Week Seven Opponent Recap

Written By T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Non-Conference Opponents

Florida International – 27 – Charlotte - 26

The FIU Golden Panthers improved to 3-4 as they won their third straight game after the firing of former head coach Ron Turner. Alex McGough threw for three touchdowns including a late score to Jonnu Smith for the come-from-behind victory. 

Ball State – 31 – Buffalo – 21

Ball State picked up their first conference win of the season, improving to 4-3 (1-2) with a ten-point victory propelled by 264 rushing yards for James Gilbert. The Cardinals ran for 356 yards and threw for 212 as they won at Buffalo, dropping the Bulls to 1-5.

Wake Forest – 6 – Florida State - 17

The Demon Deacons lost in Tallahassee to the #14 Florida State Seminoles, falling to 5-2 (2-2). They held the ‘Noles to only 3.2 yards per carry but Deondre Francois continued to impress, throwing for 319 yards as FSU out-gained Wake Forest 442 to 252. It was a sloppy game as the two squads combined for seven turnovers (four for FSU and three for Wake Forest).

Conference Opponents

Michigan State – 40 – Northwestern – 54

Things have officially come off the rails for the Michigan State Spartans as they surrendered 54 points, the most given up by an MSU team in a home game in the history of the program. Both teams put up big numbers as the offenses exploded for nearly 1,000 yards. The Wildcats had 490 yards to MSU’s 475. The more interesting part of this recap for IU fans will pertain to the Hoosiers next opponent, the Northwestern Wildcats. The Cats ran for 209 yards and Justin Jackson has returned to form after a slow start to the season. Jackson ran for 188 yards on 34 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. Austin Carr, the Big Ten’s leading receiver, continued to excel as he caught 11 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns as Clayton Thorson was 27 of 35 for 281 yards. The Spartans struggled to run the ball against Northwestern’s resurgent defensive line, gaining only 2.2 yards per carry. However, they found great success through the air, torching the Northwestern secondary for 424 yards and four passing touchdowns. Northwestern is now 3-3 (2-1) and their hopes to reach the postseason and very much alive after a dropping three of their first four games. Michigan State is in freefall mode, losing four straight games and sitting at 2-4 before a road trip to Maryland.

Ohio State – 30 – Wisconsin – 23

In a terrific primetime contest that served as a strong showcase for the Big Ten, the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes survived in overtime and knocked off the #8 (now #10) Wisconsin Badgers, 30-23. The victory kept Urban Meyer unbeaten on the road as the coach at Ohio State and kept the College Football Playoff hopes for the Scarlet and Gray very much alive. OSU gained 411 yards but surrendered 450 yards to Wisconsin as they fell behind 16-6 at halftime. They battled back and found success through the air as J.T. Barrett threw for 226 yards on 17-29 passing. Ohio State took a lead in the fourth quarter but the Badgers regained the lead on an 11 play, 81 yard drive that found the end-zone with 7:54 remaining. Ohio State tied the game on a Tyler Durbin field goal with 3:57 left and the Buckeyes forced overtime. Barrett connected with Noah Brown for a touchdown on their first overtime possession and then the Buckeyes sacked Alex Hornibrook on fourth down to end the contest and send the raucous Madison faithful home with a loss. 

Maryland – 10 – Minnesota – 31

In a battle of back-up quarterbacks in College Park, the Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2, 1-2) handled the Maryland Terrapins (4-2, 1-2) for a fairly comfortable 31-10 victory. Minnesota’s Conor Rhoda, filling in for Mitch Leidner was only 7-15 for 82 yards but the Gophers ran the ball successfully, pounding out 229 yards thanks to a strong day for Rodney Smith (18 carries, 144 yards with two touchdowns). Maryland had a very confusing gameplan, electing to have Tyrell Pigrome throw the ball 37 times while only giving running backs 10 total carries. Pigrome was playing for the injured Perry Hills, who’s status moving forward is unknown. The Terrapins were consistently behind schedule and in third and long situations thanks to holding penalties and Pigrome’s insistency on trying to make plays that were not available. Maryland lost this game because of their four turnovers. The Terrapins were driving late with a chance to get back into the game but Pigrome forced a pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown to cap the scoring at 31-10 and give the Gophers their fourth win. Maryland now hosts Michigan State in a very interesting game before they travel to Indiana on October 29 for a clash that will go a long way in determining bowl eligibility and Big Ten East pecking order.

Rutgers – 7 – Illinois - 24

The good news for Rutgers: the Scarlet Knights scored, moved the ball fairly well and there won’t be any headlines about them being embarrassed on the gridiron. The bad news: they lost to Illinois in convincing fashion, despite Wes Lunt not playing, and they fell to 2-5 (0-4) on the season. 

Rutgers split the snaps at quarterback as junior Giovanni Rescigno came in in the second half and threw his first career passes, going 10-18 for 120 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for 37 yards. Chris Laviano was 7-12 for 62 yards. Chris Ash said after the game that it would be an ongoing quarterback competition. RU ran the ball effectively as both Robert Martin and Justin Goodwin had solid days and the Scarlet Knights actually outgained the Illini 387-320. However, they turned the ball over five times (losing four fumbles) and forced only one turnover from Illinois. Rutgers now travels to Minnesota before a bye week and then their home game against Indiana.

Purdue – 35 – Iowa – 49

The Purdue Boilermakers fell behind 35-7 at halftime before making the score look competitive against many of Iowa’s second and third-string players. David Blough chucked the ball sixty times, completing 30 attempts to 458 yards with five touchdowns in the ultimate empty stats performance. Purdue was outgained on the ground 365 to 46 in front of a sparse Homecoming crowd at Ross-Ade Stadium as Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels Jr. both ran for more than 150 yards. 

The Boilermakers administration decided they had seen enough and, on Sunday, they officially fired head coach Darrell Hazell and relieved him immediately of his head coaching duties. How this impacts the remainder of their season is yet to be seen but the 3-3 Boilers will head to Nebraska to play the #8 Cornhuskers as their first test without Hazell.