Around the Big Ten: Week 10

Audio/Story posted October 30, 2018 in CommRadio, Sports by Christopher Hess

Christopher Hess, Dylan Huberman, Andre Magaro, and Kyle Cannillo preview the biggest games around the Big Ten for week 10: 

 

As the Big Ten season moves into week 10, the division races are
quickly heating up, and the West division remains the biggest question
mark as Northwestern holds the top spot. Teams like Iowa, Purdue and
Wisconsin aren’t very far behind in the race as well. Michigan still leads
the East at 5-0 overall in conference play and Ohio State sits behind the
Wolverines at 4-1.

Illinois traveled to College Park to take on the Maryland Terrapins and
fell by a score of 63-33. Running back Reggie Corbin rushed for over
100 yards for the second straight game and found pay-dirt once. Wide
receiver Dominic Stampley led the Illini with 153 yards receiving on just
four receptions, one of which was an 84-yard touchdown from AJ Bush. The
Illini fell to 3-5 overall and will look to bounce back at home on
Nov. 3 as the Minnesota Golden Gophers come to town for a West
division clash.

After falling behind 31-9 to Minnesota, Indiana came roaring back for
22 fourth quarter points to tie the game at 31 with 3:57 to play.
However, Minnesota got the last laugh as the Hoosiers ultimately fell
38-31. Quarterback Peyton Ramsey went 29 for 44 for 232 yards, threw two
touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions. Stevie Scott found the end
zone once to tie the game on a 3-yard run. Donovan Hale added a
touchdown and two point conversion as well. The Hoosiers slipped to 4-
5 on the year and will be idle during week 10.

Iowa’s top five-ranked defense established the precedent early and often
against Penn State. However, the Hawkeyes ultimately fell to the
Nittany Lions 30-24 on a raw and rainy day in Happy Valley. The Iowa
special teams unit recorded two safeties on a blocked punt and a bad
snap, and the first safety gave the Hawkeyes a 2-0 lead just 52 seconds
into the game. Quarterback Nate Stanley struggled mightily going 18 for 49
for 205 yards and two interceptions. Iowa did not score an offensive
touchdown in the game as the special team unit and defense registered
the 14 of the 24 points. Kirk Ferentz’s team dropped to 6-2 and will
travel to Purdue on Nov. 3 for a 3:30 p.m. battle.

After getting shut out and registering under 150 yards of total offense
against Iowa, Maryland exploded for 712 yards of total offense in a 63-
33 win over Illinois. The Terps rushed for 431 yards, as five ball carriers
rushed for over 50 yards. Javon Leake led all carriers with 150 yards and
three touchdowns. Leake also scampered to the end zone on a 97-yard
kickoff return to open the scoring for the Terps after an Illinois field
goal. Maryland improved to 5-3 and will welcome Michigan State for a
noon kickoff on Nov. 3.

Michigan was idle during week nine and the Wolverines sit at the top of
the Big Ten East with a 5-0 conference record and an overall record of
7-1. Jim Harbaugh’s team will look to keep their perfect conference
record intact, as Penn State will invade the Big House for a bout on
Nov. 3 at 3:45 p.m.

Michigan State led 16-13 late in the fourth quarter and a 48-yard
touchdown pass from Rocky Lombardi to Jalen Nailor gave the Spartans
a 23-13 lead, and the same score held as the clock hit zero. Lombardi
went 26 for 46 on 318 yards passing and threw two touchdowns in his first career
start. Mark Dantonio’s team moved to 5-3 overall and will hit the road
and travel to Maryland for a noon duel on Nov. 3.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers squandered a 31-9 lead to Indiana, but
ultimately took a 38-31 lead after a 67-yard pass from Tanner Morgan to
Rashod Bateman with 1:34 to play in the final frame. Tanner Morgan
went 17 for 24 on 324 yards passing, threw three touchdown passes and also threw
an interception. Shannon Brooks rushed for 154 yards on 22 carries and
scored on a 17-yard run. Rashod Bateman led all receivers with 108
yards on just four receptions. PJ Fleck’s team improved to 4-4 and will
travel to Champaign for a West division game on Nov. 3 at 3:30
p.m.

Scott Frost’s Cornhuskers were able to pick up their second straight win
in a 45-9 rout of FCS Bethune Cookman. Devine Ozigbo rushed for 110 yards on 11 carries and Stanley Morgan had 82 receiving yards to complement two scores. JD Spielman returned a punt 77 yards for touchdown in the first quarter alongside 72 yards receiving. Nebraska improved to 2-6 overall and will travel to Ohio State for a division crossover game on Nov. 3. Kickoff is set for noon.

Northwestern currently holds the top spot in the Big Ten West and
improved its chances of going to Indianapolis with a convincing 31-17
win over Wisconsin. The Wildcats held Jonathan Taylor to under 50
yards rushing on the afternoon. Isaiah Bowser rushed for 117 yards on
34 carries and scored on a 2-yard run. Pat Fitzgerald’s team moved to
a 5-3 record will host third-ranked and undefeated Notre Dame on Nov. 3
at 7:15 p.m. The last time these two teams met in 2014, the Wildcats defeated the Irish 43-40.

Ohio State had a bye during week nine, and Urban Meyer’s team
currently sits behind Michigan for the top spot in the Big Ten East. The
Buckeyes are 7-1 overall and will welcome Nebraska to the Horseshoe
for a noon kickoff on Nov. 3.

After losing two home games and a narrow win at Indiana, Penn State
returned home and defeated Iowa 30-24 after two defensive stands in the
final moments of the game. KJ Hamler led all receivers with 96 yards
and Nick Scott intercepted a Nate Stanley pass inside the five with under
four minutes left to play. Shareef miller’s quarterback hurry eliminated
Iowa’s last-ditch effort, and the Nittany Lions moved to 6-2 overall. Penn
State will travel to the Big House to take on Michigan for a Big Ten East
showdown on Nov. 3 at 3:45 p.m.

Purdue won four-straight games after starting the season 0-3, and
were quickly grounded by Michigan State just a week after hanging 49
points on Ohio State. The Boilermakers fell 23-13 to the Spartans and
slipped to 4-4 overall. Quarterback David Blough registered 277 yards
and threw three interceptions alongside zero touchdown passes. Jeff Brohm’s team will take on Iowa at Ross-Ade Stadium at 3:30 p.m on Nov. 3 for an intra-divisional scuffle.

Rutgers had its bye during week nine, and Chris Ash’s team has not
scored more than 17 points since week one in a 35-7 win over Texas
State. The Scarlet Knights sit at 1-7 overall and will take on Wisconsin
at Camp Randall Stadium at noon on Nov. 3.

In Alex Hornibrook’s absence, the Wisconsin Badgers fell to
Northwestern 31-17. Long Island native Jack Coan went 20 for 31 on 158
yards passing and threw a touchdown pass to Kendric Pryor. Jonathan Taylor
was held to just 46 yards on 11 carries and the Badgers rushed for 165
yards as a team. Paul Chryst’s team fell to 5-3 on the season and will
look to rebound at home against Rutgers on Nov. 3 at noon.

 

Christopher Hess is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism and minoring in history. To contact him, email christopherhess22@gmail.com.