Big Ten Weekend Preview and Maryland Had Enough

Not the best weekend for match-ups for the Big Ten who was hoping for a top 15 battle between IU and Michigan.  Well, IU lost to OSU last weekend and Michigan got past a struggling Penn State team.  We shall carry on with a non-inspiring weekend of Big match-ups. 

Rutgers @ NW (-16.5): If this was next year, Northwestern would be on the playoff bubble.  They are playing good football at 5-1 and looking to send the 2nd Big Ten coach packing this season.  Northwestern 31 - Rutgers 14

Oregon (-8.5) @ Illinois:  Who is going to QB the Ducks?  What happened to both of these teams this year? Why in Nike's stock down?  Can they make an innovated shoe? Oregon 24 Illinois 21

MSU @ UCLA (-14.5):  UCLA is a team on the rise, with a young coach.  MSU is just the opposite.  UCLA 28 MSU 17

Iowa (-6.5)@ Minnesota:  Both teams beat Michigan, wow it hurts just to think that.  Iowa 21 Minnesota 10 

USC (-3) @ Wisconsin: Maybe the Trojans are playing better when they travel East?  A least this is a night game and in the Central time zone.  Is Wisconsin quietly good?  USC 17 Wisconsin 14

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The Big Ten made one mistake when they expanded.  It was the Rutgers/Maryland wave.  There was no reason for it.  I don't want to hear about the DC and NYC TV markets, neither really care about college football and for sure not the Terrapins and the Scarlet Knights.  Both should be relegated to the ACC. 

Not so ironically, both had head coaches on the hot seat.  Mike Locksley was fired this week and Greg Schiano might be next.

Some names to consider:  Manny Diaz Duke, Brian Hartline USF, Dan Mullen UNLV, Jason Eck New Mexico, and Brian Kelly. 

The only one that makes me laugh is Brian Kelly who would not be motivated to coach Maryland after his runs at ND and LSU.  Jason Eck is a really good coach and Brian Hartline has a ton of upside as a head coach but still learning the role. 

This is funny as IU must have Mr. Miyagi on staff

Wolverine Wednesday: Welcomes New 2027 WR

Michigan Football got a high rising senior commitment from FL WR 3-star Yuto Kawamura-Johnson on Tuesday as he flipped his commitment to the Wolverines from Toledo.  Yuto was planning a visit to Penn State this weekend, but picked the Wolverines first.  ESPN is the highest on Yuto as the 198th WR in the country. 

One reason kids don't get ranked higher originally, is because they haven't seen the field much prior to their senior year and that is the case here.  YKJ is 5'11 and 185 pounds and was starting to see a bunch of new offers come at him.  UK, FAU, UConn, Wake, and Louisville had all recently offered the HS senior that is averaging 24 yards per catch this season.

Welcome! 

Michigan Tuesday: I Don't Know Who Is Starting?

Coach Whitt didn't want to give up who the starter will be against #6 IU this weekend.  This reminds me of a story of a Michigan AD who went on the radio saying he wasn't going to be fired and was fired days later (or quit with a surprising separation package). 

Everyone knows who Coach Whitt's choice is and there were rumors as soon as he took the job that Coach wanted a different QB under center.  I also don't understand how not stating the starter confuses Indiana who clearly also knows that Carr is starting. 

Other News and Notes:

• Zach Marshall is clearly suspended for his leaked group text

• Babalola was dressed last game but has only had a week of practice, we should expect to see him get some snaps at LT soon. 

• I'm wondering if we can start drawing some parallels and conclusions with Bryce and Arch both expected to be benched this weekend.  Being the #1 player in the country as a QB does not guarantee success on the field in college and most definitely does not lead to success in the NFL.   NIL investments needs to come with results instead of potential. 

• 12:30 kick for Michigan @ Rutgers on Halloween

• The 24 team playoffs kills the Bowl Game scrimmages now correct?

• PFF highest rated Big Ten DB in Week 7,  Rod Moore Jr.! 

Michigan Monday: Too Early Look at IU

Before I start on the Too Early, I wanted to fix something I left out of Cheers and Jeers on Sunday. 

Cheers:

• Bryce Underwood acting like a captain and supporting Tommy Carr while he was playing.  He was engaged and celebrating with Tommy after TD's.  That's a class move.  He could've went all Tate Foricier, but didn't.  

After a wild Saturday of upsets, Miami sits a top of the rankings as the reigning National Champs and pretty much everyone else lost on Saturday.

Indiana #6

Best Win: Iowa 

Worst Loss: OSU at home 

Pass: 249 per (75th)

Run: 200 per (29th) 

Give up: 13 (4th)

Score:  36 (25th) 

The turnaround at Indiana has been historic and un-precidented .  IU has been historically one of the worst football programs in the country then Cignetti rolls into town and goes to the CFP in Year 1 and a National Championship in Year 2.  He has ruined the "honeymoon" period for every new head coach at any new job.  (can put Dusty in that sentence as well) 

This team has been so good, they haven't lost a game since the CFP loss to ND in year 1, before they lost to Ohio State on Saturday when Marsh couldn't keep his feet in bounds.  That's how close they were to handing the Buckeyes their 2nd loss.  Now, they roll into the Big House pissed off and a struggling Michigan offense looking them right in the eye.  

As you can see their national numbers are not jumping off the page, but they are playing good defense and giving up less then 2 TD's per game.   The Michigan Defense will have to figure out a way to get off the field and keep this game close. 

• Did we have a JJ sighting on Sunday? 👀

• Blake with another TD, this time receiving!

• Loveland also got his first TD of the year! 

• 24 team playoff, I need to get my head around that. 

• The last time the Chargers were 0-6, Harbaugh was the QB