Big Ten Recap - Week 11

The biggest headline of this past weekend of Big Ten football play can be skipped over in this recap, having received enough coverage elsewhere. In other news, Wisconsin held on for a major win over Iowa to end a two-game skid and keep their hopes alive in the Big Ten West. Illinois won their fourth-straight game in conference play as they went into East Lansing and firmly put the Spartans on the bowl-eligibility bubble. I’d imagine Mark Dantonio’s seat is pretty warm right now. Another game-winning field goal by Purdue kept their post-season hopes alive, while sending Northwestern to the unenviable position of better than Rutgers, but worse than any other team in the conference.

Scoreboard

Ohio State 73, Maryland 14

Minnesota 31, Penn State 26

Wisconsin 24, Iowa 22

Illinois 37, Michigan State 34

Purdue 24, Northwestern 22

Major Storylines

- Antoine Winfield Jr. came up with the two most important plays of the game as the Golden Gophers upset the Nittany Lions in Minnesota. In addition to his 2 interceptions, the sophomore defensive back had 11 tackles. Penn State tried beating him with size and speed, but Iowa may just want to issue a no-fly zone and attack Minnesota’s defense somewhere else. He and Rashod Bateman (finished with another 200+ yard receiving day) two of the best players in the conference - and their both sophomores.

- It’s no surprise than Jonathan Taylor had to put the Badgers on his back to come away with the win over the Hawkeyes this week. Finishing with 250 yards against a team selling-out to stop him is an impressive stat-line, reminiscent of Saquon Barkley’s performance in Kinnick a few years ago.

-Illinois is going bowling! The Illini have won four straight, the latest win being a come-from-behind victory against the Spartans, who are now 4-5.

Next Week:

Indiana at (#4)Penn State

(#13)Wisconsin at Nebraska

Michigan State at (#14)Michigan

UMass at Northwestern

(#1)Ohio State at Rutgers

(#17)Minnesota at (#18)Iowa