What we learned in the Big Ten: Week 8
October 19, 2008
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
1. Separation at the top — The Big Ten lacks an official championship game, but the league title likely will be on the line this week as No. 3 Penn State visits No. 10 Ohio State (ABC, 8 p.m. ET). Both teams took care of the business Saturday, and the Big Ten’s upper crust is clear. Ohio State finally looked like the team many of us thought it would be, outclassing Michigan State in every facet en route to a 45-7 rout. Penn State started slow against Michigan but ignited after halftime to post its eighth victory by 14 points or more. The Lions snapped a nine-game slide against the Wolverines and scored their most points ever against Michigan (46). It sets up an appetizing matchup at Ohio Stadium, where Penn State has never won as a member of the Big Ten.
2. Terrelle Pryor responds to pressure – Even if he’s the one applying it. The Ohio State freshman quarterback told head coach Jim Tressel to bench him if he didn’t move the offense early on against Michigan State. Pryor made Tressel’s decision an easy one, completing 7 of 11 passes and accounting for two touchdowns (one pass, one rush) as the Buckeyes steamrolled the Spartans. There won’t be a two-quarterback system in Columbus, as one Buckeyes player suggested earlier in the week. Pryor is undefeated as the starter and will take this team as far as it can go.
3. Wisconsin is arguably the nation’s biggest disappointment – Clemson makes a pretty strong case for consideration, but the Badgers have completely fallen apart after vaulting into the Top 10 after a win at Fresno State. Wisconsin’s quarterback situation remains unsettled after Dustin Sherer struggled against Iowa, and the Badgers’ senior-laden defense has allowed 86 points the last two weeks. Wisconsin has dropped four straight for the first time since 1996 and will need a major boost to make a bowl game.
4. A league of running backs – No conference in the country boasts a better group of backs than the Big Ten. Five players rank among the top 30 nationally in rushing average, and Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells (123.8 ypg) would rank 10th if he had played in at least 75 percent of his team’s games. Wells and Michigan State’s Javon Ringer generate most of the national buzz, but Iowa’s Shonn Greene has made a strong case to be the league’s top back. Greene exploded for 217 rush yards and four touchdowns against Wisconsin, and Penn State’s Evan Royster also turned in an impressive performance (174 rush yards).
5. Look out for Iowa – After dropping three consecutive games by a combined nine points, the Hawkeyes have found for a cure for their close-game woes — blowouts. Iowa has won its last two games by 36 and 22 points. A protracted quarterback competition hamstrung the team earlier this season, but Iowa will be very dangerous down the stretch. Penn State needs to get through Columbus, but it shouldn’t forget about a trip to Kinnick Stadium on Nov. 8.
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