If you found the Ohio State-Penn State game too intense for your liking, you may have preferred watching the rest of the Big Ten in Week 9. Something about double overtime wringers makes regulation games seem charming.
While Week 8 was mostly filler, Week 9 saw the three major contenders for the Big Ten title humiliate their opponents, while the conference's paper tiger suffered a stunning upset. If you enjoy drinking the salty tears of failure, this was the weekend for you.
Michigan State 35, Michigan 11
Michigan State was the heavy favorite before its home game against Michigan, and it used a pregame slight by the Wolverines as motivation for a sloppy, dominant win.
Before the game, Michigan players drove a stake/spike/dagger into midfield of Spartan Stadium. When the Spartans found out about the symbolic act they were irate, and it led to some hurt feelings.
Michigan State failed to capitalize on its opportunities in the first half. It needed a two-minute drill to make it 14-3 at the half, even though the Spartans outgained the Wolverines 256-35. The Spartans made errors of their own, such as careless turnovers and targeting penalties; a good team could have capitalized on them, but Michigan is not a good team.
In the second half things fell apart for Devin Gardner, who hurled a pick-six and a second interception on an off-balance jump pass that didn't come within five yards of a Wolverine. Connor Cook threw a beautiful 70-yard back shoulder fade to Tony Lippett to put the game away.
Michigan State could have sat on the ball for a 28-11 win. Instead Mark Dantonio kept pushing, and the Spartans scored a window dressing touchdown 28 seconds left to rub it in. What gives, Dantonio?
We try to handle ourselves with composure. That doesn't come from a coach. It comes from the program. Throwing the stake down in our backyard out here and coming out there like they're all that. That got shoved up ... It got shoved in the last minute and a half.
Brady Hoke's goose is cooked, as he needed to beat both Michigan State and Ohio State to stick around in Ann Arbor another year. Michigan now must beat three of four of Indiana, Northwestern, Maryland and Ohio State to make a bowl. Michigan State fans had a clear message, both on the ground and in the air: "KEEP BRADY HOKE".
Michigan State didn't look like a world-beater, but it looked better than Ohio State. Until evidence to the contrary, this is the team to beat in the Big Ten.
Illinois 28, Minnesota 24
Ameer Abdullah and Nebraska stuck it to Rutgers.
Minnesota had been coasting on an easy schedule for weeks and doing just enough to win. The Golden Gophers were due for a rude awakening, and that's what Illinois gave them.
Illinois had a striking gray, blue and chrome look, meant to honor the 90th anniversary Memorial Stadium and Red Grange tearing it up against then-powerhouse Michigan (even though Illinois didn't wear gray jerseys in 1924). The change in uniforms must have helped, because the Illini looked like a totally different team on defense against Minnesota.
The Illini took a surprising 14-0 lead, shutting down Minnesota workhorse back David Cobb. The Gophers would break through, though, and three touchdowns in the third quarter let them grab a 24-21 lead. With Illinois' offense going nowhere Minnesota was content to cling to its slim lead, but Illinois' V'Angelo Bentley returned a Cobb fumble for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to retake the lead.
Minnesota had one last, desperate chance for the win, but Mitch Leidner was sacked at the Illinois 28 on fourth down. It's going to be rough sledding the rest of the way for Minnesota, which still has to play Iowa, Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Now that Illinois has improved to 2-18 in the Big Ten under Tim Beckman – give the man a contract extension! – it has an outside shot at a bowl game. That sounds like reason to celebrate with coffin beer.
This group #ILLINOIShomecoming is hoping to bury the #gophers today at Memorial Stadium! #illini pic.twitter.com/ge4MJOvlRs
— Kent Brown (@kentbrown) October 25, 2014
Nebraska 42, Rutgers 24
The Cornhuskers entered Saturday a game behind Minnesota in the Big Ten West standings and unsure about their division chances. Although the Cornhuskers had a sloppy performance against Rutgers, they exited with a dominant victory and a rosier season outlook.
Ameer Abdullah was once again huge for Nebraska, rushing for 200+ yards, three touchdowns and breaking a big kickoff return to set up another touchdown. Abdullah's 341 all-purpose yards set a Nebraska single-game record, and he passed Anthony Thomas and Archie Griffin for most all-purpose yards in Big Ten history. Kenny Bell also got in on the action, becoming Nebraska's all-time receptions leader.
| School | W-L | Rank | Prev |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 5-2 (2-1) | 1 | 5 |
| Nebraska | 7-1 (3-1) | 2 | 4 |
| Michigan State | 7-1 (4-0) | 3 | 2 |
| Illinois | 4-4 (1-3) | 4 | 10 |
| Ohio State | 6-1 (3-0) | 5 | 1 |
| Penn State | 4-2 (1-2) | 6 | 14 |
| Iowa | 5-2 (2-1) | 7 | 7 |
| Purdue | 3-5 (1-3) | 8 | 8 |
| Rutgers | 5-3 (1-3) | 9 | 11 |
| Northwestern | 3-4 (2-2) | 10 | 9 |
| Minnesota | 6-2 (3-1) | 11 | 6 |
| Indiana | 3-4 (0-3) | 12 | 14 |
| Michigan | 3-5 (1-3) | 13 | 12 |
| Maryland | 5-3 (2-2) | 14 | 3 |
NovaWatch: Did Gary Nova prevent his team from winning? Not really. He had a mixed day, with a bad interception here and a 71-yard TD strike to Leonte Carroo there. He left the game in the second quarter with a bad-looking knee injury, before the game's outcome was decided. If he is out for the season, NovaWatch will come to a sad, premature end.
With Minnesota's loss, Nebraska is in control of the West. Only a road trip to Wisconsin on Nov. 15 stands between them and the Big Ten championship game.
Wisconsin 52, Maryland 7
Maryland's mascot Testudo learned a harsh lesson on Saturday: sometimes you just have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. The Terrapins are a good road team, but they were no match for the Badgers in Camp Randall Stadium.
Melvin Gordon had three first half touchdowns to give the Badgers a 24-0 halftime lead. Joel Stave showed some passing finesse for the first time this season, and the Badger defense held Maryland to 175 yards of offense in the blowout win. Wisconsin has improved enormously over the last few weeks; might they be the most dangerous team in the Big Ten West?
That's all for Week 9 in the Big Ten. In Week 10, Maryland-Penn State and Wisconsin-Rutgers look like appealing games if you squint just right. Tune in to Michigan-Indiana if you want to see what happens when the Big Ten's worst offense meets its worst defense. Also for your consideration: Purdue-Nebraska and Northwestern-Iowa. See you all then.
