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Week 10 saw Ohio State implode and Michigan State becoming even more of a threat in the East. Here are the 10 things I am absolutely overreacting to after Week 10 in the B1G:
1. Michigan State is the going to represent the B1G East in the conference championship
What a wacky season we’re having — and it’s only the first weekend of November. After this weekend, Michigan State is in control of its own destiny. However, they have looked (by far) the most consistent and best team in the B1G.
Besides the blunder that was the Northwestern game a couple weeks ago, the Spartans have found a way to win every conference game–by way of their offense or defense. And looking at the rest of its schedule, Michigan State only has Ohio State left. I do think the Spartans get past the Buckeyes and will make it to Indianapolis.
2. Sorry B1G, no playoffs this year
On the same day Bedlam was played between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, bedlam struck all over the B1G.
The conference’s top-two playoff contenders, Ohio State and Penn State, both suffered defeat in the first weekend. The Nittany Lions lost to Michigan State Spartans, giving the blue and white their second B1G loss. That means Penn State is all but out of the B1G Championship race.
Now, for the Buckeyes, they imploded on Saturday against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Ohio State got crushed by Iowa, 55-24. That gave the scarlet and gray their second loss of the year, which means they are now probably out of the playoff picture.
The Wisconsin Badgers are still in the playoff picture, but they haven’t played anybody. So sorry B1G, it looks like no playoffs this season.
3. Saquon Barkley isn’t winning the Heisman
The reason you don’t want to win the September Heisman is because it’s hard to live up to anything after that.
The Penn State back spent the first month dazzling national audiences and voters with big numbers and plays. But in his last two games, Barkley has been underwhelming, and that’s putting it nicely.
One week after totaling just 44 rushing yards on 21 attempts in a crushing loss to Ohio State, Barkley again put up blah numbers, with just 63 rushing yards on 14 rushes (at halftime he had six carries for 0 yards), and three catches for 33 yards. Back-to-back weeks with blah statistics will not win the Heisman.
4. J.T. Barrett also won’t win the Heisman
A week after Barrett’s Heisman campaign blossomed after a 33-of-39 for 328 yards and four touchdowns performance in a comeback victory over Penn State, it died within a span of a week.
J.T. Barrett’s Heisman campaign blossomed and died in the span of a week. Three INTs today in blowout vs. Iowa.
— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) November 4, 2017
Barrett followed up his dazzling performance with an outing to forget about. In Ohio State’s loss to Iowa, Barrett only completed 52.9 percent of his passes for 208 yards, three scores and four interceptions–a career high for turnovers. That type of performance would kills any type of Heisman buzz.
5. Jonathan Taylor will receive a Heisman one day
On Saturday, Taylor entered the Wisconsin-Indiana as questionable. However, he looked just fine as he carried the ball 29 times on his way to running for 183 yards and a touchdown.
That performance against the Hoosiers marked the sixth time Taylor finished with 125-plus rushing yards this season. That’s only one fewer than Stanford back and Heisman candidate Bryce Love. Heisman Trophy favorite Saquon Barkley only has two such games all season.
Taylor may only be a freshman but he could still wind up stealing the Heisman from Love or Barkley this season. However, some time in his collegiate career. He will win one. But before he does that, college football fans need to stop stereotyping him.
6. Nate Stanley will be one of the nation’s best QBs next year
For a first year starter, Stanley has been rock solid for the Hawkeyes.
On the year, Stanley has completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 1,929 yards, 22 touchdowns and only four interceptions. But it was his outing against Ohio State that showed just how good the sophomore quarterback can be.
In the convincing upset victory over the Buckeyes, Stanley completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 226 yards and five touchdowns. He is the only signal caller to throw five scores and no interceptions against Ohio State in the last 20 years. If Stanley can keep on trending upward like he is, he should be considered one of the better passers in college football next season–at the latest.
All players in the last 20 years to have 5+ passing touchdowns and 0 interceptions vs Ohio State:
Nate Stanley
That’s it. That’s the list.
— Matt Benson (@mbenson6) November 5, 2017
7. Iowa will beat Wisconsin next Saturday
After beating Ohio State, Iowa gets Wisconsin this upcoming weekend. And I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Hawkeyes beat the Badgers.
Now, some of you may think that’s crazy. I mean the game is in Wisconsin. However, if Iowa plays the way it did against Ohio State, it should beat the Badgers easily.
This year, Wisconsin has struggled against teams like Illinois, Purdue, and Indiana for a bit. And neither of these teams look like they are going bowling this year. So, I’m shooting my shot and say Iowa leaves Camp Randall with a W.
8. Northwestern is as tough as they come
For the third straight week, the Wildcats won in overtime. This time, Northwestern in OT against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 31-24. They become the first team in FBS history to win back-to-back-to-back games in overtime. If that doesn’t define toughness, I don’t know what does.
9. The end is near for Mike Riley’s tenure at Nebraska
It’s been a disaster of a year in Lincoln. What seemed like a hopeful has gone down the drain. And after Nebraska’s overtime loss to Northwestern, the end is near for coach Mike Riley.
Riley hasn’t lived up to the expectations placed on him since arriving in Nebraska. And with the Twitter fan reaction last night after that loss to Northwestern, it’s only a matter of time before Riley departs from the Big Red nation.
10. Rutgers is not a joke people
Guys, the Scarlet Knights now have three B1G wins this year after beating the Maryland Terrapins, 31-24. Since it has three conference wins, Rutgers shouldn’t be the butt of every B1G joke anymore. So, please send your B1G football jokes toward Illinois.