The Wolverine takes a look around the conference heading into college football's ninth week of action:
Illinois (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten)
Illinois looks to snap its five-game losing streak when it hosts No. 5 Wisconsin ... For the fourth straight year on homecoming, the Illini will honor the legendary Harold "Red" Granger (also known as The Galloping Ghost) by wearing special gray alternate jerseys ... Illinois' last victory over the Badgers came in 2007 ... Freshman receiver Ricky Smalling's 15.5 yards per catch is the fifth-highest clip in the Big Ten.
Indiana (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten)
Indiana travels to Maryland this weekend in search of its first conference victory ... Although the two programs have only met five times, the Hoosiers hold an all-time advantage of 4-1 ... Indiana is a dismal 1-5 in its last six conference road games ... Over its last three games, the Hoosiers' defense has only allowed 81 passing yards per game; as a result, its pass defense now impressively sits at 20th nationally (181.4 yards allowed per game) ... Redshirt junior receiver Simmie Cobbs' 44 receptions are the second most in the league, while redshirt junior wideout Luke Timian's 36 rank third.
Iowa (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten)
Losers in three of its last four, Iowa looks to change its fortune when it hosts Minnesota this weekend ... The Hawkeyes have dominated the Gophers as of late, winning 12 of the past 16 against them, including seven straight in Iowa City ... After missing last week's game at Northwestern with injury, fifth-year senior linebacker Josey Jewell is expected to return to action ... The two teams will battle for the Floyd of Rosedale trophy — a huge bronze pig — which was invented in 1935 as the result of a bet between the governors of the two states.
Maryland (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten)
Having lost four of its last five games, Maryland looks to turn its season around when it hosts Indiana ... The Terrapins last defeated the Hoosiers on Sept. 27, 2014, in what was their first-ever Big Ten win ... Maryland's opponents own a combined 32-16 record, a 66.7 winning percentage ... Sophomore quarterback Max Bortenschlager's 49.3 completion percentage is the worst among qualified quarterbacks in the Big Ten.
No. 16 Michigan State (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten)
No. 16 Michigan State hits the road for Northwestern this weekend ... The Spartans lead the all-time series with the Wildcats, 37-18 ... Fifth-year senior running back Gerald Holmes missed his second straight game against Indiana last week and is questionable this Saturday ... Michigan State holds just a 2-4 record in its last six road games.
Minnesota (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten)
Losers of three of its last four, Minnesota looks to get back on track this weekend when it plays at Iowa ... The Gophers lead the all-time series 62-46-1, but have lost seven straight in Iowa City and have not grabbed a victory there since 1999 ... Minnesota's 3.6 penalties per game are tied for the second-fewest in the nation ... After earning the first start of his career at quarterback last week against Illinois, redshirt sophomore Demry Croft will start once again.
Nebraska (3-4, 2-2 Big Ten)
Riding a two-game losing streak, Nebraska heads to Purdue for a primetime showdown ... The two teams have only met four times, with the Cornhuskers holding a 3-1 edge ... However, Nebraska is only 1-4 in its last five road games ... The team received devastating news on Tuesday when it was announced that sophomore running back Tre Bryant (299 yards, 5.9 yards per carry) would miss the rest of the season with injury; junior Devine Ozigbo will likely start in his place.
Northwestern (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten)
Northwestern looks to extend its winning streak to three games on Saturday when it hosts No. 16 Michigan State ... The Wildcats have allowed opponents to rush for just 94.8 yards per game over their last five contests, and they now have the No. 25-ranked rush defense in the country (121.2 yards per game) ... Redshirt junior quarterback Clayton Thorson's nine interceptions are the second-most in the conference, trailing only Nebraska redshirt junior Tanner Lee's 10 ... Redshirt junior linebacker Nate Hall's 8.5 tackles for loss are tied for the third-most in the Big Ten.
No. 6 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten)
No. 6 Ohio State hosts No. 2 Penn State in a mammoth showdown ... The Buckeyes hold a slim 17-14 all-time series advantage ... Fifth-year senior quarterback J.T. Barrett's next touchdown pass will be the 91st of his career and will give him the all-time Big Ten lead; he is currently tied with former Purdue quarterback Drew Brees ... Ohio State will wear primarily gray alternate uniforms ... Barrett boasts a 21-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio — his scoring throw total is tied for fourth in the land.
No. 2 Penn State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)
Riding a 15-game regular-season winning streak, No. 2 Penn State heads to No. 6 Ohio State ... The Buckeyes rank sixth in all-time college football wins with 892, while the Nittany Lions are ninth with 874 ... Redshirt junior quarterback Trace McSorley leads the Big Ten in completion percentage (66.8) and passing yards per game (268.4) ... Senior cornerback Christian Campbell's nine pass breakups are tied for the third-most in the league.
Purdue (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten)
Halfway to bowl eligibility, Purdue hosts Nebraska this weekend ... The Boilermakers defeated the Cornhuskers, 55-45, the last time the two teams met in West Lafayette in 2015 ... Redshirt freshman receiver Jackson Anthrop's four touchdown catches are tied for the sixth-most in the conference ... Junior running back Markell Jones has only averaged 46.6 rushing yards per game in his last three contests since returning from injury.
Rutgers (3-4, 2-2 Big Ten)
Winners of back-to-back Big Ten games for the first time ever, Rutgers heads to Michigan ... The Scarlet Knights will be seeking their third straight conference victory for the first time since winning three in a row in the Big East in 2012 ... Rutgers fell to Michigan 78-0 last year in what was the biggest margin of victory among Big Ten opponents in conference history ... Redshirt junior quarterback Giovanni Rescigno made his first start of the season last week in place of injured fifth-year senior Kyle Bolin and is expected to start once again this week.
No. 5 Wisconsin (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)
No. 5 Wisconsin hopes to keep its undefeated season alive when it heads to Illinois this weekend ... The Badgers have won five of their last six meetings with the Illini and have not lost to them since 2007 ... Wisconsin is off to only its third 7-0 start in the modern era (since 1946) and first since starting 9-0 in 2004 ... The Badgers are currently riding a 10-game conference winning streak, which is the longest in school history ... Freshman running back Jonathan Taylor's 158.8 yards per game are the third-most in the nation.
Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 28
— No. 5 Wisconsin at Illinois: 12:00 p.m. (ESPN)
— Rutgers at Michigan: 12:00 p.m. (BTN)
— No. 2 Penn State at No. 6 Ohio State: 3:30 p.m. (FOX)
— No. 16 Michigan State at Northwestern: 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
— Indiana at Maryland: 3:30 p.m. (BTN)
— Minnesota at Iowa: 6:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)
— Nebraska at Purdue: 7:30 p.m. (BTN)
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