Big Ten Quick Thoughts, Takes On Every Game: Week 12

Quick thoughts and takes on every Week 12 Big Ten game.

Iowa, 23, Minnesota 19

EVERYONE … Minnesota didn’t just get knocked out of the College Football Playoff. Nothing changes. It’s going to beat Northwestern next week, and then it’ll come down to the Wisconsin game in Minneapolis for a chance to go to the Big Ten Championship. Go 12-1 – with a win over Ohio State/Penn State winner – with a B1G title … IN. Absolutely.

Minnesota’s running game never got going. It finished with 68 yards and couldn’t establish any consistency. Tanner Morgan continued his fantastic season with a 25-of-36 day for 368 yards and a score. He’s still bombing away.

Iowa didn’t do anything special offensively, but Nate Stanley was effective, he didn’t make any mistakes, and Tyler Goodson ran for 94 yards and a score. The O stalled, though, in the second half, coming up with just a field goal.

Minnesota outgained Iowa 431 to 290, controlled the clock, and played better in the second half. It wasn’t able to do enough in the first half and dug too deep a hole against this great Hawkeye D.

There wasn’t too much of a concern, but Iowa got bowl eligibility now out of the way. It gets Illinois and at Nebraska to close with a ten-win season – with a bowl win – still on the table.

Ohio State 56, Rutgers 21

Ohio State could’ve put 80 on the board, but didn’t. The Tua Tagovailoa injury earlier in the day put a bit of a spotlight on the Ohio State coaching staff to see when it would take out Justin Fields in this light scrimmage. Right after halftime, Field was done after completing 15-of-19 passes for 305 yards and four scores, and he ran for 30 yards.

Chris Chugunov? 5-of-14 for 61 yards and two scores. The Buckeyes need to keep Fields in bubble wrap.

Rutgers wasn’t totally embarrassing. It had a few second half drives after the Buckeyes called off the dogs, Isaih Pacheco had a few nice runs, and Johnny Langan ran for a score and thew for another. There was no reason for the Buckeyes to do anything more than get to the Penn State game as healthy as possible.

Rutgers ends the brutal season with Michigan State and Penn State. Scoring 21 on Ohio State will be the highlight.

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