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We’re in to Week 3 of the Big Ten football season this weekend and there’s plenty of interesting matchups. The spotlight always shines brightly in the conference, and it’s no different on this third Saturday in September.
Here are five players with a lot to prove this weekend, for a variety of reasons:
Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State quarterback: The Buckeyes QB has put up huge numbers the first two weeks, throwing for 546 yards and 9 touchdowns and looking very good doing it. But No. 15 TCU is a huge step up in competition and it’s Ohio State’s first game away from home this season. It’s going to be up to Haskins to continue his hot streak if the Buckeyes want to stay unbeaten.
Stevie Scott, Indiana running back: Some clown (yes, hand raised!) put Indiana on upset alert this morning even though it’s a 13.5-point favorite against Ball State. But the truth is, Ball State always plays Indiana tough, winning three straight games in the rivalry between 2008 and 2012. Crazy things do happen in these rivalry games, so it’s important for Indiana to run the ball well and stay turnover-free. Scott, a 6-foot-2, 233-pound freshman from Syracuse, was an inspiration last week with his 204-yard game against Virginia, especially considering he’s basically IU’s third-string running back who was pressed into duty after Morgan Ellsion’s suspension and Cole Gest’s season-ending injury in the opener.
Antonio Blackmon and Tim Cason, Purdue cornerbacks: My, how the narrative has changed with the Boilermakers in just two weeks. They’ve gone from B1G darlings to a wretched bunch that’s 0-2 after losing two home games as favorites. They’ve given up 291 yards passing per game and fifth-year seniors Blackmon and Cason have been struggling. And now comes Missouri and red-hot QB Drew Lock. A sure first-round NFL draft pick in April, he has started the season with 8 touchdown passes and no interceptions and the Tigers have won eight straight regular season games. Blackmon and Cason are in for a long day if they don’t get their acts together, and Kenneth Major, who might start for Cason, will have to be ready too, as will redshirt freshman Dedrick Mackey. It’s hard to believe Missouri is a 6-point favorite when just a year ago Purdue won 35-3 in Columbia.
Adrian Martinez and/or Andrew Bunch, Nebraska quarterbacks: Martinez had quite the debut last week in the 33-28 loss to Colorado in Lincoln. He was 15-for-20 passing for 187 yards and he ran for another 117 before leaving with a knee injury. Martinez has the perfect skill set to run Scott Frost’s explosive offense, but he’s got to be able to stay out of harm’s way and keep himself upright, which isn’t always easy of a freshman. Martinez still hasn’t been cleared to play, so the pressure might really be on Bunch, who’s just a walk-on pressed into duty after Tristan Gebbia quit on the Huskers after he didn’t win the starting job.
Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin running back: When you’re trying to build a Heisman Trophy resume, the pressure is always on, and that’s certainly the case with Taylor, who’s been sensational the first two weeks. He already has 398 yards on 51 carries, but the BYU defense is a big step up in talent, especially defensively, from Western Kentucky and New Mexico. For Taylor to lead the Heisman talk, he needs to threaten 200 yards each week. That might be tough this week, so all eyes are on his to see how well he can torch the Cougars’ defense.
Tom Brew has been a recognized reporter in Big Ten sports for decades. Among other projects, he writes about Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.