It is a pivotal weekend ahead in the Big Ten, with No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Penn State highlighting a weekend of conference matchups that could go a long way in deciding who ends up in Indianapolis. The No. 1 Oregon Ducks are on the road at the Big House, set to take on defending national champions Michigan.
Each week throughout the season, The Oregonian/OregonLive is sharing the stories we’re reading and watching from around the Big Ten.
After several visiting Ohio State fans called Autzen Stadium the loudest environment in college football following their visit to Oregon, the discussion is ongoing in media circles. Columbus Dispatch columnist Rob Oller thinks Ohio State’s “The Horseshoe,” not known for having a raucous atmosphere, could learn a thing or two from the fans in Eugene.
“Mostly what I picked up on at Oregon was a stadium crowd that doesn’t take itself too seriously,” Oller wrote. “That is not to say Ducks fans don’t want to win, but nervous energy is channeled into a freewheeling response more than the often angst-ridden mood of Ohio State fans in the Horseshoe.”
Trump drops out (of a football game)
Former president and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will no longer attend Ohio State vs. Penn State. Trump previously attended Alabama vs. Georgia this season, and his presence involved a major increase in security protocol for the game.
The election is on Tuesday, with Pennsylvania among the key battleground states in the race between Trump and vice president Kamala Harris. The final poll from Pennsylvania, conducted by Fox News, gives Trump a one-point edge in the keystone state.
No punishment for the squabble
The Big Ten will not hand down any punishment for the skirmish between Michigan and Michigan State players last Saturday. The Wolverines won, 24-17, and the altercation broke out after Michigan took its final knee to run out the clock.
“Amidst the confrontation, student-athletes from both teams were on the ground and surrounded by so many individuals that both players were completely obscured from view,” the Big Ten said in a release on Tuesday. “The video review was inconclusive as to whether individual discipline was appropriate for anyone in the immediate vicinity of the two players who were on the ground.”
Iowa leans on Brendan Sullivan under center
The Iowa Hawkeyes are forced to make a quarterback change this weekend against Wisconsin, as season-long starter Cade McNamara is out due to a concussion. Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan, typically utilized as a running threat in the red zone, will step in for Iowa.
Sullivan, who played in 13 games over two seasons with the Wildcats, went 9-14 for 80 yards along with eight rushes for 40 yards and a rushing touchdown in relief of McNamara last week.
“(McNamara) wasn’t feeling great, but it wasn’t like he was incoherent by any stretch,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters. “But as I said Saturday, we had already planned a rotation going into the game, and it just so happens that was the time coincidentally, if you will, and we were going to do that regardless, unless the ball was like on the 1-inch line and we had 99 yards to go. Not fair to throw a guy in there cold doing that.”
Ex-UW football players charged with assault
Two former University of Washington football players were charged with assault after a recently released video showed an attack on a cyclist in Seattle’s University District. Tylin “Tybo” Rogers and Diesel Gordon allegedly attacked the cyclist in March and initially pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Gordon changed his plea in August to guilty for assault, while reckless driving charges against him were dropped. Rogers is also charged with multiple counts of rape from a separate incident after allegedly attacking two women during the 2023 football season, and he plead not guilty in that case.
No. 1 Oregon (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) at Michigan (5-3, 3-2)
- When: Saturday, Nov. 2
- Time: 12:30 p.m. PT
- Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mich.
- TV channel: CBS
- Stream: Watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have a cable provider, use your login information to watch this game on cbssports.com.
- Oregon Ducks football 2024 season schedule, scores
- Sign up for The Ducks Beat newsletter
— Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten Conference. Listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast or subscribe to the Ducks Roundup newsletter.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
