The Wolverine takes a look around the conference heading into the seventh week of the college football season:
Illinois (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
Illinois looks to snap its three-game losing streak this weekend when it hosts Rutgers ... Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jeff George had a rough outing in his first start of the season last Saturday at Iowa, only completing 22 of 45 passes with no touchdowns and three picks ... The Illini hold a 2-12 record in their last 14 Big Ten games dating back to 2015, with the two victories coming against Rutgers and Michigan State in 2016.
Indiana (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten)
Indiana hopes to avoid an 0-3 conference start when it hosts No. 17 Michigan this weekend ... The Hoosiers' 27-0 win over Charleston Southern last week was their first shutout since blanking Michigan State 10-0 in 1993 ... Michigan has dominated the all-time series with Indiana, holding a 56-9 advantage, including victories in 36 of the last 37 meetings ... The Hoosiers lost a 48-41 double-overtime heartbreaker the last time the Wolverines visited Bloomington in 2015.
Maryland (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
Having lost two of its last three, Maryland looks to get back on track this weekend when it hosts Northwestern ... Even though both teams have been conference foes since 2014, this will actually be their first-ever meeting against each other ... The Terrapin defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher since Nov. 5 of last season, a string of nine consecutive games — Michigan's De'Veon Smith was the last to do it ... Sophomore quarterback Max Bortenschlager is questionable for the game after getting injured last week against Ohio State; if he is unable to play, redshirt junior Caleb Henderson will start in his place … Maryland has already lost two QBs to season-ending injuries.
No. 21 Michigan State (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten)
No. 21 Michigan State hits the road for a primetime showdown at Minnesota this weekend ... The Spartans lead the all-time series with the Gophers, 29-17, but this will be their first meeting since 2013 ... After racking up 10 tackles and an interception last Saturday against Michigan, sophomore linebacker Joe Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week ... Junior running back LJ Scott missed the U-M game with an injury and is questionable against the Gophers.
Minnesota (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten)
Minnesota will attempt to snap its two-game losing streak when it hosts No. 21 Michigan State this weekend ... The Gophers will be without two key secondary players — redshirt freshman cornerback Kiondre Thomas and sophomore safety Antoine Winfield will miss the game with injury ... Minnesota's running back tandem is statistically the best in the Big Ten — redshirt junior Rodney Smith is sixth in the conference in yards per game (79.6), while junior Shannon Brooks ranks seventh (78.7).
Nebraska (3-3, 2-1 Big Ten)
Winners of two of its last three, Nebraska faces a daunting task when it hosts No. 9 Ohio State ... The Cornhuskers' biggest comeback in school history came against the Buckeyes in 2011, when they rallied from a 27-6 deficit to win 34-27 ... Nebraska has won the fourth-most games in college football history (889), while Ohio State boasts fifth-most wins (886) ... Junior receiver Stanley Morgan was added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list this week, which is given annually to the nation's best receiver; his 102 yards per game are 20 more than any other player in the Big Ten.
Northwestern (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
Losers of three of its last four, Northwestern travels to Maryland this weekend ... The Wildcats have dropped four of their last five road games, dating back to last season ... Redshirt freshman linebacker Paddy Fisher's 43 tackles rank fourth in the league ... A loss would drop Northwestern two games below .500 for the first time since it finished 5-7 in 2014.
No. 9 Ohio State (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten)
No. 9 Ohio State hits the road for Nebraska on Saturday ... The Buckeyes hold a 4-1 lead in the all-time series ... Ohio State's secondary was torched the first two games of the season against Indiana and Oklahoma, respectively, and found its pass defense ranked No. 130 nationally; since then, though, it has climbed all the way up to No. 17 in the country (170 yards allowed per game).
Purdue (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
Purdue looks to keep its impressive debut season under head coach Jeff Brohm going when it heads to No. 7 Wisconsin ... A victory would mark the Boilermakers' best six-game start since 2010 ... Purdue holds an abysmal 2-14 record in its last 16 Big Ten road games, dating back to 2013 ... After missing the first four games of the season with injury, junior running back Markell Jones returned to action last week against Minnesota and scored the game-winning touchdown with just 1:17 to go.
Rutgers (1-4, 0-2 Big Ten)
Rutgers will be seeking its first conference victory of the season when it plays at Illinois on Saturday ... Head coach Chris Ash announced a major position change on Tuesday, revealing that redshirt sophomore receiver Jawuan Harris — last year's leading receiver with 481 yards — would be moving to safety to help fill the shoes of redshirt junior starter Saquan Hampton, who is out indefinitely with injury ... Ash also announced redshirt sophomore starting right guard Jonah Jackson will be out until at least November with an injury.
No. 7 Wisconsin (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten)
No. 7 Wisconsin will attempt to keep its undefeated season alive on Saturday when it welcomes Purdue to Madison ... The Badgers have won 11 consecutive games against the Boilermakers and have not lost to them since 2003 ... Freshman running back Jonathan Taylor continued his torrid pace last week against Nebraska, rushing for 249 yards and two touchdowns; his 153.4 rushing yards per game rank fourth in the entire country ... Wisconsin has won 23 of its last 27 games.
Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 14
— No. 17 Michigan at Indiana: 12:00 p.m. (ABC)
— Rutgers at Illinois: 12:00 p.m. (BTN)
— Northwestern at Maryland: 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
— Purdue at No. 7 Wisconsin: 3:30 p.m. (BTN)
— No. 9 Ohio State at Nebraska: 7:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)
— No. 21 Michigan State at Minnesota: 8:00 p.m. (BTN)
Bye: Iowa, No. 3 Penn State
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