Big Ten Power Rankings, Week 13: More than playoffs on the line in Michigan vs. Ohio State
By David Rouben
Even though it was a loss, this was Michigan State’s best game of the season — looking back, wins over Notre Dame and Rutgers are hardly cause for celebration. LJ Scott had the game of his life in getting 236 scrimmage yards and scoring two touchdowns. But while Tyler O’Connor could’ve added to his legacy by beating Ohio State twice, he turned the ball over three times, with two of them coming in the final five minutes of the game.
The defense pressured J.T. Barrett all game long by sacking him three times, and gave the offense a chance to win it at the end. The Spartans proved that records really don’t matter whenever they play Ohio State, and that they are a well-coached team. The decision to go for two wasn’t a bad one, and if it was converted, everyone would be singing Mark Dantonio’s praises.
But coming up short on that conversion and turning the Big Ten on its head has typified the frustration that Spartans fans have endured this year. After nearly knocking them out of the playoffs, Ohio State will need Michigan State to do them a big favor by beating Penn State.
It’s been a frustrating month for the Terrapins so far. Had they not gone perfect during their non-conference slate, they wouldn’t be competing for a bowl game, and against the Big Ten’s elite, they have faltered greatly.
Maryland’s defense made Ryker Fyfe look like an All-American when he completed 23 of his 37 passes, while Terrell Newby couldn’t be stopped in the red zone. Maryland’s high-powered offense also showed how dysfunctional they are without Perry Hills as they have now scored 13 points in the last three weeks. Although D.J. Moore’s lone touchdown was a thing of beauty:
They should still play in a bowl game considering that they’re playing Rutgers in Week 13. But a win over them won’t inspire a lot of confidence, and assuming Hills can’t play, their starting quarterback might not be much better than Gio Rescigno.
Northwestern have been the model of inconsistency this season. A big 3-1 stretch in October vaulted them back into bowl eligibility, and made it look like their offense was one of the best in the conference. Then they played Minnesota and only managed 12 points.
You wouldn’t know it from the score, but they actually outgained the Gophers 339-328. But Clayton Thorson had no semblance of ball control when he fumbled it twice. While the Gophers could only manage three points out of those turnovers, Northwestern didn’t get anything on the board until the second half.
Like Maryland, Northwestern should go bowling given that they play Illinois next week. But through 12 weeks of the season, nobody has a solid grasp over who this team really is.