This Whistlestop Tour: Week 4 of Big Ten Football

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Is there hope for Purdue going forward?

The Boilers are now through four of the six promised games in the renewed Notre Dame series and so far it has performed significantly better in South Bend than in West Lafayette. That’s sad, really. Danny Hope and Darrell Hazell all fared better against the Irish than the amalgamation of coaches Purdue has had since the series was renewed in 2021. Starting with Notre Dame’s second possession Purdue didn’t even look like it belonged on the same field. As a result, Purdue is 1-3 and it is looking like another lost season.

There is some hope, however. UCLA looks like a really, really good team and they cracked the top 25 this week. Purdue hung with them (relatively) in Los Angeles and even had a second half lead. Wake Forest just upset Louisville at Louisville and it just outside the top 25. As bad as yesterday was, Purdue is close. It is unquestionably better than the last two years. Can it finally pay off in the win column though?

Judging by the results of this weekend there has to be a win out there in the last eight games. If anything, Maryland looks really bad. Washington has been shaky. Illinois just fired its defensive coordinator. I would say that anything more than two wins the rest of the way would require an upset barring the defense suddenly realizing it can play defense, but this week in Chambana feels like a great bounceback opportunity.

At least we’re not Rutgers.

1. Indiana (Last week: 1, 4-0, 1-0) – Beat Northwestern 29-23 – This was an impressive outing for the Wildcats. They stood toe-to-toe with the Hoosiers and nearly got a monumental road win. The Hoosiers go to Rutgers this week for what should be an easy win, but then have a very rough stretch.
2. Ohio State (Last Week: 2, 3-1, 1-0) – Beat Illinois 42-19 – Is it just me, or is Ohio State not quite as good as originally expected? Jeremiah’s huge game against the Illini was really the difference here.
3. Iowa (Last Week: 6, 4-0, 1-0) – Beat Michigan 20-19 – This Iowa team is looking really good. I never expected a 91-yard drive for a last second win, and this week they get Ohio State at home. The Hawkeyes can make a major statement with a win.
4. Oregon (Last Week: 5, 3-1, 1-0) – Beat USC 41-27 – The horrific injury to Dante Moore clouded a really good road win, but Dylan Raiola, possibly the best backup QB in the nation, did just fine.
5. UCLA (Last Week: 7, 4-0, 2-0) – Beat Maryland 54-3 – When Purdue has an opening at head coach it needs to hire the coach at James Madison sight unseen. Bob Chesney and Curt Cignetti have shown they are tremendous turnaround artists, and we could use someone similar right now.
6. Nebraska (Last Week: 9, 4-0, 1-0) – Beat Michigan State 31-13 – After a slow start against Ohio in week one Nebraska has been pretty dominant. It’s not been the greatest competition, but they are doing what needs to be done, and now they get lowly Maryland before hosting Indiana.
7. USC (Last Week: 4, 4-1, 1-1) – Lost to Oregon 41-27 – I almost put USC in last place because of the egregious taunting after the Dante Moore injury. Lincoln Riley missed on another big game yet again.
8. Penn State (Last Week: 3, 3-1, 0-1) – Lost to Wisconsin 24-20 – What was THAT? Penn State was in form control with five minutes left up 20-10, then fell completely apart against the Badgers, giving up two late touchdowns.
9. Northwestern (Last Week: 10, 2-1, 0-1) – Lost to Indiana 29-23 – I am moving Northwestern into the top 10 this week even in a loss because they did something that few teams have done since Cignetti arrived in Bloomington: actually compete with the Hoosiers.
10. Minnesota (Last Week: 14, 3-1, 1-0) – Beat Washington 27-24 – This is probably the most impressive win of the week for a Big Ten team, as the Gophers pull out the dub on a long road trip.
11. Washington (Last Week: 8, 3-1, 0-1) – Lost to Minnesota 27-24 – This was surprising, but something is off with Washington. This is the second time this year they have struggled at home as a big favorite. At least Ryan Walters can visit the site of his partially constructed home in a few weeks.
12. Wisconsin (Last Week: 13, 3-1, 1-0) – Beat Penn State 24-20 – Just as I begin to hope Purdue can finally beat Wisconsin they look like they put it together a bit with a huge road win in Happy Valley.
13. Michigan (Last Week: 11, 3*-1, 0-1) – Lost to Iowa 20-19 – Michigan’s offense is not good enough to make noise in the Big Ten. The defense is great. Can we trade with them? Purdue has the opposite problem.
14. Illinois (Last Week: 12, 2-2, 0-1) – Lost to Ohio State 42-19 – They fired their DC because he couldn’t come up with a plan to stop the kaiju that is Jeremiah Smith. I am sure his firing will make them the 1985 Bears.
15. Purdue (Last Week: 16, 1-3, 0-1) – Lost to Notre Dame 49-10 – How did I move Purdue up in a 39 point loss? Well, we’ve at least shown a pulse against good teams in Wake Forest and UCLA and the offense is still solid. Also, the teams below them look REALLY bad.
16. Michigan State (Last Week: 17, 1-2, 0-1) – Lost to Nebraska 31-13 – Yeah, Pat Fitzgerald still sucks against Big Ten teams. He has now lost nine conference games in a row and is 2-19 in his last 21.
17. Maryland (Last Week: 15, 2-2, 0-1) – Lost to UCLA 54-3 – Mike Locksley takes a big lead in the “First coach fired” race. Will he make it to November 7 in West Lafayette? I hope so. I just want to see a Big Ten win.
18. Rutgers (Last Week: 18, 1-3, 0-1) – beat Howard 58-7 – At least they won’t go completely unwinfeated.

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