Bilo's College Football PASS/FAIL Reports Week 5: Big 10

It was not the most glorious of weeks in Big 10 play in week 5. Michigan looked mortal against Wisconsin, missed 3 FGs, and had to mash out a 14-7 win over the Badgers. Nebraska needed a 21 point 4th to beat Illinois. Ohio State unleashed pure destructive fire on Rutgers, and Maryland looked like an NFL team playing Purdue. Iowa lost again, and now it looks like the Buckeyes are in complete control in the Big 10 race. Here are the week 5 grades:

Big 10

PASS: Ohio State, Nebraska, Indiana, Northwestern, Maryland, Penn State

Ohio State is now unmistakable as the best team in the Big 10 after their 58-0 romp over former assistant Chris Ash and Rutgers. The Buckeyes scored 45 points in 2 quarters in the win.

Nebraska gets a pass despite needing 21 points in the final quarter to take out Illinois this week. Terrell Newby rushed for 2 TDs in the win for the Huskers, who remain undefeated.

Indiana came back late, drove the game into OT, and defeated Michigan State at home, snapping a 7 game losing streak to Sparty. Indiana won just their 3^rd OT game all-time.

Northwestern has to be the most frustrating team in the conference, beating the other most frustrating team, Iowa, 38-31, for their best offensive showing of the season. Clayton Thorson passed for 3 TDs in the win for the Wildcats, and that win was a must get for them at this point after a horrible start to the season.

DJ Durkin may be on my list for both Big 10 and national coach of the year right now after the Terps blasted Purdue 50-7. Ty Johnson rushed for 204 yards on just 7 carries, and the defense held Purdue to just 10 yards rushing on the day.

Penn State was also a team on must win alert, and they got one in OT over Minnesota. Trace McSorley passed for one TD and rushed for another, and Penn State’s late score in regulation prevented Minnesota from walking out with a win they thought they had with less than a minute remaining when they scored last.

FAIL: Rutgers, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State, Iowa, Purdue, Minnesota

Rutgers completed just 3 passes on the day in a 58-0 loss to Ohio State. Rutgers also rushed for just 2.2 yards per carry, and finished the game with just 116 yards total. Rutgers is bad. The end.

Wisconsin failed to generate enough offense to sustain their defense’s wonderful day against Michigan in a 14-7 loss. The Badgers finished with just 159 yards and 8 1^st downs on the day in a 14-7 loss.

Michigan fails because they literally tried everything they could do to hand the Badgers the win, including missing 3 FGs on the day and tossing an INT that set the Badgers up nicely. Michigan, who ran the ball very well last week, was held to just 3 yards per carry this week.

Illinois imploded while on their way to upsetting Nebraska this week, and gave up 21 unanswered points in the final quarter to fall to just 1-3 under Lovey Smith. This is not what one expected when he was hired.

Michigan State started the season uninspired in a near disaster against Furman. The lack of energy continued this week as the Spartans completely folded late in a loss in OT to Indiana. Sparty is now just 2-2, and one has to think that they will not have enough to beat Michigan or Ohio State this season.