Issues to observe throughout Week 4 of play within the Huge Ten Convention:
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 6 Ohio State (3-0) at No. 9 Notre Dame (4-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
One of the vital necessary nonconference video games of the season on a day full of massive video games matches top-10 groups with designs on the School Soccer Playoff. A win here’s a huge step towards that aim; a loss is just not insurmountable.
That is the fifth straight time since 1996 that two of faculty soccer’s greatest manufacturers will meet whereas each are ranked within the high 10. The Buckeyes have gained 5 straight within the sequence, together with 21-10 final 12 months in Columbus. Their final loss to the Irish was in 1936.
Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman, who already has 13 landing passes, will go in opposition to an Ohio State protection that has allowed a complete of 20 factors by three video games. Buckeyes QB Kyle McCord has discovered a pleasant rhythm with six TD passes the final two weeks.
BEST MATCHUP II
No. 24 Iowa (3-0) at No. 7 Penn State (3-0), 7:40 p.m. ET (CBS)
Penn State has scored at the least 30 factors in 10 straight video games and is averaging 43 per sport for the season. Iowa is amongst 9 groups to have allowed three or fewer touchdowns to date.
Even when the Hawkeyes decelerate Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions, it may not be sufficient. Iowa’s offense is ranked No. 121 nationally. Penn State’s protection has compelled a Huge Ten-best seven turnovers. Penn State is a 14 1/2-point favourite, in line with FanDuel Sportsbook. The Hawkeyes haven’t been so huge an underdog in opposition to a crew aside from Ohio State since 2016.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Purdue goes into Friday night time’s assembly with Wisconsin with at the least one interception in seven straight video games. … Michigan goes into its residence sport in opposition to Rutgers second nationally in complete protection (222.3 ypg) and first in scoring protection (5.3 ppg). … Rutgers is 8-31 in Huge Ten street video games since becoming a member of the convention in 2014, and solely two of the wins have come in opposition to opponents that had successful information on the time. … Nebraska is tied for third nationally with 14 sacks, most because it had 20 at this level in 2005. The Cornhuskers had 4 at this level a 12 months in the past. … Illinois’ Isaiah Williams has caught a move in 28 straight video games since switching from quarterback to receiver earlier than the 2021 season. … Maryland has gained every of its first three video games by at the least 18 factors for the primary time since 1948. … Indiana goes into its sport in opposition to Akron with a 12-2 document in opposition to non-Energy 5 opponents beneath Tom Allen. … Minnesota’s .603 win share in opposition to Northwestern is its greatest amongst Huge Ten opponents the Gophers have performed greater than thrice.
LONG SHOT
Purdue is a 5 1/2-point underdog in opposition to Wisconsin on Friday night time, in line with FanDuel Sportsbook. The Boilermakers haven’t overwhelmed the Badgers in West Lafayette since 1997 and have misplaced 16 straight within the sequence. By no means thoughts that Wisconsin picked off 5 passes in opposition to Georgia Southern final week. The Badgers have proved susceptible to the move. Purdue’s Hudson Card is coming off a 323-yard sport in a loss to Syracuse and desires assist from the run sport.
IMPACT PLAYER
Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. can elbow his method into the Heisman Trophy dialog with one other huge outing in opposition to a Prime 25 opponent beneath the lights in prime time. He’s gone over 100 yards in receptions in three of his final 4 video games in opposition to the Prime 25, together with two straight. He caught six touchdowns in these 4 video games.
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AP faculty soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
