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Can one staff be each a winner and a loser on the identical time?
Michigan put that principle to the take a look at this weekend.
The Wolverines are featured prominently on this listing after their helter-skelter, 48-42 victory over Rutgers in three overtimes.
Under, we additionally check out the remainder of the convention’s winners and losers:
Winners: Cade McNamara
After he steered Michigan to a 17-point comeback and willed his staff to victory, Cade McNamara was requested if Jim Harbaugh ought to set up him because the Wolverines’ No. 1 quarterback.
[ Harbaugh’s comments after close win shows how far Michigan has fallen ]
“Personally, I really feel like I’ve performed sufficient for me to be put in that place,” McNamara mentioned. “That’s coach Harbaugh’s resolution and no matter’s finest for the staff, however from a private degree, I really feel like I’m assured sufficient in myself that, if my quantity’s referred to as once more then, I can carry out the identical method.”
That it’s even a query is an indictment on Michigan’s workers. (Extra on that later.) McNamara far exceeded what Joe Milton has performed previously three video games. In opposition to the Scarlet Knights, he accomplished 75% of his 36 move makes an attempt for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns. He added a dashing rating. With McNamara in management the Wolverines performed a extra impressed, competent model of soccer that even carried over to the protection.
The constructive impact he created opened up operating lanes for Hassan Haskins and created a rhythm within the passing sport that was nonexistent with Milton behind heart.
McNamara ought to carry Michigan ahead, and there shouldn’t be any questions on that.
Pat Fitzgerald
Northwestern is No. 48 in 247Sports’ staff expertise composite rankings, which charges the roster high quality of every FBS program. But the Wildcats are the one Large Ten staff not named Ohio State to have an actual shot on the School Soccer Playoff this season.
Northwestern preserved its unblemished document with a victory over Wisconsin in an old school rock battle Saturday.
And for the second time in three seasons, Fitzgerald has his staff in line to signify the West division in Indianapolis subsequent month.
If it weren’t universally recognized the previous Northwestern star linebacker loves his alma mater a lot, universities across the nation would attempt to snatch Fitzgerald away.
He has proven he can constantly win extra with much less and comply with unhealthy seasons with good ones. As a rule, he finds a method, regardless of the expertise drawback he faces every year.
[Grading Michigan’s win: Rising offense let down by defense, kicking ]
Greg Schiano
Schiano ought to have absorbed each second of the scene that adopted the conclusion of a 48-42 triple-overtime loss to Michigan. He ought to have relished seeing Michigan’s gamers and coaches rejoicing as if that they had vanquished a rival, as a substitute of a perennial doormat earlier than he arrived for his second act in Piscataway. He ought to have been soothed that the Scarlet Knights, of their first yr with Schiano again within the fold, may draw such a response, as a substitute of the apathy they as soon as elicited.
It means Rutgers is forward of schedule in its rebuild and can be aggressive within the Large Ten East before imagined. For stretches Saturday, Rutgers regarded higher than Michigan and nothing just like the staff that misplaced, 52-0, to the Wolverines final season. The Scarlet Knights are not a joke. As a substitute, many had been laughing at Michigan for celebrating the conquest of a staff that had been disregarded for thus lengthy.
[ Haskins cements status as No. 1 RB ]
Losers: Michigan’s Coaches
Harbaugh and his assistants have a whole lot of explaining to do. The choices they’ve revamped the course of the final 5 weeks might have value the Wolverines victories. They could even have broken their very own long-term prospects at Michigan with their stubbornness, myopia or a poisonous mixture of each.
After the shut victory over Rutgers, so many questions bubbled to the floor. How was Joe Milton chosen over Cade McNamara because the staff’s beginning quarterback? How was Hassan Haskins not recognized because the lead operating again? Why does this staff count on completely different outcomes when it tries the identical maneuvers after they’ve failed?
One thing is amiss with Michigan’s workers. They’re supposed to place their gamers in positions to succeed. However over the course of the season, they’ve jeopardized their alternatives to thrive. Positive, Michigan received on Saturday. However they did so regardless of Harbaugh and his assistants.
Nebraska
The Cornhuskers have reserved a spot on this area — discovering a approach to sink decrease when most assumed they already bottomed out.
The most recent calamity occurred Saturday, when Illinois — Illinois! — pummeled them, 41-23, in Lincoln. After the sport, Nebraska coach Scott Frost mentioned he was “embarrassed” by the efficiency.
He ought to be.
Since returning to his alma mater in December 2017, the Cornhuskers are 10-18. Even with a star from its previous on the helm, there are few indicators of life with a program that has flatlined within the twenty first century and has reworked into the soccer equal of Puyi, the final emperor of China who had been decreased to a commoner.
James Franklin
Franklin has develop into Penn State’s model of the “The way it began…How’s it going” meme.
The Nittany Lions had been ranked No. 8 heading into the season and now are 0-5 for the primary time in this system’s 134-year historical past.
Issues went south actual quick after his poor clock administration within the opener towards Indiana led to an additional time loss.
What the heck occurred right here?
Effectively, for one, Penn State was by no means at full power. Star linebacker Micah Parsons opted out earlier than the season and operating again Journey Brown was compelled to retire due to a coronary heart situation. Besides, Franklin hasn’t been in a position to overcome these losses. The quarterback play has been poor. And the protection has been subpar.
Together with his household elsewhere whereas he stays in State School, Franklin has struggled to deal with his private scenario. Possibly that explains why the Nittany Lions have cratered on his watch. However there isn’t any doubt his status has taken successful as Penn State has plummeted to the underside of the Large Ten.
BIG TEN MISERY INDEX: Michigan, MSU should be glad for basketball season
Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com. Comply with him on Twitter @RainerSabin. Learn extra on the Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans and join our Large Ten e-newsletter.
This text initially appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan soccer’s backup QB received, however its coaches misplaced in Large Ten’s Week 5 motion
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