Big Ten takes, picks: Penn State replacing offensive coordinator won’t cure its Ohio State-Michigan problem

The fanatics in Beaver Stadium demanded a head on a pike. On Sunday, they won one.

Penn State fired offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich after some other disappointing efficiency from the Penn State offense in opposition to probably the most two groups this system hasn’t been in a position to overcome lately. After having a look hapless and useless in a loss in opposition to Ohio State a couple of weeks in the past, the gang did not glance significantly better at house in opposition to the Wolverines. Somebody needed to move.

This places James Franklin within the all-too-familiar place of attempting to find a brand new offensive coordinator. Franklin introduced John Donovan with him from Vanderbilt when he arrived in 2014. Now in his tenth season, Franklin is at the hunt for his 6th offensive coordinator in Happy Valley. However, that quantity merits extra context.

I tweeted this factoid on Sunday after the Yurcich transfer used to be introduced. It produced a slew of responses implying that Franklin used to be the typical denominator thru all of the ones play-callers. Which, neatly, duh, that is most often the way it works. The problem is that this line of pondering means that Franklin helps to keep firing guys as a result of it’s not figuring out, and that’s the reason now not the case.

Joe Moorhead left after two very a hit seasons to turn out to be trainer at Mississippi State. He used to be changed by way of Ricky Rahne, a member of Franklin’s Penn State group of workers from the soar. He additionally left after two seasons for a head training process at Old Dominion. While John Donovan’s first two years had been an inarguable failure, Franklin changed him with two consecutive a hit offensive coordinators. After Rahne left, Penn State and Franklin sought after to rent Yurcich however misplaced out to Tom Herman and the Texas Longhorns. Then Herman used to be fired, and Yurcich used to be again available on the market. Franklin and Penn State moved on from Kirk Ciarrocca — which wasn’t a hard determination after a difficult, extraordinary 2020 — after one season to get the man they sought after within the first position.

Yurcich’s tenure at Penn State used to be the longest of any Franklin offensive coordinator since taking the process. As you’ll see within the desk under, statistically, the drop off from Rahne’s tenure to Yurcich’s wasn’t dramatic.

*sadly I do not need get admission to to this information previous to the 2016 season

What used to be dramatic? Penn State went 0-6 in opposition to Ohio State and Michigan beneath Yurcich, which begs a well-known query: Does Penn State have an offensive play-calling problem or a Michigan and Ohio State problem?

It undoubtedly seems like Penn State persistently hanging 3rd in the back of its number one competitors within the Big Ten is the larger problem. I have no idea who Penn State can rent that can be sufficient to resolve the problem on his personal. Even despite the fact that Moorhead’s numbers in opposition to Ohio State and Michigan had been robust, it can be crucial to bear in mind the Michigan workforce Moorhead used to be dealing with used to be now not on the stage of the Wolverines program Yurcich failed to overcome. Michigan went 18-8 right through Moorhead’s tenure at Penn State, whilst it is 35-3 right through Yurcich’s time.

The excellent news is Penn State is Penn State. It has the monetary way to trap a stupendous, certified candidate. The dangerous news is a brand new offensive coordinator, regardless of who it’s, won’t make Ohio State and Michigan worse soccer groups.

Does Northwestern have its trainer?

David Braun stepped into an inconceivable state of affairs. He become the top trainer of a Northwestern program amid mutiny, almost by way of default. Northwestern by no means sought after to fireside Pat Fitzgerald sooner than it needed to, and when searching for an meantime trainer beneath whom to punt the 2023 season, it grew to become to Braun as a result of he used to be new. He wasn’t there for any of the alleged hazing that resulted in Fitzgerald’s downfall, having simply arrived from North Dakota State to be the brand new defensive coordinator.

Next factor you recognize, Braun is in control of a locker room stuffed with gamers and coaches disenchanted about Fitzgerald being fired. A locker room that, according to preseason win totals, is stuffed with a bunch anticipated to win 3 or 4 video games and end final within the Big Ten West.

Fast ahead to these days, and Northwestern is 5-5. It’s gained extra video games general and within the Big Ten (3) this season beneath Braun than the final two seasons beneath Fitzgerald (4 overall, two convention). In quick, Braun has executed a stupendous process rallying an offended bunch right into a workforce able to profitable soccer video games. The Wildcats best want a win over 3-7 Purdue or 5-5 Illinois to head bowling.

Naturally, persons are questioning if Braun must have the meantime tag got rid of from his identify. It’s a type of selections that is tricky for each and every college when the meantime trainer exceeds expectancies as a result of there are such a large amount of components in play of which you’ll’t make certain. The greatest one being what occurs when the season ends and its emotion all fades away? It’s necessary to bear in mind, on this case, that a large number of the coaches who’re nonetheless on group of workers were not pleased with Fitzgerald’s dismissal. Will all of them stick round, or will they search for paintings somewhere else?

Also, whilst I’m now not the most productive individual to invite about training rumors; I’ve heard from more than one assets that Northwestern has been kicking the tires on conceivable applicants all yr and nonetheless is. While Braun has dramatically greater his possibilities of maintaining the process and may just reinforce them extra with a bowl sport, Northwestern will let the method play out.

A explanation why for hope in Bloomington

There can be no satisfied finishing for the Indiana Hoosiers in 2023. After beating Wisconsin 20-14 to stay their bowl hopes alive, Hoosiers fanatics had been in a position to take a look at Indiana’s winnable ultimate 3 video games of the season in opposition to Illinois, Michigan State and Purdue and persuade themselves there used to be a possibility at a bowl sport this yr. Those hopes, narrow as they had been, went away following a 48-45 heartbreaker in opposition to the Illini.

As the Hoosiers have as soon as once more struggled within the Big Ten this yr, I’ve heard from many Indiana fanatics who lament the huge buyout hooked up to Tom Allen’s contract. It will most probably stay the workforce from making a training exchange this iciness. While I empathize with the ones fanatics and their needs, I’ve a query I’d like to invite them …

What if Indiana has already made the training exchange it wanted?

Following Indiana’s 44-17 loss at Maryland on Sept. 30, Allen fired offensive coordinator Walt Bell. Indiana is best 1-4 in 5 video games since, however it is a a lot more aggressive workforce. That’s since the offense has taken a step ahead.

*price of offensive possessions to achieve the pink zone

The growth in the ones numbers is obvious, however what makes them much more spectacular is that two of latest offensive coordinator Rod Carey’s video games were in opposition to Michigan and Penn State. Indiana scored first in opposition to Michigan and not had a prayer from there, however had a sound shot to tug off an disenchanted over Penn State at Beaver Stadium. They took down the Badgers and had been a play or two clear of beating Illinois.

I’m now not going to mention Indiana fanatics must get ready for an enormous 2024 or the rest, however there appears to be room for optimism that subsequent season may provide a couple of extra stress-free Saturdays.

Gut reads of the week

Every week I select each and every Big Ten sport in opposition to the unfold according to not anything however my intestine response to the quantity. No digging into numbers, simply vibes, child. I even observe my file to embarrass myself publicly. Odds by means of SportsLine consensus.

Michigan at Maryland: This is a difficult spot for Michigan. First of all, there is the whole lot happening off the sector with Jim Harbaugh’s suspension and the likelihood he won’t have the ability to trainer this sport. No topic what you recall to mind the placement, you’ll’t argue the Wolverines have not executed an incredible process the use of it as a rallying level. Still, the Wolverines are coming off an emotional win at Penn State final week and feature Ohio State looming subsequent week. They undoubtedly would not be the primary workforce to get stuck slipping in a sandwich spot. Not sufficient to undergo a loss, however sufficient to let Maryland hang out a little bit longer than it must. Pick: Maryland +19

• Rutgers at Penn State — Rutgers +20.5
• Michigan State at Indiana — Indiana -4.5
• Purdue at Northwestern — Purdue +1.5
• Illinois at Iowa — Illinois +3
• Minnesota at Ohio State — Ohio State -27.5
• Nebraska at Wisconsin — Wisconsin -6

Last Week: 4-3
OveraLOL: 22-27-1