College Football Week 7; Big Ten Results

October 12, 2025

Good morning! Friends, fans, and followers, thank you for visiting Nooz Buffet. This weekend of college football was wild! Everyone who emailed me for the Week Seven Pick Sheet, well, I know you guys are counting your money today. There were some upsets, some impressive victories, and some things will not be the same heading into week eight.

The Hoosiers, underdogs and on the road, traveled to Eugene and beat Oregon by ten. I don’t think the Ducks had the lead once in that game. Northwestern, a twenty-one-and-a-half-point underdog, traveled to Happy Valley and handed Penn State their third loss of the season. UCLA is back from the grave, the unranked Trojans knocked off #15 Michigan, and Nebraska won in the Shell. Yes, it was a wild weekend of football for sure, so let’s take a look at the results and see how we did with our picks. 

Rutgers (3-2) @ Washington (4-1)
Rutgers 19 Washington 38

UCLA (1-4) @ Michigan State (3-2)
UCLA 38 Michigan State 13

1 Ohio State (5-0) @ 17 Illinois (5-1)
Ohio State 34 Illinois 16

Northwestern (3-2) @ Penn State (3-2)
Northwestern 22 Penn State 21

7 Indiana (5-0) @ 3 Oregon (5-0)
Indiana 30 Oregon 20

Nebraska (4-1) @ Maryland (4-1)
Nebraska 34 Maryland 31

Iowa (3-2) @ Wisconsin (2-3)
Iowa 37 Wisconsin 0

Purdue (2-3) @ Minnesota (3-2)
Purdue 20 Minnesota 27

15 Michigan (4-1) @ USC (4-1)
Michigan 13 USC 31

Week 7 Pick Results (Straight Up)

Washington (W), Ohio State (W), UCLA (W), Oregon (L), Penn State (L), Nebraska (W), Wisconsin (L), USC (W), Minnesota (W)

Win: 6

Loss: 3

Week 7 Pick Results Versus the Point Spread

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Washington -10 (W), Ohio State -15.5 (W), UCLA +7.5 (W), Oregon -7.5 (L), Northwestern +21.5 (L), Maryland +6 (W), Iowa -3.5 (W), USC -1.5 (W), Purdue +9.5 (W)

Win: 8

Loss: 1

Overall Records Since Week 3

Straight Up: 33-9

Versus the Point Spread: 23-13-1

Do you know how hard it is to pick eight winners out of nine games versus the point spread? Well, I JUST DID THAT! 🤣🤑

Here’s the proof!

Alright, everyone. If you paid $4.50 for the Week Seven Pick Sheet, thank you! If you didn’t, you have three more weeks to get on board and win some money.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

College Football Week 7; Big Ten Preview and Predictions

October 5, 2025

Well, it’s Monday morning, and the week is just beginning, but we have an excellent weekend of college football to look forward to. There are nine games this week featuring teams from the Big Ten Conference, and if you do the math knowing the Big Ten actually has eighteen teams and not ten anymore, then you’ll realize that all the games are interconference games and no one has a bye. Several games standout to me as a potential “Big Ten Game of the Week,” but I had to go with the game between Indiana and Oregon. I’m sure most people would agree. So, without any further ado, let’s get into this week’s preview and predictions

Friday, October 10th

9:00 P.M.

Rutgers (3-2) @ Washington (4-1)

Rutgers had a bye last week, but before going into hibernation, they lost to Minnesota 31-28. Actually, Rutgers lost their last two games and haven’t been in the win column since a week three victory against Norfolk State. That’s not a good sign. Washington got a reality check during their week five loss to the Buckeyes, but they came back strong by dealing Maryland their first loss of the season during week six. With Ohio State, Oregon, and now Indiana, is easy for Washington to get lost in the mix, but don’t sleep on the Huskies. They have a very good football team.

Saturday, October 11th

12:00 Noon

UCLA (1-4) @ Michigan State (3-2)

UCLA was 0-3 when they lost to Northwestern, and with that defeat, the Bruins became who we thought they were, but just when we wrote UCLA off for the season, something incredible happened. They beat the seventh ranked Nittany Lions last week and got win number one. Against Penn State, UCLA held on to the ball for almost forty minutes and didn’t turn the ball over. Michigan State lost their second game of the season during week six against a very good Nebraska team, and they haven’t had any success in conference play. They need a win this week, badly. This game is a total mystery. Which UCLA team is going to show up? Will we see the 0-4 Bruins, or will we see the inspired and perseverant UCLA team that just beat Penn State?

1 Ohio State (5-0) @ 17 Illinois (5-1)

This game was a potential Big Ten Game of the Week for obvious reasons. Illinois is 5-1 overall, 2-1 in the conference, and they responded brilliantly after that embarrassing week four loss to Indiana with back-to-back wins against USC and Purdue. The Fighting Illini regained their confidence and little momentum to go along with it, and they’re going to need both this week. Ohio State, well, I think Minnesota’s Head Coach, P.J. Fleck, gave us a very informative and brutally honest press conference concerning the Golden Gopher’s loss to Ohio State. The Buckeyes are just that damn good, they can do whatever they want offensively, so if you commit to the run, they’ll pass. If you guard the pass, they can run the ball, and they have at least four guys that can do it. Julian Sayin completed 23 of 27 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, and he was the question mark coming into this season. I’m just sayin..

3:30 P.M.

Northwestern (3-2) @ Penn State (3-2)

Bing, bang, boom! After back-to-back losses to Oregon and UCLA, Penn State fell right out of the AP Top 25. Just like that! And, hey, who can blame the pollsters? We waited years for the 2025 Drew Allar to come into being, and I think we’re a little disappointed. Against Nevada, he completed 22 of 26 passes for 217 yards and 1 touchdown, and that was arguably his best performance of the season! In the last four games, he’s completing 60% of his passes for 741 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. That’s not good, but hey, we win as team, and we lose as a team. Where was the Penn State defense against UCLA? Ah, let me stop. Northwestern, I would have to think, feels pretty good about this game after seeing what UCLA just pulled off. The Wildcats are a scrappy bunch of alley cats, and even against the Ducks, they balled until the final whistle blew. That’s the mark of a team with potential. I think we’re all a little lost when it comes to Penn State now, but we know one thing for sure. The Wildcats are going to play to win, and they won’t give up.

7 Indiana (5-0) @ 3 Oregon (5-0)

Okay, so this is the Big Ten Game of the Week (in my opinion). We have the seventh ranked Hoosiers against the third ranked Ducks. Both teams are 5-0, but this is football. Someone will walk away with a loss after this one, but who will it be? Indiana had a bye last week, so that means extra rest and more preparation time. Perfect timing for the bye week. Quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, had a mediocre performance against Iowa on September 27th, but he’s having an amazing season in general. Offensively, the Hoosiers have weapons, and statistically, they’re defense is pretty good, but do we really know the Hoosiers? I mean, they beat Iowa by 5. That’s a red flag in my opinion, and then when you look at their schedule, Illinois was really the only test they had.

In the Big Ten, in my opinion, it’s Ohio State then Oregon. Oregon is a good football team. Quarterback, Dante Moore, completed 29 passes for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns against Penn State, running back, Dierre Hill Jr., averaged 8.2 yards per carry, and the Ducks amassed 424 yards of total offense for 30 points. Defensively, Oregon, as of October 3rd, was ranked 5th best nationally by Sports Illustrated, but stats can be deceiving. Indiana’s offense will present a real challenge for Oregon’s defense this weekend. As a matter of fact, Oregon hasn’t seen an offensive unit yet this season that compares to Indiana’s. I think this game will be close, but when it’s all said and done, Oregon walks away with win number six.

Nebraska (4-1) @ Maryland (4-1)

Nebraska is now 4-1 after beating Michigan State last week 38-27, and Maryland is now 4-1 after losing a heart breaker to Washington 24-20. Both are 4-1, and both are 1-1 in the conference. Nebraska and Maryland are what I call, middle of the pack teams. You have Ohio State and Oregon at the top, and then there’s this large group of 1-loss teams that are jockeying for position. Maryland is good this year and tough to beat at home, and Nebraska’s only blemish was a three-point loss to Michigan, who right now, is ranked fifteenth nationally. Maryland was actually beating Washington last week 20-0 and 20-3 at the start of the fourth quarter, then Washington exploded and put twenty-one on the board to win. Maryland just ran out gas, and Wahington wore them out. This weekend, the Terrapins will need to bring their fuel reserves because Nebraska will attempt to do the same thing.

7:00 P.M.

Iowa (3-2) @ Wisconsin (2-3)

After a week off, the Iowa Hawkeyes return to action looking to avenge a 5-point loss to Indiana during week 5. Wisconsin is 2-3 overall and in a real tough position. After three straight losses to Alabama, Maryland, and Michigan, the badgers are suddenly standing with their backs against the wall. They can still salvage their season with a win this week against Iowa, but that’s not going to be easy.

7:30 P.M.

Purdue (2-3) @ Minnesota (3-2)

Head Coach, P.J. Fleck, would like nothing more than to grab a win this week because a win over Purdue can cure a lot of pain and suffering emanating from the Ohio State debacle. Purdue is 2-3 overall and struggling against Big Ten opponents, so he might actually get his wish.

15 Michigan (4-1) @ USC (4-1)

So, the Wolverines are ranked #15 nationally, they’re 2-0 in their conference, and they’re on a three-game-winning streak. Quarterback, Bryce Underwood, is the talk of the town, and running back Justice Haynes, rushed for 117 yards on 19 carries against Wisconsin. Michigan, who was somewhat overlooked in the beginning of the season because of the big three (Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon), suddenly seems to be emerging as a real contender, but if anyone is going to take them seriously, they will need to beat the Trojans this weekend. USC took their first defeat last week against Illinois, and it was by two damn points. Jayden Maiava threw 43 passes and completed 30 of them for 364 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also threw a pick, but overall, not bad. Wide receiver, Makai Lemon, caught 11 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. The Trojan’s defense needs to show up this week, and if they do, USC can win a close one at home.

Week 7 Picks Straight Up

Washington, Ohio State, UCLA, Oregon, Penn State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, USC, Minnesota

Week 7 Picks Versus the Point Spread

Email me directly at, noonooz@noozbuffet.com, for the week 7 pick sheet. This week, the Big Ten pick sheet is $4.50, and it contains my winning picks versus the point spread from all nine games previewed above. We’ve been winning every week, so don’t miss out.

College Football Week 7; Big Ten Schedule

October 5, 2025

It’s only Sunday, but here’s an early look at the college football week 7 schedule for games featuring teams from the Big Ten Conference. Yes, it’s a full lineup, and that’s because no one has a bye. All eighteen teams are in play, so we have nine interconference games.

My personal selection for Big Ten Game of the Week is the game between Indiana and Oregon. Both teams are 5-0 overall, both teams are undefeated in the conference, and both teams are ranked within the top ten nationally.

Friday, October 10th

9:00 P.M.

Rutgers (3-2) @ Washington (4-1)

Saturday, October 11th

12:00 Noon

UCLA (1-4) @ Michigan State (3-2)

1 Ohio State (5-0) @ 17 Illinois (5-1)

3:30 P.M.

Northwestern (3-2) @ Penn State (3-2)

7 Indiana (5-0) @ 3 Oregon (5-0)

Nebraska (4-1) @ Maryland (4-1)

7:00 P.M.

Iowa (3-2) @ Wisconsin (2-3)

7:30 P.M.

Purdue (2-3) @ Minnesota (3-2)

15 Michigan (4-1) @ USC (4-1)

Returning to Normalcy

October 5, 2025

Hello everyone, I hope you’re enjoying this peaceful Sunday morning.

I’ve been receiving a lot of emails with questions concerning the astrology content I produce here on Nooz Buffet, and the answer to everyone’s question is three more weeks.

I did not cover the college football season last year, but I did in 2023, and it was somewhat successful, so I decided to give it another shot. Right now, the college football season is going into week seven, and I like to cover the games from week three to week nine.

When week nine is over, I’ll be getting back to astrology.

I love astrology, I really do, and I’ve been a practitioner and a student of the art for seventeen years now, however, covering college football for six weeks gives me a little break.

Okay, everyone. Three more weeks, and it’s back to normalcy around here. I do hope everyone is doing well and feeling well. Thank you for your support and your interest.

College Football Week 6; Big Ten Results

October 4, 2025

Hello everyone, thank you for visiting Nooz Buffet. Another weekend of college football has come and gone, and it was a crazy one. UCLA got their first win of the season, and it was against Penn State! Wow! Michigan pretty much put the nail in Wisconsin’s coffin, and Washington bounced back from their week 5 loss to Ohio State in a big way by beating a Maryland team, that up to this point, was unbeaten. Let’s take a look at the results below and see how we did with our picks.

Big Ten Week 6 Results

(22) Illinois (4-1) @ Purdue (2-2)
Illinois 43 Purdue 27

Wisconsin (2-2) @ (20) Michigan (3-1)
Wisconsin 10 Michigan 24

(7) Penn State (3-1) @ UCLA (0-4)
Penn State 37 UCLA 42

LA Monroe (3-1) @ Northwestern (2-2)
LA-Monroe 7 Northwestern 42

Washington (3-1) @ Maryland (4-0)
Washington 24 Maryland 20

Michigan State (3-1) @ Nebraska (3-1)
Michigan State 27 Nebraska 38

Minnesota (3-1) @ (1) Ohio State (4-0)
Minnesota 3 Ohio State 42

Week 6 Pick Results Straight Up

Ohio State, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, Northwestern, Nebraska, Penn State

Win: 6

Loss: 1

Week 6 Pick Results Verses the Point Spread

Wisconsin +17.5, Illinois -7.5, Penn State -24.5, Washington -6, Michigan State +12.5

Win: 3

Loss: 2

Overall Records Since Week 3

Straight Up: 27-6
Versus the Point Spread: 15-12-1

My bet pick of this week was a 3-Team-Teaser bet. We won! Again!

College Football Week 6, Big Ten Preview & Predictions

September 29, 2025

Hello everyone, and thank you for visiting N.B. This is the College Football Week 6 Preview for all seven games featuring teams from the Big Ten Conference. There aren’t any games being played on Friday night this week. Enjoy!

Saturday, October 4th

12:00 P.M.

(22)Illinois (4-1) at Purdue (2-2)

The Purdue Boilermakers had a week 5 bye, and that’s probably a good thing after back-to-back losses to USC and Notre Dame, but Illinois isn’t about to throw them a welcome-back-party. Nope, for Purdue, the schedule is relentless and this week they host a 4-1 Illinois team that’s ranked #22 nationally and feeling pretty darn good about themselves after a week 5 victory over the USC Trojans. Hey, maybe Illinois just had an off week against Indiana. It happens.

Wisconsin (2-2) at (20)Michigan (3-1)

Wisconsin and Michigan both had week 5 off, so I’m sure they’re also both well rested and mentally prepared for this game, which is a good thing. Michigan improved to 3-1 after beating Nebraska during week 4, and Wisconsin fell to 2-2 after a 17-point loss to Maryland. One team seems on their way up, and the other on their way down, but I see both of these teams as “middle of the pack” type. Michigan’s only loss was to Oklahoma, and Wisconsin lost to Alabama and the undefeated Terrapins. Wisconsin could not run the ball against Maryland (61 yards of total offense), and they couldn’t convert on 3rd downs (3/17). If the Badgers can beat the Wolverines, Michigan will fall from the AP Top 25, and they’ll both be 3-2 overall, but Michigan is always tough to beat at home. Slight edge to Michigan here.

3:30 P.M.

(7)Penn State (3-1) at UCLA (0-4)

Last week, UCLA lost to Northwestern, and with that loss, the Bruins are who we thought they were. I was rooting for UCLA to get their first win of the season, but that didn’t happen, so now they’re going to have to try to steal one from Penn State. Believe you me, the Nittany Lions are out for blood this week after losing in Happy Valley to Oregon. I expect Penn State to win this game by at least two or three touchdowns.

LA Monroe (3-1) at Northwestern (2-2)

Wow, I thought all the tune-up games ended after week 2, but I guess not. The funny thing is that LA-Monroe is actually in first place in the SBC West, so I don’t think the Wildcats are taking this game lightly. I expect Northwestern to build off of their week 5 victory against UCLA and improve to 3-2. The Wildcats are a scrappy bunch this season, and they play a lot harder than their 2-2 record might suggest.

Washington (3-1) at Maryland (4-0)

Okay, so this is my pick for Big Ten Game of the Week. Washington was just beat by Ohio State so they’re looking for some get back. Maryland crushed Wisconsin 27-10 during week 4 and then had week 5 off. Maryland is hard to beat at home, and I would think after having an extra week of rest and preparation, they have to be feeling good about their chances. The Huskies aren’t ready to throw in the towel, but if they haven’t mentally rebounded from their loss to the Buckeyes, they could end up going into week 7 at 3-2. My point is if they think Maryland is going to be an easy win, they’re sadly mistaking.

4:00 P.M.

Michigan State (3-1) at Nebraska (3-1)

Michigan State and Nebraska are both 3-1 overall, and they’re both winless in Big Ten play. This is a very important inter-conference game because the winner not only improves to 4-1, but they’ll also improve to .500 in the Big Ten as well. During week 4, I thought Nebraska was going to beat Michigan, but they ended up losing by three. Damn! So close! The Spartans lost also to USC, so both teams lost their last game before the bye. See, they have a lot in common. I like Dylan Raiola and the Cornhuskers at home this week, but Nebraska is going to have to do better than the 43 yards of total rushing offense Michigan held them to.

7:30 P.M.

Minnesota (3-1) at (1)Ohio State (4-0)

Well, the Buckeyes are rolling once again. They handled the Huskies on the road last week after scoring 17 points in the second half to win 24-6. Right now, Ohio State appears to be an unstoppable force, but Minnesota isn’t going to lay down for the Buckeyes. After losing to Cal, Minnesota rebounded with a 31-28 win against Rutgers. Minnesota plays hard, but do they really have enough to compete with Ohio State? We shall see.

Week 6 Picks Straight Up

Ohio State, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, Northwestern, Nebraska, Penn State

Week 6 Picks Against the Point Spread

Again, if you like to bet on college football and you’re interested in my expert picks, then you’re going to have to email me at, noonooz@noozbuffet.com, and type Big Ten Week 6 Pick Sheet in the subject line. This week, the Pick Sheet is $3.50, and you’ll receive my picks for all seven games featured in this preview against the Vegas odds.

College Football Week 6, Big Ten Schedule

September 28, 2025

Here’s a look at the college football Week 6 schedule involving games featuring teams from the Big Ten Conference. This week, there are seven games, and all of them are inter-conference games with the exception of the game between LA-Monroe and Northwestern. The Big Ten Game of the Week is Washington against Maryland. Maryland is still undefeated, and Washington was just handed their first lost by Ohio State during Week 5. Washington, after starting the season 3-0, finds themselves in a must win situation now, but Maryland isn’t easy to beat in “The Shell.”

Saturday, October 4th

12:00 P.M.

(22)Illinois (4-1) at Purdue (2-2)

Wisconsin (2-2) at (20)Michigan (3-1)

3:30 P.M.

(7)Penn State (3-1) at UCLA (0-4)

LA Monroe (3-1) at Northwestern (2-2)

Washington (3-1) at Maryland (4-0)

4:00 P.M.

Michigan State (3-1) at Nebraska (3-1)

7:30 P.M.

Minnesota (3-1) at (1)Ohio State (4-0)

Bye Week

College Football Week 5, Big Ten Results

Friends, Fans, and Followers, good morning! Well, I told you it was going to be a wild weekend of college football, and that’s exactly what it was. Wild! Check out the results below, and let’s see how we did with our picks.

I want to remind you guys that you could win money with me this college football season. All you have to do is email me, noonoo@noozbuffet.com, and ask for the Big Ten Pick Sheet. This year, I’m selling my Big Ten picks versus the spread separately.

Rutgers at Minnesota
Rutgers 28 Minnesota 31

(21)USC at (23)Illinois
USC 32 Illinois 34

UCLA at Northwestern
UCLA 14 Northwestern 17

(1)Ohio State at Washington
Ohio State 24 Washington 6

(11)Indiana at Iowa
Indiana 20 Iowa 15

(6)Oregon at (3)Penn State
Oregon 30 Penn State 24

Week 5 Picks Straight Up
Minnesota, USC, Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, UCLA
Win: 5
Loss: 1

Week 5 Picks Versus the Points
Oregon +3.5, USC -6.5, Iowa +7.5, Washington +8.5, Minnesota -4.5, UCLA +6
Win: 3
Loss:3

Records Overall (Since Week 3)

Straight Up: 21-5

Versus the Points: 13-10-1

Big Ten Game of the Week; Oregon at Penn State

September 24, 2025

This weekend’s game between the Oregon Ducks and the Penn State Nittany Lions is scheduled for Saturday, September 27th at 7:30 pm. As a matter of fact, there aren’t any games featuring Big Ten teams scheduled for Friday night. All six games will be played on Saturday.

Third ranked, Penn State, is home again for their fourth straight game, and so far at home, they’ve put wins together against Nevada, Florida International, and Villanova. That’s not that impressive, however, Florida International did seem decent. Penn State was leading 10-0 at halftime, and I guess most fans expected to see a 35-0 halftime score.

Oregon is sitting steady at number six in the AP Top 25, and the Ducks actually have four games under their belt. Oregon won twice at home against Montana State and Oklahoma State and twice on the road against Northwestern and Oregon State. Northwestern was somewhat successful running the football against the Ducks. Even if you take away Dashun Reeder’s 79-yard run in the fourth quarter, Joseph Himon and Caleb Komolafe combined for 28 carries and 112 yards. Northwestern had 178 yards of total rushing offense when it was all said and done.

When I look at this game between Oregon and Penn State, from a prediction standpoint, I’m looking at it like it’s the first game of the season for both teams because both teams came into this season with such high expectations, and neither has faced an opponent of equal caliber. In a sense, it’s like it’s all practice leading up to this point, and Oregon got a little bit more practice in.

Up to this point, Penn State quarterback, Drew Allar, hasn’t really been that impressive. In three games, he’s completing 65% of his passes for an average of 208 yards and 4 touchdowns. I mean, wow, that hardly sounds like the numbers of a quarterback who’s running the offense of a team ranked third in the country, but they must have something going for them.

Penn State has an excellent backfield with senior running backs, Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. Their offensive line is very good too. Luke Reynolds, their tight end, has 13 catches for 142 yards, and the wide receiver transfer from USC, Kyron Hudson, caught 14 balls for 156 yards and 1 touchdown. The point is that they do have guys who catch the ball, and when you add everything up, Drew Allar, seems to be getting the job done.

I expect Oregon to commit to stopping the run this weekend even though stopping the run hasn’t exactly been their greatest strength so far. If the Duck defense is effective against the run, then maybe they can put the pressure on Allar, and we’ll finally get to see what he’s made of.

How good is Penn State’s defense? We’ll find out this weekend.

Oregon’s quarterback, Dante Moore, is their leader, and he just played his best game of the season in Week 4 against Oregon State. He completed 21 of 31 passes for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Their running back situation isn’t as stable as Penn State’s. Tulane transfer, Makhi Huges, was supposed to be the starter, but the job was won by Noah Whittington. Then, Whittington got hurt and missed the Northwestern game. He’s expected to return this week for Penn State, but if he’s limited or can’t go at all, we’ll probably see a lot of Jayden Limar.

Oregon’s tight end, Kenyon Sadiq, is athletic with good hands. Senior wide receiver, Evan Stewart, is still recovering from an offseason knee injury, but Gary Bryant Jr. and Dakorian Moore are stepping up.

You know what, I feel really good about Oregon going to Happy Valley and stealing a win this weekend. Penn State has definitely been flying under the radar, but there’s no holding back this week. The Nittany Lions will have to show up on both sides of the ball for this one because we’re not talking about Villanova anymore.

I expect Penn State to play a Big Ten style game, which is ball control, clock control, and hard defense, but the Penn State defense hasn’t faced an offense like Oregon yet. So, while I’m sure they’ll be capable of executing their plans offensively, it all goes out the window if Penn State’s defense can’t stop Dante Moore and the Duck’s offense.

I haven’t seen enough yet, so I’m going with Ducks.

Turned Up to the Max

September 23, 2025

It was an early slugfest when the Iowa Hawkeyes met Rutgers during Week 4 of the college football season. Kaden Wetjen returned the opening kickoff, and then Rutgers marched down the field and scored on the ensuing drive. Basically, it was blow for blow, and at halftime, it was all knotted up at 21.

Hawkeye fans couldn’t argue with the tie, but I think there was a little concern growing about their defense. Where are they? Are they going to show up tonight? Defensively, Iowa seemed to have no answer for what Rutgers was doing offensively, and Scarlett Knight receiver, Ian Strong, looked unstoppable.

After making some adjustments, however, we saw a completely different Iowa defense take the field in the third quarter, and the shoe was on the other foot. It was the Scarlett Knight’s offense who was now scrambling for answers.

So, what changed? Well, Iowa sent a fifth guy to rush the quarterback and that was enough to disrupt things and get pressure on Rutger’s quarterback, Athan Kaliakmanis. They turned it up to the max.

In addition, there was a huge momentum change when Iowa held Rutgers on a drive late in the third quarter and then blocked their field goal attempt. Iowa’s defense, at that point, finally woke up.

After scoring 21 points in the first half, Rutgers scored their first and only touchdown of the second half with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. Rutgers was winning 28-24, but Iowa responded quickly to regain the lead, 31-28.

When the Scarlett Knights got the ball back, Kaliakmanis was pressured again, this time from defensive end, Max Llewellyn, and he threw an interception. Iowa scored on their next drive and put the game away.

It was the pressure from senior defensive end, Max Llewellyn, that helped Iowa get their third win of the season. Llewellyn is 6’5″ and 265 pounds. He’s a big strong guy with good speed, but he’s not alone. With Ethan Hurkett on the other side and Aaron Graves in the middle, that’s a strong defensive line belonging to a unit that returned nine seniors.

This weekend, Iowa is at home for their game against Indiana, and the Hawkeye’s defense is going to have to continue playing the way they did in the second half of the Rutgers game. Indiana is for real. They’re 4-0 and ranked 11th nationally. Quarterback, Fernando Mendoza threw 14 touchdowns in the last three games, and he has options with Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr.