Chicago Sports Then and Now

Following their win over Michigan, the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes remain number one in the Big Ten power rankings.

#1 Iowa
What more can you say – Iowa defeated Penn State on the road in Happy Valley and they beat Michigan at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.  They are 6-0 on the season and 2-0 in the Big 10.  They have done more than Ohio State and deserve to be ranked ahead of them regardless of personal feelings about the viability of the vaunted Buckeyes.  It doesn’t get any simpler than this.

#2 Ohio State
It was Christmas in October and the good little Buckeyes were the recipients of many gifts on Saturday afternoon.  They came in the form of two interceptions and one kickoff return of 96 yards each for a touchdown or more simply put – 21 points as the Buckeyes defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 31-13 at the horseshoe.  Fah-Lah-Lah-Lah-Lah!

The Badgers owned the turf, out gaining the Buckeyes 368 yards to 184 yards, 22 first downs to 8 for Ohio State.  The Badgers dominated on time of possession 42:47 to 17:13.  They did everything better – except put points on the board.  The Buckeyes came out on top there – and that gave them the game.  Sometimes you just have to be lucky – not better.

Evan Royster and Penn State have won two straight since losing to Iowa.

#3 Penn State
The Nittany Lions truly are unknown because they keep scheduling these patsy teams and it is impossible to tell if they can really play tough when they must.  They lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes in Happy Valley – but they have faced no other truly good team to date.  This week they must face a decent Minnesota team at home.  They should win it but, at least, they will be tested again.  They come in at number 3 but only because no one else has stepped up to prove themselves better!

#4 Wisconsin
The Badgers should be the number 3 team but they lost on Saturday to the Ohio State Buckeyes even though they outplayed them in the Horseshoe.  They gained more ground, had more total yardage, had more first downs, and held the ball longer than the Buckeyes.  But the Badgers self-destructed and gave the game away with interceptions and a 96-yard kickoff return.  Those brief interludes cost the Badgers 21 points and the game.  Shooting yourself in the foot is no way to overcome a Buckeye.

#5 Michigan
Michigan turned the ball over five times.  Iowa’s defense caused most of it – but those turnovers cost Michigan the game.  While Iowa was the better team on the evening, Michigan had their chances to win.  In the end, they could not overcome their own mistakes and their own weakness on defense against Stanzi who threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns.

Eric Decker and Minnesota will look for the upset against Penn State.

#6 Minnesota
The Purdue Boilermakers started out fine in their game at Minnesota. They led 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.  Minnesota was not firing on all cylinders.  But miscues and turnovers cost the Boilers, eventually allowing the Gophers to go ahead 14-10 as the first half concluded.  The third quarter proved to be a disaster as myriad miscues cost the Purdue team 3 touchdowns.   The score ended up at 35-20 in favor of Minnesota who rebounded and found their game in the late going.  It’s going to be a long season in Purdue.  It has already been long enough…

#7 Michigan State
The Michigan State Spartans traveled to Champaign, Illinois on Saturday.  They were taking on the Illini who had yet to win a game in the Big 10.  The Spartans were good enough on the day to spoil homecoming for the Illini.  When the Spartans left on Saturday, the Illini still had not won a game in the Big 10.  It was a dismal outing with Juice Williams sitting on the sideline as Coach Ron Zook tried to instill some fire into the Illinois offense.  Homecoming was sorry and sad…like the football team from Illinois.

#8 Northwestern
The Wildcats stopped the winless Miami of Ohio team with an impressive defense, capitalizing on turnovers to provide scoring opportunities. In the meantime their own offense was flat and ineffective.  The Northwestern team may have been over-confident; but the Cats could have reinforced some better habits than those they displayed on Saturday afternoon.  Next weekend they have to travel to East Lansing to take on the Michigan State Spartans and they will need to do far better than this.

#9 Purdue
It was a tough day at the office for the Boilers – the unluckiest team in the Big 10.  They had things going their way the first quarter and were not positioned too badly at the half.  The third quarter they essentially blew their minds and self destructed on turnovers and missed directions.  It does not improve much as they prepare to host the Ohio State Buckeyes next Saturday.  Will luck ever find its way to West Lafayette?

#10 Indiana
The Virginia Cavaliers laid waste to the Indiana Hoosiers in Charlottesville.  For sure, the lowly offensive team the Hoosiers prepared to meet were no where to be found as the Cavaliers exploded on the field and generated more offense than this team had produced in 5 years.  They blew the Hoosiers away.  No one was more surprised and pleased than Virginia’s coaching staff.  Next week the Hoosiers host Illinois, hoping they can regroup and capture some offensive firepower for the Illini.

#11 Illinois
It is difficult to understand the total impotence of the Illinois team.  They seem to have enough talent to be decent but nothing has unified this team and made them a cohesive whole.  The disparate parts defy the team concept and to win, the Illini have to work as a team. Next week they travel to Indiana where they must win one or their season deteriorates into a complete casualty.

JA Allen is a regular contributor to Sports Then and Now.