Big Ten Conference: Week 10
Sat., Nov. 6 @ 11:00 am CT
Ohio State Buckeyes at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Ohio State Buckeyes
FIRST AND TEN
Ohio State looks to remain unbeaten in the Big Ten Conference as it travels to Lincoln, Neb., this week for a noon (EDT) kick at Memorial Stadium. FOX will broadcast the game nationally.
The Buckeyes and Cornhuskers, two of the nation’s most tradition-rich programs, are meeting for a sixth consecutive year and for the eighth time since Nebraska joined the Big Ten.
Ohio State has won six consecutive games in the series, dating to 34-27 loss in Lincoln in 2011, and overall holds an 8-1 advantage in wins.
This will be Ohio State’s fourth trip to Memorial Stadium and the first time the game has been played during the afternoon hours. The three previous trips were all 7 p.m. or later start times.
Last year, the two teams opened a pandemic-altered season on Oct. 24 in Columbus. The Buckeyes won 52-17 behind a 276-yard effort from Justin Fields, who completed 20 of 21 passes. It was tied at 14 in the second quarter.
Saturday’s game will feature two of the best offenses in the Big Ten. Ohio State ranks No. 1 in scoring offense and touchdowns scored, while Nebraska is fourth and second in those categories, respectively.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Ohio State is ranked sixth in this week’s Associated Press poll after a 33-24 win over then-No. 20 Penn State last Saturday night in Columbus.
Head coach Ryan Day, in his third full season as the Buckeyes’ head coach, is 30-3 overall and 20-0 in Big Ten Conference games.
Following a loss to Oregon on Sept. 11, Ohio State has won six straight and is averaging 50.8 points per game during its winning streak.
The Buckeyes have won 23 consecutive Big Ten games, which is the longest streak in the conference since the Buckeyes’ national record, 30-game conference winning streak from 2013-15.
Ohio State’s offense is on pace to set single-season records for yards and points scored. It currently leads the nation in total offense (548.1 yards/game) and scoring offense (47.3 points/game).
The Buckeyes have put 50 or more points on the scoreboard in four of the last five games and was just one game shy of tying a Big Ten record for most consecutive 50-point games.
While its offense gets most of the headlines, Ohio State’s defense is allowing just 13.6 points per game over the last five games.
The Buckeyes have limited five of their last six opponents to 100 yards or less rushing. In that span, they’re giving up an average of just 1.9 yards per carry.
Opponents have rushed for just two touchdowns in the last six games and eight overall in eight games.
Ohio State is ninth nationally with a +8 turnover margin and leads the nation with six defensive touchdowns scored.
The Buckeyes are 17th nationally with 58 tackles for loss and have 53 in the last six games. Haskell Garrett leads the team with 6.0 for minus 25 yards.
Ohio State has registered 26 sacks over the last six games and is currently seventh nationally with 28.0 on the season.
This streak was stopped by Penn State, but it was remarkable while it lasted: Ohio State had scored a touchdown on 19 consecutive drives with C.J. Stroud at quarterback (excluding two at-the-half non drives): 5 vs. Rutgers; 8 vs. Maryland; 6 vs. Indiana.
MORE OHIO STATE BUCKEYE NOTES
Quarterback C.J. Stroud, a five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, is third nationally in passer efficiency rating (186.1), seventh in yards per game (324.3) and seventh in touchdown passes (23). Over the last four games – wins vs. Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana and Penn State – he’s completing 71.1 percent of his passes for 1,307 yards, 15 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Wide receivers Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have combined for 113 receptions, 1,897 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Tight end Jeremy Ruckert has caught eight passes over the last two games for 104 yards and two touchdowns. His 30-yard reception in the fourth quarter last week but the Buckeyes in position to kick a field goal which gave them a two-score lead with under three minutes to play.
Coach Ryan Day’s teams are 30-3 overall and 20-0 in Big Ten Conference play.
C.J. Stroud is the first quarterback in school history to have back-to-back five-TD games without throwing an interception.
The 48 combined career TD receptions by Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson are the most by a pair of Ohio State teammates.
Ronnie Hickman, a third-year sophomore, is seventh in the Big Ten in tackles (67) and is on pace to be the first Ohio State player with 100-plus tackles in five years.
Ohio State has four “pick-6s”: Cam Martinez, 61 vs. Tulsa; Ronnie Hickman 41 vs. Akron; Denzel Burke, 23 vs. Rutgers; and Craig Young, 70 vs. Maryland. Haskell Garrett has a 32-yard fumble return TD vs. Minnesota and Jerron Cage added a 57-yard fumble return last week vs. Penn State.
Ohio State’s record for “pick-6’s” in a season: 7 in 2016.
Haskell Garrett’s three QB sacks vs. Akron are tied for seventh in school history.
K Noah Ruggles has converted on 20 consecutive FGAs inside of 50 yards, including all 11 of his attempts as a Buckeye. He is 30-of-38 for his career in FGs; 95-of-95 in extra point attempts.
OHIO STATE/NEBRASKA HISTORY
Seven of the nine all-time meetings between Ohio State and Nebraska have occurred since the Cornhuskers joined the conference for the 2011 season.
The Buckeyes have won six consecutive games in the series with an average margin of victory of 34.5 points per game.
The series dates back to the mid-1950s when Ohio State and Nebraska met in the 1955 and 1956 seasons, respectively.
In 1955, on its way to head coach Woody Hayes’ first national championship, Ohio State defeated Nebraska 28-20 in Columbus.
The next season, the Buckeyes won 34-7, also in Columbus.
MORE ON THE MATCHUP
Saturday’s game features two of the winningest programs in college football history: Ohio State is second with 938 all-time wins while Nebraska is seventh with 908.
The Buckeyes are 2-1 all-time at Memorial Stadium, losing a 21-point lead and the game, 34-27, in 2011 and winning there in 2017, 56-14, and 2019, 48-7.
Between the two programs, Ohio State and Nebraska have combined for 85 conference championships, 10 Heisman Trophies and 13 national championships.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Nebraska enters Saturday’s game with a 3-6 record but all six of its losses have come by eight points or less.
Quarterback Adrian Martinez is a four-year starter who last week became just the third player in program history to amass 10,000 yards of total offense.
Martinez has accounted for 23 touchdowns this season and is currently third in the conference in rushing TDs with 11.
Wide receiver Samori Toure has a team-high 29 receptions for 568 yards and three touchdowns while tight end Austin Allen has chipped in with 27 receptions, 371 yards and a pair of TDs.
Nebraska is fourth in the Big Ten in rushing offense, averaging 202.1 yards per game. After Martinez’s team-high 451 yards, the Huskers have relied on a pair of freshmen running backs: Rahmir Johnson (433 yards, 96 carries) and Jaquez Yant (250 yards, 7.5 yards per carry).
The Huskers possess the Big Ten’s No. 7 total defense and are allowing 348.4 yards per game.
Linebacker Luke Reimer is second in the Big Ten in total tackles with 86 (45 solo) while Nick Henrich, also a linebacker, is third (79).
Head coach Scott Frost is in his fourth season as Nebraska’s head coach. He’s 0-3 against Ohio State and 15-26 overall.
During his tenure, the Corhuskers have played in 23 games decided by a touchdown or less.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska remains at home for a second straight week with the Huskers set to welcome sixth-ranked Ohio State to Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Game time between two of the most storied college football programs is set for 11 a.m. CT with television coverage provided by FOX, and the game can also be heard on the Huskers Radio Network.
Nebraska comes into the game with a 3-6 overall record and a 1-5 mark in Big Ten play. The Huskers are coming off a 28-23 home setback against Purdue on Saturday. Nebraska held a 17-14 advantage at halftime, but could not hold the lead, as the Boilermaker defense controlled the Husker offensive attack in the second half to key the victory. Nebraska will be looking to end a three-game losing streak against Ohio State, with the three setbacks coming by a total of 12 points.
Ohio State stands at 7-1 overall and 5-0 in Big Ten Conference play, following a 33-24 victory over No. 20 Penn State on Saturday night in Columbus. Ohio State is ranked No. 6 in this week’s AP poll and stands at No. 5 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The victory over Penn State was the sixth straight for the Buckeyes, with Ohio State winning those six contests by an average of 36.2 points. The Buckeyes will enter Lincoln as winners of 26 straight games against Big Ten Conference opponents.
Coach Ryan Day’s team features the top-ranked scoring offense in the country at 47.3 points per game, while ranking second in total offense (548.1 ypg) and sixth in passing offense (346.3 ypg). Defensively, Ohio State ranks in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense (19.2 ppg) and rushing defense (106.9 ypg) and is in the top 10 in turnover margin (+1.0).
SERIES HISTORY: NEBRASKA VS. OHIO STATE
Nebraska and Ohio State will meet for the sixth straight season on Saturday, and for the 10th time overall. Eight of those 10 meetings have occurred since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011.
• Ohio State leads the all-time series, 8-1, including a 2-1 edge in Lincoln.
• Nebraska and Ohio State are in the final year of a six-year stretch of meeting every season as cross-division foes. The next meeting between the schools is currently scheduled for 2024 in Lincoln.
• The first meeting in Lincoln in 2011 was Nebraska’s first-ever Big Ten home game on Oct. 8, 2011. That game featured the largest comeback in NU history, as the Huskers rallied from a 27-6 third-quarter deficit for a 34-27 victory.
• One of the teams has been ranked 14th or higher in each of the nine all-time matchups. Ohio State has been ranked in the top 10 in eight of the 10 all-time meetings, including this week’s game.
• Before Nebraska joined the Big Ten, the only prior meetings between the schools occurred in 1955 and 1956 in Columbus.
NU, OSU TWO OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORICAL POWERS
Nebraska and Ohio State are two of just eight schools with 900 or more victories. Ohio State ranks second all-time with 938 victories, while Nebraska is seventh at 908 victories in program history. This marks the fifth time in the past three years, and the third time this season, Nebraska has played in a game matching two programs with 900 or more victories. NU’s games with Ohio State in 2019 and 2020, and its games with Oklahoma and Michigan this season also matched 900-win programs.
• Nebraska and Ohio State have combined to win 13 national championships. The schools have also combined to win 87 conference titles, including 46 by Nebraska and 41 by Ohio State, and have made 105 combined bowl appearances
HUSKERS SET FOR TOP-FIVE OPPONENT
Ohio State will come to Lincoln ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 5 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Ohio State will be Nebraska’s fourth ranked opponent of the 2021 season, including the third top-10 opponent.
Nebraska played at No. 3 Oklahoma on Sept. 18, at No. 20 Michigan State on Sept. 25, and against No. 9 Michigan on Oct. 9. NU also has a game remaining with 19th-ranked Iowa on Nov. 26.
• Nebraska has dropped its first three games against ranked opponents this season by a total of 13 points, including three-point setbacks against Michigan State and Michigan.
• This season marks the first time Nebraska has played three top-10 opponents in the same season since 2008
Sat., Nov. 6 @ 11:00 am CT
Illinois Fighting Illini at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illini Back on the Road
• Illinois heads to Minneapolis for its second road game in a three-week span.
• The Illini are looking for their first win at Minnesota since 2009. Defense Steps Up
• Illinois has held opponents to 24 points or fewer in six straight games for the first time since an eight-game stretch that spanned the final five games of the 2002 season and the first three games of the 2003 season. Last year’s Illini team allowed 24 points or fewer twice in eight games.
• Illinois’ defense has made a 10+-point improvement from last season (34.88 ppg to 23.33 ppg).
• Illinois is 11th in the nation and first in the Big Ten in fumbles recovered (8).
• Illinois is fifth in the Big Ten in takeaways (13).
• Illinois is sixth in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+0.56).
Late Losses
• Illinois is coming off a 20-14 loss to Rutgers in which the Illini had the ball with a chance to win in the final drive, which was stopped at the 34-yard line. Four of Illinois’ six losses have come when Illinois had a chance to win on its final drive.
» vs. UTSA – Drive stopped at the 30 with 0:00 left while trailing by 7
» vs. Maryland – Loss on a 32-yard field goal with 0:00 left
» at Purdue – Drive stopped at the 19 with 0:40 left while trailing by 4
» vs. Rutgers – Drive stopped at the 34 with 1:08 left while trailing by 6
TEAM NOTES
Ground Game
• Illinois lined up with seven offensive linemen for 24 snaps at Penn State, leading to the most ever rushing yards by an opposing team at Beaver Stadium in a Big Ten game (357 rushing yards). The “barge” package produced 129 yards (5.4 yards/carry) and nine first downs.
• Brown has two of the nation’s top 12 rushing games of the season. He and Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III are the only running backs with two of the top 12 highest rushing games.
• Brown rushed for a career-high 257 yards against Charlotte, the fourth-most in a game in Illinois history, and 223 yards at Penn State, the seventh-most in a game in Illinois history.
• Brown’s 257 yards are the fifth-most by a running back in college football this season. Only LSU’s Tyrion Davis-Price (287 vs. Florida), Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson (277 vs. Tulsa), BYU’s Tyler Allgeier (266 vs. Virginia) and Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III (264 vs. Northwestern) have had more in a game this season.
• Brown’s 257 yards were the most by a RB coached by Bret Bielema in his 13 years as a head coach.
• Brown led the nation in yards after contact in Week 8 with 145 at Penn State, according to PFF. He has led the nation in yards after contact twice in a four-week an in October and he is the only running back to lead the nation in yards after contact twice this season.
• Brown had 200 yards after contact against Charlotte according to PFF, the most yards after contact in all of college football in Week 5 and third-most yards after contact in a game this season (Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III, 206 after contact vs. Northwestern … USC’s Keaontay Ingram, 238 after contact at Arizona).
• Josh McCray ran for a career-best 156 yards on 24 carries against Purdue 9/25/21. It was the fifth-most rushing yards by a true freshman in program history, and the most by a true freshman running back since Ke’Shawn Vaughn recorded 180 yards at Purdue 11/7/2015.
• McCray had 144 yards after contact at Purdue according to PFF, the second-most yards after contact in Week 4 and tied for the 21st-most yards after contact in a game this season. He had another 100 yards after contact at Penn State.
• McCray’s 156 rushing yards at Purdue are the second most by a true freshman this season (Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson, 277 vs. Tulsa).
• McCray’s 156 rushing yards at Purdue are the most by a true freshman in a road game this year. Hansen Out for the Season
• LB Jake Hansen announced Oct. 20 that he underwent knee surgery and will miss the remainder of the season, thus ending his career at Illinois.
• Hansen finished his Illini career with 276 tackles, 28.5 TFLs, 12 FF, 7 FR, 6 PBU, 3 INTs.
• Hansen led the nation in takeaways over the span of two seasons from 2019-20 (14) and led the nation in forced fumbles in 2019 (7).
• Hansen is the active FBS leader in career forced fumbles (12).
• Hansen’s 12 career forced fumbles finished as the second-most in Illinois history, one behind Simeon Rice’s 13 forced fumbles. Hansen passed Whitney Mercilus (11 career forced fumbles) for second place on Illinois’ all-time career list.
• Hansen’s 12 forced fumbles are tied for the sixth-most in Big Ten history. The conference record is 15, set by Wisconsin’s Chris Borland from 2009-13 with head coach Bret Bielema.
Offensive Line Notes
• Illinois is 10th in the nation in run blocking grade, according to PFF (80.3)
• Doug Kramer is the No. 41 graded center in the nation according to PFF (68.6) (min. 300 snaps). Kramer has the No. 25 run blocking grade in the nation among centers (72.3).
• Alex Palczewski is the No. 36 graded tackle in the nation according to PFF (76.8) (min. 300 snaps), although he played guard against Penn State and Rutgers. Palczewski has the No. 12 run blocking grade in the nation among tackles (87.1).
• Vederian Lowe is the No. 32 graded tackle in the nation according to PFF (77.7) (min. 300 snaps). Lowe was the highest graded offensive lineman in the nation in Week 5 against Charlotte (93.7).
Quarterbacks Turned Wide Receivers
• Isaiah Williams and Deuce Spann have both transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver in 2021 and have become Illinois’ top two leading receivers.
• Isaiah Williams leads the team in receptions (37) and receiving yards (372).
• Williams leads Power-5 freshmen in receptions (37) and ranks fifth in the nation in receptions among freshmen.
• Williams is 13th in the Big Ten in receptions per game (4.1).
• Deuce Spann is fifth on the team in receiving yards (123), tied for second on the team in receiving touchdowns (2), and leads the team in yards per catch (24.8).
• Two of Deuce Spann’s four catches have been 30+-yard touchdowns: 31-yard TD against UTSA and a 33-yard TD against Virginia.
Carney on a Roll
• Owen Carney Jr. has 5.5 sacks on the season, all in the last six games.
• Carney is fifth in the Big Ten in sacks (5.5).
• Carney is tied for ninth in Illini history in career sacks with 15.0.
• Carney has already surpassed his career high for sacks in a season (5.0, 2020).
Kerby’s Emergence
• Kerby Joseph is the only player in the nation with 3+ interceptions and 3+ fumble recoveries.
• Joseph is tied for the national lead in fumble recoveries.
• Joseph is one of only four Illini since 1971 to record 3+ interceptions and 3+ fumble recoveries in a single season.
• Joseph is one of only three Big Ten players since 2016 to record 3+ interceptions and 3+ fumble recoveries in a single season.
• Joseph’s three fumble recoveries are tied for the 10th-most in Illinois history (stat since 1971).
• Joseph had either an interception or a fumble recovery in five straight games before Penn State and Rutgers did not have any turnovers against Illinois.
Lowe, Palczewski Break Starts Record
• Illinois offensive linemen Vederian Lowe and Alex Palczewski broke the Illini record for career starts against Rutgers. They both have 49 career starts, breaking the record previously held by QB Nathan Scheelhaase (2010-13), C Ryan McDonald (2005-08), and OL Tim Simpson (1988-91), who all had 48 career starts.
Special Teams Notes
• Illinois is seventh in the nation in net punting (43.75).
• Illinois is 13th in the nation in kickoff return defense (15.0).
• P Blake Hayes boomed a career-long 80-yard punt early in the second quarter against Purdue 9/25/21. It is tied for the seventh-longest punt in program history (Brett Larson, 80 yards vs. Arizona, 9/16/1995) and is the longest since Ryan Tabloff’s 85-yarder vs. Purdue (10/25/1997).
• K James McCourt hit two field goals from 50+ yards against UTSA, giving him six for his Illini career and moving him past former teammate Chase McLaughlin (2014-18) for the Illini career record. McCourt became the first Illini to hit two field goals from 50+ yards in a single game, then added to his own record with a 51-yard field goat at Purdue 9/25/21.
True Freshman Starters
• Josh McCray became the first true freshman to start at running back for the Illini since Ra’Von Bonner at Minnesota (10/21/2017) when he started at Purdue 9/25/21. Bonner and Mike Epstein each started three games as freshmen during the 2017 season. McCray ran for a career-most 156 yards on 24 carries against the Boilermakers.
• Freshman WR Pat Bryant also earned the first of his Illini career at Purdue then started again against Charlotte. Bryant is the 15th Illini in program history to start multiple games at wide receiver as a true freshman.
• The combination of Bryant and RB Josh McCray starting at Purdue marked the first time that the Illini offense has started two true freshman since QB M.J. Rivers and WR Carlos Sandy started against Penn State (9/21/18). Bryant also made the most of his opportunity, recording 25 yards on three receptions, both career-best totals.
• McCray became the first true freshman running back to score a touchdown for Illinois since Ra’Von Bonner (at Minnesota, 10/21/2017) when he scored against Maryland.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Winners of four in a row and six of its last seven, RV/RV Minnesota
(6-2, 4-1 B1G) looks to continue its winning ways and remain in first
place in the Big Ten West this weekend as it hosts Illinois (3-6, 2-4
B1G) Saturday at 11 a.m. on ESPN2.
The Golden Gophers have one of the strongest rush defenses in the country, ranking eighth nationally and second in the Big Ten by allowing 92.9 rushing yards per game this year. The national average for rushing yards per game through Oct. 30 is 164.8 yards per game; only one Gopher opponent has even gone above 144 yards rushing this year and only three have had more than 104 rushing yards. In fact, Minnesota had a two-game stretch of just 3 yards allowed (-19 at Colorado, 22 vs.
Bowling Green). The -19 rushing yards allowed at Colorado on Sept. 18 are the fewest by any FBS team this year with the next fewest coming when Western Kentucky held FIU to -17 on Oct. 23. The next fewest among Power 5 teams came also on Oct. 23 when Wisconsin held Purdue to -13 on Oct. 23. Minnesota is third nationally in fewest opponent rush attempts (221), eighth in opponent rush yards (743), 16th in opponent rushing touchdowns (7) and 20th in opponent yards per carry (3.36).
For the second straight game, Minnesota true freshman Mar’Keise Irving and redshirt freshman RB Ky Thomas both ran for over 100 yards Saturday at Northwestern. Last week, Irving went for 105 yards and a TD, while Thomas had a career-high 139 yards and a score against Maryland on Oct. 23. This week, Irving ran for a career-high 110 yards and two touchdowns on 19 attempts and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week, while Thomas had 106 yards on 21 carries at Northwestern. Until last week, no Minnesota freshmen had run for at least 100 yards in the same game since at least 1942. Now, Irving and Thomas are the first Minnesota duo to go for 100 yards in consecutive weeks since Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell did so at Michigan (10/8/05) and versus Wisconsin (10/15/05). Minnesota has had five individuals run for 100 yards this year for the Gophers (see box right), something the Gophers have not had since at least 1942.
In fact, Minnesota is the only FBS team this season to have five different individuals reach 100 yards. Minnesota’s four-game winning streak is its longest since winning the first nine games of the 2019 season. All four wins in the streak have come in league play, making it the longest conference win streak since winning six in a row in 2019. Prior to that, the Gophers had won four straight in the Big Ten just twice (2016 and 2013) since 1990. A win Saturday against Illinois would give Minnesota its second five-game win streak in the Big Ten since 1970.
Minnesota’s 41-14 win at Northwestern Saturday, its biggest win over the Wildcats since 1980, improved P.J. Fleck’s record at Minnesota to 32-21. In his fifth season, Fleck is sixth in wins in school history and 10th in games coached (53). Fleck’s .604 win percentage is third best among the 11 Minnesota coaches with at east 45 games under their helm behind only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, ‘45-50). In his ninth season overall as a college head coach, Fleck is 62-43 (.590)
FACING ILLINOIS
Minnesota and Illinois meet for the 74th time on Saturday with the Golden Gophers leading the all-time series, 40-30-3. The Gophers have won the last two in the series, outscoring the Illini 81-31, and are winners in five of the last six matchups between the schools.
In Minneapolis, Minnesota holds a 23-12-2 record in the series, including wins in each of the last four meetings. In those four games, the Gophers have outscored the Illini, 123-64, an average final of 31-16.
P.J Fleck is 3-1 against Illinois as head coach of Minnesota and 4-1 against the Illini overall. A win Saturday would mark the first time he’s beaten a time five times in his career. He also has four wins lifetime against Nebraska, Purdue and Miami (OH).
After Minnesota (31 players), Illinois (13) is the No. 2 state from where the Gophers call home.
Minnesota’s 13 Illinois natives are: senior WR Chris Autman-Bell (Kankakee), seventh-year DL Micah Dew-Treadway (Bolingbrook), freshman TE Jameson Geers (Channahon), redshirt sophomore OL JJ Guedet (Washington), freshman DL Jack Hawkinson (Frankford), freshman RB Mar’Keise Irving and freshman OL Cameron James (both Chicago), freshman QB Athan Kaliakmanis and freshman WR Dino Kaliakmanis (both Antioch), freshman DB Jordan Nubin and junior DB Tyler Nubin (both Saint Charles), senior LB Mariano Sori-Marin (Mokena) and redshirt senior OL John Michael Schmitz (Flossmoor).
Illinois has no Minnesotans on its roster Three members of the Illinois coaching staff also spent time at Minnesota in their careers. llinois offensive coordinator/QBs coach Tony Petersen spent eight seasons on staff at Minnesota, fi rst as passing game coordinator in 1999 and co-offensive coordinator/QBs coach from 2000-06. Illini assistant head coach/WRs coach George McDonald was also on the Gophers staff from 2007-08 as wide receivers coach. Illinois offensive line coach Bart Miller held the same role at Minnesota in 2016.
In addition, Minnesota offensive coordinator/QBs coach Mike Sanford was an offensive assistant at Stanford from 2007-08, while Illinois linebackers coach Andy Buh was the Cardinal linebackers coach from 2007-09.
Illinois enters the game 3-6 on the season and 2-4 in league play. The Illini opened the season with a win over Nebraska before losing its next four contests. They won two of their next three, including an NCAA-record 9-overtime game at then-No. 9 Penn State on Oct. 23, but they lost at home to Rutgers, 20-14, in their most recent game.
Minnesota and Illinois have three common opponents so far this year in Maryland, Nebraska and Purdue. The Gophers went 3-0 against those teams, while the Illini beat the Huskers and lost to the Terrapins and Boilermakers.
Chase Brown is Illinois’ leading rusher at 100.6 yards per game, which ranks third in the Big Ten and 21st nationally. He’s rushed 111 times for 704 yards and four touchdowns, while his average of 6.34 yards per carry is fifth in the B1G and 17th in the nation.
Illinois has gone back and forth at quarterback with Brandon Peters and Artur Sitkowski. Both have endured injuries, but Sitkowski is now out for the year putting Peters back as QB1. Peters has thrown for 600 yards on 54-of-101 passing with three touchdowns and one interception.
Isaiah Williams leads the team in receptions (37), receiving yards (372), while Daniel Barker has a team-high four touchdown catches.
Defensively, Sydney Brown leads the team with 61 tackles, while Owen Carney Jr., has a team-best 6.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Kerby Joseph has three of the team’s fi ve interceptions and he leads the country with three recovered fumbles this year.
LAST TIME VS. ILLINOIS
With assistance from the AP: Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 224 yards and four touchdowns and Tanner Morgan threw for one more as Minnesota beat depleted Illinois 41-14 when the teams met last season in Champaign.
It was Ibrahim’s second straight game with four rushing touchdowns and his second consecutive 200-yard rushing game. Morgan was 17 of 27 passing for 231 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an interception.
Minnesota was clicking on all cylinders most of the game. Trey Potts scored on a 9-yard run that was set up by a 37-yard pass from Morgan to Rashod Bateman late
in the first quarter. Mixing runs and passes, the Gophers methodically worked the depleted Illinois secondary, racking up 556 yards in total offense to Illinois’ 287.
Bateman later caught a 5-yard TD pass from Morgan in the second quarter before Ibrahim added his first score of the game to put Minnesota up 21-0.
The Illini’s only score before intermission came on a 1-yard run by Epstein, which was set up by his 63-yard run to the Gophers’ 9-yard line. Ibrahim answered, though, with his second TD and Minnesota led 28-7 at halftime.
Ibrahim added two more scores in the second half, running in on plays from one and four yards out.
Boye Mafe tied for the team lead with six tackles and recorded a pair of sacks and a forced fumble. Esezi Otomewo and Trill Carter also had sacks in the win.
Illinois had 12 players out due to COVID-19 protocols and was down to fourth-string QB Coran Taylor, who was 6 of 17 through the air for a touchdown and no interceptions. One bright spot for Illinois was often-injured running back Mike Epstein, who rushed for 108 yards on 11 carries with one touchdown.
LAST TIME IN MINNEAPOLIS
With assistance from the AP: Rodney Smith ran for a
career-best 211 yards and a touchdown, Shannon Brooks
added 111 rushing yards and a touchdown and Minnesota
totaled 332 yards on the ground against Illinois in a 40-17
win in Minneapolis in 2019.
Tanner Morgan was 9-of-17 passing for 155 yards and three touchdowns for the Gophers, who rushed for more than 300 yards for the first time since tallying 409 yards against Nebraska in 2017.
Minnesota’s defense allowed just three points and held Illini running back Reggie Corbin, the third-leading rusher in the Big Ten, to 68 yards on 14 carries.
Illinois scored two defensive touchdowns. Dele Harding returned an interception of Morgan for a touchdown in the first quarter to give the Illini an early lead and Milo Eifler returned a fumble for another score in the third after Jake Hansen stripped Morgan on a sack.
Illinois lost starting quarterback Brandon Peters in the first half after he hit the turf hard while being tackled. He walked off the field with assistance and was replaced by Matt Robinson, who was 15-of-29 passing for 125 yards Smith helped the Gophers grab momentum in the second after a slow start by both teams. He had a season-long 64-yard run to set up the Gophers first touchdown, a 12-yard pass from Morgan to Tyler Johnson.
Leading 16-10 at halftime, Minnesota extended its lead to 30-10 thanks to passing scores to Chris AutmanBell (10 yards) and Brevyn Spann-Ford (12 yards).
Minnesota’s defense recorded three sacks, while Antoine Winfield, Jr., had an interception. Kamal Martin was the team’s leading tackler with seven stops and two forced fumbles.
Sat., Nov. 6 @ 3:30 pm ET
Penn State Nittany Lions at Maryland Terrapins
Penn State Nittany Lions
INSIDE THE GAME
PENN STATE VISITS MARYLAND FOR B1G CONTEST
• OPENING KICK: No. 22/23 Penn State faces Maryland on Saturday at Capitol One Field at Maryland Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on FS1. The 2021 season is presented by PSECU.
• SERIES HISTORY: The Nittany Lions will meet Maryland for the 45th matchup. Penn State has won nine of the last 11 contests. Last year, Penn State fell 35-19 in Beaver Stadium. Sean Clifford threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Jahan Dotson made nine grabs for 123 yards and a score. Parker Washington added eight catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns. Ellis Brooks registered seven tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
• ONE-TWO PUNCH:Jahan Dotson and Parker Washington continued their dynamic seasons at Ohio State. Dotson had a career-high 11 catches for 127 yards and added a 2-yard rushing touchdown. Washington contributed a career-high-tying nine receptions for 108 yards. They also both went over 100 receiving yards against Villanova (Dotson 117, Washington 148). They are the first Penn State receiver duo with multiple 100-yard games in a season since 2014 (DaeSean Hamilton and Geno Lewis).
• NO FLY ZONE: The Nittany Lions’ pass defense has been strong in 2021. Penn State ranks eighth in the country in opponent pass efficiency rating (103.56). The blue and white is allowing 193.9 passing yards per contest, good for 25th in the country. The Nittany Lions hold sixth in the country allowing 5.64 yards per pass attempt and seventh allowing 9.94 yards per completion. Penn State’s nine interceptions are good for 22nd in the nation.
• OUTSTANDING PUNT COVERAGE: Led by Jordan Stout’s 48.5 punt average, the highest season punt average in program history by 4.51 yards, Penn State is second in the nation with a 46.54 net punting average. Stout has placed 19 punts inside the 20 this season.
• THE OPPOSITION: Maryland improved to 5-3 with a 38-35 win over Indiana last Saturday. The Terrapins collected 498 total yards, including 419 through the air. Taulia Tagovailoa completed 26-of-40 passes for 419 yards and two touchdowns. Carlos Carriere hauled in eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Challen Faamatau added two rushing touchdowns. Mosiah Nasili-Kite led the Maryland defense with eight tackles, including a sack.
SERIES NOTES
HEAD COACH MICHAEL LOCKSLEY
• Michael Locksley is in his third full season as Maryland’s head coach.
• Locksley arrived at Maryland following a three-year stint at Alabama. He served as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator in 2018 after being co-offensive Coordinator during Alabama’s 2017 National Championship season.
• This is Lockley’s third stint at Maryland. He most recently served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2012-15, and was the Terrapins’ running backs coach and recruiting coordinator from 1997-2002. Locksley was Maryland’s interim head coach for the final six games of the 2015 season.
• His other Big Ten coaching experience came at Illinois where he served as offensive coordinator while coaching the tight ends in 2005 and quarterbacks from 2006-08.
• Locksley is a head coach for the second time in his career. He was the head coach at New Mexico from 2009-11.
SCOUTING THE TERRAPINS
• Maryland is 5-3 on the season after a 38-35 win over Indiana last Saturday.
• The Terrapins also have wins over West Virginia (30-24), Howard (62-0), Illinois (20-17) and Kent State (37-16).
• Maryland threw for 419 yards in its win over the Hoosiers.
• The Terrapins rank fifth in the Big Ten in scoring offense (29.2) and total offense (431.1), while holding second in passing offense (309.2).
• QB Taulia Tagovailoa leads the Big Ten with 2,384 passing yards and completions per game (24.75), while sitting second in completion percentage (70.2), passing yards per game (298.0) and passing touchdowns (17).
• WR Rakim Jarrett is fifth in the Big Ten with five touchdown receptions.
• Maryland ranks 13th in the conference in scoring defense (30.4), 12th in total defense (402.5), 10th in passing defense (241.5) and 13th in rushing defense (161.0).
• S Nick Cross paces Maryland with 47 tackles, including a sack, and two interceptions.
• DL Sam Okuayinonu leads the unit with 7.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.
LAST MEETING (FIRST HALF LEADS MARYLAND PAST PENN STATE, 35-19)
Penn State tried to rally from an early deficit with 290 yards of total offense in the second half, but Maryland’s explosive scoring plays in the first half were enough for a 35-19 victory.
Penn State held Maryland to 70 yards with no scores on offense in the second half, but was unable overcome a 28-7 halftime deficit.
Quarterback Sean Clifford attempted a school-record 57 passes and threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns as he tried to rally the Nittany Lions late, and freshman wide receiver Parker Washington caught eight passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Jahan Dotson finished with nine catches for 123 yards – his second-straight 100-yard receiving game – and tight end Pat Freiermuth caught six passes for 91 yards, as both surpassed 1,000 yards receiving for their careers in the game.
Maryland scored all of its touchdowns from 34 or more yards out. Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa completed 18-of-26 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns, while wide receiver Rakim Jarrett caught five passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive end Jayson Oweh led the Nittany Lions on defense with 10 tackles and two tackles for loss, while safety Nick Cross led the Terps with eight tackles, a sack, interception and two pass break ups.
Maryland took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of big touchdown receptions by Jarrett, who caught a 42-yard touchdown the Terps’ first possession and a 62-yard score with 19 seconds remaining in the opening frame, and then went up three touchdowns with a 38-yard rush by Funk early in the second quarter.
Penn State got on the board with 6:32 remaining in the half, as Clifford engineered a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a 20-yard touchdown toss to Dotson,
but Tagovailoa connected with Demus for a 34-yard touchdown before the break for a 28-7 halftime lead.
Maryland extended its lead in the second half on a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Clifford connected with Washington for a 23-yard touchdown with 10:16 remaining to complete a 16-play, 98-yard drive, and again in the final seconds for a 1-yard score.
Maryland Terrapins
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The University of Maryland football team will host Big Ten East foe Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 6. The game is set to kick at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on FS1 and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
QB Taulia Tagovailoa’s 419 passing yards last week against Indiana (10/30), was the third-most in program history, only trailing Scott Milanovich’s back-to-back games of 451 yards against West Virginia (9/18) and 498 yards against Virginia Tech (9/25) in 1993. Tagovailoa now has three of the top 12 single game passing performances in program history (394 vs. Minnesota, 10/30/20 and 384 vs. Kent State, 9/25/21). The junior’s 17 touchdown passes this season are tied for the sixth-most in program history and only one behind Boomer Esiason’s 18 for fifth all-time. In addition, Tagovailoa’s 2,384 passing yards this season put him 12th all-time in single season passing yards, 10 yards behind Scott Milanovich’s 2,394 yards in 1994. In only 12 games as a Terp including last season, Tagovailoa already stands 10th all-time in career passing touchdowns with 24, only two behind Neil O’Donnell (1987-89) for ninth-all time, and 15th all-time in career passing yards with 3,395, only 15 behind Dick Shiner (1961-63) for 14th all-time.
In his time as a Terp beginning in 2020, QB Taulia Tagovailoa has averaged 282.9 passing yards per game, the sixth-highest over that time span of any Power Five quarterback that has played in 2020 & 2021 and the most in the Big Ten. Tagovailoa, who has totaled 3,395 yards in 12 game as a Terp, trails only Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong (315.2 per game), Ole Miss’ Matt Corral (307.8 per game), Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett (303.1), UNC’s Sam Howell (288.9 per game) and Mississippi State’s Will Rogers (286.4). Tagovailoa is 13th in the country and second in the Big Ten, averaging 298.0 passing yards per game this season and is on pace to set the all-time Maryland record for passing yards in a season (Scott Milanovich, 3,499 in 1993).
DB Jakorian Bennett stands 11th in the country and first in the Big Ten with 1.3 pass breakups per game and has the third-most per game of any Power Five player (Kei’Trel Clark, Louisville & Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford). In seven games played, Bennett has nine total pass breakups (seven pass breakups and two interceptions), the fourth-most of any Power Five player.
Maryland ranks 19th in the country and fourth in the Big Ten with 23 sacks through eight games, an average of 2.88 per game. The 19 sacks have been for a loss of 175 yards, the 14th-most sack yards in the country and second-most in the Big Ten, trailing only Ohio State’s 198. The Terps 23 sacks are the most through the first eight games of a season since totaling 26 in 2015.
SERIES NOTABLES
• The Terps defeated Penn State, 35-19, in Happy Valley last season, behind QB Taulia Tagovailoa completing 18 of 26 passes for 282 yards and three touchdown passes. WR Rakim Jarrett caught five passes for 144 yards with a pair of touchdowns, WR Dontay Demus Jr. caught another and RB Jake Funk added 80 rushing yards and a score for the Terps.
• CB Kenny Bennett and S Nick Cross each had interceptions in the game, while LB Ruben Hyppolite II and DL Mosiah Nasili-Kite each had two sacks.
• S Nick Cross has an interception in two-straight games against Penn State, both off Sean Clifford.
ON THE OFFENSE
By The Numbers
QB Taulia Tagovailoa has been one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten through eight weeks of play, leading the conference and ranking 11th in the country with 2,384 passing yards. A top-25 candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Tagovailoa also leads the Big Ten and stands 10th in the country in completions per game (24.75), ranks second in the league and top-20 in the FBS in completion percentage (70.2%), passing yards per game (298.0) and passing touchdowns (17) and stands third in the Big Ten and top-20 in the FBS in total offense (298.8).
Last season at Penn State (11/7), WR Rakim Jarrett had a breakout game, becoming the first true freshman wide receiver to have over 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns since Stefon Diggs at West Virginia in 2012 (9/22). Jarrett finished the game with five receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns, the second-most receiving yards ever by a true freshman, only trailing Stefon Diggs’ 152 vs. Boston College on October 27, 2012 and the third-most by any freshman, trailing Diggs and Darrius Heyward-Bey (redshirt freshman), who had 175 vs. Miami on November 11, 2006.
QB Taulia Tagovailoa has tallied five 300-yard passing games in only 12 games as a Terp, already tying him with Dan Henning (1985-87) for second in Maryland history. Tagovailoa is five behind Scott Milanovich (1992-95), who posted 10 300-yard games for the program record. Four of Tagovailoa’s five 300-yard passing games have happened this season (419 vs. Indiana, 384 vs. Kent St., 350 at Illinois & 332 vs. West Virginia), the most in the Big Ten and tied for the second-most in a single season in program history with John Kaleo (four in 1992) and Henning (four in 1986). The junior is only one away from tying Milanovich for the program record (five in 1993).
WR Rakim Jarrett has seven touchdown receptions in his first 12 games as a Terp, tied with Greg Hill (1982-84) for the most in program history. Jarrett has caught a touchdown pass in five of eight games this season and his five touchdown grabs are fifth most in the Big Ten. Jarrett hauled in a 43-yard touchdown at #7 Ohio State (10/9), a seven-yard score vs. #5 Iowa (10/1), a six-yard grab against Kent State (9/25), a 36-yard pass against Howard and a 60-yard game-sealing touchdown in the fourth quarter against West Virginia (9/4).
Maryland has 14 college graduates on its current roster who will be wearing a special commemorative patch on their uniforms for the remainder of their careers: OL Spencer Anderson, WR Carlos Carriere, WR Brian Cobbs, RB Tayon Fleet-Davis, OL Evan Gregory, WR Darryl Jones, WR Jeshaun Jones, LB Ahmad McCullough, TE Chigoziem Okonkwo, DL Sam Okuayinonu and DL Lawtez Rogers have all graduated from Maryland and are pursuing graduate degrees while LS John Berard graduated from Texas Tech, DL Ernest Shockley III graduated from Indiana (Pa.) and QB Reece Udinski graduated from VMI last year and are all taking a fifth year with the Terps.
The Terps are averaging 309.2 yards per game in the air, the 15th-best passing yards per game total in the FBS and second-highest in the Big Ten, trailing only Ohio State (346.2). Maryland has over 250 yards passing in six-of-eight games this season and is one of only three Big Ten teams (Ohio State & Purdue) with at least one passing touchdown in every game.
ON THE DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
By The Numbers
Maryland has had 19 different players record at least one tackle for loss this season, the most in the Big Ten. The Terps are led by DL Sam Okuayinonu who has 7.5 tackles for loss, while nine additional players: LB Durell Nchami, DL Ami Finau, DL Lawtez Rogers, DL Mosiah Nasili-Kite, LB Deshawn Holt, DL Greg Rose, DB Tarheeb Still, LB Ruben Hyppolite II and DB Isaiah Hazel all have at least two tackles for loss.
The Terps have blocked two field goals this season (Ami Finau at Illinois, 9/17 & Tarheeb Still at Minnesota, 10/23), the 17th-most in the country and tied with Michigan, Nebraska and Penn State for most in the Big Ten. It is the fifth time in the last six seasons that Maryland has blocked at least two field goals over the course of a season.
Last season at Penn State (11/7), Maryland tallied seven sacks, its most in a game since also totaling seven vs. Rutgers on 11/26/16 and the most in a conference road game since notching seven at Virginia Tech on 11/16/13. DL Mosiah Nasili-Kite and LB Ruben Hyppolite II led the Terps with two sacks apiece, the first time Maryland has had two players post two sacks since Jesse Aniebonam and Jermaine Carter Jr. did it in the 2016 Rutgers game. Hyppolite was the first Maryland freshman to have two sacks in a game since Andre Monroe had 2.5 vs. Wake Forest on 11/19/11.
K Joseph Petrino currently stands ninth all-time in Maryland history with 200 career points (28 field goals, 116 PATs). Petrino is three points behind Steve Mike-Mayer (1972-74) for eighth all-time. The senior kicker is also fourth all-time in career PATs with 116 and seventh all-time in career points kicking. Petrino has knocked through 10 field goals this season, including a 32-yard game winner to beat Illinois as time expired (9/17), earning him Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
CB Tarheeb Still has 16 pass breakups through only 12 games as a Terp, the most by a player over his first 12 games since Domonique Foxworth also had 16 over the first 12 games of his career in 2001-02. As a freshman in 2020, Still led the nation in pass breakups per game, averaging two per game and eight on the season, the highest per game mark in program history. Still was selected to The Athletic’s Freshman All-America Team, one of five defensive backs named to the team. The now-sophomore has eight so far this season, the second-most on the team and fourth-most in the Big Ten, and has one in six straight games.
P Anthony Pecorella currently stands third all-time in Maryland history, averaging 42.7 yards per punt (2,733 yards on 64 attempts), behind only two former NFL punters in Brooks Barnard (1999-2002) and Adam Podlesh (2003-06). Pecorella is averaging 46.0 yards per punt this season (782 yards on 17 punts), which would be the highest single-season average in program history. The junior has booted eight of his 17 punts over 50 yards with two 56-yard punts and has pinned five inside the 20.
Sat., Nov. 6 @ 3:30 pm ET
Wisconsin Badgers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
SERIES HISTORY
WISCONSIN VS. RUTGERS
Overall: Wisconsin leads, 3-0
In Piscataway: Wisconsin leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 3, 2018 (Madison)
Wisconsin 31, Rutgers 17
Wisconsin Badgers
SURGING BADGERS HEAD EAST TO TAKE ON RUTGERS
Winner of four straight, Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) takes on the final East Division opponent on its schedule when it faces Rutgers (4-4, 1-4) in a divisional crossover matchup Saturday. Kickoff from SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J., is set for 2:30 p.m. (CT), with the game airing live on Big Ten Network.
The Badgers boast the nation’s hottest defense, ranking among the top 10 nationally in every major category and powering Wisconsin’s win streak with a dominant four-game stretch in which it has allowed just 8.5 points and 180.3 yards per contest.
Wisconsin is set for its second-ever trip to Piscataway as the Badgers look to improve upon their 3-0 record vs. the Scarlet Knights in the teams’ first meeting since 2018.
UW is 2-0 in road games this season, scoring wins at Illinois and at Purdue.
KEY NOTES TO CONSIDER
The Badgers are in their 7th season under head coach Paul Chryst, who is 61-22 (.735) as head coach at his alma mater. The two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year has led the Badgers to a 40-15 (.727) conference record — the best league winning percentage of any active Big Ten coach — and a 5-1 mark in bowl games. Chryst is in his 16th season overall on the Badgers’ coaching staff.
Jim Leonhard is back for a 5th season as defensive coordinator, and 6th season on the coaching staff overall, at his alma mater. Under Leonhard — an All-America safety during his playing days at UW — the Badgers have continued their run as one of the nation’s most consistently high-performing defenses. Over Leonhard’s first 5 seasons on staff, Wisconsin has ranked among the nation’s top 5 units in every major defensive category.
Wisconsin leads the nation in total defense (214.6 yards per game) and rushing defense (49.6 ypg), while ranking 5th in passing defense (165.0 ypg) and in a tie for 8th in scoring defense (17.0 points per game).
It has been all but impossible to run on the Badgers, who have held 4 of their 8 opponents — including each of the last 2 — to less than 1.0 yard per carry. UW is allowing an FBS-leading 1.73 rushing yards per attempt on the season.
A semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and Butkus Award, ILB Leo Chenal has put together an All-America resume by averaging 11.7 tackles and racking up 10.0 TFLs and 5.0 sacks over the last 3 games. He ranks No. 2 nationally at 1.92 TFLs per game and No. 9 among FBS players at 10.0 tackles per contest.
Chenal (92.0) is Pro Football Focus’ highest graded linebacker in the FBS, owning the nation’s highest grades in both run defense (94.3) and pass rush (93.2).
During their four-game win streak, the Badgers are averaging 261.3 rushing yards per game behind the 1-2 punch of running backs Chez Mellusi and Braelon Allen. A 17-year-old freshman, Allen has topped the 100-yard mark in 4 straight games and led all FBS running backs in the month of October by averaging 7.1 yards per carry.
THAT’S SOME START
In knocking off No. 9 Iowa, the Badgers won their second consecutive game over an AP Top 25 team, their first back-to-back wins over ranked opponents since downing No. 18 Iowa and No. 9 Minnesota in November of 2019.
The last time UW defeated ranked opponents in consecutive weeks came in wins over No. 25 Iowa (Nov. 11) and No. 19 Michigan (Nov. 18) in the 2017 season.
In then-No. 19 Penn State, then-No. 12 Notre Dame and then-No. 14 Michigan, the Badgers faced a ranked opponent in 3 of their first 4 games this season. Adding in No. 25 Purdue and No. 9 Iowa, UW faced a ranked foe in 5 of its first 8 games this season.
The Badgers are the only FBS team to face 3 top-20 opponents in their first 4 games this season.
Each of the Badgers’ first 3 ranked opponents are still ranked in the latest edition of the AP poll: No. 8 Notre Dame, No. 9 Michigan and No. 22 Penn State.
This marks just the 3rd time in school history that Wisconsin has faced 3 teams ranked in the Associated Press poll in its first 4 games of a season. It happened previously to head coach Ivy Williamson’s squad in 1955 and coach Milt Bruhn’s 1958 Big Ten runner-up team:
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
NOTABLE
• Following two road games and an open week, \Rutgers returns to SHI Stadium to host Wisconsin. The game is presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
• Rutgers is .500 or better through eight games for the first time since 2014, seeking to have a winning record through nine games for the first time since 2013. The last season with at least five wins was 2014 (8-5).
• Rutgers is 4-0 this season when committing no turnovers and when permitting less than 20 points. The Scarlet Knights last had four games in a season with no turnovers in 2009 (five games).
• Rutgers ranks first nationally in net punt (46.6) and 11th in third down defense (29.2 percent).
• LS Billy Taylor and DL Julius Turner are tied for the program record with Scott Vallone at 53 career games played.
• Head coach Greg Schiano is second in program history with 75 wins leading the Scarlet Knights. Frank Burns holds the record (78).
BACK HOME
• Military Appreciation Day will involve a pregame flyover, recognition of each branch and more in and around SHI Stadium.
• RU Brewfest in the Block R Party will begin at 12:30 p.m. The event features live music and more than 30 beer samples from local breweries and international brands.
• During the coin toss, Pierce Frauenheim from the 1961 undefeated team will represent as the honorary captain to mark the 60th anniversary. Capping a 9-0 season with a comeback victory over Columbia, the team finished No. 15 in the Associated Press poll in joining Alabama as the only undefeated teams in the nation that year.
• Rutgers will also honor Special Olympics New Jersey athletes as they prepare for the 2022 USA Summer Games in Orlando. The Special Olympics athletes will welcome the team at the Scarlet Walk.
VERSUS WISCONSIN
• Rutgers will play Wisconsin for the fourth time since joining the Big Ten in 2014. The programs did not previously meet.
• In the last meeting in Madison in 2018, RB Raheem Blackshear recorded 162 receiving yards with a touchdown in a 31-17 loss. RB Jonathan Hilliman added a touchdown on the ground and PK Justin Davidovicz converted a field goal. DB Saquan Hampton contributed two interceptions and two pass breakups. Seventeen players on the current RU roster participated in that game.
• In its first trip to Wisconsin in 2015, Rutgers fell behind early and could not recover in a 48- 10 loss to the Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Blessuan Austin highlighted the day for the Scarlet Knights with a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
• The initial meeting took place in Piscataway for Homecoming in 2014. Wisconsin scored 20 points in the first half on the way to a 37-0 win.
• Rutgers game highs versus Wisconsin: Rushing Yards: Josh Hicks, 72 (2015) Passing Yards: Artur Sitkowski, 261 (2018) Receiving Yards: Raheem Blackshear, 162 (2018)
ILLINOIS WIN
• Down 14-10 at halftime, Rutgers held Illinois off the scoreboard in the second half and QB Noah Vedral scored a 15-yard rushing touchdown to put the Scarlet Knights ahead with 14:16 left in the fourth quarter in a 20-14 win. The defense allowed just 81 yards and three first downs in the second half.
• The go-ahead drive spanned 88 yards on 13 plays, including a fourth-down conversion by QB Gavin Wimsatt on a 13-yard pass to WR Bo Melton.
• PK Valentino Ambrosio tacked on a field goal to increase the lead to six. Illinois drove down to the Rutgers 35-yard line, but DB Kessawn Abraham picked up a tackle-for-loss on fourth down to thwart the drive.
Sat., Nov. 6 @ 3:30 pm ET
Michigan State Spartans at Purdue Boilermakers
Michigan State Spartans
FIRST-AND-10 –
• No. 3 Michigan State (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) heads back on the road to face Purdue (5-3, 3-2) on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 3:30 p.m. in Ross-Ade Stadium. Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Tom Luginbill will have the call on ABC. The Spartans improved to 8-0 for the first time since 2015 with a 37-33 victory over then-No. 6/6 Michigan at Spartan Stadium last Saturday. MSU erased a 16-point third-quarter deficit and outscored Michigan 23-3 down the stretch in the comeback victory to earn National Team of the Week honors from the Football Writers Association of America.
• The College Football Playoff committee ranked Michigan State third in the first CFP rankings that were released on Tuesday night. The No. 3 ranking matches the highest MSU has ever been ranked by the College Football Playoff committee, equaling the No. 3 ranking at the end of the 2015 season when the Spartans reached the playoff. It also marks the first time MSU has been ranked in the CFP rankings since Nov. 4, 2018 (No. 18).
• Saturday’s game is the 68th meeting between Michigan State and Purdue. The Spartans lead the all-time series 36-28-3, including a school-record eight-game winning streak that dates back to 2007. Although the Spartans have won three straight at Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue leads the series in West Lafayette, 16-14-3. The Spartans won the last meeting, 23-13, on Oct. 27, 2018 in East Lansing. MSU hasn’t played at Purdue since a 45-31 victory on Oct. 11, 2014.
• Junior running back Kenneth Walker III continues to lead the FBS in rushing, averaging 149.2 yards per game. He also ranks among the FBS leaders in total rushing yards (second with 1,194), rushing touchdowns (third with 14), scoring (third with 11.2 ppg), total touchdowns (third with 15), total points (fourth with 90), all-purpose yards (fifth with 153.8 ypg) and yards per carry (ninth with 6.8 avg.). According to Pro Football Focus, Walker leads the FBS in rushing yards after contact (896) and is fourth with 31 carries of 10-plus yards.
• Following a record-breaking performance in the 37-33 win over No. 6 Michigan, Walker III collected several honors, including National Offensive Player of the Week (Walter Camp Football Foundation, Maxwell Award, The Athletic) and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. He is listed as the No. 1 Heisman Trophy contender by The Athletic, Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, and Robert Griffin III of ESPN. Walker was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award by the Maxwell Football Club on Nov. 1. Walker rushed for five touchdowns, the most by any player ever against the Wolverines, and finished with a total of 197 yards on just 23 carries (8.6 avg.). His scores came on runs of 27 and 8 yards in the second quarter, 1 yard in the third quarter, and 58 and 23 yards in the fourth quarter.
• The Spartans are 8-0 for the first time since winning the Big Ten title and advancing to the College Football Playoff in 2015; it marks the seventh time overall MSU has started 8-0 (1951, 1952, 1965, 1966, 2010, 2015, 2021). MSU is also 5-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2013 and for just the fourth time in school history (1965, 1966, 2013, 2021).
• Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker was named the national coach of the week by the Dodd Trophy and The Athletic following MSU’s 37-33 win over Michigan. The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity. Tucker was named to the Dodd Trophy Watch List last month.
• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Payton Thorne, a midseason addition to the Manning Award Watch List, has completed 62 percent of his passes (131-of-213) for 1,897 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. He ranks among the Big Ten and FBS leaders in passing efficiency (third and 32nd with 153.9 rating), passing TDs (third and 28th with 15), passing (fifth and 41st with 237.1 ypg) and total offense (fifth and 52nd with 249.1 ypg). Thorne also ranks third on the team in rushing with a net of 96 yards on 45 carries with two TDs, although he has gained a total of 209 yards on the ground. Thorne ranks tied for third in the FBS with five passes of 60-plus yards, all touchdowns (85 yards to Jayden Reed vs. Youngstown State; 75 yards to Reed vs. Youngstown State; 65 yards to Jalen Nailor vs. Rutgers; two 63-yarders to Nailor vs. Rutgers). Thorne also ranks 11th in the FBS with 762 yards of his passing coming on completions of 20-plus yards and tied for 11th with eight TDs of 20-plus yards.
• Michigan State continued to climb in the national rankings this week, moving up to No. 5 in The Associated Press Poll and No. 6 in the USA TODAY/AFCA Coaches Poll. This marks the seventh consecutive week the Spartans have improved their ranking in the AP Poll. It’s also the highest Michigan State has been ranked in the AP Poll since Dec. 6, 2015 (No. 3). The No. 6 position is the highest for MSU in the Coaches Poll since the final poll in 2015 (No. 6).
• Michigan State ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 26th in the nation in turnover margin (+0.62). MSU has forced 14 turnovers, tied for 22nd in the FBS, and has lost nine (36th). The Spartans have forced five turnovers in their last two games (three at Indiana; two vs. Michigan).
A QUICK GLANCE AT PURDUE (5-3, 3-2 BIG TEN) –
• The Boilermakers are 5-3 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play. After opening the season 2-0, Purdue has an alternating loss-win pattern. The Boilermakers’ wins include opening with a 30-21 triumph over Oregon State (Sept. 4) and a 49-0 rout at UConn (Sept. 11), before a hard-fought 27-13 loss at in-state rival Notre Dame (Sept. 18). Purdue opened Big Ten action with a 13-9 win over Illinois (Sept. 25), before a 20-13 loss at Minnesota (Oct. 2), but bouncing back in a big way to upset No. 2 Iowa, 24-7 (Oct. 16), that vaulted the Boilermakers into the Top 25 at No. 25. Purdue’s nationally ranked tenure was short-lived as the Boilermakers lost at home to Wisconsin 30-13 (Oct. 23), preceding a big bounce-back win, 28-23, at Nebraska (Oct. 30).
• Last time out, Purdue knocked off Nebraska, 28-23, in Lincoln, coming back from an early 7-0 deficit and trailing 17-14 at halftime, before the Boilermakers outscored the Huskers, 14-6, in the second half for the 28-23 final score. Purdue’s defense limited Nebraska to just 130 rushing yards, including just 54 in the second half, while Nebraska gained 269 passing yards, but the Boilermaker defense picked off Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez four times and sacked him once. Meanwhile, the Purdue offense collected 349 yards of total offense with 233 through the air and 116 on the ground, and the Boilermakers didn’t have any turnovers.
• Fifth-year senior quarterback Aidan O’Connell was 34-of-45 passing for 233 yards with two TDs, ending with -9 yards rushing after getting sacked twice. Dynamic junior wide receiver David Bell had nine receptions for 74 yards, adding one rush for 6 yards to finish with a game-high 80 all-purpose yards. Fellow junior wideout Milton Wright added seven catches for 40 yards and a TD, while fifth-year senior wide receiver Jackson Anthrop added six receptions for 43 yards and a TD.
• Junior linebacker Jalen Graham highlighted half of the Boilermaker defense’s four interceptions with a 45-yard oskie return for a TD in the second quarter to open Purdue’s scoring, adding another pickoff in the third quarter. Graham added a pass break-up, along with six tackles. Junior safety Cam Allen snared an interception for a 22-yard return, while senior safety Chris Jefferson had the fourth interception, with both coming on back-to-back Nebraska possessions in the fourth quarter. Fifth-year senior linebacker Kieren Douglas led the defense with seven stops, while redshirt freshman defensive end Kydran Jenkins added 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack, finishing with six total tackles.
• For the season, the Boilermakers are 10th in the B1G in scoring offense (22.9 ppg), while ranking tied for fourth in scoring defense (17.1 ppg).
• Purdue’s defense is fifth in the conference in total defense (313.6 ypg), ranking second in passing defense (174.0 ypg) and ninth in rushing defense (139.6 ypg). The Boilermakers are tied for second in the Big Ten in interceptions (10).
• Offensively, Purdue is sixth in total offense (386.6 ypg), ranking third in passing offense (307.1 ypg) and 14th in rushing offense (79.5 ypg).
• Individually, O’Connell is sixth in the Big Ten in passing (221.6 ypg), and leads the conference and ranks eighth in the country in passing percentage (71.0) on 154-of-217 passing. O’Connell has thrown for 1,551 yards with nine TDs and eight INTs.
• Bell leads the Big Ten in receiving yards and yards/game (786; 112.3), ranking seventh in the FBS in yards/game and 11th in yards, and is also the only Big Ten receiver averaging over 100 yards/game. Bell is also second in the conference and 17th in the country in receptions (53), while also leading the league and ranking eighth in the nation in receptions/game (7.6), along with ranking tied for seventh in the B1G in receiving TDs (4) and 11th in the league in yards per reception (14.8).
• Durham matches Bell’s TDs, and ranking tied for seventh in the B1G in receiving TDs (4), with 36 receptions for 356 yards (50.9 ypg/9.9 ypc), while Wright has 32 catches for 315 yards (39.4 ypg/9.8 ypc) with three TDs.
• Junior running back King Doerue tops the Boilermaker rushing attack with 92 carries for 363 yards (51.9 ypg/3.9 ypc) with one TD.
• Allen spearheads the Purdue passing D, sharing the Big Ten lead and ranking tied for second in FBS with four INTs. He is third on the team with 37 tackles.
• Senior linebacker Jaylan Alexander tops the team and ranks tied for 15th in the B1G with 59 stops, adding 3.5 tackles for loss, with one sack, along with four pass break-ups and one forced fumble.
• Mitchell Fineran is 10-for-14 on field goals with a long of 49-yards, adding 21-of-22 PATs. Jack Ansell has 34 punts for a 38.8 ypp average with a long of 54-yards, one of four punts of 50+ yards, with 10 inside the 20. • Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm is 24-28 in his fifth season as conductor of the Boilermakers, posting
54-38 overall record in his eighth season as head coach.
MSU/PURDUE SERIES NOTES –
• Saturday’s game marks the 68th meeting between Michigan State and Purdue. The Spartans lead the all-time series 36-28-3, including a school-record eight-game winning streak that dates back to 2007.
• Although the Spartans have won three straight at Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue leads the series in West Lafayette, 16-14-3. MSU hasn’t played at Purdue since a 45-31 victory on Oct. 11, 2014.
• The Spartans won the last meeting, 23-13, on Oct. 27, 2018 in East Lansing.
Purdue Boilermakers
PURDUE READY FOR SPARTAN VISIT
• Purdue Football (5-3, 3-2) heads into the month of November with five victories on its record for the first time since the 2007 season as the Boilermakers play hosts to No. 5/3 Michigan State (8-0, 5-0) on Saturday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
• Head coach Jeff Brohm and his squad are on the hunt for a fourth Big Ten Conference victory for this 2021 campaign, a threshold that Brohm has been able to lead Purdue past twice thus far in his tenure (2017, 4-5; 2018, 5-4).
• Since the 2010 season, Purdue has claimed four or more Big Ten wins just three times.
A NOTEWORTHY NEBRASKA WIN
• The 28-23 win at Nebraska (Oct. 30) stands as Purdue’s third win in the last four matchups against the Cornhuskers. It was also the second-straight win for the Boilermakers in Memorial Stadium.
• Head coach Jeff Brohm improved to 3-2 against Nebraska with the result, and the series record is now knotted up at 5-5-0.
• The victory was also Purdue’s third road win of 2021. Since the 2000 season, Purdue has won three away contests just five times, with three of those instances by Joe Tiller-led squads (2003, 2004, 2006) and twice now by Brohm-led teams (2018, 2021).
• To find the last Purdue team to win four road games, one must dig back in the record book to 1943, when Elmer Burnham’s band of Boilermakers went 9-0 on the season with a 5-0 away record.
PURDUE – MSU SERIES HISTORY
• Purdue and Michigan State cross paths more seldom than most Big Ten Conference colleagues, with just five matchups against each other since 2010. Saturday’s game will be the first Boilermaker-Spartan contest since 2018.
• Purdue trails in the all-time series, 28-36-3, but has the advantage in games played at home (16-14-3).
LAST TIME AGAINST THE SPARTANS
• Purdue’s last contest against Michigan State (Oct. 27, 2018) came after the famous Boiler win over No. 2 Ohio State (Oct. 20, 2018), with Purdue yielding a 23-13 result to the Spartans in East Lansing.
• Then-freshman LB Jaylan Alexander recorded three tackles in that game, and redshirt sophomore WR Jackson Anthrop returned one kickoff for 14 yards.
WELCOME TO THE PURDUE PICK PARTY
• Purdue has now had four interceptions in two of the last three games after not recording a four-INT game since the 2018 season. Prior to the four interceptions by Purdue’s defense at No. 2 Iowa (Oct. 16) and the most recent effort at Nebraska (Oct. 30), the Boilermakers last had four interceptions vs. Boston College on Sept. 22, 2018.
• The Boilermakers have accomplished a four-interception game eight times in the last 21 seasons of football, but 2021 stands as the first season since 1999 with two instances in the same campaign.
DEFENSE IS TRENDING UP
• The Boilermakers have 10 takeaways in the last three games after recording a total of two in the first five games.
• Purdue also stands out as one of just 16 teams nationally to have recorded both a fumble return and interception return for touchdown this season. For Purdue, both types of defensive scores had not occurred since 2011, per Sports Reference.
Sat., Nov. 6 @ 6:00 pm CT
Iowa Hawkeyes at Northwestern Wildcats
Iowa Hawkeyes
GOING THE OTHER WAY
Iowa leads the country with 16 interceptions. The school record for interceptions in a season is 23 (1986, 1987, 2008). The Hawkeyes have 80 interception since 2017, more than any team in the country. Nine Hawkeyes have at least one interception this season. DB Riley Moss has four interceptions, a Big Ten best. He leads the nation in interceptions per game, having missed Weeks 7 and 8 due to injury. Moss has two interceptions returned for a touchdown, both in Week 1.
Iowa combined for 10 interceptions in consecutive games against Maryland and Penn State, which Ɵ es Miami (2001) for second most over a two-game span over the last 25 years. Mississippi State had 11 in 2002.
Six different Hawkeyes intercepted a pass in Iowa’s 51-14 win at Maryland, tying a school record for most players with an interception in a single game (vs. Wisconsin in 1982). The six interceptions are the most in a game since Iowa had a school-record seven interceptions vs. Wisconsin in 1982.
Iowa has turned 21 turnovers into 78 points in 2021. The Hawkeyes’ defense has scored 20 points (3 TDs and 1 safety).
Iowa has had at least one interception return for a touchdown in each of the last 14 seasons and 19 of the last 21. The Hawkeyes ranked third in the Big Ten with 11 interceptions in eight games in 2020.
PETRAS AMONG ALL-TIME LEADERS
QB Spencer Petras owns a 12-4 record as Iowa’s starting quarterback, the fourth best winning percentage by a starting quarterback in program history. Iowa has scored 28.6 points per game in 16 Petras starts, the highest average by a Hawkeye starting quarterback since Nathan Chandler (28.7, 2003). Petras has 3,020 career passing yards, 14th all-Ɵ me in program history.
Petras led Iowa to 12 consecutive wins from 2020-21, winning the final six games of 2020 and the first six games of 2021. He was 194-324 with 17 touchdown passes, four interceptions and 2,226 passing yards during Iowa’s 12-game winning streak.
Petras matched his career high with three touchdown passes and set a career high with two rushing touchdowns Week 5 at Maryland. He became the first Iowa quarterback with multiple passing touchdowns and multiple rushing touchdowns in a game since Banks at Minnesota in 2002.
The Hawkeyes averaged 31.8 points per game in 2020, Petras’ first year as starting quarterback. It marked Iowa’s highest point per game total since 2002 (36.5). Iowa won its final six games in 2020, outscoring its opponents 214-83.
HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,275 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 672-564-39 (.543). That includes a 418-224-16 (.647) record in home games, a 253-340-23 (.428) record in games away from Iowa City, a 344-385-25 (.473) mark in Big Ten games and a 302-189-15 (.612) record in Kinnick Stadium.
RETURN TO SENDER
WR Charlie Jones is the only player in the conference to rank in the top three in average yards per kickoff return and punt return. Jones has returned 13 kickoff s for an average of 26.2 yards per return, No. 2 in the Big Ten. He averages 11.2 yards on a league-high 23 punt returns.
HAWKEYES OPENED 6-FOR-6
Iowa opened the season with six straight wins for the third Ɵ me in the Kirk Ferentz era. Iowa started 9-0 in 2009 and 12-0 in 2015.
THE SERIES
Iowa holds a 51-28-3 advantage in the series that began with a 12-6 Iowa victory in 1897. The Hawkeyes are 25-16-3 all-Ɵ me in games played in Evanston.
Iowa won 21 consecutive games over Northwestern prior to a 31-20 Wildcat win in 1995 in Evanston. The Wildcats hold a 14-10 advantage since snapping that Hawkeye win streak. Northwestern won the last meeting in 2020, but Iowa won 20-0 on its last trip to Evanston (2019). Here are the series results:
THE LAST TRIP TO EVANSTON (Oct. 26, 2019)
Iowa defeated Northwestern, 20-0, on Oct. 26, 2019 at Ryan Field. The Hawkeyes’ defense totaled five sacks and DE Joe Evans recorded his first career tackle and his first 1.5 sacks. Iowa allowed 202 yards of offense, its lowest total allowed in a road game since limiting Northwestern to 198 yards in 2015.
DB Dane Belton made his first career start and recorded five tackles. He became the 25th true freshman in the Ferentz era to start. Eight of the 25 have been defensive backs (Belton 2019; Moss and Brents 2018; Hankins 2017; Rugamba 2016; King 2013; Sapp and Sanders 2000).
TE Sam LaPorta’s 41-yard reception in the second quarter was his first career reception.
Northwestern Wildcats
THE OPENING DRIVE
WELCOME BACK: BRYAN HEINZ
Northwestern will welcome back and recognize former defensive back Bryan Heinz on Saturday … Heinz played for the ‘Cats from 2003-06 … He graduated with a bachelor’s in economics and master’s in interaction and social influence … He join the U.S. Army in 2010 as a special forces candidate and became a Green Beret in 2012 and joined the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) … He has been deployed eight times to Afghanistan, Central and South America … Currently works as a Special Forces Sergeant first class the 7th Group … He will be recognized in the third quarter.
TOP-10 FOOTBALL. TOP-10 EDUCATION.
“Northwestern Football: Top-10 Football and Top-10 Education” – Pat Fitzgerald. Northwestern finished No. 10 in the final AP Top-25 Poll (2020), the program’s highest finish since checking in at No. 8 in the final poll of the 1995 season when Pat Fitzgerald was a junior on the Wildcats’ roster. Northwestern University was ranked as the ninth-best university in U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 rankings. NU was the only institution to be represented in the Top-10 in both rankings.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern dropped a 41-14 decision to Minnesota … Linebacker Chris Bergin finished with 19 tackles … Evan Hall and Berkley Holman each had receiving touchdowns for Northwestern both were the firsts of their careers … QB Andrew Marty saw action for the first time since sustaining an injury at Duke (Sept. 18) … Marty finished 10-for-16 for 93 yards and two touchdowns … He also ran for 28 yards … It was NU’s first Big Ten West loss at Ryan Field since Nov. 23, 2019.
LAST TIME OUT VS. IOWA
Northwestern overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit to beat Iowa, 21-20, in 2020 … NU’s largest comeback in a Big Ten game since Oct. 24, 2009, when it came back from a 28-3 deficit vs. Indiana to win, 29-28 … The Wildcats have won four of the last five meetings vs. Iowa … NU has won three straight games at Kinnick Stadium … Fitzgerald is 9-6 in his career vs. Iowa … Northwestern’s nine wins since 2006 are tied with Wisconsin for the most by any team in college football during that span … Brandon Joseph has two interceptions and Blake Gallagher added a third … Jesse Brown had a pair of rushing touchdowns, while Kyric McGowan found pay dirt on a carry … Iowa went a perfect 6-0 in 2020 after losing to Northwestern.
BERGIN IS A BEAST
Leads the ‘Cats with 98 tackles (60 solo) and has an interception and forced fumble … He is averaging 12.2 tackles per game which is tied for the most in the country … The former walk-on turned team captain has 7.5 solo stops per game, which leads college football… Has 12 career games with double-digit tackles and has set a career-high mark four times this season (13 at Duke; 14 vs. Ohio; 16 at Michigan; 19 vs. Minnesota).
SPOTLIGHT: EVAN HULL
RB Evan Hull rushed for 107 yards vs. Minnesota, third time this season going over 100 and fifth time in his career … Since making his debut on Oct. 5, 2019, Hull has accounted for eight of Northwestern’s 16 15+ yard touchdowns … Hull is the first Northwestern player since Venric Mark (2012) with two 70+ yard runs in a season … He ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 13th nationally with a 6.47 yards per carry clip … He is on pace to have the second highest yards per carry average in Wildcat history behind Damien Anderson, who averaged 6.63 yards per carry in 2000 … More on Hull on page two.
‘CATS DIG THE LONG BALL
The Wildcats have tallied 10 offensive plays that have gone for 40-or-more yards this season (eight games) … In the previous 21 games prior to this season, NU only had eight offensive plays go for more than 40 yards … Stephon Robinson, Jr. has accounted for seven of NU’s passing plays that have gone for 20-plus yards.
GAME NOTES
CLASSIC ‘CATS
Three of NU’s seven wins last season came by one score … Dating back to the beginning of the Pat Fitzgerald era in 2006, the Wildcats have 48 one-possession wins, third only to Navy and NIU in the FBS during that span.
TALKING TOP TARGETS
WR Stephon Robinson Jr. leads the team with 30 grabs and is averaging 4.3 grabs per game which is a single-season career best … WR Malik Washington ranks second on the team with 28 grabs and had a career long 64-yard TD reception vs. Rutgers.
LEARN THE NAME – ADETOMIWA ADEBAWORE
DE Adetomiwa Adebawore recorded four tackles for loss vs. Rutgers (Oct. 16), which is tied for second-most in a game by a Northwestern player … It was the most by an NU player since program sack leader Joe Gaziano had four TFL against Duke in 2018 … Adebawore as recorded at least 0.5 tackles for loss in seven of his past 10 games, dating back to last season … He also forced a fumble in the third quarter, the first of his career, becoming the third player in the Pat Fitzgerald era (2006-present) with at least four tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a game.
HULLUVA DAY
RB Evan Hull ripped off a career-long 90-yard touchdown run in the first quarter vs. Ohio (Sept. 25), his second of the game, to give NU a 14-0 lead …. It marked
the longest play for NU since Solomon Vault’s 95-yard kick return at Michigan State (Oct. 15, 2016) and Northwestern’s longest play from scrimmage since Jeremy Ebert hauled in a 90-yard touchdown reception from Dan Persa vs. Rice (Nov. 12, 2011) … Hull’s run was the fourth rushing play in Northwestern history to go for 90+ yards and the first since Bill Swingle had a program-record 95 yard run in a 45-0 win vs. Boston College on Sept. 30, 1961 (other 90+ rushes were a 91-yard rush by Tiny Lewis vs. South Dakota in 1927, and a 90-yard run by Alton Johnson vs. Chicago in 1898).
RETRUN OF THE… PUNT
Northwestern ranks sixth nationally in punt returns this season averaging 17.00 yards per return … The Wildcats have racked up 221 punt return yards through eight games which is the second most in the Big Ten … Against Indiana State (9/11), Brandon Joseph and Raymond Niro III combined for 166 punt return yards – the most in program history. Joseph finished with 111 return yards, the sixth most in a game in Northwestern history, and the first NU punt returner to go over 100 yards in a game since Venric Mark had 134 return yards against Syracuse in 2012 … Joseph’s 65-yard return was the longest by a Wildcat since Venric Mark’s 75-yard return against Penn State in 2012.
TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE O:
For the first time since 2007 season, Northwestern had a new offensive play caller. Mike Bajakian (“Jake”) was hired as offensive coordinator on Dec. 11, 2019. Here’s highlights from year one of the Bajakian era:
• Northwestern scored a TD on five of its nine game-opening drives.
• 14 touchdown drives of at least 75 yards; it had nine throughout the entire 2019 season.
• Scored 43 points vs. Maryland in the opener. It was the first time NU had scored 40-plus points against a Big Ten opponent since November 25, 2017.
• The Wildcats 35 points in the 2021 Citrus Bowl win were the most points a Northwestern team has scored in a bowl victory.
• Northwestern amassed 457 yards of offense in the bowl win – it was the third time in 2020 that the ‘Cats had more than 400 yards of total offense.
DEFENSE’S NEW DUDE
Following the retirement of legendary assistant coach Mike Hankwitz, Northwestern will have a new defensive coordinator for the first time since 2007 … Fitzgerald
turned to the NFL and brought in Jim O’Neil to be the new DC … O’Neil comes to Evanston after spending the last three seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders including
one as the defensive backs coach … He was the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2014-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016)
BREAKING DOWN THE QB ROOM
Ryan Hilinski made his Northwestern debut at Duke (Sept. 18) and his first NU start in the win vs. Ohio (Sept. 25):
Hunter Johnson | Sr. | Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg/Clemson Started three games in 2021 … Career game vs. MSU (9/3):30 completions, 283 yards, 3 TD …Top rated QB in 2017 class by ESPN …Indiana’s Mr. Football in 2016 … Played in seven games as a true freshman at Clemson, going 21-for-27 passing for 234 yards, two touchdowns, INT … Appeared in six games for the ‘Cats in 2019 and threw for 432 yards … Voted a 2021 team captain.
Ryan Hilinski | So. | Orange, Calif./Orange Lutheran/South Carolina Made NU debut at Duke (9/18) with two completions for 34 yards … No. 2 pro-style QB in class of 2019 by 247Sports … Concluded his high school career with 8,102 passing yards and 85 total touchdowns … Played in 13 games at South Carolina including 11 starts as a true freshman in 2019 … Threw for 2,357 yards in 2019 with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions … Only saw action in two games in 2020 at South Carolina.
Andrew Marty | Sr. | Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming
Career game at Duke (9/18) off the bench: 11 completions, 151 yards, 2 TD before getting hurt … Made his collegiate debut in 2019 vs. Ohio State (10/18/19) … Logged his first career start, scrambling for 111 yards and two scores along with a passing touchdown to help defeat Illinois (11/30/19) … Completed 14-of-22 passes on the season with two touchdowns and two INT … Appeared in four games during 2020 season … Had 24 rushing yards in 2020.
CHARLIE AND THE FIELD GOAL FACTORY
Kuhbander ranks in the Top-10 all-time at NU for field goal percentage, field goals made, points kicking, extra points made and extra points percentage. His 132 career extra points made rank second in program history behind Jeff Budzien’s 136. Kuhbander’s 41 career field goals rank 4th in program history and he just needs five more to catch John Duvic in third.
Sat., Nov. 6 @ 7:30 pm ET
Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan Wolverines
Indiana Hoosiers
SETTING THE SCENE
• Indiana (2-6, 0-5 B1G East) wraps up its two-game road trip at No. 9/10 Michigan (7-1, 4-1 B1G East) on Saturday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Michigan Stadium (107,601; FieldTurf) on FOX.
• The Hoosiers defeated the Wolverines, 38-21, in Bloomington last season (Nov. 7).
• It marked IU’s first victory over U-M since Oct. 24, 1987.
• Indiana is 7-4 over its last 11 road games.
• The Hoosiers have faced five ranked opponents, each of which has entered the Top 10 in 2021, with a combined record of 34-6.
• Peyton Hendershot is IU’s tight ends receptions (125) and yardage (1,383) leader. His 14 touchdowns only trail Ted Bolser’s 15 from 2010-13.
• Linebacker Micah McFadden leads the Big Ten and shares second nationally with 14 tackles for loss, and he has at least one TFL in 13-straight games.
• Donaven McCulley threw for 242 yards at Maryland last weekend, an Indiana true freshman record.
THE COACHES
• The 2020 American Football Coaches Association National Coach of the Year, Tom Allen is 26-28 in his fifth season as Indiana head football coach. His 24 wins over his first four years are the most for an IU head coach during that span. Allen was also named the 2020 Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (Big Ten coaches vote)
and the Dave McClain Coach of the Year (Big Ten media vote).
• Jim Harbaugh is 56-23 (.709) in his seventh season at Michigan. He owns a 114-50 (.695) overall record with stints at Stanford (2007-10) and San Diego (2004-06). Harbaugh also coached the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14).
NEWS & NOTES
• The team voted WR Ty Fryfogle, TE Peyton Hendershot, LB Cam Jones, DB Marcelino McCrary-Ball, LB Micah McFadden, and QB Michael Penix Jr. season captains.
• Jones, McCrary-Ball, McFadden, and Penix were also 2020 captains.
• The Hoosiers (6-2, 6-1 Big Ten) finished the 2020 season with a No. 12 final rating from the Associated Press, their highest final ranking since 1967 (No. 4).
• IU’s 11 B1G wins over 2019-20 tied for the most in school history over a two-year span (1987-88).
• Indiana has played in consecutive January bowl games (2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and 2021 Outback Bowl) for the first time in school history.
• Tom Allen reached win No. 25 in his 48th career game to become the third-fastest in program history to 25 victories behind James M. Sheldon (40 games) and James H. Horne (46 games).
MICHIGAN NOTES
• Michigan leads the overall series, 59-10. The Hoosiers last downed the Wolverines in Ann Arbor on Oct. 21, 1967 (27-20).
• IU offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan (2006-09) walked on as a quarterback at U-M before earning a scholarship prior to his junior campaign.
• Six Hoosiers hail from the state of Michigan: David Ellis (Clinton Township), David Holloman (Auburn Hills), Will Jontz (Brighton), Christian Love (Detroit), Peter Schulz (Franklin), and Lem Watley-Neely (Harper Woods).
• Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Zach Carpenter played for the Wolverines in 2019 and 2020.
IN THE POLLS
• Indiana was ranked in the 2021 preseason for the first time since 1969.
• The Hoosiers appeared in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll for the 11thstraight week, a program record.
2020 NEWS & NOTES
• Indiana collected its first Top-10 ranking in the Nov. 8, 2020, AP Poll (No. 10) since Sept. 22, 1969 (No. 10).
• The Hoosiers No. 7 rating (Dec. 13 and 20, 2020) was their best in the AP Poll since Nov. 27, 1967 (No. 4).
• IU’s three Top-25 victories tied for the third-most in the country and matched the school record (1945).
• Indiana clinched a winning league record in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1987-88 and for the sixth time overall (1967-68, 1944-46, 1936-37).
• The Hoosiers six conference wins tied for the most in program history (1967, 1987).
• IU collected its first win over No. 16 Wisconsin (14-6) since 2001 and 2002, the former coming at Camp Randall Stadium.
• Indiana recorded its first road victory over a ranked opponent since No. 18 Missouri in 2014, and its first Big Ten road win over a ranked opponent since No. 22 Michigan State in 2001.
• The Hoosiers defeated Michigan State, 24-0, to reclaim the Old Brass Spittoon for the first time since 2016 and earn their first win in East Lansing since 2001.
• IU’s 38-21 victory over No. 23 Michigan was its first over the Wolverines since 1987.
• Indiana’s 36-35, overtime win against No. 8 Penn State in the season opener was the sixth against a Top-10 opponent in program history, with the last coming at No. 9 Ohio State in 1987.
• It marked the Hoosiers first Top-10 victory at Memorial Stadium since 1967 (No. 3 Purdue).
• IU defeated PSU, U-M, MSU, and UW in the same season for the first time in school history and beat the Wolverines and Spartans in the same year for the first time since 1967.
OFFENSE
Nick Sheridan is in his second season overseeing the Indiana offense.
• IU returned 25 letter-winners (10 lost) on offense, including seven starters, from 2020.
• A year ago, senior Ty Fryfogle earned third-team Associated Press All-America honors, became the first wideout in program history to be named the Big Ten’s Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year, claimed first-team all-conference honors, and was a Biletnikoff semifinalist.
• Redshirt junior quarterback Michael Penix Jr. carded second-team All-Big Ten honors and was a Davey O’Brien semifinalist, while redshirt senior tight end Peyton
Hendershot collected third-team accolades.
• The Hoosiers have reached 30 points 16 times since the start of 2019 (3 times in 2021), which is tied for third (Michigan) in the B1G to Ohio State’s 25 and Minnesota’s 19.
• In its victory at Western Kentucky (9/25), the offense piled up 507 total yards on 92 snaps, the team’s largest output since racking up 522 yards at Purdue on Nov. 30, 2019.
• In 2020, Indiana led the conference in fewest sacks allowed (1.25, T-17th nationally), ranked second in 30-yard passing plays (tied with 13), 60-yarders (4, T-8th nationally), and 50-yarders (6, T-15th), tied for third in 40-yarders (6), ranked fourth in scoring (28.9) and interceptions lost (tied with 5, T-32nd), and ranked fifth in passing (250.9, 43rd) and time of possession (31:15, 36th).
• IU threw for 342 yards in its victory over No. 23 Michigan, the program’s second-highest passing yardage against U-M in 69 all-time meetings, for 320 in the win at Michigan State, and for 491 at No. 3 Ohio State, the most in 94 all-time meetings, the second-highest total in program history, and the fourth-most ever allowed by OSU.
• The Hoosiers posted 460 yards against the Wolverines, 433 against the Spartans, and 490 against the Buckeyes.
• Sheridan is in his fifth year in Bloomington. He coached the tight ends in 2019 and the quarterbacks in 2017-18.
• The Saline, Mich., native worked as an offensive graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee from 2014-16.
• Sheridan (33) was named one of the nation’s Top 30 coaches under 30 years of age by 247Sports in 2017.
• A quarterback at the University of Michigan (2006-09), he appeared in 12 games and made four starts.
• Sheridan’s father, Bill, is a 36-year NFL and collegiate coaching veteran, currently serving as the defensive line coach at the Air Force Academy
DEFENSE
• Charlton Warren took over the defensive reins from Kane Wommack, who is in his first season as head coach at South Alabama.
• A 16-plus year coaching veteran and the 247Sports No. 11 recruiter in the nation, Warren spent the previous four seasons in the SEC.
• He led the defensive backs at the University of Georgia (2019-20), the cornerbacks at the University of Florida (2018), and he mentored the defensive backs and served as special teams coordinator at the University of Tennessee (2017).
• Warren oversaw the defensive backs at the University of North Carolina (2015-16) and the University of Nebraska (2014) after he spent 2005-13 at the United States Air Force Academy, his alma mater, including two years as coordinator (2012-13) and four years as co-coordinator (2008-11).
• Head coach Tom Allen stresses the importance of takeaways and the team’s magic number per game is three.
• The defense has reached that number 16 times since Allen brought the 4-2-5 to Indiana in 2016.
• Since the start of that campaign (66 games), Indiana has five games with four takeaways, 17 with at least three takeaways, and 32 with multiple takeaways, including three this season (at No. 18 Iowa, No. 8 Cincinnati, No 10 Michigan State).
• IU has 28 takeaways (21 INTs) since the beginning of the 2020 season (16 games).
• The Hoosiers have at least one takeaway in 41 of their last 47 games, including 20 of their last 24, and they have an interception in 13 of their last 19, including a pair against the Spartans (10/16).
• MSU came into game averaging 36.7 points, 217.2 rushing, 269.7 passing, and 486.8 total yards, and it was held to 20 points, 100 rushing, 141 passing, and 241 total yards.
• The defense limited Kenneth Walker III to 84 yards on 23 carries (3.7 average) and kept him out of the end zone.
• In 2020, Indiana led the B1G in interceptions (17, 2nd nationally), opponent red zone scores (64.0, 1st), takeaways (20, T-13th), and sacks (3.13, 14th), finished fourth in scoring defense (20.3, T-19th), and fifth in rushing defense (137.1, 34th), total defense (378.1, 43rd), and opponent third-down conversions (37.5, 39th).
• A program record seven Hoosier defenders earned 2020 All-Big Ten honors, including a school record four first-teamers, and five of those seven return in 2021: senior linebacker Micah McFadden (1st), junior cornerback Tiawan Mullen (1st), senior cornerback Jaylin Williams (2nd), senior safety Devon Matthews (3rd), and senior linebacker Cam Jones (honorable mention).
• Mullen became the first corner in program history to be named a first-team All-American (FWAA), while McFadden earned third-team All-America honors (AP).
• The Hoosiers led the B1G in sacks for the first time ever and their 17 picks tied for the third-most in school history (19 in 1998 and 2007).
• IU had a pair of picks in a program-record seven-straight games and became the first team since Oklahoma State in 2011 with at least two interceptions in six-consecutive games in the same year, also a school record.
• Indiana’s five shutouts since the start of 2017 share third nationally with Alabama, Virginia Tech, and UAB. Georgia leads the country with seven followed by Wisconsin’s six.
• Since the start of 2019, the Hoosiers have held six opponents, including four conference foes, to six points or fewer, the most in the league. Wisconsin (5) ranks second
Michigan Wolverines
No Notes Available
