Big Ten B1G Disappointment

In one of the most disappointing days in the Big Ten Conference, it could have been worse. A lot worse. As bad as it is, most pundits are waking up Sunday morning as to if the Big Ten can even carry a torch to the 4 team playoff. The answer right now is no. With Michigan State, Ohio State, and Michigan all losing on Saturday who does that leave in the Big Ten that has a viable chance to play in one of the National Semifinals: Iowa? Penn State? Nebraska? Really there’s no one left. Let’s do a quick run down of The Battle of the Little Big Ten, and the ensuing bloodbath that was Saturday.

The Undefeated

Illinois (2-0) had to score 21 points in the 4th quarter to win at home against Western Kentucky 42-34. 21 points in the 4th. Against Western Kentucky?! Some Illini fans are saying, ‘A win’s a win.’ Good luck next week at Washington.

Nebraska (2-0) was a 35 point favorite at home against FCS juggernaut McNeese State. Mayor McCheese State? With 40 something seconds left and the score tied at 24-24, Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah saves Bo Pelini’s job (momentarily) by weaving in and out of FCSville’s loud and proud white and yellow jerseys to reach the endzone, Nebraska wins 31-24. This isn’t Nebraska football. The Law Offices of Osbourne, Remington, and Rozier will call Coach Pelini into their office sometime soon. The seat is so hot for Pelini right now he’s got a trail of popcorn all around him. I’ll bet that was the best cabbage burger he ever ate post-game though. A true Nebraska optimist would say, ‘Well at least Abdullah is a Heisman frontrunner with that run.’

Penn State (2-0) led 7-0 at the half against Akron. Akron in their home opener. Penn State showed a lot of moxie in their win against UCF, winning on a last second field goal in Ireland. So I guess coming home and ushering in the James Franklin Era in State College was a little underwhelming. You get a pass this week Mr. Nittany, but we’re watching you.

Rutgers and Minnesota (both 2-0). Rutgers we thought had a great win last week in beating Washington State, but watching Mike Leach’s WSU Cougars lose against Nevada negated that vic by new Big Ten member Rutgers. Up 31-7 at the half, Rutgers was outscored 18-7 in the second half to beat (0-2) Howard University 38-25. They host Penn State next week but in consecutive weeks in October the Scarlet Knights travel to Ohio State and Nebraska. Minnesota was up 28-0 at home versus Middle Tennessee State at the half. Outscored 24-7 in the second half, maybe the Gophers just cruised to the win. Either way, someone’s running some stairs on Monday.

Iowa and Maryland (2-0) are the last undefeated teams in the Big Ten. Iowa has to be the Lane Kiffin of the Big Ten. You don’t know why they’re talked about in such a glowing manner every year and you don’t know why they pay their head coach Kirk Ferentz such an astronomical salary ($3.65 million a year through 2020) for them to be such a mediocre football team. Their game on Saturday? They had to have a touchdown in the last minute to defeat that college football powerhouse Ball State, 17-13. Maryland might be the only positive in all of Big Ten land. Down 17-14 at the half, on the road at South Florida, the Terps rallied and held the Bulls scoreless in the 2nd half, winning 24-17.

The Ugly

If that wasn’t ugly enough for you, here are the worst of the disappointments, starting with Ohio State (1-1). Looking back at it now, Navy should have beaten the Buckeyes last week. They look unfocused and unimpressive. What the Midshipmen didn’t do, the Hokies of Virginia Tech trounced upon, closing up the lanes and giving the young State quarterback J.T. Barrett fits. 35-21. A lot of headlines will say ‘Buckeyes Stunned’ but it really wasn’t a stunner, Virginia Tech just looked like the better football team.

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• Biggest winners and losers from College Football Week 3
• Ohio State football: 3 takeaways from win over Western Kentucky

Michigan State (1-1) was ahead 27-18 in the 3rd quarter in Eugene Oregon versus the 3rd ranked team in the nation. Game of the Year. College Gameday was there. Kirk Herbstreit picked the Spartans to win. Sometime in that 3rd quarter, the equipment manager must’ve started loading the bus back to East Lansing cause Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota decided he was going to score the next 28 points. Took over the game that Mariota did. State was supposed to bring that Big Ten flag back over the hill considering the deluge that had occurred earlier in the day.

Michigan (1-1) didn’t fare that well either. Zero points against your Irish rival Notre Dame in what was the final game in this historic rivalry for the foreseeable future. 31-0. That’s how the Wolverines and the rest of the Big Ten were snuffed out on Saturday. Not to mention Purdue and Northwestern were beat at home by Central Michigan and Northern Illinois, respectively. Ugly. Disappointing. Coaches on hot seats. No team for the playoffs. So scratch that first sentence. It is worse and going to get even more so, and it’s only Week 2…