It took six week for complete chaos to show its head in the Big Ten as the conference witnessed its reigning champion cancel due to Covid-19 ramifications and that was only the start.
When the dust settled, Northwestern suffered a head scratching loss at Michigan State, Purdue dropped another, Nebraska and Michigan suffer losses and Ohio State has to cancel due to Covid-19.
We take a look at some of the action around the conference.
1. Covid-19 hits the conference hard again
Covid-19 is proving to be the toughest opponent for Big Ten teams this season.
A total of six games have been cancelled due to Covid-19 related issues since teams began playing in October. Furthermore, coaches Jeff Brohm (Purdue), Paul Chryst (Wisconsin), Mike Locksley (Maryland) and Ryan Day (Ohio State) have all tested positive for the virus at one point or another this season.
Since, the Big Ten announced it was going to play, Rutgers dealt with an outbreak that sidelined 30 players, Minnesota had to cancel with Wisconsin last week due to another outbreak and the Golden Gophers played a game this season with only 61 scholarship players, Illinois was battered by Covid-19, Maryland had to pause its program, Ohio State has had to pause its program and Wisconsin has been hammered by Covid-19.
Wisconsin may have been hit the hardest, as it has lost three games after an outbreak on its campus as Nebraska, Purdue and Minnesota were all shelved.
Ohio State has also been hit hard, having its game against Maryland canceled due to Covid-19 ramifications with the Terrapins and then having to cancel its game Saturday at Illinois due to an outbreak that saw Day test positive. Should Ohio State have to cancel again, there is a chance they will not play in the Big Ten championship game.
2. Northwestern and Purdue both fall
For six weeks, Northwestern looked like the darlings of the Big Ten and America, as they could do no wrong while moving up to being ranked 8th.
All that came to an end Saturday, as the Wildcats fell behind 17-0 early and then lost 29-20 at Michigan State.
In the fourth quarter, Northwestern turned the ball over three times and looked out of synch for most of the game. Heading into the game, Northwestern had turned the ball over just six times, but Michigan State got after Wildcats quarterback Peyton Ramsey, who threw two interceptions on 21-of-43 passing for 210 yards. The rushing attack was non-existent for Northwestern, who finished with 63 yards on 37 carries. Defensively, Northwestern let Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi have a great day, as he rushed 10 times for 65 yards and hurt the Wildcats with his arm, throwing 11-of-27 for 167 yards and two touchdowns.
“Credit Rocky, he played his best game all year,” Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald told the media after the game.
Northwestern drops to 5-1 on the season and will take on Minnesota.
As for Purdue, the Boilermakers suffered their third straight loss, this time falling 37-30 at home against Rutgers. The loss drops Purdue to 2-3 on the season and every game has been decided by a touchdown or less for the Boilermakers. Perhaps, more disappointing is the fact that head coach Jeff Brohm 19-25 overall and is a dismal 8-15 in one score games at Purdue.
Purdue held a 23-13 lead at the half, but was gutted by Rutgers backup quarterback Johnny Langan, who ended with 95 yards on 21 carries. Prior to the Purdue game, he had only amassed 39 yards on the ground. In addition, third downs proved to be too much for the Boilermakers to overcome, as Rutgers was 10-of-17 on third down and put together two long drives to close out the game, including an 18-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a field goal and ate almost 10 minutes off the clock.
3. Seats in Nebraska and Michigan get a little hotter
When Scott Frost returned to Nebraska, everyone, including Frost thought he would be able to work up some of the magic within the Nebraska program that the Huskers enjoyed when he was a player.
It has been anything but that for the former Central Florida coach, as Nebraska suffered a disappointing loss to Iowa Friday. Quarterback Adrian Martinez couldn’t handle the pressure or hits from the Iowa defense, turning it over in the closing minutes to let Iowa secure a win.
With 90 seconds left and Nebraska trailing 26-20, Martinez hit Wan’Dale Robinson for an 18-yard pass play and Nebraska looked prime to add points, as Martinez dropped back to pass and Nebraska turned the ball over.
After the game, Frost told the media the Cornhuskers are a lot closer than where they once were.
“I told you I was embarrassed to coach the team last week because we didn’t play like a team that I want to coach. I will tell you I don’t think our record is indicative of where we are right now and the improvements we made, but sooner or later, we’ve got to be buttoned up and detailed enough to make sure that these close games go our way,” Frost said.
The losses are beginning to be felt off the field for the Cornhuskers, as well. Cornerback Ladarius Webb Jr. announced his decommitment from Nebraska Saturday, stating he was reopening his recruitment.
Nebraska is not the only team to suffer a horrible loss last week, as Michigan continues to find new ways to underperform in 2020 under Jim Harbaugh, falling to Penn State 27-17.
The win was the first of the season for Penn State and was the fourth loss the last five games for Michigan, moving its record to 2-4.
Michigan was looking for some sort of spark against the Nittany Lions as Cade McNamara got the start, but he wound up suffering a shoulder injury and spending time in the locker room with members of the medical staff. McNamara would return, but he was unable to get Michigan over the hump, finishing 12-of-25 for 91 yards.
Harbaugh told the media McNamara posted a “gritty performance.”
“That’s a tough kid. A lot of respect for Cade coming back. Very gutty. The shoulder tightened up as the game went on,” said Harbaugh who added that he doesn’t like to lose and vowed that Michigan would go back to work.
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