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Michigan jumped on Saturday night at the Big House while massaging Wisconsin's wound. Here are five other things to know about the Big Ten:
1. The image of the playoffs is crystal clear.
And from the point of view of the Big Ten, it's not pretty. Penn State and Wisconsin have two losses. The whole Big Ten West is out, actually. It is located in the states of Michigan and Ohio, and the path of the Wolverines is trapped.
Michigan must pull out a rejuvenated team from Michigan State to East Lansing and, after a week of rest, beat the Penn State team. The Thanksgiving week-end match with Ohio State is set in Columbus and it is worth noting that Michigan has 1-1 on the road this season: a close defeat against Notre Dame and an even tighter win against Northwestern.
Meanwhile, the Buckeyes will face Purdue next week and will then have a losing game (at Michigan State) before the Wolverines arrive in town.
Ohio State also has its own Odell Beckham Jr. His name is K.J. Hill, and the bullets are sometimes stuck to his hands.
2. The new favorite of Big Ten West is … Iowa.
Northwestern is currently leading the standings at 3-1, a fact celebrated by the program's Twitter account. The way the Wildcats arrived there, with their last-minute survivals against Purdue and Nebraska and the absence of a hasty attack, makes the trip to Indianapolis more realistic.
Purdue (2-1) rolls and gets Iowa and Wisconsin home, but boilermakers also have to host the state of Ohio and travel to the state of Michigan.
Wisconsin (2-1) is a disaster, with a defense awarding 6.1 yards per game, third place in the Big Ten. The Badgers beat Iowa and got the Northwestern at Ryan Field, where the Wildcats rarely play well. They also have a trip to Penn State.
Iowa (2-1) is enjoying a quiet and fantastic season. The Hawkeyes lost their only game against Wisconsin, but have the second attack of the conference and the second defense (4.5 yards per game). They beat Indiana 42-16, breaking tackle during strikes, rushes and bag trials. "My God," said Indiana coach Tom Allen, about quarterback Nate Stanley, of 242 pounds. "We bounced it like a pinball machine."
3. Michigan-Michigan State could be great.
The Spartans can essentially destroy their big brother's season on Saturday, putting the Wolverines in a second loss to take them out of the playoff race. The Wolverines are eager to beat the Spartans, considering Jim Harbaugh's 1-2 record against them.
The Wolverines dominated Wisconsin on Saturday night, rushing for a 320-meter macho pass while sticking to quarterback Badgers, Alex Hornibrook, with one of those Wanna Get Away nights. "I know I can be better," he said.
Speaking of "be better" … what do we think of the Michigan Stadium public administration guy who trailed the Badgers playing "Jump Around" in the last minutes? I'm all for schools that do everything in their power to reward fans who stay to the end. But be prepared to be rewarded, Michigan fans, when the Wolverines go to Camp Randall Stadium on September 21, 2019.
4. Paul Chryst's decisions are meaningless.
The Wisconsin coach attempted to play the game on the field with his team at 21-7 and to face the fourth and second defeat at Michigan 42 in the third quarter. Anthony Lotti's shot was 22 yards. Congratulations on this. In the 24th minute, he still has eight minutes left and more, Chryst again beat the ball in the fourth and second minute. Why? Jonathan Taylor, who has an average of 5.9 yards per run, is not able to win 2 yards? Was Chryst trying to catch a flight?
It makes even less sense, Chryst let Hornibrook play with his team at 38-7, exposing his starter to injury. The Chryst team showed no urgency, almost falling behind the game over what should have been a two-minute exercise. Badgers go to bed. Barry Alvarez, athletic director, hopes to have a conversation with his beloved coach.
5. Nebraska has mastered the art of losing.
Seeing the Cornhuskers up close, we understand very well why they have one less victory than Rutgers. It's Carlos Davis who has manhandled Clayton Thorson in the northwestern area. Scott Frost tries to kill the clock by calling three interceptors, taking the ball from Adrian Martinez. It's Frost who plays the 4th and 1st points in overtime – and his center responds with a lousy shotgun shot. It's one penalty after another – including one before Nebraska's first melee play.
Nebraska drew nine flags for 89 yards. Northwestern had a penalty for 5 yards. The Wildcats have committed only 17 all season, a lower FBS.
"Our discipline in terms of penalties must be one of the best in the country," said UN coach Pat Fitzgerald. "Same thing with the way we do our business … quite frankly, all the things we can control in coaching. The credit goes to our guys and staff for their understanding of the discipline needed to win a Big Ten football match. "
Fitzgerald is not the type to be gloating, but he did so on Saturday after his Wildcats kept their second-half waiting time when needed.
"We do not have any problems of substitution (or) we are not well, badly call games, report bad games, receive them badly," he said. "When that happens, you have to take a useless delay. … I'll watch the games tonight and that's where the teams lose. "
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
3-course takeaway from Northwestern 34-31 win over Nebraska »
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