Big Ten Week 12 Recap: The Spartans Are Out of Playoff Contention

We continue to get answers in the Big Ten as the conference progresses throughout the year. Ohio State established themselves as the best team in the conference with a blowout win against Michigan State. In the West division, Wisconsin continues to win giving them a high chance of ending up in the Big Ten championship game. Let’s go through each game and break down the outcome. Here we go. 

Purdue 32 at Northwestern 14

Purdue displayed their lethal passing attack on Saturday against Northwestern. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell led the Boilermakers to a victory on Saturday. O’Connell threw for 423 yards on 29/39 passing, he also tossed three touchdowns. Purdue wide receiver David Bell had a quality performance with 12 receptions for 101-yards, but Milton Wright was Purdue’s real threat on Saturday. Wright caught 8 passes for 213-yards and three touchdowns. Northwestern continues to be undynamic on offense, the Wildcats played two quarterbacks and still couldn’t find answers through the air. Northwestern quarterbacks Andrew Marty and Ryan Hilinski combined for 159-yards and one touchdown. For Northwestern to compete, they need to be able to move the ball easier as they can’t control the pace of the game in 2021. Next week Purdue faces Indiana and Northwestern will play Illinois. 

No. 7 Michigan State 7 at No. 5 Ohio State 56 

This game was not close from the second this game started. Although it was a top-ten matchup, Ohio State was going up against a Michigan State team that has a terrible pass defense. The Buckeyes were able to take advantage of the Spartans defense giving Ohio State a 49-0 lead at halftime. C.J. Stroud was perfect, and he might’ve had his Heisman moment throwing for 432-yards along with six touchdowns. Ohio State’s wide receiver trio of Jaxon Smith-Ngiba, Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson combined for five touchdowns and 371-yards. The Buckeyes limited Michigan State’s best weapon in running back Kenneth Walker III as he only gained 25-yards on six carries. In week 13, Ohio State faces rival Michigan, and Michigan State plays Penn State. 

Rutgers 0 at Penn State 28

Penn State rolled in week 12 even after starting quarterback Sean Clifford left the game in the first quarter with an injury. Backup quarterback Christian Veilleux replaced Clifford and he didn’t skip a beat. Veilleux threw for 235-yards and three touchdowns. The Nittany Lions outgained Rutgers 407-yards to 160-yards. Penn State’s defense showed out on Saturday, they held Rutgers to just 93-yards through the air. Leading the way for the Nittany Lions was Safety Jaquan Brisker who had seven tackles, two of which were solo tackles. Penn State has played good football and they should enjoy getting back into the win column after a rough stretch late in the season losing to Illinois, Ohio State, and Michigan. The Nittany Lions look to go 8-4 with a win against Michigan State in week 13. Rutgers will try and get back on track for a bowl-eligible deciding game versus Maryland. 

Illinois 23 at No. 18 Iowa 33

Iowa allowed themselves to stay alive in the Big Ten West division race with a victory on Saturday, but they need a Wisconsin loss to move ahead of the Badgers. Iowa played their style and formula of football and it contributed to the Hawkeyes ugly victory. The special teams for Iowa played a big role in their win. The Hawkeyes were down 10-0 until Iowa’s kick returner Charlie Jones had a 100-yards kickoff return changing the momentum of the game. Illinois moved the ball on the Hawkeyes through the air as quarterback Brandon Peters has 248-yards and two touchdowns. It was ultimately Peter’s interceptions that lost the Illini this ball game. The Hawkeyes were able to deliver the knockout punch with a 32-yard pick-six from Jack Campbell. Illinois seems to be trending upward for next season but their chances of making a bowl sitting at 4-7 are almost impossible. Next week the Fighting Illini face Northwestern, Iowa will play Nebraska in a must-win game to try and have a chance at making it to the championship. 

Minnesota 35 at Indiana 14

Indiana is a bad football team, and they are constantly proving that every week. With Indiana getting blown out to Minnesota, the Hoosier drop to 2-9 on the year. It was all Minnesota in this one as the Golden Gophers rushed for 195-yards led by running back Ky Thomas who tacked on 105-yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Tanner Morgan played an efficient football game that gave the Golden Gophers an advantage in the ball game. Morgan had two touchdowns on 196-yards. The defense for Minnesota was lights out, they only gave up 77-yards passing completely taking out any sort of aerial threat. Minnesota improves to 7-4 on the year with the victory and they look to finish the season strong in week 13 against a streaking Wisconsin team. The Hoosiers look to salvage an abysmal year against their rival Purdue on Saturday. 

No. 8 Michigan 59 at Maryland 18

The Wolverines rolled against Maryland behind their passing attack from quarterback Cade McNamara who has been playing great football down the stretch. McNamara threw for 259-yards and two touchdowns against the Terrapins. Back-up quarterback J.J. McCarthy was able to contribute to the passing game as he finished with 58-yards and a touchdown. The running game for the Wolverines was present, running back Hassan Haskins ran for 78-yards and two touchdowns. Maryland rushed the ball with authority as they had 181-yards, but quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa continued to be inconsistent. Tagovailoa had 178-yards and he threw one touchdown and one interception. To upset great top teams, you must muddy up the game and take the football away from the aggressor and that never occurred in this ball game. Michigan has a shot to be in the Big Ten championship game with a high stakes game against Ohio State in week 13. Maryland plays Rutgers in a bowl-deciding game. 

Nebraska 28 at No. 19 Wisconsin 35

This game was the most entertaining in the conference on Saturday. Nebraska fans must be frustrated, the Cornhuskers continue to play ranked opponents well, but they fall short every time. Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez threw the ball for 351-yards and one touchdown. It was his interceptions that hurt the Cornhuskers. The running game for Nebraska showed up in the red zone combining for three touchdowns. Wisconsin’s running game was just a bit better as the Badgers rushed for 252-yards. Running back Braelon Allen led the way with 228-yards and three touchdowns. The Badgers have won seven straight football games and they are one win away from winning the Big Ten West, they face Minnesota next. Nebraska plays Iowa in week 13. 

References: https://www.espn.com/college-football/scoreboard/_/group/5

Writer

-By: Justin Howard