Iowa did it again. Just when we thought this was the team that couldn’t get over the hump, on a cold November evening, the Hawkeyes totally redeemed themselves.

The Hawkeyes added another Top 10 victory to their resume in the last four years, making that No. 3 since 2016. Kinnick Stadium is now quickly becoming one of the most dangerous places in football. Don’t even try to deny it.

Week 12 didn’t quite have the same excitement levels as we saw last Saturday in the B1G, but there’s still plenty for us to overreact to after the weekend. So, let’s get to it.

Ohio State couldn’t cover vs. Rutgers. Time to panic?

Good teams win, great teams cover. That’s the saying, right? Ohio State only beat Rutgers by 35 points on Saturday, despite being favored by over 50. It’s pretty clear that Ryan Day is losing his touch. If the Buckeyes aren’t careful they may drop down to the No. 3 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings.

The Gophers are up a creek without a paddle

What a devastating loss for the Gophers, falling on the road to a ranked team. I’m not sure if there’s any way P.J. Fleck can recover from such a disappointing outcome. Oh wait…Minnesota still controls its own destiny in the division, B1G and the College Football Playoff picture?

To quote Dumb and Dumber, “So, you’re telling me there’s a chance?”

Jim Har-Paul Bunyan

Think about this: Jim Harbaugh is one bobbled punt away from being 4-1 against Michigan State. For as much grief as we give the Michigan head coach for falling short in big games, he’s actually fared pretty well in the in-state rivalry game. He’s kept the Paul Bunyan Trophy in Ann Arbor three of the last four years and in back-to-back seasons.

Harbaugh is really taking an axe to the perception that he can’t win these rivalry games lately.

One Hull of an afternoon in Evanston

Welcome to the B1G, Evan Hull! The freshman running back piled up 220 yards and four touchdowns on 32 carries in Northwestern’s 45-6 win over UMass on Saturday. I’m not sure, but those numbers probably account for half of Northwestern’s offensive production this season.

Kinnick Stadium is the new Death Valley

Sorry, LSU, Kinnick Stadium is now the venue where “opponents’ dreams go to die.” Iowa is now 5-1 against teams ranked in the (AP) top seven since 2008. The Hawkeyes have ruined College Football Playoff hopes for Michigan (2016), Ohio State (2017) and potentially Minnesota. I know Coach O has the Bayou Bengals playing well right now, but teams might actually prefer their chances at Tiger Stadium compared to Kinnick.

Here’s a silver lining for Scott Frost

I know the Nebraska head coach said he’s “tired of silver linings,” but I’m going to provide him with one anyway. You won’t have to face Jonathan Taylor again. You’re welcome.

Speaking of Nebraska and JT23…

Every Nebraska defensive player from the past three years should be mailing their Blackshirt to Jonathan Taylor. He’s absolutely owned the Huskers during his career in Madison, putting up some his best numbers against the one-time defensive juggernaut of a program. Here’s what he’s done against the “Blackshirts”:

  • 2017: 221 yards, 3 TDs
  • 2018: 249 yards, 2 TDs
  • 2019: 204 yards, 2 TDs
  • Total: 674 yards, 7 TDs

I think the skull and crossbones logo actually represents what Nebraska’s defense looks like when it’s trying to tackle Taylor. It’s only appropriate he owns those jerseys.

What is targeting?

Two plays appeared to be fairly clear targeting this week in the B1G. Neither were called. Decide for yourself and let me know if you actually understand the rule. Seems pretty arbitrary at this point:

https://twitter.com/SchutteCFB/status/1195779773311664128?s=20

https://twitter.com/CoachJim09/status/1195770040525688832?s=20

 

Pregame show, more like three-game show

FOX Big Noon Kickoff, BTN Tailgate and ESPN’s College GameDay will all be in Columbus this weekend for the showdown between No. 9 Penn State vs. No. 2 Ohio State. That has to be some kind of a record, right?

Columbus will be the Midwest’s version of Hollywood. Is that enough to label Saturday’s matchup the “Game of the Century”?

The B1G is easily the best conference in college football

Call me a homer, but I’m bringing FACTS to this argument. And, really, this is probably the only one I need. The B1G has featured eight games this season that featured two teams currently ranked in the College Football Playoff top 25. Six of those eight contests have been decided by one possession. A rundown:

  • #19 Iowa def. #8 Minnesota: 23-19
  • #8 Minnesota def. #9 Penn State: 31-26
  • #14 Wisconsin def. #19 Iowa: 24-22
  • #9 Penn State def. #15 Michigan: 28-21
  • #15 Michigan def. #19 Iowa: 10-3
  • #9 Penn State def. #19 Iowa: 17-12

The two games not decided by that were Wisconsin’s 35-14 win over Michigan and Ohio State’s 38-7 win over Wisconsin. Tell me that’s not depth.