
B1G Monday morning: Penn State remains the Big Ten's CFP wild card
Perhaps it is only a temporary condition. But for this week, at least, Penn State remains the wild card team in determining what happens in the Big Ten East race.
With great power comes great responsibility. And what happens after the Nittany Lions host Ohio State this week could have major ramifications on whether this becomes the year that the B1G finally gets 2 teams in the College Football Playoff. Or whether we get a wild 3-way tie to determine the East champion at the end of the season.
The following outcome is still quite possible:
Penn State beats Ohio State. Ohio State beats Michigan. All 3 finish 11-1 overall and 8-1 in the Big Ten with a 1-1 record in their round-robin.
At that point, we would be down to the Big Ten’s fifth tiebreaker to determine which team reaches the conference championship game. And it’s a doozy.
- 5. The records of the 3 (or more) teams will be compared based on the best cumulative conference winning percentage of non-divisional opponents.
(a) Example: East 1 non-divisional opponents are 20-7, East 2 non-divisional opponents are 19-8, East 3 non-divisional opponents are 14-13 – East 1 would be the representative.
In plain language, that means teams from the Big Ten West could ultimately determine who wins the Big Ten East. Those records are as follows, for now:
- Ohio State’s West opponents: Wisconsin (2-3 B1G), Iowa (1-3 B1G), Northwestern (1-3 B1G): 5-9
- Michigan’s West opponents: Iowa (1-3), Nebraska (2-2), Illinois (3-1): 6-6
- Penn State’s West opponents: Northwestern (1-3), Purdue (3-2), Minnesota (1-3): 5-8
Not getting stuck with Northwestern seems pretty crucial in the case of this tiebreaking scenario. And that would theoretically give the Wolverines the leg up on winning the East and getting a critical 12th win in the Big Ten title game.
Of course, these things are only relevant if the Nittany Lions can beat the Buckeyes this week. And that will be a tall order.
Can Penn State beat Ohio State?
There no doubt is a unique energy in Penn State’s White Out games, but unfortunately that energy was already expended against Minnesota. The Nittany Lions will need to be better than the Buckeyes in broad daylight.
And there is some question as to whether any team can be better than the Buckeyes in the broad daylight.
Last year there was a clear blueprint for beating Ohio State — get the offense behind the chains, and gash the Buckeyes in the running game. And only 2 teams were able to succeed in that quest.
Ryan Day has taken care of those problems. Ohio State is second in the Big Ten with 2.85 yards per carry allowed. The Buckeyes lead the conference with just 5 sacks allowed and 24 TFL allowed.
If there’s a code for beating this version of Ohio State, it hasn’t been cracked yet. But if anyone has the ingredients, it would seemingly be the Nittany Lions.
Penn State’s secondary is the strength of its defense. And Joey Porter Jr., Ji’Ayir Brown and Kalen King might test Ohio State’s passing game like no other team on the schedule is capable.
The trouble is that the Bucks have also shown they can play maulball when they want to this season. Ohio State is third in the B1G in rushing and second in yards per carry. And no matter what tweaks Manny Diaz makes from the Michigan game, it’s hard to see things going well for Penn State if the Buckeyes choose that avenue of attack.
If Penn State is to play the Big Ten’s wild card role, then, it will take a performance from both teams like we’ve not yet seen this season.
Around the B1G horn
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No. 2 Ohio State 54, Iowa 10
Saturday’s defeat was Iowa’s most lopsided loss to Ohio State since 1975, which is the type of thing that should sound alarm bells. The ’70s were the darkest era of Iowa football, with the Hawkeyes never winning more than 5 games in a season. It’s not the sort of thing anyone wants to be reminded of.
But even back then, the Hawkeyes could but the ball in the end zone with more proficiency than today. The ’75 Hawks finished 91st in scoring with 16.5 points per game. The current Hawkeyes are 128th in scoring with 14 points per game.
It’s also the most points allowed by Iowa since a 56-35 loss to Ohio State in 1995, but that’s deceptive. Iowa limited Ohio State to its lowest first-half yardage output of Ryan Day’s tenure. And Ohio State’s 66 rushing yards were its lowest since getting shut out by Clemson in the 2016 CFP semifinal. Plus the Bucks added 7 points on a defensive touchdown.
Iowa’s offense, at 227.3 yards per game, is the worst in the FBS since Wake Forest averaged 216.3 ypg in 2014.
Things are historically awful on many levels in Iowa City.
Rutgers 24, Indiana 17
Baby steps to the elevator.
Rutgers beat a Big Ten opponent at SHI Stadium for the first time since Nov. 24, 2017, which certainly counts as progress for Greg Schiano. It’s also a big moment for SHI, which has been patiently waiting for a return on that stadium-naming investment.
The Hoosiers took the lead on the game’s very first play, as Jaylin Lucas took the opening kickoff to the house. But good things can’t last for Indiana football, so an early 14-0 lead was eventually whittled away.
Indiana had 4 carries for minus-8 yards in the second half after gaining 70 yards on 15 carries in the first half. IU offensive coordinator Walt Bell should be fired into the sun. But at the rate he moves downfield, it will be at least 10,000 years before he gets there.
Wisconsin 35, Purdue 24
Purdue fans are now entering dreaded territory: being compared to Indiana.
The Boilermakers have lost 16 straight to the Badgers, which is the second-longest active stretch of head-to-head ownership in the Big Ten. Ohio State’s 26-game winning streak over Indiana is the only one that’s longer.
But we’re still a few years from the streak hitting historic levels. The Ohio State-Indiana streak is 1 of 7 in Big Ten history to reach at least 20 games. This generously includes Penn State’s 24-game streak over Maryland from 1962-88, though neither was in the Big Ten at the time.
In less-depressing Purdue news, the Boilers still control their destiny in the Big Ten West. If Purdue wins out, it’s playing in the Big Ten title game.
Maryland 31, Northwestern 24
Injuries forced both teams to start backup quarterbacks, though Northwestern’s Brendan Sullivan made a case to keep the job before being intercepted on the Cats’ penultimate possession.
Sullivan led Northwestern on a lovely 9-play, 72-yard drive to tie the game with 3:34 to play.
Maryland running back Roman Hemby needed 1 play to retake the lead.
ROMAN HEMBY BREAKS THE TIE. 😱@TerpsFootball back on top ❗ pic.twitter.com/FuGTnniS3p
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 22, 2022
Hemby’s 75-yard jaunt was the longest run by a Terrapin since 2019, and he picked a heck of a time to do it.
The Terps have the misfortune of playing in the wrong division, but a 9-3 finish is conceivable. This team is capable of springing an upset over Penn State.
Penn State 45, Minnesota 17
Tanner Morgan’s concussion against Illinois robbed us of seeing him duke it out against boyhood friend Sean Clifford one final time. It also stole any chance of Minnesota winning this game.
A White Out turned out to be a pretty big ask for Gophers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, whose most recent road game was at Grant Community High School in Fox Lake, Ill., in the spring of 2021.
Even so, it felt like this would be a solid game when Minnesota closed the first half with an impressive 9-play, 90-yard drive that took 1:25 off the clock. The Gophers had the ball to open the second half and certainly seemed poised to tie the game.
But Clifford proved to be too much, completing 9 of 10 passes for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns in the third quarter alone.
This ended up being a needed rebound for Penn State in-between its gauntlet games against Michigan and Ohio State.
Week 8 MVPs
1. RB Roman Hemby (Maryland)
Hemby’s 75-yard touchdown run was his third of the game. The sophomore finished with 179 yards on 24 carries.
Just in case you missed the TD runs. 😏 https://t.co/izbFSCBwGY pic.twitter.com/cJROaieyCj
— Maryland On BTN (@MarylandOnBTN) October 22, 2022
2a. S John Torchio (Wisconsin)
Torchio lit up Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell with a pair of interceptions, including an early pick-6 to put the Badgers up 14-0.
✅ Pick-6 on first defensive possession of game
✅ INT on first possession of 2H@BadgerFootball's @JohnTorchio is having a huge day. pic.twitter.com/2tagN8AtZL— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 22, 2022
2b. S Tanner McCalister (Ohio State)
McCalister arrived from Oklahoma State along with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and demonstrated his value with a pair of interceptions against Iowa. The safety has 3 interceptions on the season.
DOS! ✌️
Make it a pair of INTs today for Tanner McCallister.@McCalister_Dos2 x @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/owY663baYa
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) October 22, 2022
3. DB Christian Braswell (Rutgers)
Braswell’s pick-6 sealed the Scarlet Knights’ first conference home win in 5 years. Braswell was solid all game, also mixing in 3 PBUs and a tackle for loss.
PICK-6️⃣ 💥@cb6____ intercepts it to cushion the @RFootball lead ‼️ pic.twitter.com/TL4cFbvgUl
— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) October 22, 2022
4. QB Sean Clifford (Penn State)
The veteran bounced back strong from a forgettable performance at Michigan. Clifford fired 4 touchdown passes and was 23-of-31 for 295 yards before resting comfortably after giving Penn State a 38-10 lead.
Nobody in Penn State history has thrown 4 touchdowns more often.
Most games with at least 4 TD passes, in @PennStateFball history:
5 – Sean Clifford
4 – Trace McSorley
3- Todd Blackledge & Matt McGloin#B1Gstats pic.twitter.com/9uxyunzcew— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) October 23, 2022
5. RB Braelon Allen (Wisconsin)
Despite missing a huge chunk of the third quarter with a left arm injury, Allen put up impressive numbers against Purdue.
Allen gained 113 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, and also added a 39-yard reception.
Braelon Allen is slippery and QUIIIIICK to hit that hole. 💨 pic.twitter.com/ogB1kr2UnM
— College Football Network (@CFN365) October 22, 2022
Honorable mentions
Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, who had 7 tackles and a pick-6 against Iowa. … Hawkeyes defensive end Joe Evans, who pulled off a strip-sack scoop-and-score to give Iowa a brief lead. … Indiana kick returner Jaylin Lucas for his 93-yard game-opening touchdown. … Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim for his 15th straight game over 100 rushing yards. … Purdue receiver Choo-Choo Charlie Jones, who had 105 yards on 10 catches.
Play of the week
Parker Washington’s 35-yard touchdown catch against Minnesota was multiple levels of unfair. If this was a video game, you’d throw your controller if the computer did something so outrageous.
PARKER WASHINGTON FLOATED TO THE BALL 😱 pic.twitter.com/yozSmEI2xE
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 23, 2022
Blooper of the week
They aren’t technically playing charades. But this conversation between Wisconsin fans leaves you wondering.
What's she explaining to her friend? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/cZrjiP7Vrz
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 22, 2022