Big Ten play is finally upon us and the results of the first weekend of games produce ever-interesting standings quirks like Penn State and Wisconsin in a five-way tie for last place.
That is... beautiful.
Also, the two teams off Ohio State's schedule, Michigan State and Northwestern, are off to 5-0 starts. Sparty, taking on the role of the nation's team in light of coach Mark Dantonio's heart problems, still must play Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa and Penn State, all on the road, so their stay at the top could be short-lived. Northwestern, on the other hand, gets MSU and Iowa at home, with trips to Penn State and Wisconsin, conjuring thoughts of 1995 in Evanston.
#18 Iowa 24, #25 Penn State 3
If three is a trend, the Hawkeyes have become Penn State stomping hipsters after rolling the Nittany Lions 24-3 in the league's primetime matchup in Iowa City. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi was back to his patriotic best, throwing for 227 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a score. The Hawkeye defense hassled freshman quarterback Rob Bolden all night, taking a pick-six back 33 yards early and coming up with another interception that was negated by a personal foul.
The game was never really in doubt after Iowa out-gained Penn State 148-1 in the first quarter on the way to a 17-3 halftime lead. The Hawkeyes have now won 8 of their last 9 against the Nittany Lions and Lion tears still taste delicious.
#22 Michigan State 34, #13 Wisconsin 24
Playing for the second week in a row without Dantonio, who was watching the game from a nearby hospital, the Spartans used a balance offense and some gutsy play-calling to knock off the previously unbeaten Badgers in East Lansing. Leading 27-24 in the fourth quarter, quarterback Kirk Cousins led the Spartans on a 15-play, 84-yard drive that chewed up nearly eight minutes of clock and culminated with a one yard touchdown completion on fourth down to provide the final margin. The play was one of three fourth down attempts in the game for Sparty (they went 2/3) leading some to wonder if Mark Dantonio ever really did coach in Columbus.
The Badgers received solid production from their running backs, with Clay going 17/80 and the freshman White 10/98 with two touchdowns, but kept the ball for over 36 minutes effectively keeping the two off the field.
#17 Michigan 42, Indiana 35
Wolverine quarterback Denard Robinson added another impressive outing to his Xbox season, rushing for 217 and passing for 277, none more important than the 42-yarder he completed to Junior Hemingway in the waning seconds, setting up his keeper to topple the previously unbeaten Hoosiers in Bloomington. The Denardening is real, as he became the first player in FBS history to account for a 200/200 game twice in his career (during the regular season). Which he naturally managed to pull off in the first half of his first season as a starter.
The Hoosiers hung tough and were in it until the very end, when quarterback Ben Chappell's hail mary fell incomplete with the clock expiring. The blueprint to beating Michigan is out there -- that defense might be the worst in BCS football -- but unfortunately, those plans come with the easier-said-than-done task of stopping Robinson.
Northwestern 29, Minnesota 28
Quarterback Dan Persa did his best to give this one away, accounting for two red zone turnovers, but made up for it in the end, passing for 309 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 99 yards on the ground as Northwestern dropped Minnesota at home.
The Gophers took advantage of each Persa mistake, capitalizing on both for points, and led 28-20 entering the fourth quarter, but nine unanswered (touchdown with a missed two-point conversion and a field goal) in the fourth sunk Minnesota to 1-4 during the Tim Brewster farewell tour.
The big question for the 201 Northwestern fans now becomes whether or not they will enter the rankings for the first time season.
Bye: Purdue
Due to the extra free time, Danny Hope mustache rides were half price in West Lafayette this weekend.
- * Rankings reflect Week 5 BlogPoll positions.
