An excellent first week for the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference teams performed well the first week of the season.
Three Big Ten Conference teams, Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan were featured in nationally televised games this week and all played well and won. The rest of the conference teams made very good showings as well.
The Big Ten ended up 10-2 in out of conference games and Ohio State defeated Indiana. Here is a look at how each team fared, beginning with the East Division.
Ohio State 49 Indiana 21: I came away impressed by the Hoosiers. To battle the Buckeyes the way they did until about five minutes left in the third quarter shocked me. Indiana will give other teams grief this season, just count on it.
Penn State 52 Akron 0: I know it was against the Zips, but the Nittanly Lions had it going on, especially on offense.
Michigan 33 Florida 17: I hate to say that Michigan looked like one of the most talented teams I watched this week, but I will have much more to say about the Wolverines in an upcoming article.
Maryland 51 Texas 41: What a win for coach D.J. Durkin, defeating the Longhorns who were ranked in the AP Top 25.
Michigan State 36 Bowling Green 10: Are the Spartans on their way back?
Washington 30 Rutgers 14: For the Scarlet Knights to only lose by 16 against the number 8 team in the country has to make coach Chris Ash feel good.
Now for the Big Ten West:
More from Scarlet and Game
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- Ohio State basketball: Buckeyes conference schedule is set
- Ohio State Football rolling into form at the perfect time
- How Ohio State football has done historically versus new Big 12
- Ohio State Football: We need to see “Killer Ryan Day” at South Bend
Wisconsin 59 Utah State 10: Really good teams like the Badgers just take care of business against teams like Utah State.
Nebraska 43 Arkansas State 36: This shocked me, I expected good things from the Huskers this year. At least they didn’t get upset.
Iowa 24 Wyoming 3: Don’t sleep on the Hawkeyes.
Northwestern 31 Nevada 20: I thought the Wildcats should have been ranked in the top 25 in the AP Preseason Poll, and I think they are going to have a fine season.
Minnesota 17 Buffalo 7: Don’t know what to make of this but at least the Gophers begin with a win.
Louisville 35 Purdue 28: Seriously? I thought the ACC was now the best conference in the country. Purdue has been at the bottom of the Big Ten Conference for some time but the Boilermakers came close to defeating the 16th ranked Cardinals.
Illinois 24 Ball State 21: Well, it’s a win.
Next: Without star RB, nearly 300 yards rushing?
It was a very good start for the Big Ten Conference going 10-2 out of conference. I’m looking forward to see how the conference teams perform in week two.