1. Track Star(s) of the Week 🏃🏼⭐️
We have TWO track stars this week… and our first one on the defensive side of the ball. Michigan WR Andrew Marsh hit 20.6 mph on his 69-yard touchdown catch against USC. In high school, Marsh was a 6’4″ high jumper and ran the 400m with a PR of 50.24. #ReelSpeed. Maryland DB Dontay Joyner hit 20.3 mph on his 67-yard pick-six in their loss to Nebraska. Joyner also ran track at the high school level, where he posted a PR of 55.28 in the 400m. #ReelSpeed.
2. FRANKLIN FIRED 😞
I’ll be honest, I didn’t see Penn State actually firing James Franklin at this point in the season, but like most of the Nittany Lion fanbase, I’m thrilled at the news. With James Franklin, two things can be true. I’m grateful for what he’s done to build the Penn State football program and know the team will miss him as their head coach, but it was also time to go. This season hasn’t felt like others in the past; the team has underperformed by every definition of the word, and it was his time to be relieved of his duties after their 3-3 start. Since all anyone will ask me the next few months is who I’d like to be the next head coach… My top head coach candidate for Penn State at this point is Joe Brady. I love what Joe Brady has done in his career so far. The 2019 LSU offense under Brady’s passing game coordination was one of the most explosive in college football, and he won the Broyles Award as top assistant coach that year. He has great experience working with young, elite quarterbacks and has developed superstars in college and the NFL. I think he’d be the perfect mix to be Penn State’s new head coach.
3. No Luck for the Ducks ✖️🦆
Man, what a game in Eugene this weekend. Matchups like Oregon vs. Indiana are one of the main reasons Big Ten football reigns supreme. I’d hate to call it an upset, considering we’re still early in the season, but I’m more than impressed with Indiana after this one. Indiana pulled off a signature 30–20 road victory over No. 3 Oregon, handing the Ducks their first Big Ten home loss and snapping an 18-game winning streak at Autzen Stadium. To walk into Oregon and pull off a 30–20 win over the Ducks makes them one of the best teams in the country. Mendoza didn’t have his best game, but still helped them get the win. The Indiana defense really stepped up, picking off Dante Moore twice and holding him to under 200 passing yards and negative rushing yards on the ground.
4. All Hail The Buckeyes 🌰
At this point in the season, we all need to applaud Ohio State for how it’s looked to start the season. Illinois played the Buckeyes hard on Saturday, but they had too much firepower for the Fighting Illini to handle. Despite both Tate and Smith combining for under 100 receiving yards, they still managed to put up 34 points. Diving into the stats, Ohio State was 6-for-6 in the red zone, which was the real difference-maker for them. It’s scary to see how good this team is, even when they aren’t playing their best football. Also, we need to have a serious discussion about ranking Illinois. I know they were blown out by both Ohio State and Indiana, but with only two losses on the year to two top-five teams in the country, it’s not fair for them to be unranked.
5. Trojans Roll 👑
USC rolled past Michigan 31–13 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in their first statement win of the year, handing the Wolverines their first Big Ten loss of the season. Walk-on running back (hell yeah) King Miller stole the show with 158 rushing yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Jayden Maiava was efficient through the air, going 25-for-32 for 265 yards and two scores. Michigan’s Bryce Underwood threw for 207 yards and only one touchdown, but also tossed two picks as the Wolverines struggled to establish rhythm, managing just 316 total yards to USC’s 489. The Trojans dominated the trenches, rushing for 224 yards against a top-10 Michigan run defense, and sealed the game with a pair of timely defensive takeaways.
6. The Mighty Bruins 🔥
Against all odds, UCLA is on a two-game win streak with wins against Penn State (oof) and Michigan State last week. They’ve scored 38+ points in each game, with Nico Iamaleava putting up eight combined touchdowns to zero interceptions in both games. In their first four games, they were outscored by 68 points, but in the last two games, they’ve flipped the switch and have outscored their opponents by 30 points. With a big matchup against 4–2 Maryland this weekend, we’ll get to see if this UCLA team is for real or if they’ve just been lucky the last two weeks.
7. Play of the Weekend ‼️
I might be the biggest Koi Perich fan in the country. This guy’s been electric since he stepped on the field for the Gophers as a true freshman. On Saturday, he built even more hype for himself when he picked off Purdue’s Ryan Browne for a 27-yard game-winning house call.
8. College Park Madness 🤯
Nebraska edged Maryland 34–31 in a wild game in College Park. Dylan Raiola overcame three interceptions to deliver a game-winning 3-yard touchdown pass to Dane Key with just over a minute remaining. Running back Emmett Johnson anchored the Huskers’ offense with 176 rushing yards on 21 carries, including a 50-yard burst that shifted momentum late. Maryland capitalized on Nebraska’s turnovers, highlighted by a 67-yard interception return by Dontay Joyner that gave the Terps a third-quarter lead. Raiola led an 81-yard, seven-play drive capped by the go-ahead score, and Nebraska’s defense held firm in the final seconds after a costly intentional grounding penalty stalled Maryland’s last possession. This one didn’t get enough hype leading up to the game and certainly has been outshone by other games this weekend.
9. Spin Cycle 🌪️
USC’s King Miller had one of the most disgusting spin moves you’ll see all season — enjoy, my Big Ten pals.
10. The Weekend Ahead 📆
USC vs. Notre Dame: USC picked up its signature win last weekend and aims to take down the Fighting Irish on Saturday. My biggest key to the game, or match rather, is Jayden Maiava vs. this Notre Dame secondary, mostly Leonard Moore. If USC and Maiava can get the aerial attack going, and if he can feed Makai Lemon, I’m confident the Trojans can take down Notre Dame in South Bend on Saturday night.
Washington vs. Michigan: Washington has been and continues to be my dark horse team in the conference to make a run at a Big Ten title (assuming Indiana drops a game or two), and will need to unleash the dogs if they want to beat Michigan in the Big House. Michigan hasn’t yet faced a true dual threat at quarterback like Washington’s Demond Williams Jr. My two biggest deciding factors in the game are: 1. Can the Wolverine defense stop the two-headed rushing attack of Coleman and Williams, and 2. Can Bryce Underwood bounce back after their loss last week? The Huskies are ranked sixth in the nation when it comes to run defense, allowing only 82 yards per game. If Michigan wants to get the win, they need Underwood to ball out in the passing game.
