The B1G 10 Week 5 Review starts with Iowa putting up some serious numbers. It covers the rest of the action from a delightful week of football in the B1G 10.

Big Ten sides are looking to make the top teams in the country sit up and take notice. Well consider them paying attention at least! Iowa and Penn State have the national recognition as they sit at #3 and #4 in the AP poll respectively. Even Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State are garnering chatter across the college football world after strong week 5 performances.

Terrapins Get Shelled – Iowa 51 Maryland 14

The Big Ten game of the week was a blowout! Iowa scored 31 points in the second quarter to stun Maryland and the Hawkeyes never looked back. Spencer Petras and the offense were up and down from the bench like yo-yos in a good way. The Hawkeyes would score, the defense or special teams would force a turnover and the offense would be sent straight back out there! Not once, not twice but three series in a row!

Maryland had started the game well, and got the opening touchdown as Taulia Tagovailoa found Chigoziem Okonkwo in the endzone to cap a 69 yard drive. Iowa responded on their next drive and got the ball back from the kick off. Dontay Demus Jr has been electric so far this season, and he brought the ball out from the 4. He was met quickly by the Iowa coverage team who stopped Demus in his tracks with a brilliant tackle that forced the fumble. Really unfortunately Demus’ leg got caught and twisted horribly, forcing him to leave the game on a stretcher.

Iowa scored on the short field and the defense intercepted Tagovailoa’s deflected pass on the very next Maryland play, setting up another touchdown. The Terps next drive ended in the same way as the Hawkeye defense picked him off a third time and again the offense capitalised on the great field position.

This Iowa defense is legit. They ended the game with 6 interceptions and laid the foundations for an emphatic win over a previously unbeaten Terrapins side. Next week’s game against Penn State might be the game of the week!

B1G 10 Week 5 Review – Indiana 0 Penn State 24

The Nittany Lions defense came to play again on Saturday! They forced 8 punts, 2 turnovers and blocked a field goal to completely shut out Indiana. This unit is nasty and they don’t care how short the field is, they’re out to punch you in the mouth. The Hoosiers were well and truly knocked out as they couldn’t crack the scoreboard even with 1st & 10 at the Penn State 13!

Penn State opened their account with an 80 yard, 14 play drive down the field culminating in a touchdown for Brenton Strange. They kept the scoreboard ticking over with 1 score in each quarter. 2 further touchdowns and a 4th quarter field goal. Keyvone Lee has emerged as an exciting option out the backfield. He was brilliantly efficient against Indiana, averaging 9.3 yards per carry. Jahan Dotson continued to display his NFL calibre attributes, hauling in 8 catches for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Michael Penix Jr had a disappointing start to the game. Throwing an interception and leaving the field with a shoulder injury at the start of the second half. Hopefully he is fine and can recover quickly. Penix’s backup Jack Tuttle couldn’t turn the tide and was sacked early. Also throwing a late interception as Indiana’s offense just couldn’t get rolling.

Badgers Slain – Michigan 38 Wisconsin 17

The game started off fairly cagey as Michigan and Wisconsin sounded each other out, wrestling for control of the game. It was close at half time as the teams traded touchdowns and a few field goals to make it 13-10 at the break. The Wolverines then went on a rampage both on offense and defense. John Ross and Daxton Hill combined to sack Graham Mertz early in the 3rd quarter, which ultimately knocked him out of the game. Michigan scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive and went on a 25-0 run to put the match on ice.

Michigan came into this game with a clear plan to bottle up the run game and challenge Wisconsin and QB Graham Mertz to win the game through the air. Wisconsin’s historically famed rushing attack could only muser 43 yards all game against the Wolverines. The plan had clearly worked, and the Badgers weren’t able to hang with Cade McNamara and co. Another strong defensive display from Michigan to be proud of, and the winning run continues for Harbaugh and his men.

B1G 10 Week 5 Review – Ohio State 52 Rutgers 13

CJ Stroud was back and he looked much better for his week of rest. Ohio State started the game with a chip on their shoulde. Determined to display their true talents and improvements and Rutgers were the unfortunate opponents. The Buckeyes were brilliant in the first half, scoring on every possession bar the final play of the half. TreVeyon Henderson opened the scoring with a 44 yard run right through the middle of the Scarlet Knight defense. Henderson looks like the RB1 for Ohio and was rested for most of the game after the lead was established – no need to risk an injury. Stroud distributed the ball around all of his receivers with poise and confidence we haven’t seen from him until now. He threw 5 touchdowns and brought all his major weapons in on the fun. Olave, Wilson, JSN and even TE Jeremy Ruckert bolstering their season’s stats.

The second half was rather pedestrian. Most starters were sitting on the bench after the Buckeyes scored their final points of the game on the first drive. Rutgers were outclassed and came up against a rejuvenated Buckeye defense who looked a completely different outfit to the first few weeks of 2021. This game was never close and the Buckeyes looked like the team we thought they would be pre-season.

Mels boys roll on – Western Kentucky 31 Michigan State 48

Michigan State are 5-0. I repeat, Michigan State are 5-0! The final scoreline looks respectable for Western Kentucky but Sparty controlled this one from start to finish. The Spartans continued their strong start to the season and things are just clicking on offense. Sure, we all know Kenneth Walker is a beast and noone is surprised that he racked up another 126 yards and 3 touchdowns on Saturday. But Payton Thorne is also having success through the air. Stopping defenses from selling out on the run as they have to respect what Michigan State can do in the passing game. It’s a recipe the Spartans hope will brings them more joy next week when they take on Rutgers in New Jersey.

B1G 10 Week 5 Review – Charlotte 14 Illinois 24

Illinois ground out a win over Charlotte on the back of leading rusher Chase Brown. However, the 49ers made them work hard for it. The momentum turned late in the 3rd quarter when Charlotte kicker Jonathon Cruz missed the chance to tie the scores up. His field goal flew wide right. The Illinois crowd were suddenly rocking, sensing that their team needed them. Champaign was rocking and on the very next play Chase Brown broke free for an 80 yard TD. Illinois have a tough run in ahead and will need more performances like this from Brown (257 yards, 2TDs) to have any chance of racking up some more dubs.

Gophers Bounce Back – Minnesota 20 Purdue 13

Just 13 points yet again for Purdue! 3 weeks running they have struggled to put points on the board. Minnesota responded well to last week’s embarrassing loss at the hands of Bowling Green. It wasn’t pretty or flashy but the Golden Gophers were challenged to bounce back. That’s what they did, on the road in a tough spot. Trey Potts was impressive again but the defense deserve the credit. Holding the Boilermakers out of the endzone on multiple redzone opportunities. It was good to see David Bell back and doing David Bell things. 120 yards from 6 catches and Purdue will hope he can star in their next matchup when they attempt to upset the high flying Iowa Hawkeyes.

B1G 10 Week 5 Review – Northwestern 7 Nebraska 56

The Cornhuskers absolutely routed a Northwestern team that just didn’t look prepared for Saturday’s matchup. Adrian Martinez had a career day running for 3 touchdowns and throwing for a fourth. As Nebraska ripped off big play after big play to completely demoralise the Wildcats. The Cornhuskers played mistake-free football to stretch away in a fixture that historically has been a tight affair. Scott Frost was visibly delighted with the performance. He commented “We’re a lot better team than we have been.” They will have the chance to prove that against Michigan next week.

Written by Jack @JackCDCTT