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Key Big Ten Games Week 8: Effect on the Conference
Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Garrett Sickels (90) sacks Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The Recaps to the important Big Ten football match-ups in week 8 are here.
With three marque match-ups in the Big Ten on Saturday, focus was on Nebraska as they were trying to remain undefeated again against a seemingly average Purdue team. Wisconsin went into Iowa City to face their rivals in a historic battle for the “Heartland Trophy.” In the prime-time game, Ohio State traveled to Happy Valley and the infamous “White-out” for an important game on the road in a very tough environment with wind and rain affecting both teams.
Big Ten football Game #1:
Final: Ohio State 21 Penn State 24
For the fourth straight week the Ohio State Buckeyes started off slow (managed just 61 yards) and struggled in the passing game in the 1st quarter. While the running game seamed to work ok during the 1st quarter, the Penn State Nittany Lions ratcheted up the defensive pressure on Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett whose offensive line fared poorly against the relentless pressure, even when they rushed just four defenders.
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer is well-known for his half-time adjustments to game situations. With the passing game working well in the 2nd quarter and Barrett seeming to get in a groove, the Buckeyes were up 12-7 at the half and had led the entire first half. What occurred is that Penn State head coach James Franklin devised a very good 2nd half game plan, which involved constant pressure on Barrett.
The plan worked to perfection, as the Nittany Lions were able to disrupt both the read-option and the passing game with this strategy. The Lions had five sacks in the 2nd half and consistently rushed Barrett to make throws that were risky and many times early in the route.
Meyer could not find an answer to the Lions defensive pressure, save for a read-option rush by Curtis Samuel which went for 74 yards and a touchdown. After that play the Buckeyes didn’t have an answer for Penn State which sealed off 17 straight points to send Ohio State home with their first road loss in the Urban Meyer era that spanned 20 straight games.
The true turning point came late in the fourth quarter with Ohio State up 21-17. With a truly uncharacteristic call to try a 45-yard field goal with a little more than 4 and a half minutes remaining in the game, Tyler Durbin’s kick was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Penn State cornerback Grant Haley.
That put the Nittany Lions up 24-21 with just 4:23 left for the Buckeyes to score and either win the game or force overtime. But another well-covered kickoff by Penn State kept the Buckeyes offense deep in their own territory starting the drive on the 12 yard line.
Ohio State had to scratch and claw for yardage from that point forward, with Penn Sate changing defensive looks and at times bringing a corner or safety blitz. Barrett scrambled and slipped a few tackles, but eventually the pressure was too much for the offensive line and quarterback J.T. Barrett.
He was sacked twice in the last 1:07 and turned the ball over on downs and severely damaged Ohio State’s playoff hopes as they suffered their first loss.
Big Ten football Game #2:
Oct 22, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Josey Jewell (43) tackles Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) at Kinnick Stadium. The Badgers beat the Hawkeyes 17 to 9. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Final: Wisconsin 17 Iowa 9
The Wisconsin Badgers needed this win to keep their playoff hopes alive, even as after two losses to top 10 teams. As usual the Badgers defense was prolific, holding the Iowa offense to just 236 yards and 9 points.
Senior running back Corey Clement rushed for 134 yards on 35 carries and a touchdown, including a key 34-yard run in the fourth quarter that helped seal the game.
The dominant Wisconsin defense held Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard to 153 yards on 17-of-33 passing, and shut down a Iowa rushing attack that averaged 180 yards per game coming in to just 83 yards (a 3.1 yards-per-carry average).
Big Ten football Game #3:
Oct 22, 2016; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive end Ross Dzuris (88) sacks Purdue Boilermakers quarterback David Blough (11) in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Final: Nebraska 27 Purdue 14
More from Scarlet and Game
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are still at the top of the Big Ten West, after defeating the pesky Purdue Boilermakers and remained undefeated.
And while the Cornhuskers 7-0 start is impressive, they have yet to be truly tested like much of the Big Ten has.
The Huskers were sluggish and less than dominant in the first half, allowing the Boilermakers to head to half-time with a 14-10 lead. But Nebraska head coach Mike Riley made adjustments at the half which effectively shut-out Purdue for the remaining 30 minutes and led to 17 unanswered 2nd half point by the Huskers to seal the win and keep them undefeated.
The Cornhuskers will travel to Madison, WS to take on the Badgers and effectively battle for control of the Big Ten West. It will be the Huskers first big test of this season.
Following that will be a trip to Columbus, OH to take on the Buckeyes. So, Nebraska has much to prove in the next two weeks.
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