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After getting some egg on its face last week, the Big Ten has an opportunity to make some omelets this week.
It’s hard to know what to make of Auburn this season, but no non-conference opponent has beaten the Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium since national champion Clemson in 2016. So Penn State can put a feather in its cap with a win there Saturday.
Nebraska has a chance to make the past 5 years look like they were merely a bad dream if it can somehow stun No. 6 Oklahoma in Mickey Joseph’s coaching debut.
Purdue, now an underdog at Syracuse, can prove that bettors are sleeping on the Boilermakers.
Michigan State, likewise an underdog in its trip to Washington despite being ranked 11th, can also silence some doubters.
And Spencer Petras could throw his first touchdown pass since the Citrus Bowl in leading Iowa to 2 touchdowns or even more against Nevada.
Here is 1 B1G thought for each of Saturday’s Big Ten games. Illinois is idle this week after getting a head-start to its season in Week Zero.
No. 6 Oklahoma (2-0) at Nebraska (1-2)
When: Noon ET, FOX
B1G thought: Good thing FOX didn’t use Scott Frost in any of the commercials previewing this game. That’d be awkward.
Believe it or not, Nebraska has reason for confidence here. The past year-plus has been a tense atmosphere of everyone waiting for the other shoe to drop on Frost. Now it’s dropped.
Huskers quarterback Casey Thompson shredded the Sooners last year, passing for 388 yards and 5 touchdowns when he was at Texas. Returning Cornhuskers know they could have won last year’s game in Norman if they hadn’t made every kicking mistake in the book, which includes having a blocked PAT returned for 2 points. And Oklahoma’s offense has been shaky on third downs against UTEP and Kent State.
This is going to be closer than oddsmakers think. Oklahoma enters an 11-point favorite.
UConn (1-2) at No. 4 Michigan (2-0)
When: Noon ET, ABC
B1G thought: FCC decency laws should have prevented this game from being televised nationally on ABC. Children can see this. Whichever party adds this plank to their platform before November will win the midterm elections.
Western Kentucky (2-0) at Indiana (2-0)
When: Noon ET, BTN
B1G thought: Both teams have wins over FCS opponents that were still in considerable doubt well into the third quarter.
Indiana’s offensive balance is something to watch for. The Hoosiers beat Illinois behind Connor Bazelak’s 330 passing yards, then used Shaun Shivers’ 155 rushing yards to come back against Idaho. Can Walt Bell get the passing and running games clicking at the same time?
Purdue (1-1) at Syracuse (2-0)
When: Noon ET, ESPN2
B1G thought: The Orange have been surprisingly solid on defense this season, and they haven’t even been using Jim Boeheim’s zone. Syracuse is allowing 10.5 points per game after opening the year against Louisville and UConn.
If this is indeed a legitimate show of things to come, Purdue will have a fight on its hands at the former Carrier Dome. But if the Boilers can make it basketball on turf, they’ll likely pull off the road win.
Southern Illinois (0-2) at Northwestern (1-1)
When: Noon ET, BTN
B1G thought: If you went to high school with people who attended these colleges, you will appreciate the hilarity of the culture clash in the stands if Salukis fans show out. It’ll be like a 1980s John Hughes movie with the rowdy kids pitted against the North Shore preppies. (Imagine The Breakfast Club, but SIU shows up with 10,000 Judd Nelsons.)
On the field, however, things will not be nearly as entertaining. Wildcats running back Evan Hull is poised to go off, even if it’s only for a half. The Salukis lost 64-29 to Incarnate Word before losing to rival Southeast Missouri State for just the third time in their past 11 meetings. Things are not well in Carbondale.
Rutgers (2-0) at Temple (1-1)
When: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN+
B1G thought: Temple might have earned its only win of the year against FCS Lafayette last week.
This is an opportunity for Evan Simon and Gavin Wimsatt to show some growth as passers as the Scarlet Knights continue to await Noah Vedral’s return. Especially Wimsatt, a dual-threat who has completed just 43% of his passes with a couple interceptions.
No. 22 Penn State (2-0) at Auburn (2-0)
When: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
B1G thought: It matters, because games between high-profile SEC and Big Ten teams are always going to be used as a measuring stick. Especially if it turns out Penn State is a pretty good Big Ten team and Auburn is near the bottom of the SEC. You really don’t want to take an L in that case.
This will boil down to how well Penn State’s offensive line can protect Sean Clifford and open holes for Nicholas Singleton. Which is certainly reason for Penn State fans to be nervous.
Colorado (0-2) at Minnesota (2-0)
When: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
B1G thought: The Gophers skunked the Buffaloes 30-0 in Boulder last season, and now Colorado appears to be much, much worse than it was then. Like, almost certainly the worst Power 5 team in the nation.
The Buffs run defense is 131st nationally, allowing 7.1 yards per carry. If Minnesota absolutely needed him to, Mohamed Ibrahim could gain 400 yards against this team. But Ibrahim won’t need to touch the field in the second half, so that won’t happen.
New Mexico State (0-3) at Wisconsin (1-1)
When: 3:30 p.m. ET, BTN
B1G thought: Former Minnesota coach Jerry Kill never beat the Badgers in 4 tries, and that certainly won’t change now that he’s at New Mexico State.
Wisconsin should just let Graham Mertz sling it in this game for a confidence booster before getting into Big Ten play. But the Badgers will probably just win the conventional way since the Aggies are allowing 195 rushing yards per game.
Toledo (2-0) at No. 3 Ohio State (2-0)
When: 7 p.m. ET, FOX
B1G thought: Ohio State hasn’t lost to an in-state opponent since 1921. The Rockets are a pretty good MAC squad, but not good enough to overturn a century of results.
And if the Rockets do win, the solution is simple: cede Toledo to Michigan so it doesn’t count as an in-state loss.
No. 11 Michigan State (2-0) at Washington (2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
B1G thought: I’m fascinated to see former Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. face the Spartans for the third time. It’s the rubber game of the series, with Michigan State winning in 2019 and Penix besting the Spartans in 2020.
Washington hasn’t faced a player like Michigan State edge Jacoby Windmon yet, and Windmon hasn’t seen an offensive line like the Huskies yet. To me, this is the most interesting Big Ten game of the day.
Nevada (2-1) at Iowa (1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. ET, BTN
B1G thought: Iowa, which has scored 14 points this season, is favored to beat the Wolf Pack by 23 points.
That’s the thought.
SMU (2-0) at Maryland (2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS1
B1G thought: If you want whiplash, flip between this game and the Iowa game. The over-under for the Maryland-SMU matchup is 74 points compared to a total of 39 for the Nevada-Iowa game.
The crazy thing? 74 may be too low for the Terps and Mustangs. And 39 may be too high for the Hawkeyes and anybody.
Alex Hickey is an award-winning writer who has watched Big Ten sports since it was a numerically accurate description of league membership. Alex has covered college football and basketball since 2008, with stops on the McNeese State, LSU and West Virginia beats before being hired as Saturday Tradition's Big Ten columnist in 2021. He is an Illinois native and 2004 Indiana University graduate.