Illinois HC Bret Bielema Won't Coach vs. Iowa After Testing Positive for COVID-19
Nov 16, 2021
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 6: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on before the start of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium on November 6, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Illinois football coach Bret Bielema confirmed he tested positive for COVID-19, which will force him to miss Saturday's game against No. 20 Iowa.
Bielema said in a statement he began experiencing mild symptoms Monday. He said he has been vaccinated against COVID-19 and received a booster shot last week.
Illini coach Bret Bielema has tested positive for COVID-19. George McDonald will coach in his place. pic.twitter.com/RwTTkQvAUL
George McDonald, the Fighting Illini's assistant head coach and wide receivers coach, will temporarily serve as head coach.
Bielema said he'll be "as present as possible" through unspecified technological means, so he may continue to have contact with his staff and players in some form this week.
With a 14-6 upset over then-No. 20 Minnesota, Illinois improved to 4-6 and kept the door open for winning the six games necessary to qualify for a postseason bowl.
Taking down the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium was difficult enough with Bielema on the sidelines. Iowa won this matchup 35-21 in Champaign, Illinois, last year.
The Hawkeyes dropped back-to-back games after climbing to No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. They rebounded with wins over Northwestern and Minnesota. Alex Padilla threw for 378 yards and two touchdowns while replacing an injured Spencer Petras.
For the Illini, establishing the run will be critical toward crafting a winning formula. They're averaging 262 rushing yards in their four victories, compared to 120 yards on the ground in their six losses.
Like It or Not, Michigan Is a Legitimate Threat to the College Football Playoff
Nov 14, 2021
Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara (12) celebrates after defeating Penn State 21-17 in an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Jim Harbaugh is supposed to lose this game. That's what the blueprint says. That's how things have gone.
That's become the expectation at Michigan, unfair or not.
Against elite competition in the Big Ten, that's what his teams have done. It's a seemingly endless cycle that has pushed the head coach's employment and the fan bases' patience to the brink, and we witnessed it once again a few weeks ago against Michigan State.
Michigan plays hard and loses dramatically. And once it ends, the commentary quickly shifts from the individual loss to Harbaugh's inability to meet the enormous expectations that have chased him since he touched down in Ann Arbor.
On Saturday against Penn State, there were traces of thisexactscript. For a while, it felt like another crippling loss to add to the collection—a trophy case that has added far too much hardware in recent years.
The offense chugged along, struggling to sustain drives or threaten much of anything outside of a few moments. The defense, which has played largely excellent since Harbaugh arrived, was again up for the challenge.
Michigan even blew a lead, which has become an unfortunate trademark of late, and that allowed familiar doubt to creep back in.
But Michigan then went off script. The offense found a big play—albeit with a tight end, which feels very Harbaugh. And the team that has demonstrated an inability to conquer close games found a way to do so on the road in a difficult environment.
Quarterback Cade McNamara made enough plays, throwing for three touchdowns. The defense allowed only 332 yards of offense. The ingredients to win a game were all in place—as has been the case in plenty of instances.
The only difference? Harbaugh won.
Michigan won.
What could have become a haunting loss morphed into a marquee win.
Michigan's 21-17 victory over Penn State didn't drastically alter the expectations of a team. Those have been there all along. But in beating the Nittany Lions and breaking free of a sequence that has been largely negative, the Wolverines are in a position to crush the narrative once and for all.
As the College Football Playoff race becomes more cluttered, Michigan finds itself squarely in the mix.
That conversation took new life this week when the selection committee ranked Michigan over Michigan State, the only team the Wolverines have lost to this year, this past week.
Michigan was ranked No. 6; Michigan State No. 7. Considering the loss occurred just two weeks before, the moment was significant.
While the displeasure surrounding these rankings was heard the moment they were revealed, one thing is certain: Michigan is very much in control of its own fate as it enters the home stretch of the regular season.
Unlike others, Michigan doesn't have to worry about what the committee will say. It doesn’t need losses or resume boosts or outside help. It simply needs to keep winning.
If the Wolverines win out, they're in the playoff. The only real debate at the point would be where the team will be ranked. That's a situation this fan base would gladly accept.
The elephant in the room, of course, is the team at the end of the schedule. In order to reach the playoff, Michigan still needs to get past Ohio State. (Well, it must first get past Maryland next week, although let’s leap forward.)
Of all the teams that have tortured Harbaugh, no team has been more difficult to conquer than the Buckeyes. In fact, to date, Harbaugh has yet to do so.
Michigan has not beat rival Ohio State since 2011—years before Harbaugh arrived. In the past six matchups, only one of those games has been decided by less than a touchdown.
The fact that this game exists on the schedule has prevented many from embracing Michigan as a realistically playoff threat. Many are not unfamiliar with how this game at the end of the schedule has gone. Recent history says that’s actually wise.
But that game will be played in Ann Arbor, which is a significant boost. And while Ohio State is much flashier, especially on offense, we saw at Nebraska what a difficult environment and quality defense is capable of just a week ago.
Can the dragon finally be slayed? Michigan is once again likely to be an underdog. That part isn’t new.
The only difference is that the Wolverines have already conquered one demon. Whether it’s able to turn that into something more will be determined in the coming weeks.
Before then, Michigan's season should be celebrated. In a year that needed Harbaugh to win, he has done so. Sure, there’s a blemish on the schedule.
As we hit the middle of November, however, Michigan still has everything left to play for. Only a select few can say the same.
Regardless, the narrative that still exists will continue to linger. It doesn't matter how things look today.
A win over Ohio State, of course, will alter that in a hurry.
Until then, it's reasonable to expect some to be skeptical. The only thing Michigan can do to counter that is win.
At least in the moment, for the first time in a long time, that feeling is becoming far more normal than it’s been.
No. 4 Ohio State Beats No. 19 Purdue 59-31 Behind Garrett Wilson's 4 Total TDs
Nov 14, 2021
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud looks for a a receiver during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State did not fall victim to the Purdue curse thanks to an easy 59-31victory on Saturday at the Horseshoe.
After previously knocking Iowa and Michigan State from the ranks of the unbeaten, the Boilermakers faced their biggest test of the season this week.
Ohio State came into this matchup with a blemish on its resume, but head coach Ryan Day's squad had been averaging 47.3 points in seven games since losing to Oregon on Sept. 11.
It's been three years since these two Big Ten programs last met. Purdue stunned the Buckeyes, who were undefeated, 49-20 in that game to keep them out of the College Football Playoff.
There was no doubt about the outcome of this game. Ohio State was up by 14 at the end of the first quarter and scored 45 points in the first half.
Neither offense had any trouble moving the ball in this game. Both teams combined for 1,105total yards. Quarterbacks C.J. Stroud and Aidan O'Connell each threw for more than 350 yards.
Garrett Wilson, who entered the game with six touchdowns all season, found the end zone four times. He finished with a season-high 126 yards on 10 receptions.
Coming into this week, Matt Fortuna of The Athletic conducted a straw poll featuring writers from the website to vote for the Heisman. Not surprisingly, Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III was the runaway winner with 69 first-place votes and 88 total points.
Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis was second with 15 first-place votes and 36 points. A quick scan of the entire list shows that Stroud didn't receive any support.
For a quarterback of one of the best teams in the nation who entered this week completing 67 percent of his attempts for 2,675 yards and 25 touchdowns not to be at least in the conversation seemed odd.
To be fair, Stroud was coming off his worst game against Nebraska with two interceptions. The talking point coming out of that was why he wasn't running the ball:
CJ Stroud needs to run more. I don’t know if he’s being coached to look for somebody to come open, but he turns down A LOT of free yards.
Important thing to remember re: CJ Stroud. He is not Justin Fields. Justin Fields was a one of a kind legitimate dual threat (with a green light to run). CJ may get there but he’s not right now. Patience is key.
Stroud did acknowledge recently that he suffered a separated AC joint in his right shoulder during the season opener against Minnesota. It's plausible he may not want to take any additional hits to protect the injury.
After Saturday's dominant performance, Stroud deserves to be talked about in the same breath as Walker, Davis and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. The freshman sensation has thrown for at least 300 yards in five of the past six games. He has thrown at least four touchdowns four times during that span.
Stroud could be dinged in a similar way that Mac Jones was last season.
Jones had a brilliant 2020 for Alabama, but he played on arguably the best roster Nick Saban has ever assembled. DeVonta Smith was certainly a deserving Heisman winner with 1,856 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns catching passes from Jones.
Stroud absolutely benefits from playing on a team that has TreVeyon Henderson at running back and the trio of wide receivers Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Chris Olave.
It's telling about how deep the Buckeyes are that Olave is the third-leading receiver in a game but still manages 85 yards on nine receptions.
There are plenty of accolades to go around on this offense. Ohio State's dominant performance this week should quiet any concerns after a close call against Nebraska.
It's a good thing the Buckeyes appear to have hit their stride because things don't get any easier. They have to play Michigan State and Michigan to wrap up the regular season.
O'Connell Shines, but Boilermakers Defense Falters
Saturday's game, while not a complete embarrassment for the program, was certainly a step back. O'Connell's performance is one of the positives to take away. The senior followed up his 536-yard showing against the Spartans with 390yards and four touchdowns.
O'Connell's last three games have seen him make a dramatic turn. The Illinois native has thrown nine touchdowns with zero interceptions and is completing 75.5percent of his passes.
For comparison, in his first six games, O'Connell threw one more interception (eight) than touchdowns (seven).
As good as he was, though, the Boilermakers defense wasn't able to do anything against Ohio State. The Buckeyes scored touchdowns on seven of their first eight possessions. The one non-touchdown drive ended with a field goal.
Purdue’s defense just looks completely unprepared for everything Ohio State is doing today.
Ohio State's only non-scoring drive was a three-and-out midway through the third quarter. Purdue got back in the game on its ensuing offensive possession thanks to an 87-yard drive capped off by a touchdown pass to Jackson Anthrop that made the score 52-31.
Already boasting wins over then-No. 2 Iowa and then-No. 5 Michigan State, the Boilermakers are certainly in the midst of their best season under head coach Jeff Brohm.
They have already won as many games in 2021 as they did in the previous two years combined (six).
The victory over Michigan State last week was enough to get the College Football Playoff selection committee to put Purdue at No. 19 in this week's rankings.
Even with Saturday's slip-up against a team that is just better across the board, though, the Boilermakers have had a successful year no matter what happens the rest of the way. They are already bowl eligible for the first time since 2018, with two games left on the schedule.
What's Next?
Ohio State plays Michigan State at the Horseshoe in a game that could determine the Big Ten East champion next Saturday. Purdue will take on Northwestern at Wrigley Field in Chicago the same day.
No. 6 Michigan Holds Off Penn State for Narrow Win
Nov 13, 2021
Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara (12) passes while being pressured by Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie (17) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
For the first time since 2018, Michigan is off to a 9-1 start after escaping Beaver Stadium with a 21-17 victory over Penn State.
The Wolverines have rebounded well since their loss to Michigan State two weeks ago, with another win following last week's easy home victory over Indiana. They came into this game on the fringes of the College Football Playoff at No. 6 in the CFP rankings.
Penn State has given Jim Harbaugh's squad problems recently. The Nittany Lions won the previous two meetings against their Big Ten rivals, including a 27-17 victory last year.
Since starting the season 5-0, Penn State has lost four of its past five games. Three of those losses have come against teams ranked in the Top 10 of the Associated Press poll at the time (Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan).
Erick All was the hero with a 47-yard touchdown catch with 3:29 remaining to help put Michigan up by four points. That came after Penn State scored 11 points in the span of 100 seconds to take the lead.
Hassan Haskins carried the ball a career-high 31 times in the win. He broke the 150-yard barrier for the second consecutive game.
Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford struggled to find a rhythm against the Wolverines defense. He only completed 23 of 43 attempts for 205 yards and one touchdown. The Nittany Lions were held to 2.6 yards per carry on 42 rushing attempts.
The Wolverines' style of play tends to stand out in contrast to those of other top programs. Harbaugh still depends on the running game and defense to do most of the work, with McNamara making smart, efficient throws.
This is how Harbaugh's best teams have won games dating back to his time with the San Francisco 49ers.
For three quarters, this game followed that script perfectly. Haskins finished with over 100 rushing yards for the fourth time in the past five games. He was, by far, Michigan's go-to player on offense.
At one point in the third quarter, Haskins had more than 10 times as many touches as anyone else on the team.
Hassan Haskins has 21 touches (17 carries, 4 catches) vs Penn State today.
No other Michigan player has more than two touches.
The defense held Penn State to six points going into the fourth quarter.
Things looked like they would fall apart for the Wolverines late, though. Penn State put together a 53-yard drive that took 15 plays to get a touchdown and two-point conversion that tied the score at 14.
Michigan's ensuing drive ended with a turnover when McNamara fumbled on a sack by Arnold Ebiketie, who recovered the ball at the Wolverines' 16-yard line.
Penn State took the lead on Jordan Stout's 31-yard field goal with 5:55 left to play. Things looked bleak for Michigan. The offense gained a total of 36 yards on three drives after Roman Wilson's touchdown on the first possession of the second half.
Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis played things safe with five consecutive runs by Haskins. They finally got a big play when All found an opening after a quick pass from McNamara.
Erick All (@eallindi83) wanted it all, and he got it all. 🙌
As has been the case virtually all season, Michigan's defense came through in a crucial moment. The unit forced a turnover on downs when Clifford threw an incompletion with pressure bearing down on him on a 4th-and-2 play with 2:52 remaining.
Penn State still had all three timeouts, so there was still work to do. Haskins iced the win five plays later with a 12-yard run on 2nd-and-7 for a first down that allowed Michigan to burn the rest of the clock.
This wasn't a highlight-reel win for a Wolverines team trying to make its case to the playoff selection committee.
There's still work for Michigan to do over the final two weeks of the regular season. But a conference road victory against a quality opponent late in the season is an impressive statement.
Special Teams Mistakes Doom Penn State's Upset Bid
There are certain ways in which Penn State very much mirrors Michigan. Both teams are carried by strong defenses that help put the offense in more favorable positions to get points.
The Nittany Lions' passing attack has been stronger overall than that of the Wolverines. A lack of consistency on that side of the ball, though, has been their undoing during this recent rough patch.
They needed nine overtimes just to score 18 points in that infamous game against Illinois three weeks ago. Clifford rebounded the following week against Ohio State with 361 yards, but his interception early in the fourth quarter set up a Buckeyes field goal to put them up 30-24.
Saturday was a poor effort by Clifford. The senior averaged just 4.8 yards per attempt. He did make two big throws on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter. The first one was a touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson, followed by a two-point conversion to Tyler Warren.
Ultimately, though, Franklin and Penn State will think back on the mistakes and missed opportunities on special teams.
After driving deep into Michigan territory late in the first quarter, Penn State lined up for a field goal from the 2-yard line. Franklin opted to call for a fake, having Rafael Checa toss the ball to Jordan Stout, hoping to catch the Wolverines off guard.
The play blew up in spectacular fashion for the Nittany Lions.
Midway through the third quarter, Stout missed a 43-yard field goal to keep the score at 14-6.
For all of the struggles that Penn State's offense had during the game, two blunders on special teams cost the team at least six points in a 21-17 loss.
The Nittany Lions' four losses this season have come by a total of 18 points. This suggests the team is good enough to compete with anybody, but the handful of key plays that will often decide games aren't going in their favor.
On Saturday, Penn State turned out to be its own worst enemy. Next week's game against Rutgers is an opportunity for the team to get back on track.
What's Next?
Michigan will play its final road game of the regular season at Maryland next Saturday. Penn State will wrap up its home schedule against Rutgers the same day.
Sonny Styles, 5-Star Safety Prospect, Commits to Ohio State Over Notre Dame, Alabama
Nov 13, 2021
Ohio State received a commitment from 5-star safety Sonny Styles on Saturday.
Styles, who is part of the 2023 recruiting class, confirmed his commitment to OSU with the following tweet:
Styles is rated as a 5-star prospect by 247Sports, and he is ranked as the No. 8 overall player, No. 1 safety and No. 1 player from the state of Ohio in the 2023 class.
Given Styles' status as the top safety in his class, many of the top programs in college football pursued him.
Per 247Sports, Styles received scholarship offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Texas and many more.
As noted by ESPN's Tom VanHaaren, Styles comes from a football family. His father, Lorenzo Styles, was a linebacker at Ohio State.
Styles' brother, Lorenzo Styles Jr., currently plays wide receiver at Notre Dame as well.
Despite having plenty of time left before making the leap from high school to college, Styles is already a physically imposing figure. He stands 6'4" and 215 pounds, making him bigger than most safeties at both the collegiate and NFL levels.
Allen Trieu of 247Sports views Styles as a future first-round pick in the NFL draft and compares him to former Clemson linebacker and safety Isaiah Simmons, who went eighth overall to the Arizona Cardinals in 2020.
As a star at Pickering Central High School in Pickering, Ohio, Styles committing to Ohio State continues what has been a recent trend for the Buckeyes.
According to VanHaaren, OSU has now secured a commitment from the top-ranked player from the state of Ohio in five consecutive recruiting classes.
Ohio State has been one of the dominant programs in college football over the past several years, losing two or fewer games in nine straight seasons from 2012-20.
The Buckeyes are 8-1 so far this season, and they have gone 28-3 in three full seasons under head coach Ryan Day.
Ohio State is trending toward another Big Ten title and College Football Playoff appearance this season, and continuing to bring in players of Styles' ilk should keep the Buckeyes moving in the right direction.
CFP Chairman Backs Michigan Being Ranked over MSU Despite Spartans' Rivalry Win
Nov 10, 2021
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 06: Michigan Wolverines running back Hassan Haskins (25) makes a cut on a good run during the Michigan Wolverines vs Indiana Hoosiers game on Saturday November 6, 2021 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The latest edition of the College Football Playoff rankings was revealed Tuesday, and there was a curious decision by the selection committee.
Despite losing to rival Michigan State earlier this season, the Michigan Wolverines were ranked No. 6 ahead of the Spartans at No. 7. CFP chairman Gary Barta defended the decision.
"At the end of the day, we thought Michigan was a better team and deserved to be ranked ahead of Michigan State," he said, per columnist Bryan Fischer.
The Spartans (8-1) were the only team ranked in the Top Five last week to lose Saturday, falling 40-29 to Purdue. Despite the expected tumble down the rankings, their impressive 37-33 comeback win over the Wolverines on Oct. 30 was expected to give them the upper hand in the eyes of the selection committee.
Barta added that there was substantial debate among the committee regarding Michigan and Michigan State, saying that decision alone took "maybe a half hour." He went on to say that the committee gave strong consideration to the Spartans' win.
"The consensus is that Michigan is a more complete team… That said, the committee gave great credence to the Michigan State win," Barta said.
Michigan (8-1) bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 29-7 win over Indiana on Saturday. The Wolverines shut out the Hoosiers in the second half.
The 9-0 Georgia Bulldogs remained atop the CFP rankings followed by Alabama, Oregon and Ohio State, which all have 8-1 records. Cincinnati (9-0) moved up to No. 5, the highest ranking for a Group of Five team, but is still chasing that elusive spot in the Top Four.
The Wolverines will travel to face Penn State this Saturday, while the Spartans will host Maryland.
Scott Frost, Nebraska Agree to Restructured Contract; HC Will Return for 2022 Season
Nov 8, 2021
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost huddles with his players during the second half against Purdue in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. Purdue defeated Nebraska 28-23. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Scott Frost will return to Nebraska for the 2022 season after the two sides agreed to a restructured contract that was announced Monday:
The Cornhuskers are 3-7 in 2021, marking the fourth straight losing season under Frost.
"We all recognize our record has not been what anyone wants it to be," director of athletics Trev Alberts said in a statement. "I have been clear that I have been looking for incremental progress, and I have seen that in several key areas this season."
Nebraska is 1-6 in Big Ten play this season and 10-23 in four years since Frost took over in 2018.
The poor record might not be indicative of Nebraska's ability this year, however, with all seven losses decided by single digits.
The squad lost by seven to Oklahoma, three to Michigan State, three to Michigan and nine to Ohio State, and all four opponents rank inside the Top 10 in the latest Associated Press poll. Different outcomes on a few key plays could have been the difference between the current record and a winning season with multiple impressive victories.
Nebraska is ready to give Frost another chance to turn things around as the program seeks its first bowl game since 2016.
The coach's contract could also be a significant factor. Sam McKewon of the Omaha World-Herald reported the original deal required a $20 million buyout if Frost was fired after this season. Though details of the new contract have not been released, the restructure could create more team-friendly terms.
The vow of confidence could still be enough to help Frost build toward 2022, hopefully improving a recruiting class that ranks dead last in the Big Ten and 71st nationally, per 247Sports.
Mel Tucker Says Michigan State's Goals Are Ahead of Them After Upset Loss vs. Purdue
Nov 7, 2021
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 30: Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker paces the sideline during a college football game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Michigan Wolverines on October 30, 2021 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, MI. (Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The No. 3 Michigan State Spartans suffered a disappointing 40-29 loss to the unranked Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, but head coach Mel Tucker is ready to move on from the defeat.
"All of our goals are ahead of us," Tucker said, per ESPN's Tom VanHaaren. "We're going to block out all the noise, we're going to circle the wagons. The most important voices are going to be the voices inside of our building. And then we're going to go back to work and get ready for Maryland. That's what we got to do."
He added: "We're going to own it — give those guys credit where credit is due. They beat us, and we need to execute better at a higher level."
The Spartans were outplayed on each side of the ball Saturday. Boilermakers quarterback Aiden O'Connell completed 40-of-54 passes for 536 yards and three touchdowns, compared to Spartans signal-caller Payton Thorne, who completed 20-of-30 passes for 276 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Spartans allowed Purdue to convert on 11-of-18 third downs, compared to Michigan State's offense, which went 6-of-13 on third down. The Michigan State defense also allowed 9.9 yards per pass.
Tucker also told reporters after the game that he'll need to review film to decipher why his defense struggled a lot against Purdue:
"What's next? That's what's most important," Tucker said. "What's next? We have to get on the film, get the courage to understand why. We need to get those things fixed, and then we need to get ready for Maryland. And that's the only thing there is to do."
The Michigan State defense entered Saturday's game as one of the worst in the Big Ten, allowing 424.6 yards per game. However, the team's offense ranked within the top five, averaging 444.6 yards per game.
Despite Saturday's loss, the Spartans still have a chance to make the College Football Playoff. Beating Ohio State later this month would be huge for Michigan State, and winning the Big Ten would be the team's best chance at returning to CFP contention.
In addition to Ohio State, the Spartans are also set to face Maryland next weekend and AP No. 22 Penn State in their regular-season finale on Nov. 27.
Kenneth Walker III, No. 3 Michigan State Upset by Purdue for 1st Loss of Season
Nov 6, 2021
Purdue wide receiver David Bell (3) makes a catch for a touchdown against Michigan State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell completed 40-of-54 passes for 536 yards and three touchdowns as the unranked Boilermakers upset the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans 40-29 on Saturday.
Wide receiver David Bell caught 11 passes for 217 yards and one score to pace the Boilermaker passing attack. Jackson Anthrop added six receptions for 80 yards and one score.
The Boilermaker possessed the ball for 35:13 en route to its dominant offensive performance.
Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III had 156 total yards and one touchdown to lead the Spartan offense. Quarterback Payton Thorne had three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) to go along with 323 yards (276 passing, 47 rushing) and an interception.
Tre Mosley caught both of Thorne's touchdowns en route to three catches and 44 yards.
Michigan State played without wideout Jalen Nailor and left tackle Jarrett Horst, per Matt Wenzel of MLive.com.
Thorne's 32-yard touchdown run and the ensuing point-after attempt tied the game at 21 in the third quarter.
Purdue responded with 16 consecutive points thanks to a King Doerue one-yard touchdown run and a trio of Mitchell Fineran field goals.
Thorne found Mosley for an 11-yard touchdown in response, and the signal-caller's pass to Maliq Carr for a two-point conversion made the score 37-29 in Purdue's favor with 5:03 left.
The Boilermakers then shut the door on Michigan State's comeback attempt with a 10-play, 76-yard drive capped by a Fineran 22-yard field goal with 41 seconds remaining. The drive started with an O'Connell pass to Doerue for 46 yards.
Purdue moved to 6-3 overall (4-2 Big Ten). The Spartans fell to 8-1 (5-1 Big Ten).
Purdue's passing game controlled this contest, and a trick play helped swing momentum firmly in its favor.
Michigan State ended up tying the game, but Purdue's passing attack kept the Spartans on their heels. Bell played a big part in that effort, as he continued his collegiate dominance:
🚨 RECORD-BREAKER 🚨@DB3LL now with 15 career 100-yard games -- a new Purdue school record.
On defense, Purdue did give up 29 points, but that group came up strong when needed the most. After MSU tied the game at 21, the Boilermakers forced a pair of punts and forced Thorne to throw an interception to Dedrick Mackey from 4th-and-goal on the Purdue nine-yard line with 9:12 left:
That proved true in the second half as Purdue slowed down the No. 3 Spartans just enough for the two-score win.
With that, Purdue notched its second win over a Top Five opponent this season. The Boilermakers beat No. 4 Iowa 24-7 on Oct. 16.
Purdue has a habit of beating Top Five Teams as an unranked underdog, as ESPN Stats & Info noted:
Purdue now has 17 wins against AP top 5 opponents as an unranked team. No other team has more than 11 such wins in the AP Poll Era (since 1936). pic.twitter.com/aA1rt4iVAD
Purdue will have another chance to knock off a top-ranked opponent when it visits No. 5 Ohio State next Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Michigan State will host Maryland at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
Ohio State QB Jack Miller III Suspended After Arrest on OVI Charge
Nov 5, 2021
Ohio State quarterback Jack Miller plays against Akron during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State has suspended quarterback Jack Miller III following his arrest Friday morning.
According to Whitney Harding of NBC4 in Columbus, Ohio, the school confirmed the decision after Miller's arrest on charges of operating a vehicle while impaired.
The redshirt freshman has thrown for 101 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions this season.
247Sports rated Miller as a 4-star prospect as well as the No. 334 overall player and No. 13 pro-style quarterback in the 2020 class.
After redshirting last season, Miller was in the mix to replace Justin Fields as the Buckeyes' starting quarterback after Fields left for the NFL and was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears.
Miller competed with C.J. Stroud and Kyle McCord during the spring, but Stroud won the job and has established himself as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
Ohio State is 7-1 and sits fifth in the College Football Playoff rankings thanks largely to the play of Stroud, while Miller and McCord have served as backups.
Per Justin Holbrock of NBC4, Miller is the second Ohio State football player to be arrested on an OVI charge this year.
Safety Marcus Hooker was arrested on an OVI charge for the second time in March, and after being suspended, he was reinstated in July.
