Week 1 opened with the Big Ten’s top names doing exactly what they were supposed to do - and a few others stumbling into the kind of mess that lingers.
Ohio State wasted no time looking the part of a team built to chase both the Big Ten crown and a national title. Against Ball State, Julian Sayin hooked up with Jeremiah Smith on an early 48-yard touchdown, and the Buckeyes were already in command by halftime. Sayin had three touchdown passes and added another score on the ground as Ohio State built a 28-3 lead before the break.
Indiana followed a similar script, even without Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. The defending national champion picked up where it left off after its College Football Playoff championship win over Miami in January, racing out to a 21-6 lead against North Texas. Josh Hoover, the transfer from TCU, was at the center of it, and he did it while playing through a bloody nose caused by a facemask penalty.
But the conference’s opening weekend wasn’t all clean execution and title-contender swagger.
Rutgers set the tone for the wrong kind of surprise on Thursday night, taking a stunning upset loss to UMass despite being favored by 30 points. Michigan State then had its own shaky outing Friday, surviving Toledo 30-20 at home as a 10-point favorite in Pat Fitzgerald’s debut as coach.
Nebraska also found itself in trouble Saturday. The Cornhuskers were pressed early at home by Ohio, falling behind twice before scraping together a 14-13 halftime lead against a Bobcats team listed as a 23-point underdog. Nebraska steadied itself after that and opened up a 28-13 advantage in the second half.
The Big Ten’s uneven start lands at a time when the conference-SEC debate has been one of the offseason’s loudest storylines. Curt Cignetti pushed that argument hard at Big Ten Media Day, taking a subtle shot at the SEC while making his case for the league.
“The Big Ten is the best league in football,” Cignetti said. “We don’t have a hype machine up here in the Midwest; we believe everything’s earned, not given.
When we fall short, we say, ‘We fell short.’ We don’t cry a river and whine and complain.
And that’s why we’re the best.”
The numbers have backed up that confidence, at least lately. Over the past two years, the Big Ten is 8-2 against the SEC in the postseason, with the conference also chasing a fourth straight national title.
That belief was all over the pregame chatter Saturday morning, too. Urban Meyer, who won national championships coaching in both the Big Ten and SEC, was among those saying the Big Ten “now is the strongest conference in college football.”
If Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon and Michigan all found their way into this year’s College Football Playoff semifinals, that argument would get even louder.
In Other News...
Ohio States Receiver Rotation Just Got More Complicated Before Week 1
Ohio States receiver picture got a little murkier heading into Week 1 after Kyle Parker was ruled out for the opener against Ball State because of an injury. Ryan Day had already flagged Parker as dealing with a minor issue, and now the Buckeyes will have to open the season without one of the players in their wideout mix.
Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd are among the receivers expected to get more snaps with Parker unavailable, which only adds another layer to a position group already under the microscope in camp. For a team trying to sort out roles early, even a short-term absence can matter, and this one gives Ohio State an early look at its depth before the real tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Opener Made One Position Battle A Lot More Interesting
Ohio States season opener looked comfortable on the scoreboard, a 56-3 win that still left enough rough edges to keep the coaching staff busy. Jeremiah Smith delivered the kind of opening performance that reminds everyone why he is already such a focal point of the offense, piling up 151 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches, and Devin McCuin also made his mark as the Buckeyes worked through stretches of inconsistency on both sides of the ball.
One of the more intriguing takeaways came away from the spotlight plays, where freshman Legend Bey flashed enough on offense to suggest there is something to build on. His night also came with some costly special teams errors, though, and that is the kind of detail that can reshape how quickly a young player gets trusted in bigger moments. At quarterback, the depth chart also appeared to settle a little further, with Tavien St. Clair looking more like he is chasing the No. 3 job than threatening the top of the line behind Julian Sayin. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State May Have A Real Running Back Shakeup Brewing
Ohio States backfield is worth watching closely as fall camp opens, because the early practice rotation hinted at a possible shift in the pecking order. Isaiah West took reps with the first team while Bo Jackson worked with the second group, a notable development for a position that belonged to Jackson last season and had West filling the backup role.
Ryan Day also made it clear this isnt about one player getting comfortable and the other fading into the background. He praised Wests offseason work and said both backs still need to take the next step, which leaves the door open to more movement as camp goes on. For a team trying to sort out its offense before the season starts, the running back race suddenly looks like one of the more interesting battles on the roster. [Read more 🡒]