Big Ten Week Four Recap: The Top Stay Hot

We are a quarter into the college football season and so far we have been spoiled, to say the least. The Big Ten is shaping up to be the most competitive the conference has been in years and right now multiple teams can be crowned as champions. Let's take a look at the week four games and analyze what occurred including how each team will bounce back in week five. Here we go.

Penn State 38 Villanova 17

No. 4 Penn State took care of Villanova in Beaver Stadium as the passing attack led them to the victory. Quarterback Sean Clifford is responding to his down year in 2020 as he threw for four touchdowns and 401-yards. The Nittany Lions look to be the most consistent team in the Big Ten East and they are clicking on all cylinders. In week five they face an Indiana team that has the potential to be dangerous, especially if they look ahead to their week six matchup with Iowa.

Northwestern 35 Ohio 6 

Northwestern put together a solid football game beating Ohio with ease as they covered the spread of 14 points. Northwestern is finally figuring out a good offensive game plan as they are playing power football. The Wildcats had 373-yards rushing and four touchdowns. They still need to figure out the quarterback room as Ryan Hilinski is now the starter, it seems as if the quarterback room is a rotation currently. Regardless, this was a win the program needed to have as they face Nebraska, away next week.

Notre Dame 41 Wisconsin 13

This game was the featured game of the week and the Wisconsin Badgers need to be more dynamic at quarterback. Early in the fourth quarter, the Badgers were up 13-10 and things were looking good as their defense was swarming to the ball. The kick return by Notre Dame changed the game and gave the Irish momentum putting them up 17-13. Graham Mertz is not getting the job done. Ex-Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan outgained and out-dueled Mertz in a matchup that was highly anticipated. Mertz threw two pick-sixes in the fourth quarter that changed the game allowing the Irish to run up the score. Now, unranked Wisconsin will face a good Michigan team in a game that seems a lot tougher after a disappointing loss. 

Bowling Green 14 Minnesota 10

This was by far the most confusing loss of the weekend. The Golden Gophers were coming off the most dominant performance of their season and then in their own house, they lost to Bowling Green. Running back Treyson Potts had 141-yards so the running game wasn’t the issue. Quarterback Tanner Morgan played a bad football game, he threw for two interceptions and only 59-yards. The Golden Gophers had three turnovers which is why they couldn’t pull this game out. Minnesota needs to put this game behind them and focus on Purdue in week five. 

Iowa 24 Colorado State 14

Iowa was on a little bit of an upset alert but eventually, they separated themselves to win in week four. Colorado State took away Iowa’s running game, holding them to just 52-rushing yards. Quarterback Spencer Petras was forced to use his arm to beat Colorado State as he had two touchdowns. Iowa is a great football team when they are dictating games. When they are forced to be dynamic through the passing game they struggle to create offense. The Hawkeyes have a potential trap game on Friday versus Maryland in week five.

Maryland 37 Kent State 16

The Terrapins are 4-0 to start the year and it looks like there is a solid team in College Park this year. Maryland has not beaten an elite opponent yet but they have handled the teams that they are favored to beat with no trouble. The offense for the Terrapins clicked versus Kent State as Taulia Tagovailoa threw for three touchdowns and 384 yards. The defense is going to need to give up fewer yards to compete with the elite of the conference. Maryland faces Iowa next week in a game that they will try to pull off an upset.

Purdue 13 Illinois 9

Purdue got the job done but it wasn’t in the prettiest fashion as they barely squeaked out the victory with five minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Boilermakers struggled to extend their lead as they had two turnovers which contributed to Illinois's minimal success. The Fighting Illini couldn’t convert when they were in the red zone creating the difference in the ball game. Illinois out-rushed Purdue but they couldn’t keep up with Purdue’s passing game as the Boilermakers' two quarterbacks, Aidan O'Connell and Jack Plummer both combined for 277-yards. Next week Purdue plays Minnesota and Illinois faces Charlotte.

Michigan 20 Rutgers 13

This game gave away many signs about both of these football teams. Michigan jumped out to a 20-3 lead but they let Rutgers come back and compete in this ball game making it closer than what the public believed. Rutgers had more total yards than Michigan and they held the Wolverines to 112-yards rushing, however, they gave up two touchdowns. The difference in this ball game was when Rutgers quarterback Noah Verdal fumbled late in the fourth sealing the victory for Michigan. Michigan needs to get more dynamic offensively to compete with the best teams in the conference while Rutgers proved they can play with most opponents. Next week Michigan faces Wisconsin in a tough matchup while Rutgers tries to pull off the upset against Ohio State.

Michigan State 23 Nebraska 20

This game was a rollercoaster as it went into overtime and Michigan State won off a game-winning field goal by kicker Matt Coghlin. The Spartans were held to zero first downs in the first half. Michigan State struggled to generate offense and their running game was held to only 71-yards. They took advantage of turnovers and pulled out a close victory to stay undefeated. Nebraska showed up and has the past two weekends even though the results have been defeats. I think the Cornhuskers are starting to figure it out as they almost pulled off the upset in East Lansing. Nebraska had the lead in the fourth quarter and they had more total yards than Michigan State. Next week the Spartans face Western Kentucky as they look to move to 5-0 while Nebraska faces Northwestern in a winnable game. 

Ohio State 59 Akron 7

Ohio State sat C.J. Stroud but that didn’t stop them from dominating a bad Akron team. This win is big for the Buckeyes, it will settle some worry in the program regarding how they look in 2021. They may have a quarterback battle after Kyle McCord threw for 319-yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes running game is on full display as their offensive line is punishing teams. Ohio State ran for 237-yards and five touchdowns as TreVeyon Henderson is becoming the featured back. Things start to get interesting for the Buckeyes as they travel to Rutgers in week five which will be a difficult matchup.

Indiana 33 Western Kentucky 31

Indiana is not the team that they were last year. The defense is allowing teams to move the ball all over them and the offense is not as dynamic in 2020 so they can’t keep up with opposing teams. Yes, Indiana won which helps the overall mindset of the program but it wasn’t in any sort of convincing fashion. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. didn’t throw an interception which is a good sign as he tossed the ball for 373-yards. The issue is the defense, they gave up 458-total yards to Western Kentucky. The Hoosiers need to clean it up if they want to have success this year. In week five Indiana plays Penn State away in a game that they will struggle with. 

References: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/