CFB Teams Trending Up or Down: Big Ten Edition

As we approach week five of the college football season, the Big Ten has shown what each team is capable of. Starting week five, the majority of Big Ten teams open up conference play and we will get an understanding of which teams are here to compete. Let’s take a look at which teams right now are hot or not and assess if they are trending up or down after week four. Let’s check it out. 

Nebraska

The Cornhuskers are 2-3 to start the year off and the year couldn’t have started worse for Scott Frost as they dropped a game to Illinois. Don’t let this record fool you, Nebraska is improving every single week and they have now had back-to-back weekends almost upsetting ranked opponents in Oklahoma and Michigan State. The defense is playing well, Nebraska is allowing only 17.2 points per game meaning their opponents are having a tough time scoring. Quarterback Adrian Martinez is having a good year, he has five touchdowns 11 total touchdowns and 1,605-total yards through five games. In week five they face a mediocre Northwestern team in a game that should get them to 3-3. Look for the Cornhuskers to start playing some solid football in October.

Trending Up ^^^

Wisconsin 

The Badgers are in a bad spot currently. Five weeks into the season they are struggling immensely at the quarterback position. Through three games, quarterback Graham Mertz has one touchdown, six interceptions, and only 566 yards. The offense is not explosive, Mertz can’t make elite throws and stretch the field. The Badgers defense is solid, they held Penn State to only 16 points, but when your offense is averaging 19 points a game you can’t win football games. In week five the Badgers go up against a ranked Michigan team that should be able to beat Wisconsin with ease.

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Iowa

Sorry Hawkeye fans but the offense are not dynamic enough to keep up with the other big competitors of the Big Ten. After Iowa only beat Colorado State 24-14 in week four a formula was exposed that gives the conference a blueprint to beat this Hawkeyes, football team. The Hawkeyes passing game is weak, they play a ground and pound style of football that is successful but if you stack the box and make Spencer Petras beat you over the top teams will have success. They are only averaging 28.8 points per game which is not many in college football. I believe the dynamic offenses they have to face such as Penn State will put up points on the board and Iowa won’t be able to keep up offensively. Watch for a potential upset in week five as the Hawkeyes face Maryland who can score points. 

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

Writer

-By: Justin Howard