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Here is my take on the ranked teams around the Big Ten:
#5 Iowa (3-0) has a very good defense even though they had to replace three starters on the defensive line. They intercepted Indiana QB Michael Pennix three times and Iowa State QB Brock Purdy three times in the first two games beating both the Hoosiers and Cyclones who at the time were both ranked opponents. The question for them is the offense. Outside of the Kent State game, Iowa has not thrown the ball very well and against Iowa State had a tough time running the ball. Running the ball has long been their bread and butter under HC and former OLine guru Kirk Ferentz, so I would expect they will be ok long term even though they have inexperience on the line. How explosive in the passing game will they be is the question.
#6 Penn State (3-0) is the most balanced team and despite the rankings I think is the best team in the Big Ten right now. With wins over ranked Wisconsin on the road and Auburn at home they have good resume wins that legitimizes their team. Offensively they can run and pass and QB Sean Clifford seems more comfortable under new OC Mike Yurcich. With 14 returning starters it was expected the Nittany Lions would have a bounce back year after starting last season 0-5 and that is exactly how the season has started for them. The East Division will be no cake walk including the king at the top in Ohio State. Something to watch is HC James Franklin’s name continuing to be tossed around for the USC Head Coaching job. Will that be a distraction, or will Franklin be able to bury at least for the time being?
#10 Ohio State (2-1) is having their struggles on defense as they have only 4 returning starters and have already taken away playing calling duties from DC Kerry Coombs. In a rare loss at home their defense was man handled by a new look Oregon Ducks team. Offensively however the Buckeyes continue to put up big numbers even though they are breaking in a new QB in CJ Stroud. OSU is considered to have the best WR Corp in the Big Ten (MD is not too far behind). The RB room may be even deeper but not as experienced. The Buckeyes are simply too good to think that they won’t over time with game experience and more coaching improve at least some on defense. We saw them have their struggles on defense throughout 2018 but it did not prevent them from winning the Big Ten Championship, finishing #6 in the country and 13-1 overall. Until someone knocks them off in the Big Ten, they are still the favorites but right now Penn State looks like a team that could win against OSU.
#18 Wisconsin (1-1) is still ranked in the Top 20 despite the fact they lost at home to ranked Penn State in Week 1, 16-10. Their win was over Eastern Michigan. The Badgers coming off a bye face ranked Notre Dame this weekend in Chicago. The loss to Penn State was a defensive battle royale against a very good offense. The defense which finished in the Top 5 in the country last year returns 8 starters and will likely carry the Badgers this season. QB Graham Mertz can deliver in the air for the Badgers but how productive in the passing game will they be is the question. Wisconsin runs an old school run heavy pro-style offense that has served them well over the years. But the for the first time in a while the offensive line was simply not very good last season. Against Penn State who albeit does have a good defense they struggled again. Mertz threw two picks and while he was 22-37 it was only for 185 yards. He does have a lot of returning talent at WR and TE, thin at RB depth at the moment. The Notre Dame game will be another tough test for the offense as the Irish have a good defense. If they struggle again that could be very problematic going into the bulk of the Big Ten schedule.
#19 Michigan (3-0) appears to have finally fixed the biggest issue on offense next to their revolving door at QB the last few years and that is on the offensive line. The Wolverines are deep at the position and new OL Coach Sherrone Moore has the guys firing on all cylinders. While HC Jim Harbaugh has always preferred a power run game as the primary focus on offense, they seem to be borrowing a page out of the Ravens playbook with some of their formations, personnel, and scheme. The ‘Speed in Space’ passing scheme OC Josh Gattis talked about implementing which still has not come to fruition is becoming a fading memory. The Wolverines are playing bully ball and have run for over 300 yards in each of their first three games. RBs Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins lead the way along with highly acclaimed Fr. Donovan Edwards. Corum has looked especially good and can catch the ball as well. New RBs Coach and former Wolverine Mike Hart was one of the top hires in the country in the off season. The question will be the passing game especially with star WR Ronnie Bell lost for the year due to injury. But with that strong of a running game, it should help QB Cade McNamara on play action. The defense under new DC Mike McDonald is much different with a lot more Zone looks and coverage & blitz disguises. The players have bought in, and opponents see the difference. While they took down a Washington team who was pre-season Top 25, they need still need some games against more quality opponents though to get the country to buy in.
#20 Michigan State (3-0) seems to be ahead of schedule under new HC Mel Tucker who has the unenviable task of taking over a program in a Covid year. The Spartans handily took down a Northwestern team on a Friday night to kickoff the season followed by Youngstown State. They then went into Top 25 ranked Miami and took them out. Now realize Northwestern is rebuilding returning just 7 starters after going to the Big Ten Championship Game last season. Miami looks listless after being blown out by Alabama Week #1 and barely defeating Appalachian State at home the next week. That said though the Spartans deserve a lot of credit and have done pretty much whatever they wanted on offense and defense. They have been balanced on offense and on defense have been very good against the run. Returning starter QB Payton Thorne beat out Temple Graduate transfer Anthony Russo and has looked sharp throwing 9TDs to 0 INTs and a 62.3% completion percentage. Wake Forest transfer RB Kenneth Walker III is averaging 8.0 yards per carry with 493 yards in total. The Spartans have a veteran offensive line and deep WR Corp. The Spartans will get better tests going forward but have a chance to start the season 5-0 before the schedule gets more difficult.
Terps Analyst
Mike Popovec is a Weekend and Fill-In host at 105-7 The Fan. In addition Mike hosts the Pre and Post, Halftime and Scoreboard Updates for the Football Games on the Maryland Terrapins Sports Radio Network. He also hosts the Pre and Post Game Show on weekends for some of the Maryland Basketball Games. Popovec also hosts a local News, Talk and Sports Morning Program at the beach on 92-7 WGMD. He also produces and hosts High School Football Games and Shows throughout the season out of Easton covering the Eastern Shore’s Bayside Conference. He sideline reports for CW54 for the Maryland State High School Football Playoffs with Bruce Cunningham, Doug Duvall and Wally Williams.