Big Ten football report: Tight games, defense rules, clutch moments highlight start to season

WEST LAFAYETTE – Close games, questionable coaching decisions, Iowa being Iowa, Sean Clifford staying composed, and an elite defense remains in Ann Arbor.

What we’ve learned after two weeks of the Big Ten season:

▶ Three games between conference teams have already been played and each came down to the wire. Northwestern beat Nebraska by three. Penn State knocked off Purdue by four. Indiana rallied to down Illinois by three. That’s a combined 10 points. Can’t wait for Big Ten against Big Ten the rest of the season.

▶ Scott Frost’s onside kick against Nebraska. Jeff Brohm’s inability to drain the clock and force Penn State to use timeouts. Bret Bielema’s fourth down call in the loss to the Hoosiers with a chance to extend the lead. Coaches are lighting themselves on fire in the early stages of the Big Ten season. Nebraska even attempted a squib kick in the fourth quarter against North Dakota, creating an uneasy feeling inside Memorial Stadium.

“We have the smartest fans in America, and I want them to know that was not an onside kick,” Frost said.

▶ Let the jokes continue about Iowa. The defense scored four points – on two safeties – and the offense managed a field goal. Against an FCS team. Iowa 7, South Dakota State 3. The offense numbers were hideous on this day but that’s the Hawkeyes, who were missing key personnel on offense. Still, against an FCS team? The defense looked outstanding and will be good all season. Total offense for both teams: 286 yards. Total punting yards for both teams: 936.

“A real unusual scoring line when you’ve got 3-2-2. I’ve never been around a game like that, but we’ll take it,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

▶ Clifford, Penn State’s sixth-year quarterback, could’ve folded after throwing a pick-six against the Boilermakers on Thursday night. Ross-Ade Stadium was rocking. Purdue had the momentum. But Clifford leaned on his experience and led the Nittany Lions on the game-winning drive, capped by a TD with 57 seconds to play. In fact, Clifford guided Penn State to a combined 21 points at the end of the first half and the game. The star of the game, though, for the Lions was cornerback Joey Porter, Jr.

▶ Forget about who’s playing quarterback at Michigan. The defense remains the best in the Big Ten. Seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss and held Colorado State to 219 total yards. With the defense still playing at a high level, the quarterback situation has time to figure itself out.

▶ Ohio State demonstrated to the nation how to close out a game by using their rushing attack to put away the Fighting Irish. The 14-play, 95-yard drive featured 10 plays on the ground and drained seven minutes off the clock. Northwestern did the same against Nebraska in Ireland and Rutgers took the lead for good against Boston College on a 12-play, 96-yard drive, including 11 runs.

Power Rankings

Ohio State (1-0): Explosive plays will come in the passing game. Notre Dame kept quarterback C.J. Stroud in check. Next: Saturday vs. Arkansas State, noon (BTN)

Michigan (1-0): Defense rules. Next: Saturday vs. Hawaii, 8 p.m. (BTN)

Wisconsin (1-0): Two big plays, including the longest run in program history by Braelon Allen, set the tone against Illinois State. Next: Saturday vs. Washington State, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)

Michigan State (1-0): Pulled away late to take down Western Michigan. Another transfer running back - Jalen Berger from Wisconsin - could follow in the path of Kenneth Walker III. Next: Saturday vs. Akron, 4 p.m. (BTN)

Penn State (1-0, 1-0): Gutsy win at Purdue. The secondary is for real. Next: Saturday vs. Ohio, noon (ABC)

Maryland (1-0): The offense wasn’t at full throttle against Buffalo, but the talent is there. Next: Saturday at Charlotte, 3:30 p.m. (watchstadium.com).

Minnesota (1-0): Running back Mohamed Ibrahim returns with 132 rushing yards. Next: Saturday vs. Western Illinois, noon (BTN)

Northwestern (1-0, 1-0): Will lean on the running game and the offensive line. Next: Saturday vs. Duke, noon (Fox Sports 1).

Iowa (1-0): A win is a win but that was ugly. Next: Saturday vs. Iowa State, 4 p.m. (BTN).

Rutgers (1-0): Chance to start 3-0 after winning at Boston College. Next: Saturday vs. Wagner, 4 p.m. (BTN).

Indiana (1-0): On their way to another Big Ten loss, the Hoosiers found some late-game magic against Illinois. Next: Saturday vs. Idaho, 8 p.m. (BTN).

Purdue (0-1, 0-1): Cleaning up the penalties and the shoddy tackling is the mission this week. The Boilermakers committed three penalties on one play. Next: Saturday vs. Indiana State, 4 p.m. (BTN).

Illinois (1-1, 0-1): Four trips to the red zone produced 10 points against the Hoosiers. Next: Saturday vs. Virginia, 4 p.m. (ESPNU).

Nebraska (1-1, 0-1): The Huskers were tied with North Dakota at halftime (7-7) and again (17-17) with 4:22 left the third quarter. Won by 21 but it was far from comfortable against an FCS opponent. Next: Saturday vs. Georgia Southern, 7:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

Mike Carmin covers Purdue sports for the Journal & Courier and USA Today 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: Tight games, defense rules, clutch moments highlight start to season