Big Ten football is back! While most Hoosiers were watching IU pull off the upset over No. 8 Penn State in Bloomington, the rest of the conference played its first games of the season.
Here’s what happened around the rest of Big Ten country.
Illinois vs No. 14 Wisconsin:
In the first game of the delayed Big Ten season, No. 14 Wisconsin handily defeated Illinois 45-7 in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers looked to have completely reinvented their offense with former star running back Jonathan Taylor in the NFL.
Enter Graham Mertz, a redshirt freshman quarterback for the Badgers who completed 20 of 21 passes for 248 yards and five touchdowns in the win. The days of Wisconsin being a run-heavy offense, as well as the days of injured senior quarterback Jack Coan starting for the Badgers, look to be a thing of the past.
Seeing Wisconsin run a more modern offense will be weird, but with Mertz at the helm and this group of receivers helping him out, it makes a lot of sense for them to focus more on the passing game like they did Friday night against Illinois.
Nebraska vs No. 5 Ohio State:
Back on the field for the first time since falling to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl, the No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes took care of business at home against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 52-17.
This game started out way more competitive than most expected. The Buckeyes, entering the game as 27-point favorites over the Huskers, gave up a 75-yard, 1 minute and 51 second touchdown drive capped off by an Adrian Martinez touchdown run to give the Huskers an early 7-0 lead.
While Nebraska kept it tight into the second quarter and trailed by just 10 at halftime, Ohio State blew them out in the second half, outscoring Nebraska 28-3.
The Buckeyes’ junior quarterback and Heisman hopeful, Justin Fields, was the team’s leading rusher and passer, going 20 for 21 for 276 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while adding 54 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
The Buckeyes will head to Penn State next week in one of their biggest tests of the abbreviated season.
Rutgers vs Michigan State:
For the first time since 2017, Rutgers won a Big Ten conference football game, defeating Michigan State 38-27 in East Lansing, Michigan. In 2019, the Scarlet Knights lost 27-0 to Michigan State, and Saturday's game was their first win over the Spartans since joining the Big Ten in 2014.
Rutgers was led by its defense, forcing a whopping seven Michigan State turnovers on the day, giving new quarterback and Nebraska transfer Noah Vedral’s offense plenty of scoring opportunities. Vedral threw for 169 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his Scarlet Knights debut.
The Scarlet Knights’ five touchdowns against the Spartans nearly matched their total of six during all of Big Ten play in 2019. The game was also the first for both head coaches, Michigan State’s Mel Tucker and Rutgers’ Greg Schiano, who returned to the school after coaching Rutgers from 2000 through 2011.
Rutgers is scheduled to host IU next week in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Iowa vs Purdue:
For the first time in the Jeff Brohm era and since 2016, Purdue won their opening game of the season, defeating Iowa 24-20 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Brohm, however, was not on the sidelines for this game due to a positive COVID-19 test earlier in the week.
The Boilermakers were also without star wide receiver Rondale Moore, who was ruled out for the game on Friday for undisclosed reasons. Neither loss held back the Boilermakers, who were bolstered by a massive game from reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, David Bell. The sophomore receiver from Indianapolis caught 13 passes for 121 yards and all three of Purdue’s touchdowns, including the game-winner.
The Boilermakers will look to continue their winning ways next week against Illinois in Champaign, Illinois.
Maryland vs Northwestern:
The Northwestern Wildcats destroyed the Maryland Terrapins, 43-3, thanks to a huge game from a familiar face to Hoosiers fans. Northwestern redshirt senior quarterback and former IU starter Peyton Ramsey made his debut after transferring in the offseason. Ramsey threw for 212 yards and one touchdown, as well as rushing for 47 yards and one touchdown.
Northwestern’s defense did not give up a single point to Maryland after its opening drive resulted in a field goal. Maryland also started a new transfer at quarterback in former Alabama quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who threw for just 94 yards and three interceptions in his first game.
The win for Northwestern was the 100th career victory for head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
No. 18 Michigan vs No. 21 Minnesota:
After hosting ESPN’s College GameDay and ABC’s Saturday Night Football, the No. 21 Minnesota Golden Gophers fell to the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines, 49-24. The Wolverines keep the Little Brown Jug, the matchup’s trophy, extending their winning streak in the rivalry to three and their all-time series lead to 76-25-3.
First-time starting quarterback Joe Milton made an impressive debut in the blue and maize, throwing for 225 yards and one touchdown on 15 for 22 passing. Milton also contributed 52 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
The Gophers had an impressive day on the ground from Mohamed Ibrahim, who ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns. However, an uncharacteristically down game from junior quarterback Tanner Morgan, who threw for 197 yards, one touchdown and had two turnovers derailed the Gophers’ offense.
Michigan will face Michigan State on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff next week, while Minnesota is set to take on Maryland on Friday night.
