The top of the Big Ten has a different look after Week 7, with Ohio State taking over the No. 1 spot in this recap after its 19-15 win in Bloomington. The Buckeyes are back on top of the standings, but they’re not exactly standing alone. UCLA keeps stacking wins, and the Bruins are one of just six unbeaten teams left.
Ohio State moved from No. 2 to No. 1 after escaping Indiana on the road, but the win came with a heavy cost. The Buckeyes beat a top league contender, yet losing Julian Sayin for several weeks is a massive blow. It was a narrow survival job more than a clean statement.
UCLA keeps making the same point in different ways, and that’s what makes the Bruins so dangerous. They beat Wisconsin 17-7 after winning a shootout against Purdue the week before.
One week they can run and gun, the next they can grind it out. With the schedule they have left, staying undefeated is on the table.
Indiana finally took its first loss, but the Hoosiers and Buckeyes may have started something here. Indiana-Ohio State is officially a bit of a rivalry now, and Indiana nearly pulled off another late game-winning touchdown. The rest of the schedule is manageable enough that a rematch in Indy is still a real possibility.
Northwestern delivered the kind of finish that can change the mood around a program in a heartbeat. The Wildcats blocked Michigan State’s game-winning field goal try, then marched down and hit their own with two seconds left to win 24-21. They keep proving they’re a tough out.
Oregon survived Nebraska 17-14, though “survived” might be the kindest way to put it. The Ducks are usually not a team you associate with a struggling offense, and running out a third-string quarterback didn’t help. Something feels off there.
Nebraska came painfully close again, and that’s becoming its own story. For the second straight week the Cornhuskers were right there before it slipped away. It keeps happening in Big Ten play, and at this point it feels like they’re cursed in close games.
Wisconsin deserves credit for keeping UCLA in check, but the offense did the Badgers no favors in a 17-7 loss at home. Scoring only seven against a defense that gave up 30-plus to Purdue is hard to explain.
Washington and Purdue played one of the strangest games of the week, a 38-26 Huskies win that had the feel of both sides doing their best to hand it over. In the end, Purdue’s defense gave more than Washington’s did.
Michigan’s 21-18 win over Penn State doesn’t need much unpacking beyond the result. The less said about that game the better.
Purdue’s loss to Washington interrupted what looked like real progress, especially on defense. The Boilermakers still have a team that can be better, but the inconsistency showed up again when a backup quarterback still managed to throw three interceptions while carving them up.
There’s belief there, but there’s also a limit. Beating Maryland feels doable, and maybe one more beyond that.
Two more after Maryland might be a stretch.
Minnesota had the week off after the loss to Purdue, and the bye gave the Gophers some time to recover. They’re sitting with just one loss, but this is still a strange team.
Illinois also took a bye and now turns to a very interesting matchup with Oregon. If Illinois is really good, this is the kind of game where it should be able to beat an Oregon team that has been extremely underwhelming.
Rutgers finally got something to smile about, knocking off Maryland 37-30 for a Big Ten win after the rough loss to UMass. That result may have seemed unlikely not long ago.
Michigan State looked close to a breakthrough upset before Northwestern ripped it away in the final minute. That ending was brutal for the Spartans.
Penn State’s 21-18 loss to Michigan sets up an interesting question for Purdue in two weeks. Both teams will be coming off byes, but Purdue has had a lot more positives around it lately. A win in Happy Valley would be a steal - something that wouldn’t have sounded realistic when the season began.
In Other News...
Kansas Just Added A Purdue Veteran Bill Self Can Actually Use
Trey Kaufman-Renns college career has taken a surprising turn after five seasons at Purdue, where he developed into one of the Big Tens most experienced and decorated forwards. The veteran big man brings a rsum that includes first-team All-Big Ten honors and honorable mention All-American recognition, along with the kind of NCAA Tournament exposure programs value when the calendar turns and the games get tighter.
Kansas now has a proven frontcourt piece in the fold, and the timing is notable given the uncertainty around his next step. A court ruling opened the door for him to keep playing while his case against the NCAA moves forward, giving Bill Self another seasoned option to lean on as the Jayhawks try to add more stability and depth inside. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Suddenly Has Two Problems It Can't Ignore
Purdue came out of its matchup with Washington having done the hard part on defense, only to watch the offense give away the edge. The Boilermakers forced five turnovers, but they could manage only six points off those takeaways, a frustrating waste in a game where hidden yardage and field position should have mattered far more.
The defensive side had its own setback when Hiduri Hines was lost early, and Washington took advantage with a steady stream of explosive plays. Barry Odom pointed to trouble up front and a running game that never found traction, two issues Purdue cannot afford to let linger if it wants to turn recent takeaways into actual wins. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Looked Very Different And Still Gave Fans Plenty To Debate
Purdues first exhibition without Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn brought a noticeably different look, but it still produced plenty for fans to chew on in an 87-55 win over Ball State. The Boilermakers leaned hard into perimeter shooting and, by the end of the night, the offense felt built around a style that looked less familiar and more spread out than what Purdue supporters have been used to seeing.
There were also a few individual performances worth sorting through as the staff begins to define roles for this new group. Daniel Jacobsen, in particular, flashed the kind of all-around impact that can change the conversation around the frontcourt, and his minutes gave the building an early glimpse of how much versatility Purdue may be able to tap into this season. [Read more 🡒]