By Courtney Baumann
Eight of the 14 Big Ten teams head into Week 4 with undefeated records including five that have started off the season 3-0.
Included in that number is Ohio State, which has continued to impress observers even though the Buckeyes lost a dozen of last season’s starters to the NFL Draft earlier this year.
One player head coach Urban Meyer did not lose is quarterback J.T. Barrett, who has gotten off the a hot start in the first three games.
The junior has thrown 10 touchdowns to 1 interception, passed for 650 yards, and ran for 159 more. He has completed 67.1 percent of his passes and averaged 8.9 yards per attempt.
“We are very rarely off schedule. If something happens, we get a penalty or a loss of yardage play, he’ll get us back to third and manageable. That’s kind of his forte,” Meyer said. “Of all the things great quarterbacks do, I’d put that up there as one of the most important things.”
Meyer does have his critiques of Barrett, too.
“There are times in the game that he tries to do too much,” Meyer said. “There are a couple reads where he got a little aggressive, which I don’t mind him doing every once in a while, but he does his best when he just makes the proper reads and distributes the ball where he needs to put it.”
Tale of two unbeatens
No. 11 Wisconsin will travel to Michigan State to take on the No. 8 Spartans this weekend. It is the only matchup between two undefeated Big Ten teams during Week 4.
No players on the roster have had the chance to play in a Badgers/Spartans game, because the last time the two played each other was in 2012.
Michigan State head coach Mike Dantonio expects to have a close, physical game.
“That’s been the history here,” Dantonio said. “They’ve been very exciting games — tough, run-oriented, stop the run, and don’t turn the ball over. Special teams always play a part in it, and big plays always play a part in it. That’s the history of the game, and those are the expectations we have.”
Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst’s expectations are more or less the same — although his are more hopes. Because the teams have not played each other in so long, he is not counting on the game to be a close one, but he hopes it will be.
“Just because it was like that in the past, doesn’t mean this one is going to be that,” Chryst said. “We’ve got to play well to give ourselves a chance … It’s a heck of an opportunity and a big challenge.”
And in the way, way West
The 3-0 Nebraska team will also open up its Big Ten play this weekend when it travels to Northwestern to take on the 1-2 Wildcats.
The No. 20 Huskers are coming off of a 35-32 win over former No. 22 Oregon on Sept. 17.
While Northwestern has already had its fair share of difficulties this season, head coach Mike Riley is not taking the team lightly.
“I have a lot of respect for Pat Fitzgerald and the Northwestern team,” Riley said. “They had a good win against and always well-coached team in Duke, so we’re getting ready for a big game in Evanston.”
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