Ohio State did not play over the weekend, but there was still plenty of action around the Big Ten.
Wisconsin made a national statement by dominating Michigan State, limiting the Spartans to six points in East Lansing. Michigan made a statement with its drubbing of Penn State — another loss to a top-ranked opponent for head coach James Franklin. Rutgers and Iowa combined to score 21 points in their game.
It was a glorious Saturday of Big Ten football.
Stock Up/Stock Down returns to break down another weekend of action around the conference. With no game for the Buckeyes last weekend, this week’s version is a little more catered toward the rest of the league. That will certainly change next week.
Without any further delay, let’s dive in.
STOCK UP
Wisconsin
I certainly didn’t see this one coming. The win over LSU in Week 1 was impressive, yes, but Saturday’s victory at Michigan State in which the Badgers held the Spartans to just six points was even better.
Wisconsin’s schedule is brutal, as we’ve discussed, and it travels to No. 4 Michigan this weekend for another tough road game. I’m not sure the Badgers have a good enough offense to win that game, but I kind of thought the same thing last weekend and they hung 30 on Michigan State.
Paul Chryst’s squad is trending upward big time right now and they’ve certainly earned it.
Michigan ground game
I don’t have many questions about Michigan’s defense, but its offense — in particular, the quarterback and running game — is what could hold the Wolverines back against top-tier competition.
With an offensive line that’s, by most accounts, fairly average and an abundance of running backs, Michigan has struggled at times to run the football in the early parts of this season, but against what’s usually a stout Penn State defense the Wolverines exploded Saturday for 326 rushing yards.
Not saying Michigan’s ground game is among the league’s best or anything, just that it might have taken a step in the right direction Saturday. A very stiff test awaits next week when Wisconsin comes to town.
STOCK DOWN
Michigan State’s offense
With two All-Big Ten linemen, an All-Big Ten quarterback and All-Big Ten receiver to replace, Michigan State had a lot of holes to fill on offense. The Spartans looked like they filled them in a blowout of Notre Dame on the road two weeks ago, but what happened Saturday against Wisconsin was a bit of a surprise.
The Badgers limited Michigan State to just six points in East Lansing. That’s a credit to a good Wisconsin defense, but six points? At home? Be better than that, Sparty.
James Franklin — Penn State head coach
Win a big game, James. Please.
Or at least have your team show up for one. Penn State lost 49-10 to Michigan on Saturday and is currently 2-2 on the season. With Ohio State, Michigan State and a few others still on the schedule, the Nittany Lions could be headed for another 7-5 season.
Franklin’s seat in State College would start to get a little warmer if that were the case.
