ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Several teams are getting healthy, while the status of Ohio State running back Beanie Wells remains in doubt as the Week 2 games approach.

Link time:

• The Big Ten is running out of chances to improve its national image, Loren Tate writes in The (Champaign, Ill.) News-Gazette.
  

"History is building. In the eight previous seasons of the 21st century, the Big Ten bowl audit shows 10-12 vs. the SEC, 5-7 against the Big 12, 3-8 in meetings with the Pac-10 and 2-3 vs. the ACC. That's a 20-30 record that computes to 40 percent."

• Illinois coach Ron Zook identified three major problems in the loss to Missouri. The run game wasn't one of them, Herb Gould writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.
  
• Indiana wideout Andrew Means is a big fan of the no-huddle offense, though coach Bill Lynch thinks it needs more work, Chris Korman writes in the Bloomington Herald Times (subscription required).
  
• Is Iowa's quarterback competition being blown out of proportion? Coach Kirk Ferentz thinks so, but it's time for junior Jake Christensen to win the thing already, Pat Harty writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Don't expect more bulletin-board material from Hawkeyes offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde before the Iowa State game, Scott Dochterman writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette.
  
• The Big Ten is taking plenty of heat for soft scheduling, but The Detroit News' Lynn Henning thinks Michigan made things too hard by playing Utah in Rich Rodriguez's debut.
  
• An added workload this season doesn't bother Michigan State running back Javon Ringer, Andrew Mouranie writes in the Lansing State Journal. Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham are emerging as the Spartans' top receivers, Cash Kruth (great name) writes in The State News. Quarterback Brian Hoyer will take the criticism -- for now, Eric Lacy writes in The Detroit News. 
• Minnesota could use talented freshman Troy Stoudermire on more than just kickoff returns, Kent Youngblood writes the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune. Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi will sign a two-year contract extension, Charley Waters writes in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  
• Northwestern's new-look offensive line passed its first test, Lindsey Willhite writes in the Daily Herald. Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald is glued to weather.com before heading to Duke, where Hurricane Hanna could be a factor.
  
• Beanie Wells' mom says her son has a toe injury -- not turf toe -- and will be back on the field soon for Ohio State, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
  

"You know him," she said. "He doesn't want to sit for a week and be rusty (for USC)."

When he spotted reporters Tuesday, Beanie waved his walking boot over his head. Looks like he'll be fine, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

• Penn State's secondary will be put to the test against Lyle Moevao and Oregon State, Cory Giger writes in The Altoona Mirror. Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno will know much more about his team after Saturday, Frank Bodani writes in The York Daily Record.
  
• Kory Sheets has always wanted to be The Man at Purdue, but the senior has shown a greater sense of urgency after Jaycen Taylor's season-ending knee injury, Tom Kubat writes in The Journal and Courier.
  
• Several young Wisconsin defenders are learning quick, much to the enjoyment of coach Bret Bielema, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Badgers defensive end Kirk DeCremer could become a volunteer coach after a career-ending back injury, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.