Hey All,
While summer refuses to leave quietly and fall fights to take its' place around here, another week of college football has come and gone. Let's take a look back at last week's games with another edition of Notes on a Big Ten Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
Minnesota 24- USC 17: Minneapolis, MN- The Trojans went out and stumbled and bumbled their way through a lackluster defeat at the hands of the Golden Gophers and the Big Ten replay crew. USC got the ball first and looked to take an early lead when WR Zachariah Branch continued his subpar year by dropping a key third down pass that would have set the Trojans with a first down in the red zone. PK Michael Lantz then came on and missed a 47-yard FG attempt. That was the beginning of another poor first half by the Trojans. USC found themselves down 10-7 late in the half after Minnesota sandwiched a 32-yard FG from PK Dragon Kesich and a one-yard TD run from QB Max Brosmer around a three-yard TD pass from SC QB Miller Moss to TE Duce Robinson. SC did tie the game before the half on a career long, 54-yard FG from Lantz. It would have been just a 49-yarder, but just before Lantz kicked that one, UM HC P.J. Fleck called a timeout that had been given back to him by the refs to use. Then USC committed a false start. Fleck had the refs in his pocket all night long with his sideline histrionics. So, the third quarter began and the Trojan defense stopped the Gophers and then the offense went on 12-play, 91-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard run by RB Woody Marks in the Wildcat formation. The Men of Troy led 17-10. They then forced another punt by the Gophers. USC marched the ball down to the Minnesota 35-yard line where they faced a 3rd and 5. Miller Moss dropped back to pass on third down and his RT Mason Murphy threw a lookout block. Moss was hit as he threw and the ball popped into the hands of Gopher DE Devon Williams. After that play USC collapsed. Minnesota would score the final 14 points of the game to claim victory. The Gophers last score was highly controversial. The Gophers ran two straight Brotherly Shove plays on the goal line. The first one was reviewed to see if Brosmer had crossed the goal line. It was ruled that there wasn't enough evidence to overturn the call. You just couldn't see the ball. You couldn't see the where the ball ended up on the second shove either. Ahhh, but the refs ruled that Brosmer had not crossed the goal line. The would be a turnover on downs and SC would get the ball back on their own half-yard line. UM's Fleck went ballistic on the refs. He cried, he whined, he screamed at them until a review was signaled for. The replay crew at the Big Ten Command Center then decided that this time they could rule on a play where they had no incontrovertible evidence to overturn the call on the field. They handed Minnesota the winning TD and Fleck tried to first bump the refs. Sigh. USC's last chance to tie the game ended when Moss' pass was picked off in the end zone by DB Koi Perich with a few seconds left. Brosmer completed 15 of 19 passes for 169 yards, but ran for three Minnesota TDs. For the Trojans, Moss completed 23 of 38 passes for 200 yards, a TD and two interceptions while his backfield mate, Marks ran for 134 yards on 20 carries and a TD of his own.
Telling Stat: -2 and a Miss = L; Finishing -2 in turnovers and missing a FG cost USC the game.
Oregon 31- Michigan State 10: Eugene, OR- MSU HC Jonathan Smith had been here before. In fact most of his coaching staff and a few of his players had been here before too. They all were parts of a few rivalry victories at Autzen stadium as they were members of the Oregon State program. Well, nowhere near an upset occurred last Friday night. The Quacks easily moved the ball on the Spartans and went into the half with a 21-0 lead. The UO lead couldn't have been much more, but QB Dillon Gabriel's trend of throwing interceptions in the shadow of his opponent's goal line continued to manifest itself. MSU picked off Gabriel in their own end zone and at their own two-yard line to wipe out two scoring chances for the Webfoots. However, the Oregon defense shutdown the MSU offense for the first 51:33 of the game so that the mistakes did not come back to haunt them. Gabriel's evening ended with 20 completions in 32 attempts for 257 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. He also ran for 22 yards on three carries and a score. Duck WR Tez Johnson was the game's top wideout catching 10 passes for 84 yards and a TD, while RB Jordan James lugged the leather 24 times for 166 yards and a score of his own. For the moribund Spartan offense, QB Aiden Chiles completed 10 of 17 passes for 154 yards.
Telling Stat: Chained up; Oregon's defense held Michigan State to just 2 of 11 on 3rd Down Conversion and just 59 yards rushing to pave the way for the win.
Penn State 27- UCLA 11: Happy Valley, PA- The Nittany Lions took awhile to get started, but they eventually pulled away from an overmatched bRuin squad for a win in their fourth straight home game after starting the season at West Virginia. UCLA did have a chance to take a lead on their opening possession of the game. HC DeShaun Foster eschewed a 40-yard FG attempt and deiced to go for it on 4th and 1 on the PSU 23-yard line. RB T.J.Harden was stuffed in the backfield for a one-yard loss and the game stood scoreless with 7:04 left in the opening frame. After the teams exchanged punts, Penn State took a 7-0 lead on a 82-yard, 16 play drive that took 7:36 off the clock. QB Drew Allar bulled his way into the end zone from one yard out to finish off the drive. UCLA did answer back with a drive that covered 68 yards in 3:49 that ended with a 25-yard FG from PK Mateen Bhaghani. PSU then took control of the game with their last drive of the first half and first drive of the second half. It was only 10 points, but against an outmanned UCLA offense with young Justyn Martin at QB in place of injured starter Ethan Garbers, it was more than enough. The Lions held 14-3 lead at the break on a five-yard TD pass from Allar to TE Tyler Warren and a 25-yard FG from PK Ryan Barker with 8:30 to go in the third quarter. Throw in a a one-yard TD run from Kaytron Allen late in the period and the Fighting Paternos held a 24-3 lead to start the final quarter. Barker would add a 40-yard FG midway through the final period for a 27-3 lead. UCLA's lone TD came very late when WR Logan Loya caught a one-yard TD toss from Martin. RB Keegan jones would catch the two-point try to make the final score 27-11. Allar had an efficient day for the Lions completing 17 of 24 passes for 237 yards and a score. He also ran for a TD. WR Liam Clifford was his top receiver grabbing three passes for 107 yards. Meanwhile Allen led all rushers with 78 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. For the bRuins, Martin completed 22 of 30 passes for 167 yards and a TD.
Telling Stat: They owned the middle; Penn State went on a 17-0 run from the end of the first half through the third quarter. During that span they held UCLA to -9 yards.
Wisconsin 52- Purdue 6: Madison, WI- The Badgers needed a feel good home win after getting worked over in the second half by USC last week. The Biolermakers were just what Wisconsin needed to feel good about themselves. The Sons of Bucky jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a 12-yard TD run by RB Tawee Walker and a 52-yard TD pass from QB Braedyn Locke to WR Vinny Anthony II. Purdue then made a game of it for awhile. PK Spencer Porath was good from 21 and 23 yards put to cut the Badgers lead to 14-6 with 3:27 left in the second quarter. Wiscosmnin then realized that Purdue stinks and blew their doors off the Boilermakers over last 33 plus minutes of play. Two more TD runs from Walker covering one yard and 17 yards plus two TDs passes from Locke to WR Trech Kekahuna that covered 69 and 25 yards gave the Badgers a 42-6 lead after three quarters of play. A 30-yard TD run from Cade Yacamelli and a 26-yard FG from PK Nathanial Vakos in the final stanza rounded out the scoring for the Red and White. Locke finished the afternoon completing 20 of 31 aerials for 359 yards, three TDs and two interceptions. Kekahuna was the top pass catcher with six receptions for 134 yards and two TDs. Walker led all rushers with 94 yards on 19 carries with three scores. For the Purdue squad that once again Pur-didn't, QB Hudson Card completed 11 of 21 passes for 111 yards.
Telling Stat: There is no O in Purdue; The Boilermakers only ran 48 offensive plays and were a dismal 1 for 11 on 3rd Down Conversions in this laugher at Camp Randall.
Ohio State 35- Iowa 7: Columbus, OH- It was picture perfect day a the Horseshoe where the Buckeyes just wore down the Hawkeyes and denied Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz his 200th Big Ten victory. The first half was a near standoff with the Buckeyes taking a 7-0 lead when QB Will Howard connected with WR Emeka Egbuka for a 14-yard score with 3:41 left in the first quarter. The only highlight the rest of the half was when Iowa held TheeeOSU for downs at their own 41-yard line after they stuffed Howard on a QB keeper. The Third quarter saw the Scarlet and Gray take control of the game by putting three TDs on the board in a little over 11 minutes. TheeeOSU took the second half kickoff and drove 86 yards in 10 plays to take a 14-0 lead. The score came on a four-yard toss from Howard to WR Jeremiah Smith. On the first play for Iowa from scrimmage after the score, McNamara was sacked and fumbled. LB Cody Simon recovered the ball at the Hawkeyes 19-yard line. It then took TheeeOSU just three plays to go out to a 21-0 lead on a four-yard TD dash by Howard. Iowa handed the ball over again on the next possession when McNamara was picked off at the Bucks 15-yard line by CB Davison Igbinosun who took the ball back 45 yards to. the Iowa 40-yard-line. Howard engineered another scoring drive. This one covered 40 yards in seven plays and was capped off with a 15-yard TD pass from Howard to Egbuka. Suddenly the Buckeyes had a 28-0 lead and total control of the game. After yet another Iowa turnover, Ohio State took a 35-0 lead on Howard and Egbuka's third hookup of the day. It covered three yards and the game was basically over at that point. Iowa got their lone score on a 28-yard TD run by RB Kaleb Johnson with 8:07 left in the final period. Howard led the Buckeye attack by completing 21 of 25 passes for 209 yards with four TDs and an interception. Egbuka was his favorite target hauling in nine passes for 71 yards and three trips to the end zone. For the outclassed Hawkeyes, McNamara completed 14 of 20 passes for 98 yards and an interception while Johnson was the top ground gainer with 86 yards on 15 carries with a TD.
Telling Stat: 21 in 11= W; In the first 11 minutes of the third quarter Ohio State forced two turnovers to spur a 21-0 run that gave them total control of the contest.
Indiana 41- Northwestern 24: Evanston, IL- It was a Chamber of Commerce afternoon at Northwestern's temporary stadium on. the banks of Lake Michigan. The fans there saw a pretty good game too as the Hoosiers finished strong to get past a feisty bunch of Wildcats to go 6-0 on the year. The first half saw the teams trade scores worth IU taking a 17-10 advantage into the break on a five-yard TD sprint from RB Justice Ellison, a seven-yard TD pass from QB Kurtis Rourke to WR Miles Cross and a 37-yard FG from PK Nicholas Radicic. NU's scores came on a an eight-yard TD scamper by RB Cam Porter and a 32-yard FG from PK Jack Olsen. The Hoosiers took a 24-10 lead in the middle of third quarter on a 13-yard TD pass from Rourke to WR Ke'Shawn Williams. The Wildcats immediately got back to within a TD at 24-17 when QB Jack Lausch connected with WR A.J. Henning for a 38-yard scoring strike. Another Radicic FG, this one from 28 yards gave IU a 27-17 lead with 14:54 left into game. Northwestern answered that score with a 2-yard TD pass from Lausch to Henning and suddenly the score stood 27-24 IU with most of the final period left to play. This is when the Hoosiers finished strong to claim the win. Indiana marched 75 yards in 10 plays on the their next possession to take a 34-24 lead when RB Ty Son Lawton rumbled into the end zone from one-yard out. Northwestern still had time to get back into the game, but Lausch's pass was deflected and fell incomplete on 4th and 10 from NU's 36-yard line. Five plays later IU sealed the game with a TD pass of four yards form Rourke to TE Zach Horton. Roueke had quite an afternoon on the lakeshore completing 25 of 33 passes for 380 yards and three TDs. Ellison was the game's leading rusher with 68 yards on 14 carries and a score. For Northwestern, Lausch completed 23 of 38 passes for 243 yards and two TDs.
Telling Stat: They owned the end; Indiana scored two TDs and held for downs twice in the final 11:19 to grab the W over the Wildcats.
Nebraska 14- Rutgers 7: Lincoln, NE- The early October heat could have been a factor in the lackluster offensive performance of both teams. However, the most obvious answer is that two teams with good defenses and mediocre offense played to a near stalemate at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers led 14-0 at the half thanks to a one yard plunge into the end zone from RB Dante Dowdell is the first quarter and a scamper to paydirt from 11 yards out from RB Janiran Bonner. Rutgers made a game of it late, When QB Athan Kaliakmanis threw an 11-yard TD pass to WR Ben Black with 4:08 left in the final period. However, the Big Red defense would hold on the rest of the way to secure the win. NU QB Dylan Raiola was not very Mahomes-like compleitng 13 of 27 passes for 134 yards and an interception. Dowdell was the Huskers leading rusher with 57 yards on 14 carriers and a TD. For the Scarlet Knights, Kaliakmanis completed 15 of 37 passes for 186 yards, a TD and an interception while RB Kyle Monangai was held under 100 yards, but still managed to lead all rushers with 78 yards on 18 carries.
Telling Stat: They couldn't move those chains; Rutgers was held to 2 for 14 on 3rd Down Conversions and that was the difference in the game.
Washington 27 - Michigan 17: Seattle, WA- A flew weeks ago, Michigan benched ineffective QB Davis Warren in favor of backup Alex Orji. Then last Saturday UM HC Sherrone Moore made another change at QB. With the Wolverines down 14-0 in the second quarter Orji was benched in favor of Jack Tuttle. Tuttle didn't light up the stat sheet on his first two drives. He completed just three of four passes for 26 yard and also ran twice for 14 yards. Tuttle did inspire his squad though and the Wolverines cut UW's lead to just 14-10 at the break. Tuttle came out of the half and led another scoring drive. This time he threw an eight-yard TD pass to Colston Loveland to give the Maize and Blue a 17-14 lead in the third quarter.. The Dawgs did tie the game early in the final period on a 28-yard FG from PK Grady Gross. After that the spark that Tuttle provided fizzled. The next two times Michigan had the ball, Tuttle turned the ball over. The first was a fumble and the second was an interception. The Huskies took advantage of both mistakes and went out to a 27-17 lead on a 1-yard TD run from RB Jonah Coleman and a 32-yard FG from Gross. The FG gave the Dawgs a two score lead with just a little over a minute to play. Michigan didn't generate anymore offense and the Huskies had won their 18th in a row at home and snapped Michigan's 24-game Big Ten regular season winning streak. UW QB Will Rogers did use the forward pass and completed 21 of 31 throws for 271 yards, 2 TDs and an interception. Coleman was the Huskies top rusher with 80 yards and a TD on 18 carries. For the Wolverines, Tuttle finished the game with 10 completions in 18 attempts for 98 yards and a score.
Telling Stat: 10 out of 2 = W; Washington forced two Michigan turnovers in the fourth quarter and turned those into 10 points for a 27-17 win.
Observations
...Old Man Trojan rant incoming; This year's USC squad looks as listless as a mid 1980's Ted Tollner team at the opening kickoff of every game. Sigh.
...Memo to Michigan HC Sherrone Moore; The forward pass became legal on April 6, 1906.
...Fall ball rules; Playoff baseball is almost always great to watch. Always has been.
...Quietly making noise; FSU's freefall, North Caroliona's troubles and Duke's fine start in the ACC has let Pitt's 5-0 start fly under the national radar.
...Long and short; UTEP hosted Sam Houston State. They are both in Texas and 728.9 miles apart. Meanwhile old Southwest Conference foes Rice and Houston are only 3.4 miles apart in the Lone Star State.
...A whole book full; This pic from Vanderbilt on Saturday night is worth far more than a 1,000 words.
...Travel takes a toll; There have been eight times in the Big Ten this year when teams have traveled at least two time zones for a game. Those road teams are 1-7. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
...It's a Hoosier world; Indiana is the first bowl eligible team in the Big Ten this year at 6-0. They are also 6-0 for the for the first time since 1967.
...Yay for Sam; You gotta love Arkansas HC Sam Pittman when asked by Holly Rowe about fans storming the field after the Razorbacks upset Tennessee last week in Fayetteville. Who cares?
...South for North; Jack Lausch, a kid form the Southside of Chicago has staked his claim as Northwestern's QB.
...Appreciation for the pros; You just don't realize how good major college and pro football camera work and announcers really are until you try to watch a small town high school football livestream.
...Just a rumor; There's no truth to the rumor that Iowa's offense is so conservative it received a 98% rating from the NRA.
...It fits; The last time Vanderbilt beat Alabama was September 29, 1984. The #1 song on the Billboard Pop Chart was Prince's"Let's Go Crazy." Go Crazy Commodore fans, Go Crazy.
...A disturbing pattern; Big losses leading to redshirts and transfers. This week its Bama DT Jaheim Oatis after the Crimson Tide lost to Vandy and Iowa WR Kaleb Brown and RB Leshon Williams after the Hawkeyes lost to Ohio State. Hmmmmm
...Can't get off the field; UCLA is dead last in the nation allowing opponents to convert third downs at a 58.2% clip.
...Pucks eh?; The National Hockey League starts its' 108th season on October 8th.
...Paper Tigers; Missouri never should have been in the top 10 in the first place. SEC bias lives.
...Head scratcher; How Army and Navy can both be undefeated and neither of the them ranked in the Top 25 is a mystery.
...Only for the skill guys; It seems like holding only exists in the Big Ten if you're a WR or TE on the edge of the formation.
...Asking for a friend; How can a replay crew overturn a call as to whether the ball broke the plain of the goal without a single camera angle that shows where the ball is?
....Cal's other missed call; Cal's defense collapsed with the help of the ACC officials in their 39-38 loss to Miami. While everyone focuses on the targeting that wasn't called, there was at least one other ACC officiating gaffe near the end of the game. This is a screenshot of Miami's go ahead TD play with :26 left. Notice anything? It was 2nd and Goal from the five-yard line. How is that not an ineligible man downfield penalty on the Hurricanes? Sigh
Big Ten Overreactions
USC will be lucky to be an 8-4 team.
UCLA is still a 4-8 team.
Nebraska will bore folks to death on their way to eight wins.
Oregon still isn't as good as they think they are.
Ohio State is a 12-0 team.
Penn State is an 11-1 team.
Northwestern has the best temporary stadium ever.
Everyday is Christmas right now for Indiana.
Michigan needs to rediscover the forward pass.
Rutgers will lose a lot of close games.
Wisconsin wishes they could play Purdue every week.
Iowa is in need of an offense transplant.
Minnesota has the most annoying HC in all of football.
Purdue is a 1-11 team.
Washington still can't believe they lost to Rutgers.
Michigan State has heart, but not enough talent.
Keeping Up On Your Exes
...Cal-lapse; Cal's ref-aided heart breaking, 39-38 loss ruined one of the best days the Cal football program has had in at least 20 years.
...Odd cheers; I find it odd that I cheer for the former Pac 12 schools, However, Utah will never be one of those that gets my cheers. Ain't gonna happen.
Ugly Uniform of the Week
Ohio State wins this week's award for this prison gray ensemble they wore against Iowa. Ohio State has a great color scheme. No need to ruin it with this look.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Lindsborg, KS- We go the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference of NAIA for this week's game. The Bethany College Swedes held on for a 13-0 win over the Ottawa University Braves. RB Zamarion Spencer ran 11 yards for a TD at the 9:19 mark of the first quarter for a 6-0 Bethany lead. Their two-point attempt failed. Then with 10:08 left in the half, PR Malaki Daniels took a punt back 36 yards for a TD and a 13-0 lead. The Swedes defense made those 13 points hold up for the W.
Blowout Game of the Week: Des Moines, IA- We stay in the NAIA and more specifically the Heart of America Conference where the Grand View Vikings crushed the Clarke University Pride, 89-0. Duke Williams Stadium was packed for Homecoming and the crowd saw their Vikings roll out to a 48-0 halftime lead. The Vikings emptied the benches the rest of the way and piled upon the points on the hapless Pride. 13 different backs combined to rush for 296 yards on 46 carries and seven TDs while QBs Jackson Waring and Peyton Rottingh completed nine of 16 passes for 146 yard and three more scores. The Grand View defense had a huge day as well holding Clarke to 80 total yards and -20 yards rushing. They also gave up only four first downs.
Razorback Report: Fayetteville, AR- Down 14-3 in the third quarter it looked like the Hogs would go down to defeat again and HC Sam Pittman's hot seat would get that much hotter. The Razorbacks then pulled off a miracle comeback with 16 unanswered points to knock off the #4 Tennessee Volunteers. The Razorback defense really shined down the stretch in shutting down the vaunted Volunteer offense. Uo next for the Hogs is a bye week followed by home date with LSU on 10/19.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
Honeycrisp Apples are the best apples.
Frosted Flakes still rock.
I often wonder how long it takes the people who report missing cats to put 2+2 together when they hear reports of coyotes in the neighborhood. Hmmmm
Until next time folks, remember that team with a weak O-line is like a having house with a weak foundation. You really have nothing to build on.
-The Commissioner
