Here is what I learned about every Big Ten team that played in Week 8. (Illinois, Nebraska, Michigan and Michigan State were idle.)
https://saturdaytradition.com/big-ten-football/1-thing-i-learned-about-every-big-ten-team-in-week-8/?fbclid=IwAR1p2n4UFVo6Y5dDL318raGv7CZbOCl5RBexLXE1d-IFxFMWjGdFZ4QLqlUMinnesota: PJ Fleck may be a fraud, but Mo Ibrahim is the truthThe Gophers are in the midst of their first 3-game losing streak since 2018, which was PJ Fleck’s 2nd season in the Twin Cities. And with each loss, it grows harder to believe Fleck will ever match Minnesota’s 2019 season, when the Gophers went 11-2 and finished 10th nationally but still missed the Big Ten title game.
However, there is nothing fraudulent about running back Mohamed Ibrahim. With 30 carries for 102 yards, Ibrahim is the first FBS running back since Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott to gain 100 yards in 15 consecutive games. And Ibrahim and Elliott are the only backs to accomplish the feat in 25 years.
Northwestern: The QB change worked, kind ofPat Fitzgerald injected some life into his offense by turning to sophomore Brendan Sullivan as his new starting quarterback, and it certainly worked in the first half.
Sullivan wasn’t explosive, but he was accurate while also providing a run threat as Northwestern opened up a 17-7 lead. After the Terps finally adjusted to a player they hadn’t seen on film, they stormed back to go up 24-17.
Sullivan wasn’t done, though. He was impressive leading the Cats on a 9-play, 72-yard drive to tie the game with 3:34 left.
Of course, Maryland scored on the opening play of the ensuing possession, then picked off Sullivan to effectively end things.
Will the Sullivan upgrade be permanent, or will he be exposed by opponents who now have a book on him?
Ohio State: What if this was the dud?Even College Football Playoff teams are liable to have at least one dud every season, whether it’s an outright loss or a great escape. (Clemson’s comeback win over Syracuse qualifies in the great escape category.)
What if it turns out this was Ohio State’s dud?
CJ Stroud was not sharp early, getting strip-sacked for an Iowa touchdown and starting 11-of-18 with an interception. The Buckeyes averaged just 2.2 yards per carry while gaining 66 yards on the ground. That’s the fewest rushing yards Ohio State has gained in a win since the 2004 game against NC State.
This may end up being Ohio State’s sloppiest offensive performance. And the Buckeyes still won by 44.
Penn State: That’s how you reboundI razzed James Franklin last week, but he deserves credit for making sure 1 loss didn’t turn into 2 for Penn State. The Nittany Lions were focused and ready to match the energy of the crowd for Beaver Stadium’s White-Out game.
Whipped on both sides of the ball by Michigan, Penn State returned the favor against Minnesota. The Nittany Lions averaged 7.1 yards per play against a formerly stout Gophers defense. Penn State’s defensive front dominated with 7 tackles for loss, resulting in 17 lost yards for Minnesota.
It’ll take a lot more of wherever that came from to beat Ohio State next week. But it feels much more possible to test the Buckeyes than it did a week ago.
Purdue: Man will land on Mars before Purdue beats WisconsinIf this Purdue team is incapable of beating this Wisconsin team, then goodness knows when the Boilermakers will next be victorious over the Badgers.
