ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Big Ten opens with a bang — or was it a thud
The Big Ten started its season last Saturday and there was a huge surprise.
No, it wasn't Rutgers defeating Michigan State, 38-27, for its first Big Ten win in three years or No. 13 Michigan's offensive coming-out party, clobbering No. 18 Minnesota, 49-24.
That earthquake you felt was Indiana upsetting No. 8 Penn State, 36-35, in overtime on a successful controversial 2-point conversion attempt by quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Replays were inconclusive but it never should have happened. Penn State led, 21-20, after taking possession on downs at the Indiana 14 yard line with 1:47 left and Indiana with one time out.
With 40 seconds permitted after each play, the game was essentially over. Just run three plays, bleed the clock, use the 40 seconds between each play and shake hands at midfield. But they apparently do not teach simple math in Happy Valley. Instead, the Nittany Lions scored immediately, allowing the Hoosiers another possession, which resulted in a touchdown and a game-tying, 2-point conversion with 22 seconds left. They lost the coin toss and Indiana walked away with its first victory over a top-10 team in 33 years. Pure unadulterated idiocy. Unfortunately, we've seen this act before.
◘The news was not good for Wisconsin. The Badgers lost their starting quarterback, Graham Mertz, to COVID-19. Mertz looked sensational last week against Illinois. His backup, Chase Wolf, was next to test positive, and before you knew it, there were 12 positive tests and Saturday's game against Nebraska was suddenly in jeopardy. On Wednesday, it was canceled and will not be made up. So, what does Nebraska do in response? They get creative and find Tennessee-Chatanooga, who played last week against Western Kentucky but are off until Feb. 20, to agree to travel to Lincoln and play the Huskers. Except the Big Ten refuses to approve the game and it is officially off. Is it because Nebraska and its coach, Scott Frost, were outspoken critics when the conference canceled its fall season or that Nebraska players sued the Big Ten, exposing the conference to back-door decisions riddled with inconsistencies? Of course, it is. And the conference appears to be committed to doing whatever it can to obstruct and punish the Huskers. There is no justification for the Big Ten's actions. The conference of influence and affluence has hit a new low.
◘The COVID pandemic has affected college football's best player. News broke Thursday night that Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence has tested positive for the virus. Coach Dabo Swinney said the Heisman front-runner "is doing well with mild symptoms" but he won't play Saturday against Boston College.
◘The reason we pay no attention to rankings is because they lack any credibility. The Pac-12 hasn't started and the Big Ten has played all of one week. Cincinnati, ranked No. 7, has a "signature" victory over No. 16 SMU, 42-13, hardly a powerhouse. BYU, now 6-0 and having barely defeated the University of Texas-San Antonio, 27-20, is now ranked 11th. College of Charleston, with an opening win at 0-5 Kansas and no other Power League victory, is No. 20. Those teams would be prohibitive underdogs against almost any team in the SEC, especially Auburn, which is not ranked. Stop looking at the records and pay more attention to the schools they are playing. What a joke.
What now
The purge at Mississippi State under new coach Mike Leach is continuing. Seven players have left the team in the past two weeks and expect more to follow. Leach has the security of a new contract but he is either cleaning things up or losing the locker room.
◘Alabama had arguably the two best receivers in the country — Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith. They are matchup nightmares for any defense and were the difference in the Tide's victory over No. 4 Georgia. But Waddle was lost for the season after injuring his ankle last week against Tennessee. Coach Nick Saban said it was like losing an Alan Iverson, a guy who could score 30 to 40 points a game. While that may be overstating it, Waddle's loss is significant.
What's next
No. 3 Ohio State (-12.5) vs. No. 18 Penn State: The only game involving ranked teams on the schedule. This was supposed to be the game of the year in the Big Ten until the Nittany Lions lost last week at Indiana. They also lost running back Noah Cain to injury for the rest of the season. Ohio State rolled over Nebraska, 52-17, with quarterback Justin Fields completing 20-of-21 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Penn State and its quarterback, Sean Clifford, need to play a perfect game, and their defense must rise to the occasion to have a chance. No fans and no whiteout. Just placard cards. All the hype and anticipation is gone. Expect the Buckeyes to roll.
Texas at No. 6 Oklahoma State (-2.5): A huge game for both teams. The Longhorns got back on track last week against Baylor, winning, 27-16. The Cowboys also won at home against a valiant Iowa State team, 24-21. Texas has a special quarterback in Sam Ehlinger, who is a dual threat with the ball. The Cowboys' back, Chuba Hubbard (where else is someone named Chuba but Oklahoma?), has run for more than 100 yards in each of four games played. In the end, I see it as a high scoring game with both teams desperate for a victory. Texas has the advantage in talent but the Longhorns always seem to find a way to play to the level of competition. Expect a close game, perhaps even overtime, with the Cowboys pulling out the victory.