Bilo's College Football Week 4 PASS/FAIL Report: Big 10

It was a seriously mixed bag in Big 10 play in week 4. Wisconsin's hammering of Michigan State on the road was a pleasant surprise for Badger fans, but Michigan is still putting on a dominant show, destroying Penn State in the conference opener. Iowa struggled once again, Indiana showed their true colors in a non con loss, and although we give Minnesota a pass this week, the Gophers still looked vulnerable in a win over Colorado State out of conference. Here are the final week 4 grades for the Big 10:

Big 10

PASS: Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, Purdue

Michigan rolled up to 515 yards of offense, including 326 yards rushing, and have now won 7 of 8 against Penn State. The Wolverines are also now 33-2 in their last 35 Big 10 openers. Michigan led 28-0 at the half on the way to a 49-10 win.

Corey Clement rushed for 2 TDs in a moderate performance returning from injury, and the Wisconsin defense just dominated all day long in a shocking 30-6 win at Michigan State. Wisconsin held the Spartans to just 2 FGs, and ran a shut out in the 2^nd half in the win.

Tommy Armstrong passed for 246 yards, and ran for another 132, and Nebraska avoided a letdown after their win over Oregon last week in a 24-13 win over offensively bankrupt Northwestern.

Rodney Smith rushed for 2 of Minnesota’s 4 rushing TDs, and the Gophers held off a determined Colorado State team 31-24 at home.

Purdue held Nevada to just 68 yards rushing, and came up with a huge INT in the 4^th in the end zone to hold off Nevada 24-14 at home. Nevada had been averaging over 200 yards rushing per game entering the day.

FAIL: Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, Northwestern, Indiana

Iowa needed a 4^th quarter Akrum Wadley TD run to defeat Rutgers 14-7. The Iowa offense is now averaging just 17.5 points per game in their last two games, and looks like they could be ready for a collapse as their Big 10 schedule gets tougher.

After loading up on Notre Dame in a win last week, the Spartan offense fell of the grid in a 30-6 loss to Wisconsin in East Lansing. Tyler O’Connor tossed 3 picks with no TDs in the loss.

James Franklin is now 0-6 against ranked teams as head coach at Penn State, and the Nittany Lions were shut out at half time before falling 49-10 to Michigan in their Big 10 opener. The 49 points allowed are the most ever by Penn State to Michigan.

Clayton Thorson tossed two picks on the day, and the Northwestern offense, despite moving the ball at times, is still struggling to score points after a 24-13 loss to Nebraska to open Big 10 play with a loss.

Richard Lagow tossed 5 INTs, and Indiana allowed Wake Forest to jump out to a 17-0 lead before rallying to only fall short in a loss to Wake Forest, the Hoosiers’ first loss of the season. This is usually the point where the wheels fall off the wagon for Indiana, who takes on Michigan State next week.