Football

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Barrett, in expanded quarterback role, returns to elite form

Ohio State has been a bit of a disappointment this year. Sure, they’re still undefeated and No. 1 in both rankings, but a worrying number of games in which they failed to pull away early has created a sense that they are this year’s Florida State, a defending champ sleepwalking through the regular season and waiting to get exposed by a plucky upstart in the College Football Playoff. The most visible reason for this iffy play is at quarterback, the position considered the Buckeyes’ greatest asset in preseason.

UW alleviates third-down struggles

Ghosts of their former selves

Oregon

Carroo a bright spot on struggling Rutgers

Rutgers football does not have a long history with the Big Ten, having joined the conference for its first season last year. 

DC Sports Big Ten Power Rankings: Buckeyes, Spartans remain undefeated

It was a rather uneventful Week 8 for the Big Ten. Ohio State and Michigan State both kept their undefeated records intact, Penn State edged past Maryland and Bart Houston laid the foundation for his 2016 Heisman campaign by helping Wisconsin best Illinois.

Three things to watch: Houston steps up, defense stays strong

1. Houston to the rescue

Rutgers a bigger threat than record indicates

Football is a team sport, but sometimes one player can have a game-changing impact on their team.

Defense holds up its end of the deal, again

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – When redshirt junior quarterback Joel Stave left the game with a head injury late in the first quarter, redshirt junior Bart Houston was thrust into an uncomfortable spot.

Battered Wisconsin secures third-straight conference win at Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - “It’s the next man up.” This quote has been uttered by head coach Paul Chryst, offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph, redshirt senior quarterback Joel Stave and on Saturday night in Champaign, Ill., redshirt junior quarterback Bart Houston was the next man up to say the phrase. Late in the first quarter of Wisconsin’s (3-1 Big Ten, 6-2 Overall) 24-13 win over Illinois (1-2, 4-3), Stave was sacked by junior defensive end Carroll Phillips, who beat redshirt senior left tackle Tyler Marz to the inside.

Iowa’s grasp on the West gets stronger

While the Big Ten East continues to dazzle, as the Michigan-Michigan State matchup may go down as the best game in the entire FBS this year and Ohio State has finally found a way to maximize the Braxton Miller-Cardale Jones- J.T.

Big Ten led by distinct array of QBs

When people think of the Big Ten, the first image that comes to mind is usually three yards and a cloud of dust, a byproduct of ground-and-pound running offenses.

Gilmore finds his niche in Madison

After living under the sunny skies of California, wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore and his family have traded in their swimsuits for stocking caps. He even joked about his son wearing a winter hat to school when the temperature dipped into the 40s.

Defense, special teams lead way for Illinois

LSU gradually bolstering its College Football Playoff case

No. 5 LSU might be the only team in the country that can say it has been as impressive as No. 2 Baylor. A fifth straight convincing win has the Tigers at their highest ranking since 2012, but they couldn’t be playing a more different style from that team.

Ogunbowale steps up for limping Badgers

In a season plagued with injuries, the Badgers seemingly suffered their worst loss with the announcement that highly touted starting junior running back Corey Clement would miss significant time after surgery to repair a lingering sports hernia injury. To compound the damage, redshirt freshman running back Taiwan Deal suffered an ankle injury in UW’s comeback win at Nebraska.

Wadley brilliantly fills in for the injured Canzeri at NU

No. 17 Iowa made a statement Saturday afternoon when it rolled through No. 20 Northwestern by a score of 40-10, putting it in control of its own destiny in the Big Ten West.

Michigan falters as OSU holds steady

Michigan State-Michigan. That is all.

New linebackers, wide receivers shine

1. Stave’s roller coaster ride

Edwards is the man in the middle

Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda self-admittedly has a difficult time talking about what his defense does well.

Badgers look to keep rolling in Illinois