Around the Big Ten: Week 14
Nebraska (8-3, 4-3 B1G) vs. Iowa (7-4, 4-3 B1G)
Friday will feature the first Big Ten game of the week. The run-heavy Nebraska Cornhuskers head to Kinnick Stadium to battle with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The Cornhuskers feature Heisman candidate running back Ameer Abdullah, who has rushed for over 1,400 yards and a career-high 18 touchdowns on the season. Nebraska ranks 15th in the nation averaging 256.2 yards per game on the ground. Last week against No. 25 Minnesota, the Cornhuskers suffered a tough loss at home. That loss ruined Nebraska’s chance at winning the Big Ten West and being in the Big Ten championship game against the No. 6 Buckeyes.
Iowa features the accurate Jake Rudock, who has thrown for over 2,100 yards on the season. Rudock has thrown for 14 touchdowns and four interceptions on the season. Rudock has completed 64.2% of his passes this season. Iowa ranks fourth in the Big Ten in yards per game, averaging 243.1. Iowa ranks second in the Big Ten in passing defense only allowing 173.4 yards; but their opponent, Wisconsin, ranks first only allowing 162.2 through the air.
Illinois (5-6, 2-5 B1G) vs. Northwestern (5-6, 3-4 B1G)
On Saturday, these two programs will be playing for bowl eligibility. Both programs are at the bottom of the Big Ten West standings.
Illinois is coming off a late field goal to lift them over the Penn State Nittany Lions. Quarterback Wes Lunt was benched and replaced by Reilly O’Toole, who came in and went 18 out of 25 for 157 yards and a touchdown. O’Toole led the drive down field setting up the game-winning field goal.
Northwestern is coming off back-to-back road victories at then No. 18 Notre Dame and Purdue. They are simply trying to play for a bowl game; but that will be tough with the loss of senior quarterback Trevor Siemian. Siemian threw for over 2,200 yards on the season and it’s a shame for a senior to go out like this. The Wildcats will have to rely heavily on running back Justin Jackson, who has ran for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns in his freshman campaign.
Purdue (3-8, 1-6 B1G) vs. Indiana (3-8, 0-7 B1G)
Purdue comes into Saturday’s game losers of five straight and six of their last seven. They were absolutely destroyed last week at home by Northwestern, 38-14. Eight out of the 11 Boilermakers’ games this season the defense has allowed 30 points or more; and with standout running back Tevin Coleman on slate for Saturday he’s primed to have a big game. The Boilermakers rank 11th in the Big Ten in rushing defense, allowing about 188 yards per game on the ground.
Indiana is the lone Big Ten team without a conference victory. They threatened the Buckeyes last week in Columbus for their first Big Ten win and ruining Ohio State’s College Football Playoff chances. It took four second-half touchdowns from Ohio State’s freshman running back Jalin Marshall to close out the Hoosiers. Hoosiers running back Tevin Coleman became the first running back to eclipse the 200-yard mark on the ground against the Buckeyes all season. They look to pick up a conference victory against a Trevor Siemian-less Northwestern team at home.
Michigan (5-6, 3-4 B1G) vs. No. 6 Ohio State (10-1, 7-0 B1G)
Arguably this biggest rivalry in college football will take place Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. The Michigan Wolverines head to Ohio Stadium to take on the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State won last year in Michigan as they failed to convert a two-point conversation that could’ve won the game.
Michigan comes into the next installment of this rivalry winners of two of their last three games. With Michigan sitting on five wins on the season and coach Brady Hoke likely gone at the season’s conclusion, there would be nothing better for the Wolverines than to beat the Buckeyes Saturday. The Wolverines rank fourth in the Big Ten when it comes to stopping the run, only allowing about 107 yards on the ground per game. The Buckeyes come into Saturday’s game as the Big Ten’s third best rushing offense averaging about 260 on the ground per contest.
The No. 6 Buckeyes come into Saturday’s game looking to keep their record unblemished in Big Ten play. Since the Buckeyes week 2 loss at the hands of Virginia Tech, Ohio State has been dominant winners of nine straight by an average of about 26 points per game. Ohio State is the Big Ten’s most efficient passing offense and Michigan ranks 10th in pass defense efficiency in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes will look to beat Michigan en route to the Big Ten title game and possibly the College Football Playoff, which they are currently the second team out at No. 6.
No. 10 Michigan State (9-2, 6-1 B1G) vs. Penn State (6-5, 2-5 B1G)
It has been a season of ups and downs for Penn State. They started the season off 4-0 and then had the sanctions from the Jerry Sandusky scandal lifted, which made them bowl eligible. They went on to lose four straight and five out their last seven coming into Saturday. Michigan State suffered a tough loss at the hands of Oregon; but still had a chance at the College Football Playoff if they would’ve beaten the Buckeyes.
Penn State comes into senior day after losing last week at Illinois, but look to build momentum into their first bowl game since 2011. The offensive line has been in shambles all season, but over the last few weeks the running game has been much improved. A lot of the improvement has to do with a switch at running back by coach Franklin. He decided to go with Akeel Lynch over the senior Bill Belton. Over the last three game,s Lynch has ran the ball 59 times for 284 yards and two touchdowns. Belton has run the ball 41 times for 235 yards and two touchdowns on the year .
Michigan State has to have a lot of things go wrong for the nation’s top teams to get into the College Football Playoff, its safe to say that it’s a long shot. Michigan State comes into Saturday’s game averaging about 246 yards per game on the ground; but Penn State is the nation’s stingiest defense only allowing 81.5 yards per game on the ground, so that will be a great matchup to watch Saturday. Michigan State is the Big Ten’s best passing offense averaging 269 yards per game, so if the run doesn’t work they have Connor Cook and those boys to count on.
No. 18 Minnesota (8-3, 5-2 B1G) vs. No. 14 Wisconsin (9-2, 6-1 B1G)
This game is the lone Big Ten game Saturday that has significant meaning. This matchup will decide who gets to play Ohio State in the Big Ten championship.
No. 18 Minnesota went to Nebraska and beat the Cornhuskers, destroying their chances to play in the Big Ten title game. The Minnesota defense held Cornhuskers’ running back Ameer Abdullah to only 98 yards; he came into the game averaging 131.9 yards per game. Sophomore quarterback Mitch Leidner has stepped up of late, making plays with both his arm and legs.
The Badgers feature the nation’s third best rushing offense with 343.5 yards per game; and the driving force behind it is Heisman candidate Melvin Gordon in the backfield, who has run for 2,109 yards and 25 touchdowns on the season. They are also the third scoring defense allowing 16.1 points per game.
Rutgers (6-5, 2-5 B1G) vs. Maryland (7-4, 4-3 B1G)
Rutgers and Maryland are both newcomers to the Big Ten his year.
Rutgers has been somewhat of a surprise this season and have actually become bowl eligible. Senior quarterback Gary Nova has been the biggest contributor to the Scarlet Knights’ offense throwing for 2,320 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Maryland may have been the biggest surprise in the Big Ten this year. They have big road wins at historically good Big Ten programs like Penn State and Michigan. Senior quarterback C.J. Brown has been a huge success this year throwing for 1,888 yards and is the Terrapins’ leading rusher on the year with 462 yards.
Chris Gamble is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email cgamble531@gmail.com
