Around The Big Ten: Week 2
In Week 2 of college football, the Big Ten saw some key matchups that will play a major role in playoff implications within the coming weeks.
The Ducks Waddle Through the Shoe
In a surprising upset, the No. 12 Oregon Ducks marched into Columbus and defeated the No. 3 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 35-28.
It was a nail biting game, competitive down to the final second. But despite the loss, the Buckeyes still looked dangerous on offense. Freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 35 out of 54 attempts for a hefty 484 yards and three touchdowns, securing him a second straight Big Ten Freshman of the Week award. Stroud certainly was electric, connecting with wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson for over 100 yards each.
While the offense was clicking on all cylinders, it was the Buckeyes' defense that ultimately led to their demise. Oregon running back C.J. Verdell torched the defense, with 195 total yards and three total scores. In addition, the Buckeyes struggled to generate pressure on the quarterback, as they had no sacks and only five hurries.
The now No. 9 ranked Ohio State fell to 1-1 on the season. They will take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes at home in Columbus this coming Saturday.
Not a “Purdy” Performance
The No. 10 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes hoisted the Cy-Hawk trophy on their way to a 27-17 victory over the No. 9 ranked Iowa State Cyclones.
It was a highly contested defensive battle between the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones. The Hawkeye defense in particular put up a monstrous performance, intercepting Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy three times and scoring a touchdown off of a forced fumble.
Iowa proved its toughness and stays undefeated so far this season. The Hawkeyes now sit at No. 5 on the latest AP poll, and will head back home for a date with Kent State this weekend.
Wolverines Wash Washington
The Washington Huskies traveled to Ann Arbor, resulting in a Michigan Wolverines win by a score of 31-10.
A win is a win, but questions still remain for the Wolverines. Perhaps the most important question lies within the passing game. Quarterback Cade McNamara threw the ball merely 15 times, completing only seven of those attempts for 44 yards.
Despite the abysmal passing game, the Huskies could not seem to find an answer for Michigan’s running game. Sophomore running back Blake Corum racked up 171 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, earning him Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Fellow running back Hassan Haskins also had a huge game with 155 yards and a score of his own.
The previously unranked Michigan Wolverines squeak into the No. 25 spot in the latest AP poll, on their way to a 2-0 record. This coming weekend they will face Northern Illinois in Ann Arbor once again.
A crazy weekend of Big Ten football ends in a slight shake up of the AP poll rankings. With still some of the biggest matchups yet to come, will we end up seeing a Big Ten team represented in the college football playoffs?
Darian Capobianco is a first-year at Penn State University majoring in journalism. To contact him, email dpc5734@psu.edu.
