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Big Ten Football: Grading each team halfway through the 2020 season

By Richard Kimball

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields (1) prepares to lead the Buckeyes onto the field before a NCAA football game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020.Ohio State Faces Penn State In Happy Valley
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields (1) prepares to lead the Buckeyes onto the field before a NCAA football game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020.Ohio State Faces Penn State In Happy Valley /
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Michael Penix Jr. Indiana Hoosiers #9 (Photo by Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports)
Michael Penix Jr. Indiana Hoosiers #9 (Photo by Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports) /

Indiana Hoosiers (4-0): A+

The Indiana Hoosiers are atop the Big Ten East and are undefeated through the first four games of the season. Tom Allen took the reins in 2017 and slowly but surely built something. In 2019, the Hoosiers went 8-5 (5-4) and made an appearance in the AP Top 25 but fell just short in their bowl game against Tennessee.

And in 2020, they built off that success getting wins over Penn State, Rutgers, Michigan State and Michigan. Their true test comes this Saturday as they play Ohio State. A loss won’t tarnish anything but a win would propel them into playoff talks.

Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0): A

Listen, the Ohio State Buckeyes have started the season undefeated as everyone expected and quarterback Justin Fields is off to a hot start as he is out to prove something this season following their disappointing loss in last year’s semifinal game against Clemson. The only thing that I mark off on the Buckeyes’ report card is the second half of their game versus Rutgers in which they were outscored 24-14. Maybe they were playing conservatively but even their fans can agree that it wasn’t fun to watch.

Ohio State was set to be tested last week against a red-hot Maryland team, but it was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns and as odd as it sounds, if Maryland was to win out, it could actually hurt the Buckeyes if they don’t play.

Northwestern Wildcats (4-0): A

In 2018, the Northwestern Wildcats won the West, but in 2019 they managed to finish 3-9 with just one win in league play. Well, four games into the 2020 season and the Wildcats have not lost yet and have already exceeded last season’s win total.

Aside from their season-opening win over Maryland in which they won 43-3, their offense has not been all that great but their defense has been stellar, allowing just 14 points per game and keeping their opponents under 92 yards rushing, on average. The Wildcats’ opponents have not been the toughest but are ones that should not be taken lightly. But we will see just what this Wildcat team is made of as they play Wisconsin this Saturday.

Wisconsin Badgers (2-0): A-

Look, there is not much to go on for the Wisconsin Badgers who have only played two games this season. They beat Illinois 45-7, which should be expected, and they beat the Wolverines 49-11, and given Michigan’s season thus far, that is not really all surprising. But since they are winning games and performing exceptionally well on both sides of the ball, there is no reason to fault them.

We will be able to get more of a feel for this Badgers squad during their game against Northwestern on Saturday afternoon.

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