5 Things: What We Learned From Week 2 in the Big Ten

5. Is Oregon In Trouble?

After the week one performance against Idaho, we dismissed Oregon’s struggles on the scoreboard because they largely dominated the game against the Vandals and just couldn’t separate to put them away. After week two’s performance, it’s fair to be concerned about the Ducks. Boise State outgained Oregon 369 to 352. The Ducks are struggling to run the ball, and Evan Stewart is the only pass catcher stepping up to be a difference-maker as a receiver. Ashton Jeanty went nuts on Oregon, rushing for 192 yards with 7.68 yards per carry and three touchdowns as the Ducks got pushed around at the line of scrimmage. A great special teams performance saved the game as they racked up 229 return yards, including an 85-yard punt return touchdown and the game-winning field goal as time expired. Oregon will need to figure out how to perform better in the running game, on both sides of the ball, as they face Oregon State on the road before entering Big Ten play.

Week 3: Oregon (-16.5) vs. Oregon State

2. A Dose of Reality

The reigning national champions welcomed the Texas Longhorns to Ann Arbor. Texas at Michigan was one of the biggest non-conference games in recent memory, as two playoff teams from last season clashed in a terrific environment. Both teams had a lot of personnel changes from 2023, and there were questions about how this game would go. Texas made a huge statement, and Michigan has some huge concerns. The Longhorns were the much more physical team, the much faster team, and the much bigger team. Despite injuries at running back, Texas had no problem running the ball on the Wolverines, and it was apparent quite early that Michigan’s offense offered no threat to the Texas defense. After an offseason of chatter about how good Alex Orji looked and how good the offensive line would be again, Orji is barely getting on the field, and Davis Warren was under pressure all afternoon. Michigan has no wide receivers that scared the Texas secondary, and they don’t appear to have a quarterback capable of elevating the offensive skill players around him. The Jim Harbaugh era is over, and Michigan looks like a team much more likely to finish 8-4 than a team that can make a repeat run to the College Football Playoff.

Week 3: Michigan (-23.5) vs. Arkansas State

3. Defensive Concerns in Happy Valley

Understandably, all of the offseason attention in Happy Valley went toward the new offensive coordinator and the hope of an improved offense. The offense has looked pretty good through two games, but the defense and new coordinator, Tom Allen, came under fire after a disastrous first half against Bowling Green. The Nittany Lions surrendered 24 points in the first half and gave up a total of 375 yards as the former IU head coach was getting toasted by a quarterback he had on his roster in Bloomington. They struggled to slow down the passing game and were picked apart by long Falcons drives instead of the explosive plays Manny Diaz’s defenses would occasionally surrender. On the positive side, the defense seemed to adjust well and held Bowling Green to only three points in the second half as Penn State held on for a 34-27 victory. They avoided disaster, but the Nittany Lions will need to figure out their defensive issues, as they have Illinois in three weeks and then a trip to USC on October 12.

4. Illinois Secures a Huge Swing Game Win

Programs like Illinois often have three or four “toss-up” games that ultimately determine the direction of their season and whether they make a bowl game. They will play three or four games where they will be heavily favored, a few games against teams like Ohio State or Penn State where they will be big underdogs, and then the fate of the season will be determined by their performance in the swing games. The matchup against Kansas is one of those swing games. The Jayhawks narrowly beat them last season, and KU brought a healthy Jalon Daniels to Champaign. Daniels struggled mightily against the Illinois defense, completing only 18 of 32 passes for 141 yards with three interceptions. Illinois crucially kept him contained on the ground, holding him to only 35 yards rushing and a long gain of just nine yards. Illinois didn’t ask Luke Altmyer to do much, and the game was played at their own pace. The Illini offense leaves a lot to be desired. Still, this defense, especially when they force four turnovers, will keep them competitive, and they went a long way toward securing a bowl bid with this big out-of-conference victory.

Week 3: Illinois (-19.5) vs. Central Michigan

5. Is Oregon In Trouble?

After the week one performance against Idaho, we dismissed Oregon’s struggles on the scoreboard because they largely dominated the game against the Vandals and just couldn’t separate to put them away. After week two’s performance, it’s fair to be concerned about the Ducks. Boise State outgained Oregon 369 to 352. The Ducks are struggling to run the ball, and Evan Stewart is the only pass catcher stepping up to be a difference-maker as a receiver. Ashton Jeanty went nuts on Oregon, rushing for 192 yards with 7.68 yards per carry and three touchdowns as the Ducks got pushed around at the line of scrimmage. A great special teams performance saved the game as they racked up 229 return yards, including an 85-yard punt return touchdown and the game-winning field goal as time expired. Oregon will need to figure out how to perform better in the running game, on both sides of the ball, as they face Oregon State on the road before entering Big Ten play.

Week 3: Oregon (-16.5) vs. Oregon State