ESPN College Football

Upon further review ...

Team of the week: Iowa. Well, look at who's tied atop the Legends Division standings. Many people had written off the Hawkeyes after they lost at home to Central Michigan (a team which has followed up that upset in Iowa City by losing to Northern Illinois, Toledo and Navy, all by double digits). But give credit to the resiliency of Kirk Ferentz's team. On Saturday, Iowa outslugged Michigan State on the road and won in double-overtime 19-16. It wasn't a pretty game, but the Hawkeyes showed toughness and grit. Don't count them out of the Big Ten race just yet.

Best game: Hope you stayed up late to catch Ohio State's 52-49 win over Indiana, the Big Ten's version of Big 12 football. There were blocked punts, onside kicks, a 15-point Indiana rally in the final minutes, 1,059 total yards and way more tension than we usually associate with Buckeyes-Hoosiers matchups. You might have liked Iowa-Michigan State more if you enjoy, you know, actual tackling. But this kind of game is fun every once in a while, too.

Biggest play: Let's go back to East Lansing and the second overtime period, when defensive lineman Louis Trinca-Pasat deflected a pass from Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell, causing the ball to sail through receiver Keith Mumphery’s hands and into the waiting embrace of an Iowa cornerback. That was a fitting end to a game that was all about defense.

Best play: The play of the day in the Big Ten happened around midnight, when Indiana's Nick Stoner leaped out of bounds to grab an onside kick and toss it back into the field of play. Stoner showed off the athleticism that allows him to star on Indiana's track team. D’Angelo Roberts recovered, and the Hoosiers went in for a score and two-point conversion for the game's final margin. Indiana's final onside kick was also brilliantly executed and conceived, but Ohio State's Corey Brown made a game-saving catch as he was all alone on his side of the field.

Big Man on Campus (Offense): Wisconsin's Montee Ball has had quite a career, so when he sets a career high, that's saying something. His 247 yards (on 29 carries) versus Purdue were a personal best. His three touchdowns also gave him 72 for his career, moving him past Ron Dayne as the Big Ten's all-time leading touchdown maker. He needs seven more to break the NCAA record. If he keeps playing like he did Saturday, he'll smash it.

Big Man on Campus (Defense): Michigan's Jake Ryan collected 11 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and a sack, and forced a fumble in the Wolverines' 45-0 annihilation of Illinois. We'd say he's playing like his hair is on fire, but his golden locks are so long it might take him a while to feel any follicular conflagration.

Big Man on Campus (Special teams): Iowa's Mike Meyer was 4-for-4 on field goals, including two in overtime and the 42-yard game winner against Michigan State. Meyer has made 14 out of 15 this year and has connected on his past 13 attempts. For a team that struggles to score, Meyer has been extra valuable.

Worst hangover: Michigan State. Adam and I are frantically going back through all our offseason blog posts and erasing the word "State" every time we picked Michigan State to win the Big Ten in 2012. At this point, the Spartans are not even guaranteed of making a bowl game, sitting at 4-3 with tough games left against Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Northwestern, plus a trip to Minnesota. How'd we miss so bad on the Spartans? Neither of us thought their offense would be this dreadful. And while their defense has been very good, it has had to be heroic to carry the entire team, and that's asking too much every week. Michigan State has somehow lost three home games this year after it had won 15 in a row at Spartan Stadium. The Notre Dame and Ohio State losses were forgivable to a degree. Losing to an Iowa team that had only 257 total yards and one touchdown? Not so much.

Strangest moment: There are helmet-to-helmet hits, and then there are, apparently, shoulder-to-decal hits. That's what happened in Saturday's Northwestern-Minnesota game. Wildcats safety Ibraheim Campbell collided with Gophers tailback Donnell Kirkwood so solidly that most of the gold "M" on one side of Kirkwood's helmet came off on the play. Campbell got the worst of that hit, but Northwestern got the 21-13 road win.

Got football fever yet?

• SI.com's Andy Staples previews the Big Ten and forecasts a Wisconsin-Michigan State rematch in Indy.
• Illinois LB Henry Dickinson will miss the season with a broken leg. The Illini offensive line continues to shuffle.
• Michigan State's talented defense is primed to end the school's Rose Bowl drought, Stewart Mandel writes. Spartans QB Andrew Maxwell says the wait to be the starter was worth it. Quiet off of the field, TE Dion Sims is making noise between the lines.
• Urban Meyer has pushed Ohio State hard during camp and seen the results he wants. Rob Oller weighs in on how quickly Meyer can win in Columbus and how much.
• Reviews of the new Joe Paterno book here and here and here. Thoughts on Penn State's practice from BTN.com's Tom Dienhart.
• Danny O'Brien's accuracy helped him land Wisconsin's starting QB spot. Despite the release of the preseason depth chart, Wisconsin still has competition at place-kicker.
• Iowa defensive lineman Darian Cooper has had an accelerated learning curve. After two mediocre seasons, Iowa is shaking things up for 2012.
• Purdue receiver O.J. Ross regains his love for football after a challenging offseason. The Boilers pick up a commitment from "The Rock" -- actually, a different Dwayne Johnson.
• Northwestern players went through a grueling but valuable workout with the Navy SEALs this weekend.
• Nebraska tackle Brent Qvale has blossomed as a redshirt junior. The Huskers have their eyes set on a Big Ten title.
• Indiana reserve RB D'Angelo Roberts grew up during the offseason (subscription required). A closer look at the Hoosiers' quarterbacks entering 2012.
• Don't expect a full-blown Heisman campaign for Michigan QB Denard Robinson. Days after a scary neck injury, Wolverines DT Ondre Pipkins returns to practice. The next step for Brock Mealer: walking down the aisle at his wedding.
• Minnesota still doesn't know which UNLV quarterback it will face in next Thursday's opener.

Links from Mars:

• Many Penn State alumni support the changing of the team's iconic uniforms. Other recruits may be decommitting, but Brandon Bell is sticking with the Nittany Lions. Rob Bolden is grateful to have landed at LSU.
• Michigan State's William Gholston blames himself for the punch that has led some people to call him a dirty player. Spartans tight end Dion Sims thinks this will be his breakout season.
• Even without Montee Ball right now, Wisconsin is still loaded at running back. There's a lot to like about the retooled Badgers' offensive line, including 6-foot-8, 342-pound (!) right tackle Rob Havenstein.
• Luke Fickell is content returning to his old role as Ohio State's defensive coordinator. Fickell is looking for leadership from linebacker Curtis Grant.
• Purdue coach Danny Hope has less tolerance for penalties from his team this year.
• Iowa has an all-Iowa offensive line. Darian Cooper is one of the youngsters on the Hawkeyes' D-line who needs to grow up in a hurry.
• Denard Robinson has received an outpouring of support for his Big Ten kickoff luncheon speech. Devin Gardner has impressed Michigan teammates with his turn at wide receiver.
• Nebraska has a good competition going on at both offensive tackle spots. Linebacker Alonzo Whaley is in position to start after putting his troubles behind him.
• Illinois is doing lots of tinkering with its offensive line. Tim Beckman is excited about the Illini playing in Soldier Field next year.
• Indiana running back D'Angelo Roberts learned last year that he needed to get bigger to get better.
• Wide receiver Isaac Fruechte had to take a detour to reach his dream of playing for Minnesota but could be ready to make an impact this year.
• Northwestern's defensive linemen vow to make up for last year's poor pass rush.

The preseason position rankings march on with the running back units in the Big Ten. If you missed the top 10 individual running backs entering 2012, check them out here. For the running back units -- and all position units, for that matter -- the strength of the starter is weighted fairly heavily. But if a team has a good starter and no proven depth behind him, it could hurt the rating a bit.

The top team here is obvious, while the next four groups all are very good. There's a bit of a drop off after No. 5. Several squads have virtually no depth, which is why they're at the bottom.

Let's get to it.

1. Wisconsin: The obvious choice for the top spot as Wisconsin returns two backs who would start for most FBS teams. Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball is back following a record-setting season, and James White has rushed for 1,765 yards and 20 touchdowns in his first two seasons. Wisconsin also has a future star behind them in Melvin Gordon.

2. Nebraska: Although Aaron Green's transfer to TCU hurts Nebraska's depth, the Huskers still boast a strong 1-2 punch in Rex Burkhead and Ameer Abdullah. Abdullah has had a strong offseason and should be able to spell Burkhead more this fall. Freshman Imani Cross is a good get on the recruiting trail.

3. Michigan: Running back could be Michigan's deepest position entering 2012 as all the key names come back. Fitzgerald Toussaint established himself as the featured back during Big Ten play, and he'll be backed up by versatile senior Vincent Smith and Thomas Rawls, who appeared in 10 games as a freshman last year.

4. Michigan State: Like Nebraska, Michigan State loses a key running back in Edwin Baker, who surprised some by entering the draft a year early. The Spartans still boast a potential star in Le'Veon Bell, along with veteran Larry Caper, a former starter, and the speedy Nick Hill.

5. Penn State: What the Lions lack at quarterback and wide receiver, they make up for at running back. Silas Redd returns for his second season as the starter, and Penn State has some insurance behind him with players like Curtis Dukes and Bill Belton, who moves over from receiver.

6. Ohio State: A healthy Jordan Hall makes this a much stronger group, as the senior can fill the hybrid role (tailback/receiver) in Urban Meyer's offense. Hall's absence early in the season will place a heavier burden on Carlos Hyde, who looked good at times last season. Freshman Bri'onte Dunn and sophomore Rod Smith are in the mix, but there's no obvious star here.

7. Purdue: The Boilers have some nice options at running back, and they'll be even better here if former All-Big Ten selection Ralph Bolden returns at or near full strength. Co-captain Akeem Shavers enters the fall as the lead back, and he'll be complemented by speedy sophomore Akeem Hunt.

Stephen Houston had a pretty impressive rookie campaign for Indiana. Except that neither he nor his head coach was all that impressed with it.

Houston took over the starting running back duties for the Hoosiers and finished with 802 yards, eight touchdowns and a 5.3 yard per carry average. That was the most rushing yards by an IU player since BenJarvus Green-Ellis had 938 in 2003.

But Houston is more interested this spring in talking about ways he can improve.

"I was blessed to play last year, and it was decent," he said. "But I'm trying to better my skills. I want to get my shoulders down, get a faster step and get quicker off the ball."

This is the first spring where Houston has had a chance to work on his game. He didn't arrive in Bloomington until late last summer and was quickly thrown into the fire as the Hoosiers dealt with several injuries at the running back position.

"He had a nice year, but it was really just average at best," head coach Kevin Wilson said. "He showed up here late and didn't really get flowing until game four. He had to play himself into shape and learn our system.

"That doesn't mean he didn't have a nice first year, because he did. But for us to have the kind of year we need to have offensively, we need him to come through in a big-time way."

Houston never thought he'd wind up at Indiana, but after a circuitous route, he feels like he has found a home.

He grew up in Arkansas, then moved to Ohio with his mother late in his prep career, playing for Lakota West High School. He committed to play for Ole Miss but didn't make the necessary grades, so headed to Independence (Kan.) Community College. After a redshirt season, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards there in 2010.

Last February, Houston signed with North Carolina. But in May, the Tar Heels told him he would not be admitted to school. So Houston was left looking for a place to go at a time when most programs have accounted for all their scholarships in the upcoming year.

"A few schools called me here and there," he said. "Some of them wanted me to play a different position, which I wasn't comfortable with. Some wanted me to walk on. But deep down, I felt I wasn't a walk-on player."

Houston visited Indiana, which told him he would have a scholarship if he could pass a calculus course at his junior college. So Houston went back to Independence.

"And I got an A," he said.

He gives the Hoosiers a nice blend of size and speed with his 6-foot, 223-pound body. Houston aims to use his power more effectively this season.

"I'm focusing on becoming more aggressive with my run flow," he said. "I feel I was kind of passive at times last year and let defenders off the hook. But that's about to change."

With a full offseason of conditioning and preparation and more knowledge of the system, Houston could make a run at 1,000 yards this season, something no Indiana player has done since Levron Williams ran for 1,401 in 2001. But IU also has more depth in the backfield with a healthy Matt Perez, D'Angelo Roberts and transfer Isaiah Roundtree all competing for carries this spring.

"There's competition all around, and I'm just stepping up to the challenge," Houston said. "I know if I slip up, I could be gone just like that.

"Getting 1,000 yards is my goal, but mostly I just want to run hard every play no matter the outcome. If I do that, the yards were come."

And if he does that, his second season as a Hoosier could be really impressive.

Indiana completed its second spring practice on Tuesday, and head coach Kevin Wilson knows his team needs a lot of work. The Hoosiers finished 1-11 and went winless in the Big Ten while playing numerous true freshmen in Wilson's first season. Things can only get better in Year 2, and Wilson recently spoke to ESPN.com about the state of his program and what he hopes to accomplish this offseason:

You played so many freshmen last year, many of whom were not even on campus this time last year. Does that put you ahead a little bit going into spring?


Kevin Wilson: I wouldn't by any means say ahead because, number one, it's their first spring. So they're still trying to figure out what spring is all about. They're doing those offseason workouts, the morning conditioning programs and running. Some of these guys, you're like, "Hey, you've been playing," so you expect them to do really great. Instead they're doing good or fair or whatever. And you're sitting there looking at the kid, and really, he's been here for like seven months.

So we've got to be smart as coaches to realize we're still extremely young, and we've got to continue bringing them along instead of maybe having greater mental and physical expectations than guys are ready to fill right now.

Is there a different attitude or energy in Year 2 now that everyone knows what to expect from you?


KW: Yeah. I don't think it was bad the first year. I just think there's a much better understanding from them to me and me to them. An understanding of the typical day, what I expect as a coach, but also the dynamics of what they're going through as students here. The ebb and flow of Monday through Saturday here.

Your team was competitive at Ohio State late in the year and played Purdue tough in the finale. Did that give you any optimism that things were starting to get better?


KW: Yeah, and that's the disappointing thing. As hard as guys were working, you want to be rewarded with W's, and we were on the wrong side of that stick too much. But if you didn't know anything and just watched us practice down the stretch, you wouldn't have sensed it. There was a much more positive environment and much more potential for better outcomes than we were having. We were a really good practice team, our energy was high and the kids really got in sync with what we were trying to do. The more the young guys played the more comfortable they got.

At the same time, you want to win and we didn't get much of that done at all. It's nice to show that maybe we're not that far away, but ultimately when you're not winning games, you are far away.

Defensively, your numbers were obviously bad. How can that improve this year?


KW: It's the second year in the system and also now for us the second year in the league and understanding it. Maybe we'll tweak some things in the system scheme wise. Subtle things. I don't see any wholesale changes, but just in the leverages of players, situations, when to attack and when to not, how to help people and how to hide people. In the second year, we need to make as much improvement mentally. Broken plays, busted assignments -- that happened way too much. We can't give up the big plays.

We brought in five junior college guys and this spring we have two safeties, two linebackers and a defensive end here right now. They're all going to be in the two-deep. It's only Day 2 and we're not in pads yet, so there's lot of work to do to determine where they'll fall. But it looks like on defense and special teams we'll need them to come through, and I expect them to.

You have starters back at defensive tackle, but what about the defensive end spot and improving your pass rush this season?


KW: Ryan Phillis really played his best from the Ohio State game on. I think he had like nine tackles before that and then 10 at Ohio State, and he played really well against Purdue. Ryan's a guy who showed up the summer of his freshman year and had a broken ankle, and his first workout was when I got here. So he had one spring and then last fall. So he wasn't even a true redshirt freshman. He really came on late, which was good to see.

Bobby Richardson was a freshman we moved to D-line and he really came on strong. Those two guys will be sophomores now. We got a junior college guy [Justin Rayside] who's got speed off the edge. And I really like the background of coach [Jon] Fabris from Georgia. He'll be a nice addition. We had a very good coach there who we lost [Brett Dierson] but we were lucky to have coach Fabris because he brings a great deal of expertise there as well.

Speaking of coaching changes, you also have a new offensive coordinator in Seth Littrell. In what ways will the offense change with him running the show?


KW: I think the change will be in some ways how we're practicing the pass game and some subtle ways. Not the plays that are called but how to run some routes, and some quarterback progressions to bring greater continuity and rhythm to the pass game. I think the plays will look very, very similar and the formations and mindset will be very, very similar, but I think the means will be different.

Coach Littrell is a direct descendant of [Mike] Leach. He worked with him for five years and also worked with [Dana] Holgorsen for five years. So I think we'll be a little cleaner and a little bit more into that type of passing game. The plays will look a lot alike, but the execution, the way they're practiced and the developing of the quarterback and wide receiver position, I'm hoping we'll see some significant gains there.

At quarterback, Tre Roberson really emerged for you midway through last season as a true freshman. How do you see his development continuing?


KW: He's another one of those guys who's been here seven months. Saturday was his first spring practice ever. So there's still a learning curve of getting through it the first time. Coach [Kevin] Johns and coach Littrell will do a nice job of developing him as a passer, and I think he has the skill set to develop into a really solid, strong quarterback. I don't think he's an athlete. I know he can run well, but I think he's a guy who's going to be a complete player and bring some great things to the passing game. And I believe he's going to be a great leader, but he's still young and has a lot of work to do.

How's the state of your receiving corps this spring?


KW: A little thin. Duwyce Wilson is coming off a knee injury. He's healthy but not he's allowed to practice yet, though he's ahead of schedule and looks good. I think we'll see some good things out of Shane Wynn and Kofi Hughes and even Ted Bolser, with the way the passing game will be taught and implemented by Coach Littrell. Ted will be a very nice complement and you'll see him as maybe more of a receiving threat at tight end.

Cody Latimer and Jay McCants were two freshmen who showed some flashes last year, so we've got a bunch of freshman coming back. We've got Nick Stoner, who just set a record in the 4X400 and qualified for the NCAA indoor [championships], so he's a fast kid. It's just a young crowd. But as we go through spring and if guys on their own have a great summer ... Tre can do well but he's not going to do well until he and those those receivers play well for one another.

Stephen Houston came on as your leading rusher last year, and now you finally have some depth at running back. Will you look to spread the ball around more there?


KW: You need to, because they're getting beat up enough there that you can wear a guy out. It's not just games during the season -- you've still got to be a great practice player to play on Saturday, and there's wear and tear from practice. Even when you've got a great back, you need a nice complementary guy. You look at NFL teams, most of them are playing two or three [running backs] and it's the same deal in college.

So now we've got D'Angelo Roberts, we've got Matt Perez back, Isaiah Roundtree is a kid who transferred in and I'm very intrigued by, and then we signed a really good player in Tevin Coleman. Last year, every running back in the spring seemed like they were hurt. This year, it's a little bit better, and we should be in a solid position by fall, we hope.

Finally, you played so many young players and don't have a lot of seniors. How is the leadership on this team?


KW: Every team has leaders, whether they're good or bad. Every is team being led by players in a locker room, by a core group of guys. We've worked really hard this offseason and did a couple neat little things I'm not going to get too detailed about. We've been able to do some team building. We are trying to develop leaders and put our players in charge and take ownership for our actions on the field, off the field, in season out of season, on campus and in the community.

It's been going really pretty good, but once you get some adversity, that's where the leadership is going to come in. We've had about 6-to-8 really good, behind-the-scenes [leaders]. Even though it's young -- we've only got five seniors -- I think it's significantly better than a year ago. I think it's developing. But I'm really looking forward to seeing when we get a bump in the road, do we have great, positive leadership. I won't know that until we get a couple hiccups and see how we respond.

The Big Ten postseason position rankings march on with the running backs. The running back rankings evaluate the entire position group, although superstar players affected the placement, too. Certain groups of running backs ran behind better offensive lines than others, and we took that into account when compiling the rankings.

Check out the preseason running back rankings here.

Onto the rundown ...

1. Wisconsin: Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball built on a strong finish to 2010 and took his game to another level in 2011. The Big Ten offensive player of the year headlined a Wisconsin rushing attack that led the Big Ten and ranked 11th nationally. While James White had a reduced role this past season, he still averaged 5.1 yards a carry and racked up 713 rush yards and six touchdowns. Ball also contributed in the passing game with 24 receptions, six of which went for touchdowns.

2. Nebraska: Rex Burkhead wore an "N" on his helmet, but it might as well have been an "S" on his chest. The player nicknamed "Superman" triggered a Nebraska rushing attack that ranked 15th nationally. Burkhead racked up 284 carries for 1,357 rush yards and 13 touchdowns. Although the Huskers didn't show a ton of depth at the position, young players like Ameer Abdullah have bright futures.

3. Ohio State: Although a quarterback (Braxton Miller) led the pass-averse Buckeyes in rushing, Ohio State had several capable ball carriers this past season. Carlos Hyde contributed early in the season and finished with 566 rush yards and six touchdowns on 106 carries. Dan Herron provided a spark after returning from suspension, averaging five yards a carry. Jordan Hall also tallied 100 carries and averaged more than four yards per rush.

4. Michigan: The coaches entered the season looking for a featured back and got one as Fitzgerald Toussaint emerged midway through the season. Toussaint racked up 120 yards or more in four of Michigan's final five regular-season games and displayed superstar potential at times. Although Toussaint and quarterback Denard Robinson had the bulk of the carries, reserves Vincent Smith and Michael Shaw both averaged more than six yards per carry.

5. Penn State: Much like Ohio State, Penn State relied heavily on its ground game to account for a shaky passing attack. Sophomore Silas Redd shouldered the burden, particularly during the month of October, when he led the FBS with 703 rush yards, including five 100-yard games. Redd finished with 1,241 yards and seven touchdowns, and Stephfon Green stepped up later in the season and had six rushing scores. Burly sophomore Curtis Dukes averaged 5.8 yards a carry.

6. Purdue: The Boilers had a featured back in Ralph Bolden but also had very good depth at the position. It showed up in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, which Bolden missed with a torn ACL. Akeem Shavers led the way and others contributed, too. Purdue finished the season with two 500-yard rushers in Bolden and Shavers, while freshman speedster Akeem Hunt averaged 8.7 yards on 33 carries.

7. Iowa: The Hawkeyes were a bit of a dichotomy in 2011, as they finished last in the Big Ten in rushing but had the league's top rusher for part of the season in Marcus Coker. Despite being suspended for the Insight Bowl, Coker finished second in the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,384) and 15th nationally in rushing average (115.3 ypg). He had 281 carries, while no other running back had more than 31, so it was a one-man show for Iowa in 2011.

8. Michigan State: The Spartans' rushing production went down in 2011, as Michigan State went from 64th nationally in rushing to 78th. MSU ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing for much of the season and finished 11th. But the team's struggles had more to do with a new-look offensive line than the running backs. Le'Veon Bell came on strong late in the season and rushed for 948 yards and 13 touchdowns. Edwin Baker's numbers went down, but he added 665 rush yards and five scores.

9. Illinois: Here's another team that had a quarterback (Nathan Scheelhaase) as its leading rusher, but Illinois also featured multiple options at running back. Although Jason Ford had an up-and-down season, Troy Pollard and Donovonn Young proved to be capable ball carriers. Young averaged 5.2 yards a carry and scored seven touchdowns, while Pollard averaged 7.2 yards a carry and had 488 rush yards and two scores.

10. Indiana: Although the Hoosiers have plenty of issues to address going forward, the running back spot appears solid. Stephen Houston started the final eight games and established himself as the featured back with 802 yards and eight touchdowns on 151 carries (5.3 ypc). Houston was productive in Big Ten play and a nice complement to quarterback Tre Roberson. D'Angelo Roberts and Matt Perez both added four touchdowns.

11. Northwestern: Echoing a common theme, Northwestern's top rusher was a quarterback (Kain Colter). While the offense has been productive the past few years, the Wildcats haven't found an elite featured back since Tyrell Sutton graduated. Jacob Schmidt was solid for stretches, and young backs Treyvon Green and Adonis Smith contributed at times. Mike Trumpy might still be the best of the bunch, but his season was cut short by a knee injury.

12. Minnesota: Although quarterback MarQueis Gray ran the ball well (966 rush yards, 6 TDs), Minnesota needs more from the running back spot going forward. Duane Bennett and Donnell Kirkwood both averaged less than four yards per carry, and the Gophers had only two 100-yard rushing performances from a running back.

The formula is pretty obvious at this point for Penn State: play great defense and hope the offense generates just enough production.

It worked again today as Penn State posted an ugly win. Penn State can't feel too good about itself after a 16-10 triumph against Indiana.

There's still not much clarity at quarterback, although Matthew McGloin (10-for-22 passing, 204 yards, TD) was more productive than Rob Bolden (6-for-14 passing 67 yards, INT) against the Hoosiers. McGloin would be my pick at this point, simply because the offense runs better when he's in the game. Penn State needs a resolution under center, but neither player has truly separated himself.

The offensive line continues to show inconsistency. I figured this would be a big day for Silas Redd and the run game, but Penn State averaged just 3.9 yards a carry. It didn't help that Redd fumbled inside the 5-yard line, one of two red zone turnovers by Penn State.

Once again, the defense carried the Lions, as it has all season. Indiana didn't score a touchdown for more than 56 minutes. Penn State held the Hoosiers to 71 rush yards.

But this formula won't last for Penn State. Next week's home date with Iowa could chart the course for the rest of Penn State's season. With Iowa's offense on fire, Penn State's offense needs to find more production.

Indiana deserves a lot of credit, especially after last week's embarrassing performance at North Texas. The defense answered the coaches' challenge and made plays throughout the day at critical points. Indiana's defenders certainly can take away some positives.

The offense needs to start faster and generate more of a rushing attack. But without quarterback Ed Wright-Baker and running back D'Angelo Roberts, you couldn't expect too much today.

Still, Kevin Wilson can build off of this game.

Two quick updates on starting quarterbacks today in the Big Ten:

• Dusty Kiel will make his first career start for Indiana against Penn State. Kiel led Indiana's comeback last week at North Texas, and has completed 11 of 18 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in two games. Ed Wright-Baker, who started the first four games for IU, hasn't played poorly. He reportedly suffered a knee injury this week in practice. Also, Indiana's top running back, D'Angelo Roberts, is out. Could be another tough day for IU.
• Max Shortell is expected start for Minnesota, becoming the first true freshman quarterback to start a game for the Gophers since Rickey Foggie in 1984. He replaces MarQueis Gray, who started the first four games but has been battling a toe injury all week. Gray reportedly looked tentative in warm-ups, and coach Jerry Kill told the Big Ten Network: "It's going to be tough for him to play. We will not take a risk with him." Shortell has been on the field in some critical situations already this season, but making your first start as a freshman at the Big House has to be nerve-wracking.

I have the toes I have. Let's just leave it at that.

• Seung Hoon Choi grew up in Seoul and didn't move to the U.S. until he was 14. Now, he's a starting offensive lineman for Nebraska. The Huskers get one defensive star back but likely will be missing another versus Wyoming.

• Ohio State hopes Braxton Miller gives the offense a spark. The linemen will have to come through for a freshman quarterback. Miller's a different player, but he's now got a similar story to Terrelle Pryor.

• Two quarterbacks are not better than one for Penn State. Undersized and mostly unwanted out of high school, Drew Astorino has developed into a leader for the Nittany Lions.

• Paul Petrino and Vic Koenning have given Illinois a major boost as coordinators. The Illini are trying to use their big wins for momentum on the recruiting trail.

• The Northwestern-Illinois rivalry is heating up. Dan Persa said he's ready to go next week.

• Denard Robinson knows he needs to improve his footwork in the passing game. Michigan players say this 3-0 start is different from the recent past.

• Michigan State's secondary is aiming to finish off plays. The Spartans won't take Central Michigan lightly.

• D'Angelo Roberts has been a hit so far for Indiana (subscription required).

• Donnell Kirkwood has emerged as a playmaker on Minnesota's offense.

• Wisconsin tight end Sam Arneson has proved too good to redshirt. Chris Borland is having fun rushing the passer and got some looks at defensive end last week against Northern Illinois.

• North Dakota State, which plays Minnesota this week, has agreed to play at Iowa in 2016. And Illinois State is coming in 2015.

There are very few parenting issues where I come out on top. I'm distant, I work too much, my French braiding is sloppy. Finally something that's not my fault!

• Can't get enough realignment talk? Neither can Tom Shatel. The Big Ten is better off at 12 teams, Michael Rosenberg writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Penn State assistant Jay Paterno drops a Latin phrase in his latest column about dealing with criticism. Lions linebacker Michael Mauti misses home but relishes continuing his family tradition in State College.
• Nebraska star defensive tackle Jared Crick misses another practice. A good piece on the Bob Devaney connection between Nebraska and Wyoming.
• Kyle Turley can't rattle Michigan coach Brady Hoke. The Wolverines will turn to Vincent Smith as their top running back on Saturday.
• Missed tackles have been a problem for Ohio State's defense, Doug Lesmerises writes in The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. Buckeyes defensive lineman John Simon welcomes the adversity, Bill Rabinowitz writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
• Like numbers? Then you'll love Dave Revsine's latest entry in the Big Ten numbers blog.
• Illinois' defensive front seven has gone from potential weakness to pleasant surprise. The Illini won't overlook Western Michigan, ESPNChicago.com's Scott Powers writes.
• Phil Miller writes that Minnesota coach Jerry Kill has become a role model for others with his health issues. The Bison are coming.
• Indiana's D'Angelo Roberts isn't satisfied with his first 100-yard rushing performance, Terry Hutchens writes in the Indianapolis Star.
• Wisconsin gets good news on tackle Josh Oglesby. Badgers cornerback Devin Smith, meanwhile, won't be back this season but looks forward to 2012.
• Iowa defensive backs Shaun Prater and Micah Hyde compete for "swag" this season. In case you missed it, Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg joined Bennett and I on the Big Ten podcast.
• Michigan State aims for more pick-sixes from its secondary. The Spartans' special teams, meanwhile, need a serious upgrade.
• Purdue is still searching for its identity this season.
• The Big Ten isn't even the nation's No. 2 conference, according to the Sporting News.

Stock it to me.

Stock up

Purdue's Akeems: First-year Boilermaker running backs Akeem Shavers and Akeem Hunt each had productive days against an overmatched Southeast Missouri State defense on Saturday. Shavers, a junior-college transfer who got the start, ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Head coach Danny Hope says Shavers has NFL-caliber numbers in his strength and speed testing. Hunt, a true freshman, added 56 yards and two more scores. He was a track star in high school and is one of the fastest players on the team. Along with Ralph Bolden, the two Akeems give Purdue a lot of options in the backfield.

D'Angelo Roberts: Granted, it came against South Carolina State. But Indiana may have found a future star in its freshman tailback, who ran for 102 yards -- all in the second half -- and a touchdown. He is the first Hoosier true freshman to run for 100 yards since BenJarvus Green-Ellis in 2003.

Iowa receivers: We knew about Marvin McNutt coming into this season but weren't sure about the rest of the Hawkeyes' wideouts. So far, though, Keenan Davis and Kevonte Martin-Manley have developed into standout receivers in their own right. Davis had 10 catches for 129 yards last week against Pittsburgh, while Martin-Manley had a pair of touchdown grabs. They're a big reason why Iowa has the top passing offense in the Big Ten through three weeks.

MarQueis Gray: After he struggled in Week 1 at USC and freshman Max Shortell played well after he cramped up, Gray's grasp on the Minnesota quarterback job seemed shaky. But the former wide receiver had his best game in a win over Miami of Ohio on Saturday, throwing for 163 yards and running for 171. "I think he's going to grow from week to week to week," head coach Jerry Kill said.

Illinois' defense: All the preseason focus around Illinois focused on Nathan Scheelhaase and the high-scoring offense. But the defense has proved itself a force early in the season despite losing several key players from last season's team. The Illini rank seventh nationally in stopping the run, allowing just 63.7 yards per game on the ground and 2.1 yards per carry. They also rank 12th in the country with 11 sacks and 14th in the FBS in turnover margin.

Stock down

Penn State kickers: The Nittany Lions are just 1-of-6 so far on field goals, with Evan Lewis and Sam Ficken splitting duties so far. Penn State missed all three tries at Temple on Saturday, with one kick bouncing off a post. Add in a blocked punt last week, and the kicking game has been a kick in the pants so far for Joe Paterno.

Michigan's first quarters: Whether playing in the day or at night, the Wolverines need a while to get going. They've been outscored 21-0 in the first quarter this season and have trailed early in every single game. The good news? Michigan has outscored opponents 100-23 from the second quarter on so far.

Wisconsin penalties: Even Debbie Downer would have a hard time finding complaints about the Badgers' start. But how about those yellow flags? Wisconsin has drawn 18 penalties for an average of 49.3 penalty yards per game through its first three contest. While that's not terrible, it's nearly twice as many penalties per game as last season's team averaged; the 2010 Badgers were whistled for only 41 penalties in 13 games.

Iowa's third-down defense: The Hawkeyes' defense has been disappointing so far this season, and problems on third down are one part of those struggles. Opponents have converted exactly half of their 50 third-down plays against Iowa this season and have had to punt only 12 times in three games. One bright spot: the Hawkeyes got a pair of third-down stops in the fourth quarter of Saturday's comeback win over Pitt.

Ohio State's passing game: Not to pile on Joe Bauserman, but he has completed just 18 of his 44 pass attempts (41 percent) since opening strong against a bad Akron defense. Braxton Miller showed some flashes as a runner but also turned the ball over twice against Miami. Both guys should be holding clipboards for Terrelle Pryor, not starting. The receivers haven't helped, either, failing to record a single catch against the Hurricanes. It can't get any worse, though. We think.

It's time to nitpick the Week 3 picks.

Do I have to? Yes, Adam, you have to. You're terrible and you can't hide from it. Now stop talking to yourself on the blog.

OK, here's the deal. After three years of fairly strong predictions, I've fallen apart this season. An 8-4 mark in Week 3 is just the latest setback. I'm below 70 percent in picking winners for the first time ... maybe ever.

Mr. Bennett, meanwhile, continues to extend his lead in the standings, although he shouldn't feel too giddy about a 9-3 mark.

Let's check the standings:

WEEK 3

Adam Rittenberg: 8-4

Brian Bennett: 9-3

SEASON

Rittenberg: 25-11 (.694)

Bennett: 28-8 (.778)

Now let's look back on the predictions:

Eastern Michigan at Michigan

• Bennett's pick: Michigan 42, Eastern Michigan 10
• Rittenberg's pick: Michigan 36, Eastern Michigan 14
• Actual score: Michigan 31, Eastern Michigan 3
• 20-20 hindsight: Not a bad start for us, and Bennett was right about Eastern Michigan having no answer for Denard Robinson, at least on the ground (198 rush yards, 3 touchdowns). My prediction of offense coordinator Al Borges sticking to his system more didn't pan out, as Michigan looks like a spread team once again.

Penn State at Temple

• Bennett's pick: Penn State 21, Temple 17
• Rittenberg's pick: Penn State 23, Temple 16
• Actual score: Penn State 14, Temple 10
• 20-20 hindsight: Two pretty solid score predictions, and both of us expressed concerns about Penn State's offense, which struggled yet again. RB Silas Redd came through for me with a rushing touchdown. Wide receiver Derek Moye made Bennett look wise with a big day catching the ball, although he didn't score.

Pitt at Iowa

• Bennett's pick: Iowa 28, Pitt 19
• Rittenberg's pick: Iowa 27, Pitt 20
• Actual score: Iowa 31, Pitt 27
• 20-20 hindsight: The score predictions aren't far off, but neither of us saw Iowa needing to rally from 17 points down in the fourth quarter to complete the biggest comeback in team history. I correctly predicted Pitt to take an early lead, but I wasn't thinking 24-3. Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg came of age in the fourth quarter.

Southeast Missouri State at Purdue

• Bennett's pick: Purdue 35, SEMO 10
• Rittenberg's pick: Purdue 34, SEMO 17
• Actual score: Purdue 59, SEMO 0
• 20-20 hindsight: Neither of us saw another nailbiter for the Boilers, but we also underestimated the offense against an FCS foe. Purdue racked up 33 first downs and 627 offensive yards as quarterbacks Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve carved up Southeast Missouri State. I correctly predicted a big day for the Boiler run game, which piled up 393 yards and seven touchdowns.

South Carolina State at Indiana

• Bennett's pick: Indiana 41, South Carolina State 17
• Rittenberg's pick: Indiana 30, South Carolina State 17
• Actual score: Indiana 38, South Carolina State 21
• 20-20 hindsight: Some decent score predictions here, especially Bennett's, as Indiana recorded its first win. I correctly predicted Indiana's run game would come to life a bit, but it was freshman D'Angelo Roberts who provided the spark with 102 rush yards and a touchdown.

Michigan State at Notre Dame

• Bennett's pick: Michigan State 31, Notre Dame 28
• Rittenberg's pick: Michigan State 27, Notre Dame 24
• Actual score: Notre Dame 31, Michigan State 13
• 20-20 hindsight: We both whiffed here, as Michigan State fell behind early and couldn't claw back. The close game we both envisioned never materialized as Notre Dame made the big plays and totally shut down the Spartans' rushing attack.

Miami (Ohio) at Minnesota

• Bennett's pick: Minnesota 21, Miami 20
• Rittenberg's pick: Miami 27, Minnesota 21
• Actual score: Minnesota 29, Miami 23
• 20-20 hindsight: Of course, Bennett looks like the genius as Minnesota seemed to elevate its play for coach Jerry Kill, who returned to the sideline only a week after suffering a seizure. As Bennett predicted, there was some drama at the end, but Minnesota's shaky secondary made enough plays to win.

Washington at Nebraska

• Bennett's pick: Nebraska 31, Washington 14
• Rittenberg's pick: Nebraska 28, Washington 16
• Actual score: Nebraska 51, Washington 38
• 20-20 hindsight: Both of us once again gave too much credit to Nebraska's defense, which now ranks 66th nationally in points allowed (24.7 ppg). At least Bennett predicted another big day for his fantasy team star Taylor Martinez, who recorded three touchdowns (2 pass, 1 rush).

Northwestern at Army

• Bennett's pick: Northwestern 24, Army 20
• Rittenberg's pick: Northwestern 27, Army 21
• Actual score: Army 21, Northwestern 14
• 20-20 hindsight: We both predicted a close game and I nailed Army's score, but we both expected much more from quarteback Kain Colter and the Northwestern offense. As I thought, Northwestern showed more willingness to pass the ball, but Colter didn't execute like he needed to, and neither did the Wildcats' defensive line against Army's triple-option.

Wisconsin vs. Northern Illinois (at Chicago)

• Bennett's pick: Wisconsin 38, Northern Illinois 24
• Rittenberg's pick: Wisconsin 45, Northern Illinois 21
• Actual score: Wisconsin 49, Northern Illinois 7
• 20-20 hindsight: We both put too much stock in former Badgers assistant Dave Doeren and Northern Illinois' high-powered offense led by quarterback Chandler Harnish. The Wisconsin defense buckled down again, surrendering only 11 first downs. Bennett went out on a limb with his Russell Wilson prediction, as the Wisconsin quarterback continued to sizzle (347 pass yards, 3 touchdowns).

Arizona State at Illinois

• Bennett's pick: Arizona State 51, Illinois 48
• Rittenberg's pick: Illinois 33, Arizona State 31
• Actual score: Illinois 17, Arizona State 14
• 20-20 hindsight: Both of us forecast a close game, but neither of us saw a defensive struggle between the Fighting Illini and Sun Devils. Illinois' Nathan Scheelhaase ended up providing the game-winning score, as I predicted, but it was on a pass to A.J. Jenkins, not a run.

Ohio State at Miami

• Bennett's pick: Miami 21, Ohio State 16
• Rittenberg's pick: Ohio State 20, Miami 17
• Actual score: Miami 24, Ohio State 6
• 20-20 hindsight: We both thought it would be a difficult night for the Buckeyes offense, but neither of us saw Ohio State recording only 35 pass yards on 4 of 18 attempts. Running back Jordan Hall (14 carries, 87 yards) had a nice performance in his season debut, as I predicted, but it wasn't nearly enough. Bennett correctly picked the Canes.

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

It's shuffling time once again in the power rankings as two ranked Big Ten teams (Michigan State and Ohio State) suffered humbling losses Saturday. Wisconsin continues to look dominant, although the competition level will increase substantially in October. Nebraska is at the top as well, but surprisingly because of its offense more than its defense.

Illinois and Michigan State are rising, while the bottom half of the league remains more or less intact.

Let's get to it.

1. Wisconsin (3-0): The Badgers look like they can do some special things this season, as quarterback Russell Wilson is exceeding all expectations in the first three games. Northern Illinois could be a solid team, but Wisconsin totally outclassed the Huskies at Soldier Field. We'll learn a lot more about Bret Bielema's squad in October, but the early returns are good.

2. Nebraska (3-0): It's not the winning formula many of us envisioned for the Huskers, but they're finding a way to get things done. Nebraska ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring offense (44.3 ppg) and third in total offense (422 ypg). The Huskers have delivered strong second-half performances on offense the past two weeks. The defense, meanwhile, needs to tighten up significantly before the Oct. 1 trip to Wisconsin.

3. Illinois (3-0): Surprised to see the Illini here? They deserve it after a gutsy performance against Arizona State fueled by a pressuring defense. The schedule sets up extremely well for Ron Zook's crew, and if young defenders like linebacker Jonathan Brown continue to make strides, Illinois will be a contender in the Leaders Division.

4. Michigan (3-0): The 2011 Wolverines look a lot like previous versions, and time will tell if their formula for success will work against better Big Ten teams. The good news is the schedule sets up well for Michigan, which could be 6-0 when it visits in-state rival Michigan State on Oct. 15. Quarterback Denard Robinson remains extremely dangerous as a runner, but he'll have to make strides as a passer in league play.

5. Michigan State (2-1): Perhaps Michigan State caught Notre Dame at the wrong time, as the Fighting Irish shouldn't have started 0-2. On the flip side, a 31-13 loss exposed Michigan State's weakness along the offensive line. If the Spartans can't run the ball on the road, it'll be a long season. The encouraging thing is Michigan State only allowed 275 and boasts some nice pieces on defense.

6. Ohio State (2-1): Holy Buckeye, this isn't good. Week 6 can't come soon enough for Luke Fickell's squad, which needs any reinforcements it can get for an anemic offense that completed just four passes for 35 yards in Saturday night's loss to Miami. Ohio State's offensive staff needs some answers before a tough opening stretch to begin Big Ten play (Michigan State, Nebraska, Illinois).

7. Penn State (2-1): The defense can carry this team at times, perhaps even to several Big Ten wins this fall. Penn State received huge performances from LB Michael Mauti, DE Sean Stanley and others against Temple. But the offensive struggles remain and it's hard to know where Penn State should go at the quarterback position as both Matthew McGloin and Rob Bolden have had their ups and downs.

8. Iowa (2-1): If Iowa ends up winning eight to 10 games, it will point to the comeback against Pitt as the turning point. QB James Vandenberg certainly grew up a bit in the fourth quarter. But Pitt has a penchant for falling apart, and Iowa still has a lot to address in the next two weeks. The receiver position could be a strength for the Hawkeyes as Keenan Davis looked very impressive Saturday.

9. Northwestern (2-1): The wait for Dan Persa likely is nearing an end, but Northwestern couldn't avoid a very humbling loss along the way. Northwestern's defense couldn't slow down Army, but the Wildcats would have won the game with greater consistency in the passing game. Persa's return should provide a confidence boost, but Northwestern remains too reliant on its quarterback play.

10. Purdue (2-1): After sweating out the first two games, the Boilers got a breather against FCS Southeast Missouri State and flexed their muscles on offense. Quarterbacks Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve combined to complete 21 of 25 pass attempts, and Akeem Shavers rushed for two touchdowns while the defense posted its first shutout since 2004. Purdue now has an open week before hosting Notre Dame.

11. Minnesota (1-2): MarQueis Gray had a historic day at quarterback as Minnesota gave Jerry Kill his first win as its coach. The Gophers also got a boost on special teams with a punt block returned for a touchdown. Pass defense remains a significant concern as Minnesota is surrendering more than 300 yards per game through the air.

12. Indiana (1-2): Like Minnesota, Indiana also got in the victories column for the first time Saturday. And like the Gophers, the Hoosiers received a big performance from a quarterback as sophomore Ed Wright-Baker completed 21 of 27 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns. D'Angelo Roberts sparked the rushing attack 102 yards and a touchdown. Indiana now must show it can win on the road as it visits North Texas.

Kevin Wilson has his first win as a Big Ten head coach, and Indiana finally is in the victory column.

Let's take a quick look.

Indiana 38, South Carolina State 21: After Indiana surged to a comfortable halftime lead, things got a bit interesting in the second half. But Ed Wright-Baker wasn’t going to let this one slip away. The Hoosiers' sophomore quarterback tossed a 40-yard scoring pass to Kofi Hughes in the fourth quarter to seal the team’s first win of the season. Wright-Baker, whose late fumble led to last week’s heart-breaking loss to Virginia, responded today with 273 pass yards and two touchdowns on 21 of 27 passing. Duwyce Wilson (6 catches, 101 yards, TD) had a very nice performance on the perimeter. Perhaps more encouraging, Indiana's run attack showed some signs of life as D'Angelo Roberts racked up 102 rush yards and a touchdown. The defense still needs work, but the offense has to feel a bit more confident coming out of this one.