JR kicks off The Big Ten Huddle with his Week 3 performance tiers, grading every Big Ten team's output against mostly non-conference foes. Elite tier shines with Michigan's 63-0 rout of Central Michigan, where QB Bryce Underwood added 114 rushing yards and 2 TDs despite passing woes; Oregon's 49-14 win over Northwestern, cruising despite a late garbage-time rally; Nebraska's efficient 38-17 blanking of Houston Christian behind Dylan Raiola's 222 yards and 2 TDs; Indiana's explosive 73-0 demolition of Indiana State, featuring 5 TD passes from Kurtis Rourke and WR Omar Cooper Jr.'s record-tying 4 scores; Iowa's 47-7 thrashing of UMass, scoring 40+ as promised with early deep shots; and Penn State's 52-6 FCS romp over Villanova, though QB Drew Allar drew nitpicks for checkdowns and limited deep balls.
Satisfied tier includes Ohio State's sloppy-but-safe 31-13 win over Ohio, hampered by red-zone drops; Illinois' 38-0 shutout of UIW despite a slow start and O-line struggles; USC's gritty 33-17 road win at Purdue amid lightning delays; Rutgers' 66-10 blowout of Norfolk State, boosted by RB Kyle Monangai's elite grading; and Maryland's 44-17 FCS victory over Towson, but 17 allowed points kept it from elite.
Questionable: Purdue hung tough in a 33-17 loss to USC with red-zone INTs and lucky bounces raising flags; Michigan State escaped Youngstown State 41-24 but allowed 24 points to an FCS foe amid injuries.
Concerning: Wisconsin's 31-21 loss to Alabama looked worse up close, prompting JR to retract his "no-fire" stance on Luke Fickle if they miss 6-6; Northwestern scored late vs. Oregon but remains offensively inept; Minnesota fell 30-24 at Cal after leading 14-10, undone by long sustaining drives, a muffed punt, and missed FG.
Awful: UCLA's undisciplined 27-11 loss to LSU featured 13 penalties and coaching woes under DeShaun Foster, with firing rumors swirling. JR wraps with optimism for elites entering conference slate, urging subs and reviews for more Big Ten breakdowns.
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The Big Ten Huddle is a podcast dedicated to providing honest, humorous, and insightful analysis of Big Ten football and basketball. With a focus on challenging the national bias, especially against the SEC, hosts JR and Zack offer unfiltered discussions that engage fans of all Big Ten teams. Though critical at times, they always aim to defend the conference and give credit where it’s due, bringing humor and deep analysis together for a unique listening experience.
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