Tag: Big Ten

Dec 7, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) runs for a gain against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second quarter in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Dillon Gabriel leads No. 1 Oregon past No. 3 Penn State in Big Ten championship

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dillon Gabriel threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns Saturday night and No. 1 Oregon likely clinched the top seed for the College Football Playoff by beating No. 3 Penn State 45-37 in the Big Ten championship in Indianapolis.

Gabriel completed 22 of 32 passes for the 13-0 Ducks, connecting with Tez Johnson 11 times for 181 yards and a touchdown. Oregon is expected to earn a bye into the CFP quarterfinals on either Dec. 31 or Jan. 1 when the 12-team field is announced on Sunday.

The Ducks never trailed and answered every challenge from the Nittany Lions. When Penn State pulled within 38-30 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Kaytron Allen 43 seconds into the fourth quarter, Oregon responded with a nearly seven-minute drive, which was capped by Jordan James’ 3-yard run at the 7:28 mark.

Drew Allar completed 20 of 39 passes for 226 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for the Nittany Lions (11-2). Allen rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts in the loss. Nicholas Singleton added 105 rushing yards on 10 carries for Penn State, which will probably play a CFP first-round game at home on Dec. 20 or 21.

Allar brought Penn State within eight points on a 14-yard strike to Harrison Wallace III with 3:41 remaining. The Nittany Lions forced a three-and-out and got the ball back at their 37, but Nikko Reed intercepted Allar’s deep throw at the Ducks’ 16 with 1:54 left to seal the outcome.

The teams combined for 55 points in a first half dominated by offense. Gabriel found Kenyon Sadiq for touchdown passes of 28 and 2 yards on the Ducks’ first two possessions, while the Nittany Lions got a 33-yard field goal from Ryan Barker and a 22-yard scoring strike from Allar to Singleton.

Oregon made it 28-10 with two touchdowns in 2:59 early in the second quarter, but Allar threw for a score and ran for another as Penn State closed within 31-24 at the break.

–Field Level Media

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel leaps into the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter against Illinois.

Still-perfect No. 1 Oregon, No. 3 Penn State battle for Big Ten title

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oregon expected to be in Indianapolis on Saturday to play in its first Big Ten championship game after defeating Ohio State in October and crossing the finish line with an undefeated regular season.

Penn State lost to Ohio State and knew it would need help reaching the same destination.

Their paths intersect in primetime with not only the conference title on the line, but a coveted first-round bye in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The winner at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday won’t have to take the field for the opening weekend of the playoff Dec. 20-21.

The No. 3 Nittany Lions (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) got the break they needed when Michigan shocked the Buckeyes 13-10 on Saturday in a seismic upset.

A massive 20-point favorite, Ohio State stalled early and often to suffer a second conference loss that served to nudge Penn State into the championship game by virtue of a tiebreaker over one-loss Indiana. Ohio State missed out on more than a chance to avenge a 32-31 loss to the top-ranked Ducks (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten).

Oregon’s playoff bid will be its second in the College Football Playoff era, following a runner-up finish to Ohio State in 2014. In 2010 the Ducks lost to Auburn in the BCS national championship game. Last season, Oregon was No. 5 entering conference championship weekend. But the Ducks lost to Washington 34-31 in the Pac-12 championship game to miss out on a playoff spot. Oregon made six appearances in the title game with four wins since 2011.

While preparations took a hit because of National Signing Day on Wednesday, and some debate whether the top-ranked teams should earn a pass this weekend to allow at-large contenders from power conferences another opportunity, Oregon coach Dan Lanning told his team to embrace the stretch ahead.

“For us it’s an opportunity to compete for a championship in a league that’s one of the toughest in college football. You only get so many opportunities to play games,” said Lanning, who is 34-5 as Oregon head coach. “I value every one of those for our players. The chance to step out on the field and compete with their brothers, that’s a big positive. The timing of college football right now is a little chaotic with all the things that are happening this week, I don’t know if that’s the most convenient piece, but if you can adapt to the challenge, what an opportunity.”

Even if it might appear the Nittany Lions backed into the opportunity, Lanning is impressed with the job done by Penn State coach James Franklin.

“I think this team has its own unique identity and they do some different things that we haven’t seen so far this season,” Lanning said. “Obviously they play a physical brand of football. I think coach Franklin does an elite job in all three phases. They’re very detailed; I think that shows up.”

Franklin has taken heat for his record against top teams and Penn State is 1-1 against Top 25 teams in 2024. His coaching record — 1-12 against AP top 10 teams at Penn State and 1-15 overall as an FBS coach — fuels questions to Franklin directly about his ability to win spotlight games like this one.

He said after a 10th loss to Ohio State in 11 games against the Buckeyes he “owns it all” and vowed to sharply refocus for the remaining schedule. The 11th-year coach is now a win away from 100 at Penn State (99-40) and knows knocking off No. 1 Oregon would be an emphatic reply to a lot of doubts.

“Ninety-nine percent of the programs across college football would die to do what we’ve been able to do in our time here. But I also understand when you’re at a place like Penn State, there’s really, really high expectations. … I get it, I totally get it,” he said in November.

If there is one given Saturday, it’s likely to be elite defense.

Penn State is sixth nationally in scoring defense (14.0 points per game) and Oregon is No. 9 (16.2). The Nittany Lions are also fourth in total defense (266.8 yards per game) and Oregon seventh (283.8).

“I know they’ve obviously done a really good job of team defense,” Franklin said. “I know they’ve been disruptive up front. Coach Lanning has done a great job there. … Dan’s taking it to the next level, they’ve done a phenomenal job. It’s also a place with tremendous resources as well, and they’ve built that thing to compete at the highest level.”

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Quarterback of the Year on Tuesday, is No. 2 nationally in completion percentage (73.5), 10th in passing yards (3,275) and tied for 12th in total touchdowns (31), including 24 passing TDs.

Gabriel was at his best on Oct. 12 in Eugene, Ore., when the third-ranked Ducks downed No. 2 Ohio State 32-31. He was 23 of 34 for 341 yards and two touchdowns while running for 32 yards and a score.

He has plenty of help around him.

Running back Jordan James has 1,166 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns and his top target is wide receiver Tez Johnson, who is third in the Big Ten with nine touchdown receptions.

The Nittany Lions’ offense relies heavily on Tyler Warren. He set the Big Ten record for receptions by a tight end in a season with 81 and holds the school record for career TD catches by a tight end (17).

“He’s obviously an elite player, a matchup issue, and a complete tight end,” Lanning said. “I’m excited to hop in and dive into that plan and see how we can neutralize him.”

Penn State was ranked one spot ahead of Ohio State when the teams played in a No. 3 vs. No. 4 showdown in State College, Pa., on Nov. 2. Ohio State held off the Nittany Lions (20-13) in part because Penn State came away with no points in two first-and-goal situations.

Oregon is favored to win the championship in its first year in the Big Ten. According to the latest CFP rankings, if the Nittany Lions lose they are projected to host Arizona State or Iowa State of the Big 12 on Dec. 20 or 21.

Penn State is in its second Big Ten title game after winning it in 2016 and previously claimed conference championships in 1994, 2005 and 2008.

This is the fifth meeting between Oregon and Penn State and first since the 1995 Rose Bowl.

Penn State owns a 3-1 advantage in the series. In 1995, the Nittany Lions notched a 38-20 win to finish their own perfect (12-0) season. Ki-Jana Carter rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes fight following the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Michigan won 13-10.

Report: Michigan, Ohio State fined $100K each for postgame scuffle

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Michigan and Ohio State were reportedly fined $100,000 apiece by the Big Ten Conference on Sunday, resulting from the teams’ postgame brawl in Columbus, Ohio, the day before.

The conference doesn’t plan to suspend players, nor do the schools, according to a report from ESPN.

The melee ensued when Michigan players were preparing to plant their school flag at midfield after taking down heavily favored No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 with a last-minute field goal on Saturday. Buckeyes players raced from the south end zone, where they were singing their alma mater in front of the student section.

The Big Ten said in a statement that it “considers this matter concluded,” according to the report. The conference stated that the brawl not only violated “fundamental elements of sportsmanship,” but it “also jeopardized the safety of participants and bystanders.”

A statement from Ohio State called the fight, which lasted about five minutes, “unfortunate.”

“Good sportsmanship is always important in everything we do at Ohio State. Moving forward, we will continue to examine and address our post-game protocols to ensure our student-athletes, coaches, visiting teams and staff safely exit the field,” the school’s statement said.

The Buckeyes (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) won’t play in the Big Ten championship game and fell out of contention for a bye that is awarded to the four highest-ranked conference champions in the 12-team playoff.

Despite likely dropping in the next College Football Playoff rankings, Ohio State should still receive an at-large bid in the final bracket reveal on Dec. 8.

The Wolverines (7-5, 5-4), who beat Ohio State for the fourth straight time, await a bowl game bid.

–Field Level media

Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti has the Hoosiers (10-0) in the Big Ten and college football spotlight with Ohio State up next.

Hoosier Hysteria: Out-of-nowhere Indiana basking in spotlight

Posted on | by Field Level Media

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The college football world has spent the last couple of months trying to tell Curt Cignetti how to think.

“You can’t win at Indiana University.”

“The Hoosiers can’t be highly ranked in the college football polls.”

“IU can’t have a spot in the College Football Playoffs.”

“IU-Ohio State is the biggest game the Hoosiers have played since 1967… maybe ever.”

The Hoosiers’ head coach isn’t listening. In fact, he’s not all that interested in what you think.

It isn’t that he doesn’t hear the outside noise. It would be difficult not to, what with ESPN’s College GameDay and Fox Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff consistently buzzing around. Unparalleled success comes with national attention, and the Hoosiers are among the biggest stories of the 2024 college football season.

After nearly 140 years of frustration, the program that has lost more games in its history than any other finds itself in the white-hot spotlight vs. the No. 2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus with a chance to silence all of its critics. Big Ten title hopes lie in the balance.

A big game? Cignetti isn’t having it.

“It’s a big game because it’s the next game,” Cignetti says. “We treat them all alike. If there were a better way to prepare for a certain team, we’d do that for every team.”

It’s coach-speak, but it’s also clear that Cignetti truly believes it.

His success not just at IU but at previous stops at James Madison and Elon has convinced him that his way of preparing for opponents and instilling belief in his players is the right way.

“It’s pretty simple,” Cignetti famously said after being hired at IU. “I win. Google me.”

Belief has been the bedrock of the Hoosiers’ historic season, from the belief the coaches have in one another to the belief the players have in their coaches and each other. Belief isn’t difficult to come by when the head man has delivered on everything he promised since Day One.

And the IU administration is buying into the belief, too. With multiple sellouts of Memorial Stadium this year and the promise of a lot more in the future, IU Athletics Director Scott Dolson made sure nobody was going to poach his head coach by using the bye week to sign Cignetti to an eight-year contract extension worth upwards of $72 million.

Even when his team wasn’t playing, Cignetti managed to win the weekend.

It’s the best of times for IU football, and it will never be better.

There were no expectations on the Hoosiers coming into this season, and nobody in their wildest dreams believed IU would be undefeated and ranked in the top five in the country come the final weeks of the regular season. For a program that consistently searches for just six wins in a season to reach an elusive bowl, one that won a total of nine games in the last three years, every game at this point is playing with house money.

Nobody can be disappointed with anything that happens from here on out because nobody expected to be here.

Consider IU never won more than nine games in a season until this season. The Hoosiers could lose every game the rest of the year and it would be the most successful season in their history.

In the future, there will be expectations.

IU fans have felt the warmth of success, and they’ll crave it with every fiber of their being. Disappointment and heartache are always a possibility. It has happened before.

But that’s in the future. Cignetti has completely changed the narrative for IU football, which is now playing big-boy football for the first time in its history.

There is the contract extension and the dream of renovations at 65-year-old Memorial Stadium. You need more room for more fans. Cignetti has allowed long-suffering Hoosier fans to dream of becoming a football power, and he’s certain this year isn’t a fluke. It’s just the beginning.

And you better believe it.

–Ken Bikoff, Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans players fight after the game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Big Ten: No disicipline for Spartans-Wolverines fight

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Big Ten will not take any further action against participants in Saturday’s postgame fight involving players from Michigan State and Michigan.

The conference announced Tuesday that its thorough review of the video evidence from the incident in Ann Arbor was “inconclusive.”

“Amidst the confrontation, student-athletes from both teams were on the ground and surrounded by so many individuals that both players were completely obscured from view,” the Big Ten said in a statement. “The video review was inconclusive as to whether individual discipline was appropriate for anyone in the immediate vicinity of the two players who were on the ground.

“While the confrontation was a disappointing conclusion to the contest, the Conference appreciates the efforts made by staff from both teams, security personnel, and game officials to rapidly de-escalate the incident, as well as the responses by both head coaches. The Big Ten discussed the situation with both institutions and determined that no further action will be taken.”

In the final moments of Michigan’s 24-17 victory, Spartans defensive lineman Anthony Jones and Wolverines tight end Colston Loveland began to scuffle, and both teams left the sidelines as the clock ticked down.

Loveland was seen headbutting Jones with his helmet on, and later in the fracas, Michigan running Kalel Mullings appeared to be stomping on a player at the bottom of a pile.

The Big Ten’s decision to drop the investigation means that both programs can focus on big games this Saturday.

Defending national champion Michigan (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) plays host to No. 1 Oregon (8-0, 5-0). Michigan State (4-4, 2-3) takes on No. 13 Indiana (8-0, 5-0) in East Lansing, Mich.

–Field Level Media

QB Colt McCoy spins a football during training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 31, 2023.

QB Colt McCoy retires, joins NBC’s Big Ten coverage

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Journeyman quarterback Colt McCoy is retiring and moving into the broadcast booth, joining NBC Sports for Big Ten coverage this season.

McCoy will make his debut as an analyst when Colorado plays at Nebraska on Sept. 7.

“College Football has always held a special place in my heart. With the expansion of the Big Ten and new era of College Football, it is the perfect time to join NBC Sports,” he said in a news release Monday. “I can’t wait to share in the passion, excitement, and competitive spirit every week!”

McCoy, 37, appeared in 56 NFL games (36 starts) over parts of 12 seasons with five franchises. He passed for 7,975 yards with 34 touchdowns and 32 interceptions while compiling an 11-25 record with the Cleveland Browns (2010-12), San Francisco 49ers (2013), Washington (2014-15, 2017-19), the New York Giants (2020) and Arizona Cardinals (2021-22).

McCoy was released by the Cardinals during the 2023 preseason.

“Thank you football,” McCoy posted Monday on X. “Excited for the next chapter.”

He was a third-round selection by Cleveland in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Texas, where he was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist. He left the Longhorns as the winningest quarterback in NCAA Division I history with 45 victories from 2006-09.

“In a standout career at Texas, Colt McCoy starred in many of college football’s biggest games and fiercest rivalries,” NBC Sports executive producer and president Sam Flood said. “What a way to kick it off with Colorado-Nebraska!”

McCoy, who will also appear on the “Big Ten College Countdown” studio show, will be working with play-by-play announcer Paul Burmeister and sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen.

–Field Level Media

The SEC logo in the hallway at the Hilton Sandestin in Destin, Fla. on Tuesday May 31, 2022 at the annual SEC spring meetings.

Report: Power 5, NCAA reach historic agreement to pay players

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The SEC and Pac-12 joined the three other power conferences – the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 – and the NCAA in agreeing on a multi-billion-dollar settlement that would allow schools to directly pay student-athletes for the first time in NCAA history, ESPN reported on Thursday.

“The five autonomy conferences and the NCAA agreeing to settlement terms is an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come,” NCAA president Charlie Baker and the five power conference commissioners said in a joint statement Thursday evening.

With the NCAA’s board agreeing to the terms of the settlement — which would also resolve three federal antitrust cases — former college athletes are one step closer to getting over $2.7 billion in back damages over the next decade because of previous restrictions on name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.

Future athletes also would benefit, as the Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten — three of the defendants in the case — are hoping to put a system in place that would give schools the power to pay them about $20 million per year in permissive revenue sharing.

Such payments wouldn’t start until fall of 2025.

The ACC and Big 12 accepted the terms of the settlement on Tuesday. The Big Ten joined in on Wednesday.

Per the terms of the agreement, athletes won’t be able to sue the NCAA in future antitrust lawsuits and must drop their complaints in three current lawsuits: Carter v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and House v. NCAA.

Former Colorado football player Alex Fontenot’s lawsuit against the NCAA is not included in this pending settlement. Fontenot’s suit is regarding how the NCAA shares TV revenues with players.

The settlement is not yet official as it requires the approval of U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, who is presiding over the three antitrust cases. Also, if players choose to join Fontenot’s lawsuit, the settlement agreed on by the NCAA and Power 5 could be rendered null and void.

–Field Level Media

Nov 11, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; A detailed view of the SEC logo on a chain marker during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Report: NCAA agrees to settlement in House v. NCAA

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former college athletes are due for a payday after the NCAA Board of Governors voted to agree to settle House v. NCAA and other antitrust cases related to it, ESPN reported Wednesday.

With the NCAA’s board agreeing to the terms of the settlement, former college athletes are one step closer to getting over $2.7 billion in back damages over the next decade because of previous restrictions on Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals.

Future athletes would also benefit, as the Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten — three of the defendants in the case — are hoping to put a system in place that would give schools the power to pay them about $20 million per year in permissive revenue sharing.

Such payments wouldn’t start until fall of 2025.

The ACC and Big 12 had already accepted the terms of the settlement, doing so on Tuesday. The Big Ten joined in on Wednesday, and now the Southeastern Conference and Pac-12 just need to submit their approval.

Both the SEC and Pac-12 are expected to approve the terms later this week, per ESPN’s report.

It is expected that a settlement will officially be reached, and if that were the case, the schools and the NCAA would avoid going to court, where they could have had to pay over $4 billion in damages if they lost.

Per ESPN’s report, the plaintiffs in the case could also dismiss two other antitrust cases against the NCAA that are currently pending and could possibly add billions of dollars in damages to the association’s plate.

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmet during Pac-12 Media Day at Novo Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA to pay Cal $10M per year for Big Ten departure

Posted on | by Field Level Media

UCLA’s windfall for moving to the Big Ten Conference during the next academic year just got a little bit smaller, as a University of California board of regents panel approved a plan where Cal will be paid $10 million a year from its athletic rival for at least the next three years.

Both schools are members of California’s ten-school UC system, with Cal objecting to UCLA’s move to the Big Ten, saying it would be hurt financially through the dissolution of the Pac-12 Conference.

The $10 million payments, which will run through at least the 2026-27 school year, will help Cal offset losses from media rights. The board is expected to review the payment plan after three years.

According to reports, UCLA will be paid $60 million per year in the Big Ten. Cal reportedly will be paid $11 million per year over its first seven years in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Not long after UCLA and Southern California elected to move out of the Pac-12, Colorado departed for the Big 12, followed by Arizona, Arizona State and Utah, who also went to the Big 12. Cal and Stanford ultimately left for the ACC.

In a separate move, Oregon and Washington also agreed to join the Big Ten.

Only two schools remained in the Pac-12 — Oregon State and Washington State — when the exodus was complete. The Pac-12 will not be in operation for the foreseeable future, with Oregon State and Washington State to be paid a combined $65 million from the 10 departing schools.

–Field Level Media

Alabama running back Justice Haynes (22) runs against Michigan defensive end Braiden McGregor (17) during the second half of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

Big Ten, SEC form joint advisory group

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Amid a shifting landscape in college athletics, the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences announced Friday they have formed a joint advisory group “to address the significant challenges” in college sports and for student-athletes today.

The group will be made up of university presidents, chancellors and athletic directors, who will look at issues such as pending litigation and recent court decisions, differing state laws and proposals for governing college sports.

“The Big Ten and the SEC have substantial investment in the NCAA and there is no question that the voices of our two conferences are integral to governance and other reform efforts,” said Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti in a statement. “We recognize the similarity in our circumstances, as well as the urgency to address the common challenges we face.”

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey agreed.

“There are similar cultural and social impacts on our student-athletes, our institutions, and our communities because of the new collegiate athletics environment,” he said. “We do not have predetermined answers to the myriad questions facing us. We do not expect to agree on everything but enhancing interaction between our conferences will help to focus efforts on common sense solutions.”

The conferences did not announce when their work would begin and said its composition has yet to be decided.

The Big Ten and the SEC have driven some of the most significant changes with their expansion. This fall, the Big Ten will grow to 18 teams with the addition of Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington. The SEC, which is adding Texas and Oklahoma, will have 16 teams.

–Field Level Media