Huge Ten's shock: Iowa in sturdy place barring Illinois upset

Michael Cohen

School Soccer and School Basketball Author

It was lower than a month in the past when Iowa turned the speak of the Huge Ten for all of the unsuitable causes.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz’s workforce had simply been pummeled, 54-10, at No. 2 Ohio State per week after enduring a unique kind of pummeling in a 9-6 loss at then-unranked Illinois. The Hawkeyes owned one of many worst offenses in faculty soccer — definitely the worst of any Energy 5 college — and that offense was being coordinated by Ferentz’s son, Brian. 

A contentious postgame information convention in Columbus invited nationwide dialogue about Kirk Ferentz, Brian Ferentz and nepotism all through the game.

From that time ahead, although, all of the Hawkeyes have completed is string collectively three consecutive wins over Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin to climate the storm within the seasick Huge Ten West and reclaim management of their future for one more potential journey to the convention title recreation.

Who’da thunk it?

"You have received two selections," Ferentz stated in his weekly information convention. "You retain pushing ahead otherwise you give up. Received 12 video games scheduled, so have a nasty one or an actual good one, you have to transfer on and see what you are able to do concerning the subsequent alternative. That is all we have tried to do."

And so they’ve completed it effectively sufficient to rise towards the highest of the predictably unpredictable West, the place 4 groups have equivalent 4-3 convention data coming into the ultimate two weeks of the common season. If the Hawkeyes can notch victories towards Minnesota this weekend and Nebraska subsequent weekend, then they’ll be heading to the Huge Ten Championship for the second consecutive 12 months — assuming Illinois loses at No. 3 Michigan on Saturday.

"In case you quit the battle, then it is greater than predictable what the result goes to be," Ferentz stated. "So a minimum of you have to give your self an opportunity and provides your self an opportunity to see what you are able to do. And there is not a lot you do in life that is value doing or feeling good about that you just're not going to have setbacks."

Who will win the Huge Ten West?

Joel Klatt breaks down the situations round 5 groups that may win the Huge Ten West — Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

Right here’s the Week 12 scouting report within the Huge Ten:

The matchups

Illinois (7-3, 4-3 Huge Ten) at No. 3 Michigan (10-0, 7-0 Huge Ten)
Recreation time: Midday ET
Odds: Wolverines by 17.5 (per FOX Wager, as of Thursday afternoon)

Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4 Huge Ten) at Nebraska (3-7, 2-5 Huge Ten)
Recreation time: Midday ET
Odds: Badgers by 10.5

Northwestern (1-9, 1-6 Huge Ten) at Purdue (6-4, 4-3 Huge Ten)
Recreation time: Midday ET on FS1
Odds: Boilermakers by 18

Indiana (3-7, 1-6 Huge Ten) at Michigan State (5-5, 3-4 Huge Ten)
Recreation time: Midday ET on Huge Ten Community
Odds: Spartans by 10

No. 2 Ohio State (10-0, 7-0 Huge Ten) at Maryland (6-4, 3-4 Huge Ten)
Recreation time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Odds: Buckeyes by 27.5

No. 11 Penn State (8-2, 5-2 Huge Ten) at Rutgers (4-6, 1-6 Huge Ten)
Recreation time: 3:30 p.m. ET on Huge Ten Community
Odds: Nittany Lions by 19.5

Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Huge Ten) at Minnesota (7-3, 4-3 Huge Ten)
Recreation time: 4 p.m. ET on FOX
Odds: Gophers by 2.5

Recreation of the week: Iowa at Minnesota

Probably the most attention-grabbing matchup, in what must be a grind-it-out affair between two of the higher defensive groups within the convention, pits Minnesota tailback Mohamed Ibrahim towards the vaunted Hawkeyes’ entrance, which ranks eighth nationally in dashing protection by surrendering simply 88.6 yards per recreation.

Ibrahim stays among the best gamers in faculty soccer with the least quantity of recognition outdoors the Huge Ten. He has extra dashing yards (1,261) and extra dashing touchdowns (18) than Michigan tailback Blake Corum — a reliable Heisman Trophy candidate — and Ibrahim’s streak of 18 consecutive 100-yard video games is the longest in FBS since 2000. His numbers throughout that stretch are foolish: 5.4 yards per keep it up 489 makes an attempt; 146.7 yards per recreation; three 200-yard video games; and 36 touchdowns.

"It's important to defend him each play and till the whistle blows," Ferentz stated this week. "He is simply robust, hard-nosed. He’s quick, however I do not know if he is like a 4.3 (40-yard sprint) or something like that. However he is only a robust soccer participant. I am not saying the identical as Michigan's working again, however there's some similarities to me. Appears to be like like perhaps there's nothing there and subsequent factor you realize he is received a 5-, 8-yard achieve. In case you do not sort out him, get him down, he is not quitting."

For as stout as Iowa’s protection has been, the league’s finest tailbacks have nonetheless plowed their strategy to profitable outings in 2022. Corum carried 29 instances for 133 yards and a landing in Michigan's snug 27-14 win at Kinnick Stadium final month. And Illinois star Chase Brown, who leads the nation in dashing, gained 146 yards on 31 carries in one other defeat for the Hawkeyes.

All three runners — Ibrahim, Corum and Brown — rank among the many prime 13 gamers within the nation by forcing a minimum of 55 missed tackles this season. Ibrahim leads the trio with 3.62 yards after contact per try, and his complete of 88 first downs gained ranks second nationally behind Corum’s 91.

"Mohamed Ibrahim may go down as the best working again, arguably, ever at Minnesota," Gophers coach P.J. Fleck stated this week, "after which arguably among the best within the Huge Ten."

Mohamed Ibrahim earns a TD hat-trick

Minnesota star Mohamed Ibrahim scores his third landing towards Northwestern final week.

Participant to observe: Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness

Although he’s solely a redshirt sophomore, Van Ness is seen as a possible first-round decide within the 2023 NFL draft if he decides to depart college early. His 6-foot-5, 275-pound body makes him an thrilling prospect at edge rusher, the place his power, quickness and powerful motor have served him effectively the final two seasons. He additionally has blocked a number of kicks on particular groups.

Van Ness ranks second within the Huge Ten in quarterback pressures with 40 after racking up 5 extra in final week’s win over Wisconsin. It was his sixth recreation this season with a minimum of 4 pressures and his third consecutive recreation with a minimum of ½ sack. The one Huge Ten gamers with extra sacks than Van Ness (5½) are Wisconsin’s Nick Herbig (11), Michigan’s Mike Morris (7½) and fellow Hawkeye Joe Evans (6).  

The final Iowa move rusher chosen within the first spherical was consensus All-American Adrian Clayborn, who went twentieth general in 2011. Clayborn amassed 40 profession sacks throughout 10 seasons within the NFL.

"Lukas Van Ness," Ferentz stated, "had a sense he may become one thing fairly good. He is on that path proper now. So that is the enjoyable half."

Unsung hero: Ohio State WR Kamryn Babb

One of the crucial inspiring moments in faculty soccer this season got here with 8:49 remaining in a recreation that had been out of attain because the first quarter. That’s when Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud linked with Babb for an 8-yard landing in a 56-14 win over Indiana.

What appeared like an innocuous play carried immense which means for the receiver concerned. Babb was a former four-star prospect from St. Louis, rated among the many prime 15 wideouts within the nation and the highest 100 gamers general within the 2018 recruiting cycle. He held scholarship presents from practically each blue-blood program and was the highest-ranked receiver within the Buckeyes’ class.

Quick-forward to the current and Babb is a fifth-year senior whose landing towards the Hoosiers marked his first collegiate reception within the wake of unrelenting damage issues. Babb has suffered three torn ACLs since arriving in Columbus and missed the 2018, 2019 and 2021 seasons due to them. He additionally tore his ACL as a highschool senior earlier than formally becoming a member of the Buckeyes.  

After securing the brief move from Stroud within the front-right nook of the tip zone final Saturday, Babb climbed to his toes and hustled to an open house to have a good time. He dropped to his knees, bowed to the bottom, after which blew a kiss to the sky as he uncurled. A crew of Buckeyes hovered round him, prepared and ready to share his pleasure.

"What occurred as we speak on this stadium was magical," head coach Ryan Day stated after the sport. "That’s what faculty soccer means to lots of people. That’s one of many explanation why faculty soccer is particular. It’s one of many explanation why you coach — to see one thing like that occur. Hopefully, there’s any person else on the market that’s going by robust instances that may see that as a motivation to beat."

Kamryn Babb scores first landing

C.J. Stroud and the Buckeyes celebrated with Kamryn Babb after the oft-injured receiver made his first collegiate reception final week.

Harm report

— Ohio State RBs Miyan Williams (leg) and TreVeyon Henderson (foot): Williams carried 15 instances for 147 yards and a landing within the first half towards Iowa earlier than struggling an undisclosed leg damage. The information was troubling for a Buckeye workforce already with out Henderson, who sat out final week’s recreation with a foot damage. Day stated he hoped a minimum of one among them will probably be accessible this weekend. 

— Michigan OLB Mike Morris (lower-body damage): Morris, who leads the Wolverines in sacks, stated he suffered "somewhat tweak" in his decrease physique throughout final week’s victory over Nebraska after dropping out halfway by the fourth quarter. In an look on the "Inside Michigan Soccer" radio present earlier this week, Morris informed host Jon Jansen the medical workers gave him 4 hours of therapy Monday morning. "I really feel like I’ll be all proper," Morris stated.

— Illinois RB Chase Brown (leg): Brown suffered an damage within the waning seconds of final week’s loss to Purdue. On Monday, head coach Bret Bielema informed reporters Brown is trending in the precise path to play towards Michigan however wasn’t sure how wholesome the nation’s main rusher will probably be.

— Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr. (appendicitis): Porter missed final week’s shutout win over Maryland with appendicitis, however head coach James Franklin expects his star nook to return this season. It’s unclear if Franklin was referring to the common season or Penn State’s eventual bowl recreation.

Numbers recreation

1: The variety of instances Michigan has begun a season 10-0 beneath head coach Jim Harbaugh. This 12 months marks the third time within the final 25 seasons that the Wolverines have gained their first 10 video games. The 2006 squad started 10-0 earlier than dropping to Ohio State within the finale and USC within the Rose Bowl to complete 10-2. And the 1997 squad started 10-0 en path to an undefeated season capped by a nationwide championship.

416: The variety of factors scored by Ohio State in its final seven video games towards Maryland, all of which have been victories. The Buckeyes have averaged 59.4 factors per recreation towards the Terrapins with 4 video games of 60-plus factors. That is OSU’s first journey to School Park since successful a 2018 additional time basic that completed 52-51.

0: The variety of sacks allowed by Purdue’s offensive line in final week’s upset of Illinois, which entered the sport with the No. 1 protection within the nation. The Boilermakers are tied for eighth nationally and second within the convention in fewest tackles for loss allowed, with 38. The one Huge Ten offensive line with higher marks is that of Ohio State, with 37.

1,054: The variety of scrimmage yards for Maryland working again Roman Hemby this season, a complete that ranks second in FBS amongst freshmen behind Quinshon Judkins of Ole Miss (1,169 yards). Earlier this season, Hemby turned the primary Terrapin in 25 years to report a minimum of 150 dashing yards and a minimum of 50 receiving yards in the identical recreation.

1.22: The variety of sacks per recreation averaged by Wisconsin edge rusher Nick Herbig, which is the perfect in FBS this season. Herbig leads the Huge Ten in sacks (11) and tackles for loss (15½), with no one else within the convention tallying greater than 7½ sacks (Michigan edge rusher Mike Morris) or 12 tackles for loss (Illinois defensive sort out Jer’Zhan Newton) up to now.

Learn extra:

Michael Cohen covers faculty soccer and basketball for FOX Sports activities with an emphasis on the Huge Ten. Comply with him on Twitter at @Michael_Cohen13.

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