What better way to celebrate a conference win than by hustling off and jumping into the nearby lake? It’s what Wisconsin strength coach Brady Collins did Saturday after the Badgers’ 23-3 win at Northwestern.
With the Wildcats’ final game on the lakefront behind us (Northwestern plays Ohio State and Illinois at Wrigley Field next month) it got us thinking: Who in the Big Ten is sailing, floating, taking on water and sinking these days?
As the beauty of the lakes throughout Big Ten country continue to shine this fall — and the waves on the West Coast have been a pleasant addition, too — it certainly hasn’t been smooth sailing for everyone. After Saturday’s loss at Maryland, USC has been referred to on X as … Beach Purdue. Ouch. We’ve got all kinds of water jokes this week.
USC left for the Big Ten thinking they’d be like Michigan and Ohio State and it turns out they’re just Beach Purdue
— ANTIFAldo (@ANTIFAldo) October 20, 2024
Every team is trying to stay afloat in this expanded conference, and there have and will continue to be rough seas ahead. Hold on to that last bit of Northeast and Midwest sunshine before the lakes freeze and the chilling reality of missing out on bowl eligibility hits like a late October plunge in the lake.
Sailing
Oregon (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)
Ranked No. 1 for the first time since 2012, the Ducks are waddling toward the Big Ten title game in their first season. A one-point win in a showdown with Ohio State demonstrates that Oregon can compete with anyone along the line of scrimmage. That’s important for a program known mostly for its skill-position players. Dillon Gabriel has stepped in seamlessly at quarterback and thrown for 2,080 yards, 15 touchdowns and completed 77 percent of his passes. This week, Oregon entertains No. 20 Illinois, but there are no ranked opponents on the Ducks’ schedule beyond that. Right now, they are in position to earn the College Football Playoff’s top seed. — Dochterman
Penn State (6-0, 3-0)
Coming off an overtime win at USC followed by a second idle week, we’re about to find out just how good Drew Allar and the No. 3 Nittany Lions are. The offense has been much improved from a year ago and James Franklin’s team looks like it can not only get into the Playoff but make some noise, too. A night game at Camp Randall against a surging Wisconsin team Saturday will be another measuring stick. With a showdown against No. 4 Ohio State on Nov. 2, does Franklin’s team get caught looking ahead this weekend? During this idle week, Penn State’s win against No. 20 Illinois continues looking better for the Playoff resume, while the overtime thriller against USC continues to lose some shine. — Snyder
Ohio State (5-1, 2-1)
Ryan Day’s team entered the season with a roster built to contend for a national championship and the expectation to do so. That all remains true. A one-point loss to Oregon doesn’t get the Buckeyes booted to the floating category, but we’re curious to see how Ohio State responds. Coming off an idle week, we’ll see what, if anything, changes as Ohio State plays Nebraska on Saturday. The Ohio State-Penn State showdown nears, and for the first time in Franklin’s tenure, the Nittany Lions just might have the better quarterback. — Snyder
Indiana (7-0, 4-0)
Through mid-October, Curt Cignetti not only is the coach of the year nationally, but he might also be the coach of the decade. The No. 13 Hoosiers are undervalued in part because of their history, but they are built differently from any team in their past. The Hoosiers rank first in Big Ten total offense (512.7 yards) and scoring offense (a nation-high 48.7 points per game) while ranking second in scoring defense (13.7) and turnover margin (plus-7). Their offensive execution is off the charts, and they play complete defense. A thumb injury for quarterback Kurtis Rourke will keep him out against Washington this week, which bears watching. But this is a legitimate CFP contender. — Dochterman
Illinois (6-1, 3-1)
Quietly, Bret Bielema has built a team capable of winning in just about every facet. The No. 20-ranked Illini have a solid passing game led by quarterback Luke Altmyer and receiver Pat Bryant, a quality running back in Kaden Feagin (who was out against Michigan) and a tremendous defense led by end Gabe Jacas. It’s kind of a house-money season now for the Illini, who already are bowl eligible and have beaten Michigan and Nebraska. But after facing Oregon, Illinois plays four opponents with a combined record of 15-13. This could be a special season. — Dochterman
Floating
Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1)
Credit Luke Fickell and staff for keeping this team together when it looked like the Badgers were staring at a lost season. Winning with a backup quarterback isn’t easy, and during this three-game win streak, Wisconsin has been downright dominant, outscoring opponents 117-16. The opponents have been struggling Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern — and it hasn’t always been pretty — but the Badgers now find themselves with a path to bowl eligibility.
Wisconsin doesn’t have the quick-strike ability to keep up with a team like No. 3 Penn State this weekend. But, the defense and special teams coupled with a rowdy home crowd just might make this one interesting. — Snyder
Wisconsin strength coach Brady Collins promised the Badgers he would jump in Lake Michigan if they won.
He is a man of his word. pic.twitter.com/5PLZSnZG5N
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) October 19, 2024
Nebraska (5-2, 2-2)
The Huskers are the only power-conference team not to play in a bowl game since 2016. This is probably their best team since that nine-win season despite what transpired Saturday in Bloomington. Although true freshman Dylan Raiola looked shaken in that 56-7 loss, Nebraska has enough pieces on offense and the guts of a decent defense to get to at least six wins. But the Huskers aspire for more, so how quickly they forget about the Indiana defense (and the likely pounding at Ohio State) will help reaffirm the growth they experienced in September. — Dochterman
Michigan State (4-3, 2-2)
The Big Ten did Michigan State no favors with a four-game stretch that included games against CFP contenders Ohio State and Oregon within six days followed by matchups against 2023 Big Ten title game contestants Iowa and Michigan. It appeared overly daunting with new coach Jonathan Smith and more than 40 departures through the transfer portal. A run of turnovers and injuries kept the Spartans from competing with the Buckeyes and Ducks. But in a 32-20 win against Iowa, Michigan State put everything together with a dominant performance up front and a breakout effort by quarterback Aidan Chiles. — Dochterman
Iowa (4-3, 2-2)
For three years, discussion has swirled that if the Hawkeyes could just put out an average offense, they could compete for the top 10. Well, Iowa finally has an average offense (with an elite running back in Kaleb Johnson) but the defense has wilted despite retaining five sixth-year starters from 2023. It has led to maddening inconsistencies with great second halves against Minnesota and Washington, terrible second halves against Iowa State and Ohio State, and Iowa’s worst overall game at Michigan State. — Dochterman
Minnesota (4-3, 2-2)
The Gophers have played only one bad half (in a 31-14 loss to Iowa) this fall, but otherwise, they’ve competed in every game. Before their recent bye, the Gophers held off an improving UCLA in Pasadena after upsetting USC at home. New defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman has guided Minnesota to No. 2 in Big Ten total defense (262.4). With a solid core of talent at key positions — quarterback (Max Brosmer), running back (Darius Taylor), wide receiver (Daniel Jackson) and left tackle (Aireontae Ersery) — the Gophers have growth potential on that side of the ball. — Dochterman
Maryland (4-3, 1-3)
I’m giving in to recency bias — as in one dramatic, come-from-behind win against sinking USC — and placing the Terps in this category. For one week only. Those fans storming the field were floating. Regardless of how the rest of this season goes, that 29-28 win against the Trojans is a moment to savor. QB Billy Edwards Jr. is averaging 301.9 passing yards per game — top in the Big Ten — and has completed 70.1 percent of passes. Now, the flip side is the Terps have issues running the ball, and by the end of the year will they maybe, finally show notable progress under Mike Locksley? — Snyder
WE GOT A FIELD STORM IN MARYLAND ⚡️🔥@TerpsFootball pic.twitter.com/vLhpZWnqOr
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 19, 2024
Taking on water
Washington (4-3, 2-2)
After losing 20 starters, watching their head coach leave and switching conferences, no team faced more challenges than the Huskies. But they picked up quality players in the portal and coach Jedd Fisch is a keeper. Washington gained a measure of revenge (at least for the few returnees and fan base) by beating Michigan in a rematch of January’s CFP championship. But following up that victory with a 40-16 loss at Iowa shows the up-and-down nature of this season. With so many moving parts, the Huskies are set for a similar second half. — Dochterman
Rutgers (4-3, 1-3)
Remember when the Scarlet Knights were 4-0 with wins against Virginia Tech and Washington? Saturday was the lowest of this three-game losing skid as UCLA — an offense that entered the game as one of the worst in the country — carved up Rutgers for 478 yards. The Bruins’ pass catchers had a whopping 223 yards after catch. Rutgers has much to think about on the cross-country flight to USC this week as a Friday night game that kicks at 11 p.m. ET awaits. — Snyder
Northwestern (3-4, 1-3)
This is a program where I wouldn’t invoke any form of recency bias. It’s difficult to get a read on the Wildcats, who swamped Maryland 37-10 two weeks ago and then gained 209 yards in a 23-3 home loss to Wisconsin. Northwestern had only 10 first downs against the Terrapins, but with help from four turnovers, turned that game into a laugher. Outside of a trip to Purdue in two weeks, Northwestern has a challenging schedule and will need good fortune and a healthy turnover margin to become bowl eligible. — Dochterman
UCLA (2-5, 1-4)
Sure, the Bruins could be in the sinking category, but let’s give them a little love after picking up their first win in the Big Ten. The expectations headed into the year were bleak. The jet-setters who are traveling the most miles this season of any Big Ten team (22,048 to be exact) had to go coast-to-coast for two games in the last three weeks. QB Ethan Garbers accounted for 431 of the Bruins’ 478 yards of total offense in the 35-32 win against Rutgers. — Snyder
Sinking
USC (3-4, 1-4)
Year 3 for Lincoln Riley has yielded disastrous results. The Trojans have led in the fourth quarter of each of their four losses. Each time, they’ve managed to bottom out. Last week it was in overtime against Penn State, this week it was losing late on the road to Maryland. USC has a talented quarterback and skill position players. It has who is supposed to be one of the brightest up-and-comers in the industry in defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. And yet, the Trojans are a mess up front on both sides, and special teams have been problematic, too. Riley said he doesn’t know why his team can’t win close games, and that precisely tells us all we need to know about how bad this season has gone for a team that entered the year with Playoff aspirations. — Snyder
Michigan (4-3, 2-2)
When the home team is blasting “Mr. Brightside” late in the game to troll you, it’s never a good sign for the visitors. Forget about trying to run it back or even make the Playoff, the defending national champs are quite flawed. Michigan ranks 16th in the conference in total offense, 10th in total defense and is tied for last with a turnover margin of minus-7. All the offseason questions about what the ceiling looks like at quarterback continue to play out. Savor the memories from last season and don’t look ahead to that brutal schedule in November (versus Oregon, at Indiana, at Ohio State). — Snyder
Sunk
Purdue (1-6, 0-4)
Where to begin? The Boilermakers rank last in Big Ten scoring defense (38.4 points per game) and 16th in scoring offense (20.3). They’re last in the league in total defense (451.6 yards per game) for second-year coach Ryan Walters, who was hired because of his defensive coaching prowess. Walters fired offensive coordinator Graham Harrell four weeks into the season and the former Illinois defensive coordinator turned head coach is now calling offensive plays for Purdue. Ironically, if there’s a power-conference school that’s grounded in football, it shouldn’t be the one that trains astronauts. — Dochterman
(Top photo of Illinois defensive back Matthew Bailey: Ron Johnson / Imagn Images)
