It was a bye week in Trojanland, but but not for most everyone else. So here's yet another grand edition of Notes on a Big Ten Scorecard. We still miss you, Chris Schenkel.
Summaries
Michigan 24- Wisconsin 10: Ann Arbor, MI- The downward spiraling Badgers showed up with a puncher's chance for an upset at the Big House. UM HC Sherrone Moore returned to the sidelines after his two-game suspension for the fallout of the Connor Stallions sign stealing scandal. Moore watched what the Wolverines have done basically all season. The Maize and Blue used a strong defense and running game to slowly throttle the Badgers. The Wolverines also got the usual mix of brilliance and frustration from 5-Star true frosh QB Bryce Underwood. This game was a grinder from the get go. Both teams found the end zone on their first possession of the game. The Sons of Bucky opened the scoring when RB Dilin Jones bulled his way through the Michigan defense for a five-yard TD run. Michigan answered right back when RB Justice Haynes easily found paydirt going off tackle on the right side from a yard out. After that a 40-yard FG from UM PK Dominic Zvada would account for all the other scoring in the half. UM led 10-7 at the break. The third quarter saw the Wolverines miss a filed goal, but it felt like a matter of time before the Wolverines would find separation from the Badgers. After all, Michigan had allowed only three first downs after Wisconsin's opening drive. UM got the separation they needed when Underwood threw a 29-yard TD pass to WR Donovan McCulley. The score stood 17-7 at the point, but it could have been 70-7 as the Red and White offense had been rendered inert long ago. Haynes finished off the scoring for UM with another one-yard trip to the end zone. Wisconsin would follow that score with a late FG that did little but lessen their margin of defeat. For Michigan, Haynes toted the rock 19 times for 117 yards and two TDs while Underwood completed 19 of 28 passes for 270 yards and a score. QB Hunter Simmons completed 21 of 29 passes for 177 yards and an interception in the losing effort for the Badgers.
Telling Stat: Bookends to frustration; On their first drive and last drive Wisconsin scored 10 points and gained 128 yards. On their nine other drives, Michigan shutout them out, allowing just 124 total yards.
Illinois 43- Purdue 27: West Lafayette, IN- The Illini got another big day from QB Luke Altmyer while the defense did just enough to keep the Boilermakers at bay. Purdue took an early 7-0 lead when QB Ryan Brownw knifed his way into the end zone from a yard away. They would not lead again. Purdue couldn't really stop the Illini in the first half. The Orange and Blue scored on their final five drives of the half to take a 27-14 lead into the intermission. The third period saw UI trade scores with PU and head into the fourth period up 40-21. Purdue then made things interesting when a one-yard plunge from RB Devin Mockobee made the score 40-27. However, Purdue failed on the two-point conversion and wouldn't score again. Illini PK David Olano finished the scoring with a 40-yard FG to make the final tally 43-27. Altmyer had another efficient day completing 19 of 22 passes for 390 yards and a TD. Backfield mate RB Ca'Lil Valentine led all rushers with 95 yards on 22 carries and a score. In defeat, Browne completed 30 of 50 serials for 302 yards and a touchdown.
Telling Stat: They bent again; The Illinois defense gave up 453 yards and 27 points but managed to hang on for another win.
UCLA 42- Penn State 37: Pasadena, CA- Recipe for a mammoth upset; Take a Nittany Lions squad suffering a hangover from their 2OT loss last week at home to Oregon and then mix in a three time zone road trip. Now, add in PSU's overconfidence in playing the rudderless, winless bRuins. Lastly add in a UCLA squad with nothing to lose and a desire to rock the college football world. That folks is how you get this shocker at the Rose Bowl. Penn State was down 10-0 before their offense ever saw the field. UCLA took the opening kickoff and easily moved 75 yards down field for their first lead of the season when QB Nico Iamaleava threw an 11-yard dart to WR Kwazi Gilmer to go up 7-0. UCLA then perfectly executed and onside kick. Seven plays later, PK Mateen Bhaghani booted a 24-yard FG and the bRuins led 10-0. PSU answered right back when they used 10 plays to cut UCLA's lead to 10-7 on a 13-yard TD scamper by RB Kaytron Allen. Then nothing else went right for PSU in the first half. UCLA's offense under new OC Jerry Neuheisal just ran and threw at will on the Fighting Paternos. Penn State found themselves down 27-7 at the half. The second half would feature PSU in scramble mode trying to mount a comeback. A 40-yard TD pass from QB Drew Allar and six-yard return of a blocked punt by WR Liam Clifford cut UCLA's lead to 27-21 with 7:19 in the third quarter. It looked like a matter of time before the Lions would take over control of the game. They didn't. While UCLA's passing attack stalled, their running game couldn't be stopped. Iamaleava had a run of 52 yards and to set up his own one-yard run to extend UCLA's lead back out to 34-21 to end the third quarter. The teams traded TDs and then PSU got another score on top of that to make it 42-35 with 4:11 left to play. The Lons defense then held for downs at the UCLA 32-yard line. With 2:01 left it looked like PSU would at least tie the game and force overtime. It didn't happen. UCLA stuffed the Blue and White on 4th and 2 at the UCLA nine-yard line. UCLA then ended up taking an intentional safety on fourth down to kill some time off the clock and make sure PSU had to travel a long way for a shot to win the game after a free kick. PSU's last gasp was really a death rattle as they never got near a Hail Mary attempt as the clock expired and UCLA had pulled off the biggest upset of the season. Iamaleavea had a decent day throwing the ball completing 17 of 24 passes for 166 yards and two scores. He really whipped PSU with his legs, gaining 128 yards on 16 carries with three TDs. For the now 3-2 Nittany Lions, Allar completed 19 of 26 passes for 200 yards and two TDs.
Telling Stat: Room to roam; UCLA ran the ball 52 times for 280 yards on a normally stingy Penn State defense.
Washington 24- Maryland 20: College Park, MD- While most of the nation was caught up watching the upsets of Florida over Texas and UCLA over Penn State unfold, a handful of people saw a pretty impressive comeback win by the Huskies. Down 20-0 with 3:48 left in the third period, the Huskies best drive of the day stalled at the Terps 18-yard line. PK Grady Gross came own and made good on a 35-yard FG attempt to make the score 20-3. It seemed like a move just to get some kind of points on the board for UW. Maryland had the game well in hand thought the Big Ten Network announce team who was spending their time debating trivia questions and discussing Penn State's woes. The Terrapins seemed to think it was over too. Funny thing was that Washington didn't think it was over. After forcing a 3 and Out on the possession after the field goal, the Dawgs marched 74 yards on the arm of QB Demond Williams, Jr. who capped off the drive with a three-yard TD pass to WR Denzel Boston. Maryland's lead stood at 20-10 with 14:23 left in regulation. The Terrapins offense went into a shell as the inspired Husky defense forced another 3 and Out. Williams did it all on the ensuing drive, completing passes of 10 and 11 yards to go with a 20-yard run. The fourth play of the drive was a 34-yard scoring strike to WR Dezmon Roebuck. After Gross' PAT the Huskies trailed just 20-17 and you could feel the game slipping away from the Terps. The Huskies needed one more stop on defense and they got it. UW got the ball back with 8:32 left and then burned 5:17 off the clock with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with RB Jonah Coleman smashing into the end zone for the go ahead touchdown. Maryland's last chance to win the game ended in a flurry of incompletions at the UW 43-yard line. For the victorious Huskies, Williams, Jr. completed 28 of 41 passes for 275 yards, two TDs and an interception. He also ran the ball 14 times for 54 yards. Boston, Roebuck and TE Decker DeGraaf combine to catch 16 of Williams Jr.'s passes for 194 yards and two TDs. For the Terps, frosh phenom QB Malik Washington completed 30 of 49 passes for 219 yards, a TD and an interception.
Telling Stat: Anatomy of 24-0; While the Washington offense was busy scoring 24 points over the final 15+ minutes of game time, their defense held Maryland scoreless, allowing only 52 yards and forcing three, 3 and Outs.
Northwestern 42- Louisiana Monroe 7: Evanston, IL- It was another beautiful day at Northwestern's temporary yard on the shore of Lake Michigan. The temp was in the low 80s and the sun-splashed Homecoming crowd was oddly silent after the Warhawks took the opening kickoff and swiftly marched 75 yards for a 7-0 lead. The score came on a 34-yard aerial from QB Aidan Armenta to WR Nic Trujillo. After that it was all Wildcats. They scored on 9 of their next 10 drives to put away ULM and move to 3-2 on the season. QB Preston Stone led the Wildcat attack completing 20 of 31 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile the RB tandem of Caleb Komolafe and Dashun Reeder combined to rush for 154 yards on 24 carries with Komolafe finding paydirt twice for the Wildcats. For the Warhawks, Armenta completed 10 of 19 passes for 129 yards and a TD in the lopsided loss.
Telling Stat: Diminishing Returns = L; ULM scored a TD, missed a FG and then turned the ball over on downs in their first three drives. After that, all but their last drive ended in a punt as the Northwestern defense shut them out over the final 50:47 of the game.
Nebraska 38- Michigan State 27: Lincoln, NE- The Spartans gave the Cornhuskers a game at Memorial Stadium. Its sure didn't look that way at first as the Green and White fell into an early 14-0 hole after giving up a two-yard TD run on a reverse by RB Emmett Johnson and a blocked punt that ended in a three-yard scramble to the end zone from TE Carter Nelson. Michigan State then righted the ship and trailed just 14-7 at the break. The drive for their first TD was a long one. It lasted 17 plays and took 9:45 off the clock and used two QBs. Starter Aiden Chiles was forced out of with an injury. That left redshirt freshman Alessio Miliojevic to finish the drive and he did with a two-yard TD toss to TE Jack Velling. Chiles injury wasn't enough to keep him out and he made the third quarter his own with two TD runs of 16 yards and four yards. Suddenly MSU had a 21-14 lead late in the period. The now silent Huskers home crowd saw their squad get off the deck and score the next 17 points to grab the win. Johnson's second TD gallop of the day, a 23-yarder, tied the game at 21-21. A 27- yard FG by PK Kyle Cunanan gave Nebraska a 24-21 lead. Then on their next possession QB Dylan Raiola hooked with WR Nyziah Hunter for a 59-yard td strike and 31-21 lead. The Blackshirts defense then held MSU for downs and Johnson put the game away with his third TD run of the day. With the score now 38-21, the Spartans got one last score. Milivojevic subbed back in for Chiles and scored on a one-yard plunge to make the final score 38-27. For the Huskers, who were held to their lowest yardage total of the year, Johnson only carried the ball 13 times. However he gained 83 yards and hit paydirt three times to lead the Big Red attack. Raiola finished the day completing 16 of 24 tosses for 194 yards, a TD and an interception. For the Spartans, Chiles completed only 9 of 23 passes for 85 yards and two interceptions, while Milivojevic completed 6 of 7 passes for 71 yards and a TD.
Telling Stat: -5 = W; While the Nebraska offense was scoring their final 17 points, the defense held MSU to -5 yards.
Ohio State 42- Minnesota 3: Columbus, OH- The top ranked Buckeyes and their stingy defense easily handled Minnesota HC P.J. Fleck and his band of merry boat rowers in the last game on the Big Ten dance card for this week. The Golden Gophers opened the scoring with a 13-play, 66-yard march that ended in a 27-yard FG from PK Brady Denaburg. UM frosh QB Drake Lindsey completed eight of nine passes on the drive and it looked like the Gophers had a decent chance of hanging with the Buckeyes. They didn't. TheeeOSU took the lead for good when RB C.J. Donaldson easily crossed the double stripe from a yard out that would put his squad up 7-3. Minnesota's offense would never threaten again after losing the lead. All that remained was just how bad would TheeeOSU beat the Maroon and Gold. Five different Buckeyes would be responsible for the six TDs put on the scoreboard. QB Justin Sayin completed 23 of 27 passes for 326 yards and three TDs. WR Jeremiah Smith hauled in two of those TDs while WR Carnell Tate caught the other TD pass along with eight other receptions for 183 yards. As for the rushing game, RB Bo Jackson carried the ball 13 times for 63 yards and a score. For the overmatched Gophers, Lindsey finished with 15 completions in 26 attempts for 94 yards.
Telling Stat: 11 twice ain't nice; Ohio State held Minnesota to 11 first downs and to just 1 of 11 on 3rd down conversions in this lopsided affair.
Observations
...Collateral damage; Oregon had a bye this week and dropped from #2 to #3 in the AP Poll. Penn State's stumble in Pasadena hurt the Quacks.
...Wearing it out; The most overused term of this season is "complimentary football."
...A depressed sound; As UCLA's upset bid of Penn State started to look more and more like a reality, the in-game updates from Big Ten Network anchor Dave Revsine to the other league games in progress got more and more morose. It was pretty entertaining.
...3 points for 50 years; Tampa Bay beat Seattle this week, 38-35 in a matchup celebrating both teams' entrance into the NFL in 1976. When they first met in 1976, the Buccaneers lost 13-10 on a blocked kick by HOF LB Mike Curtis.
...They're out; Preseason #1 Texas and #2 Penn State have dropped out of the AP Poll.
...Hard to do; In the middle of their rout of North Carolina, Clemson was flagged for three penalties on the same play. All three were live ball fouls. They got called for holding, having an ineligible receiver down field and offensive pass interference. Wow.
...Columbia, gem of the SEC? That a possibility this week as undefeated Missouri hosts Alabama.
...Limping into the Cotton Bowl; Oklahoma will most likely still be without injured QB John Mateer, while Texas unfortunately has a healthy Arch Manning available for the annual meeting between the two schools in Dallas. I do get a kick out of the fact that this game is one of the listed events of the Texas State Fair.
...In the company of Rockne; TheeeOSU HC Ryan Day's winning percentage as a HC now stands .882 after his Buckeyes beat Minnesota. That moves him past Rockne and his .881 winning. However, Day needs couple more seasons of that level of excellence to officially qualify to supplant ol' Knute in the record books.
...Baby it's cold outside; While most games were played in great conditions and warmer than normal temperature across the country, you can imagine my surprise when I turned on the UNLV-Wyoming game to see the teams battling it out in the snow. Yes, there was snow, slush and a wintry mix in Laramie.
...Slouching towards Dabo; Yeah, I was rooting for Clemson to whip North Carolina. It was fun to see the look on Bill Belichick's face as his Tarheels were getting worked over.
...Being a dad matters; I know CBS analyst Rick Neuheisal took a lot of guff from fans all over the country for being biased as the network kept going to him for reactions as his son, Jerry was the OC that helped lead UCLA to their massive upset of Penn State. Oh well, sometimes you just have to be a dad. Not many folks are ever in the position that Rick was last week. Proud Papa
....Left behind and miserable; Oregon State is 0-6 and has fired special teams coach Jamie Christian. The program is now conducting a review of the program according to AD Scott Barnes Not a Tammy Wynette
...A 2-3 miracle; How can Coastal Carolina be 2-3 when they've score just 65 points all season? That's a very unimpressive 13 points per game. Hmmmmmmm
...Trouble on the banks of the Red Cedar; With the way Alessio Milivojevic played in stints for an injured Aiden Chiles, Michigan State could have a genuine QB controversy on their hands.
...Walking away?; After his Wildcats were whipped 35-14 by Georgia, Kentucky HC Mark Stoops was grilled by the media over rumors that he had approached the school admin earlier in the week about a possible buyout of his contract. Kentucky is 2-3 overall and 0-3 in SEC play. Moving On?
...He did what?; In an FCS clash, Western Carolina QB Taron Dickens completed his first 46 passes in a 23-21 win for the Catamounts over the Wofford Terriers. Yes, he completed 46 in a row! The 46 straight completions is a new NCAA record. He finished the game completing 53 of 56 passes for 378 yards and three TDs.
...A Good slate; This week's Big Ten schedule features a battle of undefeateds as Indiana travels to Oregon. Then USC hosts Michigan for the first time since 1957. Oh, and bet the under in the Wisconsin-Iowa game. It's' currently at 36.5 points.
...It's true; Mark Sanchez is another example of the old saying that nothing good happens after midnight. Sigh.
...Huge miss; It's a shame that Georgia Tech and Miami won't face each other in the regular season this year.
...Not feeling him; Undefeated BYU isn't missing former QB Jake Retzlaff at all.
Big Ten Overreactions
Penn State will go 8-4.
UCLA is playing with house money for the rest for the year.
Ohio State's defense is the best in the nation.
Minnesota is a 6-6 team.
Northwestern is a 4-8 team.
Illinois' defense will cost them three games.
Maryland has just learned that three quarters aren't a full game.
Purdue wonders what having a defense is like.
Washington can be a dangerous team.
Michigan is David Shaw's Stanford.
Wisconsin is busy putting together Luke Fickell's buyout package.
Michigan State is still two years away.
Nebraska is a couple plays away form 8-4 or 6-6.
Keeping Up With Your Exes
Cal celebrated their 59 Nobel Prize winners with a special decal on their helmets this week. Then they went out and blew a 14-0 lead and lost at home, 45-21 to Duke. Meanwhile Arizona slapped around hapless Oklahoma State for a full four quarters in a 41-13 rout of the Cowboys.
CFL Update
There are three weeks left tithe regular season North of the Border and four teams have punched their tickets for postseason play. In the West Division, Saskatchewan and British Columbia are playoff bound atop the division with 11-4 and 9-7 records respectively. The East sees Hamilton with a 10-6 mark on top and Montreal at 8-7 as 1-2 in the standings and on their way to the playoffs. Oh, and the Commissioner's favorite squad. the Edmonton Elks are 6-9 and dead last in the West. The guys at 3 Down Nation do a great job covering the CFL and Canadian college ball in the Great White North. 110 Yards
Ugly Uniform of the Week
This week's winner is Notre Dame for breaking out this ugly all-green ensemble v. Boise State. This is just ugly. Was ND was trying to channel their inner Oregon? Hmmmm
A Chicle of Wisdom
This week's words of wisdom come form card #5 in the National Chicle football set. The card features Detroit Lions halfback, Glenn Presnell. Coach Casey discusses how Glenn cradles the pigskin to teach us all a lesson on ball security. Fun Fact: Presnell was regarded as one of the finest placekickers of his era. on 10-7, 1934 Presnell booted a 54-yard FG. It was the only points scored in Detroit's 3-0 win at Green Bay. Presnell's kick stood as the longest field goal in NFL history for 19 years.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Kings Point, NY- Once again we head to the D-III ranks where MIT makes their second appearance this year in this blog. They were on the right end of a blowout win a couple weeks back, but this time they are on the wrong end of a 6-3 loss to the Merchant Marine Academy. The Beavers took an early 3-0 lead on a 22-yard FG from PK Luke Pelletier, but Merchant Marine PK Karson Bye kicked a 41-yard FG on the final play of the first half and a 44-yard FG with 4:41 left in the game to lift the Mariners to victory.
Blowout Game of the Week: Greencastle, IN- We stay in D-III for this week's game. In North Coast Athletic Conference action the DePauw Tigers crushed the Oberlin College Yeomen, 75-0. The Tigers were up 14-0 before their offense ever set foot on the field thanks to a pair of fumble returns for TDs by DT Chris Green and LB Toreeq Jimoh-Oyesigi. That set the stage for the offense to extend the lead to 42-0 by the end of the first quarter. Up 61-0 at the break, DePauw emptied the benches and everyone got their letter. DePauw did not let a single Obelrin drive get past the Yeomen's own 40-yard line and gave up only three first downs.
Razorback Report: The Hogs were off this past weekend and I presume are getting their new coaching staff members together with new interim HC Bob Petrino to try and get a gameplan together to go face Tennessee at Neyland Stadium on 10/11.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
Sometimes, you just need a good flagpole.
I'm a sucker for Fall decorations.
The Harvest Super Moon was pretty spectacular this week.
Until next time folks, remember that no school has ever hung banner for their preseason ranking.
-The Commissioner
