The BIG 10 is one of the most anticipated college football conferences in the 2023 season. The BIG 10 currently has four teams in the top 25 AP poll, three included in the top ten. The conference has eyes from all over the world counting down the days to certain games throughout the season.
Week 1: 7. Penn State Nittany Lions vs West Virginia Mountaineers
Within week one of the college football season, people from all over the country had the match between the number 7. Penn State Nittany Lions vs. the West Virginia Mountaineers circled with excitement.
While the game was expected to be closer in score, the biggest take away from this game was that Penn State’s new sophomore starting quarterback, Drew Allar, is legit.
Allar threw 21/29 for 329 yards with three touchdown passes in his starting debut under the lights of Beaver Stadium. Star running back Nicholas Singleton rushed for 70 yards with one touchdown. The Nittany Lion’s outstanding wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith added to the show with four receptions for two touchdowns.
The Nittany Lions dominated their week one opponent of the Mountaineers for a final score of 38-15.
Week 2: 22. Colorado Buffaloes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Going into the college football season, the University of Colorado Buffaloes has many eyes on them. This game made BIG 10 fans excited to see how Nebraska could hold up against the strong Colorado team.
Nebraska’s redshirt junior quarterback Jeff Sims, threw 9/15 for 106 yards and an interception. The Cornhuskers sophomore running back Gabe Ervin Jr. had 17 carries for a total of 74 yards.Bill Kemp IV, Cornhuskers wide receiver, was held back by the strong Colorado defense recording five catches for 57 yards.
Colorado took heavy control over the Cornhuskers, and pulled out a win with a final score of 36-14.
Week 3: Purdue Boilermakers vs. Syracuse Orange
The Syracuse Orange and the Purdue Boilermakers will be kicking off at 7:30 est in Ross-Ade Stadium for this highly anticipated BIG 10 match between the two.
Purdue is currently 1-1 with a win against Virginia Tech and the loss coming from Fresno State.
The Boilermakers junior quarterback Hudson Card, has thrown 40/64 for 502 yards with two touchdowns so far in the 2023 season. Sophomore running back Devin Mockobee, has had 37 carries for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Dion Burks, a wide receiver for the Boilermakers, has had five catches for 170 yards and two touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, the Boilermakers star Freshman defensive back Dillon Thieneman, has been nothing but astonishing for the Boilermakers defense. Thieneman has made 17 tackles and added two interceptions to his 2023 season so far.
Syracuse is currently 2-0, with their wins coming against Western Michigan and Colgate.
Syracuse’s senior quarterback Garrett Shrader, has thrown 37/54 for 543 yards and two touchdowns this season alone. Sophomore running back LeQuint Allen, has had 24 carries for 127 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.
On the defensive side for Syracuse, senior defensive back Isaiah Johnson, has helped drive their success with 14 tackles so far this season.
According to ESPN analytics, Syracuse has a 75% likelihood of winning this BIG 10 matchup.
Week 4: 7. Penn State Nittany Lions vs. 25. Iowa Hawkeyes
September 23rd is set to be one of the biggest nights in the college football season.
Penn State will be hosting the Iowa Hawkeyes under Beaver Stadium’s lights for the annual Penn State whiteout game.The game is a primetime 7:30 kickoff on CBS.
In his first season as the Nittany Lions starting quarterback, Allar has thrown 43/55 for 520 yards and four touchdowns, while Singleton has had 25 carries for 117 yards and four touchdowns on the season. Lambert-Smith has 10 catches for 197 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Also to add to the successful mix, sophomore running back Kaytron Allen currently has 29 carries for 154 yards and one touchdown.
Junior linebacker Curtis Jacobs currently has seven solo tackles and one sack on the season for the Nittany Lions defense. Sophomore linebacker Abdul Carter has also added to the defensive side of the ball of the Nittany Lions with four solo tackles and a sack.
For the Iowa Hawkeyes, Senior quarterback Cade McNamara has thrown 29/52 for 314 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Kaleb Johnson has 34 carries under his belt for this season. Johnson has also recorded 91 rushing yards and one touchdown this season so far.
Jay Higgins, Senior linebacker for the Hawkeyes, has 14 solo tackles recorded this season.
ESPN analytics has Penn State at an 86% chance of winning this game, especially with the unreal environment of Penn State’s annual whiteout game.
Week 5: 25. Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan State Spartants
The Michigan State Spartans and Iowa Hawkeyes will be facing off in week 5 as one of the biggest games in the BIG 10 conference for the week.
Michigan State is currently 2-0, with their wins coming against Central Michigan and Richmond.
The Spartan’s Junior quarterback Noah Kim, has thrown 36/53 for 571 yards and 5 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Nathan Carter has had 37 carries for 244 yards and four touchdowns this season, while senior running back Tre Mosley has had eight catches for 123 yards and one touchdown.
Michigan State’s Junior Linebacker Cal Haladay has six solo tackles and one interception on the season so far.
ESPN analytics currently has a 61% win percentage in favor of Iowa for this BIG 10 matchup.
Week 6: 2. Michigan Wolverines vs Minnesota Golden Gophers
The number 2 ranked Michigan Wolverines and the Minnesota Golden Gophers will have their big ten matchup in the sixth week of the college football season.
The Michigan Wolverines are currently ranked 2nd in the nation, and the team is 2-0 with wins coming against East Carolina and University of Nevada, Las Vegas . Elite junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy currently has thrown an astonishing 48/55 completions for 558 yards and 5 touchdowns. Senior running back Blake Corum has 25 carries 153 yards and four touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Roman Wilson has been incredible for the Wolverines, with 10 catches for 167 yards and five touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Michael Barret has six tackles under his belt this season so far, while senior Mike Sainristil has three tackles and an interception in 2023.
Gopher’s Sophomore quarterback Athan Kaliakmains has thrown 34/59 for 313 yards and a touchdown with 2 interceptions. Freshman running back Darius Taylor has had 34 carries for 196 yards and a touchdown.
Senior defensive back Tre’Von Jones has had 12 solo tackles as well as an interception so far this season.
As of right now, ESPN has Michigan at an 80% likelihood of winning this BIG 10 east and west match up.
