B1G Rewind: Oh, Wisconsin

It's not easy for Big Ten fans to accept the theme their teams are inferior on the national stage, especially to the almighty SEC.

So when Wisconsin took a 17-point lead against LSU, the Badgers held the narrative of Big Ten futility just inches from an image shredder. Then Wisconsin couldn't get out of its own way, surrendered 21 consecutive points and extended the perpetual saga in a 28-24 loss in Houston, Texas.

A defense ravaged by injury succumbed to a late barrage from the Tigers. But Wisconsin's problems mostly came down to an inept passing game and questionable coaching decisions.

New starter Tanner McEvoy, who played safety last year, completed just 8 of 24 passes for 50 yards. He was 3 of 11 for 17 yards and two interceptions in the second half. His quarterback rating was 34.16, the worst by a Badgers starter since 1977, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Wisconsin even had last year's starter Joel Stave, whose .684 winning percentage ranks seventh in team history, on the bench. Stave won nine games last year and ranks fourth in team history in team completion percentage (61.1).

McEvoy consistently threw off his back foot and looked out of rhythm with his receivers. The Badgers could have survived the limping passing attack had their traditional running game maintained its excellence. But after Melvin Gordon burst through the LSU defense for a 63-yard run on the third quarter's first play - which led to a Corey Clement touchdown run - Wisconsin flopped. The Badgers rushed just nine times for 20 yards the rest of the game. Gordon inexplicably ran just three times after his 63-yard run.

'I don't know that,” Wisconsin Coach Gary Andersen said when asked why Gordon barely played in the second half.

'I was good, man,” Gordon said, via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 'I was all good.”

The Badgers now have lost three consecutive games under Andersen. All three were winnable, especially last year's home finale against Penn State and Saturday night's opener.

So here we go, another year of cackling from the SEC and its minions. Consider this tweet from E-SEC-PN broadcaster Paul Finebaum.

'Just loved the LSU comeback against the mighty Big Ten. Well done, Tigers!”

MICHIGAN MOVES UP

The Big Ten's downfall in national perception began with Appalachian State's upset of then-No. 5 Michigan 34-32 in the 2007 season opener. Saturday, Michigan had its opportunity to atone for the PR disaster on Saturday and did so with authority.

Hosting Appalachian State for the first time since that infamous meeting, the Wolverines built a 42-0 lead early in the third quarter and rolled to a big win (52-14) at the Big House. Quarterback Devin Gardner completed 13 of 14 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Gardner's completion percentage of 92.8 was the second best in Michigan history. Gardner said afterward new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier helped with improvements.

'It was different for me, but it was really nice for me to be able to go see him and make adjustments right there and not wait until halftime,” Gardner said. 'I really enjoyed having him down there, and it was beneficial for the entire offense.”

Gardner now has 37 career touchdown passes, tying for seventh in Michigan history with Todd Collins. Gardner ranks ninth in Michigan total offense with 5,280 yards, moving ahead of Tom Brady.

Michigan's first three touchdowns were passes from Gardner to wide receiver Devin Funchess, who became the first wide receiver to wear jersey No. 1 since Braylon Edwards in 2004.

'It was a great honor,” Funchess said. 'I have been working hard. I asked (linebacker) Jake (Ryan) all off-season, ‘Was I working hard? Did I earn it?' He said yes.”

Michigan running backs Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith each rushed for more than 100 yards in the blowout.

NEBRASKA HARVEST

In a 55-7 win against Florida Atlantic, Nebraska obliterated the modern-day Big Ten record for most yards in a game with 784, trailing only the 832 put up by Minnesota against Northwestern in 1905.

Ameer Abdullah rushed for 232 yards in barely a half, and quarterback Tommie Armstrong Jr. passed for 271 yards and two scores. Abdullah's understudy, Terrell Newby, rushed for 107 yards. Armstrong Jr. also ran for 62 yards and a touchdown.

'Our guys played hard,” Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini said. 'They had the right approach to the game. They didn't really care about what people thought or anything else. We went out and worried about us ... and I thought that was the right approach to have.”

Cornhusker wide receivers Jordan Westerkamp (125 yards) and Kenny Bell (116) surpassed 100 yards receiving. Westerkamp produced one of the day's greatest plays, catching a pass with two hands behind his back.

'I've coached a lot of football, but I've never seen that one,” Pelini said. 'I don't think I've ever seen that. That one's hard to explain. To even have the wherewithal to put your hands back there, it's amazing. I've always said, he catches everything that's near him. He showed that right there.”

SATURDAY'S STARS

Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess hauled in seven passes for 95 yards and three touchdowns. ... Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah rushed for 232 yards in basically a half to spearhead a 784-yard offensive effort. ... Indiana running back Tevin Coleman ran for 247 yards. ... Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg tossed for 454 yards and led the Nittany Lions on a last-second comeback win. ... Paul James

ran for 173 yards and three touchdowns to guide Rutgers in its Big Ten debut Thursday night.

NOTEWORTHY

Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook completed 12 of 13 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. ... Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt debuted with 285 yards and four scores. ... Purdue kicker Paul Griggs kicked three field goals and four extra points in a Boilermakers' win. ... Wisconsin safety Michael Caputo had 15 tackles, including six unassisted. ... Iowa defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat had three tackles for loss. ... Minnesota's Peter Morrell punted five times for a 51.1-yard average. ... Ohio State's Cameron Johnson punted only twice, but averaged 55.0 yards. ... Maryland quarterback C.J. Brown quietly guided his team with 111 passing yards and 61 on the ground in the Terrapins' Big Ten inaugural game. ... Northwestern wide receiver Tony Jones

caught seven passes for 64 yards.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Michigan State 1-0 0-0

Spartans now carry the Big Ten's honor entering season's biggest non-conference game

2. Michigan 1-0 0-0

Wolverines actually looked like their former selves, pre-2007

3. Nebraska 1-0 0-0

A much stronger beginning for the Huskers after last year's soft opening against Wyoming

4. Ohio State 1-0 0-0

New QB struggled early, but we'll known more about J.T. Barrett after next week

5. Penn State 1-0 0-0

No drop-off in Ireland for Christian Hackenberg despite a new coaching staff

6. Iowa 1-0 0-0

The rest of the world doesn't know - or care - that Northern Iowa could beat at least half the FBS teams

7. Wisconsin 0-1 0-0

For three quarters the Badgers were in contention for the top spot on this list

8. Maryland 1-0 0-0

Terrapins' nickname belies the actual team speed on both sides of the ball

9. Rutgers 1-0 0-0

Posted maybe the week's most impressive victory, flying across the country and winning late at bowl team

10. Indiana 1-0 0-0

Don't know what's more surprising: only 28 points or holding Sycamores to 10 points

11. Minnesota 1-0 0-0

Gophers can run the ball, but passing game still has a ways to go

12. Illinois 1-0 0-0

Illini have a quarterback, but needed late push to pull out the win

13. Purdue 1-0 0-0

A win's a win, especially when it equals last year's total

14. Northwestern 0-1 0-0

With that defense, there's no reason to trail California (1-11 in 2013) 31-7 at home

STANDINGS

WEST DIVISION

Iowa 1-0 0-0

Illinois 1-0 0-0

Minnesota 1-0 0-0

Nebraska 1-0 0-0

Purdue 1-0 0-0

Northwestern 0-1 0-0

Wisconsin 0-1 0-0

EAST DIVISION

Indiana 1-0 0-0

Maryland 1-0 0-0

Michigan 1-0 0-0

Michigan State 1-0 0-0

Ohio State 1-0 0-0

Penn State 1-0 0-0

Rutgers 1-0 0-0

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Iowa 31, Northern Iowa 23

Illinois 28, Youngstown State 17

Nebraska 55, Florida Atlantic 7

Maryland 52, James Madison 7

Penn State 26, Central Florida 24

Indiana 28, Indiana State 10

Michigan 52, Appalachian State 14

Ohio State 34, Navy 17

Purdue 43, Western Michigan 34

LSU 28, Wisconsin 24

California 31, Northwestern 24

Michigan State 45, Jacksonville State 7 (Friday)

Rutgers 41, Washington State 38 (Thursday)

Minnesota 42, Eastern Illinois 20 (Thursday)

UP NEXT

Akron at Penn State, 11 a.m. (ABC)

Central Michigan at Purdue, 11 a.m. (ESPNNews)

Howard at Rutgers, 11 a.m. (BTN)

McNeese State at Nebraska, 11 a.m. (ESPNU)

Western Illinois at Wisconsin, 11 a.m. (BTN)

Western Kentucky at Illinois, 11 a.m. (BTN)

Ball State at Iowa, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Maryland at South Florida, 2:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

Northern Illinois at Northwestern, 2:30 p.m. (BTN)

Middle Tennessee State at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m. (BTN)

Michigan State at Oregon, 5:30 p.m. (Fox)

Michigan at Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m. (NBC)

Virginia Tech at Ohio State, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Indiana idle

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