2020 Week 8 Big Ten Awards

Welcome back Big Ten Football!  It wasn't the same with out you!  Week 8 (1) brought quarterbacks going on crazy completion streaks, a rivalry trophy game, a few upsets and a shocker in Bloomington.  

Team of the Week : Rutgers : The Schiano-effect hitting full power in the Scarlet Knights first game in East Lansing. This could have gone to Indiana (upset of Penn State) or Michigan (a hot pick to be upset-see weekly picks) but this is going to a team that ended a 21 game conference losing streak in a DOMINATING fashion.  Rutgers forced 7 Spartan turnovers; 7!  One coming on the 1 yard line and setting up a 14-0 1st quarter lead.  The game wasn't as close as the 38-27 score, felt more like a 30 pt lead.  Congrats Rutgers on breaking the streak.  Next up, the newly ranked Indiana Hoosiers.

7 Takeaways 🪓 pic.twitter.com/GTlKU5OVfR

— Rutgers.Football (@RFootball) October 24, 2020

Game of the Week : Indiana 36 - Penn State 35 (OT) : Going into Saturday the Hoosiers were 22-1 vs Penn State all time.  They only gained 211 yards and gave up 488, but got it where it mattered most, on the scoreboard.  They got it by the closest of margins too.  The game went back and forth in spite of the yardage difference.  The Hoosiers raced out to a 17-7 half time lead behind Stevie Scott's 2 touchdown runs.  Penn State owned the 2nd half and got out to a 28-20 lead late in the 4th.  Indiana went 75 yards then in a 1:20 and a 2 point conversion tied the game.  After a short kick and good return, Penn State had a chance to kick a field goal at the end of regulation but missed the 57 yarder.  In overtime, Penn State QB Sean Clifford hit Parker Washington for a score, and added the PAT.  Five players later Michael Penix Jr hit Whop Philyor for the score.  The Hoosiers than opted to go for 2 and well they got it by the closest of margins.  

UNREAL ENDING IN BLOOMINGTON! 😲

The OT 2-point conversion came down to the closest of margins, and @IndianaFootball gets its first Top 10 win since 1987! pic.twitter.com/Zo6Mty0RpK

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 24, 2020

We ❤️ you, coach! #LEO pic.twitter.com/nk3x7GUr6J

— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) October 25, 2020 

Player of the Week : Grahm Mertz - QB - Wisconsin : The Wisconsin QB made his first career start Friday night vs Illinois, and made it one he won't forget.  Mertz completed his first 17 throws vs the Illini.  That tied a program record.  He also tossed 5 touchdowns among his 20 completions, also a program record.  He finished the game 20/21 with 248 yards.  This was all possible due to the Badgers original start Jack Coan.  Mertz's efforts helped lead the Badgers to a 45-7 win in their conference opener.  

Freshman QB @GrahamMertz5 sure lived up to the hype in his first career start 😎

Watch his program record-tying 5 pass TDs in @BadgerFootball's opening night win against Illinois ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/pA44wjThIK

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 24, 2020

Word did come down late Sunday afternoon that Mertz did test positive for Covid-19.  Here's wishing him a speedy recovery!  This also creates another question in the Badger backfield though. 

Week 8 Big Ten Scores

Wisconsin 45 - Illinois 7

Purdue 24 - Iowa 20

Ohio State 52 - Nebraska 17

Indiana 36 - Penn State 35

Northwestern 43 - Maryland 3

Rutgers 38- Michigan State 27

Michigan 49 - Minnesota 24