Ohio State Buckeyes

Key Big Ten Games Week 6: Effect on the Conference

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

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Oct 8, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) takes in the touchdown run during the 2nd quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State Buckeyes lead 24-10 at half. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The Recaps to the important Big Ten football match-ups in week 6 are here.

Another eventful Saturday in Big Ten football provided some clarity in the conference and how it could shake out. An unbeaten Ohio State team grinds out an ugly but good win against a tough Indiana team. An undefeated Maryland team was defeated, showing the cracks in their foundation. Michigan demolishes Rutgers, giving them their second straight shutout.

Big Ten football Game #1:

Final:  Ohio State 38  Indiana 17

For the fourth week in a row, the Ohio State Buckeyes started slowly in the 1st quarter. It’s almost as if the Buckeyes get a good feeling for how their opponents have game-planned against them and then they pull out the stops (no pun intended) and alter their game to take advantage of their opponents.

But Indiana Hoosiers head coach Kevin Wilson had a concrete defensive strategy in store for the Buckeyes. Add in an off day for Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett and this sets up a scenario where coach Urban Meyer had to run the ball to win this one.

It was a lackluster victory, but the Buckeyes are still undefeated.

The Buckeyes ran the ball 50 times for 290 yards (5.8 yard average). Barrett had 26 carries for 137 yards (5.3 average).

On a key 4th down at the Buckeyes 4 yard line, the Ohio State defense came up big and held the Hoosiers and forced them to turn the ball over on downs.

The game was locked up when Ohio State safety Malik Hooker picked off an Indiana pass late in the 4th quarter. That is Hookers 4th Interception of the season.

Ohio State face their toughest challenge of the season as they take on Wisconsin (ranked 11) on the road. Indiana faces another tough team in Nebraska (ranked 12) at home.

Big Ten football Game #2:

Oct 8, 2016; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) runs with the ball during their game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Points Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Final: Michigan 78   Rutgers 0

Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines were well prepared for a Rutgers Scarlet Knight team in prime-time.

After the Scarlet Knights were shut out by the Ohio State Buckeyes last week 58-0, Harbaugh went into this game trying his best to “one-up” the Buckeyes by handing Rutgers their second straight shutout.

Michigan dominated this game from start to finish, showcasing the number 4 ranked Wolverines’ offensive AND defensive prowess against a Rutgers team that never stood a chance.

Jabrill Peppers continued his versatile play-making on offense (2 TD runs) and defense as well.

Simple to say that the Big Ten is a two-team race between these Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes, just as it was in years past.

Big Ten football Game #3:

Oct 8, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

Final: Maryland 14   Penn State 38

Penn State coach James Franklin had his team ready for this homecoming game in Happy Valley.

Penn State dominated this game throughout, and kept the Terrapins scoreless in the 2nd half.

When assessing this game, it was assumed that a 4-0 team (Maryland Terrapins) would do well against a 3-1 team (Penn State Nittany Lions). What this writer forgot to really analyze was strength of schedule.

In Maryland’s toughest matchup of the season (until today) versus UCF (63rd in Sagarin’s ratings) — they’re the only team the Terps had faced in the top 100 (Purdue is 114th, FIU is 171st, and Howard is 235th)—and that game saw their worst offensive and defensive performances, numbers-wise (save turnovers), and went to 2 OT and the Terps escaped with a 30-24 victory.

More from Scarlet and Game

But today Maryland’s inability to produce – both offensively AND defensively – was very much made obvious by the Nittany Lion squads.

The Maryland defense was porous and the spread-option was working well for Penn State sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley, who has led the Big Ten in passing and is a dual-threat quarterback.

He passed for 152 yards and ran for 81 more in this game that proved to be an exercise in futility for Maryland’s head coach DJ Durkin.

Penn State improves to 4-2 and Maryland loses ground to 4-1, with their more difficult games yet to come. They still have to face Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Ohio State.

Penn State heads into a bye-week, as Maryland will face off against a 3-2 Minnesota team that should be an even match-up.

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