By Ryan Evan Schroat
Heading into the fifth week of college football season, we are learning more and more about who the legit contenders are inside the Big Ten. Six teams are still undefeated and five teams ranked inside the top 20. This weekend focuses on a few matchups that have surprise teams vying for a place in that second tier. Let’s take a look at the three most intriguing games from this weekend’s slate.
Washington at Rutgers (Friday, 8:00 pm EST on FOX)
Washington’s 24-19 loss in Seattle two weeks ago definitely took some luster off the start of the season. Don’t let that fool you though, this is still a dangerous Huskies team. Defensively, Washington is a stout unit that will make life rough for the Scarlett Knights. Will Rogers gives the Huskies a shot to pull off an upset in a game that I expect to be low-scoring. If Washington can contain Kyle Monangai, they have a good chance to head home to Seattle 4-1.
Rutgers will need Athan Kaliakmanis to continue his improved passing game and keep the Huskies honest. Virginia Tech was a very good test last week, but Washington is a notch above the Hokies offense and defense. Field position and special teams very well could decide this game. Looking forward to another good matchup for Fox Friday night football. With a win Friday night, Rutgers may sneak inside the top 25 come Sunday afternoon and sit pretty at 4-0.
Maryland at Indiana (Saturday, Noon EST on BTN)
Indiana has been one of the biggest surprises to me through four games. Even though Curt Cignetti would hate to read this, I am only surprised by how dominant they have been. Clearly Cignetti can coach, but to transform a team with so many transfers and have them gel so fast is impressive.
This will be the Hoosiers’ toughest test yet. Maryland will have explosive athletes on offense that Indiana hasn’t dealt with yet this season. Billy Edwards Jr. can be dynamic often and will create problems for Indiana through the air. Tai Felton has been one of the best wideouts in the league and will really show how prepared and good the Hoosier secondary is.
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Kurtis Rourke has been nothing short of spectacular this season for the Hoosiers. Having a calming 23-year-old senior behind center was a perfect addition for a new team with tons of talent. Rourke, the Ohio transfer has a plethora of weapons on the outside to throw the ball, led by Elijah Saratt but this is a balanced offense with four receivers already at 150 yards.
This looks to be a higher-scoring game, Maryland will need to get into the thirties to win this game, which is possible. Can Maryland get enough stops? Nobody has had much success doing that yet against Indiana.
Illinois at Penn State (Saturday, 7:30 PM EST on NBC)
For the second straight week, Illinois will be faced with a ranked opponent in prime time. Did I mention that it will be an 18-point underdog in Happy Valley? Last weekend, Nebraska was favored by 9.5 points and the Illini stunned the Huskers in Overtime. I acknowledge this is an entirely different animal in Penn State. Illinois QB Luke Altmyer is coming off Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week from his performance in Lincoln last Friday. Illinois will need the stellar play from him against a tough and gritty Nittany Lions group who picked Altmyer off four times last year.
The Illini boast one of the best duos of wide outs in the conference in Zakhari Franklin and Pat Bryant. Illinois will have to expose some holes in the secondary left by injured PSU safety KJ Winston. Bowling Green laid a ground print that scoring can be done but this is 110,000 fans in a white-out environment with the stage at its brightest.
Penn State has been a well-oiled machine with former Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki. Drew Allar has looked very comfortable and sharp through its first three games. Illinois strength is its secondary, with Xavier Scott, Miles Scott, and Torrie Cox Jr leading the way with each having multiple interceptions already.
I expect PSU to pound the football with its dynamic trio of backers and get to Illinois second unit DL. The Illini has talent on its line, they are just very young. I don’t know that Illinois will win this game but I am confident last weeks win wasn’t a fluke and this game will be a battle for four quarters. Can Illinois Stop Tyler Warren? If Illinois can, it could be an interesting night in Happy Valley!
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Wisconsin heads to LA to face USC in the Coliseum. That’s intriguing by itself, but neither team wants to lose two in a row. That could be a death blow to either team’s high hopes. Luke Fickell was not planning to start Braedyn Locke, but with Tyler Van Dyke‘s injury, it must be done, and hurts this Phil Longo lead offense. Wisconsin fresh off a butt-whooping in Madison should have this team motivated to show up Saturday.
USC comes home embarrassed defensively, being unable to stop Michigan late in the 4th on multiple attempts. USC allowed Michigan to punk them in the run game and ice a victory away late. This is a must-win game for both programs if they want a legit shot at CFP and Big Ten title game appearance. Miller Moss should have more time to throw this week and being back home never hurts.
