Big 10 Weekly: Oregon and Indiana survive with last gasp wins
Nearly a week has passed, but I’ve only just caught my breath from a sensational weekend of action in the Big 10. Two National Championship contenders endured nail-biting fourth-quarter victories, while elsewhere, news broke about the potential demise of one of the most iconic stadiums in College Football, and Dane Brugler unveiled a Big Ten-laden top 50. Let’s dive in.
How do the Ducks measure up as National Championship contenders?
Oregon escaped from a wet and wild Kinnick Stadium with their CFB Playoff hopes intact, in most part due to star QB Dante Moore. While it wasn’t his best performance of the year, when it mattered most, Moore made the big plays.
After losing to Indiana and only beating the Hawkeyes 18-16, a popular question will be, just how good is this version of Dan Lanning’s Ducks? Well, the answer, if you look at it analytically, is an unequivocal ‘pretty damn good’.
First of all, let’s get the obvious out of the way. This Oregon defense is one of the best units in the country. They are 1st nationally in passing defense, allowing only 126.1 yards per game and have given away the fewest explosive plays in the FBS (15). They provide the foundation for the Ducks to thrive, piling pressure on opposition offenses.
However, can Moore and co. play at a similarly high level to supplement this? Against Indiana, the answer was no. They struggled to protect Moore, whose strength is as a pocket passer rather than a scrambler. The fact that they only racked up 18 points against Iowa points to similar struggles.
Not so fast, though. In tough conditions, the Ducks’ offence actually fared ok. They leaned on their defense and controlled the game with a super-efficient ground game. Yes, the points didn’t flow, but the weather dictated a slug fest.
What the game did highlight was Moore’s clutch ability. Midway through the 3rd quarter, Moore broke off a huge, uncharacteristic 49-yd run, helping set up the Ducks for a field goal to take a 15-7 lead. When the Hawkeyes overturned that, Moore engineered a 10-play 54-yard drive for the game-winning 3 points. The highlight of which was a dime to former Alabama receiver Malik Benson.
Moore has an EPA/Play of +0.8 in the final two minutes of games, exactly the type of clutch you QB you need to make a championship run.
Hoosiers continue winning streak with jaw-dropping Cooper grab
It was also a tricky outing for the Indiana Hoosiers, who faced an unexpected bounce-back from Penn State. The Nittany Lions returned to their offensive strength, managing to get Nick Singleton ticking with two touchdowns at over 6 yards per carry.
For Heisman contender Fernando Mendoza, it was a rough day in the pocket. Penn State recorded the most pressures of any team the Hoosiers have faced this year, and got home three times. Dani Dennis-Sutton was a constant menace off the edge.
This result felt more concerning for Indiana than Oregon’s close call in Iowa. The biggest question for the Hoosiers is whether they are ready to compete with SEC talent. Their strength of schedule is middling, and while their Oregon victory remains a highlight, there isn’t much more to be excited about.
With Purdue in the last week, this week’s tilt against Wisconsin looks like the final true test. The Badgers are coming off a stifling victory over Washington, where they managed to slow down the electric Demond Williams Jr. Can they be the ones to upset the Hoosiers’ unblemished record? If they do, will it have long-term implications for their confidence going into the playoffs?
UCLA exploring move away from the Rose Bowl triggers legal fallout
The big non-game news to come out of the Big 10 this week was the developing story in Pasadena, California. The UCLA Bruins are making substantial steps towards leaving the iconic Rose Bowl stadium in favour of moving closer to campus and playing home games at SoFi Stadium.
As recently as Wednesday, a judge denied a restraining order that attempted to prevent the move, and it seems likely the Bruins will push for a relocation. The move makes sense for many reasons. UCLA is averaging around 37,000 fans, which feels rather sparse in the Rose Bowl’s 90,000-capacity. Secondly, there is a significantly greater opportunity for revenue generation, given that SoFi’s luxury suite numbers and premium seating vastly outnumber those of the older stadium.
It’s also likely a big recruiting plus. The younger generation will be familiar with SoFi and its ultra-modern amenities; the flash and pizazz of an NFL stadium are likely a big draw for high schoolers. As iconic as the Rose Bowl is, does that hold much sway in the modern world?
It’s also somewhat symbolic of the broader shift in modern College Football. The lurch from tradition to revenue maximisation, conference realignment and the NIL era have tipped the sport on its head. Now, a venue that has hosted UCLA since 1982 looks set to become another sidelined relic. A shame indeed.
It's a numbers game for the Trojans
Staying in LA, USC made light work of Northwestern. The Trojans’ offense is really ticking. Wide receiver duo Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane both excelled catching passes from Jayden Maiava, and running back King Miller had another impressive night.
However, the biggest story was the admittance of an error by the officiating crew in not spotting the use of the same jersey number by two players at the same position. A fake punt led to a first down when USC substituted punter Sam Johnson for third-string QB Sam Huard, both players donned jersey number 80, and the Wildcats failed to pick up on the trickery.
Had it been on a greater stage with more importance, then Lincoln Riley and co. may not have been so jovial about pulling it off. It will be something that officials and opposing teams will now need to be aware of moving forward.
Brugler’s Top-50 Announced
There is no more influential figure in the NFL Draft sphere than the Athletic’s Dane Brugler, so it’s always worthwhile to keep tabs on his ever-developing Big Board. This week saw the release of his mid-season top 50, and it was packed with Big Ten talent.
Ohio State’s versatile edge/linebacker Arvell Reese was deserving of the top spot. A player who was on very few radars pre-season has been elite at two different positions and looks to have an exciting future at the next level.
Unsurprisingly, Resse is joined by several teammates. These include Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate, Sonny Styles, and Kayden McDonald, only serving to confirm the depth of talent the Buckeyes have on their roster. Despite that, it’s Oregon who have the most top 50 players, six in total, even though Dante Moore is widely expected to return to school next year.
The wide receivers feature prominently, with Makai Lemon and Denzel Boston joining Tate on the list. There’s also a good presence from trench players. Overall, seven schools are represented, with a total of seventeen players, highlighting how the Big Ten and SEC now dominate the College Football landscape.
Looking ahead to Week 12
On paper, there doesn’t look to be much room for shocks in Week 12, which means there undoubtedly will be some; that’s just how things go in college football!
Wisconsin’s trip to Indiana looks like the most obvious trap game, but I still don’t trust the Badgers to put up enough points to give the Hoosiers their first defeat.
Michigan travels to Northwestern as 11.5-point favourites. They need to avoid a slip so they have a chance to knock off Ohio State and become a legitimate playoff contender.
The most intriguing game will be 21st-ranked Iowa travelling to 17th-ranked USC. Can the Trojans’ offense continue to roll against one of the nation’s stronger defenses?
Weekend Fixtures
Minnesota @ Oregon
Wisconsin @ Indiana
Michigan @ Northwestern
Iowa @ USC
Maryland @ Illinois
Penn State @ Michigan State
Purdue @ Washington
UCLA @ Ohio State
Rory-Joe Daniels
NFL & Cfb contributor
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.