What Happened in the Big Ten Across Weeks 11, 12 and 13
I have been away from the keyboard for a few weeks so not had a chance to note down all that has happened in the Big Ten. It was certainly a fun few weeks! In an effort to catch up, here is an abbreviated view of what happened in the Big Ten across Weeks 11, 12 and 13.
Week 11 – Last Minute Winners
Week 11 saw last gasp moments from two of the conference’s top teams. Indiana overcame a feisty Penn State on the road, finding a a 27–24 win thanks to an amazing final minute touchdown from wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. The talented wide receiver managed to just keep his toe in bounds to score, after plucking a missile out of the air from QB Fernando Mendoza. That play not only preserved the Hoosiers’ unbeaten record but also further cemented Mendoza’s status as a Heisman contender.
Embed from Getty ImagesOregon survived their own road test, battling to a gritty 18-16 win at Iowa. Conditions were appalling and the Ducks had to dig deep. Victory was only assured after a 39-yard field goal by Atticus Sappington with just seconds left to go. For a team know for their running game, Iowa were held to 101 yards rushing whilst the Ducks ran up an impressive 261 yards.
Elsewhere, Wisconsin grabbed a 13–10 win over Washington. I wouldn’t say it was a shock, but it was a surprise and did major damage to Washington’s hopes this season. Ohio State continued their dominant ways, comfortably beating Purdue 34–10 after another efficient performance from QB Julian Sayin. Much like Mendoza, talk of a trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony continues to follow Sayin around.
Week 11 was the first week of the College Football Playoff Rankings too. Three Big Ten teams made the top 12 with Ohio State at 1, Indiana at 2, Oregon at 9. The wider 25 consisted of USC at 19, Iowa at 20, Michigan at 21 and Washington at 23.
Week 12 – Shifting Gears
As the conference headed into Week 12, post season narratives were starting to crystalise. Ohio State and Indiana have led the national polls for much of the year and remain undefeated with Oregon still in and around the mix but with work to do. The likes of USC and Michigan would still be in the playoff conversation if they continued to win.
Indiana continued their dominance soundly beating Wisconsin 31-7. Fernando Mendoza was ruthless completing on 22 of 24 passes for 299 yards and 4 TDs. It should also be noted that one of his key weapons, wide receiver Elijah Sarratt was injured of this game.
Ohio State continue to make games look easy, rolling past a beleaguered UCLA 48-10. The Buckeyes leaned heavily on the run game this time around with 222 rushing yards complementing 218 yards in the air.
Embed from Getty ImagesOregon battered Minnesota 42-13 Oregon under the Friday night lights. A dominant display where Oregon accumulated 510 yards of offense – 331 of which through the air. QB Dante Moore finished with a 90% completion rate, 306 yards of passing and 2 TDs.
USC scored an important 26-21 victory against a dangerous Iowa. It was important for USC to keep winning to stay in touch with the playoff picture. The game also gave them good momentum going into Oregon in Week 13, which was essentially a play-in game for the playoffs (i.e. win the game and you are likely to be in!).
In a similar fashion, Michigan found a way to beat Northwestern 24-22 with a game winning field goal as time expired. Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada was the hero of the moment with the kick. The result was important and kept Michigan in the picture but does highlight their inconsistency. The 3 points from the field goal was their only 4th quarter points vs 13 for Northwestern.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe resultant College Football Playoff Rankings kept Ohio State and Indiana at 1 and 2 respectively. Oregon climbed to 8 from 9. USC rose to 17 from 19, Michigan to 18 from 20. After two losses in a row Iowa dropped to 21 from 20 and Washington dropped out of the 25.
Week 13 – The Playoff Picture Develops
After the games in week 13, the playoff picture has become a little clearer with regards to the Big Ten.
In the game of the week, not just in the Big Ten but across the sport, Oregon saw off USC to win 42-27. Both teams were carrying injuries, and the Ducks found a way to win with a patched-up team in an entertaining game. Oregon found 436 yards of offense vs SC’s 382. The game was littered with penalties with the Trojans giving away 8 for 103 yards whilst the Ducks gave away 11 for 130 yards. The game severely dents USC’s playoff hopes and they dropped in the rankings. But the result improved Oregon’s chances not just of a playoff spot, but a potential home game.
Embed from Getty ImagesIndiana had the week off, but Ohio State carried on their form, blowing away Rutgers 42-9. The Buckeyes had their top two receivers, Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, missing for this game too. The game served as the perfect warm up for Michigan this week…in what is known as The Game.
Elsewhere Michigan won, and won well, against Maryland with a 45-20 victory. Freshman QB Bryce Underwood continues to show signs of development. He finished the game by completing on 16 of 23 passes for 215 yards and 2TDs.
The Final Week is upon us…
I can’t believe we are in the final week of the regular season all ready. It has been a season that certainly hasn’t disappointed in terms of entertainment.
So far 10 teams out of 18 Big Ten teams have been ranked by either the AP poll or CFP Committee at some point this season. Most weeks there have been either 6 or 7 teams in the rankings. The Big Ten appears healthy and well placed in this new college football landscape.
But for now, we focus on rivalry week and there are some amazing games to look forward to! As a Ducks fan I will be focussed on our match against Washington but I will certainly not be missing Ohio State at Michigan. Michigan have held the upper hand in the last 3 years, so it will be interesting to see what Julian Sayin and this Buckeye team can do in the Big House. Much to look forward to this weekend!
