Exciting times are upon us within the Big Ten with the conference race heating up. Each week is critical, and each team will have to fight every minute to get the result that it wants. This week there were some evenly matched games while, like every week, there were blowouts.

 

No. 7 Michigan State at Nebraska: Nebraska 39-38
Nebraska has had a tough season all around with both heartbreaking losses and a handful of losses coming by one possession. Things weren’t going to get easier, though, with the number seven team in the country coming to town. Coming off of a bye, Michigan State entered with a perfect 8-0 record and was looking to get to 9-0 and stay in the College Football Playoff conversation.

The Spartans were in control through three quarters up 11, but Nebraska wouldn’t go away. With less than two minutes left in the fourth and Nebraska down 12, quarterback Tommy Armstrong ran for a 1-yard score to give the Huskers a slim chance. Nonetheless, Nebraska got the ball back with 55 seconds left on their own 9-yard line. Armstrong led the Cornhuskers down the field to score a go ahead touchdown. In the end, the Huskers knocked off the undefeated Spartans, 39-38. Armstrong did an incredible job of hanging in there and being the leader on offense down the stretch. Connor Cook had a good performance at the quarterback position for Michigan State, but it just wasn’t enough. Gerald Holmes also had an outstanding night rushing the football for the Spartans, finishing with 117 yards.

Michigan State will look to rebound and have an easy home game against Maryland next Saturday. Nebraska will try to get to five wins on the road against Rutgers next weekend.

 

Minnesota at No. 3 Ohio State: OSU 28-14
The Buckeyes maintained their No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll, but were dropped to No. 3 in the College Football Playoff Poll. Minnesota came into Columbus off of a heartbreaker against Michigan at home the week prior. There wasn’t much excitement in the game, but all eyes were on quarterback Cardale Jones who was starting for the suspended J.T. Barrett. Jones wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t anything special either. He completed 12 of 22 passes and threw for a touchdown, while running back Ezekiel Elliott rushed for a strong 114 and a touchdown.

It was mainly a defensive game throughout, even though there were 42 total points scored. KJ Maye was the top receiver on Saturday and was the target of choice for Minnesota. Ohio State maintains their unbeaten season and will travel to Illinois next Saturday, and the Gophers will be on the road against undefeated Iowa.

 

No. 9 Iowa at Indiana: Iowa 35-27
Another undefeated team was in action on Saturday, but this time it was the Hawkeyes on the road against Indiana. Iowa has been a surprise to a lot of college football fans, but has looked sharp and like the real deal in the Big Ten. On the other hand, the Hoosiers had a promising start to the season starting 4-0, but after this loss to Iowa, they have dropped five straight. They were a play away from being 5-0 and knocking off Ohio State, and now it has been a free-for-all in Bloomington.

Iowa was only up four at halftime and the game was tight from start to end. Indiana running back Jordan Howard had a durable game on the ground by rushing for over 170 yards and two touchdowns. Howard was pretty much the only big play-maker on offense for the Hoosiers. The Iowa running game was balanced with two running backs combining for 198 yards. It was a tough home loss for Indiana but an even bigger road win for the Hawkeyes. Iowa will be home against Minnesota, and Indiana will have another home game against Michigan.

 

 

Also around the Big Ten, Michigan blew out Rutgers 49-16, Illinois routed Purdue 48-14, and Wisconsin escaped a Maryland upset, and defeated the Terps by a touchdown, 31-24.

 

Mike Wszolek is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mewszolek@gmail.com.