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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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Taulia Tagovailoa #3 Maryland Terrapins (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
Taulia Tagovailoa #3 Maryland Terrapins (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /

Maryland Terrapins (2-1): B+

The start of Maryland’s season was horrendous, losing to Northwestern 43-3, having many thinking this would be another year of poor play from the Terrapins. But since then, the offense has led them to two big victories over Penn State and Minnesota, who both had 11 wins last season. Led by transfer quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the Terrapins are averaging 40 points and 540 yards per game in their two victories.

Maryland was primed for a battle with Ohio State but had their game canceled but look to finish the season off with four straight wins over Michigan State, Indiana, Michigan and Rutgers.

Purdue Boilermakers (2-1): B

The Purdue Boilermakers are that team that could go 4-8 or 10-2 and I would not be surprised. They have the talent and the coaching to be competitive in the Big Ten but play inconsistent and have some injury issues the past few seasons that has slowed down their progression.

Purdue opened up 2020 with a good win over Iowa and followed it up with an expected victory over Illinois, and their only loss was by seven points to Northwestern. They have performed as expected and I’m hopeful a win or two over Minnesota, Nebraska or Indiana can build them momentum heading into 2021.

Iowa Hawkeyes (2-2): B-

I have always said that you never know what you are going to get from the Iowa Hawkeyes before the season starts. I do not expect them to be great and I do not expect them to be terrible; I just expect them to be Iowa and progress or regress as the season goes along. And given their record of 2-2, they have been themselves.

The Hawkeyes’ first two games were losses in which they fell by a combined five points, while their last two games have been victories over Michigan State and Minnesota by the scores of 49-7 and 35-7, respectively. So yeah, I really can’t tell you anything except they play really well or really poorly.

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