Around the Big Ten: Week 2

Story posted September 5, 2018 in CommRadio, Sports by Sports Staff

Joe Skinner, Chris Hess and Kyle Canillo break down what's happening around the Big Ten this week:

 

Week one was extremely successful for the Big Ten as eleven of the twelve teams playing non-conference games won, while the battle between Northwestern and Purdue kicked off the conference slate.

Entering week two, twelve teams are 1-0 and two teams dropped to 0-1. This week’s slate features twelve teams playing non-conference games and two teams from inside the conference playing each other.

Illinois started off 2018 with a 31-24 win over Kent State. It was a slugfest between two teams desperately trying to climb out of the cellar of their respected conferences. Quarterback AJ Bush led the Illini by going 13/23 for 190 yards alongside 21 carries for 139 yards. Illinois will take on Western Illinois under the lights in Champaign at 7:30 p.m on Sept. 8.

Indiana kicked off their season by knocking Florida International on the road by a score of 38-28. Quarterback Peyton Ramsey went 20/27 for 156 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Michael Penix Jr. also went 8/10 for 96 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Donovan Hale caught two touchdown passes. Then Mike Majette and Peyton Hendershot each caught one touchdown apiece. The Hoosiers will host Virginia at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 8.

Iowa began 2018 by defeating the scrappy Huskies from Northern Illinois 33-7. Running back Toren Young touched the ball eight times for 84 yards and found the end zone once. Ivory Kelly-Martin rushed for 62 yards on 16 carries and found the end zone once as well. Iowa will welcome in-state rival Iowa State to Kinnick Stadium at 5 p.m. on Sept. 8.

Maryland made headlines in week one by upsetting heavily favored Texas 34-29 in an extremely emotional and hard-fought game while honoring Jordan McNair, who died during a summer workout. Quarterback Kasim Hill returned from his torn ACL injury by going 17/29 for 222 yards and one touchdown. It was the second year in a row the Terps defeated Texas on opening weekend despite dealing with all of the offseason adversity. Maryland will travel to Bowling Green and take on the Falcons at 6 p.m. on Sept. 8.

Michigan resurrected a rivalry that was put to sleep for a few years and it was brought back with a defensive slugfest. Notre Dame held their own at home and defeated the Wolverines 24-17. Shea Patterson had a less than stellar debut by going 20/30 for 227 yards and one interception. With the loss, Michigan has now lost 17 straight away games against ranked teams. The Wolverines will welcome the Western Michigan Broncos to the Big House for a noon kickoff this week.

The Michigan State Spartans got a bit of a scare in their first game as they survived Utah State’s upset bid by a score of 38-31. Brian Lewerke went 23/33 for 287 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Linebacker Joe Bachie sealed the win with an interception with 1:15 to go. Michigan State will travel to Tempe to take on Arizona State in a desert shootout at 10:45 p.m. on Sept 8.

Year two for PJ Fleck in Minneapolis began with a former walk-on freshman quarterback under center, and his Gophers were able to annihilate New Mexico State 48-10. Zack Annexstad went 16/33 for 220 yards and threw two touchdowns. Running backs Rodney Smith and Mohamed Ibrahim ran for 153 yards and 101 yards respectively. The Golden Gophers will welcome Fresno State to TCF Bank Stadium for a showdown under the lights at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 8.

The beginning of the Scott Frost era was put on hold due to heavy and extremely dangerous thunderstorms surrounding the University of Nebraska campus. The Cornhuskers’ bout with Akron was ultimately postponed and now Nebraska will have to shift their focus to an old Big 12 foe. The Colorado Buffaloes will stampede into Memorial Stadium in Lincoln for a 3:30 p.m. showdown on Sept. 8.

Pat Fitzgerald’s Northwestern Wildcats kicked off the 2018 Big Ten season with a 31-27 road victory against Purdue. Quarterback Clayton Thorson went 16/26 for 172 yards and running back Jeremy Larkin stepped in nicely to fill the shoes of Justin Jackson. Larkin carried the ball 26 times for 143 yards and found the end zone twice. Northwestern will welcome Duke to Ryan Field for a noon kickoff on Sept. 8.

No Urban Meyer, no problem. Ohio State steamrolled the rebuilding Oregon State Beavers by a score of 77-31. Dwayne Haskins has stepped in to replace JT Barrett and his debut was strong. Haskins went 22/30 for 313 yards, 5 touchdown passes, and one interception. Running back Mike Weber carried the ball 20 times for 186 yards and found the end zone three times. Ohio State will welcome Rutgers to Columbus for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 8.

Penn State was just a few plays away from being yet another upset victim to the Appalachian State Mountaineers. The Nittany Lions survived the upset scare with a 45-38 overtime victory. Quarterback Trace McSorley went 21/36 for 230 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Miles Sanders rushed for 91 yards on 19 carries and found the end zone twice. His second touchdown provided the winning points in overtime. KJ Hamler had four receptions for 68 yards and scored the game-tying touchdown with 42 seconds to go. The Nittany Lions will travel to Pittsburgh for an intrastate rivalry game under the lights at 8 p.m. at Heinz Field on Sept. 8.

Purdue’s comeback attempt against Northwestern fell short and the Boilermakers lost by a score of 31-27. Elijah Sindelar went 18/30 for 196 yards, threw one touchdown, but also threw three interceptions. Wide receiver Rondale Moore was named Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week after just his first game. Moore totaled 313 all-purpose yards and it broke Purdue’s single-game record. The Boilermakers will welcome Eastern Michigan to Ross Ade Stadium for a noon kickoff on Sept. 8.

Rutgers got the season-opening win that they desired after defeating Texas State 35-7. Freshman quarterback Art Sitkowski went 20/30 for 205 yards, threw one touchdown pass, but threw three interceptions. Boston College graduate transfer Jon Hilliman rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns and Raheem Blackshear rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown. Rutgers will travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 8.

Wisconsin was able to take care of business against Western Kentucky with an easy 34-3 win. Quarterback Alex Hornibrook went 17/29 for 257 yards and threw two touchdowns. Heisman candidate Jonathan Taylor picked up right where he left off by carrying the ball 18 times for 145 yards and scoring twice. The Badgers will host the New Mexico Lobos to Camp Randall Stadium for a noon kickoff on Sept. 8.

 

 

Chris Hess is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email christopherhess22@gmail.com.