While Finebaum is a master of affect, he’s right, even if it is only Week 3. “We had to be able to run the football; we were able to do that”.
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The sample of major, inter-conference matchups is small.
What a time it is to be the Big Ten.
The conference scored victories over Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Oregon. Nebraska beat Oregon. Wisconsin beat LSU.
Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore (2) gets his hands on a pass intended for Oklahoma wide receiver A.D. Miller, rear, but can’t hold on, on an incomplete pass during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.
Maurice Hurst doesn’t show up in the box score for either block by the 6-foot-6 Wormley, but the 6-2 defensive tackle felt like he was part of the accomplishment as an interior lineman on the play. This Michigan State program isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. Wisconsin has a brutal stretch coming up. They’re certainly off to a good start. Nebraska has looked interesting. “We started out like this past year and ended up winning a Big Ten Championship”. I understand the Iowa Hawkeyes lost to a Carson Wentz-less North Dakota State team in Iowa City, but you don’t win championships because of one player, and North Dakota State clearly has enough pieces to contend for another FCS title.
The first half of the match saw both teams on an equal playing field as they were even on shots (3) and shots on goal (1). Though there isn’t really a “statement” win among them. The concentration of power remains in the West Division, especially since Texas A&M and Arkansas own quality wins over UCLA and TCU, respectively. The Badger staff pulled Houston and inserted the redshirt freshman Hornibrook in the third quarter last week vs. Georgia State.
This is still a deep conference. Wisconsin and Michigan State play next weekend in East Lansing in a battle of what will surely be two top-10 teams.
The Michigan Wolverines enter this contest having won 10 of their last 13 home games. “But it’s better to have one early than to not have one at all”. There’s nothing to gain from scheduling potentially losable games against non-Power 5 teams in September. The rest of the conference is a muddle. “So we got it, let’s get healthy we’ve got a few guys banged up and let’s get a little better”. He’s tied for the Big Ten’s lead in receptions (18), leads the conference in total receiving yards (317), and receiving yards per game (105.7). Nike U has been near the top of college football universe since just before Chip Kelly got there, and frankly, Nebraska has been about as consistent as the weather in the Great Lakes during the fall.
Stanford has looked solid in wins over Kansas State and USC. It will directly impact the selections of the College Football Playoff committee, which must decide which league champion-or two-will wind up on the outside looking in when bids are released December 6. The conference has, thus far, lived up to its billing. They are 1-4 against Top 25 opponents. Will this be the week Wolverine All-American corner Jourdan Lewis plays for the first time after dealing with injury?
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But Ohio State wasn’t the only one. At the bottom, Kansas lost by double-digits to OH at home and by 36 at Memphis. West Virginia and Baylor are undefeated but neither have played anyone.
