“Thanksgiving is almost here, so here are some things I’m thankful for: my family and friends, Josh Jackson, and that I’m not a Husker fan.”
1) No. 5 Wisconsin (10-0): Madison treated me well, but it sure didn’t treat the Hawkeyes equally. Maybe Iowa needs its own “Jump Around” tradition. I’m all about it.
2) No. 8 Ohio State (8-2): Thanks for smacking Michigan State, because Iowa couldn’t do it.
3) No. 13 Penn State (8-2): Rutgers was up 6-0 on Penn State last weekend (not good). Then Penn State scored 35 unanswered points (good).
4) No. 22 Michigan State (7-3): The Spartans now have as many wins (7) as charges against L.J. Scott for driving with a suspended license.
5) No. 19 Michigan (8-2): I remember when Jim Harbaugh showed up at Big Ten media days in a Jumpman crewneck and khakis. I out-dressed Jim Harbaugh at Big Ten media days.
6) Northwestern (7-3): In the preseason I deemed Northwestern as my “dark horse” to win the Big Ten. After Wisconsin beat Iowa, it clinched the West Division. R.I.P. to my hot take.
7) Iowa (6-4): I honestly don’t understand how you go from putting up 55 points on the No. 3 team in the country to only moving the football 66 yards a week later.
8) Rutgers (4-6): Chris Ash is my Big Ten Coach of the Year, hands down. Seriously, Rutgers doubled its win total from last year, and this season isn’t over yet.
9) Minnesota (5-5): Running for 409 yards in a single game is elite. I think that’s equivalent to how many words P.J. Fleck speaks in a minute.
10) Purdue (4-6): Never forget when Purdue cooked Missouri, 35-3, in nonconference play. Take that, SEC.
11) Nebraska (4-6): If all football fans lived in the past as much as Husker fans, we’d be discussing Yale as the best football program of all time (side note: Yale has 17 NCAA Championships. That’s three more than Alabama).
12) Maryland (4-6): The Terrapins have twice the number players who have thrown a pass this season (8) than they do wins (4). That is all.
13) Indiana (4-6): In the first game of the season, Indiana once led Ohio State, 14-6 (before losing 49-21). Now, the Hoosiers are in last place in the East.
14) Illinois (2-8): The Lovie Smith curse is in full effect: Illinois is a dumpster fire, and so are the Bears.
Offensive Impact
Name: Mike Webber
Position: Running back
Year: Sophomore
Webber needed only 9 carries to absolutely shred Michigan State’s defense last weekend. Averaging 18 yards per carry, Webber ran for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ 48-3 win over the Spartans, including an 82-yard sprint. He also had a touchdown of 47 yards.
Defensive Impact
Name: Josh Jackson
Position: Cornerback
Year: Junior
In the past two weeks, Jackson has 5 interceptions, 2 touchdowns, and a forced fumble. That’s a better stat line than most college defensive backs get in a single season, and Jackson’s done that over the last two games. The junior leads the nation with 7 interceptions, leaving many wondering: Why do quarterbacks still throw his way?
No. 19 Michigan @ No. 5 Wisconsin
When: 11 a.m., Saturday
Where: Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin