Big Ten Overreactions or NOT: Week 2 Edition

The overwhelming favorite to win the Big Ten has already lost a game and this season of college football, especially in the Big Ten, is shaping up to be one of the most competitive seasons we have experienced in a long time. It now feels like multiple teams can compete to win the Big Ten in 2021 but only time will tell. Let’s overreact to particular Big Ten teams and then access the validity of that statement. Here we go.

Iowa will win the Big Ten

The Hawkeyes have been nothing short of dominant to start this year’s college football season. Iowa is currently sitting at No.5 in the AP Top 25 and they deserve it. They beat a highly touted Indiana team 34-6 and then took care of an Iowa State team that has two ballers on offense in Breece Hall and Brock Purdy 27-17. Both these wins are convincing to prove that Iowa could win the Big Ten. The road to Indianapolis to play for a Big Ten championship is tough. They have to face Penn State and Wisconsin, two teams that have just as much defense as Iowa and solid offensive play to compete with the Hawkeyes. I don’t think Iowa can keep up offensively with the representative of the Big Ten East. 

False

Ohio State is finished 

2021 has not started like the Buckeyes have wanted. They beat Minnesota in the opener in a tough environment as the game was away. The offense looks decent, they have put up 36.5 points per game through two games. The offense seems dependent on big plays from Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave and the running game looks to be there at times but needs more consistency. The defense is the issue, head coach Ryan Day knows it too. “It’s not just a single game, it’s a pattern,” Ryan Day on Ohio State’s defense giving up too many points and too many yards. “We’re going to make some adjustments and changes. We have to.” The Buckeyes got carved up by both running backs they have faced and they need to figure out a way to stop the bleeding. I believe that Ryan Day is too good of a coach to let this season get away and the talent on the roster is unmatched compared to the rest of the conference. The Buckeyes play Tulsa and Akron this weekend so they should be able to start fixing some issues. Once they start clicking on all cylinders, this team should run the table, they aren’t finished.

False

Maryland will finish the regular season at 8-4

The Maryland Terrapins have started the year hot. They dominated a Howard team 62-0 and took care of a West Virginia team in week one. I can confidently say that I am liking what I am seeing from the Terrapins and they have a shot to upset teams in the conference. The next two weeks they face Illinois and Kent State, two games they should win putting them at 4-0. Maryland will lose to Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and Iowa but I can see them beating Michigan State, Minnesota, Rutgers, and Indiana. They have offensive firepower between the running game and Rakim Jarrett and Dontay Demus are playmakers on the receiving end. If Taulia Tagovailoa keeps improving, Maryland will have a good year. 

True

Writer

-By: Justin Howard