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Every Sunday, after an entire Saturday’s worth of college football, we’ll take a look around the Big Ten. As power dynamics shift on a week-to-week basis this fall, we’ll follow every team and try to piece together the puzzle that is the 13-week-long season all the way up until Indianapolis.
Here are the top storylines from Week 6:
1. Dwayne Haskins
Any doubts regarding Dwayne Haskins’ ability to lead the Buckeyes as a national contender can officially be forgotten. Haskins exploded for 455 passing yards and six touchdowns in the Buckeye’s 49-26 win over Indiana on Saturday. He also threw two interceptions, but in a conference full of underperforming quarterbacks, Haskins has emerged as the most consistent offensive threat in the Big Ten week in and week out. Ohio State’s defense looked shaky against the Hoosiers - that’s another story - but if anything is going to stop the Buckeyes from winning this conference, it will be the defense, not Haskins.
I was told Dwayne Haskins can only throw screens pic.twitter.com/MkdsWb5hwZ
— Raza (2-1)(6-0) (@razau_) October 6, 2018
2. Wisconsin running game finds its step in 41-24 win over Nebraska
Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor did this on Saturday and it was impressive.
Jonathan Taylor doing Jonathan Taylor things. 23/216/3. #DevyWatch pic.twitter.com/FfTxsTqWCT
— Greg Brandt (@devywarehouse) October 7, 2018
It feels like we have to be cautious jumping to any conclusions based on a team’s performance against Nebraska, but Taylor finally put together the Heisman-worthy performance he’s capable of and that’s bad news for the rest of the Big Ten.
3. Scott Frost remains winless at Nebraska
0-5!
4. Illinois routs Rutgers in the battle for the Big Ten’s worst
It was (another) day to forget for Rutgers football as the Scarlet Knights were embarrassed at home by an Illinois team that hadn’t won a Big Ten game in quite some time.
Illinois has its first Big Ten win in 700 days. https://t.co/B6eHIQgzbq
— The Champaign Room (@Champaign_Room) October 6, 2018
In classic #B1G fashion, Illinois scored 38 points on just 89 passing yards to hand Rutgers their fifth straight loss of the season. Rutgers quarterback Artur Sitkowski threw three more interceptions on Saturday (he’s done that three times this year), bringing his grand total to 11 on the year through just six games. Rutgers is not back, folks.
Other Scores:
Michigan 42, Maryland 21
The Wolverines fought off a lightning delay and a slow start to win comfortably at home against Maryland. Shea Patterson looks to be more comfortable throwing the ball heading into a massive massive night game against Wisconsin next week under the lights at the Big House.
Iowa 48, Minnesota 31
Hawkeyes quarterback Nate Stanley had a huge day and the Iowa defense forced four turnovers to grind out a crucial conference road win against the Gophers. Iowa also scored on this fake field goal, which was pretty cool.
Evidently, @HawkeyFootball calls that trick play "Herky."
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) October 6, 2018
Appropriately, T.J. Hockenson almost knocked over @TheREALHerky on "Herky."
BTN x @QuickenLoans pic.twitter.com/3THFohbvXy