1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:06,040 Look at news Analysis is an insight from around the Big Ten conference. This 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:10,880 is Big Ten Paradigm, part of the College GRIDIRN Coast to Coast podcast network. 3 00:00:11,279 --> 00:00:16,839 And here's your host, Mark Rogers. Showdown Saturday is finally here in 4 00:00:16,839 --> 00:00:21,719 the Big Ten. Welcome to the Voice of College Football's Big Ten Paradigm podcasts 5 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:26,320 right here on the College GRIDIRN Coast to Coast network. And now that the 6 00:00:26,399 --> 00:00:32,759 games are getting serious and it's truly getting fun nerve racking but fun, we 7 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,240 hope you will join us each and every week right here at Big Ten Paradigm 8 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:41,520 and check out college football hardcore junkie fan nerds out there. You got to 9 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:46,399 check out all the podcasts right here on College GRIDIRN Coast to Coast. My 10 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:51,399 name is Mark Rogers, Voice of college Football. Check us out on YouTube. 11 00:00:51,399 --> 00:00:55,000 We've got fifteen team channels, including from the Big Ten, Ohio, 12 00:00:55,079 --> 00:00:58,640 State, Michigan, Nebraska, and Iowa. Again, it's the Voice of 13 00:00:58,679 --> 00:01:04,359 college Football on YouTube. And before we get to what has been termed one 14 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:08,359 of the three Titanic clashes in the Big Ten, most of us see it 15 00:01:08,439 --> 00:01:12,680 that way, and it's pretty obvious that once again this year it is coming 16 00:01:12,719 --> 00:01:19,879 down to Ohio State Penn State, then Michigan Penn State, and then of 17 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:26,400 course the game Ohio State Michigan. We will talk about the West and we 18 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:30,000 will get to the West right now, because maybe the West was won this 19 00:01:30,079 --> 00:01:34,599 past weekend. So before we look forward to a phenomenal what should be a 20 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,719 phenomenal Week eight in the Big Ten just because of that one stellar matchup, 21 00:01:40,239 --> 00:01:45,760 we have to visit Madison, Wisconsin, because so much transpired with very little 22 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:52,280 scoring as expected. The over under for this Wisconsin Iowa clash was I believe 23 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:57,319 thirty six and they didn't even come close to that. They could still be 24 00:01:57,359 --> 00:02:00,400 playing football at Camp Randles Stadium, the Hawkeyes and the Badgers, and I 25 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,159 don't think that they would have thirty six points on the board, not if 26 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:07,039 the Iowa defense had anything to say about it, and they truly did. 27 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:12,400 They were the ones that did have the say so in this game. Hawkeyes 28 00:02:12,479 --> 00:02:15,319 win a huge clash in the Big Ten West. Make fun of the Big 29 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:21,280 Ten West all you want, but it is a division championship and I know 30 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,000 that I'm calling it way ahead of time. This is typically the biggest game 31 00:02:25,039 --> 00:02:30,280 in the division. That's how it's shaped up. In the nine year history 32 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:35,919 going on ten year history and final year of the Big Ten Western Division at 33 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:40,520 least how it's currently constituted. And this lived up to the hype marked it. 34 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:44,000 It lived up to the hype. It was fifteen to six. It 35 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:52,520 lived up to the expectations the hype. Defensive prowess on display. So the 36 00:02:52,599 --> 00:02:58,439 key portions of this game is again that the Iowa defense is so dominant and 37 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:02,479 the special teams Tory Taylor. There is a campaign out there somewhere that says, 38 00:03:02,479 --> 00:03:08,639 Tory Taylor, Iowa punter Heisman candidate. Let's push for Tory Taylor for 39 00:03:08,719 --> 00:03:12,840 the Heisman. Best player in the country. Well, at his position, 40 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:17,840 he is so and he's the biggest weapon there is, So why not Tory 41 00:03:17,879 --> 00:03:23,159 Taylor Heisman. I think it's a legitimate candidacy. Although our punters and kickers 42 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:30,560 players, No, they're not football players, they are kickers. Back to 43 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:37,479 the topic at hand, Iowa wins fifteen to six. Basically we can boil 44 00:03:37,599 --> 00:03:44,159 down the Hawkeye offensive effort this way eighty two yard touchdown run by Leshaun Williams, 45 00:03:44,159 --> 00:03:47,719 who was a thing of beauty. It was blocked perfectly. He hit 46 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:55,319 the seam and he was gone. And other than that, there was nothing 47 00:03:55,400 --> 00:04:02,159 meaningful produced by the Iowa offense. Besides, they did nothing, So there 48 00:04:02,199 --> 00:04:08,439 was one meaningful play in terms of impactful play by the Iowa offense the entire 49 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,439 day. I have a buddy mine, Corey Brada, from the Hawkeye of 50 00:04:12,479 --> 00:04:14,759 the Storm. He was at the game. He said that, hey, 51 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,360 I looked at a few people around me after that touchdown in the first quarter 52 00:04:18,439 --> 00:04:24,360 seven to nothing and said that might be enough right there. And so seven 53 00:04:24,399 --> 00:04:30,399 to nothing and that was truly enough on this day where Iowa threw for thirty 54 00:04:30,439 --> 00:04:35,439 seven yards. That's a pretty outstanding statistic considering this threw for one yard after 55 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:40,040 the first quarter, so thirty seven yards are passing for the entire game for 56 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,959 the Hawkeyes. Deacon Hill, of course, the backup quarterback for the Hawkeyes, 57 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:49,519 taking over for Cad macnamara, and that eighty two yard play stood up. 58 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:54,680 And Iowa was so confident in that lead throughout the game as it built 59 00:04:54,759 --> 00:04:59,720 and built and built thanks to a safety thanks to field position that produced field 60 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:04,079 goal off of very short drives for the Hawkeyes. You wouldn't even call them 61 00:05:04,199 --> 00:05:08,680 drives. Basically, the defense set up the offense to kick a field goal. 62 00:05:09,199 --> 00:05:14,360 That the offensive role in this scheme at this point in this program is 63 00:05:14,399 --> 00:05:17,480 to just basically protect the football, sit on the football, protect the football, 64 00:05:17,519 --> 00:05:21,879 punt the football, and gain field position. That's what it's all about 65 00:05:21,879 --> 00:05:27,680 for the Hawkeyes. We know on the Wisconsin side that they wanted to take 66 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,600 a different approach to this season under Luke Fickel and with Phil Longo as offensive 67 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:39,920 coordinator, to employ a bit of speed in space. Well, Tanner Mordecai 68 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:44,800 went out of the game in the second quarter and broke his hand on the 69 00:05:44,879 --> 00:05:49,800 helmet of Jay Higgins, the Iowa linebacker, and we will probably not see 70 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:55,639 Tanner Mordecai for the rest of the season. Braydon Locke, who was a 71 00:05:55,800 --> 00:06:00,720 pretty highly recruited quarterback coming out of high school, was not able to do 72 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:06,160 much in the passing game, and again statistically, Iowa did give up some 73 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,399 yardage. Wisconsin threw for about two hundred and twenty five yards in this game, 74 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:15,720 and statistically Wisconsin wins on the scoreboard. Iowa as it does in this 75 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:20,199 division, and depending on the expectations and the goals of this program, I 76 00:06:20,319 --> 00:06:25,360 constantly get in this debate with people. It depends on what you consider the 77 00:06:25,399 --> 00:06:31,399 goals of this program to be in the current construct of the Big Ten in 78 00:06:31,439 --> 00:06:35,639 that Western Division, if it's to win the division. They are doing exactly 79 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:41,120 what they need to do to play to their strengths and win a division championship. 80 00:06:41,759 --> 00:06:45,240 Will that Big Ten championship game look ugly in Indianapolis like it did two 81 00:06:45,319 --> 00:06:49,920 years ago against Michigan forty two to three. Possibly, probably to some extent, 82 00:06:50,399 --> 00:06:54,879 But for right now, Iowa now controls its own destiny with the win 83 00:06:54,920 --> 00:07:01,160 against Wisconsin in what most people consider to be the best matchup and the two 84 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:05,720 best teams in the division. Now there are all sorts of variables out there. 85 00:07:06,399 --> 00:07:13,319 Anybody with two less losses that still plays Iowa still controls their destiny. 86 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,959 That includes Northwestern. They only have two losses in the conference they still play 87 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:23,000 Iowa, so mathematically Northwestern is not just still live, they control their own 88 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:28,199 destiny. So this thing, in terms of games played is far far from 89 00:07:28,319 --> 00:07:31,399 over. The Hawkeyes only three to one in the Big Ten, meaning they've 90 00:07:31,399 --> 00:07:35,360 got five more Big Ten games they've only played four. However, they will 91 00:07:35,399 --> 00:07:40,759 be not a substantial favorite in all these games left on their schedule. They 92 00:07:40,759 --> 00:07:45,000 do have a date at Lincoln against Nebraska to close out the season. And 93 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:50,120 surprisingly, remember Iowa lost to the Huskers last year twenty four to seven at 94 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:55,720 home with the division championship on the line, they dropped that game. They 95 00:07:55,759 --> 00:08:00,839 fell asleep, lost to the Huskers, and they were a very slim underdog 96 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:09,120 entering that game despite having the seven and four team against the three and eighteen. 97 00:08:09,839 --> 00:08:13,319 So Hawkeys defeat the Badgers fifteen to six, and Iowa lines up a 98 00:08:13,319 --> 00:08:18,120 Big Ten Wester Division championship if they can take care of business going forward. 99 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:24,079 Iowa's got a date coming up against Minnesota that has been a I don't want 100 00:08:24,079 --> 00:08:26,959 to say it's menelay up for the Hawkeys because the games are close, but 101 00:08:28,319 --> 00:08:31,519 they are undefeated against PJ. Fleck. PJ Fleck in his career, ozhens 102 00:08:31,679 --> 00:08:37,159 six at Minnesota against Iowa. And we will catch up with that matchup in 103 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:41,039 just a second as we run through Week seven. The shocker of the day, 104 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:45,639 Illinois pulls out a win against Maryland twenty seven to twenty four. So 105 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,879 at a point in which Illinois clearly looked like the worst team in the Big 106 00:08:48,919 --> 00:08:52,679 Ten, they certainly had the worst resume, They had not played a good 107 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:58,279 game all year. Two wins out of conference against fau by six points on 108 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,559 the final play. The game against Toledo a MAC team, a good MAC 109 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:07,000 team, but still a MAC team. Illinois wins twenty seven to twenty four 110 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:11,200 at Maryland. The Turps drop for what is them a really big game in 111 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:15,919 trying to break into the upper echelon at the conference. Sure it was Illinois, 112 00:09:15,919 --> 00:09:18,399 but got to take care of business, and they failed to do so. 113 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:22,480 Despite two hundred and sixty six yards passing from Tallia and two touchdowns. 114 00:09:22,919 --> 00:09:26,519 Cayden Prather had a big day for the Terps, but again Illinois wins at 115 00:09:26,519 --> 00:09:30,360 twenty seven to twenty four. The line I are on the board in the 116 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,240 Big Ten at one in three and now at three and four, have hopes 117 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:37,159 of going bowling and could build off of this win. If they can win 118 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:41,360 a college park against Maryland, they can certainly beat teams in the Big Ten 119 00:09:41,399 --> 00:09:48,840 Western Division. The other team that's winning games ugly, but this was improbable 120 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,559 considering one of the most unlikely teams in all of college football to come back 121 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:58,720 from eighteen to down would be the Red Curse Scarletites, not because they're not 122 00:09:58,759 --> 00:10:05,279 a decent team, but based on their style of play. They're not equipped 123 00:10:05,519 --> 00:10:09,240 to come back, but they did that against Michigan State at home twenty seven 124 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:15,480 to twenty four. Kyle Manungai ran for one and forty eight yards for the 125 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,519 Scarlet Knights in a touchdown. Gavin wimsat one hundred and eighty one yards passing 126 00:10:18,519 --> 00:10:24,120 with a touchdown and two picks. It was rough early, but the Scarlet 127 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,080 Knights got it done against Sparty twenty seven to twenty four to move their record 128 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:31,919 five and two. And talk about bowling, they're in prime position and they 129 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:37,919 still have some dates out there that are definitely winnable. All right, now 130 00:10:37,919 --> 00:10:41,639 to the Big ten Eastern Division, let's continue there. Penn State wins over 131 00:10:41,759 --> 00:10:43,919 UMass. They got the scrimmage they wanted, sixty three nothing to warm up 132 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:48,480 for Ohio State. Speaking to the Buckeyes forty one to seven over Perdue. 133 00:10:48,519 --> 00:10:54,600 I believe this was the most complete effort by Ohio State this season. Kyle 134 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,799 McCord, forget the stats of sixteen of twenty eight for three touchdowns. He 135 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:03,679 did throw for two seven six. He was better than that. Drops plagued 136 00:11:03,759 --> 00:11:07,960 the Buckeyes for the first time this year. He is also showing progress every 137 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:13,440 week, whether it's pocket presence, whether it's reading the coverages, whether it's 138 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:20,000 delivering the football with confidence and starting to trust his receivers. Kyle McCord is 139 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:26,639 taking pretty significant leaps in his progress and development each and every week, and 140 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:31,799 of course that will be much needed against what is possibly the most talented defense 141 00:11:31,799 --> 00:11:35,279 in the Big Ten or in college football in Penn State. But the Buckeyes 142 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:39,720 find a running game. So what was impressive about Ohio State's effort against Purdue. 143 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:46,320 They started to get pushed along the offensive line, and they also got 144 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:50,799 creative running the football. So maybe it's hit Ryan Day in company that traditional 145 00:11:50,879 --> 00:11:56,159 running because of injuries, because of a lack of a dominant offensive line, 146 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:00,960 just is not in the cards this season for the Buckeyes. Getting creative e 147 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:05,399 Xavier Johnson carrying the football. Meca Buca missed this game, but he is 148 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:11,480 the wide receiver that is the chosen runner out of the wide receiver position, 149 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:16,080 so expect him to be a key factor if he gets back healthy the rest 150 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:20,440 of the year for the Buckeyes. But again, e Xavier Johnson and the 151 00:12:20,519 --> 00:12:26,159 guy that has been the mysterious missing man in this running game Dallan Hayden one 152 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:31,240 hundred and forty yards rushing against Maryland last year, did not see him against 153 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:37,879 Michigan. Comes into the playoff game and has five meaningful and mostly successful caries 154 00:12:37,919 --> 00:12:43,080 against Georgia, although the final one did not do well and of course set 155 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:48,480 up the Buckeyes ill fated fifty yard at field goal attempt that did not turn 156 00:12:48,519 --> 00:12:54,360 the trick against Georgia and now Dallan Hayden finally in the lineup and gained seventy 157 00:12:54,360 --> 00:13:00,159 six yards on eleven carries. So he has instincts, skill set of fee 158 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:05,799 vision that the other backs I don't believe have and that's what Dallan Hayden brings. 159 00:13:05,879 --> 00:13:11,559 Now. There are concerns about his pass pro ability, whether that's his 160 00:13:11,639 --> 00:13:18,279 physical ability to stand up to a defensive end or a linebacker and stonewall hymn 161 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:22,759 or do just enough to give Kyle mccurd a little bit more time, or 162 00:13:22,799 --> 00:13:26,600 whether that's an issue of not seeing who he should be picking up. There 163 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:31,080 is concern out there that Dallan Hayden is not prepared in the passing game, 164 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,840 and that is a big issue. Otherwise, he's the best running back with 165 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:37,399 the ball in his hands, the best running back on the team, Ohio 166 00:13:37,399 --> 00:13:43,360 State with complete effort against Purdue. I know it's only perdue, but if 167 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:48,679 anybody in the Big Ten has a legitimate resume, meaning their numbers, their 168 00:13:48,799 --> 00:13:54,080 national stats, are the most credible, it's Purdue because they haven't played any 169 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,799 FCS teams. They haven't played any low level Group of five teams. They've 170 00:13:56,799 --> 00:14:01,919 played everybody on their scale has been a Power five team or Fresno State one 171 00:14:01,919 --> 00:14:05,840 of the very best of the group of five. So Purdue has played strong 172 00:14:05,919 --> 00:14:11,679 competition, and the Buckeyes wiped them out. They led twenty to nothing at 173 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:16,440 half, and it really should have been twenty eight to nothing. They gave 174 00:14:16,519 --> 00:14:18,000 up a couple of plays. On the first drive, Perdue missed a field 175 00:14:18,039 --> 00:14:22,720 goal that would become a storyline. Perdue misses a field goal to conclude the 176 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:26,480 first drive at the game, and then the Buckeyes stonewalled them for the rest 177 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:33,000 of the first half. Purdue could do nothing on offense. Hudson card thirteen 178 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:37,360 of thirty two on the day, and the running game was stimied when it 179 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:41,320 mattered. Devin maccabee did finish with one hundred and ten yards rushing for the 180 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:45,960 Boilers on eighteen carries. Perdue missed another field goal at the end of the 181 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,440 first half. That was the first time that they had moved the ball since 182 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:50,519 the first drive. But at that point Ohio State up twenty to nothing, 183 00:14:50,559 --> 00:14:56,600 should have been twenty eight to nothing. Missed a pat and Devin Brown running 184 00:14:56,639 --> 00:15:03,759 a wildcat package inside the ten yard line. He dives into the end zone 185 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,679 and it was a good look in regards to Brown getting into the game than 186 00:15:07,759 --> 00:15:11,399 giving him some reps, a different look for the defense, maybe some things 187 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:18,480 for Penn State to think about. But at the same time, he fumbled 188 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:22,200 the football going into the end zone, so a lost opportunity for the Buckeyes. 189 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:28,240 Should have been twenty eight nothing twenty to nothing at half. But when 190 00:15:28,279 --> 00:15:31,879 we talk about should have been points on the board for somebody, Perdue as 191 00:15:31,879 --> 00:15:37,320 three field goals, so give the Boilers some more points. But as it 192 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:43,480 stands, the Buckeyes win this one forty one to seven. Meanwhile, in 193 00:15:43,639 --> 00:15:48,759 ann Arbor, talk about could have been should have been? Indiana could have 194 00:15:48,759 --> 00:15:52,879 been up fourteen nothing. They were up seven to nothing on a double pass 195 00:15:52,919 --> 00:15:58,519 wide receiver throwdown field for a touchdown. Tavan Jackson threw an interception inside the 196 00:15:58,519 --> 00:16:02,240 ten yard line. He had a wide open tight end down near the goal 197 00:16:02,279 --> 00:16:07,120 line and he missed them and it turned into an afflected pick. And then 198 00:16:07,159 --> 00:16:15,320 that was it for the Indiana Hoosiers as they held a yardage advantage at one 199 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:19,440 point one to negative eight against Michigan, so they came out storming. Should 200 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:23,320 have been up by two scores, only up by one. And then Indiana 201 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:30,240 had a pass playdown field for thirty seven yards on their next possession and got 202 00:16:30,279 --> 00:16:34,639 called back for holding, and immediately that was the turning point in the game. 203 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:40,159 Not saying in any such way Michigan fans that Michigan would have been threatened 204 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:44,240 in this game, but man, the Hoosiers came out hot, but Michigan 205 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:48,759 just steam rolled from there. Fifty two to seven JJ two hundred and twenty 206 00:16:48,759 --> 00:16:53,759 two yards passing and three touchdowns again his only three picks this year against Bowling 207 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:59,759 Green. Benjamin Hall came in to be the Michigan rushing leader with fifty eight 208 00:16:59,799 --> 00:17:03,519 yard cards. Another big day from Colston Loveland. Not a lot of catches, 209 00:17:03,559 --> 00:17:07,640 but when he catches them, they mean much to the Michigan offense. 210 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:15,599 He caught one from JJ McCarthy who did a little improvisation downfield and found Loveland 211 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,759 directed him downfield, and that was a huge gainer that set up the Michigan 212 00:17:18,799 --> 00:17:25,000 offense that broke Indiana's back final fifty to seven. Whether you go to games 213 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:29,720 all the time or you've got your heart set on that one huge matchup, 214 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:34,839 go to ticketsmarter dot com to save Big Ticket Smarter technology gives you the best 215 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:41,559 competitive prices on the secondary market. Your purchase price is safe and guaranteed. 216 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:48,119 Use promo code big Big to get ten dollars off of any purchase of at 217 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:55,400 least one hundred dollars, or the promo code big twenty Big twenty to get 218 00:17:55,559 --> 00:18:00,519 twenty dollars off of any purchase of at least three hundred dollars. The code 219 00:18:00,519 --> 00:18:03,119 as many times as you'd like. There is no limit. Get in the 220 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:10,960 game with ticketsmarter dot com or the ticket Smarter mobile app Think Smarter Ticket Smarter. 221 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:17,599 Rudgers football could be six and two. Actually, Rutgers football should be 222 00:18:17,759 --> 00:18:23,559 six and two after Saturday's game at Bloomington against Indiana Scarlett Knights, a five 223 00:18:23,599 --> 00:18:27,039 point favorite on the road. How many times could you say that during the 224 00:18:27,039 --> 00:18:32,200 program's history in the Big Ten. A favorite on the road at Indiana, 225 00:18:32,599 --> 00:18:37,240 the Scarlet Knights could move to six and two and become Bowl eligible in October. 226 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:41,920 Who in the world would have thought that taken on IU. Poor Tom 227 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:47,240 Allen two and nineteen in his last Big Ten games. I look at that 228 00:18:47,319 --> 00:18:51,319 twenty twenty five Big Ten schedule and think poor Tom Allen, But then I 229 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:55,720 think, well, he really wants to survive to be able to play that 230 00:18:55,799 --> 00:19:00,440 twenty twenty four Big Ten schedule, because otherwise he is not going to be 231 00:19:00,599 --> 00:19:06,039 employed. At the University of Indiana, the Hoosiers are at two and four, 232 00:19:06,079 --> 00:19:07,759 which doesn't sound too bad, but zero to three in the Big Ten 233 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:12,000 can't compete in the conference coming off that forty five point loss to Michigan, 234 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:18,440 and they need a win desperately. He needs a win for his own job 235 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:22,279 security. Rudkers Indiana coming up on Saturday at noon on the Big Ten Network, 236 00:19:22,319 --> 00:19:27,839 and Kyle Manangai again the featured back for Rutgers, is steam rolling toward 237 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:33,160 a two thousand yard season. He's at six thirty five and five seven touchdowns. 238 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,119 Kevin Wimsat leading the Rudgers offense and doing what he does best ball, 239 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:42,640 control, ball security, throw when you need to, and the Redgers formula 240 00:19:42,799 --> 00:19:51,640 under Greg Shechiano is definitely working. Rudkers at Indiana. On Saturday, Minnesota 241 00:19:51,839 --> 00:19:56,720 Iowa. Okay, the Hawkeyes, as we know, control the Big Ten 242 00:19:56,759 --> 00:20:03,079 Western Division. They play Minnesota, a team that they have dominated despite the 243 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:07,119 Gophers strong play under PJ. Fleck. This is the worst Minnesota team we've 244 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:12,920 seen under Fleck since he took the job back in twenty seventeen, and the 245 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:17,079 Gophers come in at one and two in the Big Ten. They are three 246 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:18,839 and three overall, so they're scuffling just to get to a bowl game, 247 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:23,400 and that Iowa defense is going to be nearly impossible for Minnesota to score any 248 00:20:23,519 --> 00:20:29,440 points. The over under on this game is thirty one and a half eight 249 00:20:29,559 --> 00:20:33,000 and Calcumnus just not doing the job for the Gophers six touchdowns and six picks. 250 00:20:33,519 --> 00:20:37,559 They are loaded in the backfield despite the loss, of course last year 251 00:20:37,599 --> 00:20:41,920 of Moe Ibrahim Darius Taylor having a heck of a year for the Gophers. 252 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:48,240 We sized a Iowa Minnesota on our weekly Hawkeye show with Corey Brada from The 253 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:52,880 Hawkeye at the Storm and our special guest Daniel House of Gophers, Guru growing 254 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,319 pains that occur with playing a younger quarterback, and I know eighth and got 255 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:00,640 some experience then to the last season, including playing Iowa last season, but 256 00:21:02,599 --> 00:21:06,359 you know, the continued reps that you need to have to be able to 257 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:11,279 be successful. Teams are scheming with the change in the picture of the coverage, 258 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:15,160 especially when they get Minnesota backed up to you know, make some you 259 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:19,559 know, pick sixes. I mean Michigan had two pick sixes in the previous 260 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:23,880 game. You know, I think that's going to be Phil Parker's approach is 261 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:29,839 try to get Minnesota back that get them off schedule. Minnesota is not effective 262 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:33,599 offensively when they're not efficient un first and second down, when they're backed up 263 00:21:33,599 --> 00:21:37,519 into third and long. That's the recipe for success because then you can sort 264 00:21:37,559 --> 00:21:42,759 of change that coverage picture and do things to potentially bait Minnesota into some mistakes. 265 00:21:42,759 --> 00:21:47,359 So that's been the storyline is you know, there was gonna be highs 266 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:51,960 and lows with the quarterback. It's now when is he going to really take 267 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:56,759 that next step forward? I think that's still the question that many people have. 268 00:21:56,200 --> 00:22:00,279 So this team's not a contender in the West. This season because the 269 00:22:00,279 --> 00:22:03,799 defense is not nearly as good. Basically, that would you say that, 270 00:22:03,799 --> 00:22:08,119 That's just the bottom line. The deal is, I don't know how when 271 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:11,599 it's going to come together for Minnesota, Like I don't feel like it's it's 272 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:18,559 that far away from clicking. Because if Cody Linnenberg's able to come back, 273 00:22:18,599 --> 00:22:22,079 he's the catalyst of that defense Minnesota. At the linebacker position, they put 274 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:26,440 a lot on the plate of the main guy where it's like, you got 275 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:30,160 to adjust, you got to make all the calls. Your zone drops have 276 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,920 to be tight. They've had some lapses with that where they've been getting hit 277 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:37,039 over the middle of the field. It's tackling here and there. And the 278 00:22:37,039 --> 00:22:40,119 big thing is health as well. There's a lot of little dings on the 279 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:42,200 defensive side of the ball. I think the bye week is going to be 280 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:48,559 critical to just get guys back healthy again. The pass rush has improved, 281 00:22:48,599 --> 00:22:52,079 in my opinion, it was something they put a major emphasis on. They're 282 00:22:52,079 --> 00:22:56,039 getting more interior push. Kyler Ba, the defensive tackle has played very well. 283 00:22:56,559 --> 00:23:00,839 They have been able to finish a ton of rushes. They've had some 284 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:04,480 retracing problems and some pass rush laying issues, but for the most part, 285 00:23:04,559 --> 00:23:08,319 I do believe the pass rush has a lot of potential, something that could 286 00:23:08,319 --> 00:23:11,799 take a step forward this type of game. I think Minnesota what they're going 287 00:23:11,839 --> 00:23:15,119 to do is they're going to load the box, try to stop the run, 288 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,559 get Deacon Hill backed up, and then you know, send a lot 289 00:23:18,599 --> 00:23:22,960 of blitz pressure. I mean, you look at the numbers when when blitzed. 290 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,880 I think there's some opportunity there for Minnesota to exploit if they can get 291 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:32,119 Iowa into passing down situations. I mean, they're dead last in a lot 292 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:36,119 of those key metrics and when teams are able to knock them off schedule. 293 00:23:36,279 --> 00:23:38,799 Fourteen pass attempts for the game. By the way, like almost half of 294 00:23:38,839 --> 00:23:45,839 those came in the first quarter. Yeah, forty eight rush attempts. Now, 295 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,359 you know, the old adage is that if you can run the ball 296 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:52,200 that many times, that typically means that you're just dominating the other team on 297 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:55,799 the ground. But with Iowa, I think it more comes back to again 298 00:23:55,839 --> 00:23:59,920 the field position conversation. They would rather be risk adverse with third down. 299 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:02,720 But you're gonna see that again on Saturday. If they get behind schedule, 300 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:07,319 they're gonna run the ball a lot and whether it's third and eight, third 301 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:10,720 and five, third and twenty, they're just gonna run the ball. It's 302 00:24:10,799 --> 00:24:14,480 just you just know that. And I've brought up waist downs before. Mark 303 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:17,759 Daniel would be a good one to talk about this. I had an interesting 304 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:21,400 back and forth with Brian Ferrence during the off season Daniel. I asked him 305 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:23,680 specifically about waist downs because I don't get a lot of wayte downs because I 306 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:29,079 getting a lot of eight nine yard chunks on first down. But the interaction 307 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:33,359 I had was fascinating because he basically said, we don't coach that way, 308 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,759 we don't call plays that way, and it was kind of an odd answer. 309 00:24:36,759 --> 00:24:38,720 He even told me that he could he could never force see a scenario 310 00:24:38,799 --> 00:24:41,599 where third and one is a waist down, which really blew my mind when 311 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:45,920 I heard him say that he could never foresee a scenario where third and one 312 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,519 is a waist down, even in four down territory. But I had three 313 00:24:48,599 --> 00:24:52,279 waist downs on Saturday ran every time, and you could argue in a game 314 00:24:52,319 --> 00:24:56,119 like Wisconsin, maybe I should just shut up about the whole waist downs thing, 315 00:24:56,160 --> 00:25:00,599 because maybe it's the right call, and I think that's how they're looking 316 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:04,880 at it right now, is that more There's more potential for harm if we 317 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:07,440 put the ball up at any point in the game, even in a second 318 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:11,759 down and one, then there is Hey, let's chuck a throw down the 319 00:25:11,799 --> 00:25:15,839 field on a waist down and potentially make a big play. We'd rather just 320 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:22,279 make sure. I guarantee you the stress for the running backs throughout the week 321 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:26,079 leading up to the game with Ladell Betts and the staff heading into the game 322 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:30,839 and during game day was to Lashawn Williams and Caleb Johnson, you hold that 323 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,480 football like it's your newborn and do anything to keep anybody from stripping it. 324 00:25:34,519 --> 00:25:37,480 And I give him credit that they ran forty eight times on a single fumble. 325 00:25:38,519 --> 00:25:42,160 That's that is a good good sign for a guy like Leshawn Williams who 326 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:47,359 has fumbled in the past. He was in the doghouse earlier this year with 327 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:51,759 Kirk, I think briefly. So they're doing what they need to do. 328 00:25:51,799 --> 00:25:55,359 Two hundred and twenty eight passing yards Sir Wisconsin mark to thirty seven for Iowa. 329 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:59,759 Suddenly, Illinois's showing some life with their first win in the Big Ten, 330 00:25:59,839 --> 00:26:03,680 and it's a substantial one over the turps. As we outlined, Wisconsin 331 00:26:03,799 --> 00:26:07,720 comes to Champagne. Suddenly this could be a football game. It looked a 332 00:26:07,759 --> 00:26:11,240 couple of weeks ago like maybe the Badgers would just tear through the Big Ten 333 00:26:11,319 --> 00:26:15,400 Western Division, but now just a two and a half point favorite at Illinois 334 00:26:15,599 --> 00:26:22,759 without starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai Braydon Locke got his feet wet of sorts against Iowa, 335 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:27,440 but without success. Going to face a much softer defense in the Aliini, 336 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:33,000 but again coming off that big effort as a two touchdown underdog out of 337 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:38,200 nowhere, the Aliini really showed up in that game. Isaiah Williams with some 338 00:26:38,279 --> 00:26:45,039 huge plays to continue his great season for Illinois with forty two catches. Luke 339 00:26:45,079 --> 00:26:51,480 Altmeyer starting to work through some things still as a negative touchdown to interception ratio, 340 00:26:51,519 --> 00:26:56,319 and again the Badgers now have to hope that the Hawkeyes lose twice, 341 00:26:56,400 --> 00:27:02,200 and that seems highly improbable. It is highly improbable, nearly impossible. So 342 00:27:02,279 --> 00:27:06,799 the Badgers playing for bull participation. At this point, they're four and two 343 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:11,119 overall. FS one is your destination three thirty Eastern Wisconsin Illinois on Saturday. 344 00:27:11,599 --> 00:27:17,880 Consider this, Northwestern and Nebraska both control their own destiny. So somebody's got 345 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:22,079 to win this game in Lincoln, three thirty Eastern Time Big Ten Network. 346 00:27:22,599 --> 00:27:27,680 Nebraska is an eleven and a half point favorite, and they should be Athletically, 347 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:32,400 This is a bit of a mismatch. We've seen that play out in 348 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:36,119 the past. The last time the two got together in Lincoln, it was 349 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:38,880 fifty six to seven. But remember the on side kick in the Northwestern win 350 00:27:40,599 --> 00:27:45,799 last season, their only win of the season, and Northwestern has shown the 351 00:27:45,839 --> 00:27:49,640 ability to knock off Minnesota. They won and not a conference game against a 352 00:27:49,799 --> 00:27:52,400 UTEP team that was supposed to be a little bit better than they are. 353 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:59,599 What Northwestern has accomplished under David Brawn this season has been pretty remarkable. To 354 00:27:59,599 --> 00:28:04,000 be three three and within grasp of a bowl game at this point. You 355 00:28:04,079 --> 00:28:07,720 got Ben Bryant at quarterback. He's been banged up in recent weeks. Brendan 356 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:11,960 Sullivan got the start against Wagner and the Wildcats survived twenty three to twenty. 357 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:17,599 Bryant threw for four hundred yards and four touchdowns in that monumental comeback in the 358 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:22,000 fourth quarter of down twenty one against Minnesota. Heinrich Harberg continues to get the 359 00:28:22,039 --> 00:28:26,599 start at Nebraska. Now, what's interesting here is that, of course Jeff 360 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:33,039 Simms was the starter in Week one, performed pretty terribly, turning the ball 361 00:28:33,079 --> 00:28:37,720 over at a rapid rate. So Jeff Simms has obviously lost his starting position 362 00:28:37,759 --> 00:28:41,039 to Heinrich Harberg, who has protected the football. That is the big difference 363 00:28:41,079 --> 00:28:45,559 right there. Simms has the ceiling. Harburg is almost as effective as a 364 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:49,200 runner, if not more so, and he protects the football. Only three 365 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:55,000 touchdown passes this year, He's going to complete fifty percent, but that's all 366 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:56,799 that's going to be needed in this game against Northwestern. As long as the 367 00:28:56,839 --> 00:29:02,480 Huskers protect the football, they should be good to go. Despite Northwesterns better 368 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:08,319 than expected play, Huskers and Wildcats, again, the winner still controls its 369 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:14,799 own destiny for a trip to Indianapolis. That's pretty incredible. Were talking Northwestern 370 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:22,640 Nebraska with our guest Brandon Locker from SB Nation and then also our crew at 371 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:27,000 our Nebraska Huskers show every Tuesday at seven o'clock Eastern time, Greg Peterson Husker 372 00:29:27,039 --> 00:29:33,519 Online, and our postgame host Justin Adams. So I'm not necessarily questioning the 373 00:29:33,559 --> 00:29:40,400 decision of Heinrich Harberg of being the starter, but I'm somewhat questioning how it 374 00:29:40,519 --> 00:29:47,359 can be explained because if Jeff Simms was the starter, and he was the 375 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:52,680 starter until he got hurt, and then Heinrich Harberg came in, and let's 376 00:29:52,839 --> 00:29:56,519 make no mistake about it, he's done some nice things, especially on the 377 00:29:56,519 --> 00:29:59,839 ground, but he's not exactly let the work set the world on fire and 378 00:30:00,079 --> 00:30:06,000 taking over this job. And then Jeff Simms is healthy enough to play, 379 00:30:06,559 --> 00:30:12,240 so he has not regained or retained his starting position. Yep. All control, 380 00:30:12,799 --> 00:30:18,599 yep. I mean you go with the guy that's taking care of the 381 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:22,359 ball, and you know, I mean Heinrich Harberg has won three out of 382 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:27,359 the last four starts. So but then on top of that too, Simms 383 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:30,839 has got to you know, he's going to eventually have to get out there 384 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,680 and and prove that he can, you know, have ball control. So 385 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:38,960 again, if that's you know, a lot of that's mental, I think, 386 00:30:40,119 --> 00:30:41,680 just dropping the snaps and stuff like that. So maybe if he's kind 387 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:45,599 of had that mental reset and stuff like that, who knows. But to 388 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:48,880 Mark's point, I kind of see what he's saying, where you know, 389 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:52,839 Sims was the guy and rule said that if he was one hundred percent he 390 00:30:52,839 --> 00:30:56,160 would have been the guy going forward. So I think this goes back to 391 00:30:56,160 --> 00:31:00,759 what I said, you know a few weeks back, was Harberg. You 392 00:31:00,799 --> 00:31:03,720 know, once he built up those few wins in the camaraderie with the team, 393 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:07,640 he probably has to be the guy going forward because he gives us the 394 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:11,599 best chance to win as far as just you know, especially with the turnover 395 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:14,480 at the wide receiver room and stuff like that. He's already got those reps 396 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:17,279 with those guys on the field. So I think that's that's you know, 397 00:31:17,319 --> 00:31:23,920 important going for creating a quarterback controversy here right now. Yeah, you're going 398 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:27,039 with the guy that's winning any games right now and running the show. I 399 00:31:27,039 --> 00:31:33,599 mean, the players and all the coaches, you know, they trust both 400 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:37,640 of them. I'm questioning the decision, right well, I would. I 401 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:41,599 wouldn't necessarily agree with that statement. I don't think they trust Jeff Simms. 402 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:47,079 I wouldn't trust him. No, I don't think that's the That's what we 403 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:52,799 said, you know, because heinrin Carberg's taking care of the ball. And 404 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:57,079 yeah, I don't question the games. I'm not questioning the decision. But 405 00:31:57,119 --> 00:32:01,039 at no point did Matt Rules say that Sims lost his job or the fact 406 00:32:00,839 --> 00:32:06,559 that Carberg was the starter, right, he might be opposite. Jef sim 407 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:09,079 still is a single digit guy, so he's one of the main leaders of 408 00:32:09,079 --> 00:32:15,079 the team. And I mean that's his point. See what his character is 409 00:32:15,119 --> 00:32:20,720 that he's willing to let somebody else be the starter. We are not accustomed 410 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,000 to this being the biggest point spread of the day. It's truly one of 411 00:32:23,039 --> 00:32:27,799 the great rivalries in college football. It's Michigan Michigan State getting together in East 412 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:31,359 Lansing. But Michigan has just been that good and Spardi, of course has 413 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:37,119 a season on its hands that they just want to survive after the whole melt 414 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:42,440 Tucker debacle. Twenty four and a half point favorite is Michigan on the road, 415 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:45,720 and Michigan has been the most complete football team in college football. You 416 00:32:45,759 --> 00:32:52,720 can question the schedule and we have best win for Michigan. Is it Rutgers, 417 00:32:52,119 --> 00:32:55,759 is it Minnesota? Is it Nebraska? That's pretty much the top of 418 00:32:55,799 --> 00:33:00,720 the line for the Wolverines, and they're not going to face anyone better at 419 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:07,880 Michigan State. Quarterback of battle between Nate Hauser and Noah Kim. Kim of 420 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:12,599 course, the original starter this season has faltered to a certain extent, and 421 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:16,880 interim coach Harlan Barnett wants a look at Nate Hauser and see what he can 422 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:21,079 do. He was a top two to fifty prospect coming out of high school, 423 00:33:21,079 --> 00:33:24,799 top ten quarterback coming out of high school, and try to turn the 424 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:30,640 page and look into the future of Michigan State football. This should be a 425 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:35,519 rough one for the Spartans. Michigan has been again stout in every face of 426 00:33:35,559 --> 00:33:38,920 the game, every position. Most complete team in college football that has not 427 00:33:39,279 --> 00:33:45,960 struggled in any game. Michigan Michigan State in primetime on NBC seven to thirty 428 00:33:45,039 --> 00:33:52,920 Eastern from East Lansing, John diadamo Our Michigan hosted the Voice of College Football, 429 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:58,400 Catch Our Wolverines Live show every Tuesday at eight pm Eastern Time. John 430 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:04,319 talked up Sparty and the Maze in Blue with Ryan o'blannis from Spartan Illustrated. 431 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:09,920 I anticipate that the that emotions are going to be high, and in fact, 432 00:34:10,119 --> 00:34:15,079 you may actually see for the first time this season the starters kept in 433 00:34:15,199 --> 00:34:20,480 no matter what, because that is something, uh, you know, they 434 00:34:20,519 --> 00:34:23,920 may want to do. You know, we know I'm not saying anything you 435 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:28,199 don't already know. There were some events that happened last year, and there's 436 00:34:28,239 --> 00:34:30,960 probably gonna be some emotions based on that. So you may actually have like 437 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:37,199 JJ McCarthy, Blake Korum, Will Johnson, you know, and these players 438 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:43,840 like asking to stay in the entire time. Yeah, Howser's definitely going to 439 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:46,039 start this game, you know, as long as nothing weird happens with a 440 00:34:46,079 --> 00:34:52,079 practice injury or something like that. But yeah, you know, both Barnett 441 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:54,880 and offensive coordinator J Johnson spoke today. They you know, they liked what 442 00:34:54,920 --> 00:35:00,000 they saw from Howser in that game against Rutgers. Obviously it wasn't anything spectation. 443 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:02,480 I think the big thing was that he didn't turn the football over, 444 00:35:02,519 --> 00:35:07,199 which was a big issue with know what Kim, you know, in the 445 00:35:07,559 --> 00:35:13,639 three games previously, and Houser did have a couple of close calls against Rutger. 446 00:35:13,639 --> 00:35:15,039 It was a wet, wet, sloppy conditions. You know, he 447 00:35:15,119 --> 00:35:21,039 fumbled at one point, recovered his own fumble, and then he almost threw 448 00:35:21,119 --> 00:35:22,559 a couple of near interceptions. But you know, on the stat sheet, 449 00:35:22,559 --> 00:35:25,000 he didn't turn the ball over, so that was good. He didn't throw 450 00:35:25,039 --> 00:35:28,119 for a lot of yards, as you mentioned, one hundred and thirty three, 451 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:31,920 but you know, he was fairly efficient, fairly decent completion percentage. 452 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:35,880 You know, maybe like to see a little more zip on some of his 453 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:40,000 throws, but again that the conditions were not, you know, favorable to 454 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:45,559 really throw that game. He also had had a rushing touchdown in addition to 455 00:35:45,559 --> 00:35:49,039 the two touchdowns he threw. He was moving the offense, you know, 456 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:53,440 really well for three quarters until everything kind of collapse fourth quarter for the team. 457 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:59,159 But overall, I think the Michigan State coaches, I think the players 458 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:01,800 around him support him. They were encouraged by what they saw from him. 459 00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:06,320 The thing with Hawser was always that he had sky high potential. You know, 460 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:08,880 he was a four star recruit coming out of high school, big high 461 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:14,000 school program out there in California and Saint John Basco. So you know, 462 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:16,679 talent with him has never been the issue. It's more about getting reps, 463 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:22,679 getting experience, and getting into a rhythm. You know, obviously he wasn't 464 00:36:23,079 --> 00:36:28,599 going to be perfect in his first start, and I don't think people really 465 00:36:28,639 --> 00:36:30,760 had those kind of expectations for him. But at the same time, you 466 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:35,039 know, fans need to understand that it will take patience. You know, 467 00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:37,320 as he plays more, as he gets more into a rhythm, he starts 468 00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:40,159 to settle in. You know, I think he can do some really good 469 00:36:40,159 --> 00:36:45,400 things. He has a really really tough matchup this weekend against that Michigan defense, 470 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:49,679 so we'll see how that goes overall. Yeah, you know, I 471 00:36:49,719 --> 00:36:52,880 think you can expect Hawser to start the rest of the year as long as 472 00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:55,880 he stays healthy. And Noah Kim's actually dealing with an injury too. It's 473 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:59,880 not that's not why he was benched. You know, Hawser was going to 474 00:37:00,039 --> 00:37:04,239 are either way, but actually true freshman Sam Levitt would have been the backup 475 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:07,360 quarterback, you know, had something happen to Houser against Rutgers. That's what 476 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:13,519 Burnett said after the game on Saturday, and Johnson kind of reiterated that today 477 00:37:13,519 --> 00:37:16,800 in his comments. So you know that they're kind of monitoring no It campis 478 00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:21,039 kind of day to day, but either way, Houser is going to be 479 00:37:21,119 --> 00:37:25,400 starting. Nathan Carter's had a really good year running the football. He's a 480 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:30,039 Yukon transfer. You know, there were a lot of really good things said 481 00:37:30,039 --> 00:37:32,280 about him throughout spring ball and stuff like that, and he was. He's 482 00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:36,199 really been as advertised for the most part, but Rutgers did do a good 483 00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:39,239 job of, you know, shutting him down. Obviously, it's not all 484 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:42,480 on the running back. You need the offensive line, you need the tight 485 00:37:42,559 --> 00:37:45,440 ends block, you need the receivers blocking on the outside. That's the bigg 486 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:51,559 thing the Michigan State coaching staff kind of preaches is that it takes all eleven 487 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:53,800 to have a successful play, especially in the run game when everybody needs to 488 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:59,880 be blocking. So you just that's one thing that the offensive line has has 489 00:38:00,159 --> 00:38:02,719 really kind of struggled with this year is consistency and run blocking. You know 490 00:38:02,719 --> 00:38:07,440 that they've been pretty good in pass protection, but they need to do a 491 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:09,800 better job in the run game, and you know on the outside with the 492 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:15,800 Titans and the receivers too. So you know Jalen Berger, who who's was 493 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:20,280 Michigan State's leading rusher last year and he dealt with some injuries early on this 494 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,159 year, but he was pretty active against Rutgers, and you know, he 495 00:38:23,199 --> 00:38:27,320 had decent yard per carry and was able to get to the outside and get 496 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:30,000 some chunk plays a couple of times. So you know that there were some 497 00:38:30,119 --> 00:38:32,920 plays where, uh, they were able to hit at a decent rate, 498 00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:37,079 you know, get some chunk yardage. Uh. But for the most ark 499 00:38:37,119 --> 00:38:39,159 Carter is still going to be that workhorse back for you. And like I 500 00:38:39,199 --> 00:38:43,079 said, you know, it really all comes down to execution and the blocking 501 00:38:43,159 --> 00:38:46,159 and being able to be more physical than the other team. And you know 502 00:38:46,199 --> 00:38:51,360 that that's something that should be really worries someome for Michigan State against that Michigan 503 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:57,880 defensive front this week they have to emphasize. Now we get to the showdown 504 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:00,559 Penn State at Ohio State, major game of course in the Big Ten, 505 00:39:00,639 --> 00:39:06,360 one of three. Sorry Western Division fans, we just have to tell it 506 00:39:06,519 --> 00:39:10,239 like it is. This is one of the Titanic matchups and it should be 507 00:39:10,679 --> 00:39:14,599 all that it's hyped up to be. Penn State comes in number seven in 508 00:39:14,639 --> 00:39:17,480 the country according to the AP Poll. If you believe in those rankings, 509 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:22,199 six and oh the Buckeye six and oh as well at number three. Penn 510 00:39:22,239 --> 00:39:25,960 State has yet to be threatened. The schedule has been questionable. Best team 511 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:31,199 they've played is at Iowa probably thirty one nothing of course, and of course 512 00:39:31,239 --> 00:39:36,320 the West Virginia game turned out to be a little bit better than expected in 513 00:39:36,360 --> 00:39:40,480 regards to the Mountaineers efforts this season. However, Penn State yet to be 514 00:39:40,559 --> 00:39:45,000 tested. They go to Columbus. They have lost six straight to the Buckeyes. 515 00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:51,559 They have won once in the James Franklin era. That was a historic 516 00:39:51,599 --> 00:39:54,760 effort, of course, turning into a Big Ten championship. The Buckeyes come 517 00:39:54,800 --> 00:40:00,639 in at six and oh. They've played probably they're six strongest quarters of football 518 00:40:00,719 --> 00:40:06,800 the past six quarters, second half against Maryland, the entire game against Purdue. 519 00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:10,119 As we outlined, they played a complete game against the Boilers. Tested 520 00:40:10,199 --> 00:40:15,159 on the road against Notre Dame, Kyle McCord improving, Penn State would seem 521 00:40:15,199 --> 00:40:21,039 to have maybe the one advantage in particular, not the only advantage, but 522 00:40:21,079 --> 00:40:27,599 the one particular advantage the defensive front pushing back that Ohio State front that seriously 523 00:40:27,639 --> 00:40:31,400 needs to work through some issues, that continues to work through them and show 524 00:40:31,480 --> 00:40:37,559 some signs of improving, but still the offensive line far from a finished product 525 00:40:37,559 --> 00:40:43,760 for Ohio State. Kyle McCord in that same category, Ohio State's health on 526 00:40:43,840 --> 00:40:49,559 offense a bit of a question. Treveon Henderson beat up Mayan Williams and a 527 00:40:49,639 --> 00:40:53,840 Mecca Abuca. Some of the young wide receivers like Carnel Tait will have to 528 00:40:53,880 --> 00:40:59,320 step up, maybe Brandon Innis for the Buckeyes. On the Penn State side, 529 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:04,719 the thunder enlightening the k Tron Allen and Nick Singleton one to two punch 530 00:41:04,760 --> 00:41:10,719 has not materialized to the extent of producing explosive plays. We talk Ohio State 531 00:41:10,719 --> 00:41:15,000 football with you each and if we win State eleven Am Eastern Time, Steve 532 00:41:15,039 --> 00:41:19,840 hell Wagon Bucknuts two four seven Sports, Tony Gerdaman and Kevin Noon of Buckeye 533 00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:24,719 Huddle, and this week's special guest, Mark Brennan of Lyons two four seven. 534 00:41:24,840 --> 00:41:28,960 Boy, we had a great time. You need to show up for 535 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:32,000 the entirety of this one Ohio State Penn State breakdown. You can find it 536 00:41:32,039 --> 00:41:37,079 on the Ohio State Channel at the Voice of College Football talking Penn State, 537 00:41:37,119 --> 00:41:40,960 Ohio State. And as someone said this week during one of our broadcasts, 538 00:41:42,280 --> 00:41:47,000 I believe it was Marty Leap of Penn State Rivals, we basically said, 539 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:51,039 this is an NFL game one or two years in advance is what it is. 540 00:41:51,159 --> 00:41:54,679 This one, two loaded teams, so much on the line, should 541 00:41:54,719 --> 00:41:59,880 be an amazing event in Columbus, as it always is, but this one 542 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:04,239 a little bit special and maybe the best game we've seen with the most on 543 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:08,360 the line since twenty seventeen. Penn State, Ohio State, James Franklin tenth 544 00:42:08,519 --> 00:42:14,760 year, and obviously just the one win over Ohio State, and they play 545 00:42:14,840 --> 00:42:17,239 every year. And what's crazy is we all got up in arms, at 546 00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:22,159 least some of us did, that they were ending the Penn State series with 547 00:42:22,320 --> 00:42:27,559 the jumble with USC and USCLA joining the conference and the way things were going 548 00:42:27,639 --> 00:42:31,159 to be mixed around. But then they bring Oregon and Washington in. They 549 00:42:31,199 --> 00:42:35,159 put all the chips back in the bag and they shuffle them up, and 550 00:42:35,239 --> 00:42:37,360 now Ohio State and Penn State are still going to play the next two years. 551 00:42:37,360 --> 00:42:42,639 So it's not the hiatus doesn't begin until twenty twenty six. But at 552 00:42:42,639 --> 00:42:46,239 any rate, with Franklin, I know there's a glass ceiling, or it 553 00:42:46,239 --> 00:42:50,280 seems like there's been a class ceiling that they've punched up against to try and 554 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:53,800 get into the playoff and all these other things, and you know, in 555 00:42:53,840 --> 00:42:58,039 your mind, is this a team that has what it takes to win at 556 00:42:58,079 --> 00:43:01,960 least one of these two showdown games and at least get into a tiebreaker scenario, 557 00:43:02,039 --> 00:43:07,719 which we laid those out with Iowa beating Wisconsin, Penn State's now kind 558 00:43:07,719 --> 00:43:10,440 of got the upper end in the tiebreaker scenario. Yeah, I mean they 559 00:43:12,039 --> 00:43:15,760 sooner or later you have to write, I mean, Penn State hasn't beaten 560 00:43:15,800 --> 00:43:20,599 Ohio State and Michigan when both teams were ranked since two thousand and eight, 561 00:43:21,079 --> 00:43:24,079 so this predates Franklin. I mean, this isn't only a James Franklin thing. 562 00:43:24,119 --> 00:43:28,119 This is something where you know, Penn State comes into the Big Ten 563 00:43:28,159 --> 00:43:30,840 in the early nineties and in ninety four runs the table and I think everybody 564 00:43:30,840 --> 00:43:34,079 thought, oh man, you know this is just going to be same old, 565 00:43:34,079 --> 00:43:37,679 same old. But clearly, when you look at the Big Ten, 566 00:43:37,199 --> 00:43:40,559 and with all respect to what Michigan's been able to do the last couple of 567 00:43:40,639 --> 00:43:45,320 years, the team you have to beat to prove that you're the man is 568 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:50,840 Ohio State. And this is the most talent that James Franklin has had. 569 00:43:52,000 --> 00:43:57,000 And don't read that the wrong way, because yes, when they had Sakuon 570 00:43:57,039 --> 00:44:00,079 Barkley and Chris Godwin and you know, Micah Park and all those players, 571 00:44:00,239 --> 00:44:06,719 they had great individual players in different spots. I'm talking about depth, I'm 572 00:44:06,719 --> 00:44:10,639 talking about across the board. I think if you project out where a lot 573 00:44:10,639 --> 00:44:15,519 of these guys are are going to be when it comes around to the NFL 574 00:44:15,639 --> 00:44:19,280 draft, if you look at it really closely, the depth of talent is 575 00:44:19,320 --> 00:44:22,880 there. So everything is in place. And I think the other thing about 576 00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:25,079 Penn State Ohio State is that Penn State has been there in these games. 577 00:44:25,119 --> 00:44:30,320 Penn State has led these games in the fourth quarter and let them slip away. 578 00:44:30,760 --> 00:44:31,800 And you could look at it a different way. You can say that 579 00:44:31,840 --> 00:44:37,079 Ohio State has grabbed those those games and seized them and won them. But 580 00:44:37,199 --> 00:44:39,079 yeah, to be at that level, to be the man, you got 581 00:44:39,119 --> 00:44:43,519 to beat the man, and there is did you already say that? Did 582 00:44:43,559 --> 00:44:46,000 I already? Did you know? You have to be able to take care 583 00:44:46,039 --> 00:44:49,519 of business. And I think a lot of fans are looking at this listen, 584 00:44:49,639 --> 00:44:52,320 James Franklin is on any sort of hot seat because I think any rational 585 00:44:52,360 --> 00:45:00,159 person if they look at the the dumpster fire that he inherited and a to 586 00:45:00,199 --> 00:45:01,679 get them to a Big ten title as soon as they did, and able 587 00:45:01,719 --> 00:45:07,199 to establish them them the program where it is and improve the facilities and do 588 00:45:07,280 --> 00:45:12,800 all these things. He's done an unbelievable job. But everybody keeps talking about 589 00:45:12,880 --> 00:45:15,800 that next level, that next level, Well, this is where you have 590 00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:19,360 to take care of business against one of these two teams. And I think 591 00:45:19,360 --> 00:45:22,960 it's important this year, Steven guys, because you know, when you when 592 00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:28,039 you expand the playoffs, then it's going to be much easier. Obviously, 593 00:45:28,159 --> 00:45:30,760 I mean, duh for people to get in, but if you want to 594 00:45:30,880 --> 00:45:36,559 prove that you can be one of those teams, got to you got to 595 00:45:36,599 --> 00:45:39,440 beat at least one of these teams this year. And I think that's absolutely 596 00:45:39,440 --> 00:45:44,719 fair criticism. One thing I would say is that you know it's going to 597 00:45:44,760 --> 00:45:49,280 be interesting to see because uh, I think they're they're in a better spot 598 00:45:49,360 --> 00:45:53,360 now. Defensively. I didn't dislike Brent Pryor as a coach, but the 599 00:45:53,480 --> 00:45:58,480 job that Manny Diaz has been doing has been unbelievable. Now that's going to 600 00:45:58,519 --> 00:46:00,519 be tested this week. But I think if you look at his body of 601 00:46:00,559 --> 00:46:05,079 work over the first two seasons, outside of that one terrible game at Michigan 602 00:46:05,159 --> 00:46:08,920 last year, they've done some pretty impressive things. And I think yoursich I 603 00:46:08,960 --> 00:46:13,760 think his offense is starting to come around and kind of click again. Outside 604 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:20,239 of the big plays losing what they did in the secondary and then not missing 605 00:46:20,239 --> 00:46:25,280 a beat I think is incredibly impressive. How much? Because I write about 606 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:30,519 Michigan every week as well, and they have played nobody offensively. Penn State 607 00:46:30,559 --> 00:46:34,760 isn't that same boat? How much? Do you? How much? In 608 00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:38,199 Penn State leading the nation in the yards giving up and yards per play allowed, 609 00:46:38,199 --> 00:46:42,840 O High State's number two in yards per play allowed. I believe this 610 00:46:42,960 --> 00:46:47,840 is a legit defense. But have they been tested at any point by anybody? 611 00:46:47,880 --> 00:46:52,960 Like what's been the biggest test for them offensively this season? No? 612 00:46:52,039 --> 00:46:55,360 I mean, I mean West Virginia scored fifteen points, I think, and 613 00:46:55,400 --> 00:47:00,920 a guy from Delaware popped to sixty eight yard run runner. But it's like 614 00:47:00,559 --> 00:47:05,000 they're really talented, and you know, it was kind of funny. You 615 00:47:05,039 --> 00:47:07,599 know, they play this game against U Mass and I don't even know who 616 00:47:07,599 --> 00:47:12,199 the offensive coordinator of View Mass is, but U Mess kept trying to run 617 00:47:12,239 --> 00:47:15,639 wide and it's like, you know, the one thing if you look at 618 00:47:15,639 --> 00:47:19,719 this team and where it struggled last year, it was people gashing them up 619 00:47:19,760 --> 00:47:22,639 the middle, especially Michigan because they didn't have the biggest defensive tackles. And 620 00:47:22,679 --> 00:47:29,440 I think they've improved that. But I mean even Ohio State I think will 621 00:47:29,480 --> 00:47:32,400 have trouble attacking the edges. You know, trying to run wide against this 622 00:47:32,480 --> 00:47:36,440 team just doesn't work because it's super fast. And I think if you're going 623 00:47:36,480 --> 00:47:38,599 to beat them, it's going to be with the passing game or it's going 624 00:47:38,639 --> 00:47:42,840 to be running up the gut. So I just think that that level of 625 00:47:42,920 --> 00:47:47,679 speed at all three levels is what's been the real key. But no, 626 00:47:47,800 --> 00:47:52,440 they haven't been tested. We were just doing our own podcast and somebody's and 627 00:47:52,480 --> 00:47:55,400 I was asked, Hey, you know what's the biggest question mark. It's 628 00:47:55,440 --> 00:47:59,239 like, Yeah, these guys have been rolling through everybody. What's going to 629 00:47:59,239 --> 00:48:00,440 happen they get punched to the mouth and have to make a play in the 630 00:48:00,440 --> 00:48:05,320 fourth quarter. They haven't. I mean, they're starting defensive tackles. Last 631 00:48:05,320 --> 00:48:10,360 week played or thirteen and fourteen snaps. They had the game against the game 632 00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:15,320 against Iowa, their defense. I don't have the numbers right in front of 633 00:48:15,320 --> 00:48:20,199 me, but I think the defense played thirty two or something snaps in the 634 00:48:20,400 --> 00:48:23,239 entire game. So they have been able to But you know, I think 635 00:48:23,239 --> 00:48:29,880 the positive is they have been able to limit how much their key defensive players 636 00:48:30,119 --> 00:48:32,559 have been out on the field and if you take a look at the numbers, 637 00:48:34,440 --> 00:48:37,800 it's absolutely crazy. So if you look, let me scroll up here. 638 00:48:37,960 --> 00:48:39,320 If you guys don't mind, I'm sorry. I'm doing this as I'm 639 00:48:39,360 --> 00:48:44,679 on out go for it. But yeah, they're leading tackler through six games 640 00:48:44,760 --> 00:48:50,440 is Curtis Jacobs with twenty three tackles. A dude from Iowa had eighteen tackles 641 00:48:50,440 --> 00:48:53,760 in the game in one game. I mean, so you have Curtis Jacobs 642 00:48:53,760 --> 00:48:58,840 with twenty three. Dom de Luca former walk on has sixteen. And this 643 00:48:59,280 --> 00:49:01,920 isn't a negative for Penn State because they've not played guys. They've been like 644 00:49:02,519 --> 00:49:07,599 beating people, you know, so badly that they've been able to rest these 645 00:49:07,599 --> 00:49:09,760 guys up. And I think where that could pay dividends. And we'll see. 646 00:49:09,800 --> 00:49:13,559 I think we're gonna we'll find out this week, you know, number 647 00:49:13,559 --> 00:49:19,360 one in the fourth quarter against an elite opponent, but number two in late 648 00:49:19,400 --> 00:49:22,880 October, which we're hitting, and then late November and then into November when 649 00:49:23,199 --> 00:49:28,800 the strength of schedule really picks up. One of the things to me about 650 00:49:28,800 --> 00:49:31,400 this game is, you know who's going to make the most mistakes. Penn 651 00:49:31,400 --> 00:49:37,119 State had its first offensive turnover of the season last week, you know, 652 00:49:37,280 --> 00:49:38,719 And again, I just think that's one of those things with both of these 653 00:49:38,719 --> 00:49:42,480 teams. I haven't looked at Ohio State closely enough, but I know how 654 00:49:42,480 --> 00:49:45,960 good of a coach Ryan Day is that, you know, ball security is 655 00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:50,360 always gigantic, and I think that's going to be a big part of what 656 00:49:50,760 --> 00:49:52,039 goes down in this game. And I will the other thing that I will 657 00:49:52,079 --> 00:49:57,480 say is that the ones I really loved what Day said after that Notre Dame 658 00:49:57,519 --> 00:50:02,760 game about people questioning Ohio State's toughness, you know, and this is from 659 00:50:02,840 --> 00:50:06,840 the outside, you know, looking in. That's not something I ever looked 660 00:50:06,880 --> 00:50:09,440 at Ohio State and said. I mean, I don't know where that narrative 661 00:50:09,480 --> 00:50:13,760 came from, and I guess if it's from a couple games against Michigan or 662 00:50:13,760 --> 00:50:17,079 whatever. But I think most people at Penn State have always respected the level 663 00:50:17,119 --> 00:50:21,960 of toughness out of Ohio State, along with the athletic ability and the talent 664 00:50:22,039 --> 00:50:24,800 and everything else. And I think a lot most people really respect Ryan Day 665 00:50:24,800 --> 00:50:28,360 as a coach as well. All right, folks, glad you could join 666 00:50:28,440 --> 00:50:30,119 us here at Big ten Paradigm. We present this each and every week on 667 00:50:30,159 --> 00:50:35,000 the College GRIDIRN Coast to Coast Network. Again, my name's Mark. You 668 00:50:35,000 --> 00:50:37,639 can join me at the Voice of College Football each and every day best discussion, 669 00:50:37,639 --> 00:50:42,519 debate, and analysis of college football, and we would love to have 670 00:50:42,559 --> 00:50:45,559 you there. We've got Collin shows going all week and again, Big ten 671 00:50:45,840 --> 00:50:50,039 channels Ohio, State, Michigan, Iowa, and Nebraska to take part in 672 00:50:50,400 --> 00:50:53,280 the Voice of College Football. Please join us there, and we thank the 673 00:50:53,320 --> 00:50:58,599 folks at College grid Iron Coast to Coast and again, you've got to check 674 00:50:58,599 --> 00:51:00,960 out all the podcasts here. Talented people that know their stuff, know their 675 00:51:01,000 --> 00:51:05,880 teams, know their conferences, and just flat out love football and talk and 676 00:51:05,960 --> 00:51:10,559 ball with all of you right here at College Gridiron Coast to Coast. Talk 677 00:51:10,599 --> 00:51:12,320 to you next week.