Hey All,
Here's hoping this week's edition of Notes on a Big Ten Scorecard provides a distraction from this Election Day. We still miss you, Jim Murray.
Summaries
Washington 26- USC 21: Seattle, WA- Yes folks, USC led another game in the fourth quarter only to lose it in agonizing fashion. The game didn't look like it would be that close for awhile as the Huskies dominated the first half. Most of that domination by the Dawgs was set top by USC HC Lincoln Riley who decided that throwing most of the time against the NCAA's #1 ranked pass defense was a great idea. It was great idea for UW who took advantage of Riley's tactic to build a 20-7 halftime lead. An interception from QB Miller Moss, a missed 52-yard FG and bad kickoff return coverage led to the USC defense having to defend short fields. Washington got 17 of their 20 first half points off those miscues. A pair of FGs from 39 and 45 yards from PK Grady Gross and TD runs of 19 and 15 yards form RB Jonah Coleman accounted for UW's first half scores. SC's only tally in the half was a one-yard dive into the end zone from RB Woody Marks. Riley must have been reminded at halftime that SC runs the ball well and that Washington has a weak run defense became the Trojans ran the ball a lot in the third quarter and ended up taking a 21-20 lead. The running game allowed Moss to hit WR Makai Lemon with a 37-yard TD pass and 19-yarder to TE Kyle Ford. Then just when SC found prosperity in the runing game, Riley went away from it again. That resulted in a Moss' third interception of the game. UW turned that into a four-yard TD run from RB Keith Reynolds and a 26-21 lead with 13:48 to play in the fourth quarter. SC then answered that score with a 77-yard drive that took 8:38 off the clock. The Trojans had a 4th a Goal at the Dogs one-yard line. Moss handed off to Marks and he stuffed in the backfield for a loss. USC's subpar OL failed to make the key block to enable Marks to score. USC would stop Washington and get one more chance to win the game, but Moss would be sacked to end the game at the UW 14-yard line. SC RT Mason Murphy whiffed on his block and Moss had no chance to complete the pass. One kneel down later and the Huskies had the win and USC remained winless on the road. For the now 5-4 Huskies, Coleman rushed for 102 yards on 23 carries with two TDs, while QB Will Rogers completed 25 of 39 passes for 262 yards. For the now 4-5 Trojans, Marks led all rushers with 123 yards on 22 carries and a score. Moss completed 30 of 50 passes for 293 yards, two TDs and three huge interceptions.
Telling Stat: Not a nifty 50; USC threw the ball 50 times against the top ranked pass defense the nation and only ran 29 times. Those 29 runs averaged almost six yards a carry. Facepalm.
Ohio State 20- Penn State 13: Happy Valley, PA- Despite the early start time, a record crowd of 111, 030 filled Beaver Stadium for this clash of Big Ten frontrunners. Pundits spoke all week about how the Nittany Lions would finally notch a win over the Buckeyes for the first time in almost a decade. That didn't happen thanks to a stingy Ohio State defense and some key calls going the Bucks way as well. The Nittany Lons took an early 10-0 lead on a 29-yard FG from PK Ryan Barker and a 31-yard pick six. CB Zion Tracy picked off TheeeOSU QB Will Howard's first pass of the game and took it to the house. It looked like PSU might blow out the Buckeyes. All the Scarlet and Gray did after that was calm work their way back to a 14-10 halftime lead. Howard got the first TD for the Bucks on a 25-yard TD pass to WR Emeka Egbuka. The second scoring drive was aided by a taunting call on the Lions after they stopped TheeeOSU on third down. Five plays after the penalty, Howard threw his second TD pass of the day, a 21-yarder to WR Brandon Inniss. It looked ike OSU would take a 21-10 lead into the half, but Howard was hit and fumbled as he reached the Lions goal line. The ball went out through the end zone for a touchback. PSU then had their own end zone turnover when QB Drew Allar's pass was knocked out of the hands of his receiver and then intercepted on an amazing play by CB Davison Igbinosun. TheeeOSU went into half with a 14-10 lead. The teams traded FGs in the third period and then OSU extended their lead to 20-13 on another FG at the Strat of the fourth quarter. With 10:13 left in the game, Penn Sate embarked on their best drive of the game. They moved down the field thanks to TE Tyler Warren making a great 31-yard reception and a 33-yard run that set the Fighting Paternos up with a 1st and Goal at the Ohio State three-yard line. Three straight runs up the middle by RB Kaytron Allen left PSU facing a 4th and Goal from the one. QB Drew Allar's fourth down pass fell incomplete in the end zone and the Buckeyes had made a great goal line stand. The Buckeyes took over the ball worth 5:13 left. They then ran the ball 11 straight times to kill the clock and walk out of Happy Valley with their eighth straight win over the Nittany Lions. Howard finished the game completing 16 of 24 passes for 182 yards, with two TDs and an interception. He also ran the ball 12 times for 24 yards and a fumble. For the hard luck Lions, Allar completed 12 of 20 passes for 146 yards and a pick.
Telling Stat: 6 is lonely number; The Ohio State defense kept Penn State out of the end zone, allowing just a pair of fields goals in this thriller in Happy Valley.
Minnesota 25- Illinois 17: Champaign-Urbana, IL- You could not have gotten a more evenly played game if you tried to engineer one. With 9:03 left in the fourth quarter, Illinois held a 17-16 lead after QB Luke Altmyer connected with WR Zakhari Franklin for 21-yard TD pass. It was the first time Minnesota had trailed all game, but the Gophers did not panic. On the ensuing drive they calmly marched 75 yards in seven plays to take the lead on a one-yard TD toss from QB Max Brosmer to TE Jameson Geers. The two-point attempt would fail and Minnesota held a tenuous 22-17 lead with 5:14 to go in the game. Illinois then did the unthinkable on their next possession and went for it on 4th and 4 from their own 31-yard line. Altmyer's pass fell incomplete and the Gophers had the ball deep in Illini territory. The Illinois defense held Minnesota to a 46-yard FG from PK Dragan Kesich to keep it a one score game at 25-17. Illinois had one last so to try to send the game to OT, but Altmyer was sacked and fumbled with the Gophers recovering the ball on their own 27-yard line. One victory formation later, the Golden Gophers had the win. For Minnesota, Brosmer connected on 22 of 37 aerials for 213 yards and a TD. His backfield mate, RB Darius Taylor was the game's top ground gainer with 131 yards on 22 carries and a TD. For the Illini, Altmyer completed 20 of 33 passes for 226 yards and a score.
Telling Stat: Turnovers Kill; In a nearly statical dead heat of a game, Illinois' two turnovers cost them the game.
Northwestern 26 - Purdue 20 OT: West Lafayette, IN- Fall colors were in full display at Ross-Ade Stadium for this OT thriller between the Wildcats and Boilermakers. NU broke out to an early 10-3 lead on a 39-yard FG from PK Luke Akers and a 51-yard sprint to paydirt by RB Joseph Himon II. With 2:33 left in the first half, RB Cam Porter knifed into the end zone form a yard out to give the Wildcats a 17-3 lead. However, Purdue would get into the game right before the break when QB Hudson Card hit Jamal Edirine with an eight-yard scoring strike to make the score 17-10. The third quarter was a defensive affair with Purdue edging closer to the Wildcats when PK Spencer Porath hit a 24-yard FG to cut NU's lead to 17-13. The Purple and White went back out to a 20-13 lead on a 41-yard FG from Akers. Purdue needed a drive to send this one to OT and they got it with 5:16 least in the game. The Boilermakers marched 75 yards in 11 plays to tie the game. The TD came when FB Devin Mackobee bulled his way over the double stripe carrying a good humber of tacklers with him. Both teams misfired on drives in the final moments of regulation and off to OT they went. Purdue had the ball first in OT and was held for downs by the Wildcats. However an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty led to the Wildcats starting their half of OT on the Purdue 40-yard line. Two plays later, QB Jack Lausch hit a wide open Himon and he easily raced 22 yards to the end zone for a 26-20 victory. For the victorious Wildcats, Lausch completed 25 of 35 passes for 250 yards and a TD. He also ran for 26 yards on 11 carries. Himon tallied 78 yards on six carries with a TD. He also caught the game-winning score as part of his three receptions for 34 yards. As for the Sons of John Purdue, Card completed 21 of 37 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown.
Telling Stat: They beat the odds; Even though they stopped Purdue to start the OT period, Northwestern overcame overwhelming odds to win the game. The odds of scoring in OT when backed up to the 40-yard line are less than 5%.
Oregon 38- Michigan 17: Ann Arbor, MI- The #1 Ducks ground out a strong road win over the passing adverse Wolverines. The Webfoots defense hemmed in the almost one-dimensional Michigan offense allowing just 10 first half points. The Oregon offense put up seven in the first quarter and then 21 more in the second quarter to provide all the separation they would need outlast the Maize and Blue. The second half saw Oregon stay out ahead far enough of a Wolverine squad that lacks serious comeback ability. UO QB Dillon Gabriel completed 22 of 34 passes for 294 yards and TD through the air while also running three times for 23 yards and another score. RB Jordan James toted the rock 23 times for 117 yards and a TD while RB Noah Whitting crossed into paydirt twice to aid the Quacks cause. For Michigan, QB Donovan Warren completed 12 of 21passes for 164 yards and two TDs. (Yes, he actually threw two TD passes).
Telling Stat: They couldn't move the chains; Oregon held Michigan to just 4 of 12 on 3rd Down Conversions and only 11 first downs.
Indiana 47- Michigan State 10: East Lansing, MI- The Hoosiers rolled into Spartan Stadium with plenty of hype and bluster about how dominant they had been getting to 8-0. They had never trailed in any game and managed to keep an unblemished record even with starting QB Kurtis Rourke missing last week's game due to an injured right thumb. Thoughts of another Hoosier victory turned to talk of upset as Michigan State jumped out to an early 10-0 lead at the end of the first period. The scoring came on a 47-yard FG from PK Jonathan Kim and a 18-yard TD connection from QB Aiden Chiles to WR Nick Marsh. IU then cut the MSU to 10-7 on the ensuing drive with a 17-yard TD catch by TE Zach Horton from Rourke. IU then got a pair of TDs sandwiched around an MSU interception to take a 21-10 lead into the break. The Scores were a one-yard TD plunge by RB Ty Son Lawton and a four-yard pass from Rourke to
TE Elijah Sarratt. The second half saw the Hoosiers put up 26 points to blow out the Spartans. IU opened the half with a Safety on a blocked punt by DB D'Angelo Ponds for a 23-10 lead. They scored on two more TD runs, another TD pass and a FG to run away with the game. For the Crimson and Cream, Rourke completed 19 of 29 passes for 263 yards and four TDs and Saratt caught four passes for 59 yards and two scores. Marsh was MSU's lone bright spot catching five passes for 78 yards and a score.
Telling Stat: There is a D in Indiana; After falling behind 10-0 and allowing 123 yards on MSU's first two drives, the Hoosiers held the Spartans to 70 total yards on their final 10 drives. Thats a nifty seven yards per drive.
UCLA 27- Nebraska 20: Lincoln, NE- Coming off their tough loss at Ohio State, the Cornhuskers were looking to bounce back against bRuin squad that has shown some signs of improvement in recent weeks. However, things did not go as planned as UCLA held a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. A 25-yard FG from PK Mateen Bhaghani and a 10-yard TD pass from QB Chase Garbers to TE Jalen Berger accounted for the 10 points. A four-yard TD run from Nebraska RB Dante Dowdell made the score 10-7 with 10:02 to play in the half. UCLA then took a 13-7 lead into the intermission thanks to a 26-yarder by Bhaghani. The Nebraska offense stumbled around in the first then outright hit the fell flat to start the third period. QB Dylan Raiola was picked off the second play of the half and it was retuned by UCLA LB Kain Medrano 38 yards for a touchdown. UCLA led now 20-7 and would go up 27-7 when Garbers hit WR Kwazi Gilmer for a 48-yard TD strike. UCLA now had a 20 point lead with 8:21 left in the third quarter. The stunned crowd at Memorial Stadium sat in disbelief as their Huskers were getting manhandled by the bRuins. Then UCLA allowed a comeback before hanging on for the win much as they did at Rutgers two weeks ago. Nebraska cut the UCLA lead to 27-14 on an eight-yard TD toss from Raiola to WR Isaiah Neyor before the start of the fourth quarter. The bRuins gave up a TD to make things close when Dowdell found the end zone from a yard out with 3:57 to play. The PAT was missed and UCLA now led 27-20. Raiola was injured on the drive and it would be up to backup QB Heinrich Haarberg to lead the Big Red on a final drive to try and tie the game if they got the ball back. They did and he did. Haarberg guided the Huskers down to the bRuins 39-yard line. On 2nd and 15 Harrberg's pass was tipped and intercepted by CB Kaylin Moore with :29 left on the clock. UCLA then took a knee and celebrated the win. Garbers completed 17 of 25 passes for 219 yards and two TDs to lead the bRuins attack. Gilmer caught three of Garbers passes for 88 yards and a score. For the shocked Huskers, Raiola completed 14 of 27 passes for 177 yards, a TD and an interception. Dowdell led all rushers with 61 yards on 17 carries and two trips to the end zone.
Telling Stat: A great 30:10; UCLA's defense forced four three and outs and scored seven points of their own in the first half plus 10 seconds to pave the way to victory over Nebraska.
Iowa 42- Wisconsin 10: Iowa City, IA- It was chilly night at Kinnick Stadum where the Badgers seemed to show no hangover form their tough loss last week to Penn State. They held a 3-0 lead on a 38-yard FG from PK Nathaniel Vakos with 1:56 to play . The Hawkeyes had just missed a 38-yard FG of their own and UW had the ball at their own 38-yard line. Nothing would go right for the Badgers from that point on. Badger QB Braedyn Locke threw an interception that set up Iowa with a 1st and 10 at their own 47-yard line. That pick was the spark that ignited the Iowa offense. The Hawkeyes put up double digits in the final three quarters with a running game so methodical it resembled a Combine Harvester clearing a cornfield. Five of Iowa's six TDs came on the ground. Wisconsin just couldn't get any offense generated all night except for a 14-yard scoring strike from Locke to WR C.J. Williams well after the game was firmly in the Iowa win column. RB Kaleb Johnson was the star for the Black and Gold. He lugged the leather 24 time for 135 yards and three TDs. QB Brendan Sullivan, starting in place of the injured Cade McNamara, completed seven of 10 throws for 93 yards and a TD. He also ran nine times for 56 yards and a score. For the Badgers, Locke completed 15 of 29 tosses for 137 yards, a TD and two interceptions in the lopsided loss.
Telling Stat: Highway 330; Iowa ran for 330 yards and five TDs on 53 carries v. the Badgers. Thats 6.2 yard per carry for non-math majors in the audience.
Observations
...No Moss; USC has benched QB Miller Moss. Backup and UNLV transfer Jordan Maiava will start for the Men of Troy on 10/16 v. Nebraska.
...Bad planing; What moron put the election, the NFL trade deadline and the first ever 12-team CFP rankings on the same day?
...Commodore Cool; With a 17-7 win over Auburn, Vanderbilt is 6-3 and bowl eligible. The Commodores have also beaten Alabama and Auburn in the same season for the first time since 1955.
...Cougar-town; BYU is 8-0 and alone atop the standings in the Big XII.
...6-2 the hard way; Navy waited out a 5-hour weather delay only to be upset at Rice, 24-10.
...Hypocrisy's end; There is proposal in the Ivy League to finally allow the league to participate in the FCS playoffs. For context here, the Ivy League allows teams from every other sport to participate in NCAA playoffs. Keeping football out of post season participation is an antiquated practice that needs to go.
...Unreal; Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley's backwards huddle is one of the craziest things I ever saw. Please watch it here. Superman wears Kelly Green
...Blown away; Check out this sideline angle of Barkley's backwards hurdle. No way!
...No way; If you thought the Indiana-Ohio State was gonna be one of the top games in the Big Ten this year, you're lying.
...O-fer; It's possible that Oklahoma State could go winless in Big XII play. The Pokes final three games are at TCU, a home game with Texas Tech and a trip to Colorado.
...SEC-mageddon; There actually is scenario where an eight-way tie for first place could happen in the SEC. Whoa.
...On Brave Old Army Team!; Army moved to 8-0 with and got a big leg up in the race for Commander-in-Chief's Trophy race with 20-3 win at Air Force. The Black Knights of the Hudson haven't been 8-0 since the 1949 season when they went 9-0. The Cadets had an eager young assistant who had joined HC Red Blaik's staff that season. He was some guy from the high school ranks named Vince Lombardi.
...Rough comparison; James Franklin is the John Cooper of the 21st century.
...Oddball thought; If Indiana loses to TheeeOSU and finishes 11-1, not a single one of their wins would be over a team that got as much as a single vote for the AP top 25.
...Celebration Hawaiian Style; Hawaii AD Craig Angelos "surfed" his way down the UH sideline after the Warriors beat Fresno State, 21-20 last Saturday night.
Big Ten Overreactions
USC is a 5-7 team.
UCLA is also a 5-7 team.
Michigan wonders what using the forward pass would be like.
Oregon won't get tested until the playoff.
Iowa loves scoring over punting.
Wisconsin just gave up 10 more rushing yards as you read this.
Washington still wonders how they lost to Rutgers.
Michigan State will be a force in 2026.
Ohio State is a 10-2 team.
UCLA is a dangerous team.
Nebraska wonders how they lost to UCLA.
PSU still can't win the ones that really count.
Indiana plays to humiliate their opponents.
Northwestern has the right QB.
Purdue might give up 700 yards this week.
Keeping Up With Your Exes
Cougars rise; Wazzu is #20 in the nation after a 29-26 comeback win over San Diego State.
Toothless Cars; The wheels have fallen off at Arizona where the Wildcats are 3-6 overall and just 1-5 in Big XII play.
CFL Update
The first week of the playoffs are over in the 110-yard league, eh. In the Eastern Semi-Final the Toronto Argonauts hammered the Ottawa RedBlacks, 58-38. That win earned the Argos a trip to take on Montreal in the Eastern Final. Saskatchewan beat British Columbia, 28-19 in the Western Semi-Final. Saskatchewan will travel to take on Winnipeg in the Western Final. Both games are next Saturday, November 9th.
Baseball Farewell
Congrats to the Los Angeles Dodgers on whipping the New York Yankees four games to one to win the 2024 World Series. And so with their victory another baseball season has come to an end and with it the joy of watching the summer game. We now face the cold of late fall and winter with football, hoops and hockey to comfort us until we receive that great little piece of news. Then suddenly, no matter what the weather may be that day, we feel warmer when are told that pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training. That bit of soul warming news will arrive right when we need it to. Funny how life works that way.
Classic Uniform Matchup of the Week:
Ohio State at Penn State wins for not messing up a great game with alternate uniforms.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Orange, CA- The SCIAC, California's only D-III lead makes another appearance in this column with the Chapman University Panthers holding on for a 9-7 win over the Claremont-Muss-Scripps Stags. Chapman took a 6-0 lead midway through the second period when QB Tyler Pacheco ran five yards for a a TD. The PAT kick failed. The with a :04 left in the half, PK Jax Hudson sent a 21-yarder though the uprights for a 9-0 lead. CMS made it a game when QB Walter Kuhlenkamp hit WR Daniel Rosenberg with 22-yard pass to make it a 9-7 game with 1:36 left in the third quarter. The game did come down to the wire. Chapman only claimed victory when CMS PK Rich Brutto's 56-yard FG attempt sailed wide with :29 left.
Blowout Game of the Week: Richmond, VA- It was Homecoming for the Virginia Union Panthers andnthey celebrate it in style with a 91-0 shellacking of the Bluefield State Big Blues. The game was a league game in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in D-II. VU QB Mark Wright completed 11 of 15 passes for 347 yards and four TDs. VU RB Jada Byers led all rushers with 97 yards on 15 carries and three TDs.
Razorback Report: Fayetteville, AR- The Hogs were whipped, 63-31 by Ole Miss in a game that wasn't even that close. The Rebels took a 35-3 halftime lead then coasted from there to the win. Former Trojan Jaxson Dart competed 25 of 31 passes for 515 yards and six TDs for Kiffin's Kids. Razorback QBs Taylor Green and Malachi Singleton combined tom complete 21 of 28 passes for 365 yards and a TD in the loss. Up next for the Hogs is bye followed by home date with Texas.
This Week's Three Things About Nothing...
Funny how after we fall back, nobody can drive when it's gets dark early.
Looking forward to TV without a ton of political ads this week.
I wish the stores would let us celebrate Thanksgiving before bombarding us with Christmas.
Until next time, remember that the best teams run the ball well and often.
-The Commissioner
