By: Ryan Moreland (@ryanmoreland)
In the mighty Big10, there is a changing of the guard that might be taking place, but the reigning champs have something to say about that.
Ohio State – The Insane Turnaround
Last season the Buckeyes went 2-6 and finished deadlast in the Big10. Now they are 4-0, are ranked #3, and look like one of the best teams in the country. AD Zach Davis made it a point to be aggressive in the offseason and it worked. The influx of talent has made Ohio State a premiere program in the league for the first time in a long time.
Ohio State can’t rest on their half-season performance now though. The Big10 is a tough conference and they still have their toughest tests in front of them (I can’t wait until the USC vs Ohio State game!). With that said, they look like a powerhouse and a team to fear come playoff time.
USC – The Champs Could Repeat
USC has started the season a perfect 4-0. While they have had an easier schedule than some of their conference foes, they have beaten a contender in Kentucky and a talented (albeit unlucky) Michigan team. The Trojans went with a new approach on offense this season, opting to mix in the run a lot more often, and it is working just fine.
The Trojans still have some tough tests coming up, most notably Ohio State and Michigan State. However, they have looked like a team on a mission to repeat as CFSL National Champions so far.
Penn State – Road Cats
The Nittany Lions are 2-2 right now. They have had two home games and two away games. They have lost both home games. Penn State has proven to be road warriors, however. They traveled to Florida to start the season and notched a win that really looks impressive now with Florida winning every game since. They also beat the Ducks in Eugene this week.
It will be interesting to see if this trend continues. Penn State is hoping it doesn’t, as they prepare to play Ohio State in Columbus next week. However, if they only win their away games they could sneak into the playoffs, where they’d likely only play away games. However, that likely isn’t the plan for AD TJ Smith and his coaches.
Michigan State – Second Season Success
These aren’t the same Spartans from last season. They have already doubled last season’s win total and have looked great (outside of Week 1) this season. They are 2-2 after a tough loss to Ohio State, but don’t let that fool you. Michigan State is a contender in the Big10 and is sure to make some noise down the stretch.
QB Cole Mantell has seen a lot of improvement over last season, with the influx of new weapons. The Spartans start the second half of the season off with USC. Mantell and company will need to play their best if they want to win over the reigning champs. However, they will have a realistic chance of pulling off the upset thanks to their major turnaround.
Michigan – Great Team, Horrible Luck
The Wolverines have had one of the toughest strength of schedules of any team in the CFSL. All four of their opponents are in the top 11 of the rankings. They have a combined record of 12-4. And Michigan has hung with all of them. They suffered their worst loss of the season in a 14-point loss to USC last week. That was a bigger spread than their first three games combined!
This is still a very talented team and Aaron Ike has proven himself to be a top-end AD. I am sure they will bounce back in the 2nd half of the season, but the schedule isn’t getting any easier. They still have to play Oregon, Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State. If they want a real shot at making the playoffs they will need to win at least three of those, perhaps all four.
Oregon – Ryan Ralosky Is a Dawg
Oregon’s star HB Ryan Raloksy picked up right where he left off last season. Ralosky has 455 yards (4th in the league) on 84 carries so far this season. He is averaging 5.4 yards per carry and refuses to go down on first contact often. The entire country knows #7 is going to get the ball and still defenses have struggled to slow him down.
The Ducks are not off to the start they had hoped for, but Raloksy has not been the issue. His big runs have helped them stay in games several times already this season. Time will tell if he can once again lead the CFSL in rushing.
