Spartans sitting in a good spot
Higher- ranked teams will knock each other out
When it comes to sports, we’re big on talk. The games move the conversation. Heck, every collegefootball team only plays once a week. But we’re still consumed by it those other six days.
At the halfway point of the season, the Big Ten has plenty of storylines to talk about, others that need to be discussed and others that are dead. Let’s take a look at what we’ll call the Big Ten “Buzz List.”
THE BUZZ Spartans’ play off chances
Ranked eighth in the Associate Press poll, Michigan State still looks up at a number of quality teams.
Luckily for the Spartans, though, those seven teams have games remaining against at least one of the other. Fourth- ranked Baylor is the only one without a top- seven matchup. But the Bears travel to No. 11 Oklahoma and host No. 15 Oklahoma State.
Michigan State has by far the easiest remaining schedule among teams in the AP top 10.
Big Ten running backs
The Big Ten has three running backs among the top four nationally in rushing yards— Indiana’s Tevin Coleman ( first), Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon ( second) and Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah ( fourth).
Among running backs with more than 100 carries, Coleman leads the nation with 8.8 yards per attempt. Along with Gordon, he is one of two running backs with more than 1,000 rushing yards.
Bo Pelini
In his best coaching job since being hired by Nebraska, Pelini still has his team as a dark- horse playoff contender, and he should be considered the first- half conference coach of the year.
THE BUZZ- WORTHY Northwestern freshmen
For the last three weeks, Northwestern has boasted the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week. Redshirt freshmen linebacker Anthony Walker and safety Godwin Igwebuike and true freshman running back Justin Jackson have won the award.
Coordinators on themove?
Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi and Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman are widely respected in the conference. What should be talked about is where they might land next season. It would be a surprise if both didn’t get calls about headcoaching vacancies. They might not even need to leave the conference.
Defense
Y’all in the Southeast want to talk about your defense? Then you all in the Midwest should, too. The Big Ten has four teams — Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State— ranked in the top 15 nationally in total defense.
That’s two more than the SEC.
THE BUZZ- LESS Tim Beckman
The Illinois coach lost to Purdue, lost his starting quarterback and saw one of his football staffers arrested for driving under the influence Sunday.
What else could go wrong for Beckman? It doesn’t matter. He already is on his way out.
Michigan
Wolverines fans are probably still in denial. But Michigan is officially irrelevant.
Once Brady Hoke is fired, which is expected to happen at the end of the season, Michigan can throw as much money as it wants at any prospective coach— even more than some NFL teams.
Until then, this once perennial national championship contender and its 3- 4 record is a non- entity.
Christian Hackenberg
More than a handful of people ordained Hackenberg then next Andrew Luck. The question to start the year was how many Pro Bowls does he have in his future?
Now it’s how many more interceptions will he throw? He has seven this season and just one touchdown pass in the last four games.