Big Ten Edition - September 8, 2022

2 | The Lantern | Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

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Buckeye defense ‘stepped up to the challenge’ in second-half comeback over Notre Dame

JACOB BENGE SPORTS EDITOR

However, Ohio State pulled away in the trench battle in the second half, running for 122 yards and a score while holding the Fighting Irish to just 23 yards on the ground.

such as when the Buckeyes chose to not go for it on fourth down with three yards to go on Notre Dame’s 39-yard line while trailing 10-7 with less than nine minutes left in the second quarter.

Head coach Ryan Day said the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish battled over field position, making it important to maintain possession of the football.

Ohio State’s defense responded by allowing the Fighting Irish to gain 23 yards on the ensuing drive, the first after Notre Dame took the lead on a go-ahead touchdown earlier in the quarter.

The Buckeyes didn’t allow another score, and that motivated their offense to generate their comeback victory, according to thirdyear quarterback C.J. Stroud.

“When you're playing against a team that wants to run the ball, you have to be smart because all it takes is one turnover, and you could be up against it,” Day said.

“We tried to do the same thing — run the football, take care of the football and win that style of game — which is a different style of game than maybe we've been in the past.”

ZACHARY RILLEY | PHOTO EDITOR

Ohio State graduate cornerback Cameron Brown (26) lines up prior to the snap during then-No. 2 Ohio State’s 21-10 win over then-No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday.

Even under the bright lights with stakes high during No. 3 Ohio State’s first top-five season-opener against then-No. 5 Notre Dame, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and the Buckeyes kept their defense simple.

The Buckeyes made adjustments at halftime Saturday, overcoming a 10-7 deficit by shutting out the Fighting Irish and limiting them to 72 total yards in the second half. Despite hype surrounding the newlook defense, Knowles said Ohio State was “rather basic” in applying new concepts.

“There's still a lot of things that we haven't shown,” Knowles said. “I wanted to keep it that way for the players so they could play fast and not worry about making mistakes.”

Notre Dame outdueled Ohio State in the first half, totaling 181 yards of offense to the Buckeyes’ 149.

On the first offensive play in the first quarter, Fighting Irish second-year quarterback Tyler Buchner completed a pass to second-year wide receiver

Lorenzo Styles Jr. for 54 yards.

The opening reception was among Buchner’s eight first-half completions, but he was held to two throughout the third and fourth quarters. Safeties coach Perry Eliano said Tuesday Ohio State’s secondary and defense overall took the coaches’ message throughout the preseason and rose to the occasion against Notre Dame.

“I was more proud because we were tough. We were physical,” Eliano said. “I’m more proud about that, that we really, really stepped up to the challenge of being able to respond when adverse situations hit and also being able to be physical and tough and make sure that they felt this at the end of the game.”

Neither Notre Dame nor Ohio State committed a turnover in the season-opener, and both teams nearly matched one another in the run game in the first half behind 53 and 50 rushing yards, respectively.

Rather than risk a turnover on downs or giveaway, Day opted to punt in some scenarios and put faith in the Buckeye defense,

“It's definitely a great feeling as an offense knowing that you have a great defense that you can rely on,” Stroud said. “Even on some of those fourth downs where I thought that we're going to go for it, coach Day decided to punt, which I had no problem with, because he has so much trust in our defense.”

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BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO THE BIG TEN

Illinois Fighting Illini

Indiana Hoosiers

Iowa Hawkeyes

Maryland Terrapins

Michigan Wolverines

Michigan State Spartans

Head Coach: Bret Bielema

Head Coach: Tom Allen

Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz

Head Coach: Michael Locksley

Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh

Head Coach: Mel Tucker

2021 record: 5-7

2021 record: 2-10

2021 record: 10-4

2021 record: 7-6

2021 record: 12-2

2021 record: 11-2

Location: Champaign, Illinois

Location: Bloomington, Indiana

Location: Iowa City, Iowa

Location: College Park, Maryland

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Location: East Lansing, Michigan

Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 0-7

Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 4-16

Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 3-15

Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 2-12

Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 0-18

Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 2-6

Minnesota Gophers

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Head Coach: P.J. Fleck

Head Coach: Scott Frost

2021 record: 9-4

2021 record: 3-9

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 1-7

Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 1-11

Northwestern Wildcats Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald 2021 record: 3-9 Location: Evanston, Illinois Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 1-12

Ohio State Buckeyes

Penn State Nittany Lions

Purdue Boilermakers

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Wisconsin Badgers

Head Coach: Ryan Day

Head Coach: James Franklin

Head Coach: Jeff Brohm

Head Coach: Greg Schiano

Head Coach: Paul Chryst

2021 record: 11-2

2021 record: 7-6

2021 record: 9-4

2021 record: 5-8

2021 record: 9-4

Location: Columbus, Ohio

Location: University Park, Pennsylvania

Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Location: Piscataway, New Jersey

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 5-16

Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 5-8

Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 0-8

Record versus Ohio State since 2000: 4-13

4 | The Lantern | Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

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OHIO STATE BUCKEYES JACOB BENGE SPORTS EDITOR

KATIE GOOD | ASST. PHOTO EDITOR

The then-No. 2 Ohio State football team takes the field ahead of the Ohio State-Notre Dame game Saturday. Ohio State won 21-10.

What’s happened so far in 2022?

Plenty of hype surrounded Ohio State entering the season after making sweeping changes to the Buckeye coaching staff.

Head coach Ryan Day brought in Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State as the Buckeyes’ new defensive coordinator. Ohio State also hired Perry Eliano from Cincinnati as its safeties coach and Tim Walton from the Jacksonville Jaguars as the cornerbacks and secondary coach.

During their first top-five season-opener in program history against then-No. 5 Notre Dame Saturday, the Buckeyes showed they could grind out four quarters against top-ranked opposition.

An unexpected injury to third-year wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a 10-7 halftime deficit prompted Ohio State to adjust in the second half against the Fighting Irish. The Buckeye defense shut out Notre Dame, prompting a comeback.

Ohio State’s offensive and defensive depth, including graduate wideout Xavier Johnson, whose first-career reception scored the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter, and second-year defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr.,

who recorded a fourth-quarter sack, banded together to score 14 unanswered points.

Second-year TreVeyon Henderson and third-year Miyan Williams split carries in the running backs room, earning 15 and 14 carries, respectively, to total 172 yards on the ground against Notre Dame.

Defensively, fourth-year linebacker Tommy Eichenberg brought down a game-high nine tackles and a pass breakup to lead the Buckeyes under their new-look defense.

Key offensive player: Third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud returns as Ohio State’s starter after competing for the Heisman Trophy a year ago. Stroud claimed several postseason awards after the 2021 season, including the Big Ten’s Brees-Griese Quarterback of the Year award and an All-American selection by the Associated Press. During the season-opener against Notre Dame, Stroud completed 71 percent of his passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

Key defensive player: Fourth-year linebacker Tommy Eichenberg capped his

2021 season by earning Defensive Player of the Game honors after a Rose Bowl performance in which he recorded 17 tackles. Selected as a captain entering this season, Eichenberg will lead not only Buckeye linebackers, but their defense overall. He kept pressure on Notre Dame by bringing down three tackles for loss, including two sacks. Eichenberg adjusted to responsibilities as a starter in 2021, and his role became greater this season in a new-look Buckeye defense.

Weaknesses: When Smith-Njigba exited in the first quarter and was held out of the second half, the Buckeye offense quickly reshuffled and adjusted to playing without their returning lead receiver. Second-year wideout Emeka Egbuka caught nine receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown, and seven Buckeyes caught a pass in their win over Notre Dame. Day said Ohio State will evaluate Smith-Njigba going forward, so the Buckeyes will be challenged to make up for the loss in production. Ohio State’s secondary served as a question mark entering the season as well, and the additions of Eliano and Walton were signs that Day and the Buckeyes expect improvements.

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WISCONSIN BADGERS

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GAURAV LAW ASST. CAMPUS EDITOR

CORI WADE | FOR THE LANTERN

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst makes calls to the team in the first half of the Big Ten Championship game against Ohio State Dec. 7, 2019. Ohio State won 34-21.

What’s happened so far in 2022?

Key defensive player:

The Badgers enjoyed a 38-0 Week 1 shutout against Illinois State Saturday. The offense looked scary, led by sophomore running back Braelon Allen’s 148 yards and two touchdowns, including a 96-yard breakaway in the second quarter. In addition, junior quarterback Graham Mertz threw for 219 yards and a touchdown at a near-90 percent completion rate.

Junior linebacker Nick Herbig made his presence felt as a sophomore, recording nine sacks and a forced fumble last season. Now, as the leader of the Badger defense, Herbig already picked up two sacks and four tackles. Herbig has the ability to slice through the middle of offensive lines and get to the quarterback, standing at 6-foot-2, 228 pounds and playing quick for his size.

Key offensive player:

Weaknesses:

After a solid first season with the Badgers in 2021, Allen’s big touchdown run against Illinois State helped him start the year strong. Allen’s shown he’s the boost the Wisconsin offense may need after an up-and-down season last year. The Badgers return all key starters on the offensive line, so another year behind them can give Allen more confidence. In addition, if head coach Paul Chryst decides to use Allen as a receiver as well, like he did with back-to-back Doak Walker Award-winner Jonathan Taylor, defenses beware.

Wisconsin’s secondary looked vulnerable Saturday against Illinois State. Cardinals junior quarterback Zack Annexstad found big holes in the defense, throwing for 186 yards. The Badgers gave up four passes of at least 20 yards to the Redbirds Saturday and must close those gaps come big games against teams, such as Ohio State Sept. 24 and Michigan State Oct. 15.

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS KOLE EMPLIT LANTERN REPORTER What’s happened so far in 2022?

Key defensive player:

Kicking off their season under Friday, the Spartans logged their first victory of 2022, defeating Western Michigan 35-13. Michigan State came out with some drawbacks, notably from redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne, who had some jitters and often put too much air under his throws early.

However, he ultimately put the game away with a 43-yard touchdown to redshirt junior wide receiver Tre Mosley. Additionally, senior linebacker Jacoby Windmon was awarded Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, tallying four tackles for loss with a forced fumble.

An Ohio native, it is no secret that defensive tackle Jacob Slade is one of the leaders of the Spartan defense, and the redshirt senior’s name is on the preseason watch list for the Lombardi Trophy and the Outland Trophy. With new names in the front-seven rotation, Slade will be a grounding force and key production unit like he was last season, in which he tallied 40 tackles and five tackles for loss.

Key offensive player: Redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Berger is ready to show the Big Ten what he is capable of after transfering from Wisconsin in January. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, one would think Berger is twenty pounds lighter with the way he hits the hole with such force and acceleration. Tallying 120 yards on the ground — with a long of 50 — and a touchdown, Berger looks to be the X-factor to the Spartans’ success for the duration of the season, like many Spartan running backs before him.

Weaknesses: While the future seems bright for head coach Mel Tucker and the Spartans, to say the team overperformed in 2021 is hardly a stretch. Looking ahead at the 2022 schedule, winning on the road at Washington, Michigan and Penn State will be no easy feat. Additionally, with a less-than-sound secondary, the Spartans face no lack of pass-happy offenses, and their first test comes Sept. 17 against Washington in Seattle. Ultimately, the 2022 campaign looks to be a defining season of Tucker’s tenure at Michigan State, where the Spartans will likely be content to match their record from the previous season.

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Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano takes in the Rumble on the Raritan football game between Salem and Camden at SHI Stadium at Rutgers University in Piscatway, NJ on Sunday.

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MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

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BRETT PRICE ASST. ARTS & LIFE EDITOR What’s happened so far in 2022?

Key defensive player:

Kicking off their season under Friday, the Spartans logged their first victory of 2022, defeating Western Michigan 35-13. Michigan State came out with some drawbacks, notably from redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne, who had some jitters and often put too much air under his throws early.

However, he ultimately put the game away with a 43-yard touchdown to redshirt junior wide receiver Tre Mosley. Additionally, senior linebacker Jacoby Windmon was awarded Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, tallying four tackles for loss with a forced fumble.

An Ohio native, it is no secret that defensive tackle Jacob Slade is one of the leaders of the Spartan defense, and the redshirt senior’s name is on the preseason watch list for the Lombardi Trophy and the Outland Trophy. With new names in the front-seven rotation, Slade will be a grounding force and key production unit like he was last season, in which he tallied 40 tackles and five tackles for loss.

Key offensive player: Redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Berger is ready to show the Big Ten what he is capable of after transfering from Wisconsin in January. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, one would think Berger is twenty pounds lighter with the way he hits the hole with such force and acceleration. Tallying 120 yards on the ground — with a long of 50 — and a touchdown, Berger looks to be the X-factor to the Spartans’ success for the duration of the season, like many Spartan running backs before him.

Weaknesses: While the future seems bright for head coach Mel Tucker and the Spartans, to say the team overperformed in 2021 is hardly a stretch. Looking ahead at the 2022 schedule, winning on the road at Washington, Michigan and Penn State will be no easy feat. Additionally, with a less-than-sound secondary, the Spartans face no lack of pass-happy offenses, and their first test comes Sept. 17 against Washington in Seattle. Ultimately, the 2022 campaign looks to be a defining season of Tucker’s tenure at Michigan State, where the Spartans will likely be content to match their record from the previous season.

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Michigan State Spartans defensive tackle Simeon Barrow (8) celebrates after recovering a Western Michigan Broncos fumble during the second quarter in East Lansing, Michigan on Friday Sept. 2, 2022.

IOWA HAWKEYES

GREG WILSON LANTERN REPORTER What’s happened so far in 2022?

Key defensive player:

The Iowa Hawkeyes beat South Dakota State 7-3 Saturday, and the defense showed it could limit opposition like its 2021 season. The Hawkeyes forced two safeties and held the Jackrabbits to a field goal offensively. The offense, however, had a bit of a tough time, only able to manage a field goal.

Senior linebacker Jack Campbell finished 2021 with 143 total tackles and two interceptions. He stood out in a strong Iowa defense and is primed to do so again this season. Campbell had 12 tackles in the game against South Dakota State and was responsible for one of the two safeties the defense forced.

Key offensive player:

Weaknesses:

Senior tight end Sam LaPorta led the Hawkeyes in receiving last season. He had more than double the catches that any returning player had in 2021 with 53. He ended the year with 670 yards and three JOE HERMITT | JHERMITT@PENNLIVE.COM VIA TNS touchdowns, and he has a connection with Penn State running back Noah Cain is tackled by Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell during the senior quarterback Spencer Petras that will fourth quarter on Oct. 9, 2021. likely continue into this season.

The Hawkeyes quarterback position and the offensive line are both weak again in 2022, which is not a great combination.

Petras threw for 1,880 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and didn’t start well against the Jackrabbits with 109 yards and an interception. Iowa also allowed 32 sacks last year, which was 13th in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes only allowed two sacks on Saturday, but it will only become tougher once they start playing Big Ten teams.

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PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS AARON POROTSKY LANTERN REPORTER yard drive that earned Penn State its 10th-consecutive win over the Boilermakers.

Key offensive player:

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Penn State running back Kaytron Allen runs for a big gain during the fourth quarter at Ross Ade Stadium for the Purdue game on Sept. 1, 2022.

What’s happened so far in 2022?

Penn State opened its season with a thrilling 35-31 road win over Purdue Sept. 1. In a back-andforth game that included three

lead changes in the fourth quarter alone, sixth-year quarterback Sean Clifford put the Nittany ahead for good with a touchdown pass to third-year running back Keyvone Lee with under a minute to play, capping an eight-play, 80-

It appears head coach James Franklin has put all of his faith into Clifford. Although freshman quarterback Drew Allar appeared in the second half while Clifford dealt with an injury, Franklin allowed his veteran gunslinger to throw the ball in the fourth quarter, where Clifford accounted for two of his four passing touchdowns.

Clifford, who has a history with injuries, will need to stay healthy in order to bolster a Nittany Lions offense that finished ninth in the Big Ten in scoring last season and lost its star wide receiver, Jahan Dotson, in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Key defensive player:

Weaknesses:

Redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter Jr. faces the daunting task of matching up with opposing teams’ top wide receivers on a weekly basis. With a new defensive coordinator this season in Manny Diaz, Porter will likely spend time guarding those receivers one-on-one. Diaz puts a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of the potential 2023 first-round pick, but Porter proved that he could handle the role in Week 1 against Purdue, leading the team with eight tackles. He tied for the team lead with three passes defended, while also recovering a fumble late in the second quarter, which led to a Penn State touchdown drive.

Penn State’s defense has the luxury of returning several key members of its secondary from last season’s roster, which should leave the Nittany Lions optimistic about their ability to defend the pass this season. However, after allowing 160.2 rushing yards per game last season, the thirdmost in the Big Ten, Penn State lost its two leading tacklers, Ellis Brooks and Brandon Smith, to the NFL. These linebackers played critical roles in stopping opposing running backs a season ago, meaning that the struggles this defense endured against the run could linger.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS CALEB BLAKE LANTERN REPORTER

What’s happened so far in 2022?

After a disappointing 2021 season, following an appearance in the Big Ten Championship game in 2020, Northwestern kicked off its 2022 campaign at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, defeating the Nebraska Cornhuskers 31-24. It was a test of adversity for the Wildcats as they trailed by 11 points with nine minutes left in the third quarter.

A failed onside kick attempt by the Cornhuskers led to 14 unanswered Northwestern points, and the Wildcats sealed the deal in the fourth quarter with a gamewinning interception from junior linebacker Xander Mueller.

Key offensive player: Junior running back Evan Hull had a great 2021 campaign,

rushing for 1,019 yards. Hull will be a major catalyst for the Wildcat offense this year. What makes the team more dangerous is the return of fellow junior running back Cam Porter, who missed last season due to a torn ACL and meniscus. Porter’s return in 2022 bolsters an already strong rushing attack and gives the Wildcats a quality two-headed monster to lean on.

Key defensive player: The strength of this year’s defense is in their secondary as the Wildcats return several starting defensive backs. They lost junior safety Brandon Joseph to Notre Dame in the transfer portal but look to junior Cam Mitchell and senior A.J. Hampton Jr., both of whom received Big Ten honorable mention awards last

year. Hampton and Mitchell are both experienced and capable players, and the latter wasted no time getting to work on a successful 2022 campaign recording his first interception in the win against Nebraska.

Weaknesses: Although Northwestern is known for its defensive prowess, the team struggled to create pressure last year, only producing 11 sacks, second-fewest in the Big Ten. The Wildcats hope to pounce on opposing quarterbacks more than 11 times this season with the help of senior defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore, who led the team with 4.5 sacks last year.

He’ll need others on the defensive line to step up if Northwestern hopes to get back to winning this season.

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Northwestern University head coach Pat Fitzgerald during a game against Ohio State at Ryan Field in Evanston in Oct. 2019.

8 | The Lantern | Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

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PURDUE BOILERMAKERS CASEY SMITH LTV SPORTS PRODUCER

What’s happened so far in 2022?

The Boilermakers looked to make a statement in their season opener against Penn State, as they are legitimate contenders in the Big Ten West.

Ross-Ade Stadium was rocking Sept. 1, and Purdue was a whisker away from delivering the 57,307-person crowd what they were looking for: a home-opening win.

Unfortunately, it fell short.

Sixth-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell went 30-for-59 with 365 passing yards and a touchdown, but the Boilermakers lost 35-31 to Penn State after surrendering an eight-play, 80-yard drive in which the Nittany Lions scored with just under a minute to go in the game.

Though Purdue aimed to start the season on the right foot, there is no reason it should be written off to represent the Big Ten West in Indianapolis during championship weekend.

The Boilermakers face a favorable Big Ten slate with their only tough matchups on the road against Minnesota Oct. 1 and Wisconsin Oct. 22 as well as at home versus Iowa Nov. 5. If they can win two of those three games, they should be in prime position as a two-loss team to be in contention for a bid to the Big Ten Championship Dec. 3.

Key offensive player: The coal that powers Purdue’s steam engine on offense is undoubtedly O’Connell.

He was the second-best sig-

nal-caller in the Big Ten a season ago behind Ohio State then-second-year C.J. Stroud, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist.

In 2021, O’Connell was tasked to carry the load for a Boilermaker offense that has been rather lackluster in years past, but he rose to the occasion, completing a whopping 71.8 percent of his passes for 3,708 yards and 28 touchdowns.

With dynamic, play-making former wide receiver David Bell now in the NFL, O’Connell seemed to find a new favorite target in Iowa transfer and sixthyear wide receiver Charlie Jones.

The two linked up for 12 completions, 153 yards and O’Connell’s only touchdown strike in the season opener.

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Purdue running back King Doerue dives into the end zone as Penn State linebacker Jonathan Sutherland defends during the third quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium for the Purdue game on Sept. 1, 2022.

Purdue’s offensive success once again weighs heavy on the shoulders of O’Connell’s 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame.

If he can rise to the occasion, he might contend to break Ohio State’s six-year streak of BreesGriese Quarterback of the Year awards — given to the best gunslinger in the Big Ten. Key defensive player: The momentum looked to be all but with Penn State in the season opener after the Nittany Lions scored a touchdown on a deep pass, then forced a Purdue threeand-out.

Fifth-year safety Chris Jefferson had other ideas.

Jefferson picked off Penn State sixth-year quarterback Sean Clifford and made a 72-yard house call to put the Boilermakers up 31-28 with eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

The Euclid, Ohio, native was everywhere on the field against the Nittany Lions Sept. 1, leading Purdue with seven tackles.

In addition to his one interception, he broke up a Clifford pass as well.

In 12 games a season ago, Jefferson had 47 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception.

The Boilermakers’ pass defense ranked fifth in the Big Ten last season, allowing just 208.7 yards

per game, so expect Jefferson to have a hand in keeping up the secondary’s stout play in 2022.

Weaknesses: Purdue’s ground game will hinder its success this season.

Though O’Connell possesses top-tier Big Ten arm talent, he can’t be tasked with throwing 36 passes per game like he was in 2021.

The Boilermakers can’t continually trot out a one-dimensional offense and expect to contend with a defense like what they’ll face against Wisconsin Oct. 22.

Rushing attempts, yards, yards per carry, touchdowns and yards per game all had Purdue’s name written in big red ink next to it, sitting last in the Big Ten in each statistical category.

The Boilermakers were the only team in the conference to fail to reach 100 yards per game, only crawling to 84 per contest.

Purdue’s leading rusher a season ago, King Doerue — only rushing for 557 yards in 2021 — returns looking to have a more productive senior season.

He’ll have help in the backfield from junior Dylan Downing who ran for 185 yards on 44 carries in 2021 and redshirt junior Kobe Lewis — a transfer from Central Michigan who missed all of last season with an injury.

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INDIANA HOOSIERS What’s happened so far in 2022?

Although unranked in the AP Top 25, Indiana looks to make a statement this season. The Hoosiers, led by redshirt junior quarterback Connor Bazelak, pulled off a 23-20 home win against fellow Big Ten-team Illinois Friday — ending the game with a 75-yard drive in the final two minutes. Indiana hopes to continue its momentum going into this week of play, where it will host the Idaho Vandals Saturday.

Key offensive player: Bazelak is already making an impression at Indiana. Previously playing three seasons at Missouri, Bazelak had his share of ups and

downs, but is looking to make his name with the Hoosiers. The 2020 SEC Co-Freshman of the Year totaled 5,388 career passing yards along with 24 passing touchdowns across three seasons of play. Coupled with wide receivers graduate D.J. Matthews Jr. and junior Cam Camper — who also helped tie down the season-opening win — Bazelak and the Hoosiers offense have high hopes for the 2022 season.

Key defensive player: After missing nearly the entire 2021 season due to a foot injury, senior defensive back Tiawan Mullen is back for 2022. Mullen was named to the 2020 AllBig Ten First Team and has 89 tackles, 20 passes defended and four forced fumbles in three

OLIVIA RILEY LANTERN REPORTER seasons of play. The junior excels at maintaining good coverage while also being exceedingly physical. Paired with the Hoosiers’ team leader for interceptions — senior defensive back Jaylin Williams — this duo might be one to keep an eye on.

Weaknesses: The Hoosiers were plagued with injuries in the 2021 season, causing 32 players to miss at least one game, with most missing the majority of the season. In addition to losing receiver duo Ty Fryfogle and Miles Marshall to the NFL Draft as well as four others to the transfer portal, the receiver room depth looks thin.

If Indiana is hit with the same magnitude of injuries as the 2021 season, backup players will have

MARYLAND TERRAPINS GREG WILSON LANTERN REPORTER

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Indiana head coach Tom Allen speaks to reporters at Big Ten Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis July 26.

to step up into much larger roles if head coach Tom Allen and the

What’s happened so far in 2022?

The Terrapins handily defeated Buffalo 31-10 Saturday. The run game was effective with redshirt freshman running back Roman Hemby rushing for 114 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 16.3 yards per carry.

Key offensive player: Junior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa broke out to throw for 3,860 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2021, good for third in the Big Ten in yards and fourth in touchdowns. He threw for 290 yards and one interception in his season debut Saturday.

Hoosiers hope to make some noise in the Big Ten.

team lead. He started off 2022 with five tackles and five passes broken up against Buffalo.

Weaknesses: The Maryland defense struggled in 2021. It ranked 13th out of 14 teams in the Big Ten in points allowed, giving up 30.7 per game. It was also thirdworst in yards per game allowed in the Big Ten, allowing 404.3, topped only by Northwestern and Michigan State. The team also struggled with penalties, losing an average of 57.2 yards per game to penalties in 2021.

Key defensive player:

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Maryland running back Antwain Littleton II leaps over the pile to score a touchdown during Saturday’s season-opening win over Buffalo. Littleton added 34 yards on six carries to help the Terps rush for 149 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior defensive back Jakorian Bennett was a bright spot on a defense that ranked 13th in the Big Ten in passing yards per game during 2021. He finished the season with 24 tackles, 13 passes broken up and three interceptions, which tied him for the

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MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS REID MURRAY LANTERN REPORTER

What’s happened so far in 2022?

Minnesota opened its season with a 38-0 home victory against former Golden Gopher head coach Jerry Kill’s New Mexico State Aggies Sept. 1. The Minnesota defense — which tied Central Florida for first in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total defense in 2021 — maintained that high standard of play in the season opener. The Gophers held New Mexico State’s offense to 91 total yards and just six first downs en route to a shutout victory.

Key offensive player: Entering his sixth year Minnesota, running back

at

Mohamed Ibrahim can go toeto-toe with the best backs in college football. Ibrahim’s 2021 season was cut short when an Achilles injury in the Gophers’ season opener kept the Maryland native sidelined for the rest of the year. However, judging from Ibrahim’s 2020 season, he could be a serious difference-maker if he stays healthy. He scored 15 touchdowns and recorded 1,076 yards in seven games, setting a Minnesota record for singleseason rushing yards per game.

Key defensive player: Fifth-year linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin was one of the biggest contributors on Minnesota’s defense last season. In 12 games,

he finished second on the team in total tackles with 85, while also picking up five tackles for loss and one interception. As a team captain and veteran player, SoriMarin will likely make an impact on the field and in the locker room.

Weaknesses: While sixth-year quarterback Tanner Morgan and his wide receiving corps can make plays, the Minnesota offense’s reliance on Ibrahim could hurt the team in the long run. If Minnesota gets in a shootout with a highpowered offense, it could struggle to keep up with its own run-heavy offense. Additionally, if Ibrahim misses more action this season,

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The University of Minnesota flag flies in front of the student section after a Gopher touchdown against the Indiana State Sycamores in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium on Sept 10, 2016

the Gophers could have trouble adjusting to his absence. In the Gophers’ first game without Ibrahim in 2021, they squeaked

by Miami (Ohio) 31-26, and two weeks later, they lost 14-10 at home to a Bowling Green team that failed to qualify for a bowl game.

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ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI BELLA MOORE LANTERN REPORTER What’s happened so far in 2022?

With a 1-1 record going into Week 2 of the season, Illinois took a 38-6 win against Wyoming Aug. 27 followed by a 23-20 loss at Indiana Sept. 2. The Fighting Illini will take on Virginia Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Key offensive player:

CASEY SMITH | LANTERN TV SPORTS PRODUCER

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema speaks to reporters at Big Ten Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis July 27.

In his sixth season with Illinois, senior offensive lineman Alex Palczewski is key for the offense this season. Palczewski holds the Illinois all-time start record at 54 after the Indiana game. Serving his second year as a team captain, Palczewski will be leading the Fighting Illini throughout the 2022 season.

Key defensive player: Senior defensive back Jartavius Martin kicked off his 2022 season strong by recording seven tackles and three pass break-ups against Wyoming. Going into his fifth year, Martin provides veteran experience in the Illini secondary, shown by his 55 tackles which ranked fifth on the team last season.

Weaknesses: The Fighting Illini’s passing was a major weakness in 2021, but that may be improved this season with returning wide receivers sophomore Isaiah Williams and junior Casey Washington. However, with the losses of former offensive

linemen Doug Kramer and Vederian Lowe, the offensive line takes a hit which may be a weakness for the team.

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Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022 | The Lantern | 11

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

MICHAELA BELKIN LANTERN REPORTER

What's happened so far in 2022?

In Week 0, the Cornhuskers lost a close game to Northwestern 31-28 in Dublin, Ireland. Junior quarterback Casey Thompson threw for 355 yards with one touchdown but two interceptions. The Texas transfer led the offense with a near-60 percent completion paired with junior running back Anthony Grant, who rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns. After a disappointing Week 0 loss, Week 1 was a different outcome for the Cornhuskers after a 38-17 win against North Dakota Saturday.

Grant ran for two more touchdowns and junior edge rusher Garrett Nelson led the defense JOE HERMITT | VIA TNS with eight tackles, a forced fumNebraska head coach Scott Frost speaks during Big Ten Football Media ble and a sack to help Nebraska Days held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, In. on July 22, 2021. secure its first win of the season

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

Key offensive player: While Grant has been great for the Cornhuskers so far this season, a key offensive player to look at is Thompson. Thompson transferred from Texas this past offseason and is looking to lead Nebraska to a winning season. While with the Longhorns, Thompson threw for 2,422 yards, 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Committing fewer turnovers can be a difference maker for Thompson and Nebraska's offense throughout this season.

Key defensive player: Nebraska has done a great job making secure tackles. Leading the charge is junior linebacker Luke Reimer. Reimer has started hot this season, leading the team in tackles with 19. Last season,

Reimer blew up with 90 total tackles, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles and an interception. If the Second Team All-Big Ten linebacker continues to prove his defensive presence, he can be a problem for opponents.

Weaknesses: With many returners and several new faces, Nebraska has a lot to look forward to for this upcoming season. Despite this, Nebraska has failed to deliver in big-time moments. Last season, the Cornhuskers lost eight of their games within one possession. Not only that, but they need to take better care of the football and have fewer turnovers, racking up three so far this season. Ultimately, Nebraska needs to be better on both sides of the ball in order to contend for a top spot in the Big Ten West.

STEVEN KISHPAUGH ASST. SPORTS EDITOR What’s happened so far in 2022?

Key defensive player:

The Wolverines started the season with a dominant 51-7 win over Colorado State.

The defense, which ranked No. 8 in scoring in 2021 by allowing 17.4 points per game, did not miss a beat holding the Rams to 219 total yards Saturday. Three different players rushed for at least 50 yards en route to holding Colorado State to 2.1 yards per carry.

Senior defensive lineman Mazi Smith was an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2021 where he recorded 37 tackles and four passes defended. Smith’s season started off strong against Colorado State where he registered four combined tackles and 0.5 sacks.

Key offensive player:

The Wolverines have yet to decide on a starting quarterback for the 2022 season, showing that the position is rotating based on the situation. Although graduate signal-caller Cade McNamara started against Colorado State, three different quarterbacks appeared in Saturday’s game. Head coach Jim Harbaugh stated sophomore J.J. McCarthy will get the start in Week 2 against Hawaii, and the inconsistency at the quarterback position may lead to trouble later in the season.

Junior running back Blake Corum comes off a year making All-Big Ten Third Team after accumulating 1,397 all-purpose yards in 2021. After splitting reps with former running back Hassan Haskins last season, Corum is primed to take the majority of snaps in the backfield for the Wolverines in 2022. Corum was the leading rusher in Michigan’s 51-7 win over Colorado State, running for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Weaknesses:

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Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson (14) scores a touchdown over Colorado State defensive back Greg Laday (10) during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

12 | The Lantern | Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

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Football: Takeaways from No. 2 Ohio State’s 21-10 win over No. 5 Notre Dame

CASEY SMITH LTV SPORTS PRODUCER

KATIE GOOD | ASST. PHOTO EDITOR

The then-No. 2 Ohio State football team lines up with Brutus during Carmen Ohio after the Ohio State-Notre Dame game Saturday. Ohio State won 21-10.

This story was originally published on Sept. 5, 2022 Knowles’ defense, though ‘basic,’ controlled the game Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was brought in at a reported $1.9 million per year to overhaul the Ohio State defense.

The Buckeyes showed Saturday that they are leaps and bounds ahead of where their defense was a season ago.

Ohio State limited the Fighting Irish to just 10 points and 253 yards of offense — with 54 coming on their first offensive play — which would have ranked second-lowest and fourth-lowest for last year’s defense.

The defense held Notre Dame scoreless for the final 41 minutes and limited the Irish’s offense to just 72 yards on 3.6 yards per play in the second half. Each of Notre Dame’s final six drives resulted in a punt.

It wasn’t just the numbers the unit put up, though. They passed the eye test as well.

Ohio State’s defense a season ago was criticized for lacking toughness and missing assignments, which led to big plays by opponents, but this past offseason they wanted to get back to the “Silver Bullets” defense.

And they did just that, flying around the field, converging with two and three players to make tackles and having intensity for all four quarters.

Knowles said after the game the Buckeyes displayed a “basic” defense, so it’ll be interesting to see what a complex defense looks like as the season goes on.

Hall, Eichenberg shine to lead physical front seven After the Fighting Irish briefly quieted the Ohio Stadium crowd, notching a 54-yard completion with a 15-yard penalty tacked onto the end to set up shop at Ohio State’s 16-yard line, they had to settle for a field goal.

That was thanks in large part to second-year defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. who was in on two of the next three tackles — one of which was a two-yard loss on second down.

Second-year wide receiver Emeka Egbuka sported Olave’s previous No. 2 jersey, and he showed flashes of the Buckeyes’ program touchdown-reception record holder.

This set the tone for Hall’s night, as he had four tackles — tying his season total from last year — two for loss and recorded the only hurry on Notre Dame second-year quarterback Tyler Buchner.

The Steilacoom, Washington, native led all receivers with nine catches for 90 yards and one of the Buckeyes’ two receiving touchdowns.

Williams carried the load on the 96-yard drive, carrying the ball seven times for 49 yards, adding a 12-yard, toe-drag sideline completion to move the chains on the only third down of the drive.

Then over the course of the game, Ohio State’s defense began to settle in.

The other came from former walk-on and graduate wide receiver Xavier Johnson, who entered Saturday without recording a catch in his career.

The Cincinnati native carried the ball five-straight times to finish the drive, giving a thumbs up signal to the sideline before his touchdown plunge.

Buchner completed a 17-yard pass to third-year tight end Michael Mayer midway through the third quarter for the first play of more than 15 yards in a little over 15 minutes of game play, giving the Irish a little life after their offense failed to generate any momentum.

In the third quarter, Johnson’s first-career reception was a 10yard to snag to set up third and manageable for the Buckeyes’ offense. On the next play, Stroud and Johnson connected for a 24-yard pitch-and-catch and his first touchdown in an Ohio State uniform.

Williams’ 14-carry, 84-yard performance wasn’t all for the Buckeyes’ ground game.

Fourth-year linebacker Tommy Eichenberg was in on the next play to bring that momentum to a screeching halt, recording his second sack as Notre Dame’s drive stalled two plays later.

On the ensuing kickoff, Johnson sprinted down the field and speared Notre Dame third-year running back Chris Tyree at the Fighting Irish’s 13-yard line.

Eichenberg was everywhere in the middle of Ohio State’s defense, as he led the Buckeyes with nine tackles — three tackles for loss and two sacks in his first game since his 17-tackle Rose Bowl performance.

Wide receivers flash, former walk-on Johnson ‘shocks the world’ With Stroud’s favorite target, Smith-Njigba, and third-year wide receiver Julian Fleming sidelined, he had to make do with the other pass catchers at his disposal, and they stepped up in a big way.

Johnson said he dreamed of a performance like that for his whole life.

“I came in, and I was confident in myself,” Johnson said. “Coming in, I was expecting to shock the world, you know, as a freshman, everybody does.”

Ohio State’s two-headed monster in the backfield both average 6 yards per carry Ohio State received the secondto-last Notre Dame punt with 11:57 to go in the fourth quarter, starting on its own 4-yard line and clinging to a four-point lead.

The Buckeyes rattled off 14

plays, 10 of which were on the ground, knocking off 7:06 before third-year running back Miyan Williams put the game on ice with a 2-yard touchdown run.

Williams’ folklore touchdown — one that bore striking resemblance to Master Teague III’s final score of his Ohio State career against Michigan State last season — should not overshadow the fact second-year running back TreVeyon Henderson led the Buckeyes with 15 carries for 91 yards.

Ohio State’s players and coaches touted throughout the preseason that both Henderson and Williams would be available and used for Saturday’s contest. If the offense can continue to play complementary football in the ground game, that will create longevity for Henderson who dealt with a flurry of injury issues last season.

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