Penn State is 0-5 for the first time. Northwestern is 5-0 for the first time since 2015. The Big Ten schools reached different plateaus for their programs.
A wow stat from @ESPNStatsInfo: Penn State just became the first ever team to be ranked in the preseason Top 10 of the AP poll to begin a season 0-5.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 22, 2020
On the positive side, the Wildcats have a lot to boast about after forcing Wisconsin into a handful of turnovers in a 17-7 victory that was a de facto Big Ten West championship game. Northwestern should be favored in its last three contests — at Michigan State and Minnesota, against Illinois — and could be on its way to a spot in the Big Ten Conference Championship against Ohio State.
The last time Northwestern defeated an AP Top-10 opponent by 10+ points was in 1959 vs No. 2 Oklahoma (won by 32).
The last time Northwestern held an AP Top-10 opponent to 7 points or fewer was 1967 against Miami (also 7 points). pic.twitter.com/qbSbCA2kpF
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 22, 2020
There was an impressive effort in a losing cause for Indiana QB Michael Penix Jr., who became the third player to throw for 400 passing yards and five TDs against Ohio State.
Despite the loss, Indiana's Michael Penix Jr. becomes only the 3rd player all-time with 400 Pass yds and 5 TDs in a game against the Buckeyes.
He joins Minnesota's Mike Hohensee (1981) and Illinois' Dave Wilson (1980). Hohensee is the only one in this trio to win the game. pic.twitter.com/uzFUVpVOGr
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 21, 2020
The Buckeyes made history of their own.
Ohio State won their 18th straight game vs AP-ranked Big Ten teams, the longest such streak against conference opponents in the AP Poll era (since 1936).
It was also their 26th straight win vs Indiana, the longest winning streak against a single opponent in Big Ten history. pic.twitter.com/3wwCRujask
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 21, 2020
