Bouncing Around the Big Ten: Bowl eligibility looms for Minnesota with trip to Nebraska

Zech Lambert, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
Updated ·6 min read

Nov. 2—Minnesota heads to Nebraska — which has lost its last two games — with a hope to be bowl eligible after taking down Rutgers, while Iowa is fresh off a win over Northwestern heading to Purdue. Here's a look at both games, with a glimpse around the rest of the conference.

The Big Ten Conference's second-best rushing attack could be in for a big day on Saturday against the league's worst run defense when Minnesota visits Nebraska in a West Division battle in Lincoln, Neb.

Minnesota (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) is averaging 222.8 yards per game on the ground, going for 253 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-0 home win over Rutgers last week. The bulk of that production came from senior Mohamed Ibrahim, who carried 36 times for 159 yards and three scores.

Nebraska (3-5, 2-3 Big Ten) allows an average of 190.1 rushing yards per game, with four opponents gaining over 200 yards on the ground this season. The Cornhuskers allowed 188 rushing yards in a 26-9 home loss Saturday to then-No. 17 Illinois.

An arm injury to Nebraska starting quarterback Casey Thompson during the Illinois game has made planning for this week's contest difficult, Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said.

"We don't know which one they're going to actually play," Fleck said of Thompson and backups Chubba Purdy and Logan Smothers, each of whom attempted at least one pass vs. Illinois.

Whoever plays at quarterback for Nebraska likely will target junior Trey Palmer often. The LSU transfer has 48 catches for 782 yards and five touchdowns but was limited to one reception for a single yard against Illinois.

"There were just some plays we couldn't get it to him," said Nebraska interim coach Mickey Joseph, who is 2-3 since taking over for Scott Frost in September.

Besides Ibrahim, Minnesota's offense is guided by senior quarterback Tanner Morgan. He threw for 200-plus yards in three of the first five games before a head injury against Illinois caused him to miss a 45-17 loss at then-No. 16 Penn State. In his return last week, he was 14 of 21 for 122 yards vs. Rutgers.

Minnesota has won the past three meetings against Nebraska — the past two by one score. A victory Saturday would make the Golden Gophers bowl eligible for the fourth time in five seasons.

The game kicks off at 11 a.m. from Memorial Stadium.

Still in control of its destiny in the Big Ten West, Purdue spent its bye week doing far more regrouping than reflecting on what could lie ahead.

What is at stake beyond Saturday's visit from Iowa in West Lafayette, Ind.?

Boilermakers coach Jeff Brohm urges players not to bother.

"I think we can't concern ourselves with anything at the end of the tunnel," Brohm said. "That's when you get caught looking down a road and don't prepare as hard as you can."

Should the Boilermakers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) defeat Iowa (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten), they'd set up a huge division clash at resurgent Illinois the following week. To get there, Purdue must play more efficiently on offense than the most recent time out, a 35-24 loss at Wisconsin on Oct. 22 that snapped a four-game winning streak.

Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell eclipsed 300 yards for the third straight game while passing for a touchdown, but he also threw three interceptions.

"I think we're all disappointed in the turnovers," Brohm said. "Aidan was disappointed. We talked about it after, and he's still angry about it. You know, it happens. You learn from it and move on."

The Hawkeyes recovered from the roughest stretch of their season to date, routing Northwestern 33-13 last week to stop a three-game skid.

Spencer Petras threw for 220 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score, and Drew Stevens kicked four field goals. Iowa limited Northwestern to 177 total yards, including 18 rushing yards on 37 attempts, while notching a season high in points and yards (398).

"Probably the biggest step forward was on offense; that was really good to see," Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said. "The best we've played together this season so far. The defense gave another good effort out there, and special teams, for the most part, were pretty good."

Purdue has won the past two meetings to take a 50-39-3 lead in the all-time series.

"We haven't had much success the last couple outings against them, so that's a goal of ours, to try to change that," Ferentz said.

Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. from West Lafayette.

* Following what his attorney called an "attack" that broke out in the Michigan tunnel, Michigan defensive back Gemon Green has hired an attorney. Michigan State suspended Tank Brown, Angelo Grose, Khary Crump and Zion Young following the incident.

Saturday, Oct. 22

Minnesota 31, Rutgers 0

Iowa 33, Northwestern 13

Illinois 26, Nebraska 9

Ohio State 44, Penn State 31

Michigan 29, Michigan State 7

Saturday, Nov. 5

Minnesota at Nebraska, 11 a.m.

Iowa at Purdue, 11 a.m.

No. 2 Ohio State at Northwestern, 11 a.m.

Maryland at Wisconsin, 11 a.m.

No. 15 Penn State at Indiana, 2:30 p.m.

Michigan State at No. 16 Illinois, 2:30 p.m.

No. 5 Michigan at Rutgers, 6:30 p.m.

* In the first edition of the College Football Playoff rankings, Ohio State came in as the highest-ranked Big Ten team at No. 2.

* Michigan is the first team out of the top four, sitting at No. 5.

* Penn State checked in at No. 15.

* Illinois is the lowest-ranked Big Ten team in the first CFP rankings, one spot behind Penn State at No. 17.

Three FBS games you should tune into this weekend:

Appalachian State at Coastal Carolina — 6:30 p.m. Thursday — A chance for Coastal to put App State away in the Sun Belt East, the Mountaineers are faced with a must-win game if they want to stay alive in the division race that has four teams tied at 2-2. The Chanticleers are also looking to make a statement in search of the Group of 5 New Year's Six bowl bid.

No. 23 Oregon State at Washington — 9:30 p.m. Friday — Under the Friday night lights, Washington hosts Oregon State in an intriguing matchup between a couple of high-powered offenses.

No. 1 Tennessee at No. 3 Georgia — 2:30 p.m. Saturday — Undoubtedly the marquee game of the week — and possibly the year — top-ranked Tennessee faces another test heading to Athens to take on Georgia between the hedges. The winner is in the driver's seat to go to represent the East division in the SEC Championship.

Note: This report was compiled in part through previews from Field Level Media.