B1G News and Notes
Some news and notes from the B1G these past couple days that haven't been mentioned with all the Urban stuff but is pretty relevant.
- Indiana named RS SO QB Peyton Ramsey as their starter. Ramsey played 9 games last year, starting 4 including their game against Michigan throwing for 1252 yards, 10 TDs and 5 INTs on 65.4% completion and 6.11 YPA. He took over for Richard Lagow last year mid-season but didn't play in the last 4 games. He was 20/41 for 178 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs against Michigan. He beat out Arizona grad transfer Brandon Dawkins. (link)
- Indiana also suspended starting RB Morgan Ellison indefinitely. Ellison rushed for 704 yards and 6 TDs on 142 attempts as a freshman last year and was IU's leading returning rusher. (link)
- Rutgers named true freshman Artur Sitkowski as their starting QB. Sitkowski was a 3 star out of NJ who went to IMG Academy and originally committed to Miami (YTM). Sitkowski was benched midway through last year at IMG in favor of Zack Annexstad, who walked-on at Minnesota and will be starting there. That means 2 true freshmen QBs out of IMG will be starting openers in the B1G this year. (link)
- Nebraska JR RB Tre Bryant medically retired. Bryant rushed for 299 yards and 2 TDs on 51 carries in the first two games last year before missing the rest of the year. (link)
August 24th, 2018 at 3:03 PM ^
Honestly I think Rutgers has a chance to become non-embarrassing. This year will be rough with a true freshman QB, but if he can be any good and they can continue to develop their players, they can exit the basement.
The ceiling is still really low over there, but I would be happy to see Rutgers actually occasionally get to bowl eligibility. As long as we continue to destroy them.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:10 PM ^
I can see them going 3-9 with that schedule.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:14 PM ^
Texas St., Kansas, Buffalo, Indiana, Maryland and Illinois are all very winnable games. If everything breaks right for Rutgers this year they could be in a bowl. Their defense should be good.
Then again they could go 1-11. It's Rutgers.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
#CannonInTheD
August 24th, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^
They were pasted by Indy last year 41-0. I don't see Rutgers turning around the ship fast enough to overcome that. Maryland was down to their 4 string QB last year and only lost by a TD. I see the Maryland game more difficult this year if they can maintain consistency after Durkin is let go and Pigrome and Hill stay healthy. I don't think Rutgers wins any of their last 6 games. With a loss to OSU and dropping a laugher as well (aka Eastern Michigan last year) to non conference play, I see 5 wins max
August 24th, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^
They may score 4 points the entire season.
August 24th, 2018 at 8:29 PM ^
I don't see Rutgers beating Buffalo. Buffalo has a stud QB and WR in Tyree Jackson and Anthony Johnson. Anthony Johnson is seen as a potential top WR propsect in the draft and Tyree Jackson could rise up into becoming a 1st round pick. Tyree Jackson is a Muskegon native, hailing from Mona Shore HS, and he is a legit NFL prospect. He's 6'7" and can run 4.5 with a cannon arm.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:15 PM ^
Quite possible. I guess I should clarify that I don't necessarily think bowl eligibility is on the table this year, but that it's possible in the near future with coach Ash.
It's a tough road in the East any way you look at it.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:47 PM ^
Me too. Looking at the schedule I think they'll go 4-8 which, recalling two years ago, is not that bad.
Vegas has Rutgers O/U at 4 wins. If I HAD to bet I'd lean the over, then hope they win any 5 of their first 7(!!!) vs Texas State, Buffalo, Indiana, Illinois, and then at Kansas or Maryland.
(My mind just exploded from the thought of Rutgers starting the season 5-1. Excuse me while I pick skull shrapnel).
But that's it. There's not a chance in hell they're winning any of the last 5 games of their season.
August 24th, 2018 at 8:38 PM ^
So if Rutgers starts 5-1 do they get a single vote in either poll? And how many articles does the NJ media write about why they deserve to be ranked?
August 24th, 2018 at 3:12 PM ^
I agree that they are trending up, but getting out of the basement means passing someone which seems hard to imagine. Maybe Maryland given the off season events there.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:15 PM ^
I thought Maryland had a chance to become pretty legit, but then Durkin through that out the window.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^
Yep, I felt only one of RU or MD could become decent and MD started with better talent, was recruiting better, and had the better head coach. With the current issues at MD and the current recruiting class already well behind the curve, RU has a good shot to win that fight. Coupled with IUs decline after Wilson was fired and Rutgers could even end up as 3rd worst in the division.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:54 PM ^
I agree. They looked really good at Texas last year (Texas wasn't great, but that was still a tough road game and we at Michigan know how hard that can be) and their season crumbled due to injuries rather than dysfunction.
But Durkin is poison now.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
Don’t get too excited. Rutgers currently have 8 players facing at least some suspension (or jail) in a credit card fraud case that seems to be last year’s FL scandal but with less plausible deniability.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:13 PM ^
All I know is I'm rooting like crazy for them to beat OSU.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:22 PM ^
I think Rutgers has some guys suspended on credit card fraud, so... Any way you slice it, they will be in contention for 14th place in the Big 10 this year.
Speaking of 14th place, there really is no legitimate reason for Illinois to be as bad as they have been for such a long time. They could at least be middle of the pack or whatever.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:03 PM ^
On a more national level (but actually relevant because of the conference game), this is a really kind of depressing Week 0 and Thursday lineup. I will watch NW at Purdue because football, but usually there is a marginally better game on nationally on that Thursday.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^
Eh I think you're overblowing the Thursday slate the last few years. 2015 wasn't bad but last year and 2016 left a lot to be desired. OSU vs Indiana was the highest profile game and that ended up as a blowout. At least Northwestern and Purdue should be a close game.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:13 PM ^
Thursday night took a bit of a step back when the NFL moved a regular game to that slot. There are still some decent games, and the season opener is usually worth watching (the NFL always starts later), but the big stuff doesn't happen on Thursdays anymore.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:19 PM ^
I took his comment to be only about the week 0/1 Thursday matchups before the NFL starts and not necessarily the mid-season ones. I do agree with you otherwise.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:03 PM ^
Ya know, I really feel bad for that Rutgers true freshman QB already playing against our DL. Luckily for him, the starters will probably be in there for 1 quarter.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:07 PM ^
Wait. Are they "striping the birthplace" this year? We may be in trouble if they are.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:21 PM ^
It'd be funny if they had 200 recruits show up again and Michigan pulled some of them because of it.
But I think they wised up to that and won't do it anymore.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:44 PM ^
Had he signed with Michigan (which at one point seemed like a possibility) he would have been going against that DL everyday. At least now it is only once!
August 24th, 2018 at 3:21 PM ^
The PJ Fleck era is gonna have a tough time getting off the ground in year 2.
Rutgers and Minny running out true freshman unheralded QBs is going to be rough
Glad to finally have our QB situation with experienced depth and talent...been a while.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:22 PM ^
It's year 1...last year was year 0
August 24th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
Maybe a September stumble for OSU? Getting to start the season vs the weakest teams in the B1G and Pac-12 is pretty nice but on the road at TCU and again away at PSU to end the month?
I'm sure the liar who runs that program is still pulling the strings during this suspension but it's not so crazy to think they could have 2 losses by the end of next month...
August 24th, 2018 at 5:03 PM ^
Three IMG grads starting as Big 10 QBs then?
August 24th, 2018 at 5:14 PM ^
Don't think this is worthy of a new thread, but worth adding here - Indiana suspended their top returning RB indefinitely, no explanation as to why yet.
August 24th, 2018 at 5:48 PM ^
Thanks for posting this. I think many of us avoid sports TV / espn/si.com etc.
August 24th, 2018 at 6:33 PM ^
Indiana appears to have a solid roster that might be able to make some noise but for the fact that they play in what is arguably the toughest conference/division in the NCAA.
I am hoping that Indiana will pin a fourth loss on PSU but then that would put more shine on the MSU game and less on the PSU game which is okay as long as we win them all.