B1G Roundup: Week 6

#2 Ohio State 38 - Indiana 17

Key Players

Richard Lagow (QB, Indiana): 14/28 passing, 182 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT

J.T. Barrett (QB, OSU): 9/21 passing, 93 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT & 26 carries, 137 yds, 1 TD

The score doesn’t indicate how much Ohio State’s offense struggled in this one, both due to Indiana now having something that resembles a defense and Tim Beck’s play calling. The Buckeyes offense never got the passing game going as they struggled to nine completions for 93 yards with the lone passing touchdown coming in garbage time. Couple this with Barrett receiving more carries than Curtis Samuel - 9 carries, 82 yards, 1 touchdown - and Mike Weber - 15 carries, 71 yards, 2 touchdowns - and you start to wonder what Beck was thinking. Lucky for him, Ohio State’s defense shut the door after Indiana scored to open the second half. The Hoosiers final six drives ended as follows: punt, punt, punt, turnover on downs, turnover on downs, interception, after traveling -3 yards, 0 yards, 1 yard, 7 yards, 5 yards, and 12 yards, respectively. That’s not a recipe for success. Next week should tell us more about both teams, as Ohio State faces a much tougher defense, and Indiana has another chance at an upset.

Up Next for Ohio State: #8 Wisconsin

Up Next for Indiana: #10 Nebraska

Iowa 14 - Minnesota 7

Key Players

Akrum Wadley (RB, Iowa): 14 carries, 107 yds, 1 TD

The Floyd of Rosedale will stay in Iowa City another year. This was a battle between inaccurate quarterbacks and offenses that don’t know how to put points on the board. C.J. Beathard edged out Mitch Leidner for the title of Less Horrible QB by completing 17 of 31 passes for 142 yards and two interceptions; Leidner added a few more yards with a worse completion percentage: 13 of 33 passing for 166 yards and two interceptions. The Hawkeyes won this game in large part due to the efforts of Wadley, who scored Iowa’s only touchdown on a 54-yard run in the latter half of the fourth quarter. Both teams turned the ball over three times, and both teams will continue to struggle the rest of this season.

Up Next for Iowa: Purdue

Up Next for Minnesota: Maryland

Penn State 38 - Maryland 14

Key Players

Trace McSorley (QB, PSU): 10/19 passing, 152 yds, 2 TDs & 18 carries, 81 yds, 1 TD

Saquon Barkley (RB, PSU): 31 carries, 202 yards, 1 TD

The Nittany Lions served D.J. Durkin his first loss as a head coach behind a powerful running attack. Barkley led the way with his first career 200-yard rushing game after failing to crack 100 yards since the season opener. McSorley played his part as well, accounting for three touchdowns and no turnovers. As for Maryland, they managed just 11 first downs to PSU’s 28, and no Terp tallied more than 76 yards on offense. In the end, Penn State outgained Maryland 372 yards to 170 on the ground, and 524 yards to 270 in total offense. The Terps are undefeated no more and will look to bounce back against a listless Minnesota squad, while the Nittany Lions attempt to find a way to stay competitive against the Buckeyes after their week off.

Up Next for Penn State: Bye

Up Next for Maryland: Minnesota

BYU 31 - Michigan State 14

Key Players

Taysom Hill (QB, BYU): 18/27 passing, 138 yds, 1 TD & 8 carries, 47 yds, 1 TD

Jamaal Williams (RB, BYU): 30 carries, 163 yds, 2 TDs

Sae Tautu (LB, BYU): 6 tackles (3 solo), 2 sacks

The Spartans led 7-3 at halftime, but following a three-and-out to start the third quarter, the Cougars gained possession, scored seven, and never looked back. Michigan State’s offense is an absolute disaster this season, illustrated best by the combined stat line of quarterbacks Tyler O’Connor and Damion Terry: 13/21 passing for 121 yards and 1 interception. Or perhaps the meager rushing output by Gerald Holmes paints a better picture: 15 carries for 57 yards and 1 TD. BYU dominated the second half, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions. On their fifth, they ran out the clock to raise their record to 3-3 and give Michigan State their first losing record since 2012. With their third straight loss - their first three-game losing streak since 2009 - the Spartans are in serious danger of not even qualifying for a bowl game.

Up Next for Michigan State: Northwestern

Purdue 34 - Illinois 31 (OT)

Key Players

David Blough (QB, Purdue): 22/35 passing, 220 yds, 1 TD, 2 INTs & 7 carries, 36 yds, 1 TD

Chayce Crouch (QB, Illinois): 10/14 passing, 142 yards & 17 carries, 137 yards, 2 TDs

Brian Lankford-Johnson (RB, Purdue): 18 carries, 127 yds, 1 TD

I don’t know where to start with this recap, because this game had it all. Illini senior quarterback Wes Lunt left the game in the second quarter following a roughing the passer penalty, and sophomore Chayce Crouch replaced him. He proceeded to lead the Illini to the endzone, capping the drive himself with a 26-yard rushing touchdown. The teams traded points for most of the game, with Purdue leading for most of it. Illinois took a seven-point lead following a successful two-point conversion early in the fourth quarter, but the Boilermakers evened it at 31 on the ensuing drive. With under two minutes remaining, Blough tossed his second interception of the day, giving the Illini possession at their own 47-yard line. They drove 30 yards to set up a 41-yard field goal attempt, but Darrell Hazell wisely saved all three of his second-half timeouts to ice Illini kicker Chase McLaughlin. And it worked. The game went to overtime, Illinois fumbled on the first possession, and Purdue kicker J.D. Dellinger hit a 28-yard field goal to give the Boilermakers the victory.

Up Next for Purdue: Iowa

Up Next for Illinois: Rutgers