Ohio State Buckeyes

Key Big Ten Games Week 5: Effect on the Conference

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 1, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Ty Isaac (32) rushes in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 14-7. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Recaps to the important Big Ten football match-ups in week 5 are here.

Following an eventful Saturday in Big Ten football two of this weeks four key matchup were upsets. But the top three teams in the Big Ten stay undefeated.

Big Ten Game #1:

Final:   Michigan 14  Wisconsin 7  

Although Michigan came into this game as an offensive juggernaut (Average points scored per game was 52), they had yet to play a good defensive team like Wisconsin.

Throughout the game, both teams moved the ball, but drives were derailed by penalties, turnovers, and missed field goals. It was a surprise that neither team scored in the 1st quarter.

Wisconsin showed why they came into this game ranked in the Top 15 in defensively. They held an explosive Michigan offense to just 14 points. The big story here is that Michigan’s defense that has been ranked as a Top 5 defense, actually is as good as projected when playing a talented team.

Wisconsin tied the game at 7 all with 8:03 left in the 3rd quarter. No team scored again until more than a quarter later when a 46 yard pass to Amara Darboh from QB Wilton Speight sealed the win for Michigan.

It was an ugly, grind it out type of game and Jim Harbaugh was up to his same old antics, having temper tantrums on the sidelines every time his team was called for a penalty. Get over yourself Jim!

The story moving forward: With 3 missed Michigan field goals, will Harbaugh take his kickers (2 different kickers missed FG’s in this game) deficiency into consideration when 4th down rolls around when in field goal range? What is there kickers true range?

It may lead to going for a lot of 4th down conversions in future games, especially when playing tougher opponents.

Alex Hornibrook was cool and calm heading into his first start for Wisconsin, even though it came before a hostile crowd of 75,000 at Michigan State against the then eighth-ranked Spartans.

Going into Ann Arbor and starting against a Top 5 defense in Michigan was another challenge. The red-shirt freshmen Hornibrook looked disheveled and frankly not quite ready for this level of competition.

He threw 3 passes throughout the game where his receivers clearly beat the Michigan defender and Hornibrook overthrew them all. It was not a pretty passing day for the Badgers.

With a stat line 9/25 with 1 TD and 3 INT, that will not cut it against a team of Michigan’s stature.

Big Ten Game #2:

Oct 1, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Dontre Wilson (2) scores as Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Kiy Hester (2) tries to tackle him at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Final: Ohio State 58  Rutgers 0

I expected a good showing by Ohio State’s offense, but their defense blanked Rutgers offense after a shaky 1st quarter.

After a conservative first quarter that led to an interception off J.T. Barrett because of a tipped pass. He came back with 4:19 left in the 1st quarter with a touchdown strike to Dontre Wilson (the first of 4 TD passes by Barrett).

From that point forward, the Ohio State Buckeyes played lights out football, showing why theirs is one of the best secondaries in the collegiate ranks. J.T. Barrett got into a rhythm on offense and finished 21/29 for 238 yards, 4 TDs and an INT.

Another impressive stat – Ohio State rushed the ball on 53 carries for an average of 7.7 years per carry. Red shirt freshman Mike Weber led all rushers with 14 carries for 144 yards and a TD.

After the starters (for the most part) were taken out of the game during the 3rd offensive series of the 3rd quarter, we enjoyed seeing freshman tailback Demario McCall carry the ball 10 times for 85 yards and a TD.

When the Ohio State offense is able to get 12 different pass-catchers involved in the game and do it successfully, there is not many teams that will be able to beat this dynamic offense. The team as a whole doesn’t play as young as they are thanks to such great talent and coaching.

The matchup of former defensive coordinator and current Rutgers head coach Chris Ash against his old team really didn’t play out as one would have thought it would. The influence of Greg Schiano on the defense, adding to what Luke Fickle had established was evident especially in the secondary where Schiano has had a great influence.

Heading to week 6, we wonder: Can any team stop this highly talented Ohio State offense?

Big Ten Game #3:

Oct 1, 2016; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Terrell Newby (34) runs for a touchdown against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 31-16. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Final:   Nebraska 31  Illinois 16  

In a game that was close for 3 quarters, Nebraska was able to put up 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to take this game and remain unbeaten.

The big boost to the Corn Huskers came from senior running back Terell Newby who ran for 113 of his 140 yards in the 4th quarter alone. Nebraska pounded the rock and Illinois head coach Lovie Smith had no answer for the physical running game Nebraska coach Mike Riley put together to turn back the upset bid by the Illini.

The question heading into this game was could Illinois head coach Lovie Smith put together a game plan that would allow his team to win on the road in Lincoln NB.

The answer was related by Smith himself post-game as he said “We got better today. We still have a loss but I think we made improvements.” He continued “We hung in there throughout, had a lead for most of the game, but it’s about finishing. We didn’t do that.”

His Illini offense only managed 10 offensive plays after taking the lead in the 3rd quarter with 7:40 left. That will be part of what coach Smith works on to get his team to finish games better.

The Nebraska Corn Huskers now leads the Big Ten West with a 5-0 record.

Big Ten Game #4:

Oct 1, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers offensive lineman Jacob Bailey (70) and linebacker Dameon Willis Jr. (43) and other teammates hoist the brass spittoon in victory after the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium. Indiana Hoosiers beat the Michigan State Spartans by the score of 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Final:   Indiana 24  Michigan State 21

This prime-time matchup didn’t seem to have the potential to be a close game going in. But Big Ten fans who stayed up to watch this contest were rewarded with a very close, very well fought game.

With a relatively quiet first three-quarters, the fourth quarter proved to be most eventful with Indiana scoring 14 of their 24 in the 4th. Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson put his team in the position to upset #17 ranked Michigan State, but just couldn’t get it done in regulation.

The game was tied at 21 and led to overtime. An overtime Michigan State field goal try for the win was missed by Michael Geiger after a pair of sacks backed up the Spartans and forced the 49 yard kick.

Hoosiers kicker Griffin Oakes missed his third field goal of the day in a game winning try in overtime. But wait… a “leaping call” on Michigan State gave Indiana a first down and after two play they attempted the game winner again this time from 20 yards. Oakes made this kick and the Hoosier fans in Bloomington, IN flooded the field.

It was the culmination of ten years of losses against the dominant Spartans. The “Old Brass Spittoon” was given to Indiana after they won this one in overtime.

Now the Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio – after losing Connor Cook and many key players to the NFL –  has to get back to the drawing board, because this upset may have cost them any chance of playing for a Big Ten championship with teams like Ohio State and Michigan, as well as Maryland being undefeated.

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