It’s time for another edition of “Spencer’s Sunday Thoughts” – a weekly column focused on college football headlines in Iowa, the Big Ten, Big 12 and beyond. Here’s what’s on my mind this week:
Writer’s note: this week’s column will be a little shorter, as I am on the road visiting family.
Kirk Ferentz is now the all-time winningest coach in Big Ten history, passing Woody Hayes with his 206th victory as head coach of the Hawkeyes. That is far and away the biggest headline from this game, as Iowa got the “get right” game it badly needed against an overmatched Minutemen squad.
The Hawkeyes came out firing in the pass game, scoring the game’s first touchdown on a three-play, 68-yard drive that took just 1:25 off the game clock. Mark Gronowski connected with Sam Phillips on a 45-yard pass on the second play of the game, then threw the first of two touchdown passes in the game to Seth Anderson to cap off the drive.
Gronowski finished 16-of-24 for 179 yards and those two scores, plus ran for another in the win. The pass game continues to show signs of improvement, but the receiving corps still has a case of the drops.
The Hawkeye defense held UMass to 119 total yards on the day, turning in another strong performance – only giving up a touchdown after the Minutemen blocked a punt in the second quarter.
The real star of the day was Williamsburg’s own Kaden Wetjen, who totaled 182 punt return yards – including a 95-yard runback for a touchdown early in the 3rd that sent the stadium into a frenzy. The play tied a Big Ten and an Iowa record, and is the longest punt return in Kinnick Stadium history. Wetjen also ran for a 20-yard touchdown in the first half, as he totaled 236 all-purpose yards on the evening.
Did Iowa work out enough of the kinks to be ready to start Big Ten play? Time will tell – and time is ticking faster with a short week, and the conference opener at Rutgers set for Friday night.
Iowa State 24, Arkansas State 16
People say an ugly win is better than a pretty loss, right? I think that applies to this game for the Cyclones.
Iowa State led 9-0, fell behind 10-9, then took the lead back just before halftime on a touchdown pass from Rocco Becht to Dominic Overby. Arkansas State had back-to-back touchdown plays called back by penalties in the third quarter and had to settle for a field goal. The Cyclones then got some separation on the following drive with a touchdown run by Abu Sama, and were able to hold off the Red Wolves the rest of the way.
This was not a clean game in any phase for the Cyclones, and I think maybe playing their fourth game in as many weeks in a place you’ve never played before in hot temperatures with a bye week on the horizon acting like an oasis in the desert caught up to Matt Campbell’s squad. That’s not to excuse poor play – but sometimes that’s reality. The reality right now is that Iowa State is the only 4-0 team in the country, and they get a week to rest up before conference play starts on the 27th against Arizona.
Big Ten Notes:
It was another “Blowout Week” for much of the conference, as the majority of the Big Ten got in one final non-conference game before league play gets started.
Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, and even Rutgers scored dominant victories on Saturday, while Indiana dispatched Indiana State by 73 on Friday night.
Oregon continued its dominant run in the Big Ten with a 20-point win at Northwestern’s lakefront stadium.
Unsurprisingly, Wisconsin struggled to move the football with a backup quarterback on the road at Alabama. Crimson Tide QB Ty Simpson completed 24 of 29 passes for 382 yards and four scores – while Ryan Williams continues to prove that he is HIM with five catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
Without a doubt, the worst performance of the week in the Big Ten goes to UCLA – who was dominated by New Mexico – yes NEW MEXICO – at the Rose Bowl 35-10. I said shortly after the loss that despite being an alum, this loss spelled the beginning of the end for Foster at UCLA. My suspicions were confirmed Sunday afternoon, after the school fired him 15 games into his tenure.
National Notes:
Georgia’s overtime win over Tennessee and Texas A&M’s one-point win over Notre Dame get my co-votes for best games of the weekend.
In Knoxville, the Vols led 21-7, saw Georgia score 20 unanswered points, then had to settle for overtime when kicker Max Gilbert missed the winning kick at the end of regulation. Gilbert drilled a 42-yarder on the first possession of OT, before the Bulldogs scored a touchdown to end the game.
In South Bend, the Irish led by 10 points twice in the first half but saw the Aggies score twice to take a 28-24 lead with 1:11 left before halftime. Marcel Reed threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Nate Boerkicher with 13 seconds left to help A&M get the win.
And for the third week in a row I ask, what are we gonna do with Clemson? It’s clear that the Tigers were overhyped to begin the season, and they proved it again with a loss at Georgia Tech. Tech kicker Aidan Birr drilled a 55-yard field goal as time expired to end a nine-game losing streak to the Tigers. Quarterback Haynes King threw for 211 yards and ran for 103 in the win for Georgia Tech. Clemson, meanwhile, falls to 0-2.
What stood out to you in week three? Send me an email – spencer@kgymradio.com or find me on social media to continue the conversation.
Spencer Wagen is the host of “Spencer on Sports”, weekdays from 4-6 PM on 1600 ESPN. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @SWOnTheRadio
