Hey All,
It's time for a better late than never edition of Notes on a Big Ten Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 38- Northwestern 17: Los Angeles, CA- Coming off a short week of rest the Trojans took on a Wildcat squad off a bye at the Coliseum last Friday night. The Wildcats were ready for SC as the teams traded TDs with the Trojans being unable to stop the NU rushing game. The score stood 14-14 with USC's two TDs coming on a 7-yard TD pass from QB Jayden Maiava to WR Makai Lemon and a 6-yard scramble to the end zone from Maiava where he trucked a Wildcat defender on the goal line. SC's second score was made possible by a fake punt that featured 3rd string QB Sam Huard, wearing the same #80 as Punter Sam Johnson wears, throwing a 16-yard pass to WR Tanook Hines for a first down. After forcing a Northwestern punt, the Trojans averted total disaster with another big play from Maiava. With 3:25 left in the second quarter, Maiava took the shotgun snap, rolled right and dumped a pass off to his TE. However, NU DT Najee Story had dropped off the line of scrimmage and intercepted the pass on the SC 25-yard line. He then rumbled towards the end zone. Maiava hit Story right before he crossed the goal line. The ball popped free and and ended up rolling out the back of the end zone for a touchback. On the next play, USC RB King Miller took the ball on 1st and 10 from the 20 and bolted 55 yards to the NU 25-yard line. Two plays later, Miller ran around the left end almost untouched 12 yards for a TD and a 21-14 Trojan lead. Northwestern never recovered from that sequence of plays. The USC defense went on to stuff the Wildcat offense the rest of the way allowing just a FG while the Trojan offense continued to score. SC got a 10-yard TD pass which featured an absolutely amazing grab from WR Ja'Kobi Lane, a 4-yard TD run by Lemon on a nifty little misdirection play and a 22-Yard FG from PK Ryan Sayeri to put the game away.
Telling Stat: 14 point switch = W; The 14 point switch that occurred when Northwestern fumbled a pick six out of the end zone for a touchback coupled by USC's immediate TD afterwards changed the game.
Indiana 27- Penn State 24: Happy Valley, PA- Indiana was supposed to win this in blowout fashion. However the Fighting Paternos showed great heart and pride in almost pulling off the upset over the Hoosiers. The first quarter was a see-saw affair. IU opened the scoring on their third possession of the game on a 3-play drive that covered 68 yards. The drive started with a 53-yard bomb to WR Charlie Becker who was tackled at the PSU 15-yard line. The drive finished when Mendoza avoided the rush, stepped up in the pocket and then ran 18 yards up the middle for a TD and a 7-0 lead. Penn State tied the game on the ensuing possesion when a 43-yard pass from QB Ethan Grunkemeyer to WR Trebor Pena moved the ball to the IU 13-yard line. A couple plays later RB Nick Singleton blasted up the middle from the 2 yards out to tie the score at 7-7. Then it began to look like the Hoosiers would run away with the game. A ticky-tack holding call on PSU led to a 28-yard FG from PK Nico Radicic and 10-7 IU lead. Disaster struck the Lions on their next possession when Grunkemeyer hit RB Kaytron Allen with short pass. Allen fumbled and IU took over the ball on the PSU 22-yard line. RB Kaelon Black made the most the fumble by rumbling across the goal line from a yard away to give the Crimson and Cream a 17-7 going into the half. The Lions turned over the ball to start the second half when Grunkmeyer's 2nd Down pass was tipped and picked off by LB Aiden Fisher. That turnover resulted in a 31 yard FG from Radicic and 20-7 lead for Indiana. It looked like the Lions were whipped. However they got off the deck and mounted a serious comeback. They wrapped a 36-yard FG from PK Ryan Barker and a 1-yard run for a TD around an Indiana punt to make the score 20-17 11:36 left in the contest. The Nittanys needed a stop to have a shot to win the game and they got an epic one that set Beaver Stadium rocking. On 2nd and 8 from the IU 27-yard line, PSU DB King Mack read Mendoza's. eyes and raced over to sideline and picked off a deep out pattern at the Indiana 44-yard line. Penn State would take the lead when Grunkemeyer threw a beautiful screen to Singleton who sprinted through the Hoosier defense for a TD and 24-20 lead. After forcing a punt by the Hoosiers on the next drive, The Blue and White could not run out the clock. That left IU with 1:15 left and the ball at their own 20-yard line. Indiana then put a signature win on their resume when Mendoza led his team down the field 80 yards in 10 plays with WR Omar Cooper, Jr. making one the best catches anyone has seen all year. How he managed to get a toe in and maintain control of the ball is beyond me. Indiana then held on for the final :13 to stay undefeated and grab the school's first ever win at Penn State. Mendoza had a fine game, completing 19 of 30 passes for 218 yards, a TD and an interception. Becker had a breakout game himself. He caught 7 of Mendoza's passes for 118 yards. For the still winless in Big Ten play Lions, Grunkemeyer completed 22 of 31 tosses for 219 yards, a TD and an interception. Singleton accounted for all 3 of PSU's TDs in the bitter loss.
Telling Stat: 1/3 is Fun; Indiana won their first game ever at Penn State and just their third overall against the Nittany Lions in a series that goes back to 1993 when PSU joined the Big Ten.
Ohio State 34- Purdue 10: West Lafayette, IN- Things started sluggishly for the Buckeyes as Purdue held a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter on a 40-yard FG from PK Spencer Porath. On the ensuing drive, TheeeOSU got it together and marched 75 yards in 9 plays. They took a 7-0 lead when RB C.J. Donaldson made a 1-yard plunge into the end zone. The Buckeyes would never give the lead up. In fact, they would go out to a 24-3 halftime lead on a 35-yard TD toss from QB Justin Sayin to WR Jeremiah Smith, a 3-yard TD run by backup QB Lincoln Kienholz on a keeper over the right side and 49-yard FG from PK Jayden Fielding just before half. The third quarter saw Sayin' throw a bad pass across his body that was picked off by Purdue DL C.J. Nunnally in the Boilermaker end zone on 3rd and Goal. That interception snuffed out the only scoring threat of the period. The Scarlet and Gray erased any hopes of a Purdue miracle upset with a 45-yard FG from Fielding and an another 12-yard TD plunge from Donaldson. The score then stood at 34-3 Buckeyes with 6:19 to play. PU would get a late TD on TheeeOSU's subs to round out the scoring. For the now 9-0 Buckeyes, Sayin completed 27 of 33 passes for 303 yards, a TD and an interception. In the loss, PU QB Ryan Browne completed 10 of 20 passes for 76 yards and an interception.
Telling Stat: Foundation for a W; After giving up 85 yards and a FG on Purdue's first two drives, Ohio State's defense gave up only 31 more yards and zero points until the benches were emptied and the game was well in hand.
Rutgers 35- Maryland 20: Piscataway, NJ- This game was a fight between teams hoping to keep their bowl hopes alive. The Scarlet Knights prevailed in what was easily their best game of the season. A workhorse and balance were key to the Rutgers victory. The workhorse was RB Antwan Raymond who lugged the leather 41 times for 240 yards and a TD while the balance was provided by QB Athan Kaliakmanis who completed 13 of 20 aerials for 229 yards, 4 TDs and 2 interceptions. Rutgers didn't have that balance as QB Malik Washington was most of the offense for the Terps. He completed 15 of 28 passes for 98 yards, a TD and an interception, but also ran the ball 8 times for 164 yards and a score. This was a tight game with Rutgers holding a 21-17 lead at the break. The second half saw the defense of the Scarlet Knights shutdown the Terrapins to pave the way for the win. While the RU offense was busy putting up two more TDs on board via a 14-yard pass from Kaliakmanis to WR Ian Strong and a 5-yard gallop form Raymond, the defense held Maryland to 81 total yards and 3 points.
Telling Stat: 229= W; While neither team could stop the run, (the teams combined for 561 yards rushing on 78 carries), it was the passing of RU's Athan Kaliakmanis 229 yards and 4 TDs that won the game.
Oregon 18- Iowa 16: Iowa City, IA- There was a raucous crowd at Kinnick Stadium in a the cold and rain that greeted the Ducks last Saturday. There was also a pretty good group of Hawkeyes that were hoping to upset the Quack Attack. When all was said and done it was Iowa's own special teams gaffe that would end up costing them the game. UO came into this one without most of their receiving corps due to injuries and would lose more skill players as the game went on. The game would be a fistfight in a phone booth as both teams dedicated themselves to running then ball and passing when they had to. The first big break of the game came in the first quarter when Hawkeye long snapper, Bryant Worrell, air mailed a snap wide and over the head of punter Rhys Dakin. Daikin did his best to catch up to the ball, but all he could do was force the ball out of his own end zone to prevent a TD. It was a safety and a 2-0 lead for the Ducks. The Webfoots were able to extend their lead to 9-0 early in the second quarter. QB Dante Morre led an 8-play, 82-yard drive that was capped off by a RB Dierre Hill who took the handoff from Moore, went left and weaved his way through the Iowa defense 19 yards for the TD. Iowa then answered that drive with a TD of their own on the ensuing possession. The Hawkeyes ran the ball 8 straight times to get to midfield. On the 9th play, QB Mark Gronowski threw 38-yard strike to WR Jacob Gill. The next play saw Gronowklsi throw a 3-yard TD toss to TE D.J. Vonnahme. Oregon would extend their lead to 12-7 with a 46-yard FG from PK Atticus Sappington on the last play of the half. Iowa was poised to take the lead in the third quarter, but fumbled on the Oregon 13-yard line. That led to another FG from Sappington. It was form 40 yards out and UO led, 15-7 heading into the final quarter. Iowa forged a comeback when they got a school record 58-yard FG from PK Drew Stevens to cut Oregon's lead to 15-10 with 12:39 left. Iowa then forced an Oregon punt only to get the ball at their own 7-yard line. The Hawkeyes then drove 93 yards for the go-ahead score. Gronowksi did the honors on a QB draw to put Iowa up 16-15. The following two-point conversion attempt would fail. That left Oregon with 1:52 left on the clock and all their time outs with one last chance to win the game. The Webfoots marched down to the Iowa 21-yard line where Sappington would have a chance to win the game from 39-yards away. He tucked his kick just inside the left upright and you could hear Kinnick Stadium go dead silent as the kick sailed over the crossbar. The Ducks escaped Iowa with the win. In the win, Moore completed 13 of 21 passes for 112 yards and an interception, while RB Noah Whittington led all rushers with 118 yards on 17 carries. For the Hawkeyes, Gronowski completed 10 of 18 for 138 yards and a TD. He also ran for 25 yards on 12 carries with a score.
Telling Stat: Special Teams win championships; Three FG's from PK Atticus Sappington and a Safety on a punt handed Oregon the win.
Wisconsin 13- Washington 10: Madison, WI- The Badgers brought the same defense they had at Oregon a couple weeks ago back for their home game with the Huskies. And just like a couple of weeks ago, they trailed by a TD at the half. However, this time as the weather deteriorated in the second half, it was the Huskies that faded down the stretch and the Badgers got their first Big Ten win of 2025. The score stood 10-3 Dawgs at the break. Here's how we got there. After a scoreless first period which saw both offenses get stopped for downs, Wisconsin PK Nate Vakos opened up the scoring with a 42-yard FG from just inside the left hash. Then Husky PK Grady Gross nailed a 42-yarder of his own also from just inside the left hash. Wisconsin's next drive stalled and then on 4th down the Purple Gang broke through the line and LB Anthony Ward blocked the punt. The Dawgs recovered the ball on the Badgers 1-yard line. 2 plays later, QB Demond Williams, Jr. threw a beautiful back shoulder fade to WR Denzel Boston for a TD and a 10-3 lead. Then when it looked like the Huskies had a chance go up two TDs at the half, Williams, Jr. threw a bomb down the right sideline which was picked off by CB Ricardo Hallman. After the half, Washington was forced to fumble on a strip sack deep in his own territory. The ball was recovered by Badgers DE Mason Posa on the Huskies 7-yard line. Two plays later, QB Carter Smith took the shotgun snap, ran around left end and powered his way 2 yards to paydirt. The game now stood tied at 10-10. Now the rain that was starting to fall at Camp Randall turned into that pleasant term for awful weather called Wintry Mix. On their next possession, the Huskies went backwards and were forced to punt from their own 5-yard line. The Badgers ended up with the ball at the Washington 36-yard line. 22 yards and six plays later, Vakos booted one through the snow and rain 32 yards for a 13-10 lead. The Dawgs then drove into long FG range. The Badgers special teams then made the play of the game when OL Ben Barten got one of his big mitts up and blocked the kick. After that it was both defenses asserting themselves with the Badgers making one final stop of the Huskies with 1:08 left to secure the victory. The win snapped the Badgers 6-game losing streak. In the win, Smith only completed 3 of 12 passes for 8 yards, but the ran ball 15 times for 47 yards and a TD. In the loss, Williams, Jr. completed 20 of 32 passes for 134 yards, a TD and an interception.
Telling Stat: 2+1= W; Wisconsin forced 2 turnovers and blocked a Washington FGA. Those plays were the difference in the game.
Nebraska 28- UCLA 21: Pasadena, CA- The Rose Bowl was filled with a sea of visiting Nebraska fans waiting to see if their Huskers would bounce back after being beaten at home by USC the previous week. It was also a homecoming for backup QB T.J. Lateef who played his high school ball at Orange Lutheran. He played in place of injured starter Dylan Raiola who is out for the year with a broken fibula. Lateef turned out to be one key piece of a battle that featured his arm and backfield mate RB Emmett Johnson's legs v. The arm and legs of UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava. The Big Red led 21-7 at the half. They got those 21 points on a 2-yard TD pass from Lateef to WR Jacory Barney, Jr., a 56-yard toss from Lateef to Johnson where Johnson took a short dump off and raced down the sidelines and a 1-yard plunge from Johnson. UCLA's lone tally came on a 1-yard run from RB Jalen Berger. Nebraska scored again on the first drive of the second half on a 40-yard TD pass from Lateef to Johnson. That made the score 28-7 and it looked like NU would hang 50 on the bRuins. However, UCLA got back into the game on the ensuing drive when Iamaleava hit RB Anthony Woods with a short pass at midfield and he sprinted past the NU defense 45 yards for a TD. UCLA's defense responded by shutting out Nebraska the rest of the way. The game got real tight with 4:54 left when Iamaleava connected with RB Anthony Frias II at the NU 9-yard line. Frias II found paydirt from there and it was a 28-21 game. Ah, but UCLA would not ge the ball back again. Nebraska killed the clock with a 9-play drive that covered 36 yards to kill the clock. For the victorious Cornhuskers, Lateef completed 13 of 15 passes for 205 yards and 3 TDs while Johnson toted the rock for 129 yards on 28 carries and a TD. He also caught 3 passes for 103 yards and two scores. For UCLA, Iamaleava completed 17 of 25 throws for 191 yards and two TDs. He also ran for 86 yards on 15 carries.
Telling Stat: Obvious fact; Nebraska's one extra scoring drive was the difference in the game. Seriously folks, this one was as statically even as you could get. Even the time of possession was a 30:00-30:00 split.
Observations
...It's illegal now; Big Ten says SC should have been penalized for having two players with the same number at the same position when 3rd string QB Sam Huard executed a fake punt and threw for a first down v Northwestern last week. Hmmmmmmm. My only argument is why would SC get penalized on that play? SC had not punted yet, wouldn't a penalty come only on SC's second punt when Sam Johnson actually did become the second player to play the position with that number? Ahhhh semantics.
...He may be gone; Big vibes around Texas right now that HC Steve Sarkisian is headed to the NFL. A key sign all be if the Longhorns recruiting class starts to fall apart in the coming weeks.
...Pasadena in their rearview mirror; Looks like UCLA is moving their home games from the Rose Bowl to SoFi Stadium. When that will happen could be soon, but there is the little matter of the fact that the bRuins have a lease that runs until 2044 with the Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl and the City of Pasadena has filed a restraining order to block the move. Wilted Roses
...They are done; After a postgame fight between D-III schools Guilford and College and Averett University, the schools and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference have come to an agreement to end both schools seasons. They will both forfeit their final game of the season. Read the statement here form the league. From the ODAC
...Keep it tucked in boys; Colorado QB Julian Lewis was taken down by his hair by West Virgina LB MarShon Oxley last Saturday. Yanked!
...Pain is universal; Every fan base complains. some of the more fun thread titles taken from fan message boards across the country this week were... Fire the whole staff!, We paid for a team this bad, and Defense cant't stop a fart.
...Under for the L; In all 3 of Washington's losses they have been held to under 300 yards of total offense.
...Half century first; I've been going to the Coliseum for 50 years, however last Friday was the first time I encountered a feral cat during a game. In the last of the third quarter, all sudden my leg was hit and my foot stepped on as a feral cat barreled down the aisle and then disappeared from sight. Hmmmmmm
...And then there was 1; With Sam Houston State's upset of Oregon State last week that leaves UMass as the only winless team in the FBS.
...The few, the beaten, the bowl ineligible; There are six Power Four conference schools that are ineligible for a bowl this year. They are Arkansas, Purdue, Syracuse, Boston College, Oklahoma State and Colorado.
...Stiffarm Statue Vibe; As of this week, my Heisman frontrunner is Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. The kid is nails in the clutch.
...They are 1 and 1; The San Jose State passing combo of QB Walker Eget and WR Danny Scudero lead the FBS in passing yards and receding yards. Eget has thrown for 2,941 yards while Scudero has 1,126 yards receiving.
...The fall is real; Watching Oregon State lose at home to then 0-8 Sam Houston State shows just how badly damaged the breakup of the Pac 12 has been for the Beavers.
...Tusk explained; Trojan faithful all know the song Tusk and how the SC band collaborated with Fleetwood Mac for the iconic tune. ESPN took a stab at the history of the song, so to speak, with this article. Mick, Tony and Art
...He wants it all; Former LSU HC Brian Kelly has rejected the admin's buyout offers and will seek the full 54 million dollars he is owed by the school. It's always the money
...Twice is a first; For the first time in school history Rutgers has consecutive 1,000 yard rushers. Antwan Raymond ran the ball last Saturday 41 times for 240 yards v. Maryland to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark for the season. In 2024, current Chicago Bears rookie sensation Kyle Monangai rushed for 1,279 yards for the Scarlet Knights.
...He said it; West Virginia HC Rich Rodriguez said he likes giving his team opportunities to compete, but said about himself, "I'm too old to do anything else other than play pickleball."
Big Ten Overreactions
Indiana is a a one-and-done in the CFP.
Penn State has lots of heart and no offense.
Ohio State is sleepwalking through games.
Purdue is an almost team.
USC just needs to keep grinding.
Northwestern needs receivers.
Rutgers will still go 5-7.
Maryland is two years away.
Wisconsin also has lots of heart and no offense.
Washington is an 8-4 team.
Oregon is thankful for a bad snap.
Iowa is 10 points away from 9-0.
UCLA can't stop the run.
Nebraska can't stop a running QB.
Keeping Up With Your Exes
Cal became bowl eligible at 6-4 with a 29-26 upset win at Louisville over the #15 ranked Cardinals. Meanwhile Stanford lost a tough one at North Carolina, 20-15. Arizona also became bowl eligible with a 24-20 win over Kansas and Colorado became bowl ineligible with 29-22 loss at West Virginia.
CFL Update
A pair of 3's decided the conference finals in the Great White North. In the Eastern Final, the Montreal Alouettes held on a for a 19-16 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In the Western Final, the Saskatchewan Roughriders held on for a 24-21 win over the B.C. Lions. The means this coming Sunday at 3 PM Pacific Standard Time, Montreal will take on the Roughriders in the 112th Grey Cup.
Uniform Gift of the Week
Kansas City Chiefs QB and Texas Tech alum designed and then gifted these splashy togs to the teams last week for their game with BYU.
A Chicle of Wisdom
This week's wisdom from the 1935 National Chicle football set comes from card #18 Mike Mikulak. Coach Casey cautions us as to how a member of the backfield can't tip off where a play is going. He then speaks of Mikluak's ability to be at top speed at the start of each play.
Low Score Game of the Week: Columbus, OH- This week's game comes form the Ohio Athletic Conference in D-III where the Muskingum University Muskies rallied for a 7-3 win over the Capital University Comets. Comets PK Ethan Graham gave Capital a 3-0 lead ob the final pay of the first half with a 23-yard FG. Then with 10:58 left in the fourth quarter, Muskingum RB Riley Woodie crossed the double strip form a yard out for the game-wining TD. Woodie ran for 100 yards on 28 carries to lead all rushers.
Blowout Game of the Week: New Wilmington, PA- It was Senior Day at Westminster College and what it was as the Titans spanked the Terriers of Hiram College, 76-0. QB Quentin Goode completed 11 of 14 passes for 132 yard and a TD while RB Clayton Cannon Jr. ran for 69 yards 10 carries with 3 scores to lead the Titan attack. The Westminster defense held Hiram to 6 yards rushing on the day.
Razorback Report: The Hogs were thankfully off this week and will travel to LSU next week.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
Getting handed a small sample of piping hot potato nuggets to munch on while waiting for your order at Slavko's is one of the great pleasures in life.
I can't believe it's mid-November. Where did October go?
Foghorns are a daily wake up call nowadays.
Until next time folks, remember that teams that run the ball well win more games.
-The Commissioner
