Royster became PSU's all-time leading rusher last week.

Northwestern (6-2, 2-2) at Penn State (5-3, 2-2), Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT

Fans around University Park are ready to celebrate Joe Paterno’s 400th victory, but before anyone can pop champagne the Nittany Lions must take care of a Wildcats team that is 4–0 on the road this season. Another note to add: Three of those four wins came by three or fewer points. Northwestern continues to rely heavily on Dan Persa, the Big Ten leader in completion percentage (74.4). The only extensive action Persa saw last season came against Penn State. Persa wasn’t bad (14-of-23 for 115 yards and 42 rushing yards); the Wildcats, as a team, did not fare as well in the 34–13 loss. Penn State has allowed fewer than 200 passing yards per game this season, but the club has faced few passing systems as good as this one. On the opposite sideline, the Nittany Lions hope to continue the momentum they got going on the ground last week. Evan Royster ran for hard-fought yards against Michigan to pick up just his second 100-yard game of the year. Quarterback Matt McGloin also performed well in his debut last week, and assuming he is back in the lineup, the sophomore should be able to exploit a Wildcat secondary allowing 244.8 yards per game.

Iowa (6-2, 3-1) at Indiana (4-4, 0-4), Saturday, 11 a.m. CT

It’s been three years since the Hoosiers last beat the Hawkeyes. That was a much different Indiana team, however, with an offensive weapon (Kellen Lewis) that this year’s club simply does not have on its roster. And what worked for Indiana at the start of this season (passing the football) has not gotten the job done in recent weeks. This week, Ben Chappell and his receivers will really have their work cut out against Iowa’s street-smart secondary. The Hawkeyes’ veteran unit ranks fifth in the Big Ten in passing yards allowed per contest but has given up the second-fewest passing scores (eight). And Iowa’s offense is operating as well as it has in years. Ricky Stanzi has the Big Ten’s best touchdown-to-interception ratio (19 to 2), and the running game is still clicking despite its lack of depth. All of this is bad news for an Indiana club allowing 384.1 yards and almost 30 points per contest. Very bad news.

Minnesota (1-8, 0-5) at Michigan State (8-1, 4-1), Saturday, 11 a.m. CT

This contest is the perfect medicine for Michigan State a week after it failed to show in Iowa City. The Gophers present little challenge, and their awful run defense (11th in the Big Ten) should help the Spartans rediscover a ground game that went missing near the middle of October. Michigan State has averaged 76.3 rushing yards over the last three games; without a balanced offense, this club has no shot at a BCS berth. For Minnesota, this game is one more act of torture before this long and grueling season comes to an end. The team has now lost eight straight, and the remaining three contests do not look promising. As of late, the road has not been kind to Gopher fans (18-point loss to Wisconsin, 11-point loss to Purdue), so keeping this game competitive is step number one. To do so, Minnesota must somehow mask a secondary that has allowed a Big Ten-worst 17 touchdowns so far. Another thing that could hurt Minnesota in this contest is punting; the Gophers average a pathetic 34.6 yards per punt, while Michigan State leads the conference in punt returns.

Illinois (5-3, 3-2) at Michigan (5-3, 1-3), Saturday, 11 a.m. CT

This is another dangerous game for a Rich Rodriguez club already reeling from three straight losses. The Illini are fresh off back-to-back 40-point efforts and possess one of the Big Ten’s best run defenses. In its visit to Beaver Stadium a few weeks ago, Illinois held a 16-minute advantage in time of possession and limited Penn State to 65 yards on the ground. That’s Big Ten football. Now they must duplicate that feat against a club that cannot escape the fact that it is one-dimensional. Outside of Kevin Korger’s 60-yard touchdown reception last week, no Michigan player besides Denard Robinson had more than 36 yards of offense. But even with Robinson accounting for nearly 400 yards of total offense last week, the Wolverines were unable to keep pace. Illinois has a few offensive woes of its own to sort out. Mikel Leshoure has failed to reach the 90-yard mark in four of the last five games, and last week gained just 1.5 yards per carry against a so-so Boilermaker unit. Leshoure must match his totals from last year’s game against Michigan (21 carries for 150 yards) for the Illini to pick up a third straight win in this series.

Wisconsin (7-1, 3-1) at Purdue (4-4, 2-2), Saturday, 11 a.m. CT

Bret Bielema preaches about his team carrying a 1–0 philosophy into each and every week; now that mentality will be put to the test. The Badgers are ranked higher than any other Big Ten school at present, and face tremendous pressure in the month of November. They’ll be expected to win every game, and if Bielema’s teams have struggled with anything during his tenure it’s been handling the role of favorite. Purdue is not as bad as it appears on paper and is still alive in the bowl hunt (the Boilermakers need to win two of four). Wisconsin must come out of the gate as it did against Ohio State and Iowa and pound the football until Purdue relents. If Wisconsin holds back, it will become vulnerable to the upset. The Boilermakers must find a way to penetrate Wisconsin’s over-achieving, fourth-ranked defense. Both facets of the offense have failed to put a consistent product on the field as of late (52 rushing yards last week, 88 passing yards the week prior), and nothing short of a perfect performance will be needed against the No. 7 ranked Badgers.

Northwestern (6-2, 2-2) at Penn State (5-3, 2-2), Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT

Fans around University Park are ready to celebrate Joe Paterno’s 400th victory, but before anyone can pop champagne the Nittany Lions must take care of a Wildcats team that is 4–0 on the road this season. Another note to add: Three of those four wins came by three or fewer points. Northwestern continues to rely heavily on Dan Persa, the Big Ten leader in completion percentage (74.4). The only extensive action Persa saw last season came against Penn State. Persa wasn’t bad (14-of-23 for 115 yards and 42 rushing yards); the Wildcats, as a team, did not fare as well in the 34–13 loss. Penn State has allowed fewer than 200 passing yards per game this season, but the club has faced few passing systems as good as this one. On the opposite sideline, the Nittany Lions hope to continue the momentum they got going on the ground last week. Evan Royster ran for hard-fought yards against Michigan to pick up just his second 100-yard game of the year. Quarterback Matt McGloin also performed well in his debut last week, and assuming he is back in the lineup, the sophomore should be able to exploit a Wildcat secondary allowing 244.8 yards per game.

Paterno won his 400th game this weekend.

No small number

A win for Penn State this weekend will get Joe Paterno to win No. 400. It’s just another win for Paterno, whose focus is and always has been on his players and their progress, but it’s an amazing total nonetheless. Ridiculous, almost. Consider this:

• If you add up Woody Hayes’ and Jim Tressel’s Ohio State wins (307) you’d still be almost 100 victories shy of Paterno’s total. Michigan coaching legends Fielding Yost and Bo Schembechler together fall about 40 wins shy.

• At the age of 65, South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier does not have half as many wins as Paterno at his three Division I stops combined (183).

• Only seven men in history have more than 250 Division 1 victories.

During his 45 years on the sideline, Paterno has guided Penn State to five undefeated seasons and 24 bowl wins. More impressive than all of that — in those 45 years he has suffered through just five losing seasons.

This week’s contest will be no picnic — none of Penn State’s games have been this year — but you have to think that at home, in front of a packed Beaver Stadium crowd, the Nittany Lions have plenty of motivation to beat Northwestern — picking up a third straight victory, earning bowl eligibility, and getting Joe Pa to uncharted territory.

But while you appreciate that milestone — 400 career wins — appreciate this: In Penn State’s last five seasons (2005 to 2009) the team’s winning percentage has been .797 — better than Paterno’s career average of .751.

Paterno built the program into a powerhouse not long after taking the reins from Rip Engle, and he’s kept it there ever since.

The Week That Was

Scoreboard
Northwestern 20, Indiana 17
Illinois 44, Purdue 10
Iowa 37, Michigan State 6
Penn State 41, Michigan 31
Ohio State 52, Minnesota 10

Wildcats are bowl bound
Thanks to an outstanding performance by sophomore running back Mike Trumpy (164 yards from scrimmage on 24 touches), Northwestern beat Indiana to claim its sixth win of the season. It’s the fourth consecutive season that coach Pat Fitzgerald has guided his club to the mark.

The Buckeyes roll at Minnesota
Things began slowly for Jim Tressel’s club on Saturday evening, but eventually Ohio State took command of its game against Minnesota. Four offensive players scored touchdowns in the opening half, and Ohio State got 14 points in the second half thanks to touchdowns scored off a blocked punt and fumble return. It was the fifth time Ohio State won a game by 35 or more points this season.

Illinois blasts Purdue
Illinois’ stout defense limited Purdue to just 52 yards of passing in Saturday’s lopsided victory. Ron Zook’s club took an early lead and then exploded for 20 points in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. The Illinois defense limited the Boilermakers to two successful third down tries in 14 attempts, while the offense collected 24 first downs to Purdue’s nine.

Team of the Week: Iowa
The Hawkeyes were favored to win on Saturday because the game was played in Iowa City, but no one expected them to dominate the previously unbeaten Spartans. The Tyler Sash-to-Micah Hyde first-quarter interception return for a touchdown blew the game wide open, and was one of three picks by the Hawkeyes defense.

Disappointment of the Week: Michigan
Beaver Stadium is an unfriendly environment, but Michigan fans still didn’t expect their team to lose to an under-performing Penn State squad on Saturday. As it was, the Nittany Lions held a 28–10 halftime advantage and finished the game with almost a 15-minute advantage in time of possession. The Wolverines had no answer for Penn State’s running game, and despite another big night from Denard Robinson just couldn’t keep pace.

Offensive Player of the Week: Evan Royster, RB, Penn State
Finally! Royster came up huge for his team last week, carrying 29 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns — his first multiple-touchdown effort of the year and just his second 100-yard game. Because of Royster, Penn State wore down the Wolverines defense and inched a step closer to bowl eligibility.

Defensive Player of the Week: Shaun Prater, DB, Iowa
Immediately after the Hawkeyes took a 17–0 lead, Prater picked off another Kirk Cousins pass and returned it 42 yards into Hawkeye territory. Three plays later it was 23–0. The junior cornerback also assisted Iowa’s run defense with a double-digit tackle performance.

Freshman of the Week: Nathan Scheelhasse, QB, Illinois
Once again the Illini freshman was nearly perfect. Scheelhasse completed 80 percent of his passing attempts (16-of-20) for 195 yards and four touchdowns. On the ground he gained 5.6 yards per attempt and led the Illini in both carries (21) and yards (118).

The Week Ahead

Upset Alert: Wisconsin
No Big Ten team is at much risk this week, but Wisconsin should be the most conscious of not letting this one slip. The Badgers dropped a road game to an underdog late in the year last season (Northwestern). Purdue does not have a strong football team, but with Wisconsin coming off a bye, the Boilers may have enough to keep this contest interesting.

Player to Watch: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
Coming off of a miserable performance the junior hopes to bounce back against a Michigan defense allowing almost 150 rushing yards per game. Last week Penn State’s Evan Royster ripped up the Wolverines, and if Illinois is to keep pace in this contest it will require big performances on the ground from Leshoure and backfield mate Nathan Scheelhasse.

Additional Notes
Three teams have an opportunity to become bowl-eligible this weekend: Penn State and either Michigan or Illinois. Five Big Ten teams have already reached the six-win mark.
Wisconsin’s John Clay is just 113 yards shy of reaching the 1,000-yard mark for a second consecutive season. It would make Clay the conference’s second player to reach the mark this season (Michigan’s Denard Robinson). This week Clay faces a Purdue defense that ranks seventh in rushing yards allowed per contest (139.0) but only allows an average of 3.6 yards per carry.

Predictions
Michigan 23, Illinois 21
Iowa 44, Indiana 10
Michigan State 31, Minnesota 13
Wisconsin 34, Purdue 7
Penn State 17, Northwestern 14

There should plenty of offense in Bloomington.

Northwestern at Indiana, Saturday, 11 a.m. CT

It’s likely the Wildcats are still licking their wounds from last week’s second-half letdown against Michigan State. An upset and all-important sixth victory slipped through their grasp. Funny, last year when the Wildcats and Hoosiers met it was Indiana that blew a big second half lead and lost on a last-second field goal, 29–28. Coach Pat Fitzgerald is a master at getting his guys to maintain focus, and he should be able to rally the Wildcats for this one. Indiana has its own reason for motivation: A look ahead on the Hoosiers schedule suggests their best chances to win the two games they need for a bowl berth are this one and Purdue in the finale. To win, Indiana must take better care of the football than it did in last week’s loss (five turnovers). One key stat that is in Indiana’s favor: The Wildcats rank 10th in pass defense. Ben Chappell and Indiana’s terrific trio of receivers will be dreaming about that fact this week.

Purdue at Illinois, Saturday, 11 a.m. CT

Purdue has already lost one quarterback, so it was good news this week when the coaching staff announced Rob Henry would probably play after slicing up his throwing hand in last week’s loss. Henry hasn’t been the most efficient passer in the Big Ten this year, but he has his moments, and his versatility as a runner makes him a tough assignment for opposing defenses. Of course, Illinois has its own dual threat player under center. Nathan Scheelhasse is making a strong pitch for freshman of the year honors, and he just might have his way against a Boilermaker defense giving up 24.4 points per game. It’ll be important for Ryan Kerrigan and the Purdue defense to keep Scheelhasse in check. Speaking of defenses, is there a more under-rated unit in the Big Ten than the Illini? The unit ranks fourth in sacks in third in scoring defense. That’s bad news for a Purdue squad that has managed just 32 points total in its three road contests this year.

Michigan State at Iowa, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT

The Big Ten’s best game once again features Iowa, which lost at home last week due to poor clock management. Kirk Ferentz won’t let that happen again, not with his team’s January bowl hopes hanging by a thread. The key matchup in this one pits Spartan backs Le’Veon Bell and Edwin Baker against an Iowa run defense allowing just 92.1 yards per game. A total of five points has determined the last two games between the two teams — both played in East Lansing — and the last game in Iowa City was decided in overtime. Yep, this one is going to be a dandy. Too bad for Michigan State they may be without one of their best playmakers; receiver/returner Keshawn Martin is recovering from an ankle/foot injury that could keep him on the sideline.

Ohio State at Minnesota, Saturday, 7 p.m. CT

Another prime time game to showcase TCF Bank Stadium, another easy Big Ten test for the Buckeyes. Ohio State played with a chip on its shoulder in last week’s shutout of Purdue, and probably figures it has nothing to lose in its remaining games. Terrell Pryor’s arm should have success against a Gopher secondary allowing opposing passers a 69.5 completion percentage. Minnesota will need a mighty effort from its experienced passer, Adam Weber, because heaven knows the running game will have to be abandoned before half — at least if this game resembles recent ones in the series. Over the last four years Ohio State has beaten Minnesota by a combined score of 146 to 35, the closest margin being 13 points (two years ago).

Michigan at Penn State, Saturday, 7 p.m. CT

Pay no attention to the Nittany Lions’ woes this season — no team wishes to play in Beaver Stadium in an evening affair, and certainly not a Michigan squad that has dropped its last two contests by a combined 27 points. The Wolverines need to get back to the ground attack that earned them early favor among pollsters. For whatever reason, Denard Robinson has not been as dazzling — or as hard to catch — in recent weeks as he was at the season’s start. Penn State’s run defense could be a cure, as the unit is allowing an uncharacteristic 143.9 yards on the ground per game. The Nittany Lions offense has more problems than Michigan does on both sides of the ball combined. Evan Royster is still a no-show, and the unit has produced just seven scores through the air. Making matters worse, Penn State probably won’t have quarterback Rob Bolden in the lineup due to what has been labeled a head injury. The team must hope its rowdy crowd can offer the spark that’s been absent all season.

The only six games that matter

With five weeks remaining, Michigan State fans have already begun to trace their team’s necessary steps to a BCS berth and, perhaps, a crack at the national title. To get there, Michigan State will need to win its remaining games and get some help from the nation’s other top 10 teams. It’s a long shot, even when one considers just how easy the path gets for the Spartans after this weekend.

But Michigan State is not the only team remaining in the Big Ten race, nor are the Spartans the only club with a shot to climb up the polls. Wisconsin is not out of anything, nor is Ohio State. Iowa would need a lot of help, but a strong finish (including games against two ranked foes) could propel them back into the top 10 by season’s end.

Here is a look at the most important six games remaining on the Big Ten schedule. All of these contests could have an impact on the conference race.

(Oct. 30) Michigan State at Iowa – If the Spartans thought the Wildcats were unfriendly, wait until they step into the pink locker room and prepare for a hungry Iowa squad.

(Nov. 13) Iowa at Northwestern – A little history in this one. The Hawkeyes have lost the last two to Northwestern, including last year after beginning the year with a 9–0 record.

(Nov. 20) Ohio State at Iowa – This contest was decided in overtime last year.

(Nov. 20) Wisconsin at Michigan – The only blemish on Bret Bielema’s first season (2006) was the loss in Ann Arbor. When the Badgers visited Michigan last, they blew a 19–0 lead.

(Nov. 27) Michigan at Ohio State – There would be more drama and build-up if this game was not in Columbus, but when these two programs take the field nothing can be taken for granted.

(Nov. 27) Michigan State at Penn State – Imagine the Spartans do win out and have to finish the season in Beaver Stadium with 110,000 fans right on top of them. Lots of pressure.

Week 8 Scoreboard
Penn State 33, Minnesota 21
Illinois 43, Indiana 13
Ohio State 49, Purdue 0
Michigan State 35, Northwestern 27
Wisconsin 31, Iowa 30

Bielema’s play-of-the-year candidate
With Wisconsin facing a fourth down deep in its own territory, and trailing 30–24, coach Bret Bielema made one of the year’s gutsiest calls. Punter Brad Nortman caught the snap and took off running into the open field for the first down. It allowed Wisconsin to keep the ball and ultimately led to a Montee Ball eight-yard touchdown run later in that series.

No contest in Columbus
Ohio State rattled off 42 first half points, including 21 in the final five minutes of the second quarter, in its blowout win over Purdue. Even more lopsided than the score was the total yardage — 489 for Ohio State to 118 for the Boilermakers.

Wasn’t pretty, but Penn State will take it
The Nittany Lions were out-gained and out-performed on third down by an inferior Minnesota squad on Saturday. But Penn State still won the contest, 33–21 — its first win of October. Backup quarterback Matt McGloin threw two touchdowns for the Nittany Lions.

Team of the Week: Wisconsin
For the second week in a row, the Badgers prevailed under intense circumstances. Trailing late in the game, the team moved the length of the field to score the go-ahead points, then held off a late Iowa surge. And other than a late interception, Scott Tolzien was brilliant on a day when the Badger rushing game was not. The win cemented Wisconsin as a top 10 team.

Disappointment of the Week: Northwestern
The score was 17–0 at one point in the second quarter, and 24–14 heading into the fourth. What happened? The Wildcats got tricked on a fake punt and couldn’t defend the pass worth a darn in the second half. Northwestern could have left the game bowl eligible; now Pat Fitzgerald’s club will have to go back to work.

Offensive Player of the Week: Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
Cousins has had to take a back seat to other storylines this year — his coach, All-America linebacker Greg Jones, the Spartans terrific running back tandem — but Saturday was finally his to savor. Cousins guided Michigan State on an exciting second half comeback and finished with 329 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Defensive Player of the Week: Adrian Clayborn, DL, Iowa
It’s rare for a player from a losing team to win this award, but Clayborn stood out, even on a day in which his counterpart (Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt) was tremendous. The senior chased down Badger ball carriers from behind and was disruptive on passing downs. Even after he was the victim of a vicious block to the back of his knees Clayborn came back out onto the field for more.

Freshman of the Week: Nathan Scheelhasse, QB, Illinois
Both of Scheelhasse’s touchdown passes came within the first 21 minutes of the Illini’s victory over Indiana. The first-year signal caller completed 13 of 21 passes and averaged 7.5 yards per carry.

The Week Ahead

Upset Alert: Michigan State
Our same pick as last week, although a loss to Iowa is not as big of an upset as a loss to Northwestern would have been. Michigan State is not playing like a team of destiny — at least not for all four quarters — and Iowa is far too good and too desperate to make the same mistakes the Wildcats made last week. If the Hawkeyes’ running game gets going this Saturday, the Spartans may start falling come Sunday.

Player to Watch: Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
A week off probably did Robinson’s ailing body some good. Now he can use that rest to run through a Penn State defense ranked eighth against the rush in the Big Ten. Last week, the Nittany Lions allowed DeLeon Eskridge to gain 111 yards on 26 carries.

Additional Notes

Northwestern’s line needs to do a better job of protecting the quarterback. Through seven games the unit has allowed a Big Ten-worst 25 sacks (123 sack yards). The next closest Big Ten line has given up just 18 sacks.

Five teams have at least one receiver with 35 or more catches this season. Indiana has three such players: Damarlo Belcher (47), Terrance Turner (37) and Tandon Doss (36). Freshman tight end Ted Bolser, who had four catches for 77 yards this past week, has 16 catches.

Predictions
Northwestern 28, Indiana 10
Illinois 27, Purdue 13
Iowa 24, Michigan State 21
Michigan 20, Penn State 17
Ohio State 56, Minnesota 7

John Clay leads the Badgers into Iowa City.

Michigan State at Northwestern, Saturday, 11 a.m. CT 

Aside from an Oct. 30 visit to Iowa City, this may be the most dangerous contest remaining on Michigan State’s schedule. Why? Because Northwestern is a disciplined and opportunistic club (+5 turnover ratio). Last year the Wildcats knocked off 8–2 Wisconsin at Ryan Field. Their coach, Pat Fitzgerald, does not care about ‘statement games,’ only playing winning football. It helps to have a quarterback as talented as Dan Persa, who hopes to take advantage of a Spartans secondary giving up 213.3 passing yards per contest. Michigan State has a capable passer, too (Kirk Cousins) and a pair of backs ready to make amends for last week’s poor showing. How well Le’Veon Bell and Edwin Baker bounce back will be a deciding factor in the outcome of this contest. Another deciding factor: Penalties. Northwestern ranks 10th in the league, having committed 46 penalties this season for an average of 65.8 penalty yards per contest. The Spartans rank dead last (55, 73.0).

Penn State at Minnesota, Saturday, 11 a.m. CT

Interim coach Jeff Horton will try to keep the Gophers focused for this week’s contest against the Nittany Lions. As bad as Minnesota’s record may appear, this club has played a number of tight games at home this year, including a one-point loss to Northwestern and a 32–21 loss to USC. Minnesota’s best weapon last week was junior wide receiver Da’Juan McKnight, who will try to crack a Nittany Lion secondary that has allowed the fewest number of yards and completions among all Big Ten schools. As for Penn State’s offense, the verdict is still out, but things have not gone well for Joe Paterno’s squad. Quarterback Rob Bolden has thrown seven interceptions as compared to just four touchdowns, and running back Even Royster still hasn’t found his legs. If the offense cannot move the ball against a Gopher defense allowing more than 400 yards per game, fans will know there is more to Penn State’s struggles than inexperience.

Purdue at Ohio State, Saturday, 11 a.m. CT

Quick: Name the three Big Ten teams unbeaten in conference play. Michigan State, Iowa and … Purdue? Yep, it’s been an easy path so far for the Boilermakers, but the back stretch is unfriendly, beginning this week against an agitated Ohio State squad. The Buckeyes now have to play catch-up to both Wisconsin and conference leader Michigan State. Terrelle Pryor has an opportunity to flex his leadership abilities by rallying the unit on Saturday. If the line can keep Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan under wraps, Pryor should have a big day against a Boilermaker unit allowing 220.8 passing yards per game. Ohio State’s defense is still recovering from being manhandled by Wisconsin’s rushing attack. Purdue has a capable rushing tandem in quarterback Rob Henry and running back Dan Dierking (126 yards last week). The Boilermakers will try to run early, and may find some success with linebacker Ross Homan out of the lineup.

Indiana at Illinois, Saturday, 11 a.m. CT

With its 4–2 record, the Hoosiers need to pick up at least a couple of conference victories in order to secure a bowl bid. No luck so far. This week’s contest with Illinois provides as good an opportunity as any. In last year’s contest, Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell passed for 333 yards and threw three touchdowns in a 27–14 victory — Indiana’s only win in Big Ten play. Chappell is the current leader in the conference in passing yards (1,858) and touchdowns (16). To stop Indiana, Illinois’ underrated defense must frustrate Chappell and limit Tandon Doss, who leads the nation in all-purpose yards (202.0 per game). The Illini will try to exploit an Indiana run defense allowing opposing ball carriers an average of 5.5 yards per carry — a number sure to make Nathan Scheelhasse and Mikel Leshoure salivate.

Wisconsin at Iowa, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT

Much more is riding on this game than the Heartland Trophy. A win would push Wisconsin further up the polls and leave the Badgers in a good position to challenge for the conference crown; a win for Iowa would keep its perfect Big Ten mark intact. Ultimately, the team that has the most success running the football will win this contest. Sounds simple, but these are two very similar, very basic football teams. In last year’s game, Adam Robinson averaged 4.6 yards per carry to help Iowa beat the Badgers for the sixth time in the last eight years. Robinson is one of five Big Ten backs this season who are averaging more than 100 yards per contest, and he leads the conference in attempts per game (21.5). Of course, Wisconsin has a couple of backs it thinks are special, too. The combination of John Clay and James White is unlike anything the top-ranked Hawkeye run defense has faced this year. Fans can expect the Badgers to use the same formula that worked in last week’s upset — a heavy dose of Clay early, blended later on with some play-action passing and White’s quickness. Again, simple, but difficult to stop.
 

End J.J. Watt was a force Saturday night.

The king is dead. Now what?

Say what you will about Jim Tressel’s inability to keep his team in the nation’s No. 1 spot; his teams have regularly contended on a national scale during his tenure in Columbus — something no other coach in the conference can claim.

For the past decade, Ohio State has been the target of the other 10 schools every fall without fail. And it has been the flagship program come January. The Buckeyes earn the Big Ten respect from the other corners of the country, and they bring exposure to a league in desperate need of it.

It appeared for a blink that Tressel’s Buckeyes would be back in another BCS Title game when they jumped into the No. 1 spot following Alabama’s loss to South Carolina. But no sooner did Ohio State get used to its new title than did Wisconsin deliver a blow that Tressel and company will feel for the next nine months — one that all but eliminated the Buckeyes from that national title talk.

So, the question for Big Ten fans is, ‘Now what?’

This week, the league boasted the fact that it was the only conference with four schools to rank among the top 15 in the initial BCS rankings — Michigan State (No. 7), Ohio State (No. 10), Wisconsin (No. 13) and Iowa (No. 15) — but so what? Of the four, only Michigan State can reach the pinnacle of college football, and does anyone really believe the Spartans will remain undefeated through the rest of October and November? Didn’t think so.

It began as a season of promise for the Big Ten, with Heisman talk (Denard Robinson, Terrelle Pryor), regained pride for Michigan, and a heartfelt story in East Lansing. But this week crushed much of that promise. Unfortunately, it appears this season could end like so many in recent years have — with outsiders dubbing the Big Ten a second-rate league with second-rate citizens.

The Week That Was
Michigan gets too little, too late from its offense
The mighty Michigan offense was out-gained on its home turf, 522-383, by an Iowa unit that had success on the ground and in the air on Saturday. At one point in the fourth quarter Iowa held a 35–14 lead. Tate Forcier helped to jumpstart the Wolverines after replacing an injured Denard Robinson. Forcier got Michigan within seven points, 35–28, before Michael Meyer’s 30-yard run put the game away. It was Iowa’s first win in Ann Arbor since 2002.

Conroy’s four field goals lift Spartans
Michigan State’s terrific tandem of Le’Veon Bell and Edwin Baker combined for just 36 yards on 18 carries against Illinois’ underrated defense. Kicker Dan Conroy helped to bail out Michigan State on its many stalled drives by nailing all four of his attempts in the 26–6 victory. Three of Illinois’ four turnovers led to 13 points for Michigan State.

Burgess rises up for Indiana
Senior running back Trea Burgess hadn’t been used much in his first four years in Bloomington. That changed on Saturday when he was asked to replace Darius Willis and delivered with a 102-yard effort. The offense fed Burgess 21 times (19 carries, two receptions) in a 36–34 victory over Arkansas State. Burgess fumbled twice, but helped to make up for it by averaging 5.4 yards per carry.

Scoreboard
Indiana 36, Arkansas State 34
Purdue 28, Minnesota 17
Michigan State 26, Illinois 6
Iowa 38, Michigan 28
Wisconsin 31, Ohio State 18

Team of the Week: Wisconsin
For the fourth time in school history, the Badgers knocked off the No. 1 team in the country. Saturday’s win over Ohio State wasn’t really close other than the Buckeyes’ push in the third quarter. The Badgers controlled the contest with their 1-2 rushing attack of John Clay and James White, and gained early momentum with a kickoff return for a touchdown.

Disappointment of the Week: Minnesota
The Gophers are clearly the worst team in the conference, but Purdue was at least a beatable opponent. The Boilermakers led 21–0 at one point in the third quarter and out-gained Minnesota, 393 to 279. It was an ugly performance in an ugly season for Gopher fans.

Offensive Player of the Week: John Clay, RB, Wisconsin
The Buckeyes hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since September 2008 until Clay pounded his way for 104 yards on 21 carries. The senior also scored twice in the opening half. The Buckeyes had no answer for the big back’s physical style, and ultimately their defense wore down.

Defensive Player of the Week: Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State
For the 20th time in his career, Jones recorded a double-digit tackle effort. His 14 tackles on Saturday helped secure Michigan State its seventh win of the season.

Freshman of the Week: Rob Henry, QB, Purdue
The Boilermakers quarterback had his best passing effort of the season (13 of 20 passes for 163 yards) and scored three times on the ground in his team’s win over Minnesota.

The Week Ahead

Upset Alert: Michigan State
It would be a mistake to call Ryan Field an intimidating place for opponents to play, but this weekend it will provide Northwestern with enough of an advantage to be dangerous in their contest with the Spartans. The well-rested Wildcats own the conference’s third most takeaways this year (14) and have one of its best passers in Dan Persa.

Player to Watch: Adam Robinson, RB, Iowa
The Badgers have a solid run defense, but it is a unit that can be run upon, evidenced by Dan Herron’s 4.8 yards per carry and two touchdowns last week. Robinson enters this contest coming off of a week in which he set personal bests for carries (31) and yards from scrimmage (204). If Robinson can help his team control the football, Iowa will put an end to the Badgers’ Rose Bowl dreams.

Additional Notes

• Minnesota’s decision to fire Tim Brewster was expected. The program has invested heavily in its facility and image, but has not achieved much change on the field. Firing Brewster now rather than at season’s end allows the athletic department an opportunity to extend its evaluation period as it scouts for a new coach. Gopher star and Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy has already eliminated himself as a possible candidate.

• Whatever company made the goal posts for Camp Randall Stadium should start to think about its next marketing campaign. Approximately a dozen students were hanging from one of the posts following Saturday night’s win over Ohio State, doing all they could to bring the posts down. No such luck. After 15 minutes, local law enforcement got everyone off the post safely.

Predictions
Penn State 31, Minnesota 13
Illinois 24, Indiana 20
Ohio State 51, Purdue 17
Michigan State 28, Northwestern 24
Iowa 28, Wisconsin 21

Did Bret Bielema run up the score vs. Minnesota?

There is no finer example of a coach who stressed the importance of an education and the fruits of a hard day’s work than Woody Hayes. But as great a man as Hayes was, he was by no means a good sport. When a reporter asked Hayes why he went for two against Michigan while already possessing a sizable lead, Hayes famously responded, “Because they wouldn’t let me go for three.” Classic stuff.

Bret Bielema, apparently, is not a good sport, either. Just a good coach, and someone who understands that in college football, being a poor sport is encouraged by the men who make the rules.

It’s hard to endorse Bielema’s decision to go for two when leading lowly Minnesota 41–16 with six and a half minutes to go. Regardless of what the card told Bielema to do, that’s just not the way coaches ought to handle such matters. But guess what? Bielema’s crime is petty as compared to what goes on in college football during an average weekend. Take this past Saturday, for example:

• Boise State took possession of the ball midway through the third quarter with a 43–7 lead over Toledo. After gaining a first down on the ground, Kellen Moore threw on first down for an 11-yard gain. Four plays later, Moore threw a 33-yard touchdown pass. It was only after that series that Boise State put a cap on its passing game.
• To open the second half of its win over Wyoming, TCU threw the ball on three of its first five snaps. The 91-yard drive put the Horned Frogs up 38–0. A four-yard touchdown pass on first and goal at the start of the fourth quarter ended the scoring at 45–0.
• Utah was running a balanced offense well after it reached the 50-point mark in its 68–27 win over Iowa State.
We’re hard on Bielema because we separate a conversion from play calling, but is there much of a difference? In each case, the team with the football could lay off the gas — stick to the running game or ignore what the scoring card says — but they’ve been taught differently. They’ve been taught that no lead is ever big enough, and that in college football’s poll system, the bigger the point total and margin of victory, the more votes a school can expect to receive come Sunday.
It’s all a shame, but that’s how college football is played.

The Week That Was
Badger backfield is double trouble for Gophers
John Clay captured co-Big Ten offensive player of the week honors for his 111-yard and three-touchdown performance on Saturday, but that was only half of Minnesota’s trouble with Wisconsin. Freshman James White contributed 118 yards and two scores in the victory. It was the second time in three weeks the two backs have both gained 100 or more yards in the same contest.

Purdue powers past Wildcats
Following a blocked field goal, Purdue took over the ball at its own 32-yard line midway through the fourth quarter trailing Northwestern, 17–13. From there, quarterback Ron Henry launched a 14-play drive that featured a heavy dose of fullback Dan Dierking. His seven-yard scoring run gave the Boilermakers their first conference win of the year. Purdue won the game despite gaining 110 fewer yards and losing the time of possession battle by more than eight minutes.

Scoreboard
Illinois 33, Penn State 13
Wisconsin 41, Minnesota 23
Ohio State 38, Indiana 10
Michigan State 34, Michigan 17
Purdue 20, Northwestern 17

Team of the Week: Michigan State
Week after week, Michigan State belongs here. First it was the gutsy call over Notre Dame, then the win after coach Mark Dantonio’s heart attack, then the upset over Wisconsin, and now a win over in-state rival Michigan in Ann Arbor. On Saturday, the Spartans didn’t just beat Michigan; they outscored them 31–7 in the second and third quarters combined.

Disappointment of the Week: Penn State
Penn State is not supposed to lose at home, and certainly not to Illinois. But Saturday’s defeat showed just how far Penn State has fallen this season. The Nittany Lions collected just seven first downs and gained just 65 yards on the ground. Even worse, Joe Pa’s club failed to score a single point in the second half.

Offensive Player of the Week: Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
Entering Saturday, the Big Ten’s best passer had been Indiana’s Ben Chappell. Pryor may have changed a few minds by throwing for a career-best 334 yards and three touchdowns in the victory over the Hoosiers. The junior quarterback completed 80 percent of his passes without an interception.

Defensive Player of the Week: Joe Holland, LB, Purdue
Holland was part of a defensive effort that limited Northwestern’s running game to just 2.0 yards per carry. Holland led the Boilermakers with 12 tackles, including a sack.

Freshman of the Week: Nathan Scheelhasse, QB, Illinois
Scheelhasse guided the Illini to an upset over Penn State by completing 15-of-19 passes for 151 yards and gaining 61 yards rushing on eight carries. In all, Scheelhasse led Illinois on six scoring drives.

The Week Ahead
Upset Alert: Iowa
Michigan fell from the rankings after falling flat against Michigan State. Now, though, the Wolverines are in a position to climb back into the conference race with a win over a still-unproven Hawkeyes club. After Illinois dismantled Penn State, Iowa no longer has a “quality win” to its credit, and will enter a hornet’s nest this weekend in Ann Arbor.
Player to Watch: Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State
Facing a two-pronged rushing attack that includes quarterback Nathan Scheelhasse and running back Mikel Leshoure, Jones and his defensive mates must rise to the same level at which they performed last week. Jones has been a running game stuffer all year, and will need another encore this Saturday.
Additional Notes
Michigan has a growing star in Cameron Gordon, who has blocked a kick, recorded two interceptions and averages 7.7 tackles per contest. Gordon is the only freshman to rank among the top 40 in the conference in tackles (he’s currently tied for eighth).
Purdue leads the Big Ten in both sacks (17) and sack yards (109). The next closest squad is Illinois, with 12 sacks for 88 yards.
So far, Ohio State’s Devin Barclay leads all kickers in scoring and field goal accuracy. But the Big Ten’s best kicker might be Illinois’ Derek Dimke. Earlier this year Dimke made a 52-yarder against Missouri; last week, he made kicks from 50 and 41 yards. The junior has only missed one of his 11 attempts.

Predictions
Indiana 34, Arkansas State 17
Minnesota 20, Purdue 13
Michigan State 31, Illinois 10
Iowa 21, Michigan 20
Ohio State 27, Wisconsin 14
 

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel

Few college football coaches work under as big a microscope as Ohio State’s Jim Tressel, whose job was once thought to be in jeopardy after he blew a second BCS Title game in three years.

Imagine that — the coach of your favorite school in trouble for finishing the year in the runner-up chair.

Ohio State demands BCS berths, and accepts nothing short of a Big Ten title. And, during much of his tenure in Columbus, Tressel has delivered. On Saturday, assuming things go as they normally do for the Buckeyes, Tressel will become the 13th Big Ten coach to win 100 games. And he’ll be the third-fastest to get there: Michigan’s Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr accomplished the feat in 119 games; if successful Saturday, it will have taken Tressel 121 games. And among conference coaches with 10 or more years under their belts, only Michigan’s Fielding Yost has a better winning percentage than Tressel’s .825.

One of Tressel’s most likeable qualities isn’t that he wins, but rather how he wins. His teams can go blow-for-blow with the power clubs of the Big Ten, and as evidenced in a win over Miami, Tressel’s teams can go step-for-step with the country’s finest finesse clubs. And Tressel-coached teams are always as classy as his sideline sweater vest.

At some schools, the legends of past coaches are so overbearing that no one can exist outside of their shadow. But Tressel has done nothing but embrace Woody Hayes and the rest of Ohio State’s rich history. That has helped him to build his own legacy, outside of Hayes’ reach. And on Saturday, Ohio State fans may have reason once again to embrace Tressel, and reflect for a day on the history he has helped to build for Ohio State’s program.

The Week That Was

Scoreboard

Northwestern 29, Minnesota 28

Ohio State 24, Illinois 13

Michigan 42, Indiana 35

Michigan State 34, Wisconsin 24

Iowa 24, Penn State 3

Buckeye backfield continues to sputter

Ohio State has not found consistency out of any of its backs so far this season, and on Saturday got just 109 yards from Dan Herron and Brandon Saine combined (most of it coming from Herron). Through five games, neither back is on pace to gain more than 700 yards this season, and only Saine has a 100-yard game to his credit.

Chappell and Doss go to work on Wolverines

One of the silver linings in Indiana’s loss to Michigan was the success quarterback Ben Chappell and wide receiver Tandon Doss shared. Chappell completed 45-of-64 passes for 480 yards — all Hoosier records; Doss caught 15 of those passes for 221 yards. Somewhat overshadowed, Damarlo Belcher caught 10 balls for 91 yards. The receiving duo rank Nos. 1 and 2 in the conference.

Gophers find a weapon in Lair

One of the Big Ten’s fastest-rising prospects is Minnesota tight end Eric Lair, who last week caught seven passes for 94 yards against Northern Illinois. On Saturday, the junior caught three for 75 yards, two of them for scores.

Team of the Week:Michigan State

Even without coach Mark Dantonio, who returned to the hospital to take care of a blood clot, the Spartans stepped up in their Big Ten opener against fellow Top 25 foe Wisconsin. Despite committing early turnovers, Michigan State beat Wisconsin at its own game, with hard-nosed defense and a ball control offense (the Spartans actually out-gained the Badgers, 175 to 165 yards).

Disappointment of the Week:Penn State

Just three crummy points. The Nittany Lions converted only three of 13 third down attempts (although, it’s only fair to point out Iowa converted two of 10) and gained just 54 yards on the ground. It was one of the worst offensive performances by a Penn State squad in some time.

Offensive Player of the Week:Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan

Nothing out of the ordinary — just another 200-yard passing and 200-yard rushing day to help Michigan get to 5–0. The Heisman talk is starting to grow louder.

Defensive Player of the Week:J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin

It’s rare to give defensive player honors to someone from a losing team, but Watt’s performance was difficult to ignore. He applied pressure to Kirk Cousins all afternoon, played thick against the run and even batted a couple of passes. He might be the conference’s most underrated player.

Freshman of the Week: James White, RB, Wisconsin

White was the best freshman for a second straight week. With John Clay noticeably hobbled by a bum ankle, White gave the Wisconsin offense its bounce back, averaging 9.8 yards on 10 carries and scoring two touchdowns.

The Week Ahead

Upset Alert:Wisconsin

Reeling from its BCS-busting loss to Michigan State, the Badgers are vulnerable against a hungry Minnesota club that gave Northwestern all it could take. The Battle for the Axe is a week before Wisconsin’s highly anticipated matchup against Ohio State. Possible the Badgers will peek past the Gophers? Sure. It’s also possible the Badgers are just plain overrated.

Player to Watch:Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois

Leshoure took a step back in last week’s contest (19 carries for 80 yards) and now must regroup in order to help Illinois in its trip to Penn State. The Nittany Lions currently rank fifth in the Big Ten in defending against the run, allowing 3.7 yards per carry. But the Illini’s 230-pound junior is as good as every back Penn State has faced thus far (with the exception of Trent Richardson) and could take Nittany Lions fans by surprise.

Additional Notes

Only three schools in the conference are averaging better than 10 yards per punt return; thanks in part to its explosive player, Keshawn Martin, Michigan State is averaging a deadly 17.2 yards. Martin is averaging 18.5 yards on his returns, including last week’s 74-yard game-changing score against Wisconsin.

At present, three Big Ten quarterbacks are leading their respective schools in rushing. Both Denard Robinson (Michigan) and Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State) rank among the conference’s top 10 in the category, while Northwestern’s Dan Persa is not far off.

Predictions

Penn State 20, Illinois 14

Wisconsin 28, Minnesota 24

Ohio State 36, Indiana 10

Michigan 34, Michigan State 31

Northwestern 21, Purdue 13

Northwestern's Dan Persa

Northwestern at Minnesota

Saturday, 11 a.m. CT

After a brief absence, the Gophers reinstated wide receiver/returner Troy Stoudermire this week. Good thing, too, as Minnesota will need all the help it can get against a Wildcat squad that remains perfect. One reason for Northwestern’s early success has been its ability to get off to a fast start; through four games Northwestern has outscored opponents 33–9 in the first quarter. Here’s an odd stat to chew on: Minnesota ranks eighth in both scoring and rushing offense, yet leads the Big Ten in time of possession (35:34 per game). The Gophers hope to place this contest on the shoulders of Duane Bennett (371 yards, 4.7 yards per carry) and watch him carry the club to a second straight win over the Wildcats.

 Ohio State at Illinois

Saturday, 11 a.m. CT

On paper, this is no contest. The Buckeyes rank third in the country in scoring offense (49.3 points per game) and their defense ranks among the top 20 in points allowed. Illinois — that’s another story. After a disappointing showing against Missouri, Ron Zook’s club has won its last two games by a combined 63–25. But who did they play, really? (Southern Illinois and Northern Illinois, in case you’re wondering.) Now facing a test much stiffer than the Tigers, Illinois’ only hope is for its two-headed ground attack (freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhasse and junior running back Mikel Leshoure) to control the clock in the first half, allowing the Illini to stick around long enough for something to break in their favor. And last year it was reasonable to expect Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor to make a mistake or two, but not this year; so far Pryor has thrown just two interceptions as compared to 10 touchdown passes. Michigan at Indiana

Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT

If an imposter is lurking in this contest, it will be exposed on Saturday afternoon. Both clubs have averaged 40-plus points, but neither has a flawless attack (Indiana’s playmakers are still suspect). Michigan’s Denard Robinson is expected to suit up one week after a knee injury kept him on the sideline for the final three quarters of the team’s win over Bowling Green (as well as he was playing, chances are Robinson would have sat out the second half anyhow). Indiana’s quarterback, Ben Chappell, gives his team a fighting chance. Not only does the senior signal caller lead the conference in passing (296.7 yards per game), but this week he’ll also be treated to a pass defense that ranks last in the Big Ten, allowing 264.8 yards per game.

 Wisconsin at Michigan State

Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT

In one of the more intriguing Top 25 matchups this weekend, the Badgers will attempt to pound the football against a Michigan State run defense allowing just 2.7 yards per carry. In fact, the most an opposing back has gained against the Spartans this year has been 71 yards (Notre Dame’s Armando Allen Jr.). Those numbers won’t sit well with Wisconsin’s backfield trio: John Clay (6.5 yards per carry), James White (7.9) and Montee Ball (4.5). Because of the efforts of those three — and Wisconsin’s mammoth offensive line — fans can expect UW to win the war in the trenches. Another battle to pay close attention to is at quarterback, where two of the Big Ten’s finest will both attempt to get their teams to 5–0. Last year, Wisconsin’s Scott Tolzien had the better day (243 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions) but the Badgers secondary knows it must do a better job of containing Spartans speedster Keshawn Martin (34.8 yards per catch last year). Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio is expected to sit in the booth for this contest after rejoining the team following his minor heart attack. 

Penn State at Iowa

Saturday, 7 p.m. CT

Think blue-collar tough. No-name defensive players and grind-it-out offense — these programs help to define Big Ten football. And it’s probably no surprise that both clubs rank Nos. 1 and 2 in points allowed so far (Iowa leads the Big Ten with 12.0, followed by Penn State at 12.8). The outcome of their meeting on Saturday will help to determine the conference’s early rank-and-file. Both suffered a road loss in September leaving each club near the back end of the Top 25 polls. One thing Penn State must do if it hopes to be successful is take better care of the football; the Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten in giveaways (nine), and a major reason for their loss to the Hawkeyes last year were their four turnovers. Iowa senior linebacker Jeff Tarpinian may lead the conference in tackles (10.7 per game), but this defense still revolves around defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn. Penn State fans will remember Clayborn returned a blocked punt 53 yards for a score last year that swung the game in Iowa’s direction.