Big Ten football report: Midseason axe falls on assistants for underperforming teams

WEST LAFAYETTE – Head coaches were the first to go.

Who’s next? How about assistants?

In the Big Ten, two assistants - Indiana offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Darren Hiller and Rutgers offensive coordinator Sean Green – were fired over the weekend.

The dismissals come at the midway point of the season and are no surprise in the cut-throat business of college football. They join two conference head coaches - Scott Frost at Nebraska and Paul Chryst at Wisconsin - who lost their jobs before the season reached the halfway point.

The tipping point for IU coach Tom Allen came after the Hoosiers rushed for 29 yards and allowed seven sacks in a 31-10 loss to Michigan, which is fifth nationally in total defense. IU has allowed a Big Ten-worst 19 sacks.

The Scarlet Knights are near the bottom nationally in scoring offense, total offense and passing efficiency. Rutgers is coming off a 14-13 loss to Nebraska and hasn’t scored more than 16 points in each of the last four games. The Scarlet Knights have thrown eight of their 10 interceptions in the last three games playing two quarterbacks.

The trend will only get worse as underperforming units will be examined more closely by head coaches, who face the pressures of winning due to their high salaries.

“From a coaching standpoint you would like for people to wait until after the season to make decisions, but that's not today's world,” Purdue coach Jeff Brohm said. “You just got to keep your head down and grind and understand that winning is important and putting in the time to get it done is important.”

Schedule edge

From a schedule standpoint, does any team have an edge in the race for the Big Ten West?

Maybe Purdue.

The Boilermakers have played two schools from the East – Penn State and Maryland – and posted a 1-1 record. They face Indiana in the final game. Otherwise, it’s all Big Ten West teams the rest of the way. The other contenders, which include everyone except Northwestern, have difficult matchups against the East Division.

Illinois and Nebraska each play Michigan in Ann Arbor. Minnesota travels to Penn State but does host Rutgers. Wisconsin entertains Maryland, which has an explosive offense and will challenge the Badgers’ defense. Iowa plays on the road against Ohio State in two weeks. Michigan State could play a spoiler role since it faces Illinois and Wisconsin.

The Boilermakers’ schedule is manageable, but nothing will be easy in the second half of the season for a team that has a small margin for error.

Applying for jobs

Big Ten interim coaches are a combined 3-1 with plenty more opportunities to make a case to keep their jobs. Nebraska’s Mickey Joseph is on a two-game winning streak after beating Indiana and Rutgers. He brings the Huskers to Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday night. Wisconsin’s Jim Leonhard watched the Badgers smoke Northwestern 42-7. Beating the Wildcats isn’t enough but getting the offense to score 42 points – on six touchdown passes – catches your eye.

Yes or no?

Maryland is convinced Cam Allen jumped offsides on a PAT attempt late in Saturday’s game against Purdue. Brohm says no. It’s important since Allen blocked the extra point, keeping the margin at six points and impacting strategy by both teams in the final 7:47.

“I'll say this - the blocked extra point had a major impact on the game. It's a one-score game. It takes us to overtime. It just changes how they play the game," coach Mike Locksley said.

Said Brohm: “As we looked at the video, and had the big screen on it, he was not offsides from our vantage point. Did he move a little bit before the others? Yes, but he was not offsides when the ball snapped.”

Brohm said the play put the Boilermakers in an “advantageous position” since they took a 24-23 lead and built the margin to 31-23, forcing the Terrapins to score a touchdown and the two-point conversion in the final minute. The first attempt was successful but was called back for an illegal man downfield that no one disputes. The second two-point attempt failed, and Purdue had its third-straight victory.

Stat of the week

Michigan running back Blake Corum has 11 rushing touchdowns. Iowa has nine total touchdowns through six games.

Power rankings

Ohio State (6-0, 3-0): Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. makes quarterback C.J. Stroud’s bad throws look spectacular. The Buckeyes are rolling. Up next: Oct. 22 vs. Iowa, noon (Fox)

Michigan (6-0, 3-0): After six games, the Wolverines finally face a real test. Up next: Saturday vs. Penn State, noon (Fox)

Penn State (6-0, 3-0): Will the tough road games at Purdue and Auburn help the Nittany Lions this week? Interested to see how PSU’s running backs hold up against Jim Harbaugh’s defense. Up next: Saturday at Michigan, (Fox)

Purdue (4-2, 2-1): Impressive start to the month of October for the Boilermakers, who are 2-0 – both victories on the road. How about moving this week’s game to Lincoln? Up next: Saturday vs. Nebraska, 7:30 p.m. (BTN)

Illinois (5-1, 2-1): There’s Oktoberfest but there’s also Field-Goal-Fest featuring Indianapolis-Denver and Iowa-Illinois. The two games over a three-day stretch totaled 21 field goals and no touchdowns. Bad football is still football. Up next: Saturday vs. Minnesota, noon (BTN)

Wisconsin (3-3, 1-2): When is Leonhard signing a six-year contract to take over the Badgers on a permanent basis? Up next: Saturday at Michigan State, 4 p.m. (Fox)

Minnesota (4-1, 1-1): Running back Mohamed Ibrahim returns this week after missing the Oct. 1 loss to Purdue. We’ll see what lessons the Gophers learned. Up next: Saturday at Illinois, noon (BTN)

Maryland (4-2, 1-2): Sweeping the state of Indiana is no longer possible after losing to Purdue. Up next: Saturday at Indiana, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Nebraska (3-3, 2-1): Third night game in a row for the Huskers. TV doesn’t care. Up next: Saturday at Purdue, 7:30 p.m. (BTN)

Iowa (3-3, 1-2): The Hawkeyes were gift-wrapped a perfect touchdown opportunity against Illinois. First-and-goal from the 5-yard line following a fumble. Four plays, minus 4 yards equals a field goal. Keep that series in the playbook. Up next: Oct. 22 at Ohio State, noon (Fox)

Michigan State (2-4, 0-3): Bryce Baringer is the MVP. He’s the punter. Up next: Saturday vs. Wisconsin, 4 p.m. (Fox)

Rutgers (3-3, 0-3): Firing the offensive coordinator won’t matter since the Scarlet Knights lack an important element. They don't have a quarterback. Up next: Oct. 22 vs. Indiana, noon (BTN)

Indiana (3-3, 1-2): The Hoosiers dump their offensive line coach who also served as the run-game coordinator. Let’s be clear – the players are still the same. Up next: Saturday vs. Maryland, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Northwestern (1-5, 1-2): Here’s the sad part - the Wildcats are one game out of first place in the Big Ten West. Up next: Oct. 22 at Maryland, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)

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: Midseason axe falls on assistants for underperforming teams