Purdue might not be the worst team in the Big Ten!
That’s probably the best takeaway from the past weekend, especially after a second straight year where it was picked to finish at the bottom of an 18 team league. Yes, I am aware it was Ball State, but Purdue held the lead for 59:20 of Saturday’s game and the Cardinals never felt like a serious threat. Last season Purdue held a lead over FBS level opponents for just nine minutes and 32 seconds, and it never led any FBS team by more than three points. If you’re wondering, Purdue led Nebraska, Illinois, and Michigan State by exactly three points for brief periods of those games. Nebraska and Michigan State were both 3-0 and represent the majority of that 9:32.
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Purdue now can go for its first Indiana state championship since 2004, which was the last time it beat all three FBS level opponents in the state. It also pulled off the triple in 1997 and 1985. I am not ready to start selling playoff tickets, but after last year’s disaster it was good to feel good on a Saturday about Purdue football for the first time in a year.
Let’s take a look at what the rest of the conference did in Week 1.
Thursday night games:
Rutgers (Beat Ohio 34-31) – The Bobcats had a ton of chances here, as they were tied entering the final quarter. They just could not get that one last drive going. Was this the best chance the MAC had of beating a B1G team?
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Minnesota (Beat Buffalo 23-10) – The Gophers sat on the ball for nearly 10 minutes in closing out this one, going 58 yards in 16 plays. It is a good thing this was a later kickoff on opening night, because that is some NSFW porn.
Nebraska (Beat Cincinnati 20-17) – Given the dearth of non-cupcake games in week 1, the Huskers get credit for defeating a power 4 conference team. It is a good start.
Wisconsin (Beat Miami-Hydroxide 17-0) – The defense is good. The offense? Meh. A shutout win over a MAC favorite is always solid.
Friday Games:
Illinois (Beat Western Illinois 52-3) – Another game that was never in any doubt. Pretty cool that Hank Beatty broke a 102 year old Red Grange record too (Most punt return yards in a game).
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Michigan State (Beat Western Michigan 23-6) – A middling Big Ten team kind of scuffled their way to a win over a MAC team. It wasn’t ever in doubt, but it was closer than expected.
Saturday Games:
Purdue (Beat Ball State 31-0) – I don’t think anyone knew what to expect from Purdue in any phase of the game before the season started. To come out and blank an opponent (even if it is Ball State) is very nice. For now I will take “Looked solid vs. overmatched week 1 team”.
Ohio State (Beat Texas 14-7) – The champs stay the champs until further notice, as that defense was nasty in containing the Longhorns.
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Penn State (Beat Nevada 46-11) – The Nittany Lions just beat ass in every sense of the word, opening up a 46-3 lead until a late Wolf Pack score. Don’t expect them to be challenged until week 4 vs. Oregon.
Oregon (Beat Montana State 59-13) – I thought this game would be a bit closer. Montana State is a very good FCS team (Ranked No. 2) and Oregon was slow out of the gate last year against Idaho. This was a laugher pretty much from the beginning.
Michigan (Beat New Mexico 34-17) – New Mexico hung around far too long in this game. If you’re a top 20 team and you struggle too much against your cupcake…
Indiana (Beat Old Dominion 27-14) – 502 yards, but only 20 offensive points for the Hoosiers (seven came from a punt return). For the amount of shit Curt Cignetti talks a 13 point win over a bottom level FBS team is not inspiring.
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Maryland (Beat Florida Atlantic 39-7) – Most of this was on a 26 point second quarter, but September Maryland is real. The Terps have somehow won 16 consecutive non-conference games.
Northwestern (Lost 23-3 at Tulane) – The Wildcats had only 237 yards of offense and five turnovers. That’s still not as bad as saying no to Tulane’s request to wear special uniforms for the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Dick move, Evanston’s Big Ten team.
Iowa (Beat Albany 34-7) – Another Ferentz special. They farted around a bit and even trailed in the second quarter, but the defense did Iowa things and the offense actually scored some points.
USC (Beat Missouri State 73-13) – Great come from behind win for the Trojans over FBS newcomer Missouri State. They trailed 3-0 for a little over three minutes, so they overcame tremendous adversity.
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UCLA (Lost to Utah 43-10) – Great decision by Nico Iamaleava to go from a playoff team to a potential 3-win UCLA team. The Bruins are baaaaaad.
Washington (Beat Colorado State 38-21) – I don’t know. I mean, I guess. Is it really a Big Ten game if it starts at 10:30pm? The Rams were within a touchdown in the fourth quarter and Ryan Walters’ defense did not look good.
And I’ll include Notre Dame here as well. Notre Dame (Lost at Miami-Fluoride 27-24) – The Fighting Irish are only in the Big Ten for hockey, but I am putting them here because they are a future Purdue opponent.
