Big Ten football report: Jim Harbaugh, James Franklin keep tunnel tussle alive
WEST LAFAYETTE – Michigan's Jim Harbaugh never goes down quietly.
Responding to Penn State coach James Franklin’s comments regarding the team’s tussle in the Michigan Stadium tunnel at halftime of the Oct. 15 matchup, Harbaugh called Franklin the “ringleader of the whole thing.”
The stadium has one tunnel for both teams to exit and enter. Both teams must use the tunnel to reach their respective locker rooms. The visiting team typically goes through the tunnel first but Franklin didn’t believe there was enough time given to the Nittany Lions.
“All there has to be is a two-minute or minute buffer in between the two teams," Franklin said last week. "This team is in before that team gets close and however we want to do it. But we're not the first team that's had issues like that. To me, under the current structure, we won't be the last.”
Monday was the first time Harbaugh had been asked about Franklin’s comments.
“I’ve really got bigger fish to fry than coach Franklin’s opinion on the halftime tunnel from a game ago,” Harbaugh said. “All they’ve got to do is walk into their locker room.
“Like you saw, pretty clearly, that they completely stopped; they weren't letting us get up the tunnel. It just seemed like such a sophomoric ploy to try to keep us out of our locker room. And (Franklin) looks like he was the ringleader of the whole thing. I’ve got bigger fish to fry than worry about that kind of whining.”
Yes, Harbaugh does have bigger fish to fry since his Wolverines are hosting Michigan State on Saturday. Let’s see if another tunnel tussle ensues.
▶ The one word Iowa’s fan base has been hoping to see regarding the team’s quarterback situation appeared Monday on the depth chart.
“Or”
As either Spencer Petras or Alex Padilla.
“We can't score points,” is part of what coach Kirk Ferentz said following the 54-10 loss to Ohio State, where the Hawkeyes didn’t score an offensive touchdown.
Petras has been the starter all season and the results are what they are. Padilla was given a chance against the Buckeyes, but it wasn’t a fair assessment of his abilities in game-like conditions. Padilla was 5 of 10 for 32 yards and one interception. Petras is averaging one touchdown for every 87.5 passing attempts.
▶ More dismal numbers about the Hawkeyes.
From the @PickSixPreviews Twitter account, Iowa hasn’t scored a touchdown in the last 28 drives. The last TD was at the end of the Michigan loss on Oct. 1.
The breakdown: 13 punts, four interceptions, three fumbles, three field goals, three turnovers on downs, one missed field goal and one end-of-the-game situation.
At least the Hawkeyes are 10-for-10 on PATs.
Each Iowa player on offense should receive a personalized Hershey’s chocolate bar with the word “Touchdown” for Halloween.
▶ As expected, the Big Ten will remain in divisions one more season, according to a report in The Athletic. But if you’ve been paying attention to Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski since Big Ten Media Days this summer, you knew this would be the outcome.
UCLA and USC are set to join the conference ahead of the 2024 season.
“Why would we change twice?” Bobinski said in September. “It makes sense to have one sort of comprehensive change in ’24.”
Don’t look for divisions in 2024 when the two become members of the Big Ten. It’s expected the league will settle into one division and let the top two teams square off in the championship game.
The 2023 conference schedule is expected to be announced this week.
▶ The Big Ten’s TV partners don’t want you making plans for the Nov. 5 games just yet. They want you to wait until six days before kickoff to let you know the time and the network of five games, including Purdue hosting Iowa.
The other games in the TBA category: Michigan State at Illinois, Minnesota at Nebraska, Penn State at Indiana and Maryland at Wisconsin. Will one of those games fall into Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff window?
Ohio State at Northwestern (noon, ABC) and Michigan at Rutgers (7:30 p.m., BTN) are set.
Power rankings
Ohio State (7-0, 4-0): The Buckeyes had one double-digit drive against the Hawkeyes. Not just scoring drives, but overall. Up next: Saturday at Penn State, noon (Fox)
Michigan (7-0, 4-0): Harbaugh always finds himself in the middle of something. Up next: Saturday vs. Michigan State, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Penn State (6-1, 3-1): Old man Sean Clifford tossed four touchdowns against Minnesota, doing enough to keep hot-shot backup Drew Allar on the bench. Up next: Saturday vs. Ohio State, noon (Fox)
Illinois (6-1, 3-1): Thanks to Purdue’s loss to Wisconsin, the Fighting Illini now have a 54.9% chance of winning the Big Ten West, according to ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index). And if that happens, Bret Bielema has a 100% chance of winning Big Ten Coach of the Year. Up next: Saturday at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m. (ABC).
Wisconsin (4-4, 2-3): Are there two more wins for the Badgers to gain bowl eligibility? Yes. Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Maryland, TBA (TBA)
Purdue (5-3, 3-2): Along with the Illini, the Boilermakers control their fate in the Big Ten West. But are there enough healthy players? Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Iowa, TBA (TBA)
Maryland (6-2, 3-2): The Terps reach bowl eligibility thanks to backup quarterback Billy Edwards, Jr., and freshman running back Roman Hemby, who rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns against Northwestern. Up next: Nov. 5 at Wisconsin, TBA (TBA).
Minnesota (4-3, 1-3): No quarterback and no chance for the Golden Gophers at Happy Valley. Running back Mo Ibrahim still churning out 100-yard games. Time for the Wildcat. Up next: Saturday vs. Rutgers, 2:30 p.m. (BTN)
Michigan State (3-4, 1-3): It's four feet tall and made of wood, showing Paul Bunyan with an axe and feet planted on the state of Michigan. The rivalry trophy. Can Bunyan defend the pass? Up next: Saturday at Michigan, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Nebraska (3-4, 2-2): Could create a healthy amount of chaos in the Big Ten West if the Huskers won this week. Up next: Saturday vs. Illinois, 3:30 p.m. (ABC).
Rutgers (4-3, 1-3): The Big Ten’s nightmare is over. The Scarlet Knights’ 21-game conference home losing streak ended with a win against Indiana. Allowed a touchdown on the opening kickoff. Trailed 14-0 but scored 24 straight points. Up next: Saturday at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m. (BTN)
Iowa (3-4, 1-3): If not for the defense, the Hawkeyes would rank behind all the possible Big Ten expansion candidates. Up next: Saturday vs. Northwestern, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Indiana (3-5, 1-4): The Hoosiers had the ball for 1:15 in the third quarter and ran six plays at Rutgers. How is this possible? Up next: Nov. 5 vs. Penn State, TBA (TBA).
Northwestern (1-6, 1-3): The Wildcats scheduled their next victory Monday by announcing they’ll play UTEP in 2023. Up next: Saturday at Iowa, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2).
Mike Carmin covers Purdue sports for the Journal & Courier and USA Today Sports Network. Email mcarmin@gannett.com and follow on Twitter and Instagram @carmin_jc
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Big Ten football report: Michigan's Jim Harbaugh, Penn State's James Franklin tunnel tussle
