There’s just one remaining undefeated team in the Big Ten, and the race for both divisions are still up for grabs as we head down the home-stretch. Phil Harrison gives you five things we learned about Big Ten football last week.
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5. Michigan really is the Leaders and Best in the B1G
Remember when Ohio State was a freight train running down-hill? That was three weeks ago, and now that train has some sparks flying underneath as the brakes are pumped to give way to the Michigan Wolverines.
Quite simply put; Michigan has played better than any team in the league. The defense has been out of this world, Jabrill Peppers is showing up everywhere, and the offense is scoring points in bunches.
The only semi-scare anyone has put into the Maize and Blue is Wisconsin a couple weeks back, but that was more because of missed opportunities by Michigan than anything else.
Jim Harbaugh hasn’t won a championship in anything aside from Twitter yet, but that could change very soon.
4. Ohio State has some B1G problems on offense
Ohio State won — but this hardly looks like an offense prepared to face Michigan in four weeks https://t.co/8UuoHhLtpt
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) October 29, 2016
I can’t remember the last time I saw an Urban Meyer coached team regress throughout the season, but that is exactly what we seem to be seeing this year.
The Buckeyes have still been able to grind out wins on the road at Wisconsin and this past weekend at home to Northwestern, but the warts being displayed caught up with them in Happy Valley.
The defense has still been more than formidable, but with no consistent threat down the field, teams are beginning to load up to stop the running game and having success.
The Buckeyes need to look at ways to change things up either schematically or with personnel, or their arch-rival is going sail off with the Big Ten East division championship.
3. Nebraska’s almost B1G statement
Going into last weekend, nobody was ready to jump on the ‘Husker wagon largely because of some suspect wins in a room full of mediocre competition.
That changed quickly Saturday as Nebraska got to experience all that that Mad-Town has to offer, where the Badgers rarely drop games — especially at night.
However … Nebraska showed up for the concert and nearly pulled it out despite all the adversity that comes with going on the road in such a hostile environment. Maybe the Cornhuskers really are a threat to the West crown, and maybe, just maybe Ohio State needs to be ready to rock in the ‘Shoe next week.
2. Wisconsin stays in the B1G West race
On that note, with the ink drying on yet another classic in Madison, the Badgers finally … mercifully, finished off that brutal five-game stretch in the conference that had Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, and Nebraska in succession.
Taking all things into consideration, finishing that stretch at 3-2 is just what the doctor ordered because the two losses were to East division teams, and Wisconsin has everything in front of it if Nebraska loses just one more time bu way of the head-to-head tiebreaker.
As long as Bucky doesn’t exhale and think the schedule will be wrapped in a neat bow now, it can still make it to Indy, and if things break correctly, maybe further beyond that.
2. Penn State is in the midst of a B1G improvement
Just who is this Penn State team?
Left for dead just before Ohio State came for a visit, the Nittany Lions have come off the mat to be a contender in the league now. First the shocker against Ohio State, and then the 62-point outburst on the road in West Lafayette says this team is getting much, much better.
Don’t look now, but the schedule is relatively soft the rest of the way. Add that to the fact that Penn State is getting healthier, and that Trace McSorley is starting to figure things out and it’s time to keep an eye on Happy Valley going forward.
Unfortunately the Nittany Lions need Michigan to lose a couple of times, but funnier things have happened. Finding a way to get even a tie for the division crown would go a long way towards rebuilding things at the base of Mount Nittany.
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Phil Harrison is a frequent contributor to The Student Section. He is also a featured contributor to collegefootballews.com, and talking10.com. You can follow him on twitter @PhilHarrisonCFB or email him at pharrison28@gmail.com. If that doesn’t work, you can find him in the doghouse at home.
