Monday Roundup - Week 8
Cole Brennan breaks down Week 8 action across the Big Ten, highlighting Indiana's overtime victory at Michigan Stadium and key wins by UCLA, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Northwestern. Plus, a look at the conference standings and the path to Indianapolis heading into next week's matchups.
Chapter 1
Indiana Wins at the Big House
Cole Brennan
Tied at six in overtime at Michigan Stadium. Indiana gets the ball first. First snap, Josh Hoover finds tight end Brock Schott for 21 yards, down to the four. Hoover keeps it himself and punches in the touchdown. Indiana 13, Michigan 6. Then Michigan drives to the Indiana 13, and on fourth and goal, Tommy Carr's pass hits the turf in front of Salesi Moa, just outside the end zone. Game over.
Cole Brennan
This Week in the Big Ten is brought to you by Jellypod AI. I'm Cole Brennan, and this is the Monday Roundup for Week 8.
Cole Brennan
Back to that win. The defending national champion Hoosiers are seven and one, four and one in the Big Ten. It's their first win at Michigan Stadium since 1967. And it comes one week after the Ohio State loss that ended a 22 game winning streak. Hoover was far from sharp. Eight of 18, 81 yards, one interception, and a banged up throwing shoulder. Curt Cignetti said after the game that the staff talked about going to Grant Wilson in the second half. They stayed with Hoover, and the overtime snaps paid it off.
Cole Brennan
On Saturday morning I flagged Michigan's quarterback call. Carr got the start over Bryce Underwood. He went 20 of 32 for 167 yards, with an interception, a lost fumble, and four sacks. Two of those sacks led to missed field goals. Michigan falls to four and three, one and three in league play.
Chapter 2
The Results Board
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Now the rest of the board. Number nine UCLA 28, Michigan State 10, at the Rose Bowl. I told you Saturday morning UCLA was the one team that could get to five and oh in league play. It did. The Bruins are seven and oh for the first time since 2005. Michigan State led seven to nothing after recovering a fumble, then UCLA scored 28 straight on 245 rushing yards. Ty Dieffenbach hit Brian Rowe Junior for a 63 yard touchdown early in the third quarter. The Spartans are two and six, and oh and five in the Big Ten.
Cole Brennan
Wisconsin 24, number 16 USC 7, in Madison. The Badgers held USC to minus 17 rushing yards. Bryan Jackson, a USC transfer, scored on a five yard run with under two minutes left in the first half to make it 10 to 7. Jayden Maiava threw two first half interceptions. Wisconsin is five and two, three and one in the league.
Cole Brennan
Minnesota 13, number 15 Iowa 10. Luke Drzewiecki kicked a 46 yard field goal as time expired. Drake Lindsey set it up with a 39 yard throw to Jalen Smith on third down with 39 seconds left. Iowa turned it over four times. Minnesota now holds Floyd of Rosedale, the Little Brown Jug, and Paul Bunyan's Axe at the same time, a first since 1978.
Cole Brennan
Illinois 21, Oregon 10, in Champaign. This is the one I called Saturday. Oregon fell to two and two in conference play. Aidan Laughery ran for 123 yards, including a 75 yard touchdown in the second quarter. Michael Clayton the Second threw two touchdown passes, the last a diving 23 yard catch by Collin Dixon with 2:29 left. Oregon scored seven points in the first quarter and three in the second, then nothing.
Cole Brennan
And number 24 Northwestern 42, Rutgers 14. Aidan Chiles accounted for five touchdowns, three passing and two rushing. That's six and one, and bowl eligibility. Rutgers starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan left 6:25 into the game with a head injury.
Chapter 3
Indy Math and the Halloween Slate
Cole Brennan
Here's the Indianapolis picture, and I'll stick to what's fixed. UCLA is five and oh in league play. Ohio State is four and oh, and was idle this week. Those are the only two unbeaten teams left in the Big Ten.
Cole Brennan
Four teams have one conference loss. Indiana at four and one. Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Minnesota, all three and one. The tiebreakers matter here. UCLA beat Wisconsin 17 to 7, so Wisconsin trails the Bruins. Indiana lost to Ohio State 19 to 15, so the Hoosiers trail the Buckeyes. Indiana did beat Northwestern 29 to 23.
Cole Brennan
USC, Oregon, Iowa, and Illinois all have two league losses. They are chasing, and they need the leaders to lose.
Cole Brennan
Next Saturday, October 31st. Number three Ohio State at USC. The Buckeyes are rested, and the Trojans are coming off Madison. Wisconsin at number 15 Iowa, 11 a.m. Central. Minnesota at number six Indiana, two one loss teams in Bloomington. And number 24 Northwestern at Oregon in Eugene, 2:30 p.m. Central on Peacock. Also on the card, Michigan at Rutgers and Maryland at Illinois.
Cole Brennan
That's the Monday Roundup. Indiana won the one that mattered most in overtime, and the league has two unbeaten teams left. I'm Cole Brennan.