left to play. Despite the slow start, Moss completed 30 of 45 passes for 308 yards, three TDs and an interception. He also ran for a score. Woody Marks led all rushers with 63 yards on 19 carries. For the Sons of Bucky, Locke completed 13 of 26 passes for 180 yards, a TD and a costly interception. Walker was UW's leading ground gainer 55 yards on 14 carries with two trips to the end zone.
Telling Stat: D 7- UW O; The USC defense outscored the Wisconsin defense 7-0 in the second half to make the Trojans big comeback possible.
Rutgers 21- Washington 18: Piscataway, NJ- The weather must have made it feel right at home for the Huskies on a Seattle-esque rainy night in New Jersey. The Dawgs did not express that comfort on the field as they bumbled their way to a bad loss to the Scarlet Knights. The first half saw the Huskies get stopped for downs on the Rutgers 37-yard line, make a FG attempt of 42 yards and miss a try from 42 yards as well. The Scarlet Knights capitalized on the Huskies woes with two long TD drives to take a 14-3 lead at halftime. RU's first TD drive covered 75 yards in 12 plays and was capped off by a one yard TD run by RB Kyle Monangai. The second drive covered 81 yards in 12 plays with QB Athan Kaliakmanis hooking up with WR Ian Strong for a 15-yard score. The third quarter saw the Dawgs misfire on a 4th and goal at the RU 2-yard line. Later on in the period they fought their way back into the game after they were pinned down on their own six-yard line after a great punt by RU P Jakob Anderson. It only took the huskies six play to travel 94 yards to cut their deficit to 14-10. The big play was a 51-yard TD bomb from QB Will Rogers to WR Denzel Boston. Rutgers extended their lead to 21-10 with 10:57 left in then final period on a 37-yard TD jaunt by RB Samuel Brown V. The rest of the game would see Washington miss another FG, then pull within three at 21-18. The 12-play, 76-yard march ended on Rogers second TD pass of the game to Boston. It was a scoring toss of 12 yards with 1:40 left. The Husky defense then forced a Rutgers punt and got the ball back with :30 left. The Purple and Gold got into FG range with a chance to send the game to OT from 55 yards out. But, you guessed it, UW PK Grady Gross missed his third FG of the game and Rutgers had the win and moved to 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in Big Ten play. Kaliakmanis didn't do a lot but he'd did enough, completing 14 of 24 throws for 115 yards and a TD. Monangai lugged the leather 25 times for 132 yards and a score. For the stunned Huskies, Rogers completed 26 of 36 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns while RB Jonah Coleman led all rushers with 148 yards on 16 carries.
Telling Stat: 0 for 4 =L; Three missed field goals and getting stopped once on the goal line cost Washington the game.
Ohio State 38- Michigan State 7: East Lansing, MI- The Buckeyes hit the road for the first time this year. After one quarter, the feisty Spartans trailed just 3-0 and looked like they had a shot to hang with the Buckeyes. They really couldn't. Despite a couple of first half turnovers, the Scarlet and Gray built-up a 24-7 halftime lead and had control of the game. TheeeOSU's first half points came on a 30-yard FG from PK Jayden Fielding, a three-yard TD Pass from QB Will Howard to Scott Gee, a 19-yard TD run from WR Jeremiah Smith and another TD pass from Howard. The pass covered 17 yarded was Hauled in by Smith. MSU's lone score came on a 12-yard strike from QB Aiden Chiles to WR Jaron Glover. The third quarter saw the Buckeye defense force a punt and then pick off Chiles to set up two OSU TDs that sent the folks to exits early in East Lansing. The final two Buckeye scores were a 33-yard pass from Howard to WR Emeka Egbuka and six-yard jaunt to painted grass by Howard. In a workmanlike effort Howard completed 21 of 31 passes for 244 yards, a TD and an interception. OSU RB TreVeyon Henderson was the top ground gainer with 69 yards on seven carries. In defeat, Chiles completed 13 of 19 passes for 167 yards, a TD and an interception.
Telling Stat: No running= No Winning; Michigan State has to run the ball to win. They were held to 47 yards on 25 carries by TheeeOSU. Thats a paltry 1.9 yard per carry.
Penn State 21- Illinois 7: Happy Valley, PA- After Illinois HC Bret Bielema popped off about White-Outs at Beaver Stadium, the Penn State faithful called for their own unofficial White-Out in the stands for this ugly, grinder of a game. The Illini quieted the crowd early on as they drove 75 yards in 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead on a four-yard TD pass from QB Luke Altmyer to TE Carson Goda. The Nittany Lions answered right back with a TD of their own. Their drive covered 75 yard and took eight plays. TE Tyler Warren ran it in from three yard out and we had a tie game at 7-7. That score stood all the way to the half as the teams traded punts and missed FGs. It was as even a half as you can get with PSU holding a slight edge in time of possession and total yards. Penn State got the ball to start the second half and drove to a score like they did on their first drive of the first half. They marched 74 yards in a 12 plays with RB Nicholas Singleton knifing through the Illinii for the four yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead. The defenses took over again with PSU forcing punts and Illinois getting a huge stop on fourth down at their own 15-yard line, then forcing a missed 40-yard FG attempt on another drive. Following the missed kick, the Fighting Illini had to have a drive for the game-tying score late in the final period. Faced with a 4th and 8 at their own 48-yard line, Altmyer never saw DB A.J Harris as he threw the ball. Harris picked off the pass and took it back for a TD. However, the TD was wiped off the board due to a block in the back. More importantly though was that the Fighting Paternos had a 1st and 10 at the Illinois 41-yard line with 5:46 left to play. Eight plays later, RB Kaytron Allen crashed into the end zone from five yards out for a 21-7 lead and control of the game. Illinois' last chance at points ended when Altmyer was sacked and fumbled on the UI 47-yard line. One kneel down later and Penn State had the hard fought win. The one-two rock toting combo of Allen and Singleton carried the night for the Nittany Lions. They combined for 196 yards rushing on 34 carries and two TDs. For the Illini, Altmyer completed 16 of 25 passes for 185 yards, at TD and an interception. He also fumbled once.
Telling Stat: A nearly clean slate; The Penn State defense shutout Illinois over the final 50:24 of the game to secure the win.
Michigan 27- Minnesota 24: Ann Arbor, MI- The Wolverines got some help from the men in the striped shirts to escape with the W and the Little Brown Jug. The first three quarters of the game sure didn't look like an exciting finish would come close to happening. The Maize and Blue held a 24-3 lead to start the final period thanks to the heavy rushing attack that they used against USC the week prior. A pair of TD runs covering 27 yards and one yard form RB Kalel Mullings, an 11-yard TD pass from QB Alex Orji to WR Tyler Morris and a 53-yard FG from PK Dominic Zvada accounted for UM's 24 points. The Minnesota offense consisted of just a 20-yard FG from PK Dragon Kesich. Then fourth quarter started and the Golden Gophers came alive. Following an Orji interception, Minnesota drove 76 yards in 14 plays and scored a TD on run of three yards by RB Darius Taylor. The Gopher defense forced a 3 and Out on Michigan's next possession to force a punt. PR Tommy Doman took the that punt and brought it back 60 yards to the Wolverines' 17-yard line. Darius Taylor turned that big return into points when he rumbled four yards to paydirt and suddenly the score was 24-17. Michigan answered that TD with a 35-yard FG from Zvada on the ensuing drive for a 10 point Wolverine lead at 27-17. The Gophers got the ball back with only 4:33 left in the game. 14 plays later they scored again on a 12-yard TD pass from QB Max Brosmer to WR Daniel Jackson with 1:37 left. Now, the Gophers would attempt an onside kick. Keisch's onside kick was recovered by the Gophers but there was a flag on the play. Here's where the controversial ending happened. After looking at replay after replay, it was pretty clear that Minnesota wasn't offsides on the play. However, the offsides call is not reviewable under NCAA rules. The announcers, Gophers and their fans were apoplectic over the bad call, but all the Maroon and Gold could do was retry the kick. Michigan's Mullings fielded the second kick cleanly and the Wolverines ran out the clock for the suspect victory. For Michigan, Mullings was their offense rushing for 111 yards on 24 carries and two TDs. For the dejected Gophers, Brosmer completed 27 of 40 passes for 258 yards, a TD and an interception , While Taylor rushed for 36 yards on 13 carries with two scores.
Telling Stat; 1/4 = L; Even with the bad flag at the end, Minnesota still can't play one quarter of good football and expect to win.
Oregon 34- UCLA 13: Pasadena, CA- The small gathering at the Rose Bowl and those still awake on the west coast saw an Oregon team work over the bRuins for most of the first half, fail to show up for the third quarter, then do just enough to come away with the win. The Quacks came out and scored on their first five possessions. If it wasn't for their own miscues they would have led much more than 28-3 late in the second quarter. UO was about to make it 35-3 right before half when Quack QB Dillon Gabriel threw a perfect strike on the goal line. Unfortunately it was right to UCLA DB Ryan Addison who took the errant aerial back 96 yards for a TD. All of a sudden it was 28-10 Webfoots at the half and UCLA had some momentum. UCLA did cut the UO lead to 28-13 on a 54-yard FG from PK Mateen Bhaghani earlyninthe third qaurter and the fleeting though of a possible upset swept through the half empty Rose Bowl. However, UCLA just couldn't maintain their momentum and after an interception by QB Chase Garbers, the Ducks scored on a 12-yard TD pass from Gabriel to WR Tez Johnson for a 34-13 lead. Garbers played one more play, but he finally succumbed to an ankle injury and the bRuin offense never made a serious threat to score again. Gabriel finished the night completing 31 of 41 passes for 278 yards, three TDs and a pick. Despite being battered around like a piñata at a kids party, Garbers completed 12 of 20 passes for 118 yards and two TDs.
Telling Stat: O = 0 =W; The Oregon defense didn't give up a TD and that helped the Webfoots keep UCLA at bay and grab the win.
Indiana 42- Maryland 28: Bloomington, IN- It was a gray, rainy Saturday at IU as both teams stumbled their way through the first half. Surprisingly, Indiana held a 14-7 lead at the break despite turning the ball over three times. IU's two scores were a one-yard TD run by RB Myles Price and 27-yard TD pass from QB Kurtis Rourke to WR Omar Cooper, Jr. The Terps tally came via a 33-yard TD pass from QB Billy Wards, Jr. to WR Kaden Prather. The second half saw both offenses come to life with the Hoosiers getting the better of it for the win. The third quarter saw the teams trade off four scores. Maryland got a six-yard TD toss from Edwards, Jr. to TE Dylan Wade and a 75-yard TD run by RB Roman Hemby. The Hoosiers TDs were came on 19-yard TD scamper by RB Justice Ellison. and a 13-yard TD pass from Rourke to WR Elijah Sarratt. The score stood 28-21 Hoosiers at the start of the last stanza. The fourth quarter saw IU put the game away as their offense continued to roll and their defense shutdown the Terrapins. After Forcing a Maryland punt, IU went up 35-21 on a 12-yard pass from Rourke to WR Donaven McCulley. The Indiana defense then held for downs, watched their offense fumble the ball and then hold again for downs to keep the Terps at bay. The IU offense responded with the score that put the game away when RB Ty Son Lawton slashed through the Turtles defense for a 14-yard TD to put his squad up 42-21. Maryland would get one more score on a 12-yard TD catch by Hemby, but it was too little too late and IU had the win and a 5-0 record. Rourke had a very up and down day, but managed to complete 22 of 33 passes for 359 yards, three TDs and two interceptions. Saratt was his favorite target catching seven passes for 128 yards and a score. For the Terrapins, Edwards, Jr. completed 26 of 41 passes for 289 yards and three TDs while Hemby led all rushers with.117 yards on 10 carries and a TD.
Telling Stat: -4 and a Win?; Indiana won the game despite being -4 in turnover margin. The IU defense didn't give up a single point off those turnovers.
Nebraska 28- Purdue 10: West Lafayette, IN- Talk about bad first halves. Nebraska may have been suffering from an Illinois hangover and Purdue was just being Purdue, but it was still crazy to see a scoreless half in modern college football. Purdue missed their lone chance at first half points when PK Spencer Porath's 39-yard FG attempt sailed wide in the first quarter. Nebraska then took kicking woes to a new level with PK John Hohl missing a 42-yard kick into first quarter and then having tries from 44 and 32 yards blocked by the Boilermakers. Purdue did take a 3-0 lead on the first drive of the second half on a 45-yard FG that capped off a drive of 55 yards. Now trailing, Nebraska got their ground game rolling against a PU defense that has had trouble all year stopping the run. Three Huskers drives led to a 21-3 lead on a six-yard TD pass from QB Dylan Raiola to WR Jamal Banks, a one-yard TD plunge from RB Dante Dowdell and a 25-yard scamper to paydirt by WR Jacory Barney, Jr. Immediately after going up 21-3, the Huskers put the game away when LB John Bullock Picked off PU QB Hudson Card and took it back 29 yards for a touchdown. Purdue would get a cosmetic score after this one was already firmly in Nebraska's win column. Raiola had a pedestrian game competing 16 of 26 passes for 244 yards and a TD. Barney would lead all rushers with 66 yards on four carries and a score. For the hapless Boilermakers, Card completed 18 of 25 tosses for 174 yards, a score and an interception.
Telling Stat: 3 in 2 = W; Nebraska scored on their first three drives of the second half to put away Purdue.
Observations
...Near disaster; Alabama withstood an epic comeback by Georgia to hold on for the win, but I can only imagine how the Bama fan base would be towards HC Kalen DeBoer had the Crimson Tide lost the game after being up 30-7 over the Bulldogs.
...Gone; Purdue has fired OC Graham Harrell. SC fans know all too well how awful Harrell is as an OC. Graham Cracked
...Painful, funny line; Best line I read after Mississippi missed a potential game-tying FG in a 20-17 loss to Kentucky, "That's why they are called Ole Miss. They ain't called Ole Make."
...The Winds of '45; Army and Navy are both 4-0 for the first time since 1945. If memory serves, the Army and Navy as a whole had a pretty great 1945.
...SC 2, State of Wisconsin 0; Cheeseheads must hate SC after what SC did to beat the Badgers on Saturday and what SC alums Sam Darnold, Jordan Addison did to Green Bay on Sunday.
...Birds have hollow bones; Oregon is not nearly as good as they think they are.
...Memo to the LA Coliseum PA Announcer; Quit screaming "Move those chains!" after every first down SC makes. Celebrating every first down is for the Louisiana-Monroes of the world.
...Little solace for the Gophers; Nothing says that the Big Ten knows they screwed over Minnesota last week than the fact that the league got instant NCAA approval to change the officiating mechanics for kickoffs. Guilty!!!!!
...Give that man a ticket to NY; Yeah, it's less than halfway through the season, but Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty is a true Heisman Trophy candidate.
...Fortnight of Failure; Okie Sate went from the penthouse to the outhouse in two weeks with back-to-back beatings by Utah and K-State.
...Always dour; UW HC Jedd Fisch always looks on the sidelines like he's awaiting the results of an IRS audit.
...Not missed at all; After all the hubbub with Starting UNLV QB Matthew Sluka leaving the program after an NIL dispute, the Rebels didn't miss him at all in a 59-14 thrashing of Fresno State.
...Not a chance; If you told me you knew Indiana and Rutgers would both be undefeated right now, you're a liar.
...Irony resides in Dallas; Florida State is 1-4 after getting their heads handed to them by SMU, 42-16. Yes, that is the same SMU that Florida State didn't want in the league and claims they are inferior in the lawsuit FSU filed to exit the ACC. Hmmmmmmm
...Just rumor; there is no truth to the rumor that the Big Ten officials are using a rule book that was printed before the targeting rule was adopted.
...This just in; Auburn stinks and they just realized they still have to play Alabama and Georgia.
...57 twice is nice; Indiana was last 5-0, 57 years ago in 1967. Before that the last time IU was 5-0 was another 57 years ago in 1910. This in intrepid reporter got that stat from our field agent in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
...A couple of MLB notes; MLB fans and players have been heard! Next year's MLB All-Star game will feature the teams back in their regular home and away uniforms in 2025. Also, this year's disaster of materials and poor quality of uniforms will not be continued. The 2025 uniforms across MLB will go back to the materials and lettering of the 2023 season. Woo Hoo! Pictured below is what a proper All-Star team photo should look like. This is the 1984 AL All Stars. How many do you recognize? Relax, there will not be a quiz later.
...So long Shake 'Em Up; RIP to Kris Kristofferson. The man had one incredible life. The country music star and film star who was a Rhodes Scholar, Army helicopter pilot and English professor at West Point. He was also an athlete. He was a Golden Gloves Boxer and one of the top rugby players in America while an undergrad at Pomona College. I will always remember him as the one and only Marvin "Shake" Tiller in the 1977 movie adaptation of the great Dan Jenkins novel, Semi-Tough. He may be gone but at least he and his old teammate Burt Reynolds are back together. Old Shake and Billy Clyde Puckett were truly Semi-Tough
...Farewell to Charlie Hustle; Pete Rose passed away Monday at the age of 83. You can't find a more polarizing figure in baseball over the last 40 years than Rose. Incredible drive, desire and determination to be the best made him one of the all-time greats. His betting on baseball, personality and other poor life choices revealed him to be a pretty bad human being off the field. Rose is in that pantheon of great baseball players I grew up with in the '70s and '80s. That era was the time for me when the ballplayers were all 10 feet tall and bullet proof. It was that special time before you grow up and look at all athletes with a critical eye. That time when you are your heroes playing sandlot ball and first collecting cards. Part of me will always remember how cool it was to get Pete's card in pack of Topps. The kid in me will remember the greatness while the adult knows all to well his massive shortcomings as a person. RIP Peter Edward Rose.
One Additional Note on the MLB and Gambling
Knowing that gambling on games by MLB players is the original sin of the game going back way before the Black Sox scandal of 1919, I really do find it ridiculous to see FanDuel as the official sports betting partner of MLB. Yes, the difference between fans and the players & personnel who actually have a direct influence on the game is a great, but it just looks hypocritical to even have an official sports betting partner while preaching to the players the about the sin of gambling on the game itself. SMH
CFL Update
Here's the first update this year on the league with the 110 yard field. Through 15 games the East Division is Montreal's plaything. The Alouettes are sporting an 11-3-1 record with Ottawa holding a 1/2 game lead over Toronto for second place at 8-6-1. The West division is a horse race with Winnipeg holding a 9-6 record for the top spot and Saskatchewan and BC fighting it out for second place with 7-7-1 and 7-8 records. Oh, and of course the Commisisoner's favorite tram is awful again. The Edmonton Elks are 5-10 and are a half game out father cellar thanks to Calgary's 4-9-1 mark. Sigh. As in last years, the guys at 3 Down Nation cover the CFL very well. CFL, EH!
Big Ten Overreactions
USC is still an 8-4 team.
UCLA is still a 4-8 team.
Michigan and the refs are a tough combo to beat.
Minnesota is still steaming mad.
Penn State is boring.
Maryland is an almost team.
Washington still can't believe they lost.
Michigan State will turnover their way to six losses.
TheeeOSU will go 12-0.
Rutgers is this year's Iowa problem for the Big Ten.
Indiana is the team that can just mess up things for the league.
Oregon may one day play as good as they think they are.
Nebraska is a 7-5 team.
Illinois is a bowl team.
Purdue is a 1-11 team.
Wisconsin is wondering how they scored 21 points.
Ugly Uniform of the Week
Memphis wins for this tiger striped nightmare in blue. Yuk.
Keeping Tabs On Your Exes...
Berkeley Bound; ESPN's College Gameday is heading to Cal for there first time ever when the Golden Bears host Miami this coming Saturday. You know Bezerkely will rise to the occasion and make it a crazy morning. Too bad old Joe Kapp ain't around to see it. RIP Crazy Joe.
Sadness in Salt Lake; Oh man it was fun to watch Arizona dismantle Utah on Saturday night in Salt Lake City. Utes fans left the game early which begs the question; Why were they leaving early? There isn't anything else to do in Salt Lake City or in all of Utah for that matter.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Decorah, IA- The Luther College Norse snapped a 12-game losing streak with a come from behind, 9-6 win over the Anderson University Ravens in D-III non conference action. Trailing 6-0 to start the fourth quarter, the Norse had the Ravens backed up on a 4th and 10 from their own one-yard line. Instead of rising a bad punt, the Ravens took an intentional safety, then gave the ball back to the Norse on the ensuing free kick. Luther took over witht ball at their own 41-yard line. Four plays later, QB Brett Liljedahl hit RB Raul Medrano III with a 27-yard TD pass and the Norse had a 9-6 lead. The Luther defense held Anderson to -7 yards the rest of the way to seal the victory. A hearty 509 souls saw the Norse earn their first win in over a year.
Blowout Game of the Week: Abilene, TX- The North American Stallions of the NAIA Sooner Athletic Conference make an unfortunate second appearance here this year. This time they were destroyed 90-7 by the Hardin Simmons Cowboys of the American Southwest Conference in D-III. QB Kyle Brown Completed 18 0f 20 passes for 257 yards and four TDs while backfield mate RB Noah Garcia rushed the ball seven times for 93 yards and three TDs.
Razorback Report; Jerryworld, Dallas, TX- Arkansas had thorn shot to finally get a win over the Aggies and they couldn't hold on in a 21-17 late loss. The Hogs held a 17-14 lead over the TAMU only to watch it go away with 9:00 left to play on five-yard TD pass from Aggies QB Marcel Reed to WR Tre Watson. QB Taylen Green threw for 279 yards and a score in the tough loss. Things do not get easier for the Hogs as they head to Tennessee this week.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
October is here which means foghorns are a companion through the late nights and early mornings.
The change of season also means time to change the furnace filter. Ahhhh suburban life.
Trader Joe's Golden Rounds Crackers are underrated. They are great.
Until next time folks, a good defense and a strong rushing attack will win most games.
-The Commissioner
