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10 things I’m absolutely overreacting to after Week 4 in the B1G

Garrett Kroeger

By Garrett Kroeger

Published:

Week 4 of the season saw some wild football played. Nebraska struggled a little bit against Rutgers at home and Penn State against Iowa produced an instant classic. Here are the 10 things we are absolutely overreacting to after Week 4 in the B1G:

1. Penn State will make the playoffs

Last night against the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Penn State Nittany Lions proved they will make the college football playoffs.

In front of 60,000 screaming fans, Penn State executed a perfect two-minute warning drive to score a touchdown in the final seconds of the game to win 21-19.

The Nittany Lions proved they are worthy of being in the title discussion Saturday night. They showed why they are considered the class of the conference this season on their final drive. It just took them 59:56 minutes to be taken seriously.

2. Iowa will win the B1G West

Although the Hawkeyes came up just short of upsetting Penn State, they proved one thing: they have what it takes to win the B1G West. However, they showed much more to me. They showed they are the front runners to win the division.

Yes, the Wisconsin Badgers are in the same division as Iowa. Yes, Wisconsin has been a more dominant team than the Black and Gold. However, the Badgers have not been tested like the Hawkeyes have this season.

Iowa has showed they can stop a high powered offense like Penn State’s.

If the Hawkeyes can continue to perform they way they did against the Nittany Lions, they should be inline for a rematch with Penn State come B1G Championship time.

3. Akrum Wadley is the second best running back in B1G

Penn State running back Saquon Barkley is the unquestioned top back in the B1G. But there has been some debate on who is the best back behind him.

Iowa’s Akrum Wadley proved he is the best behind Barkley.

For the first part of the game, Wadley was getting stuffed by Penn State’s defense. But as the game went on, the better Wadley got.

Wadley finished with 80 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He also added four catches for 75 yards and a score. And his touchdown reception showed why he is the second best back in the B1G.

 

4. Saquon Barkley is the freaking HULK

Since I mentioned Barkley a moment ago, lets just watch him show why he is secretly the Hulk:

 

I want to get on whatever strength program he is on immediately.

5. Maryland is going to lose all of its games now

On Saturday, the Terrapins Maryland lost their second quarterback to injury.

The Terrapins lost their season-opening signal caller, Tyrell Pigrome, to an ACL tear and against the UCF, they lost Kasim Hill to a leg injury. And the quarterback who replaced Hill, Max Bortenschlager, was not impressive.

In the loss to UCF, Bortenschlager completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 136 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. If Bortenschlager does in fact become Maryland’s starter for the rest of the year, there is no way the Terrapins win another game.

6. Nebraska is missing a bowl game this year

Yes, the Cornhuskers defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 27-17, on Saturday. But they still struggled.

Quarterback Tanner Lee continued to be his turnover happy self and the defense got lucky on some plays.

Looking at Nebraska’s remaining schedule, there is no way it even gets four wins. Big Red’s remaining schedule is as followed: at Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio State, at Purdue, Northwestern, at Minnesota, at Penn State and then home against Iowa. The only game I see Nebraska for sure winning is the Illinois game.

So, sorry Husker fans, you ain’t going bowling this year.

7. Mike Riley might get fired after the Purdue game

Since Nebraska fired its athletic director earlier this week, head coach Mike Riley’s seat got burning hot. With the way the Cornhuskers performed against Rutgers, I think his seat is flaming hot.

Nebraska was not impressive what so ever and they have a tough schedule moving forward. I believe the Huskers will get blown out by Wisconsin and Ohio State in back-to-back games. After those two, Nebraska plays Purdue. With the way the Boilermakers have been playing this season, I think the Huskers get blown out too. If that happens, Riley gets canned after Purdue.

8. Nebraska is the fifth best job in the B1G West right now

The Nebraska job isn’t like it once was. This isn’t the 90s anymore. The expectations for an incoming coach is why to high to obtain for a program that has been at best a middle of the pack team ever since it joined the B1G.

Due to these factors, it is the fifth best job in the B1G West right now. The Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and yes, the Northwestern jobs are all better than Nebraska currently.

Sorry Husker fans, like I said, this ain’t the 90s anymore.

9. John O’Korn should be Michigan’s starting quarterback

The Michigan Wolverines struggled in the red zone when Wilton Speight was at quarterback. But when he went out with injury against Purdue on Saturday, their red zone struggles disappeared when John O’Korn came in.

 

Since he was so effective leading the offense, O’Korn should be Michigan’s starting signal caller moving forward.

10. Jeff Brohm will get a better job after this season

First year Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm has the Boilermakers rolling. They are currently 3-1 on the season and they played a tough game against the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday.

If Brohm is able to get Purdue to a bowl game this season, it would not be surprising to see big time programs call his number. Because leading the Boilermakers to a bowl in the first season there is highly impressive.

Garrett Kroeger