It was a rather uneventful Week 8 for the Big Ten. Ohio State and Michigan State both kept their undefeated records intact, Penn State edged past Maryland and Bart Houston laid the foundation for his 2016 Heisman campaign by helping Wisconsin best Illinois.
The focus now turns to Halloween weekend, where 10 teams will be in action.
Illinois travels to Happy Valley looking to bounce back from a two-game losing streak against Penn State. Nebraska goes on the road to take on Purdue, hoping to keep its fleeting bowl hopes alive. The Wisconsin Badgers welcome in Rutgers to Camp Randall Stadium as they try to extend their winning streak to four. Iowa will seek to move to 8-0 when it faces off against the 2-5 Maryland Terrapins. And Michigan will travel to Minnesota, looking to rebound from its heartbreaking loss to Michigan State.
Both Michigan and Iowa were on a bye last weekend, and as a result, you’ll notice a stunning lack of change in this week’s power rankings.
1. Ohio State, 50 points
J.T. Barrett is now the man in Columbus, which should terrify the rest of the Big Ten.
After weeks of watching starting quarterback Cardale Jones struggle, head coach Urban Meyer finally officially named Barrett, who had been used in the red zone over the past few games, as the new starter under center.
The early returns were positive, as the Buckeyes put together their most complete performance of the year in a 49-7 win over Maryland. Barrett threw for 223 yards and three touchdowns on 14-of-18 passing and ran for an additional 101 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in his first start since last year’s regular-season finale against Michigan.
Ohio State looks like a team that will finally start firing on all cylinders, which is great news for the Buckeyes as the calendar turns to November and they look to defend their national title.
2. Michigan State, 37 points
The Spartans have mastered the art of underwhelming each and every week, yet still finding a way to win.
This week’s challenger was Indiana, a team that was coming off a loss to Rutgers that saw it blow a 25-point second-half lead. The Hoosiers hung with the Spartans throughout most of the afternoon and only trailed 28-26 after three quarters. However, they once again fell apart in the fourth quarter, allowing Michigan State to pull away for a 52-26 win.
Senior quarterback Connor Cook was stellar, throwing for 398 yards and four touchdowns on 30-of-52 passing.
The injury-plagued Spartans get a much-needed bye week this weekend before preparing for a pivotal November stretch run that includes a colossal showdown with Ohio State in Columbus Nov. 21.
3. Michigan, 31 points
“Then they cried to the Harbaugh in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the Hoke. Let them give thanks to the Harbaugh for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for Michigan men.” – Psalm 107: 19-21
By the time the Fightin’ Harbaughs take the field Saturday night in Minneapolis, a full fortnight will have passed since their soul-crushing loss at the hands of Michigan State.
Adversity comes in many forms whenever Satan decides to rear his ugly, unholy head. Why, just this week, the Wolverines received 666 points in the AP poll.
But fear not, Michigan fans, for Khaki Jesus shall free you from the tight grasp of Lucifer and lead you to the Promised Land that is the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl.
The road to redemption starts this week on the road against the Minnesota Gophers. After that comes manageable games against Rutgers, Indiana and Penn State. And finally, in their regular-season finale, the Wolverines will welcome Ohio State into Ann Arbor.
4. Iowa, 22 points
The Hawkeyes are coming off a bye and will face the hapless Maryland Terrapins this weekend, so I really don’t have much to say about that game.
It may go against everything Kirk Ferentz stands for to not finish 8-4 or 7-5, but it’s hard to imagine the Hawkeyes losing to a Maryland team that’s right alongside Purdue in the Big Ten cellar.
Hawkeye fans will get to spend their Halloween watching their team obliterate Maryland and move to 8-0, before returning to their frightening reality of living in the desolate wasteland that is Iowa.
5. Northwestern, 6 points
After back-to-back drubbings at the hands of Michigan and Iowa, the Wildcats got back on track with a win over struggling Nebraska in Lincoln.
Freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson threw for 177 yards and a touchdown and ran for 126 yards and another score to help guide Northwestern past the Cornhuskers, and Pat Fitzgerald paid homage to former Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini by dropping an f-bomb on live television.
With the win, the Wildcats moved to 6-2 and reached bowl eligibility for the first time since 2012. Though any hopes of winning the Big Ten West are essentially gone, barring a total collapse by Iowa, they still have a very real shot of reaching 10 wins for just the fourth time in school history.
