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LGHL Q&A: Previewing Ohio State vs. Northwestern with Inside NU
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Q&A: Previewing Ohio State vs. Northwestern with Inside NU
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Learn more about the Wildcats from the people that know them best.
If you’re an Ohio State fan reading this, there is probably a good chance you haven’t watched a ton of Northwestern football this season. With the Buckeyes set to face-off against the Wildcats this coming Saturday, its as good a time as any to learn a little bit about Ryan Braun and company.
We here at Land-Grant Holy Land wanted to find out more about this year’s Northwestern squad ourselves, and so we spoke with our sister site Inside NU to get the inside scoop from the people that know the Wildcats best. Editor-in-chief Adam Beck was kind enough to answer some of our questions about Ohio State’s next opponent.
LGHL: David Braun defied expectations last season with an 8-5 campaign and a bowl win. With the Wildcats sitting at 4-5 this year, what has been the biggest change from a year ago, and should fans still feel like Braun has the program headed in the right direction?
Beck: The two biggest differences from last year have to be the quarterback play and turnover margin. Ben Bryant might have struggled early in the season last year, but when he came back from injury against Wisconsin, Northwestern went 4-0 the rest of the way, in large part to his steady play behind center.
This season has been a whirlwind at quarterback. NU started Mike Wright the first two games of the year before moving to Jack Lausch, who has under 100 passing yards in three of his starts. Ryan Hilinski has also seen opportunities in each of the last two games. That’s no recipe for success.
On the other end, the inability to consistently turn over the football and hang onto it on offense is another underlying thing to look at. Northwestern had the third best turnover margin in the country last season, and outside of four turnovers forced against Maryland, the ‘Cats have been way more pedestrian in that department.
It’s simply hard to win football games in the Big Ten when those two things aren’t going your way. In terms of David Braun, poor game management and clock management have hampered the ‘Cats in big moments. That’s certainly something to keep an eye on this Saturday and moving forward with Northwestern.
LGHL: Northwestern brought in a senior in Mike Wright from Mississippi State this offseason to man the starting quarterback job, but instead turned to sophomore Jack Lausch after only two games. What was it that led to Wright being replaced as the starter, and what does the team like the most about Lausch?
Beck: Braun turned to Lausch over Wright because of the turnovers. Wright really struggled the first two weeks with decision making and throwing the ball into locations that simply won’t fly. Braun raved about Lausch’s ability to take care of the football early on, but with four interceptions and a few costly mistakes including a strip sack against Wisconsin and a pair of safeties, the jury is still out.
In terms of the positives from Lausch, he’s really shined at times, helping lead a game winning drive against Purdue last week and playing well in the first half against Indiana. His ability to extend plays and use his legs in the run game has also been a huge asset for an offense that needs an ounce of electricity. However, his inconsistent play and inability to get the ball out of his hands quickly has consistently stonewalled this offense.
LGHL: The Wildcats have scored more than 30 points only once this season against FBS opponents, that being a 37-10 blowout of Maryland. What was Northwestern able to do in that game that made them so successful, and why hasn’t it been able to replicate it consistently?
Beck: That game was all about the defense. Four turnovers forced, all of which happened in the second half, allowed the offense to punch the ball in for touchdowns. Lausch also impressed with a couple chunk throws to his receivers, displaying the arm talent that the coaching staff has echoed since the spring.
Against better passing defenses and more consistent football teams, it feels like Northwestern just doesn’t have the personnel to keep up with other teams’ intensity and physicality. The games against Iowa and Wisconsin feel like perfect proof of that.
That’s a scary thought ahead of playing the Buckeyes.
LGHL: Northwestern and Ohio State are both coming off wins over Purdue, but the Wildcats have had a week off to prepare for this game. What are you hoping the team focused on the most during its bye week?
Beck: Getting healthy. Especially with big time players like wideout Bryce Kirtz and linebacker Xander Mueller, who both missed last game against Purdue. Impact playmakers on both sides of the football, NU needs them both against Ohio State.
LGHL: If Northwestern is going to pull off an upset over the Buckeyes this weekend, what would be the keys to victory? Who is one player that could potentially turn the tide for the Wildcats?
Beck: Northwestern would have to run the ball effectively and its defense would need to cause turnovers.
On offense, look for the two-headed punch of Cam Porter and Joe Himon. Porter is the veteran power back who excels at bouncing off defenders, while Himon is the speedy change of pace guy that can take it to the house any time he touches the ball. Himon scored the game-winning touchdown at Purdue, and excels as a pass catcher and in the special teams game as a kick returner.
Defensively, Theran Johnson is the guy to watch in the back end. He’s developed as one of the best corners in the conference with 10 pass break ups and two interceptions, including a pick-six against Iowa. Against Ohio State’s talented wide receivers, it may be a different story, but there’s a “No Fly Zone” around Johnson.
LGHL: What is your final score prediction for the game, and what will it look like?
Beck: Ohio State 42, Northwestern 10
It may be close for a quarter or two, but Ohio State will inevitably pull away. Scoring 10 points feels like a lot for Northwestern in this one, but garbage time points are always a possibility. Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka on the outside with the two-headed rushing attack of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson should overload NU’s defense.
It won’t be particularly close.
Thanks again to Adam for his insight on this year’s Wildcats!
For more coverage of Northwestern football, be sure to check out the great work from the people over at Inside NU.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Learn more about the Wildcats from the people that know them best.
If you’re an Ohio State fan reading this, there is probably a good chance you haven’t watched a ton of Northwestern football this season. With the Buckeyes set to face-off against the Wildcats this coming Saturday, its as good a time as any to learn a little bit about Ryan Braun and company.
We here at Land-Grant Holy Land wanted to find out more about this year’s Northwestern squad ourselves, and so we spoke with our sister site Inside NU to get the inside scoop from the people that know the Wildcats best. Editor-in-chief Adam Beck was kind enough to answer some of our questions about Ohio State’s next opponent.
LGHL: David Braun defied expectations last season with an 8-5 campaign and a bowl win. With the Wildcats sitting at 4-5 this year, what has been the biggest change from a year ago, and should fans still feel like Braun has the program headed in the right direction?
Beck: The two biggest differences from last year have to be the quarterback play and turnover margin. Ben Bryant might have struggled early in the season last year, but when he came back from injury against Wisconsin, Northwestern went 4-0 the rest of the way, in large part to his steady play behind center.
This season has been a whirlwind at quarterback. NU started Mike Wright the first two games of the year before moving to Jack Lausch, who has under 100 passing yards in three of his starts. Ryan Hilinski has also seen opportunities in each of the last two games. That’s no recipe for success.
On the other end, the inability to consistently turn over the football and hang onto it on offense is another underlying thing to look at. Northwestern had the third best turnover margin in the country last season, and outside of four turnovers forced against Maryland, the ‘Cats have been way more pedestrian in that department.
It’s simply hard to win football games in the Big Ten when those two things aren’t going your way. In terms of David Braun, poor game management and clock management have hampered the ‘Cats in big moments. That’s certainly something to keep an eye on this Saturday and moving forward with Northwestern.
LGHL: Northwestern brought in a senior in Mike Wright from Mississippi State this offseason to man the starting quarterback job, but instead turned to sophomore Jack Lausch after only two games. What was it that led to Wright being replaced as the starter, and what does the team like the most about Lausch?
Beck: Braun turned to Lausch over Wright because of the turnovers. Wright really struggled the first two weeks with decision making and throwing the ball into locations that simply won’t fly. Braun raved about Lausch’s ability to take care of the football early on, but with four interceptions and a few costly mistakes including a strip sack against Wisconsin and a pair of safeties, the jury is still out.
In terms of the positives from Lausch, he’s really shined at times, helping lead a game winning drive against Purdue last week and playing well in the first half against Indiana. His ability to extend plays and use his legs in the run game has also been a huge asset for an offense that needs an ounce of electricity. However, his inconsistent play and inability to get the ball out of his hands quickly has consistently stonewalled this offense.
LGHL: The Wildcats have scored more than 30 points only once this season against FBS opponents, that being a 37-10 blowout of Maryland. What was Northwestern able to do in that game that made them so successful, and why hasn’t it been able to replicate it consistently?
Beck: That game was all about the defense. Four turnovers forced, all of which happened in the second half, allowed the offense to punch the ball in for touchdowns. Lausch also impressed with a couple chunk throws to his receivers, displaying the arm talent that the coaching staff has echoed since the spring.
Against better passing defenses and more consistent football teams, it feels like Northwestern just doesn’t have the personnel to keep up with other teams’ intensity and physicality. The games against Iowa and Wisconsin feel like perfect proof of that.
That’s a scary thought ahead of playing the Buckeyes.
LGHL: Northwestern and Ohio State are both coming off wins over Purdue, but the Wildcats have had a week off to prepare for this game. What are you hoping the team focused on the most during its bye week?
Beck: Getting healthy. Especially with big time players like wideout Bryce Kirtz and linebacker Xander Mueller, who both missed last game against Purdue. Impact playmakers on both sides of the football, NU needs them both against Ohio State.
LGHL: If Northwestern is going to pull off an upset over the Buckeyes this weekend, what would be the keys to victory? Who is one player that could potentially turn the tide for the Wildcats?
Beck: Northwestern would have to run the ball effectively and its defense would need to cause turnovers.
On offense, look for the two-headed punch of Cam Porter and Joe Himon. Porter is the veteran power back who excels at bouncing off defenders, while Himon is the speedy change of pace guy that can take it to the house any time he touches the ball. Himon scored the game-winning touchdown at Purdue, and excels as a pass catcher and in the special teams game as a kick returner.
Defensively, Theran Johnson is the guy to watch in the back end. He’s developed as one of the best corners in the conference with 10 pass break ups and two interceptions, including a pick-six against Iowa. Against Ohio State’s talented wide receivers, it may be a different story, but there’s a “No Fly Zone” around Johnson.
LGHL: What is your final score prediction for the game, and what will it look like?
Beck: Ohio State 42, Northwestern 10
It may be close for a quarter or two, but Ohio State will inevitably pull away. Scoring 10 points feels like a lot for Northwestern in this one, but garbage time points are always a possibility. Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka on the outside with the two-headed rushing attack of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson should overload NU’s defense.
It won’t be particularly close.
Thanks again to Adam for his insight on this year’s Wildcats!
For more coverage of Northwestern football, be sure to check out the great work from the people over at Inside NU.
Continue reading...
LGHL What do you think about Ohio State playing a football game at Wrigley Field?
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What do you think about Ohio State playing a football game at Wrigley Field?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will go on the road to play the Northwestern Wildcats this Saturday inEvanston Chicago, Illinois. The two Big Ten teams will be playing in Wrigley Field as Northwestern’s Jack Ryan Stadium is undergoing renovations and the water-front Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium is little more than a high school stadium at a capacity of 12,023; not exactly where you want to play Ohio State when trying to maximize your gate revenue.
So, for this week’s LGHL fan survey, we want to see how you are feeling about the Buckeyes playing in a cramped baseball stadium, especially with arguably the two most important games of the regular season still to come. Then, we want to know what you think the margin of victory will be in the friendly confines on Saturday.
So, check out the questions and then vote in the survey at the bottom of the article. If you have more to add to a question, or none of our options line up with what you are thinking about a topic, feel free to write in your responses in the comments at the bottom of the page.
True story, after I graduated from Ohio State, my first job was working for the Big Ten Conference in the suburbs outside of Chicago. But, my apartment in the Windy City was in Wrigleyville, just about three or four blocks from Wrigley Field. I went to games there often, especially when my beloved Cincinnati Reds were in town. I loved the vibe in the neighborhood; I loved the old-school aesthetic of the park; I loved the unique, Midwestern grandeur of the ivy-covered brick; I loved going to Wrigley Field.
You know what I never thought in my year of living within five minutes of that glorious cathedral of America’s Pastime? I never once thought, “Wow, they should play football games in here.”
I understand the logistical reasonings for why Northwestern is not playing this game on campus, but it still does not explain why in the hell they are forcing a 120-yard field into those friendly confines. With brink walls butted up against endzone lines, what could be more unfriendly than that for elite athletes running at full speed?
I am sure that it will make for very pretty pictures, but this is dumb, imo.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will be looking for a repeat performance this weekend after blanking Purdue 45-0 last Saturday. With the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers coming to Columbus next week and the rival Michigan Wolverines to cap the regular season, Ryan Day and company undoubtedly want to eliminate any doubt against overmatched opponents.
The FanDuel Sportsbook has installed Ohio State as a 31.5-point favorite and the gold standard college football analytics model SP+ projects the Buckeyes to win by a score of 37-6.
I don’t know about you, but I think that if Day, his team, and staff want to win by 60, they could. However, the only question in terms of margin of victory for me is whether or not they want to put their players out there with seven incredibly important games left to play.
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will go on the road to play the Northwestern Wildcats this Saturday in
So, for this week’s LGHL fan survey, we want to see how you are feeling about the Buckeyes playing in a cramped baseball stadium, especially with arguably the two most important games of the regular season still to come. Then, we want to know what you think the margin of victory will be in the friendly confines on Saturday.
So, check out the questions and then vote in the survey at the bottom of the article. If you have more to add to a question, or none of our options line up with what you are thinking about a topic, feel free to write in your responses in the comments at the bottom of the page.
Question 1: What do you think about Ohio State playing a football game in Wrigley Field this weekend?
True story, after I graduated from Ohio State, my first job was working for the Big Ten Conference in the suburbs outside of Chicago. But, my apartment in the Windy City was in Wrigleyville, just about three or four blocks from Wrigley Field. I went to games there often, especially when my beloved Cincinnati Reds were in town. I loved the vibe in the neighborhood; I loved the old-school aesthetic of the park; I loved the unique, Midwestern grandeur of the ivy-covered brick; I loved going to Wrigley Field.
You know what I never thought in my year of living within five minutes of that glorious cathedral of America’s Pastime? I never once thought, “Wow, they should play football games in here.”
I understand the logistical reasonings for why Northwestern is not playing this game on campus, but it still does not explain why in the hell they are forcing a 120-yard field into those friendly confines. With brink walls butted up against endzone lines, what could be more unfriendly than that for elite athletes running at full speed?
I am sure that it will make for very pretty pictures, but this is dumb, imo.
Question 2: What will the margin of victory be in Saturday’s game against Northwestern?
The Ohio State Buckeyes will be looking for a repeat performance this weekend after blanking Purdue 45-0 last Saturday. With the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers coming to Columbus next week and the rival Michigan Wolverines to cap the regular season, Ryan Day and company undoubtedly want to eliminate any doubt against overmatched opponents.
The FanDuel Sportsbook has installed Ohio State as a 31.5-point favorite and the gold standard college football analytics model SP+ projects the Buckeyes to win by a score of 37-6.
I don’t know about you, but I think that if Day, his team, and staff want to win by 60, they could. However, the only question in terms of margin of victory for me is whether or not they want to put their players out there with seven incredibly important games left to play.
Share your thoughts here:
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...
LGHL B1G Thoughts: After playing Michigan close, should Indiana be concerned?
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B1G Thoughts: After playing Michigan close, should Indiana be concerned?
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
The Hoosiers are 10-0, but did the Wolverines expose some of their flaws?
Every week after the Big Ten games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and more. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024, we will have a bunch of storylines to follow.
Ryan Day and Ohio State are all in for the 2024 season. Is Oregon a national championship contender or will they stumble in their first Big Ten season? How do the former members of the Big Ten West fair in the new divisionless format?
We track all these storylines and more as the Big Ten hopes to win back-to-back national championships. Check out the I-80 Football Show for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.
Indiana is 10-0 for the first time in school history. I think it’s important to remind everyone of this, because they could lose their next two games and the bowl game and this would still be a successful season.
There is no raining on the Hoosier parade, but after playing Michigan there may be cracks in the foundation. Much has been made about Indiana’s schedule and how easy it has been, but when you’re winning every game but 30-plus points, there isn’t much to critique.
On Saturday, Indiana played their toughest opponent yet, a talented but struggling Michigan team. Michigan held IU’s offense to 246 total yards and only 18 yards in the second half. The Wolverines lost this game because their offense is inept and their coach is bad situationally, otherwise this easily could’ve been a major upset for Michigan despite a down season.
What is more concerning is how much pressure Michigan got on Kurtis Rourke. The Wolverines had four sacks, three QB hits, and seven pressures on 32 dropbacks. Rourke was under pressure the whole night, and a team like Ohio State and most likely anyone they play in the playoffs is going to get pressure on Rourke. Throughout the game, but especially in the second half, Indiana failed the protect the passer, couldn’t run the ball and their wide receivers weren’t able to get any separation.
The positive spin is they found a way to win, which is a good sign for their culture. Regardless of how this season ends, this is a banner year for the Hoosiers. Still, their ability to compete against Ohio State and the top of the sport just became a question again.
For the first eight weeks of the season, UCLA looked like one of the worst teams in power conference football. Their season started with a three-point win over Hawaii, a game they should’ve lost honestly, followed by five-straight losses where they never scored more than 17 total points.
They’ve turned it around the last three weeks with wins over Rutgers, Nebraska and Iowa. The win at Rutgers felt like a fluke, but after beating the Hawkeyes, DeShaun Foster seems to be hitting the right buttons and his team is improving each week. With Washington, USC, and Fresno State left on the schedule, UCLA has an outside chance of making a bowl game, and that would be massive after Foster took over mid-spring when Chip Kelly left to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.
Many of us laughed at the Foster hiring, but he may be on to something. UCLA has a lot to fight for in the last three weeks of the season. I, for one, will be rooting for them.
We’re 10 games into the college football season, and with the new playoff structure, the transfer portal, and national signing day being moved up, coaching changes are going to happen earlier and earlier. In the Big Ten, I think most coaches are safe, as we’ve seen an unprecedented amount of movement in the last three seasons.
11 of the 18 programs in the conference have coaches in their third year or less. Of the seven remaining, it’s unlikely that Ohio State, Penn State, USC or Iowa fire their coach, whether due to a lack of winning or large buyouts. That leaves Minnesota, Rutgers, and Maryland as the only teams who would even consider making a change at the top.
Minnesota most likely isn’t making a change unless they decide to go the Wisconsin route and fire a coach with a clear ceiling in hopes of better, but that isn’t going well for Wisconsin. Schiano is the best coach in Rutgers history, so he’s probably safe. The only coach potentially on the chopping block is Mike Locksley.
Maryland is having a disappointing year at 4-5, with a 1-5 mark in conference. With Rutgers, Iowa, and Penn State on the schedule, it’s unlikely that Maryland will make a bowl game and a 4-8 record isn’t out of the picture. Firing Locksley depends on where Maryland believes it should be in the new Big Ten, but it has to be hard to see Indiana’s success and not want more.
Outside of head coaches, expect a lot of movement from coordinators, which is going to be a national trend. Purdue has already fired their offensive coordinator, and it’s a good bet that Wisconsin will fire theirs. Lincoln Riley may once again be making changes, and Sherrone Moore really should reconsider his staff as well. There may not be much shakeup at the top, but with the coordinators I expect a lot of movement.
The SEC conference standings are officially in a log jam, and may go three or four steps deep into their tiebreaker scenarios just to figure out who will make the SEC championship game. After Week 11 and a massive Ole Miss victory making Georgia 7-2 overall and 5-2 in conference play, the SEC has three one-loss teams and five two-loss teams.
Tennesse, Texas and Texas A&M all have one conference loss, while Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, Missouri and LSU all have two. For both the SEC and the Big Ten, it would’ve been better if Georgia had beat Ole Miss, as it would take another team out of conference title and playoff contention.
There is one way for this to shake out that benefits both conferences. If Tennessee beats Georgia this Saturday, it would make the Bulldogs a three-loss team. In this scenario, Tennessee is almost guaranteed to make the conference championship and play the winner of Texas-Texas A&M. If Georgia beats Tennesee, with Texas and TAMU still needing to play, there is a chance that the SEC ends up with a singular one-loss team and seven two-loss teams.
This is a nightmare scenario for everyone involved, particularly the Big Ten. The B1G is one of the two best conferences in college football, but the SEC still garners the most respect. If there are seven two-loss teams in the SEC and they have mainly played and beat each other, there may be a question of whose resume is better — a 10-2 Ole Miss with a win over Georgia or an 11-1 Indiana or Penn State without a signature win. The same could be said for Georgia with the win over Texas and Tennessee, or Alabama with their wins over Georgia and LSU.
In reality, any 11-1 team from the Big Ten should get into the playoffs, and that may be how it shakes out in the end. But the Big Ten should at least be a little uncomfortable if there are a bunch of two-loss SEC teams with all of their losses coming to each other in top 25 matchups.
Lastly, this exact scenario is why the SEC needs to move to nine conference games. An extra conference game would have made a lot of this figure itself out. Instead, we will all be glued to the TV for the next few weeks until all the games are played and the final College Football Playoff rankings are released.
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Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
The Hoosiers are 10-0, but did the Wolverines expose some of their flaws?
Every week after the Big Ten games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and more. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024, we will have a bunch of storylines to follow.
Ryan Day and Ohio State are all in for the 2024 season. Is Oregon a national championship contender or will they stumble in their first Big Ten season? How do the former members of the Big Ten West fair in the new divisionless format?
We track all these storylines and more as the Big Ten hopes to win back-to-back national championships. Check out the I-80 Football Show for more in-depth analysis and to preview the next week of B1G games.
Should Indiana be concerned after playing Michigan?
Indiana is 10-0 for the first time in school history. I think it’s important to remind everyone of this, because they could lose their next two games and the bowl game and this would still be a successful season.
There is no raining on the Hoosier parade, but after playing Michigan there may be cracks in the foundation. Much has been made about Indiana’s schedule and how easy it has been, but when you’re winning every game but 30-plus points, there isn’t much to critique.
On Saturday, Indiana played their toughest opponent yet, a talented but struggling Michigan team. Michigan held IU’s offense to 246 total yards and only 18 yards in the second half. The Wolverines lost this game because their offense is inept and their coach is bad situationally, otherwise this easily could’ve been a major upset for Michigan despite a down season.
What is more concerning is how much pressure Michigan got on Kurtis Rourke. The Wolverines had four sacks, three QB hits, and seven pressures on 32 dropbacks. Rourke was under pressure the whole night, and a team like Ohio State and most likely anyone they play in the playoffs is going to get pressure on Rourke. Throughout the game, but especially in the second half, Indiana failed the protect the passer, couldn’t run the ball and their wide receivers weren’t able to get any separation.
The positive spin is they found a way to win, which is a good sign for their culture. Regardless of how this season ends, this is a banner year for the Hoosiers. Still, their ability to compete against Ohio State and the top of the sport just became a question again.
UCLA is on a three-game winning streak?
For the first eight weeks of the season, UCLA looked like one of the worst teams in power conference football. Their season started with a three-point win over Hawaii, a game they should’ve lost honestly, followed by five-straight losses where they never scored more than 17 total points.
They’ve turned it around the last three weeks with wins over Rutgers, Nebraska and Iowa. The win at Rutgers felt like a fluke, but after beating the Hawkeyes, DeShaun Foster seems to be hitting the right buttons and his team is improving each week. With Washington, USC, and Fresno State left on the schedule, UCLA has an outside chance of making a bowl game, and that would be massive after Foster took over mid-spring when Chip Kelly left to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.
Many of us laughed at the Foster hiring, but he may be on to something. UCLA has a lot to fight for in the last three weeks of the season. I, for one, will be rooting for them.
So… who is getting fired in the next few weeks?
We’re 10 games into the college football season, and with the new playoff structure, the transfer portal, and national signing day being moved up, coaching changes are going to happen earlier and earlier. In the Big Ten, I think most coaches are safe, as we’ve seen an unprecedented amount of movement in the last three seasons.
11 of the 18 programs in the conference have coaches in their third year or less. Of the seven remaining, it’s unlikely that Ohio State, Penn State, USC or Iowa fire their coach, whether due to a lack of winning or large buyouts. That leaves Minnesota, Rutgers, and Maryland as the only teams who would even consider making a change at the top.
Minnesota most likely isn’t making a change unless they decide to go the Wisconsin route and fire a coach with a clear ceiling in hopes of better, but that isn’t going well for Wisconsin. Schiano is the best coach in Rutgers history, so he’s probably safe. The only coach potentially on the chopping block is Mike Locksley.
Maryland is having a disappointing year at 4-5, with a 1-5 mark in conference. With Rutgers, Iowa, and Penn State on the schedule, it’s unlikely that Maryland will make a bowl game and a 4-8 record isn’t out of the picture. Firing Locksley depends on where Maryland believes it should be in the new Big Ten, but it has to be hard to see Indiana’s success and not want more.
Outside of head coaches, expect a lot of movement from coordinators, which is going to be a national trend. Purdue has already fired their offensive coordinator, and it’s a good bet that Wisconsin will fire theirs. Lincoln Riley may once again be making changes, and Sherrone Moore really should reconsider his staff as well. There may not be much shakeup at the top, but with the coordinators I expect a lot of movement.
Does the SEC logjam help or hurt the Big Ten?
The SEC conference standings are officially in a log jam, and may go three or four steps deep into their tiebreaker scenarios just to figure out who will make the SEC championship game. After Week 11 and a massive Ole Miss victory making Georgia 7-2 overall and 5-2 in conference play, the SEC has three one-loss teams and five two-loss teams.
Tennesse, Texas and Texas A&M all have one conference loss, while Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, Missouri and LSU all have two. For both the SEC and the Big Ten, it would’ve been better if Georgia had beat Ole Miss, as it would take another team out of conference title and playoff contention.
There is one way for this to shake out that benefits both conferences. If Tennessee beats Georgia this Saturday, it would make the Bulldogs a three-loss team. In this scenario, Tennessee is almost guaranteed to make the conference championship and play the winner of Texas-Texas A&M. If Georgia beats Tennesee, with Texas and TAMU still needing to play, there is a chance that the SEC ends up with a singular one-loss team and seven two-loss teams.
This is a nightmare scenario for everyone involved, particularly the Big Ten. The B1G is one of the two best conferences in college football, but the SEC still garners the most respect. If there are seven two-loss teams in the SEC and they have mainly played and beat each other, there may be a question of whose resume is better — a 10-2 Ole Miss with a win over Georgia or an 11-1 Indiana or Penn State without a signature win. The same could be said for Georgia with the win over Texas and Tennessee, or Alabama with their wins over Georgia and LSU.
In reality, any 11-1 team from the Big Ten should get into the playoffs, and that may be how it shakes out in the end. But the Big Ten should at least be a little uncomfortable if there are a bunch of two-loss SEC teams with all of their losses coming to each other in top 25 matchups.
Lastly, this exact scenario is why the SEC needs to move to nine conference games. An extra conference game would have made a lot of this figure itself out. Instead, we will all be glued to the TV for the next few weeks until all the games are played and the final College Football Playoff rankings are released.
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