What is it that they say about the quiet ones? A weekend that was lacking for marquee matchups featured chaos and unpredictability throughout the country. And the Midwest was not spared.
After a week of takes on "James Franklin wins what he should but cannot win the big game" ,,, the Penn State head coach decided to pull a "hold my beer." Penn State was shocked by previously winless and hapless UCLA in a 42-37 defeat. Less than two weeks after firing their head coach and DC, and four days after firing their OC, the Bruins moved the ball up and down the field on a lethargic Lions defense, and the Penn State offense took too long to get in the game. At 3-2, and starting down needing to win out to keep it's all-in season alive, is this the beginning of the end for James Franklin in State College?
Our game of the week lived up to the hype for three quarters, but Nebraska was able to clamp down in the fourth and pull away from Michigan State in a 38-27 victory. After an opening drive TD and a blocked punt TD made it 14-0, the Huskers' offense was stuck in first gear until late in the third quarter. But their defense held Michigan State to 242 yards of total offense. Did this game cement their status as a contender in the Big Ten?
A week after getting stifled by Ohio State, Washington was mired in another sloggy road trip, trailing Maryland 20-0 late in the third quarter. But three fourth-quarter TD drives later, the Huskies escaped College Park with a 24-20 win. What is the team capable of now that it has proven it can win on the road? And after a September to remember, can Maryland buck past October/November stumbles and find two more wins to reach bowl eligiblity?
In West Lafayette, Purdue and Illinois traded touchdowns but the Illini pulled ahead late in a 43-27 win. Further north on Lake Michigan, Northwestern exploded on offense and shut down UL-Monroe's potent rush attack in a 42-7 win. At Big Noon, Wisconsin started strong early, sputtered otherwise, and Luke Fickell appeared to wave the white flag late in a 24-10 Michigan victory.
Notre Dame took another step forward on defense, intercepting Maddux Madsen 3 times in a 28-7 win. And Ohio State cruising against Minnesota, 42-3, and further establishes itself as the team to beat nationally.
In the MAC, Ball State stunned defending champ Ohio, while Akron shocked Central Michigan. Miami's defense continued its excellence in a win against NIU, while Western Michigan outlasted UMass, and Buffalo survived an upset-minded Eastern Michigan in OT.
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