In a wild and hectic week nine on the national college football scene, the Big Ten certainly didn’t disappoint. Penn State-Ohio State turned out to a be one of the best games of the season and set the Buckeyes up for a National Championship run. Northwestern knocked off Michigan State to throw off the Big Ten East. Meanwhile in the Big Ten West, the Badgers continued their winning ways by beating Illinois and maintaining their two-game lead over NU.
Northwestern & Michigan State play a 3-OT thriller
Leading up to kickoff the betting line hardly moved and that suggested it would be a close game because Michigan State was only a one and half point favorite to beat Northwestern.
The first half looked like it would live up its hype as Michigan State started off the scoring by going on a 7-play, 92-yard touchdown drive. It would tack on three more points with their first drive in the second quarter by settling for a field goal. It would take Northwestern until its second possession in the second quarter to respond with a touchdown of its own. Before the half closed, Northwestern would tack on a field goal to tie the game up.
The second half would prove to add to this classic in the making as both defenses came out ready to play in the third quarters. Whenever you are talking classic games in the making, you have to mention special teams plays and in this case it was two mistakes that made the difference as the Spartan field goal kicker missed two field goals.
The Wildcats would start the scoring in the second half by going 58 yards on five plays to score the first touchdown of the half. It would take until the dying minutes of the regulation until the Spartans answered with a touchdown that would send this game into overtime.
In the first two overtimes, both teams scored. Northwestern started off the third overtime by scoring on two plays and completing its two point conversion. Michigan State would try to respond but ended up turning it over as Brian Lewerke threw an interception on their second play, sealing its defeat and most likely any hope in contending for a college football playoff spot.
Ohio State second half comeback saves season as it defeats Penn State
Penn State came out swinging as the Heisman front-runner Saquon Barkley returned the opening kickoff 97-yards. Ohio State would try to respond but fumbled on its ensuing possesion. Penn State would capitalize off the turnover by adding another touchdown. Ohio State would get its first points by kicking a field goal midway through the first quarter. The second quarter looked like a championship-boxing match as both opponents traded scores and entered half with Penn State leading 28-10.
The word to describe Penn State’s play calling offensively in the second half is "lethargic" as it seemed tentative to call any major plays to try to win the game.
Ohio State on the other hand had to lay it all on the field in the second half as it trailed by 15 points after Penn State’s touchdown to start the second half.
After struggling to find their offensive identity in the third quarter the Buckeyes came out swinging in a pivotal fourth quarter as they scored touchdowns on all three of their offensive possessions to take the lead 39-38 with 1:48 remaining. Their defense responded by only allowing Penn State a field goal in the fourth and shutting down the Penn State offense when it mattered most on its final drive.
After a crazy week, Ohio State sits comfortably now in the lead of the Big Ten East as Penn State and Michigan State both loses leave the Buckeyes with only one true test besides the Big Ten Title game, that being the Spartans in week 11.
Week 10 Preview
Coming off a disappointing performance, Penn State goes into East Lansing looking to beat Michigan State to stay in the Big Ten East chase. The game can be seen at 11 a.m. on FOX. Ohio State will try to avoid an upset as they go into Kinnick Stadium to face the Iowa Hawkeyes. The game can be seen at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN. The final major game of the week is an old rivalry as a new chapter is written as the Minnesota Gophers go to Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines. The game can be seen on FOX at 6:30 p.m.
