Wisconsin-A
The Badgers haven't missed a beat offensively this season. Quarterback Russell Wilson has made a big impact in a short time in Madison. The Senior Signal caller leads the nation with a Quarterback rating of 210.9. That is a full 5 points better than second place Baylor Quarterback Robert Griffin III. Wilson leads the Big 10 in all major passing categories. Passing for 259.5 yards a game and an outstanding 14 to 1 TD's to interceptions. Wilson completes over 74 percent of his passes. Junior Running back Monte Ball has been an outstanding change of pace from Wilson rushing for 108.8 yards a game and 16 TD's in route to second in the Big 10 in rushing behind Michigan's Denard Robinson.
As a total Offense Wisconsin is leading the Big 10 with 50.2 points per game while averaging 523.2 yards per game. Almost 100 yards more than runner up Michigan. They average and eye popping 7.8 yards per play. Maybe the most indicative stat to explain this Wisconsin Offense is the total rushing yards vs. total passing yards. This season the Badgers have 1545 rushing yards while throwing for 1594 yards.
Many say these stats show how week the schedule has been so far for Wisconsin, but these numbers speak for themselves. The Badger offense may just be the best single unit in the Big 10 and don't lose track of Wilson as he has a legitimate shot at the Heisman trophy and an undefeated season.
Michigan-B
The Michigan offense is led by dynamic Junior Quarterback Denard Robinson, who leads the Big 10 in rushing 108.9 yards a game from behind center. With 9 touchdowns this season it has become clear that Robinson can break one loose for a score at any time. Robinson can also chuck the ball averaging 179 yards through the air, which is good for 5th in the Big 10. He is connected 11 touchdowns on the season.
Michigan ranks second in total offense in the Big 10 behind Wisconsin with 427.9 yards a game. The majority of these yards come on the ground.
Nebraska-B
With the Nebraska Defense down this season, the Offense has had more pressure placed on them. The Husker offense has answered the bell averaging over 400 yards a game of total offense. The Huskers rush for 246.8 yards a game. They are led on the ground by junior running back Rex Burkhead who ranks third in the Big 10 on the ground with 105.8 yards a game. Right behind him is Sophomore Quarterback Taylor Martinez, who is 5th in the conference in rushing averaging 97.3 yards on the ground a game. Burkhead and Martinez have each rushed for 9 TD's this season.
While not very polished throwing the Football, Martinez has connected for 169 yards through the air a game. Martinez has thrown for 6 TD's but also 6 interceptions including a costly 3 in a big loss to Wisconsin. He has connected on 54.3 percent of his passes this season.
Illinois-B
The Illini have been led by So. Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase who has thrown for 201 yards a game. He has been very efficient connecting on 64.9 percent of his passes with 11 TD passes.
Scheelhasse has connected time in and time out with Sr. Wide out A.J. Jenkins, who leads the Big 10 in receptions with 7.7 catches a game. He also leads the league in yardage with 127.9 yards per game. Illinois ranks 3rd in total offense with 424.4 yards a game.
Iowa-B
The Iowa Offense may be the unit in the Big 10 with the best opportunity to improve over the rest of the season. The Iowa Offense boast loads of talent this season. Lead by Jr. QB James Vandenberg the Iowa offense ranks 8th in total offense in the Big 10 with 386.5 yards a game. While inconsistent this season Vandenberg ranks second in the Big 10 in passing with 248 yards a game. Vandenberg completes just north of 60 percent of his passes.
Iowa boast two top tier Big 10 receivers in St. Marvin McNutt and Jr. Keenan Davis. McNutt 5.8 catches a game and 95.5 yards a game while Davis hauls in 4.5 balls a game with 70.2 yards a game. McNutt has 5 scores while Davis has 4.
Add to this So. Running back Marcus Coker who runs 93.6 yards a game and 6 Touchdown. This is an offense with firepower and the ability to improve.
C -Northwestern, Michigan St. and Purdue
This is a group of teams that have potential but have yet to maximize their talent. All three teams boast very good game managing starting Quarterbacks.
C-Indiana, Penn St. and Ohio St.-
This is a group that has a little upside but not much for the rest of the season offensively. Young and inexperienced quarterbacks are the theme with this group.
D-Minnesota
The Gophers have been in a class all of their own offensively and defensively this season. Minnesota lacks consistency on both sides of the ball. Perhaps the best example is the Gophers 58-0 loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor earlier this season.
Michigan and Michigan St.- Marks the start of the early slate of games on College football Saturday. Michigan goes right down the field on Michigan St. State comes back with a score of their own and we are locked at 7-7. It is strange to me that Michigan occasionally takes Denard Robinson out as quarterback. It stalls out the powerful Michigan offense. Kirk Cousins has thrown the ball with great accuracy considering wind gust in East Lansing are up to 50 mph. Most of the first half was a defensive struggle between these two teams with conditions not favorable for passing. The two teams are deadlocked at half 7-7.
Wisconsin and Indiana- Wisconsin remains head and shoulders above anyone else in the Big 10. The combination of Monte Ball, Russel Wilson, and Nick Toon is as powerful as any combination in College football today. Wisconsin takes a 38-7 lead into halftime. Nick Toon out with a foot injury.
Baylor and Texas A&M- Robert Griffin and Kendall Wright hook up again of the first possession of the games. Texas A&M's defense has had trouble stopping anyone this season, so it seems to reason that Griffin and Wright will hook up several times today. A track meet breaks out as Ryan Tannehill hooks up with Ryan Swope for a career long 68 yard TD. Baylor answers back quick as Griffin Hit Tarrence Williams for a 77 yard TD bomb and Texas A&M aided by penalties gets a 7 yard TD pass from Tannehill to Christine Michael to put A&M up 17-14 with 3 total TD's in less than 2 minutes. Baylor stalls out on offense near mind field punting to A&M with less than 5 minutes left in the first half. A&M driving late in the first half. At the end of the half Tannehill and Swope hook up again on an 8 yard touchdown putting A&M up 24-14 heading to half
Pittsburgh and Utah- Pittsburgh has used all special teams to jump ahead early. First a kickoff return for a touchdown and than a blocked punt scoop and score put the Panthers up 14-3 early. Big East having the Pac 12's number thus far.
SECOND HALF
Michigan and Michigan St.-Michigan St. gets the ball to start the second half. Getting the benefit of the wind they get the ball at the 40 yard line and quickly take the ball into the Michigan side of the field. State doesn't waste much time as Cousins hits Keshawn Martin for 10 yards for a touchdown. The Spartans go 54 yards on 9 plays in just 3:53. Michigan will begin their first drive of the second half at the 27 yard line down 14-7. Michigan goes three and out on their first possession of the second half however Michigan St. was charge with a late hit on Robinson on third down after a stop moving Michigan out to the 49 yard line. Robinson was than sacked on first down back to the 40 yard line. Robinson completes a first down pass into Michigan St. Territory on 3rd and 8. State gets a stop on 3rd and 18. Big mistake by Michigan state as they fumble and give Michigan the ball back on the State side of the field. Robinson than sacked back at the 41 yard line giving State the ball back on the 38 yard line. Cousins hits BJ Cunningham for 13 yards and a first down into the Michigan side of the field. On third and 5 Michigan State gets a 6 yard pass to Cunningham for a first down. Michigan St. has it first and 10 from the Michigan 15. Cousins hit Martin for his second TD catch of the day, this one from 13 yards out and State takes a 21-7 lead. Down 14 on the road Michigan has the ball back at the 20. 3rd and 7 for Michigan from their own 23. Robinson completes for 8. Also a personal foul on Michigan State. That will move Michigan to the 46 to start the 4th quarter down 14. Michigan St offsides and brings up 1st and 5 from the State 49. Robinson takes a handoff on and end around for a first down to the State 36. On second and 7 Robinson completes for 9. Michigan has it at the 23. 3rd and 13 for Michigan from the 26. Robinson drops the snap and is knocked down at the 33 for a 7 yard loss. Michigan gets just a 14 yard punt and Michigan State will have the ball that the 15. Cousins takes a sack and incomplete pass bringing up 3rd and 18 from the 7. Cousins is brought down for now gain and will have to punt from their own end zone. Michigan gets a return to the State 34. On First down Robinson hooks up with Roy Roundtree for a 34 yard TD down the seam. The one play drive makes it 21-14 Michigan State with 9:49 left in the game. Michigan St. runs and end around for 9 yards on first down and fumble the ball Michigan has it back at the 32. Robinson Sack for a loss of 8 yards back to the 40. On 3rd and 13 Michigan completes for 12 and will go on 4th down from the State 23 and they Get the first. Another 3rd down throw comes up 1 yard short. Michigan goes for it again and Robinson gets sack for a big loss turning the ball over. State will have the ball at their own 19. Michigan gets a three and out and will have the ball after the Michigan State punt at their own 34. Denard Robinson throws and interception that is returned 35 yards for a TD and Michigan St. is now up 28-14. On First down Robinson throws incomplete but is hit late. Michigan gets the ball to the 35 yard line. Robinson was shaken up on the play. Michigan than gets a completion to the State 35. Gardner throws the ball to Himingway for a TD but he was 3 yards past the line of scrimage. That will bring up 3rd and 15. Gardner is sacked back at the 45 yard line bringing up 4th down for Michigan down 14 points. Michigan is forced to go fo it on 4th and 22 and runs the football and is downed at the Michigan State 45. It will be a turnover on downs. With 3 minutes left Michigan will try to run clock. On 3rd and long Edwin backer gets loose for a first down to the Michigan 21. Michigan has 1 timeout however down 2 scores Michigan State will just run out the clock. Michigan State wins it 28-14 and have now won 4 strait games over Michigan.
Baylor and Texas A&M- A&M starts with the ball in the second half and quickly picks up where they left off moving into Baylor territory down to the 27. Tannehill hits Swope down inside the 10 and A&M is Knocking on the doorstep. Tannehill hits Swope for their 3rd TD connection on the day. This time from 5 yards out going 13 plays for 77 yds in 4:22. Baylor gets a 50 yard kickoff return and than Robert Griffin hooks up with Tevin Reese for 43 yards and a touchdown. It was just a 2 play drive for Baylor now 31-21 with 9:57 left in the thrid. A&M gets the ball at the 39 yard line to start their drive. Tannehill hits Jeff Fuller for 15 yards to the Baylor 46. On third and 7 from the Baylor 30 Baylor gets a stop and brings up 4th down. A&M gets a 47 yard Field goal to make it 34-21. Baylor has it 1st and 10 at the 21. Baylor has it 1st and 10 from their own 41. After a sack and ball thrown out of bounds it is 3-12 from the Baylor 34. Griffen completes for 16 to Williams to mid field. Griffin than completes to Sampson for 21 yards to the 20 of A&M. Balor gets a first down down to the A&M 9. Griffin incomplete pass on first and goal. On second and goal Griffin avoids a sack and gets down to a 4 however A&M was offside so it is 2nd and goal from the 4. Griffin hands of to Tarrance Ganaway for a 4 yard TD run. Baylor bounces back and and now down just 34-28. A&M has it at the 20. Swope scores his 4th TD of the day on a 68 yard pass from Tannehill to make it 41-28. Baylor down 13 has the ball at the 17. Griffin hits Wright for 7 yards and a first down to the Baylor 28. On second down Griffin is sacked back to the 22 yard line which brings up third and 16. Griffin Completes to Wright on 3rd and 16 for 19 yards. Griffin than completes to Reece down to the 8 yard line for 50 yards to end the Third Quarter. Baylor has it 3rd and goal from the 4 yard line. Griffin hands to Ganaway and it brings up 4th and goal from the 4 and Baylor goes for it with Griffin thowing out of the end zone. A&M gets it back at their own 4. A&M Gets a Tuchdown pass of 47 yards from Tannehill to make it 48-28. Baylor needs a Touchdown and will start at their own 20. Griffin throws deep and is picked off at the A&M 35. A&M takes over at the 34 yard line. Tannehill runs for 35 yards and gets the ball inside the 10 for A&M. A&M takes a 55-28 lead with a 5 yard TD run from Michael. Baylor will take to the air from their own 21 down 55-28 with 5 minutes left. On 3rd and 11 Griffin is dropped in the back field. Baylor will punt the ball away with 3:45 left and A&M will run some clock. Texas A&M takes Tannehill out of the game and brings in Jamiell Showers with 3:45 left. Michael up the middle on 1st down is dropped after a 3 yard gain, but A&M is called for a chop block. Michael than takes it on a sweep for 15 to make it 2nd and 4. Michael gets it again for a 4 yard gain and a first down with 2 minutes left that will ice it. A&M wins the ball game 55-28 in what might be their last game for several years against rival Baylor as A&M moves to the SEC.
We are about to the halfway point in the College Football Season. What exactly do we know or think we know?
1. The SEC is the best conference; stop me if you have heard this before. They have 5 teams in the top 25 and with Texas A&M set to join the SEC next season that would make 6. They also have the top 2 teams in the Country in LSU and Alabama, both of which seem unbeatable. They will meet on November 5th in what is sure to be a defensive slugfest.
2. The state of Oklahoma is the best Offensive state in College Football. Oklahoma St. ranks 4 in Offense in the country. They average 444.2 yards of Offense a game this season while putting up 51.4 points per game. Not far behind the number 6 Cowboys is Oklahoma having the 15th best total Offense in the Country. The number 2 Sooners average 378 yards a game while scoring 45 points a game. The score keeper will get a good workout when these two meet in Bedlam December 3rd.
3. Having the momentum of adding Nebraska the Big 10 has disappointed thus far. While having three undefeated teams in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois the rest of the Big 10 has struggled. Ohio St. has been dreadful after an off season filled with turmoil that saw their coach dismissed and star quarterback not return for his senior season both due to NCAA violations. Nebraska is 5-1 but has looked very average along the way. Now losing All American candidate Jared Crick for the season, the Blackshirt defense may be in trouble.
4. Conference Realignment has almost trumped the action on the field. Nebraska and Colorado bolted the Big 12 after last season. Boise St. joined the Mountain West adding to the overall strength of the league, but Utah then left for the Pac-10, BYU left to become independent, and TCU agreed to head to the Big East. Now that the season has begun, the shuffling has continued and taken attention away from the field. Texas A&M is heading to the SEC. TCU is dissing the Big East and heading to the Big 12. Syracuse and Pitt are heading to the ACC. After a long courting process the Big 12 is staying together for now. We shall see what happens with Missouri who has been rumored to be looking to go to the SEC.
It seems this season more than any in recent memory the second half of the season has some sorting out to do. Over half of the top 25 is still undefeated this season. Will anyone surpass LSU or Alabama for the top spot in the country? The second half of the football season will have the answer.
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