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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

It's an old Parcell family recipe, but I like to replace the Union soldier meat with boiled potatoes.

• Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany is confident the BCS can stand up to federal scrutiny, Steve Wieberg writes in USA Today.
• It's a tough time to be an Ohio State fan, Bob Hunter writes in The Columbus Dispatch. The car situation could put Ohio State's compliance department on the hot seat, CBSSports.com's Adam Jacobi writes.
• More good news for Michigan's 2012 recruiting efforts, annarbor.com's Michael Rothstein writes. We now know why Michigan suspended Darryl Stonum, as the wide receiver was arrested for DUI last week, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press. Defensive tackle Will Campbell is among five potential difference makers for Michigan this fall, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News.
• The impressive spring Illinois fullback Jay Prosch turned it is even more admirable after reading what he went through last month, Shannon Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune. Illini offensive tackle Jeff Allen has put himself on the NFL draft radar, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
• Bubba Starling's dad says his son is headed to Nebraska to play football, but quite a few Major League Baseball scouts hope otherwise, Steven M. Sipple writes in the Lincoln Journal Star. Nebraska is once again battling Oklahoma, this time for a coveted juco tight end, Sam McKewon writes in the Omaha World-Herald. The Nebraska football brand isn't as big as Delany thinks it is, Mike Hlas writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette.
• Wisconsin's recent NFL draft success has led to greater national exposure, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. Speaking of exposure, check out ESPN's "College Football Live" on Tuesday as Wisconsin will be featured.
• Until this past season, Iowa's NFL draft success directly correlated with a lot of wins, Pat Harty writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
• Michigan State's stable of running backs could carry the offense this fall, George Sipple writes in the Detroit Free Press. Two-way Tony (Lippett) and Anthony Rashad White are among potential difference makers for the Spartans this fall, Matt Charboneau writes in The Detroit News.
• Northwestern has a real Wildcat (of the stuffed variety) displayed in its football lobby, Lindsey Willhite writes in the Daily Herald.
• Penn State receiver Brett Brackett and other undrafted players are in a holding pattern, Jeff Rice writes in the Centre Daily Times. The Lions add a linemen to their 2012 recruiting class, Ron Musselman writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• Minnesota coach Jerry Kill reflects on his fight with cancer, 1500ESPN.com's Darren Wolfson writes.

Don't forget to chat with me right now.

• A good look at the disappointing situation sounding Iowa's DJK from The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Mike Hlas. The Iowa star appeared in court earlier today, Lee Hermiston writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
• Reaction to Indiana's hiring of Kevin Wilson as coach here and here and here. If you missed my take on Wilson, check it out.
• Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez refutes the claim from colleague Joel Maturi that Maturi offered the Minnesota coaching job, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Longtime Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley is being mentioned for the top job at Pitt, Neil Rudel writes in The Altoona Mirror. Receiver Brett Brackett was named Penn State's team MVP.
• Big Ten teams all will get rich from this year's bowl participants, Don Walker writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Ohio State wants to make sure Terrelle Pryor's ticket giveaway meets compliance rules, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Buckeyes assistant Darrell Hazell could be a candidate for Kent State's head-coaching vacancy, David Carducci writes.
• Michigan's student assembly rejects a resolution to encourage the athletic department to fire RichRod, Claire Cosicki writes in the Michigan Daily. The spotlight at Michigan isn't on Rich Rodriguez, but athletic director Dave Brandon, Drew Sharp writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio isn't satisfied even at 11-1, Greg Johnson writes in The Grand Rapids Press.
• The Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein looks at Silver Football candidate Denard Robinson.
• New Minnesota coach Jerry Kill has been making the rounds, Phil Miller writes in the Star Tribune.
• Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan and Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi and John Moffitt make Rivals.com's first-team All-America squad. Kerrigan now has an eye toward his NFL future, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• Northwestern hopes to get two key players back for its bowl game, Tina Akouris writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Four up, four down heading into Week 11.

STOCK UP

Penn State's red zone offense: The red zone was an absolute dead zone for Penn State earlier this season, but Evan Royster and the Nittany Lions have turned things around. Penn State scored touchdowns on all four of its red zone chances against Northwestern, none bigger than Brett Brackett's leaping grab in the back of the end zone with three seconds left in the first half. Penn State is 12-for-13 in red zone scoring chances the past three weeks with 11 of those conversions being touchdowns.

Michigan's wide receivers: Denard Robinson and Tate Forcier are getting a lot of help from this group right now. Roy Roundtree recorded a team-record 246 receiving yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions against Illinois, while Junior Hemingway made several of the game's biggest plays and finished with six receptions for 104 yards and two scores. Darryl Stonum also added a touchdown catch in Michigan's historic offensive performance.

Wisconsin's linebackers and defensive backs: The Big Ten knows about star defensive end J.J. Watt, but the Badgers' back seven really distinguished itself in a come-from-behind road win against Purdue. Cornerback Antonio Fenelus earned Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording a pick-six, a 48-yard fumble return and nine tackles against the Boilers. Wisconsin also got big performances from linebackers Mike Taylor and Culmer St. Jean and safety Aaron Henry, among others.

Michigan State RB Edwin Baker: Quiet since the Michigan win, "Rock" ran all over Minnesota for 179 yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries. Baker didn't have a run that went for longer than 30 yards but broke off several impressive intermediate gains against the Gophers. On a day when quarterback Kirk Cousins struggled, Baker and the offensive line picked up the slack.

STOCK DOWN

Illinois' defense: The Illini forced five turnovers but did little else to stop Michigan's offense at the Big House. A unit that came in ranked 12th nationally in points allowed and 15th in yards allowed got gashed for 67 points, 676 total yards and 33 first downs. Coordinator Vic Koenning demands more from his defense, and I think he'll get it this week against Minnesota.

Northwestern's ability to close out halves: A good portion of the scoring drives Northwestern has allowed this season, both in wins and losses, have occurred right before halftime or late in the fourth quarter. It reveals a team and a coaching staff that doesn't keep the pedal down enough. Northwestern might not have lost a 21-0 lead against Penn State if it didn't allow the Lions to march 91 yards in 47 seconds right before halftime. That's inexcusable.

Minnesota's kicking game: There are problems on both offense and defense, but Minnesota's kicking game hasn't done it any favors this year. After having a punt blocked and recovered for a touchdown against Ohio State, Minnesota averaged just 32 yards per punt at Michigan State and missed its lone field goal attempt. The Gophers are 10th in the Big Ten in field goals and 11th in punting. "We have no consistency punting the ball," interim coach Jeff Horton said. "We don't have any consistency. Obviously, I don't feel comfortable kicking field goals." Ouch.

Iowa's red zone offense: The Hawkeyes made four trips to the red zone against Indiana but had to settle for three short field goals and a short missed field goal try by Michael Meyer. Fans are blaming Ken O'Keefe's play calling and the absence of running back Adam Robinson, but it comes down to execution, too. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi didn't make great throws and Iowa took back-to-back pre-snap penalties on one series to go from third-and-goal from the 7 to third-and-goal from the 17.

It's time to take a look back at Week 10 before peeking ahead to Week 11.

Team of the week: Michigan. The Wolverines are at least the Big Ten's "one-third of a team of the week" after a historic offensive performance against Illinois. Rich Rodriguez's crew racked up 67 points, 676 offensive yards and 33 first downs Saturday, and it needed all of it to outlast Illinois 67-65 in three overtimes. More amazing is the fact that Michigan overcame five turnovers and a minus-4 turnover ratio to snap its three-game losing streak. Penn State also deserves some love after rattling off 35 unanswered points to record the biggest home comeback under coach Joe Paterno and give the 83-year-old his 400th coaching victory.

Best game: Illinois at Michigan. This likely will be the game of the year in the Big Ten when all is said and done. The Big Ten doesn't see many offensive shootouts like this, and some folks say it was the most exciting Big Ten regular-season game since Northwestern and Michigan combined for 105 points in 2000 (a 54-51 Northwestern win in regulation). The 132 combined points were the most ever scored in a game involving Michigan. The teams also combined for 1,237 offensive yards. The game featured two 100-yard rushers, two 100-yard receivers and a 300-yard passer.

Biggest play: Junior Hemingway's juggling catch on a pass nearly picked off by Illinois helped Michigan tie the score in the second overtime. If Illinois intercepts the ball, the game ends and Michigan's season teeters. Hemingway also wrong-footed several Illinois defenders on an electrifying 45-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The single best catch of the day came from Northwestern's Drake Dunsmore, who made a one-handed grab at full extension and managed to get his foot down in the back of the end zone for a touchdown at Beaver Stadium. Marvin McNutt's 52-yard touchdown reception late in the Indiana game gave Iowa the lead for good, while Brett Brackett's leaping touchdown catch with three seconds left in the first half gave Penn State a huge lift against Northwestern.

Specialist spotlight: Not a ton to choose from this week, but Iowa freshman Michael Meyer connected on four field-goal attempts in the win against Indiana. Meyer hit two 27-yarders and a 23-yarder in the first half before converting a career-long 42-yarder in the fourth quarter to cut Iowa's deficit to one. Illinois punter Anthony Santella continued his stellar season, averaging 47 yards on six attempts at Michigan. Punters Brad Nortman of Wisconsin and Cody Webster of Purdue both had nice games at Ross-Ade Stadium.

Most memorable moment: Easy one here. I'll never forget being on the field at Beaver Stadium when Paterno recorded his 400th career victory. Penn State players carried Paterno on their shoulders to midfield, a gesture he surprisingly enjoyed. The school then held a short ceremony that included a video montage of Paterno through the years and a crystal football presented to JoePa to commemorate No. 400. Paterno briefly addressed the crowd of 104,147, all of whom stayed to witness history. "People ask me why I've stayed here so long," the 83-year-old said. "Look around!" Just an amazing moment.

Game balls (given to players on winning or losing teams who didn't receive helmet stickers)

• Michigan QB Tate Forcier and WR Junior Hemingway: Remember all the buzz about Forcier transferring? Michigan is very fortunate he stuck around. Forcier once again relieved an injured Denard Robinson and led Michigan to a huge win, completing 12 of 19 passes for 114 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He got a ton of help from Hemingway, his favorite target in 2009, as the receiver caught six passes for 104 yards and two scores.
• Penn State RBs Evan Royster and Silas Redd: The senior and the freshman spurred Penn State's rushing attack against Northwestern, getting plenty of help from an improving offensive line. Royster and Redd combined for 265 rush yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. They became the first Penn State tandem to both eclipse 130 rush yards in a game since Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell did so against Iowa on Sept. 25, 1971.
• Wisconsin RB Montee Ball: I can't say enough about how much Ball has meant to Wisconsin the past two games. After coming up big late in the Iowa win, he relieved an injured John Clay against Purdue and rushed for a career-high 127 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
• Michigan State LB Greg Jones and S Marcus Hyde: Jones did his thing with a team-leading nine tackles, including 2.5 for loss, in the win against Minnesota. Hyde bounced back from a rough day at Iowa to record an interception, which he returned 41 yards, and two pass breakups. Jones now ranks second in team history in career tackles for loss with 44.5.
• Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase and RBs Mikel Leshoure and Jason Ford: These three certainly did their part to help Illinois' cause at the Big House. Scheelhaase recorded 211 pass yards and three touchdowns to go along with 101 rush yards and a score. Leshoure added 120 rush yards and three touchdowns, and he also recorded two touchdown receptions. His five total touchdowns are tied for fourth most in Big Ten history. Ford had 101 rush yards and a score on only 10 carries.
• Northwestern QB Dan Persa: His team melted down in the second half, but Persa earned a ton of respect from Penn State with his gutsy performance. A week after a concussion, Persa racked up 109 rush yards and two touchdowns to go along with 201 pass yards and a touchdown against Penn State. "If you give me 22 Dan Persas, I'll show you ... a national champion," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said.
• [+] Enlarge
  AP Photo/Gene J. PuskarThe Big Ten named Michael Mauti the Co-Defensive player of the week for his performance against Northwestern.
  Penn State LB Michael Mauti: After a slow start, the sophomore is starting to hit his stride for the Nittany Lions' defense. Mauti set career highs in both tackles (11) and tackles for loss (3) and recorded a sack in the win against Northwestern. He has recorded career bests in tackles in each of the last two games.
• Iowa WR Marvin McNutt: McNutt once again showed why he's one of the Big Ten's best deep threats, hauling in a 52-yard touchdown with 2:50 left against Indiana. The junior finished with six catches for 126 yards in Iowa's win.

Deep breath. Now let's take a look ahead at Week 11.

No. 13 Iowa (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) at Northwestern (6-3, 2-3): The Hawkeyes' late-game fortunes turned in Bloomington, as Damarlo Belcher's drop in the end zone kept Iowa alive for the Big Ten title. Only one hurdle remains between Iowa and its Nov. 20 showdown against Ohio State, but this is always a tricky game. Northwestern has won four of the teams' past five meetings, although just one of those has come in Evanston.

Indiana (4-5, 0-5) at No. 7 Wisconsin (8-1, 4-1): After a mini scare at Purdue, Wisconsin returns to Camp Randall Stadium, where it is 41-4 since the start of the 2004 season. The Badgers should have running backs John Clay and James White healthy for an Indiana defense that allows 166.1 rush yards a game. Indiana still needs two wins to get bowl eligible but gave Wisconsin a tough game last year, mounting a late before falling 31-28.

Michigan (6-3, 2-3) at Purdue (4-5, 2-3): Rodriguez and the Wolverines finally are bowl eligible, and a win Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium likely ensures the coach will return for a fourth season in 2011. Robinson is expected to return after injuring his head against Illinois, while Purdue's quarterback situation remains fluid with Sean Robinson, Rob Henry and possibly Justin Siller, who led the Boilers to a win against Michigan in 2008.

Minnesota (1-9, 0-6) at Illinois (5-4, 3-3): The Illini take a second stab at becoming bowl eligible against last-place Minnesota. Watch out for Scheelhaase, Leshoure, Ford and the Illinois rushing attack to have a big day against a Minnesota defense that has slipped to 106th nationally against the run. MarQueis Gray finally got a shot at quarterback for the Gophers on Saturday, and it'll be interesting to see how many snaps he takes against an angry Illinois defense.

Penn State (6-3, 3-2) at No. 9 Ohio State (8-1, 4-1): This year's matchup lacks the hype of the previous two meetings, but Penn State's recent surge has added some intrigue to the rivalry. The Nittany Lions come in on a three-game win streak and are getting better play from an offense led by quarterback Matt McGloin and Royster. Ohio State is rested after an open week and begins its quest for another Big Ten title in its signature month under coach Jim Tressel.

Bye: No. 11 Michigan State (9-1, 5-1)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The significance of the moment was embraced and understood by everyone at Beaver Stadium, both young and old.

Moments after Penn State beat Northwestern 35-21 to give coach Joe Paterno his 400th career win, Nittany Lions running back Stephfon Green darted through the crowd, holding a sign that read: "400 The Paterno Way."

"Who wants to hold my helmet?" Green asked frantically. "So I can run around and act the fool."

The delirium extended to Green's fellow students, who chanted "We love Joe" and "Joe Pa" in the final moments of the Lions' historic come-from-behind win.

A different sort of joy enveloped Jay Paterno, the Penn State quarterbacks coach and Joe's second-oldest son, when asked to reflect on what his dad had accomplished.

"I told my mom last week after we beat Michigan, 'Is everyone coming in next week?'" Jay said. "She goes, 'No, why?' I said, 'Well, mom, I hate to tell you, but this is kind of a big deal.' Four hundred wins really hasn't been done at this level. It's only been done by two other guys."

Jay Paterno began to choke up.

"I'm a student of the game," he continued."I love the history."

The man who has been such a big part of that history also was moved by the moment. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Penn State players hoisted Joe Paterno on their shoulders and carried him to midfield.

Normally a no-no with Joe, Paterno didn't mind the escort. In fact, he enjoyed it. A little.

"They had me up there before I knew it," he said. "I was hoping they wouldn't. I'd be dishonest if I told you that it wasn't a moving night for me. It was. The crowd, the university making a presentation to me ... all of that was nice. The carrying me off the field, we've all got a ham in us.

"It felt pretty good."

Fittingly, Paterno's 400th win had several historical connections.

Penn State recorded its largest home comeback in Paterno's 45 seasons (it tied for the largest under Paterno home or away after a comeback from 21 points down against Illinois in 1994). The previous record at home was a rally from 18 points down against Ohio State in 2001. That win marked Paterno's 324th and moved him past Paul "Bear" Bryant for the top spot in all-time coaching victories at the FBS/Division I-A level.

Just like that day, when Zack Mills led a second-half rally, Penn State turned to a reserve quarterback for heroics. Sophomore Matt McGloin relieved Rob Bolden and led five consecutive touchdown drives, completing 18 of 29 passes for 225 yards and four touchdown tosses.

"We were down 21-0 and all I could think of was the Ohio State game," Jay Paterno said.

JayPa reminded the players of a different rally Saturday morning, a fourth-quarter comeback against Northwestern in 2005 that required a fourth-and-15 conversion. Penn State went on to win the Big Ten and the Orange Bowl.

Jay Paterno text-messaged Michael Robinson, Penn State's quarterback that day in Evanston, and wrote: "Without fourth-and-15, there may not have been a 400."

McGloin was too young to remember the 2001 Ohio State game or the parallels there, but he didn't have to. Saturday's comeback belonged to this team.

It was their moment in history.

"To see them come back the way they came back," Joe Paterno said, "it sounds corny, but that really was probably more important to me than whether it was 350 wins or whether it was 400 wins. Some of these kids now know what it takes to get it done."

Northwestern dominated the first 29 minutes, playing flawlessly in all three phases and getting gutsy play from quarterback Dan Persa (201 pass yards, touchdown; 109 rush yards, 2 touchdowns). The Wildcats went up 21-0 with just 56 seconds left in the first half, and a holding penalty on the ensuing kickoff backed up Penn State to its own 9-yard line.

McGloin's initial mind-set: sit on it, cut your losses and don't make this any worse.

Then Evan Royster had a nice run on first down. Four plays later, Penn State reached Northwestern territory on Green's 21-yard run.

McGloin's revised mind-set: get close enough for a field goal.

Then he connected on back-to-back 20-yard passes, setting up first-and-goal at the 7. Two plays later, McGloin found a leaping Brett Brackett in the back of the end zone for a touchdown with three ticks left, completing a nine-play, 91-yard drive in 47 seconds.

McGloin's re-revised mindset: we can win this thing.

His confidence grew even more when Penn State marched 84 yards in 14 plays to begin the second half.

"The fans were into it, the sideline was into it, I was feeling great, everyone was feeling great," he said. "We acted as if we were winning at that point."

Penn State racked up 358 yards on its five touchdown drives. McGloin was on point, the offensive line held its blocks and running backs Royster (134 rush yards) and Silas Redd (131 rush yards) wore down the Wildcats.

"Everybody felt once we got the momentum, it wasn't going to go away," Royster said on the field after the game. "And that was the case."

The defense did its part, holding Northwestern to one first down and 32 yards in the third quarter.

"We just knew," defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu said. "You kind of feel that mojo coming."

It came in a hurry as Penn State scored 35 points in 18:25.

Paterno's party continued after the game, as Penn State held an on-field ceremony that included a video tribute and a crystal football given to the coach to commemorate No. 400.

"People ask me why I've stayed here so long," Paterno told the crowd of 104,147, none of whom went home. "Look around!"

Then, in typical Paterno fashion, he looked ahead.

"Let's go beat Ohio State."

Invest wisely.

STOCK UP

Purdue's coaching staff: Danny Hope and his assistants deserve a ton of credit for their work during the bye week. Purdue's defense looked a lot better against Northwestern and put pressure on Dan Persa with multiple rushers. Offensive coordinator Gary Nord did a great job crafting a game plan that fit redshirt freshman quarterback Rob Henry in his first career start.

Michigan State's secondary: This unit has taken some heat in the past, but the Spartans are showing much better playmaking ability this fall. Michigan State had six interceptions all of last season; the Spartans already have nine this fall after picking off Denard Robinson three times in Saturday's victory. Cornerback Chris L. Rucker recorded his first interception of the season, and corner Johnny Adams and safety Trenton Robinson both have two picks. Michigan State ranks 23rd nationally in pass efficiency defense (110.8 rating) after finishing 101st last season.

Illinois' specialists: The kicking game had been a weak spot for Illinois in past seasons, but punter Anthony Santella and kicker Derek Dimke are off to strong starts this fall. Santella ranks second nationally in punting average (47.9 ypp), and Dimke went 4-for-4 on field goal attempts in the Penn State win to earn Big Ten co-Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Dimke is 10-for-11 on field goal attempts this season and a perfect 12-for-12 on PATs.

Ohio State DE Nathan Williams: Williams has provided a nice jolt for the Ohio State pass rush the last few weeks. After being slowed by a knee injury sustained in preseason camp, Williams has recorded 22 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in his last three games. Wisconsin had better pay attention to No. 43 on Saturday night.

Wisconsin's team discipline: The Badgers haven't committed a turnover since the third quarter of a Week 2 win against San Jose State, a span of more than four games. Wisconsin is tied for second nationally in fewest turnovers with just four all season. Bret Bielema's crew also is avoiding the dreaded yellow hankie. Wisconsin is tied for the national lead in fewest penalties with just 20 through the first six games. The Badgers rank fourth nationally in fewest penalty yards per game (30.8).

Illinois' red zone offense: While keeping Penn State out of the end zone for most of Saturday's win, Illinois continued to capitalize on its opportunities near the goal line. The Illini are 16-for-16 on red zone chances this season with nine touchdowns and seven field goals. They are one of only three FBS teams (East Carolina, Memphis) perfect in the red zone.

STOCK DOWN

Minnesota's starts to halves: The Golden Gophers have held their own in the second quarter (47-47) and the fourth quarter (59-56) this season, but they really struggle to begin both halves. Tim Brewster's crew has been outscored 49-27 in the first quarter and 42-24 in the third quarter this season. Wisconsin outscored the Gophers 14-0 in both quarters on Saturday.

Northwestern's special teams: The kicking game costs Northwestern dearly in at least one loss per season, and it happened again Saturday against Purdue. Northwestern had two fumbled punts (losing one), a blocked field goal attempt and a badly missed field goal in the final minutes. Senior kicker Stefan Demos has struggled this year, going just 8-for-13 on field goal attempts and 15-for-18 on PATs. Coach Pat Fitzgerald doesn't see the need for a special-teams coordinator, but the third phase remains an area that must be upgraded.

Penn State's team leadership: This applies to Joe Paterno, his assistants and team captains Brett Brackett and Ollie Ogbu. After having a players-only meeting last Monday, Penn State played its worst game in recent memory and then had some finger-pointing in the postgame interviews, including this comment from running back Evan Royster: "I wish I could get in there and play every position and play with the desire some people don't have." Royster might want to worry about playing his own position better, and Penn State needs to take a long look in the mirror during a much-needed bye week.

Denard Robinson: Robinson did some good things against Michigan State, but you just can't throw interceptions, and the Michigan quarterback had three of them after throwing just one in his first five games. The sophomore showed some indecision on several passes, including one that Trenton Robinson picked off in the end zone. His desire to make big plays is tremendous, but Shoelace also must learn that it's OK to throw the ball away at times.

Indiana's pass rush: Coach Bill Lynch admitted Tuesday that the Hoosiers used more of a "controlled rush" against Ohio State to keep Terrelle Pryor from breaking contain, which makes sense. Except that Pryor wasn't 100 percent after his quad injury and picked apart a poor Hoosiers secondary with plenty of time to throw. Indiana has only seven sacks through the first five games and really misses Jammie Kirlew up front.

As always, you can contact me here and follow me on Twitter.

Lance from Bedford, Pa., writes: Hi Adam, I may be beating a tired drum here but how much of Penn State's lack of success can really be attributed to youth (and how much to leadership and intangibles)? We see college freshmen perform solidly on the field all of the time (Matt Barkley, Chad Henne, T. Pryor to name only a few) without the luxury of a running back who is about to shatter the school's rushing record and a defense that has held its own despite injuries and turnover after turnover. I think this team as a whole looks beaten when they come out of the tunnel and at times, particularly against Illinois, completely disinterested. Throw in the recent finger pointing and this is surely a symptom of a messy locker room and not lack of talent or youth. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Adam Rittenberg: Lance, totally agree with what you say here. It's never easy to start a true freshman at quarterback like Penn State is doing with Rob Bolden, but team leadership seems to be a bigger issue. A large part of it is guys like Daryll Clark and Sean Lee don't come along every year. Throw in Joe Paterno's absence for a large chunk of the offseason and I think Penn State isn't sure who to turn to this year. Running back Evan Royster clearly is frustrated, and while I love how honest he was about the rushing record before the season, you have to wonder if he's taking the right mind-set to the playing field. The other thing with Penn State has been injuries to key players. Can't overlook those. But leadership is a problem, and it's up to captains Brett Brackett and Ollie Ogbu to get it corrected.

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Ben from Austin, Texas, writes: Adam, what do you think the Big Ten's chances are of sending two teams to BCS bowls this year? Do we have a better chance if our squads don't get selected for the BCS Championship, given the selection rules the Rose Bowl is following this year?

Adam Rittenberg: Until the streak of two BCS bids per year ends for the Big Ten, I'll always list the chances at very high. And I don't think it matters too much if the Big Ten sends a team to the BCS title game and loses its Rose Bowl spot to Boise State or TCU. The Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl will jump at the chance to select Big Ten teams with large traveling fan bases, certainly ahead of some Pac-10 teams being considered and maybe ahead of those from the SEC and Big 12, too.

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Watson from Marshalltown, Iowa, writes: Hey Adam, great job on the blog. I really like your rewind/preview posts every week. Here's an idea: in the rewind, how about rehashing your picks from the previous week? It would probably make for some interesting comparison, as to whether some of them were spot-on or others were way off.

Adam Rittenberg: Watson, I'm going to put this question out there for everyone who reads this blog. I've added to my already full plate of posts this year with Big Ten stock report, so something had to go and it was the picks rewind. I can bring back the picks rewind but the stock report would have to go. Sorry, just not enough time to do it all with everything else asked of us. Which would you like to see more: stock report or picks review? Majority rules.

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Daniel from Battle Creek, Mich., writes: Adam, I was wondering after just one game how can you write off the Wolverines as an explosive offense. I understand the turnovers were bad and sloppy play on offense, (we know that their defense is always sloppy) but we are one of the best offenses in the conference.

Adam Rittenberg: Don't be so sensitive, Daniel. The video post was about offensive evolution around the league. I didn't mean to slight Michigan, but Rich Rodriguez's scheme has been proven over time and once again is thriving with Denard Robinson calling the signals. I was looking at teams that have tweaked the scheme this year like Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Purdue (last week with Rob Henry). Michigan's offense remains potent, as it has throughout Rodriguez's coaching career other than 2008.

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Greg from Carbondale, Ill., writes: Are you serious with your midseason selection for best coach? Not to knock what MSU has done, but Vic Koenning clearly deserves consideration. He's taken one of the worst defenses in DI last year and made it a top 20 defense -- through games against #1 OSU and noncon opponents with more offensive firepower than any other Big10 team has played. WITH injuries to two key starters that have kept them out the entire season so far, and brand new starters at safety and corner. That's fantastic coaching.

Adam Rittenberg: Greg, the "best coach" category applies for head coaches or, in Michigan State's case, a coach handling the head-coaching duties like Don Treadwell did in Mark Dantonio's absence. I've given Vic Koenning a ton of credit on the blog -- more than any other national media member -- and I'd venture to say he has been the most effective first-year coordinator through the first half of the college season. He has some talent to work with, but unlike others, he's getting the talent to play together so far. It's great to see. Still, what Treadwell and Dantonio have done at Michigan State is phenomenal.

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Jeremy from Minneapolis writes: Adam, you said this about the Wisconsin 2-point conversion: "Bielema claimed he was following the coaches' guide on when to go for two, but Minnesota coach Tim Brewster and many others saw it as an attempt to run up the score. Brewster might not get a chance for revenge in the rivalry..."That last sentence baffles me. Everyone here in Minnesota expects Brew to be fired as head coach of the Gophers. And if he isn't, you can mark it down, that pretty new stadium we have will be full of other Big Ten team's fans. My question for you is, is there REALLY any chance of Brew keeping his job (as your post almost seems to point to)? I guess it's kind of fitting, Brews first and last year as the head coach, Minnesota went 1-11.

Adam Rittenberg: Jeremy, I know Minnesota fans see this as a done deal, and I had major concerns about Brewster's future even before the season began. But we still have six games to play, and Minnesota has some winnable games the next two weeks against Purdue and Penn State before Ohio State comes to town. Brewster clearly needs to show some major progress ASAP, and he might not be able to save himself, but most people thought Ron Zook was finished at this time last year and look where Illinois' program is now. Anything can happen, but it doesn't look good for him or the Gophers.

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Matt D. from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Adam,I'm really struggling as a Spartan fan this year. When I watch MSU games this year I no longer have that feeling of excitement mixed with dread and fear. When it's the forth quarter I'm not standing 18 inches away from my TV hoping the next play doesn't spell the end for the Spartans. Is everything OK? Is this how it feels to cheer for an elite program? It's all so new and I'm scared!!!

Adam Rittenberg: Haha, Matt, great e-mail. And I'm sure you're not the only Spartans fan to feel this way. Enjoy the ride! I'm sure it beats waiting for that second-half collapse. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if you're a bit nervous on Saturday against Illinois. This is a classic trap game.

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Christopher from Chicago writes: Simple question: does Northwestern need a running game? I'm only asking because it seems like they've moved the ball/controlled the clock fine against everyone through the air....yet continually fail with the running game as they try to achieve 50-50 run-pass balance. And it finally cost them this past week vs. Purdue....

Adam Rittenberg: It's something Northwestern has to evaluate closely during the bye week. Conventional football wisdom says you can't win, especially in the Big Ten, without a consistent rushing attack. But Northwestern won eight games last year with a woeful run game, and Dan Persa has been so efficient as a passer that he doesn't need much help from the ground game. Now throwing the ball 45-55 times has its risks -- sacks, interceptions -- but I'd like to see Persa throwing it more than he has. Jeremy Ebert and Drake Dunsmore are major weapons, and running the ball just for the sake of it rather than throwing to them doesn't make much sense. Northwestern didn't lose to Purdue solely because of the run game, but the Wildcats didn't attack the Boilers' secondary nearly as much as I thought they would.

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Jordan A. from Washington writes: Adam, reflecting on Michigan's loss vs MSU on Saturday, does it feel like a perpetual problem with Rodriguez to get his teams up for big rivalry games? Before the game, it seemed like Michigan wasn't "up" at all, and the emotion pre-game seemed to be with the MSU players. For me, it felt a lot like the WVU-Pitt game in 2007, where a rival was just far and away more psyched for the game than Rodriguez's players were. It feels like this is two things happening: first, Rich Rod's out of state recruitment (and his own background, for that matter) makes MSU a minor rival--the Florida kids like Robinson and Coach Rod himself didn't grow up with this rivalry; and second, just Rich's personality, not to make big games a focal point on the calendar. This is, of course, in sharp contrast to Michigan's rivals in East Lansing and Columbus, who make beating Michigan a priority both privately and publicly. Do you think there is something to be said for this? And if so, do you think that, even if Michigan can win 7 or 8 games this year, beating MSU and OSU in 2011 is a must for Rich to keep his job?

Adam Rittenberg: Thanks, Jordan. You're not the only Michigan fan making the argument that Rodriguez and his players aren't connected enough to these rivalry games and perhaps lack the emotional fuel to win them. Quite frankly, I don't buy this at all. Rodriguez hasn't beaten Michigan State or Ohio State because he doesn't have a better team than the Spartans or the Buckeyes. Emotion can help you for half a quarter or so, but it doesn't typically lift you to a victory against a superior opponent. I thought Michigan came out with great energy Saturday and moved the ball downfield on its opening drive before Robinson threw the interception. Michigan will beat Michigan State and Ohio State when it has the better team, not when Rodriguez plays up the rivalry enough to satisfy Michigan fans (who might never be satisfied). A Michigan alum could coach a bunch of homegrown players and if his team wasn't better, he'd probably lose, too.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Record: 3-3 (0-2 Big Ten)

Penn State entered the season with somewhat tempered expectations after losing more individual standouts -- seven All-Big Ten performers from 2009, including three first-team selections -- than any team in the league. But no one in Happy Valley expected this. The Nittany Lions reach the midpoint of the season at 3-3, but totally unsure of who they are after getting pounded at home by Illinois. They rank last in the Big Ten in both scoring (18.2 ppg) and total offense (335.2 ypg), struggles you can attribute partly to starting a true freshman quarterback in Rob Bolden. But Bolden doesn't deserve blame for a unit that boasts a senior running back in Evan Royster and enough experience along the offensive line. Penn State twice has been held out of the end zone and hasn't eclipsed 24 points against an FBS opponent. The defense held up nicely for a while, but injuries both before and during last Saturday's game against Illinois leave the unit depleted. If Tom Bradley can't fill gaps after the bye week, it could be a very long second half. Penn State clearly has enough talent to turn things around, but the preseason questions about leadership, from Joe Paterno on down, are very real. It's very hard to replace replace leaders like Daryll Clark and Sean Lee, and Paterno's involvement after a rough spring/summer of health-related issues is up for debate.

Offensive MVP, WR Derek Moye: There aren't many candidates for a struggling unit, but Moye turned in a nice first half. The junior leads Penn State in both receptions (22) and receiving yards (17.1 ypg), and he has showcased his big-play ability on more than one occasion, hauling in an 80-yard touchdown from Bolden against Illinois. Fellow wideouts Brett Brackett and Devon Smith also have done some good things.

Defensive MVP, LB Chris Colasanti: Safety Nick Sukay (3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble) has made more impact plays, but Colasanti's overall production can't be overlooked for a defense that held its own before the injury bug struck. Colasanti leads the Big Ten with 59 tackles, including 18 against Illinois, the highest single-game total at Penn State since Dan Connor in 2007. Colasanti boasts four tackles for loss and a pass breakup.

The first weekend of Big Ten play came at a cost for several teams, while Purdue's misfortune on the injury front continued even though the Boilers didn't play a game.

Here's a quick recap of three key injuries around the league:

Ohio State S/LB Tyler Moeller

• The situation: Results of an MRI on Moeller's chest should be known Monday, but the prognosis doesn't look good. Multiple outlets are reporting that Moeller likely will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle he suffered early in Saturday's win at Illinois. Moeller suffered the injury while trying to wrap up Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure. The Buckeyes' safety/linebacker already was planning to petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility after he missed all of 2009 with a head injury suffered when he was the victim of a criminal assault.
• What it means: Moeller had been one of Ohio State's top playmakers on defense -- he had 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and two forced fumbles -- so his presence will be sorely missed. Ohio State already is down a safety for the season in C.J. Barnett (knee), and Nate Oliver (hamstring) also is banged up. Freshman Christian Bryant took over for Moeller at Illinois and would be the next option at the "star" position, featured in Ohio State's oft-used nickel package.

Penn State TE Garry Gilliam

• The situation: Coach Joe Paterno said Gilliam suffered an ACL injury in Saturday's loss to Iowa, and the redshirt freshman could be lost for the season. Gilliam had been starting in place of Andrew Szczerba, who likely won't play this season because of a back injury. He suffered the injury in the second quarter.
• What it means: Penn State entered the year thin at tight end after losing Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler to graduation. The injuries to both Szczerba and Gilliam make things really dicey. Penn State likely will turn to true freshman Kevin Haplea or use Brett Brackett, a big wide receiver, at the tight end spot.

Purdue WR Justin Siller

• The situation: Purdue had a bye last week, but coach Danny Hope said Sunday night that Siller suffered a sprained foot Sept. 25 against Toledo and will miss "an extended period of time ... several weeks, possibly." Siller, who returned to the team after a year-long suspension from school and won a starting job, has 12 receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown this season.
• What it means: Purdue loses yet another offensive skill player to an injury. Siller is particularly valuable because he started three games at quarterback for Purdue in 2008. There had been some talk he could move back to quarterback following Robert Marve's season-ending injury, but his injury situation makes it unlikely. While Purdue's health situation at running back is improving, the Boilers now are down two starting receivers (Siller and Keith Smith).

Daryll Clark is still making great reads for Penn State.

Before training camp kicked off in State College, Clark was talking to Nittany Lions receiver Graham Zug about incoming freshman quarterback Rob Bolden. Clark, the record-setting signal caller at Penn State from 2006-09, had spent some time with Bolden at the Elite 11 quarterback camp last summer in California.

"[Bolden is] going to come in and he's going to be able to make his reads. He's a good quarterback, and he's further ahead than [I've] seen in a lot of high school quarterbacks," Clark told Zug.

"After that," Zug said, "I kind of knew this guy's for real."

More evidence arrived in camp, as Bolden immediately put himself in the mix to replace Clark as Penn State's starter. Although Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin were sophomores and freshman Paul Jones had gone through spring ball, Bolden, the last man to enter the race, quickly joined the lead pack.

When the dust settled last Thursday, coach Joe Paterno and his staff made a historic decision and named Bolden as the team's starter. Two days later, Bolden became the first freshman quarterback to start a season opener for Penn State in 100 years.

He more than held his own against Youngstown State, completing 20 of 29 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns with an interception that wasn't all his fault (receiver Derek Moye tripped). The 6-4, 208-pound Bolden looked like a freshman for a quarter and a half before settling into a nice rhythm.

"He wasn't nervous at all, didn't have those jitters or anything," Zug said. "He was comfortable, cool and calm."

Paterno adhered to his long-standing policy with true freshmen and didn't make Bolden available to reporters after the game or this week. But other than the media blackout, Paterno isn't treating Bolden like a newbie.

The 83-year-old typically puts true freshmen one rung above the water boys, but Bolden is different.

"He's very poised, he's all business, he's a very likable kid, he's coachable, he's a hard worker," Paterno said. "He's everything you're looking for."

Bolden's rapid rise has been one of the Big Ten's surprise story lines so far in 2010. Now the freshman has the chance to shock the college football world.

He makes his first career road start Saturday against No. 1 Alabama, the defending national champion (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET). Few freshmen in college football history have had tougher assignments in their first away games than Bolden will have at a sold-out Bryant-Denny Stadium.

"We kind of had to put the Rosetta Stone program together to help him learn the language," Penn State quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno told reporters after the Youngstown State game. "He learned Spanish. Next week he's got to know Mandarin Chinese -- on the road, be fluent in it, under pressure. So we'll see."

Bolden's teammates have realistic expectations for Saturday night.

"There's probably going to be some bumps along the way," said receiver Brett Brackett, who caught two touchdown passes from Bolden against Youngstown. "How he reacts to those bumps will tell how he does as a whole. ... He hasn’t played in that type of environment. There aren't many like it. But I'd like to think the way he handles himself and the way he handles the huddle will help him down there."

Penn State's offensive players already are noticing changes in Bolden this week. His voice is stronger in the huddle -- not quite up to Clark's timbre, but getting there. He's also grasping the importance of leading with a swagger.

"He’s taking control, making sure everybody knows it’s his huddle," Zug said. "I expected him to be nervous in the last game, but he wasn't nervous at all. I think he'll be the same way this game."

The odds are against Bolden to beat 'Bama.

But as he has proven in the last month, the odds don't mean much to him.

The Big Ten's best looked good against mostly weak competition in Week 1, so no changes up top. Michigan's impressive win comes with a reward, and there's a little shuffling at the bottom.

Let's get started ...

1. Ohio State (1-0): The Big Ten's most complete team delivered a complete performance in dismantling Marshall 45-7 on Thursday night. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor looked more comfortable as he led a surprisingly dynamic offense that got a lot of its weapons involved. The defense continued its opportunistic ways. Aside from a few special-teams miscues, not much to complain about.

2. Iowa (1-0): After living on the edge throughout the 2009 season, the Hawkeyes dominated Eastern Illinois to open a year filled with high expectations. Aside from a leg injury to quarterback Ricky Stanzi that looked scarier than it actually was, Iowa fans could breathe easy Saturday. Stanzi and running back Adam Robinson both stood out, and the defense allowed only one significant drive. Things get tougher the next two weeks with Iowa State and Arizona.

3. Wisconsin (1-0): The Badgers made a few big mistakes early against UNLV, but they pulled away in the second half behind their three-headed running back monster of John Clay, Montee Ball and dynamic freshman James White. Defensive end J.J. Watt made a game-changing forced fumble early in the third quarter, and Wisconsin's power game took over from there. A good performance overall on the road, although the Badgers need to clean up a few things.

4. Penn State (1-0): Joe Paterno has found his quarterback, and (gasp!), he's a true freshman. Rob Bolden answered the call in his first career start, showing good poise in the final three quarters against Youngstown State. Receivers Brett Brackett and Derek Moye stepped up, and Chaz Powell returned a kickoff 100 yards to the end zone. Penn State's offensive line still needs to pick up its play after Evan Royster recorded only 40 rush yards against Youngstown.

5. Michigan State (1-0): After leaning on Kirk Cousins and the pass game too often last season, Michigan State re-established the run in a big way Saturday. Playing without projected starter Larry Caper (hand), the Spartans received big performances from freshman Le'Veon Bell (141 rush yards, 2 TDs) and sophomore Edwin Baker (117 rush yards 2 TDs). Linebacker Greg Jones had a forced fumble and nearly secured his first career interception.

6. Michigan (1-0): Thanks to Denard Robinson and an improved offensive line, Michigan recorded the most impressive victory of Week 1, considering the competition. Robinson has to be careful with all the hits he takes, but if he continues to complement his ridiculous speed with an accurate arm, the Wolverines will win a lot of games this fall. Michigan's defense still concerns me a bit, although I liked the aggressiveness from Craig Roh.

7. Northwestern (1-0): The Wildcats never trailed against Vanderbilt but seemed fortunate to escape Nashville with a victory. New starting quarterback Dan Persa carried the offense, much like predecessor Mike Kafka did in 2009, and showed incredible accuracy (19-for-21 passing, 222 yards, 3 TDs). The run game once again was absent, a concern for Pat Fitzgerald going forward, and Northwestern endured several special-teams miscues.

T-8. Minnesota (1-0): For the first time in a while, you can say Minnesota has an offensive identity. The Gophers held the ball for 45:34 in their come-from-behind win against Middle Tennessee, as Duane Bennett (187 rush yards) led the power rushing attack. Fullback Jon Hoese (3 rush TDs) provided the best story of Week 1, and a new-look defense did enough to hold off a Dwight Dasher-less Blue Raiders team. The Gophers really needed this one.

T-8. Purdue (0-1): A young Purdue team played predictably inconsistent football at Notre Dame. New quarterback Robert Marve looked good at times but made too many mistakes. The secondary did a decent job against Irish star receiver Michael Floyd, but Purdue allowed scores on four consecutive possessions midway through the game. Still, the Boilers had a chance at the end, and they'll get better in the coming weeks.

10. Indiana (1-0): Look out for the Hoosiers' offense this season. IU didn't miss a beat without All-Big Ten wide receiver Tandon Doss, as quarterback Ben Chappell found a rhythm against Towson and Darius Willis (102 rush yards, 2 TDs) led the ground game. The outlook on defense remains much cloudier after the Hoosiers allowed 392 yards to Towson. If the defense doesn't get better by Big Ten play, Indiana will have a tough time winning games.

11. Illinois (0-1): For a moment, it looked like Illinois would stun Missouri and finally win a game at the Edward Jones Dome. But the second half showed that the team remains a work in progress on both sides of the ball. There were some encouraging signs, particularly running back Mikel Leshoure and defenders Corey Liuget and Ian Thomas, but Illinois needs to put a complete game together. This week's home matchup against Southern Illinois will be huge.

Let's put a bow on Week 1 before looking ahead to a more challenging slate of games in Week 2.

Team of the Week: Michigan. Many picked the Wolverines to lose its opener against UConn, and almost no one thought the Wolverines would win convincingly. Behind do-it-all quarterback Denard Robinson, a powerful offensive line and an opportunistic defense, Michigan stormed out of the gate and never looked back, beating Connecticut 30-10. The Wolverines still have some issues on defense, but if Robinson stays healthy and keeps this up, the Maize and Blue will be tough to beat.

Best game: Minnesota-Middle Tennessee. Considering nine of the 11 games were decided by more than one score, there were not many choices here. At least the Gophers brought some drama in Murfreesboro, rallying from a 17-14 second-half deficit to win 24-17. Minnesota also provided the most touching story of the weekend, as fullback Jon Hoese rushed for three touchdowns and recovered a fumble just days after his father suffered a severe stroke. Hoese nearly didn't make the trip.

Biggest play: After a somewhat sloppy first 30 minutes by Penn State, Chaz Powell created some distance on the scoreboard with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the third quarter. Powell, back at wide receiver after being moved to cornerback this spring, had Penn State's longest kick return since Rich Mauti's 100-yard runback in 1975. Honorable mention goes to Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt, whose forced fumble led to a touchdown early in the third quarter against UNLV after the Badgers led by only three points at halftime.

Best call: Joe Paterno and his staff made a historic call by starting true freshman quarterback Rob Bolden in the opener, and it paid off. Bolden showed impressive skills and poise, completing 20 of 29 passes for 239 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Rich Rodriguez's decision to go with Robinson at quarterback for Michigan also looked good.

Game balls (given to players not selected for helmet stickers)

• Ohio State S/LB Tyler Moeller: Moeller's return to the field following a year away was memorable enough, but he also played an outstanding game for the Buckeyes' defense. The senior recorded a team-high six tackles, including two for loss with a sack and a forced fumble against Marshall.
• Iowa RB Adam Robinson: A-Rob made a good case to be Iowa's starting running back, rushing for 109 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries. He'll need to hold off Jewel Hampton, who plays his first game since 2008 on Saturday against Iowa State.
• Penn State WR Brett Brackett: People seemed to forget about Brackett during the preseason, but he clearly formed a bond with his new starting quarterback. Bolden and Brackett connected eight times for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
• Indiana RB Darius Willis: Willis made the most of his limited action against Towson, rushing 14 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns. If he stays healthy, Indiana should finally have a consistent run game.
• Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan and Illinois DT Corey Liuget: Their teams both lost Saturday, but Kerrigan and Liuget did all they could to prevent it. Kerrigan recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, assisting on a safety, and had a sack and a forced fumble. Liuget recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, assisted on a sack, broke up a pass and recorded a quarterback hurry.
• Minnesota RB Duane Bennett: The Gophers dominated possession time against Middle Tennessee, and Bennett was the reason why. He did everything but score touchdowns, racking up 187 rush yards on 30 carries.

How bizarre: Northwestern's victory at Vanderbilt was sealed on a very questionable penalty call by Big Ten officials. Quarterback Dan Persa appeared to be stopped just short of a first down with less than two minutes left, bringing up fourth-and-1 and a likely punt. But officials called Vandy's Jay Fullam for a helmet-to-helmet hit -- replays showed he led with his shoulder -- and the penalty allowed Northwestern to run out the clock and escape with a 23-21 victory.

Now, let's take a quick look at the Week 2 slate ...

Miami (1-0) at Ohio State (1-0): The nation's top matchup pits Jacory Harris and the Canes against Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes (ESPN, 3:40 p.m. ET). Miami and Ohio State meet for the first time since the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, which gave the Scarlet and Gray their last national title. Buckle up.

Penn State (1-0) at Alabama (1-0): Joe Paterno heads to the home of the Bear, although this time he'll face Nick Saban and the defending national champs (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET). Bolden surprised a lot of folks with his play in the opener. Now he'll try to shock the world against the Tide.

Michigan (1-0) at Notre Dame (1-0): Who ever thought this matchup of tradition-rich powerhouses would feature two spread offenses? If Michigan's Robinson pulls off a repeat performance against Manti Te'o and the Irish defense, the Wolverines should be 2-0.

Iowa State (1-0) at Iowa (1-0): Adrian Clayborn didn't mean to tick off Iowa State with his "only team in the state" comment, but you can bet the Cyclones will use it as motivation Saturday (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET). Iowa's Hampton plays his first game since 2008.

Michigan State (1-0) vs. Florida Atlantic (1-0) at Detroit: How weird will it be to see the Spartans wearing their road unis for a game in nearby Detroit? Florida Atlantic is the home team Saturday (ESPNU, noon ET).

San Jose State (0-1) at Wisconsin (1-0): After a few hiccups in the opener, Wisconsin aims for a cleaner performance at home (ESPN, noon ET) against a San Jose State team that lost by 45 to Alabama in Week 1.

Illinois State (1-0) at Northwestern (1-0): The Wildcats try to revive their anemic run game against an Illinois State team filled with Big Ten connections, from head coach Brock Spack, the former Purdue defensive coordinator, to former Michigan State running back Ashton Leggett.

Southern Illinois (1-0) at Illinois (0-1): Can you say must-win? SIU is typically one of the nation's top FCS programs, and the Salukis would love to score an upset against the state's top public school. Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase tries to bounce back from a rough opener in front of the home crowd.

Western Illinois (1-0) at Purdue (0-1): Something tells me Robert Marve and the Boilers offense figure things out in a big way this week, although Western Illinois blanked Valpo 45-0 in its opener.

South Dakota (0-1) at Minnesota (1-0): The Gophers barely escaped last year against South Dakota State, winning 16-13. They'll shoot for a more convincing win against South Dakota, which got pummeled by Central Florida in its opener.

Bye: Indiana

Five lessons from the week that was in Big Ten football.

1. Shoelace is the answer in Ann Arbor: So that's what Rich Rodriguez's offense is supposed to look like. Denard Robinson made Rodriguez look like a genius in a critical game against Connecticut, as he dazzled with both his feet and with his arm. Robinson made a decent Connecticut defense look bad throughout a 30-10 win, and his speed will be tough for Big Ten defenses to handle, especially now that he can throw the ball accurately. Michigan needs to be a bit more careful with his touches after he took several big hits Saturday, but if Robinson continues to grow and his offensive line stays healthy, the Wolverines will put up a lot of points.

2. Bolden continues rapid rise: Rob Bolden has been playing college football for less than a month, but he's already making a big impression in Happy Valley. Bolden had an impressive debut Saturday against Youngstown State, completing 20 of 29 passes for 239 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception that wasn't his fault. After some freshman mistakes early on, Bolden settled down nicely and threw two touchdown passes to Brett Brackett on intermediate routes. He'll likely have a rough time next week at defending national champ Alabama, but this kid looks like he'll only get better for the Lions.

3. Ohio State's offense will be fun to watch: Defense and special teams remain hallmarks of Tresselball, but Ohio State's offense gives you another reason to tune in this season. The Buckeyes displayed good balance in their opener but got more players involved, particularly in the passing game. Terrelle Pryor had an impressive debut (17-25 passing, 247 yards, 3 TDs), and he got help from running back Brandon Saine (9 carries, 103 rush yards, 2 TDs) and wide receivers Dane Sanzenbacher (3 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD) and DeVier Posey (4 catches, 41 yards, 2 TDs). Ohio State displayed perfect balance in the first half -- 16 rushes, 16 passes -- but it just felt the reins had been loosened a bit. Ohio State had nine different players record a reception.

4. Purdue, Illinois still works in progress: The only Big Ten squads to lose Saturday showed why they're still figuring things out. Purdue started slow, made mistakes at the wrong times and couldn't generate much of a run game at Notre Dame. Illinois' offense disappeared after halftime, and a shorthanded defense couldn't hold Missouri's Blaine Gabbert in check. But there were some positives for both squads, as Purdue controlled the clock and received a big performance from defensive end Ryan Kerrigan. Illinois' defense performed better than expected, and freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase showed some promise despite an ugly stat line. Not the ideal start for either squad, but don't be surprised if things turn around soon.

5. Run games revealed: We learned quite a bit about the rushing attacks in the Big Ten in Week 1. Teams like Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan State and Indiana that struggled at times on the ground in 2009 received strong opening performances from Duane Bennett, Adam Robinson, Darius Willis, Le'Veon Bell and Edwin Baker. Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan continued to do their thing on the ground. On the flip side, Northwestern continued to struggle to generate a rushing attack, and Penn State's offensive line couldn't spark Evan Royster against FCS Youngstown State. Purdue missed Ralph Bolden in its loss to Notre Dame and needs to find an answer in the backfield.

The first three Big Ten teams to take the field Saturday all cruised to blowout victories.

Here are my thoughts on the wins by Iowa, Penn State and Michigan State.

Iowa 37, Eastern Illinois 7: Aside from the few plays Ricky Stanzi missed because of a leg injury, Iowa had a pretty ideal opener. Stanzi, who returned for the next series after the injury, delivered a near spotless performance, completing 19 of 24 passes for 243 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. Sure, it was Eastern Illinois, but any pick-free game for Stanzi is a good sign, especially with two more challenging contests coming up against Iowa State (looked great against Northern Illinois) and Arizona (looked great against Toledo). Stanzi did a great job of spreading the ball around, getting his tight ends involved and finding fullback Brett Morse for a touchdown. Adam Robinson made a strong case to be the starting running back with 109 rush yards and three touchdowns. Paki O'Meara came up with a big play on special teams, and Iowa's defense shut down EIU aside from one drive. Iowa needs to secure the ball better after twice fumbling.

Penn State 44, Youngstown State 14: It's only one game, but Rob Bolden (he prefers Rob to Robert) looks like the real deal. After some freshman mistakes early, Bolden settled down nicely and put up some good numbers (20-for-29 passing, 239 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) in a rout of Youngstown State. His lone interception wasn't his fault, as receiver Derek Moye slipped, and he formed good chemistry with both Moye and Brett Brackett (8 catches, 99 yards, 2 TDs). Bolden's rapid rise is really something, considering he didn't enroll early and was considered a likely redshirt candidate when camp opened. Things get much, much tougher next week at Alabama, and you can't expect Bolden to avoid mistakes. But poise shouldn't be a problem for this guy. Penn State's inability to get Evan Royster going in the run game concerns me, and the defense struggled early before shutting down Youngstown after halftime.

Michigan State 38, Western Michigan 14: The Spartans ranked second in the Big Ten in passing a year ago, but they returned to their running roots in a big way today. Freshman Le'Veon Bell carried over his practice performance to the game field, rushing for 141 yards and two scores. Sophomore Edwin Baker started in place of the injured Larry Caper (hand) and racked up 117 rush yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Add Caper to the mix at running back, and Michigan State should be excited about the group. Michigan State's offensive line looked like a question mark entering the fall, and today's 297-yard rushing performance is a good sign. Quarterback Kirk Cousins was decent and his receivers weren't great, but it didn't matter. Greg Jones and the Spartans' defense looked good overall.