B1G Rewind: Minnesota’s Juggling act

Minnesota's historical series against Michigan these last few decades bear little resemblance to the high-profile battles of eras long ago.

Michigan had won 22 of their previous 23 meetings and taking the Little Brown Jug out of its trophy case each year was as much of a formality as the annual turn of the U.S.S. Constitution in Boston Harbor. Michigan pounded Minnesota by a combined score of 135-26 over the last three seasons, including a 58-0 victory in 2011. That was Minnesota's worst Big Ten loss in school history.

'I remember being here and saying, we better get stronger, faster and better athletically or we're going to be in trouble,” Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill recalled Saturday. 'I think we're getting there - we still have a ways to go, I'm not stupid. In four years, it takes a while.”

Kill stayed home last year on a leave of absence for health issues when the Wolverines blasted the Gophers 42-13. At that point Kill's Minnesota era looked tenuous at best. But instead of shirking, Kill's Gophers got tough. They got physical. They sharpened their mental focus. And after Saturday's 30-14 TKO at Michigan, the Gophers no longer are nifty-sounding squirrels dodging highway traffic. They are destructive potholes.

Minnesota running back David Cobb rushed for 183 yards, 12 more than Michigan's offensive total. The Gophers held the ball for nearly 35 minutes and gained 5.3 yards per play to Michigan's 3.2 It was a dominant performance and represents a complete turnaround from the 58-point loss in 2011.

'It is night and day, what was seen from our offense and defense in comparison to three years ago,” Minnesota defensive lineman Cameron Botticelli said. 'Words can't describe how I felt watching my teammates run over and grab the Jug. Words can't describe the feeling that I felt after losing 58-0 and what I'm feeling right now. It's a team win, and I'm proud to be a Minnesota Golden Gopher.”

Since last year's loss at Michigan, Minnesota is 5-2 in Big Ten play with wins against Nebraska, Penn State and the Wolverines. The Gophers are idle next week but their next three games include home match-ups against Northwestern and Purdue and a road trip to Illinois. A 7-1 start is possible. After that, who knows?

Conversely for Michigan, all that's left for Coach Brady Hoke is flipping the switch. Once-proud Michigan, which last won a Big Ten title in 2004, has lost eight of its last 11 games. The Wolverines' last victory against a power-five conference school was a triple-overtime miracle against Northwestern last November. Since beating Minnesota last year, Michigan is 2-6 in Big Ten play.

Power-five conference schools (Notre Dame, Utah, Minnesota) have outscored Michigan 87-24 this year. It's not inconceivable that this team loses every game in Big Ten play. With the regression of quarterback Devin Gardner and the disintegration of a veteran defense, it's an epic failure.

'I think this team can still win the championship. I really do,” Hoke said.

And every time I buy a lottery ticket I think I'm going to be a millionaire.

BATTLE LOOMING

The Big Ten's best non-divisional match-up takes place Saturday in East Lansing, Mich., where unbeaten Nebraska (5-0) plays at defending Big Ten champion Michigan State (4-1). ABC will televise the game at 7 p.m.

The battle pits the league's top scoring teams. Michigan State averages 50.2 points a game, while Nebraska is close behind at 45.4. The Cornhuskers pace the league in yards per game at 572.6, more than 50 yards better than No. 2 Ohio State.

'Nebraska is a very explosive offense,” Michigan State Coach Mark Dantonio said. 'You have to be able to tackle in space. You have to be lined up right. You have to play to a high tempo. All of us will enjoy this, including our fans, for 24 hours. Then we need to be ready. Everyone needs to be game ready.”

The last two games between Nebraska and Michigan State were tenacious. The Cornhuskers pulled out the 2012 game 28-24 after a controversial call negated a Michigan State pick-6. Last year the teams slugged it out in Lincoln until the Spartans outlasted Nebraska 41-28.

'They're a good football team, and it's going to be a heck of a challenge for us on the road to win the football game,” Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini said. 'Every week is motivation for us. At the end of the day, and I know you probably get sick of hearing it, but we've got to get better. We've got to get better this week to be able to go on the road and win against a good football team. We need to fix us first. We can't start the way we did defensively the way we did today. Can't shoot ourselves in the foot and have the turnovers and things like that. Things that don't magnify themselves tonight could magnify themselves a week from now.

'I don't know how that game is going to go. I don't have a crystal ball, but what we can control is getting better ourselves to give us the best opportunity to win the football game.”

WELCOME TO THE BIG TEN

Maryland quietly has emerged as an under-the-radar threat in the Big Ten East Division. The Terrapins (4-1) won their Big Ten debut 37-15 at Indiana and has won five straight road games.

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs caught six passes for 112 yards. His production was expected this year. But Maryland's defense was surprisingly stout, holding explosive Indiana to season lows in points (15) and total offense (332). The Hoosiers' previous lows were 28 points against Indiana State and 489 yards against Missouri last week. Linebacker Cole Farrand had 19 tackles, the most by a Big Ten player this year.

'Defensively, our kids played their hearts out,” Maryland Coach Randy Edsall said. 'With some of the injuries, guys have stepped up, and to hold that offense to the numbers we did and the least amount of yards, and to keep a great running back in check, my hats off to our kids.”

Maryland will find out how good it is this week. The Terrapins host Ohio State in the teams' first meeting.

SATURDAY'S STARS

Minnesota RB David Cobb rushed 32 times for 183 yards and caught three passes for 50. ... Iowa safety John Lowdermilk led his team with seven tackles and intercepted two passes. ... Maryland LB Cole Farrand had 19 tackles, including 1 1/2 sacks, and a pass breakup. ... Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett passed for 330 yards, four TDs and no picks, and he rushed for 79 yards. ... Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah

rushed for 208 yards, including 196 in the first half, and scored three touchdowns.

NOTEWORTHY

Michigan punter Will Hagerup punted eight times for a 50-yard average. ... Northwestern QB Trevor Siemian passed for 258 yards and rushed for two touchdowns. ... Penn State wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton caught six passes for 100 yards. ... Purdue safety Frankie Williams intercepted a pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdowns. ... Rutgers QB Gary Nova passed for 291 yards and four TDs. ... Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon ran 32 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns. ... Indiana RB Tevin Coleman rushed for 122 yards. ... Michigan State running back Jeremy Langford rushed 16 times for 137 yards, an 8.6 yard-per-carry average. ... Illinois wide receiver Geronimo Allison

caught five passes for 118 yards and a touchdown.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Michigan State (1) 3-1 0-0

Set to face Nebraska in season's most compelling non-divisional match-up

2. Ohio State (2) 3-1 0-0

Freshman QB making major strides

3. Nebraska (3) 5-0 1-0

Real proving ground this week at East Lansing

4. Wisconsin (5) 3-1 0-0

Workmanlike performance in Badgers' final non-conference game

5. Maryland (6) 4-1 1-0

Terrapins can see if they're real this week against Ohio State

6. Iowa (7) 4-1 1-0

Hawkeyes' defense slams Purdue in final three quarters

7. Minnesota (10) 4-1 1-0

Won the Jug and should be favored in next three games

8. Rutgers (9) 4-1 0-1

Prepared to compete against Big Ten competition

9. Indiana (8) 2-2 0-1

No team is more inconsistent than the Hoosiers

10. Northwestern (13) 2-2 1-0

Ended 6-game losing streak to Penn State with dominant performance

11. Penn State (4) 4-1 1-1

Bowl berth still likely but has much to prove after big loss

12. Michigan (11) 2-3 0-1

Has potential to lose every game

13. Illinois (12) 3-2 0-1

Not surprising loss, but faces must-win against Purdue this week

14. Purdue (14) 2-3 0-1

Improved team but needs something positive from the quarterback

STANDINGS

WEST DIVISION

Nebraska 5-0 1-0

Iowa 4-1 1-0

Minnesota 4-1 1-0

Northwestern 2-2 1-0

Wisconsin 3-1 0-0

Illinois 3-2 0-1

Purdue 2-3 0-1

EAST DIVISION

Maryland 4-1 1-0

Penn State 4-1 1-1

Ohio State 3-1 0-0

Michigan State 3-1 0-0

Rutgers 4-1 0-1

Indiana 2-2 0-1

Michigan 2-3 0-1

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Iowa 24, Purdue 10

Northwestern 29, Penn State 6

Rutgers 31, Tulane 6

Wisconsin 27, South Florida 10

Michigan State 56, Wyoming 14

Maryland 37, Indiana 15

Minnesota 30, Michigan 14

Ohio State 50, Cincinnati 28

Nebraska 45, Illinois 14

UP NEXT

Purdue at Illinois, 11 a.m. (ESPN2)

Ohio State at Maryland, 11 a.m. (ABC)

North Texas at Indiana, 1:30 p.m. (BTN)

Wisconsin at Northwestern, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Michigan at Rutgers, 6 p.m. (BTN)

Nebraska at Michigan State, 7 p.m. (ABC)

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@sourcemedia.net