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The wait is finally over for Big Ten players not selected in April's NFL draft.

Free agent deals are finally taking place during a whirlwind week in the post-lockout NFL.

We'll have additional updates as the day goes on, but here's a look at where Big Ten players are landing.

ILLINOIS

• CB Travon Bellamy, St. Louis Rams
• WR Jarred Fayson: New Orleans Saints
• G Randall Hunt: St. Louis Rams
• DE Clay Nurse: New England Patriots

INDIANA

• QB Ben Chappell: Washington Redskins
• WR Terrance Turner: Philadelphia Eagles

IOWA

• P Ryan Donahue: Detroit Lions
• LB Jeremiah Hunter: New Orleans Saints
• TE Allen Reisner: Minnesota Vikings
• LB Jeff Tarpinian: New England Patriots

MICHIGAN

• T Perry Dorrestein: New York Jets
• CB James Rogers: Denver Broncos
• TE Martell Webb: Philadelphia Eagles

MICHIGAN STATE

• WR Mark Dell: Denver Broncos
• LB Eric Gordon: Jacksonville Jaguars
• T D.J. Young: Arizona Cardinals

MINNESOTA

• T Dom Alford: Cleveland Browns
• FB Jon Hoese: Green Bay Packers
• QB Adam Weber: Denver Broncos

NEBRASKA

• K Adi Kunalic: Carolina Panthers
• TE Mike McNeill: Indianapolis Colts
• DE Pierre Allen: Seattle Seahawks
• G Ricky Henry: Chicago Bears
• T D.J. Jones: Miami Dolphins
• S Rickey Thenarse: Seattle Seahawks

NORTHWESTERN

• DT Corbin Bryant: Chicago Bears
• LB Quentin Davie: Detroit Lions

OHIO STATE

• G Bryant Browning: St. Louis Rams
• G Justin Boren: Baltimore Ravens
• RB Brandon Saine: Green Bay Packers
• WR Dane Sanzenbacher: Chicago Bears
• DT Dexter Larimore: New Orleans Saints
• CB Devon Torrence: Minnesota Vikings

PENN STATE

• WR Brett Brackett: Miami Dolphins
• LB Chris Colasanti: Indianapolis Colts
• LB Bani Gbadyu: Oakland Raiders
• DT Ollie Ogbu: Indianapolis Colts

PURDUE

• TE Kyle Adams: Chicago Bears
• WR Keith Smith: Detroit Lions

WISCONSIN

• CB Niles Brinkley: Pittsburgh Steelers
• RB John Clay: Pittsburgh Steelers
• QB Scott Tolzien: San Diego Chargers

Da'Jon McKnight is a fast learner.

The Minnesota receiver didn't play football in his sophomore or junior years of high school as he focused on basketball instead. Despite that lack of experience, he blossomed into one of the Big Ten's best wideouts last year as a junior. McKnight caught 46 balls for 75o yards, and only Ohio State's Dane Sanzenbacher had more than his 10 touchdown grabs.

Imagine what McKnight can do now that he's really starting to understand the game.

"I feel like I've learned a whole lot," he said. "I know about routes and what the defense is trying to do, whether it's a Cover 2 or a Trap 2. I've learned little techniques to help my game.

"I feel like I can double my catches this year. But it's all about the team winning and being more consistent."

McKnight has always had good size at 6-foot-3. He says his body is more sculpted now at a solid 210 pounds, after playing at about 208 last year. He's paying more attention to his nutrition; instead of his regular stops at McDonald's for a breakfast burrito, he's turning to bagels, apples and protein bars to start his morning.

Interestingly enough, the Gophers' second-leading receiver last year was MarQueis Gray, who is now the team's quarterback. While Gray may still need to learn the finer points of quarterback play, he and McKnight have great chemistry after playing the same position together last year. And there should be no misunderstandings between the quarterbacks and receivers.

"He knows how it is to play receiver," McKnight said. "He knows sometimes we have jammed fingers. He knows when to throw it hard and when to put some touch on it. I think playing receiver will really help him out."

Former quarterback Adam Weber always knew to look McKnight's way in the red zone last year. McKnight is hoping he and Gray form that same connection.

"I told him, from the 20-yard line on in, the jump ball is always an option," he said. "If you ever get in trouble, you can't go wrong throwing the jump ball to me."

We'll see whether defenses can learn how to stop that.

Last links of the week ...

• Ohio State is changing the way it oversees athletes, including tighter scrutiny on players' car purchases and game passes. Gene Smith acknowledged that he asked Jim Tressel to resign and says the school is ready to respond to the NCAA allegations.

• Bubba Starling's dad says the quarterback will report to Nebraska this weekend for conditioning, but there are no guarantees that he stays there. Ex-Huskers QB Cody Green is looking at USC, along with Baylor and Tulsa.

• A former Penn State player has dedicated his life to the fight against cancer after watching his father succumb to the disease. Offensive lineman Eric Shrive has raised more than $23,000 for Friday's Lift for Life event. One writer sees no question about who should be the Nittany Lions quarterback this year.

• Marc Morehouse's countdown of the top Kirk Ferentz teams culminates with No. 1. The Hawkeyes picked up a highly rated defensive lineman on the recruiting front.

• A star running back recruit says he remains committed to Northwestern even though other schools are sniffing around him.

• Purdue picked up an in-state defensive back who might be moved to linebacker in college.

• Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez could get a new, $1 million a year deal.

• Former Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber is staying ready for a chance at an NFL job, whenever the NFL decides to get back to work. Jerry Kill promises that the Gophers will be a reflection of their state.

During my Big Ten chat Wednesday, Dan from B1G Country asked about any NFL draft bargains from the conference this year.

With the draft set to begin Thursday night, I thought this would be a good time to look at some Big Ten players who might benefit teams in the middle or later rounds, or even as free-agent pickups.

Here's one potential bargain from each Big Ten squad (heights and weights according to ESPN's Scouts Inc.).

ILLINOIS
Randall Hunt, G, 6-6, 318
The skinny: Hunt anchored a formidable Illinois offensive line that helped Mikel Leshoure and others run wild in 2010. He shut down Baylor's Phil Taylor in the Texas Bowl and brings a sturdy frame to the interior line. Hunt wouldn't be a bad choice in the later rounds.

INDIANA
James Brewer, T, 6-6, 323
The skinny: I'm hesitant to call Brewer a bargain because he could be off the board early in the draft. Indiana had another tackle, Rodger Saffold, taken with the first pick of the second round in 2010. Brewer has the size to be good at the next level, and if he's still available on the third day, he'd be a nice pick.

IOWA
Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, WR, 5-11, 202
The skinny: The character questions are there, but DJK was an extremely productive player at Iowa and could be a nice late-round addition for a team. He's a strong route runner with good speed and good hands, and he can stretch defenses. If a team is willing to take a bit of a risk, it could be rewarded.

MICHIGAN
Stephen Schilling, G, 6-4, 308
The skinny: Schilling played a ton of football at Michigan and helped the Wolverines to a record-setting offensive performance in 2010. His measurables might not blow teams away, but he's a smart, solid lineman who could be a nice addition in the middle to later rounds.

MICHIGAN STATE
Eric Gordon, LB/S, 5-11, 224
The skinny: Overshadowed by fellow linebacker Greg Jones for much of his career, Gordon quietly produced at an extremely high rate for Michigan State. You could argue he was the Spartans' best linebacker during the second half of the 2010 season. Gordon turned in an impressive performance on pro day and would be a nice pickup late in the draft or as a free agent.

MINNESOTA
Adam Weber, QB, 6-3, 221
The skinny: Some Gophers fans might scoff at this, but I always felt Weber got a raw deal during his college career. He played for three different offensive coordinators, never complained about it and still set a bunch of team records. While his junior season was a disappointment, Weber did some good things last fall and drew respect around the Big Ten. Not a bad pick in the later rounds.

NEBRASKA
Eric Hagg, S, 6-1, 209
The skinny: Hagg is a playmaker, as he showed with a team-high five interceptions plus a school-record 95-yard punt return for a touchdown against Texas. He also brings versatility to the table, having played a safety-linebacker hybrid role last fall for the Blackshirts. Hagg has played on an elite college defense and would be a good get in the middle to late rounds.

NORTHWESTERN
Quentin Davie, LB, 6-4, 238
The skinny: Davie entered the 2010 season as a solid NFL prospect and started off strong but disappeared at times down the stretch. He made big plays throughout his career and boasts good size as an outside linebacker. Davie could help a team as a late-round or free-agent addition if he gets back to his 2009 form.

OHIO STATE
Dane Sanzenbacher, WR, 5-11, 182
The skinny: If I were an NFL general manager, I wouldn't hesitate to draft Sanzenbacher. He lacks ideal measurables but makes up for it with football intelligence and a fearless approach to the game. Sanzenbacher has great hands and became Ohio State's top threat in the red zone this season. He stood out at the Senior Bowl and would be an excellent pick in the middle rounds.

PENN STATE
Evan Royster, RB, 5-11, 212
The skinny: Royster is a patient runner with good vision who could thrive in the right situation at the pro level. His slow start to the 2010 season is a concern, but he picked things up down the stretch and boasts a productive college résumé. If a team needs a running back in the late rounds, Royster would be a nice choice.

PURDUE
Keith Smith, WR, 6-2, 224
The skinny: There's risk here as Smith comes off of tears in two knee ligaments, but a team could get a major steal if the Boilers receiver can stay healthy. He has the size to excel at the pro level and might have been the Big Ten's top receiver had he stayed on the field last season. Smith is a class act who has a chance to be a solid NFL receiver.

WISCONSIN
Scott Tolzien, QB, 6-2, 209
The skinny: He might never be a full-time starter in the NFL, but teams certainly can benefit from having Tolzien on the roster. He's an extremely smart player who makes up for mediocre measurables with superb intangibles. Tolzien is accurate and efficient, and he'll prepare harder than anyone. If a team needs a quarterback in the later rounds, Tolzien would be a great pick.

Minnesotans are known for their hospitality, but several folks stiff-armed formalities when Matt Limegrover came to town as Gophers' offensive coordinator.

"I didn't get a, 'Hello, welcome to Minnesota,'" Limegrover recalled. "I got a, 'Hey, is MarQueis going to be our starting quarterback?' They wanted to anoint him from the day we got on campus."

From that day forward, Limegrover provided the same answer: I don't know. He wanted to look for the best quarterback to run his offense, not the fan favorite or the most athletically gifted or the highest recruited player.

Would MarQueis Gray be in the mix? Without a doubt. But new Minnesota coach Jerry Kill, Limegrover and the rest of the staff are stressing accountability this spring. Starting jobs will be earned, not inherited.

"We need that quarterback to be a quarterback," Limegrover said, "more than just a wonderful athlete who can catch a snap from center."

Fortunately for the coaches, Gray accepted their challenge.

He spent the winter months studying Northern Illinois games from the 2010 season, trying to pick up nuggets and nuances from the offense Minnesota will run this season. He hounded his new quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski with questions.

He would lead voluntary workouts and then gather teammates like top receiver Da'Jon McKnight to watch more film. Gray went "above and beyond in his preparation," Limegrover said.

"He would show us the depth or the speed or the timing, things like that," McKnight said. "It just showed me he cares. He's trying to be a leader. He really wants to win."

It has paid dividends so far this spring.

From talking with Kill on Monday, I can say the new coach isn't giddy about too many things right now with his team. But Gray's progress is one of them.

"He's been the biggest surprise on our whole team, period," Kill said. "MarQueis has done an unbelievable job of picking up what we're asking him to do. He's had to learn a lot, he's seen a lot of different things from the defense, he's handled himself well, he's very composed. He's got good work ethic and he's a good football player."

Gray knew he'd need to get back into "quarterback mode" this winter after playing most of the 2010 season at wide receiver, where he finished second on the team in receptions (42), receiving yards (587) and receiving touchdowns (5). He was used to learning a new offense after Minnesota cycled in new systems the previous two years, but he spent even more time with the scheme Kill and Limegrover were bringing from Northern Illinois.

"I thought I might as well get a head start and become a vocal leader and put guys in the right place," Gray told me Monday. "I just took the job head-on. It put me a step of everyone else, and now I can help them because I came in earlier."

Gray always has been popular with Gophers fans. A good portion of them wanted to see him win the starting job last spring, when he competed alongside Adam Weber.

Although Gray entered the offseason as the heavy favorite to claim the starting job, he never felt entitled to it.

"I didn't want them to just hand me over the job because they heard good things," he said.

Gray's work the past few months has his coaches saying plenty of good things about their top quarterback.

"He’s the best quarterback; not just the best athlete at quarterback," Limegrover said. "If he had come in and fumbled around and couldn't get people in right spots and had trouble with cadence, then we'd have a real dilemma on our hands. To his credit, he wasn’t going to leave anything to chance. It made our lives a lot easier."

Greetings from the West Coast. Anything going on in the Big Ten these days? Hello, Columbus! What's up with this Bizarro World Rose (NCAA) Bowl between Ohio State and Oregon this offseason?

Let's start with the Tressel-gate.

• Stewart Mandel isn't buying Jim Tressel's defense.
• The word of the day: hypocrisy. It's all about winning and little else, and that is a stain on Tressel's coaching legacy.
• It was hard for Tressel to maintain his senatorial mien, which shouldn't be surprising: The Buckeye, er, buck, stops with him.
• Hunter: Ohio State came to praise Caesar, not to bury him, which was a mistake.
• Ray Ratto doesn't think any of this outrage will bother Ohio State folks. Here's a Buckeye perspective.
• Here's a timeline on the story. And here are some of Tressel's e-mails with the individual who alerted him to his players actions.
• Ohio State is just the latest example suggesting that major college football -- with all the money at stake -- is out of control.
• This story pulls out quotes from various columnists opining on the matter.

And in non-Buckeye news:

• Indiana is paying its assistant coaches well.
• New Michigan coach Brady Hoke hasn't asked for much. Michigan AD David Brandon is feeling good these days.
• It wasn't a huge crowd, but the Vikings went to Minnesota's pro day and QB Adam Weber had a nice workout.
• The Nebraska football staff is evolving, though coach Bo Pelini didn't enjoy the process. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck's plan: simplify the offense.
• DE Corbin Bryant had a nice outing in front of NFL scouts.

You know how to reach me.

Joe from Chicago writes: "[Dan Roushar] inherits an offense that showed decent promise in 2010, and the Spartans bring back two-year starting quarterback Kirk Cousins." First of all, it was "decent" enough to win 11 games (many in clutch performances) and the conference championship, second of all, "promise" indicates that it was floundering around ineffectively, but has a chance to be mediocre in 2011. I don't think Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota, Purdue, or Penn State would characterize their losses to MSU with these adjectives. You'd think MSU just went 7-6 based on the way you describe them. MSU had two bad losses, but is not Illinois. Show us some love!

Adam Rittenberg: Joe, you're interpreting "promise" in that way, but that's not what I meant. Promise means potential -- I've never heard it interpreted as "floundering around ineffectively" -- and Michigan State boasts great potential for 2011 on offense. I can't rate the Spartans' 2010 offense as exceptional when the team finished in the middle of the league in most offensive categories and saw a pretty significant drop-off in rushing production as the season went on. Did the offense help Michigan State win a Big Ten title? No doubt. But clutch performances, as you mention, along with huge special-teams plays and solid defense also played a role. You bring up the Illinois, Minnesota and Penn State games. Were those displays of exceptional offense? Nope. But Michigan State found ways to win the games. Roushar inherits a pretty solid unit, but he also knows Michigan State must run the ball more consistently.

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Robert from Kansas City writes: My question is now that national signing day is over how much stock should we really put into how many stars a player has. Looking back on some of great Hawkeyes, many of there players who turned out to be All Americans and all Big Ten players had no more than three stars and some of them even had only one star (Bob Sanders). Do you think that the amount of stars a player has is over rated and that all four and five star recruits don't always translate into victories and that it has more to do with coaching a player up than anything else?

Adam Rittenberg: Robert, star ratings are often meaningless. They give us something to talk about and something for some fans to obsess about. But player development is way more important in my view, especially in the Big Ten. If star ratings really mattered, the ACC would be a dominant football conference, which it's not. Iowa is a great example of a program that does a masterful job in player development. While Iowa's heralded 2005 recruiting class didn't pan out that great, the Hawkeyes have transformed more than a few anonymous recruits into All-Big Ten and NFL players.

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Devin from an igloo in Indiana writes: When Danny Hope first came to Purdue he said he was going to recruit Florida hard to bring some more athleticism and speed, he has succeeded in signing 24 Floridians in the last 3 years, but when are we going to see this speed and athleticism on the field? (and translate to some wins?????)

Adam Rittenberg: Well, a couple of those Florida recruits are panning out, guys like star cornerback Ricardo Allen, linebacker Will Lucas and quarterback Rob Henry, who showed some promise last season before his hand injury. I would give Hope a little more time with these players because he's got the right idea by bringing in versatile, athletic guys to Purdue.

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Matt from Indianapolis writes: Hey Adam,Just heard Indiana lost two more coaches. What's the deal with them losing 3 in less than 3 months? Raymond and Montgomery were the names of the guys leaving...Any idea what's going on here?

Adam Rittenberg: Matt, it's a little unusual to lose three coaches, but assistants will make moves after signing day if they get better opportunities elsewhere. Indiana is a bit of a risky place to be given the prolonged struggles and while IU is giving coach Kevin Wilson enough time and resources to get things right, it's hard to pass up places like Nebraska (Corey Raymond) and Michigan (Jerry Montgomery). Brent Pease's situation at Boise is a little bit different because he never would have left if he knew offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin would depart to Texas. I will say the number of Big Ten assistants making moves within the league this year is very unusual.

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Craig from Braintree, Mass., writes: Adam Weber has some of the best QB career numbers for the University of Minnesota and was a three year captain and the NFL doesn't invite him to the combine. I find that hard to believe. What's your take?

Adam Rittenberg: Craig, I thought there was a good chance Weber would be invited, but there are several factors working against him. He played in so many systems in college and understandably had some growing pains. While his numbers improved in 2010, the drop-off in 2009 likely hurt his stock. NFL scouts have interest in Weber, and he still should be able to find a spot in the league next year.

These days, MarQueis Gray spends his free time studying tape from Northern Illinois' 2010 season, trying to soak in the offense he'll run at Minnesota this fall.

Gray likes the scheme, which suits his skill set well. But Minnesota's coaches could have told him they'd be running the wishbone or the run 'n' shoot, as long as he would be the man calling signals.

Once Gray heard he was returning to the quarterback spot, nothing else really mattered.

"That's basically what I wanted to hear," Gray told me this week. "It put a smile on my face."

Gray came to Minnesota as a heralded dual-threat quarterback but started at wide receiver last season because the coaches didn't want to waste his talent on clipboard duty. The 6-4, 230-pound Gray finished second on the team in receptions (42), receiving yards (587) and receiving touchdowns (5), while adding 110 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Although the departure of four-year starting quarterback Adam Weber suggested Gray would return to quarterback, he didn't take anything for granted.

"I had no idea what they were going to do with me," Gray said. "But when [the new staff] first got here, I talked with coach [Jerry] Kill and he told me I was going to be his quarterback. I've played quarterback all my life. I just like being the general on the field, being the man that the team looks to to help them win games."

Gray knows he must re-establish himself as a leader and has taken steps to do so this offseason. He has pushed himself to be more vocal in winter workouts and gathers receivers to go through pass routes after weightlifting sessions.

"I'm getting back into the rhythm of it," he said. "I haven’t being doing it since I left high school, but they believe in me and I believe in them, so I'm pretty sure it’s going to work out."

Gray also has spent time with his new quarterbacks coach, Jim Zebrowski, going over the new scheme. Zebrowski told Gray that the system blends the offenses from Rose Bowl participants TCU and Wisconsin, although Gray sees more plays run from the shotgun and pistol formations than from under center.

Dual-threat quarterback Chandler Harnish excelled in the offense at Northern Illinois, accounting for 28 touchdowns (21 pass, 7 rush) and 3,366 yards of total offense (2,530 pass, 836 rush) in 2010. The Gophers' staff knows Gray will need time to grow in the system, but they like what they're inheriting.

"We were watching the [Minnesota-Iowa] game and he goes back there in the quasi-Wildcat as the quarterback and he lasers one," offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said. "We kind of looked at each other and said, 'OK, we can work with that.' You think, 'OK, wonderful athlete, can run, can do things with the ball in his hands, All-Big Ten caliber wide receiver,' that's awesome. But then you watch him drop back and throw the ball.

"Then you go, 'This kid's more than just an athlete we're going to put back there. He's a quarterback.'"

A very rough season in Minneapolis ended on a good note with hope for better things ahead.

Minnesota would love to delete most of the 2010 season, as the team endured a nine-game losing streak and became the first FBS squad to fire its coach this fall. Tim Brewster was sent packing in mid October after his team slipped to 1-6.

The Gophers had a multitude of problems, but most traced back to a defense that began the season with 11 new starters. Minnesota ranked last in the Big Ten against the run (191.4 ypg) and struggled to slow down opponents for long stretches. Special teams also were problematic at times, and the offense couldn't translate yards into points. Although quarterback Adam Weber improved upon his poor junior season, he and his teammates struggled to put it all together for victories.

To the Gophers' credit, they never stopped fighting, and interim coach Jeff Horton did a fantastic job keeping the team united. Minnesota finally broke through at Illinois on Nov. 13 and followed it up with an upset victory against Iowa to claim a rivalry trophy for the first time since 2006. Players like receiver/quarterback MarQueis Gray and cornerback Troy Stoudermire finished the season the right way.

It's time for Minnesota to close the book on 2010 and start a new chapter.

Offensive MVP: Adam Weber. The wins didn't come until November, but Weber gave Minnesota chances to win with an improved performance from 2009. He passed for 2,679 yards with 20 touchdown strikes and nine interceptions, and he added 156 rushing yards. Receiver Da'Jon McKnight merits a mention here after tying for the Big Ten lead with 10 touchdown receptions.

Defensive MVP: Gary Tinsley. Tinsley developed into one of the Big Ten's more productive linebackers in 2010. He ranked 10th in the league in tackles per game (7.5) and ranked second on the team with 9.5 tackles for loss. Tinsley added a forced fumble and an interception. Stoudermire, linebacker Mike Rallis and safety Kyle Theret should be mentioned as well.

Turning point: Minnesota never truly recovered from a Week 2 loss to FCS South Dakota State, which scored at will against the Gophers. But Minnesota continued to play hard and had a great chance to open Big Ten play at 1-0 after building a 28-20 fourth-quarter lead against Northwestern on Oct. 2. But the Gophers couldn't hang on and fell 29-28. Two weeks later, Brewster was canned and Minnesota endured five consecutive losses by double digits after the Northwestern defeat.

What's next: Minnesota on Monday introduced Jerry Kill as its new head coach. Kill isn't the big name Gophers fans had hoped for, but he has a track record of turning around programs and brings a more measured approach to Minneapolis after Brewster's promises of Big Ten titles. The rebuilding likely will continue in 2011, but Kill inherits some nice pieces, including Gray and McKnight.

» Power Rankings: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-10 | SEC | Non-AQ

Not many changes this week, aside from a shuffle at the bottom.

1. Wisconsin (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten): It's dangerous for anyone to get in Wisconsin's path right now. The Badgers bullied their way to a share of the Big Ten title and most likely earned their first trip to the Rose Bowl since Jan. 1, 2000. Paul Chryst's offense is the most dangerous unit in the conference.

2. Ohio State (11-1, 7-1): Big Ten titles and beat-downs of Michigan have become the norm for Ohio State, and the 2010 Buckeyes kept the streaks alive. Ohio State is a team that gets stronger as games go on and as the season goes on. The Buckeyes likely will aim for a second consecutive BCS bowl win, most likely in New Orleans against the dreaded SEC.

3. Michigan State (11-1, 7-1): Whatever happens with the bowl selections, Michigan State can call itself a champion after an impressive performance against Penn State. The Spartans have a strong case for BCS selection but could get snubbed because of more impressive finishes by both Wisconsin and Ohio State. Still, Mark Dantonio's team has overcome a ton of adversity both on and off the field.

4. Penn State (7-5, 4-4): At least Penn State competed on Saturday, which is more than I can say for Michigan and Northwestern, and, for that matter, Iowa in the closing minutes. The Nittany Lions clearly are not an elite team, but they have fared very well in bowl games under Joe Paterno and can start building toward 2011 in the upcoming practices before a New Year's Day contest.

5. Iowa (7-5, 4-4): What happened here? After dismantling Michigan State on Oct. 30, the Hawkeyes backslid in November and finished the regular season with three consecutive losses. The team that was so good at finishing last fall allowed late touchdowns in all five of its losses and repeatedly lost its poise in clutch situations. Extremely disappointing.

6. Illinois (6-5, 4-4): The open week came at a good time for Illinois, which got to sit back and watch its fellow mid-tier mates fall apart. Illinois faces a huge test Friday night at Fresno State, which is always tough to beat on its home field. A victory secures a winning season for Illinois and gives the Illini some momentum entering a bowl game.

7. Michigan (7-5, 3-5): Back-to-back blowout losses put a damper on a season that began with a surge but slowed down considerably in Big Ten play. Quarterback Denard Robinson is a stud but he does not have enough weapons around him, and Michigan's repeated breakdowns on defense and specials teams are discouraging so late in the season.

8. Northwestern (7-5, 3-5): You expected the offense to have its struggles without star quarterback Dan Persa, but Northwestern's defense simply has not shown up the past two weeks. Whether it is youth or a lack of leadership, the Wildcats have to be concerned after surrendering 118 points to Illinois and Wisconsin. Pat Fitzgerald's teams have finished the season strong until this year.

9. Minnesota (3-9, 2-6): Written off in mid November, Minnesota won its final two regular-season games to end things on a good note. You had to be pleased for senior quarterback Adam Weber, who finally got his hands on a rivalry trophy as the Gophers hoisted the Floyd of Rosedale. Uncertain times are ahead for Minnesota, but the players have a reason to smile entering the offseason.

10. Indiana (5-7, 1-7): Winning the Bucket game wasn't enough to save coach Bill Lynch, but Indiana moves up a spot in the power rankings after winning at Ross-Ade Stadium for the first time since 1996. The Hoosiers really will miss Ben Chappell, one of the nation's more underrated quarterbacks. All eyes now turn to the coaching search.

11. Purdue (4-8, 2-6): If Purdue could hold a lead, it would be going bowling as one of the nation's more improbable success stories. But the Boilers didn't get it done against Michigan State and Indiana and finished the season with six consecutive defeats. The injury excuse works this season, but Danny Hope needs to make a bowl in Year 3 to avoid some serious heat.

Five lessons from the Week that was in Big Ten football:

1. Wisconsin and Ohio State look poised for BCS success: The Big Ten won't have a team in the BCS title game, but the league appears ready to do some damage in the big bowls for the second consecutive season. Wisconsin finished the regular season with seven consecutive wins and won four November games by a combined score of 235-84. Ohio State, meanwhile, continued its November success under head coach Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes stepped up in the second halves of all three of their November victories and now take aim at a second straight BCS bowl win.

2. Michigan State can finish: The Spartans' season of milestones ended with several more, as they won at Penn State for the first time since 1965 and captured a share of the Big Ten championship for the first time since 1990. Fittingly, Michigan State found a way to finish after Penn State made things very interesting with 19 fourth-quarter points. While previous Spartans' teams might have fallen short against Notre Dame, Northwestern, Purdue and Penn State, the 2010 version proved that it is truly special.

3. Michigan's progress is hard to find: Two years after a 42-7 loss in Columbus, Michigan came to The Shoe and fell 37-7 in a game that was just as uncompetitive as the 2008 contest. The Wolverines continued to make major mistakes in all three phases, and Rich Rodriguez's record against Michigan's Big Ten rivals fell to 0-6. This isn't the type of product Rodriguez expected to see in Week 13 of his third season on the sideline. Although Michigan improved its record by two games, the program's overall progress remains up for debate. Athletic director Dave Brandon must mull this over as he determines Rodriguez's future.

4. Ben Chappell and Adam Weber went out as winners: Both quarterbacks set team records but also experienced plenty of losing in their careers. But both men ended things on a good note Saturday, helping their teams to wins in rivalry games. Chappell was brilliant at Purdue, passing for 330 yards and three touchdowns as Indiana snapped a 12-game Big Ten road losing streak and won at Ross-Ade Stadium for the first time since 1996. Weber passed for 164 yards and got plenty of help from the running backs and his defense as Minnesota won a rivalry trophy for the first time in his four years as the starting quarterback.

5. Northwestern's and Iowa's seasons ended on the same play: Neither team has been the same since Dan Persa fired a touchdown pass to beat Iowa on Nov. 13 at Ryan Field. Northwestern has flat lined without its starting quarterback, and while the offensive struggles could be expected, the defense didn't show up in the final two weeks of the regular season. Iowa ended an extremely disappointing regular season with three consecutive losses, the last to a 2-9 Minnesota team that showed a lot more fight than the Hawkeyes in a rivalry game.

Jeff Horton won't win Big Ten Coach of the Year. That honor will deservedly go to Michigan State's Mark Dantonio or Wisconsin's Bret Bielema.

But Horton deserves a ton of credit for keeping Minnesota on track through a very tough time. And today, the Gophers got a big reward.

The Floyd of Rosedale.

Minnesota's 27-24 upset of No. 24 Iowa allowed the Gophers to hoist a rivalry trophy for the first time since 2006. And you could tell how excited the Minnesota players were as they raced over to grab the bronze pig on Iowa's sideline.

Those of us who know Gophers quarterback Adam Weber are happy for him Saturday. He has endured a ton of losing in his college career, and to win a rivalry trophy in his final game is something he'll never forget. Weber had a so-so day passing the ball, but he got plenty of help from running backs DeLeon Eskridge (95 rush yards, TD) and Duane Bennett (63 rush yards, TD).

Backup quarterback MarQueis Gray also provided a lift with 39 rush yards and a score, including a huge third-down conversion to set up the winning touchdown.

What a letdown for Iowa, which dropped its final three Big Ten games by a total of 10 points. The Hawkeyes once again seemed to wear down on defense and recorded only 218 offensive yards against the nation's No. 88 defense.

I expected a lot more from a senior-laden Iowa team that needs to refocus itself for a bowl game.

Too stuffed for links? You're getting soft.

• A terrific piece by annarbor.com's Pete Bigelow on Denard Robinson's hometown and how the Michigan QB has evolved.
• Ohio State star Cameron Heyward will be thinking of "Ironhead" on Senior Day, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch. The Buckeyes' strength of schedule takes some hits nationally after E. Gordon Gee's comments, Andy Gardiner writes in USA Today.
• Speculation is building that Michigan could dump Rich Rodriguez, and they should if the Wolverines get pounded by Ohio State, Bob Wojnowski writes in The Detroit News.
• Indiana coach Bill Lynch has to win the Bucket game to have any chance of returning in 2011, Bob Kravitz writes in The Indianapolis Star.
• Wisconsin's senior class looks to leave a lasting legacy, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Badgers likely will swipe a key recruit away from Iowa, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins isn't too concerned about the noise in Happy Valley, Lynn Henning writes in The Detroit News. Should Spartans fans be mourning the end of the annual Penn State series? The Lansing State Journal's Joe Rexrode and Barry Kiel debate.
• A good roundup of an odd week for Penn State football from statecollege.com's Mike Poorman.
• Iowa-Nebraska is a natural Thanksgiving rivalry, Curt McKeever writes in the Lincoln Journal Star. Experts weigh in on Iowa's recruiting wish list, Pat Harty writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
• An interesting look at the Floyd of Rosedale trophy from The New York Times' Pat Borzi.
• Quarterback Adam Weber leaves Minnesota with no regrets, Phil Miller writes in the Star Tribune.
• Purdue star defensive end Ryan Kerrigan is closing in on the record books, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• The loss of star quarterback Dan Persa makes Northwestern a hard sell for bowl games, Teddy Greenstein writes in the Chicago Tribune.
• The (Champaign) News-Gazette's Bob Asmussen passes out his awards for Illinois in Big Ten play.

A few notes and nuggets to get you ready for Week 13 in Big Ten play. As always, thanks to ESPN Stats & Info for several of these.

• Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson has been called upon to run the ball a lot more than Ohio State signal caller Terrelle Pryor has this season, but both men have had success on designed runs. Robinson has taken 174 snaps this season knowing he is the designated ball carrier and has kept the ball 31 additional times off a zone read. He has averaged 7.5 yards per carry on these plays and has scored 23 touchdowns. Pryor has been involved in 56 designed runs, averaging 7.6 yards per carry with seven touchdowns.
• Pryor does his most damage as a ball-carrier on third down. Since 2009, he leads the FBS with 15 carries of 15 yards or more on third down, three more than Eastern Michigan's Alex Gillett. Pryor has averaged 13.1 yards on 23 third-down scrambles the past two seasons.
• Even if Wisconsin fails to score in each of its past two games, it will set a school record for most points per game in a season (current record is 34.3 in 2005).
• Purdue star defensive end Ryan Kerrigan needs 1.5 sacks to match Rosevelt Colvin's career team record of 35. Kerrigan needs two sacks to match Colvin's single-season team record of 15 and three tackles for loss to match Jeff Zgonina's single-season team record of 28.
• Indiana did not commit a penalty against Penn State last weekend. It marked the first time the Hoosiers avoided an infraction since a 45-3 win against Murray State on Sept. 6, 2008. Before 2008, Indiana went 27 years without a flag-free game (vs. Michigan on Oct. 3, 1981). The Hoosiers are tied for fourth nationally in fewest penalties (4.3) and tied for 11th in fewest penalty yards (40.6 ypg).
• An Iowa offense that averaged 34.1 points over its first eight games of the season has struggled to score lately, failing to crack the 20-point mark in three straight games. It’s the first time Iowa has scored fewer than 20 points in three consecutive contests since 2007.
• Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber will make his 50th consecutive start Saturday against Iowa. Weber ranks third among active FBS quarterbacks in career pass attempts (1,569), career completions (896) and career passing yards (10,753).
• The Northwestern-Wisconsin series has been evenly matched during the past 25 years, with Northwestern winning 11 of the 21 meetings since 1985. Prior to that, it was all Wisconsin, with the Badgers winning 13 straight in the series from 1972-84.
• Penn State's Joe Paterno, who turns 84 on Dec. 21, is the second-oldest major college football coach in history. If he's still Penn State’s head coach when he turns 85, he will become the first 85-year-old head coach of a major-college football program. Amos Alonzo Stagg was 84 for his final season (1946 at Pacific).
• The Michigan State senior class has won a team record 32 games, one more than class of 1990. With a win Saturday, Michigan State will set a school record for wins in a season (11).

It's rivalry week in the Big Ten, and here are 10 things to watch on Saturday.

1. Title talk: Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State all can claim at least a share of the Big Ten title by winning on Saturday. The Badgers are primarily rooting for a Michigan State loss, although if all three teams win, Wisconsin likely heads to Pasadena because of its higher place in the BCS standings. Michigan State is pulling for hated rival Michigan to upset Ohio State, while the Buckeyes want Northwestern to shock Wisconsin in Madison. Should be an interesting day of scoreboard watching around the league.

2. Penn State looks toward the future: Joe Paterno said this week that he'll return in 2011 for his 46th season as Penn State's head coach. Paterno cited having a young team with the potential to get better. Well, Saturday provides the Nittany Lions with the chance to take a big step forward. Penn State has struggled mightily against ranked teams this season, falling by more than 20 points to Alabama, Iowa and Ohio State. A win against No. 10 Michigan State would give Penn State wins in five of its final six regular-season games and raise the bar for next fall.

3. Lynch's last stand: Indiana doesn't want to fire Bill Lynch, but it might have to if the coach goes winless in Big Ten play in his fourth season at the helm. Lynch can avoid such a fate and improve his cause by beating archrival Purdue in West Lafayette. The Hoosiers players are in Lynch's corner, as linebacker Tyler Replogle said this week: "We've been trying to win for Coach Lynch all year." After so many near misses, the Hoosiers need to show that they can get over the hump in a Big Ten game.

4. Robinson vs. Pryor: The Big Ten's two most recognizable players meet Saturday at The Horseshoe, and the league's Offensive Player of the Year Award could be at stake. Robinson has broken records and put up some incredible numbers, but he's still looking for a signature win. Beating No. 10 Ohio State certainly would qualify. Pryor boasts a 29-4 record as Ohio State's starting quarterback and came up big in the clutch last week at Iowa. Both signal callers have significantly improved their passing numbers this season, but both remain threats to run.

5. Getting piggy wit it: Sorry, couldn't resist. The Floyd of Rosedale is at stake Saturday when Minnesota and No. 24 Iowa meet at TCF Bank Stadium. The Hawkeyes need to finish strong after back-to-back heartbreaking losses, and they've taken their anger out on Minnesota in recent years. The Gophers saw coach Tim Brewster fired midseason for, among other things, not winning enough rivalry trophies. Bringing the pig back to Minneapolis in a huge upset would help Minnesota end a disappointing season on a very good note.

6. Wildcats try to rebound against three-headed monster: Northwestern's defense got absolutely shredded for 519 rush yards against Illinois last week at Wrigley Field. It's not the type of performance the Wildcats needed before a game against an even better ground attack in Wisconsin. The Badgers called 28 consecutive run plays last week against Michigan and have been dominant on offense during Big Ten play. John Clay could return to join sophomore Montee Ball and freshman James White, forming a fearsome three-headed monster in the backfield.

7. Kirk Cousins' health: The Michigan State quarterback hasn't looked like himself for a few weeks, and there are reasons why. He has been dealing with a sprained ankle since an Oct. 16 game against Illinois and a sprained shoulder for just about as long. Like his team, Cousins has shown resiliency to play through the pain, and he scored the game-winning touchdown last week against Purdue. But he also reaggravated his injuries in the game. Cousins is never one to complain and will try to lead Michigan State to its first Big Ten title in 20 years Saturday, but will his body hold up in Happy Valley?

8. Greg Robinson's stuffed animal: Robinson is trying just about anything to help Michigan's poor defense, apparently even a stuffed animal. The Wolverines defensive coordinator was seen rubbing the stuffed animal on the neck of linebacker Kenny Demens in last week's game against Wisconsin. I'd prefer to see Jobu show up on the Michigan sideline this week. Then again, it might take more than gimmicks to help this unit become respectable.

9. Gophers try to end scoreless streak: Minnesota has been shut out in its previous two meetings with Iowa, a scoreless streak Hawkeyes' fans never hesitate to point out (pun intended). The Gophers haven't exactly been dynamic on offense this season, but they put up 38 points two weeks ago against Illinois to record their first conference win of the season. Senior quarterback Adam Weber hopes to end an up-and-down career on a strong note against an Iowa defense looking to start strong and finish stronger after blowing fourth-quarter leads in consecutive games.

10. Endgame for Kerrigan: Purdue isn't going bowling, so Saturday marks the final chance for Boilers fans to salute star defensive end Ryan Kerrigan. Former defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina is the only Purdue player to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors, taking home the award in 1993. Kerrigan soon should add his name to the list, and he tries to go 3-1 against Indiana in his career.