ESPN College Football

The running back derby at Minnesota just got a little clearer.

Senior DeLeon Eskridge, who led the team with 698 rushing yards a year ago, has left the Gophers for personal reasons, head coach Jerry Kill announced Friday. Eskridge was locked in a heated competition this spring with fellow senior Duane Bennett and redshirt freshmen Donnell Kirkwood and Lamonte Edwards.

Bennett is the most experienced player in the backfield, with 37 career games and 24 starts. He started the majority of games at tailback last year and is a versatile performer who led the team with 996 all-purpose yards. Kill likes to use multiple backs, so this also increases the opportunity for Kirkwood, who showed promise this spring.

Those weren't the only changes for Minnesota. Kill also announced that reserve tight end Tiree Eure has left the team, and the implication was that he was shown the door. The Gophers also added two late signees in junior college wide receiver Malcolm Moulton and high school quarterback Dexter Foreman. They will both be eligible this season.

Moulton, who played one season at Fort Scott Community College, is listed at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. He had 44 catches for 714 yards and five touchdowns last season. Moulton will have three seasons of eligibility left. He committed to Colorado last year, but schools backed off him when he broke his collarbone. ESPN.com rated him as a three-star prospect.

"Quarterback was also an area where we felt we could add a player," Kill said. "We'd like to create some more competition at the quarterback position and we're hoping Dexter can help us do that."

Beginning today, we're going to start ranking each position group in the Big Ten. These rankings will reflect the overall strength at each position, so depth matters as well as individual star power. Following each group ranking, we'll also give out our list of the top individual players at that position.

Let's start out with a look at the running back groups across the Big Ten.

1. Wisconsin: No surprise at the top. Even with John Clay gone and Zach Brown transferring, the Badgers are loaded at tailback. They've still got junior Montee Ball, who finished four yards shy of 1,000 last season with 18 touchdowns, along with reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year James White, who ran for 1,052 yards and 14 touchdowns. Throw in senior fullback Bradie Ewing and redshirt freshman Jeff Lewis, and the Badgers should be powerful on the ground yet again in 2011.

2. Michigan State: Other than Wisconsin, the Spartans have the best collection of experience and talent in the backfield. First-team All-Big Ten performer Edwin Baker ran for 1,201 yards and 13 scores last year. Le'Veon Bell, a 237-pound bruiser, complemented him as a true freshman with 605 yards and eight scores. Larry Caper is a capable veteran, and fifth-year senior Todd Anderson starts at fullback. The Spartans are deep and versatile in their rushing attack.

3. Ohio State: The Buckeyes might have earned a higher ranking if Dan Herron were eligible to play a full season. But with Herron (1,155 yards and 16 scores in '10) suspended for the first five games, Ohio State will need some youngsters to fill his shoes. The good news is that there are plenty of talented candidates. Jaamal Berry is the leading returning rusher outside of Herron, and he averaged 8.3 yards per carry in a limited role last season. Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde will also battle for more playing time, while redshirt freshman Rod Smith could emerge as the No. 1 tailback after an impressive offseason. Zach Boren is back at fullback. Things may be in flux in Columbus, but you can almost always count on a good running game from the Buckeyes.

4. Nebraska: The Cornhuskers led the Big 12 in rushing last season with 247.6 yards per game on the ground, good for ninth in the FBS. Leading rusher Roy Helu Jr. is gone, but junior Rex Burkhead returns after a 951-yard campaign. He will occasionally line up at receiver or take snaps in the Wildcat. The Cornhuskers lack experience behind him but are expecting big contributions from incoming freshmen Aaron Green and Amer Abdullah. ESPN Recruiting ranked Green as the No. 11 player overall in the Class of 2011.

5. Penn State: Yes, the school's all-time leading rusher has moved on, as Evan Royster graduated. But the Nittany Lions still feel confident about their running game, which should be led by sophomore Silas Redd. He ran for 461 yards and 5.7 yards per carry as a true freshman, showing a physical style. Senior Stephfon Green will be asked to take on a larger role, and Brandon Beachum is back after missing last season with a knee injury. Joe Suhey and Michael Zordich are productive players at the fullback spot.

6. Purdue: The Boilermakers' stock in this chart could go up if Ralph Bolden successfully returns from injury. So far, so good for Bolden, who was a second-team All-Big Ten performer in 2009. Rob Henry led the team in rushing last year with 547 yards, but fullback Dan Dierking graduated. Junior college transfer Akeem Shavers got a lot of carries this spring and should contribute, and Reggie Pegram also is in the mix.

7. Iowa: Running back depth is a serious issue for Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes. Adam Robinson, who would have been the leading returning running back in the Big Ten in terms of yards per game, was dismissed from the team following a December arrest. Marcus Coker could emerge as a superstar, however, after starting four of Iowa's final five games as a true freshman. He was the offensive MVP of the Insight Bowl with 219 rushing yards on 33 carries and has drawn comparisons to former Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene. There's virtually no proven experience behind him, though, and three-year starting fullback Brett Morse is no longer around.

8. Michigan: If only we could count Denard Robinson as a running back. Brady Hoke plans to cut down on Shoelace's carries, which means the Wolverines' tailbacks will get more of a chance to shine. The question is who will step up. Senior Michael Shaw and junior Vincent Smith split time as starters last season, while Stephen Hopkins and Michael Cox are in the mix for more carries. Can celebrated recruit Justice Hayes contribute right away?

9. Illinois: Mikel Leshoure's dash to the NFL left the Illini with uncertainty at running back. Senior Jason Ford, the most likely successor, sat out much of spring ball with a hurt knee, while Troy Pollard's promising spring was cut short by a concussion. Incoming freshman Donovonn Young will get a look this fall.

10. Northwestern: Like Nebraska and Michigan, Northwestern relied on its quarterback -- in this case Dan Persa-- for a heavy chunk of the rushing yards. Mike Trumpy came on late in the year as a freshman and solidified his starting spot with a strong spring. Sophomore Adonis Smith, senior Jacob Schmidt and junior Tyris Jones will fight for carries behind him.

11. Minnesota: There was healthy competition at tailback this spring with a mixture of veterans and fresh faces. DeLeon Eskridge led the team last year with 698 rushing yards, while Duane Bennett added 529. They're being pushed by redshirt freshmen Donnell Kirkwood and Lamonte Edwards. New coach Jerry Kill will look to improve on the Gophers' paltry 3.6 yards per carry average last season. This is a group that could make a major move up the rankings.

12. Indiana: New Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson has a challenge in figuring out this group. Three of the top candidates for the starting tailback job, Darius Willis, Antonio Banks and Xavier Whitaker, all suffered season-ending knee injuries in 2010 and missed spring practice. IU's leading rusher last season finished with just 352 yards. Nick Turner and Matt Perez got the bulk of the reps in the spring. Perhaps Wilson's high-tempo offense will improve the stats for Indiana ball carriers.

Minnesota

2010 overall record: 3-9

2010 conference record: 2-6 (T-9th)

Returning starters

Offense: 6; defense: 8; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

QB MarQueis Gray, WR Da'Jon McKnight, RB DeLeon Eskridge, RB Duane Bennett, LB Gary Tinsley, LB Mike Rallis, S Kim Royston, DL Anthony Jacobs

Key losses

QB Adam Weber, C D.J. Burris, FB Jon Hoese, S Kyle Theret, S Ryan Collado, DE Jewhan Edwards

2010 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: DeLeon Eskridge* (698 yards)

Passing: Adam Weber (2,679 yards)

Receiving: Da'Jon McKnight* (750 yards)

Tackles: Gary Tinsley* (90)

Sacks: Jewhan Edwards (3)

Interceptions: Mike Rallis* (3)

Spring answers

1. Shades of Gray: MarQueis Gray took the right approach in his return to the quarterback position and acclimated well to the new staff and the new offensive system. Gray's film study during the winter months paid off as he grasped Jerry Kill's offense and helped others catch on as well. Minnesota coaches didn't want to simply hand Gray the starting job. The junior had to earn it, and he answered the bell this spring.

2. Linebackers ready to lead: If the spring is any indication, Minnesota will be a linebacker-driven defense this season. The staff liked what it saw from Mike Rallis and particularly Keanon Cooper this spring. Gary Tinsley was limited by a hamstring injury but boasts experience and production. Minnesota has a nice starting point with those three and some others who will add depth.

3. Troy's time: Troy Stoudermire has had endured ups and downs and a near departure from the program during his career, but he looks to be settling in at the cornerback spot. The senior delivered several big hits during practices and scrimmages, solidifying himself in a secondary that could be solid this fall. Stoudermire seems to be a fan of physical play, and Minnesota's defense needs more of it this season.

Fall questions

1. Defensive line: Minnesota had the nation's weakest pass rush in 2010, generating only nine sacks all season. New coordinator Tracy Claeys plans to change things by employing a more aggressive scheme, especially for the down linemen. Anthony Jacobs and Brandon Kirksey both did some good things this spring, but the Gophers must develop more depth up front. They would really benefit from a guy like Ra'Shede Hageman blossoming during the summer.

2. Starting running back: The spring brought good competition at running back, as veterans Duane Bennett and DeLeon Eskridge worked alongside redshirt freshmen Donnell Kirkwood and Lamonte Edwards. Kill and his staff will use multiple backs a lot this fall, but it will be interesting to see who emerges as the starter. Both Bennett and Eskridge boast a lot of game experience, while Kirkwood showed some flashes in the spring game.

3. Wide receiver depth: Minnesota brings back an All-Big Ten candidate in receiver Da'Jon McKnight and a talented tight end in Eric Lair, but it needs more options in the passing game for Gray. Injuries hit the Gophers hard at receiver this spring, and while freshman Marcus Jones emerged as a potential contributor, the team will be looking for more bodies when fall camp kicks off.

Coach Jerry Kill wrapped up his first spring practice session at Minnesota on Saturday with a scrimmage at TCF Bank Stadium. It was a pretty vanilla exercise, but for those interested in the scoring, the defense limited the offense to a touchdown and two field goals.

Let's take a quick look at the scrimmage.

Game coverage: Here and here and here and here.

Quotable: "The team has to take where they left off today and when we start two-a-day camp, we better be better. In other words, what they do this summer, I can't go back and start over. We have to start from where we left off today and keep climbing. They're going to have to do a great job this summer in taking care of business and doing what they need to do to get better. So we will see what they are all about." -- coach Jerry Kill

Highlights

• Veteran Duane Bennett was the first running back to take the field and had seven carries for 22 yards in the scrimmage. Redshirt freshman Donnell Kirkwood received the bulk of the work and recorded 65 rush yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Kirkwood had a 28-yard scamper but also fumbled after hauling in a screen pass for the lone turnover of the scrimmage. Senior DeLeon Eskridge had nine carries for 26 yards.
• MarQueis Gray exited the spring as Minnesota's top quarterback and barring a preseason shakeup, he'll start the season under center. But Kill hasn't handed the job to Gray, and other players could push the talented junior. Moses Alipate had a nice performance Saturday, completing 9 of 12 passes for 51 yards. Gray completed 11 of 18 passes for 67 yards and added a 20-yard scramble. Freshman Max Shortell enters the mix this summer.
• Minnesota finished 10th in the Big Ten in field-goal percentage (.647) in 2010 and would have been last in many leagues (thank goodness for Michigan). For this reason Gophers fans had to be pleased when Chris Hawthorne, a transfer from NC State, connected on a 50-yard field-goal attempt. Hawthorne also connected from 30 yards out. "Was that a 50-yarder? That's good," Kill said. "You can win a lot of games in the kicking game."

Jerry Kill wraps up his first spring session as Minnesota's coach on Saturday with the spring game at TCF Bank Stadium.

Let's take a closer look.

The vitals: 1 p.m. CT Saturday (2 p.m. ET) at TCF Bank Stadium; admission is free, parking is $10 in surrounding lots.

More details: Minnesota will have the Floyd of Rosedale on display and hold several activities on the West Plaza. Click here for more information.

Three things to watch

1. The new staff: Kill has been candid about needing to change the culture around the program, and he has pulled no punches this spring in his team/player critiques both on and off the field. The staff has accelerated the practice pace, and fans should notice a quicker tempo on both sides of the ball. Kill has made toughness and finishing priorities, and he'll demand a strong effort Saturday. This staff has turned around programs before, and Minnesota fans should get a glimpse of their typically animated coaching methods in the spring game.

2. The defensive line: Minnesota returns some nice pieces at both linebacker and defensive back, but the unit will struggle again without better play up front. After ranking last nationally in sacks last season (9), the Gophers need a jolt and want to show more aggressiveness in rushing the passer. Kill singled out senior end Anthony Jacobs for his play this spring but said, "we've got to get better in that area." It's important for players like Jacobs, Brandon Kirksey and D.L. Wilhite to finish the spring on a good note.

3. The running backs: There hasn't been a ton of separation as four backs -- Duane Bennett, DeLeon Eskridge, Lamonte Edwards and Donnell Kirkwood -- continue to compete. Although the coaches say they'll need at least two backs this fall, there is opportunity for a featured runner to emerge in this offense (see: Northern Illinois' Chad Spann in 2010). Bennett and Eskridge have the edge in experience, but the staff has wiped the slate clean and every back is getting a chance to prove himself. Injuries have hit Minnesota hard at receiver as of late, so the running backs should get plenty of work Saturday.

Let's look back before a very quick look ahead.

Team of the Week: Michigan State. The Spartans put the final stamp on a special season by winning at Penn State for the first time since 1965. The victory gave Michigan State a share of the Big Ten championship for the first time since 1990. Michigan State took control of the game early behind quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Edwin Baker and a stout defense, and held on late to prevail 28-22. Minnesota and Indiana both deserve mentions as well for winning rivalry games and earning the right to do this and this.

Biggest play: Two defensive plays propelled Minnesota and Indiana to wins Saturday. Gophers cornerback Troy Stoudermire stripped the ball from Iowa's Marcus Coker late in the fourth quarter, which led to Minnesota running out the clock to preserve a 27-24 victory. Indiana linebacker Jeff Thomas picked off a Rob Henry pass in overtime, allowing the Hoosiers to drive for the game-winning field goal. Michigan State's recovery of an onside kick after Penn State had cut its deficit to six points also stands out.

Specialist spotlight: Indiana freshman Mitch Ewald came up big against Purdue with two field goals, the first to send the game into overtime and the second to win it in the extra session. Minnesota's Eric Ellestad went 2-for-2 on field goals and recovered his own onside kick against Iowa, helping the Gophers jump out to a 10-0 lead. Ohio State's Jordan Hall prevented Michigan from gaining any momentum with an 85-yard kick return for a touchdown midway through the second quarter. Northwestern's Venric Mark had a 94-yard kick return for a touchdown against Wisconsin, and his 273 return yards mark the second-highest single-game total in Big Ten history. Ohio State's Devin Barclay went 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts. The day featured good punting performances from Purdue's Cody Webster (56-yard average, three inside the 20-yard line), Iowa's Ryan Donahue (47.5-yard average, two inside the 20-yard line), Michigan State's Aaron Bates (46.5-yard average, two inside the 20-yard line) and Wisconsin's Brad Nortman (39.6-yard average, four inside the 20-yard line).

Filling the void: A quick shoutout to Jeff Horton, who did a very good job in a very difficult situation at Minnesota as interim coach. Horton kept the team focused despite the midseason firing of head coach Tim Brewster, and the Gophers ended the year with two solid wins against Illinois and Iowa. Although Minnesota will bring in a new coach, I would hope Horton gets consideration to remain on the staff. Otherwise, I'm sure he'll latch on elsewhere.

Game balls (given to players on winning or losing teams not recognized in helmet stickers)

• Ohio State defensive end Nathan Williams: Williams ended the regular season on a very strong note with 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups as Ohio State held Michigan scoreless in the second half.
• Indiana receiver Tandon Doss: Doss recorded three touchdown catches for the second multi-touchdown game of his career. He added 18 rushing yards on two carries and had 117 yards on six kickoff returns with a long of 30 yards.
• Indiana linebacker Jeff Thomas: In addition to the interception in overtime, Thomas recorded three tackles for loss against Purdue.
• Michigan State cornerback Chris L. Rucker: The senior recorded three pass breakups, a forced fumble and five tackles for a playmaking secondary in the win against Penn State.
• Purdue linebacker Jason Werner: Werner finished his college career by recording 3.5 tackles for loss and eight total tackles in the overtime loss to Indiana.
• Minnesota running backs DeLeon Eskridge and Duane Bennett: The Gophers backfield tandem finished an up-and-down season on a good note, combining for 158 rush yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries in the win against Iowa.
• Wisconsin safety Jay Valai: Valai recorded six tackles with a forced fumble and an interception as the Badgers recorded seven takeaways in the rout of Northwestern.
• Michigan defensive end Ryan Van Bergen: It was another rough day for the Wolverines' defense, but Van Bergen did his part with three tackles for loss, a sack and five total tackles.

There's only one Big Ten game on the docket this week and it comes to you Friday night on ESPN2.

Illinois (6-5) at Fresno State (7-4): The Illini can secure their first winning season since 2007 and possibly earn a berth to a Florida bowl with a victory. Fresno State typically plays very well at home, but has dropped games to Nevada and Hawaii on its home turf. The Bulldogs won last year's contest in Champaign 53-52 after one of the wildest plays you'll ever see, a two-point conversion by Fresno State offensive lineman Devan Cunningham following a tipped pass. Illinois' Mikel Leshoure rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns against Fresno State last year and comes off of a 330-yard rushing performance at Wrigley Field.

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

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

The Floyd of Rosedale.

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

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

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

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

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

What's up? What's down?

STOCK UP

Michigan's defense: As amazing as it sounds, Michigan would have lost to Purdue if not for the play of its defense. It wasn't simply that the Wolverines bottled up a banged-up Purdue offense, but they limited damage after Denard Robinson and the offense committed five turnovers for the second straight game. Linebacker Obi Ezeh, defensive end Craig Roh and others stepped up as Michigan won a sloppy game.

Ohio State's second-half production: The Buckeyes have been exceptional in the second half all season, outscoring their opponents 159-46 in the final two quarters. Their latest explosion came against Penn State, as they rebounded from a lackluster first half to outscore the Nittany Lions 35-0 in the third and fourth quarters. Ohio State's offensive line imposed its will, and an opportunistic defense recorded two pick-sixes.

Northwestern's offensive line: I've criticized this group for much of the season, but it stepped up in a come-from-behind win against Iowa. Northwestern held Iowa's talented defensive line in check on two fourth-quarter scoring drives, allowing quarterback Dan Persa enough time to make some big throws. Although Iowa recorded four sacks in the game, Northwestern's offensive front held the edge when it mattered.

Wisconsin's offensive efficiency: Pretty obvious here, but you don't score 83 points without being near perfect in the critical categories. Wisconsin went 7-for-10 on third down and 10-for-10 in the red zone. It scored on its first drive for the seventh time this season and scored on its first drive after halftime for the eighth time in 10 games. The Badgers avoided a turnover for the fifth time this season.

Minnesota's red-zone offense: Finishing drives has been a major issue all season for Minnesota, which has produced just 19 touchdowns on 32 trips to the red zone. But things changed last Saturday at Illinois, as the Gophers scored touchdowns on all four of their red zone opportunities and rallied for their first Big Ten victory of 2010.

STOCK DOWN

Illinois' defensive line: After some dominant performances in October, the Illini are slipping a bit up front. Illinois recorded only one sack against Minnesota and couldn't stop Gophers running back DeLeon Eskridge (3 rush TDs) near the goal line. "We’re not playing with the same intensity we’ve played the first eight ballgames," coach Ron Zook said.

Iowa's fourth-quarter poise: The Hawkeyes haven't been the same team in crunch time this season, and it shows in their 7-3 record. Fourth-quarter struggles have surfaced in all three losses, most recently at Northwestern, as quarterback Ricky Stanzi and his receivers struggled and the defense looked gassed in allowing two scoring drives. Iowa has outscored its opponents by only four points (66-62) in the fourth quarter. The Hawkeyes own a 242-88 edge in scoring in the first three quarters.

Indiana's resolve: Football is a game of response, and Indiana didn't respond to losing starting quarterback Ben Chappell to a hip injury in the second quarter. The Hoosiers melted down on both sides of the ball and couldn't record a single stop in 10 chances against the Wisconsin offense. "As a football team, we did not handle him leaving the game," Indiana coach Bill Lynch said of Chappell. "As a result, we had no offensive production."

Penn State's defensive line: The Nittany Lions' signature unit on defense has been too inconsistent this season. After a strong second half the week before against Northwestern, Penn State produced only one sack and two tackles for loss against Ohio State, which dominated the line of scrimmage and sprung running back Dan Herron for 190 rushing yards. The Lions are tied for ninth in the Big Ten in sacks with just 14 this season.

Let's take a look back at Week 11 before spinning it forward to Week 12.

Team of the Week: Northwestern. There are two guarantees with Northwestern football in the last decade or so. Every season, the Wildcats drop a game they shouldn't and pull off an upset, usually against Iowa. After stumbling against short-handed Purdue in early October, the Wildcats continued their trend by upsetting then-No. 13 Iowa on Saturday. Northwestern blew an early lead, which is nothing new this season, but this time Pat Fitzgerald's crew rallied in the fourth quarter behind star quarterback Dan Persa and others. Persa led two fourth-quarter scoring drives and Northwestern held on to beat Iowa for the fifth time in the teams' last six meetings. The victory ensures that Northwestern will record three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1958-60.

Best game: Iowa at Northwestern. The Wildcats controlled play for the first half but led just 7-3 at halftime as both defenses stepped up. Iowa surged throughout the third quarter as the Hawkeyes controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and twice reached the end zone. But an interception by Northwestern's Brian Peters changed momentum and gave the home side new life. Northwestern ran its up-tempo offense to perfection behind Persa on two scoring drives, and Iowa's veteran defenders seemed to wear down at the end. The final minutes featured plenty of drama as Persa fired the game-winning touchdown pass with 1:22 left but ruptured his Achilles' tendon on the play. Iowa had one final chance but couldn't get the ball in the end zone. Northwestern celebrated a bittersweet win, as Persa underwent season-ending surgery Saturday night. The Minnesota-Illinois game also deserves a mention as the Gophers rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to snap their nine-game losing streak.

Biggest play: Several come to mind, including Persa's 20-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Fields to give Northwestern the lead for good. Minnesota's Troy Stoudermire gave his team new life in the fourth quarter with a 90-yard kickoff return that set up a touchdown. But my pick took place at The Shoe. Ohio State led Penn State 17-14 early in the fourth quarter when Terrelle Pryor heaved a deep pass to receiver DeVier Posey, who couldn't haul it in but tipped the ball. Fellow wideout Dane Sanzenbacher swooped in to grab the deflection for a 58-yard touchdown. Ohio State went on to a 38-14 romp.

Specialist spotlight: Minnesota's much-maligned special teams units deserve credit after Saturday's win. Stoudermire's kick return was huge, and the Gophers also got a 45-yard field goal from Eric Ellestad and three punts placed inside the Illinois 20-yard line by Dan Orseske. Northwestern and Iowa both were brilliant on kickoffs and punts, as Stefan Demos and Michael Meyer combined for eight touchbacks and Brandon Williams and Ryan Donahue combined to place four punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Both teams finished with zero return yards. Purdue's Carson Wiggs continued his strong season by going 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, while Wisconsin's Philip Welch went 2-for-2. Punters Anthony Fera of Penn State and Ben Buchanan of Ohio State both had good performances at Ohio Stadium.

Power surge: Wisconsin turned in a historic offensive performance in crushing Indiana on Saturday. The Badgers' 83 points marked the most against a Big Ten team in team history and the highest total in a game during the modern era. It was the most since the Badgers defeated Marquette 85-0 on Oct. 8, 1915. The 83 points scored tied the Big Ten record for scoring in the modern era, as Ohio State put up 83 against Iowa in 1950.

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

• Wisconsin DEs Louis Nzegwu and J.J. Watt: It wasn't all about the Badgers' offense Saturday, as Nzegwu and Watt combined for four tackles for loss, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a sack against Indiana.
• Ohio State CB Devon Torrence: After getting picked on in the first half, Torrence responded with a pick-six in the third quarter to give Ohio State its first lead against Penn State. He had six tackles, one for loss, in the game.
• Minnesota QB Adam Weber: It hasn't been an easy road for the Gophers senior quarterback, but he had a big role in snapping the team's losing streak Saturday. Weber threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions at Illinois. Also meriting a mention is running back DeLeon Eskridge, who rushed for three touchdowns.
• Michigan LB Obi Ezeh: It has been a bumpy road for Ezeh the last two seasons, but the senior stepped up along with several other Michigan defenders at Purdue. Ezeh recorded a team-high eight tackles, including two for loss and a sack against the Boilers.
• Northwestern S Brian Peters: After some struggles in recent weeks, Peters made several big plays against Iowa, none bigger than an interception early in the fourth quarter that set up Northwestern's rally. He led the Wildcats with 10 tackles and recorded a forced fumble and two pass breakups.
• Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien: The running backs always get top billing at Wisconsin, but Tolzien was nearly flawless against Indiana, completing 15 of 18 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns.
• Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure: The talented junior running back continues to do his part for the now-slumping Illini. After recording five touchdowns last week at Michigan, Leshoure racked up 141 rush yards and two touchdowns on only 18 carries against Minnesota.

Now here's a quick look at Week 12.

Penn State (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) vs. Indiana (4-6, 0-6) at Landover, Md.: Embattled Hoosiers coach Bill Lynch could really use a win right about now, but the schedule does him no favors. Lynch signed off on moving this home game to FedEx Field, but he and his team have to anticipate a road-game atmosphere as Penn State fans will pack the place. Indiana must win to maintain hope of becoming bowl eligible, while Penn State tries to ensure a winning season.

Purdue (4-6, 2-4) at No. 12 Michigan State (9-1, 5-1): After an open week, the Spartans resume play with a chance to reach 10 wins for the first time since 1999. It marks the final home game for All-American linebacker Greg Jones, who will take aim at a patchwork Purdue offense. Two of the Big Ten's top defenders share the field in Jones and Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, whose team must win its final two games to become bowl eligible.

No. 7 Wisconsin (9-1, 5-1) at Michigan (7-3, 3-3): The Badgers are riding a five-game win streak and put up 83 points in their last game, but they have really struggled in the state of Michigan and especially at the Big House. Wisconsin hasn't won in Ann Arbor since 1994 and hasn't won in the state since beating Michigan State in 2002 at Spartan Stadium. Michigan has won back-to-back games but needs a much cleaner performance in all three phases to record the upset.

Illinois (5-5, 3-4) vs. Northwestern (7-3, 3-3) at Chicago: Football is back at Wrigley Field for the first time since 1970 and the Illini and Wildcats will play the first college game at the Friendly Confines since 1938. The pageantry takes center stage Saturday, but Illinois still needs a win to become bowl eligible and turn down the heat on coach Ron Zook. Northwestern redshirt freshman Evan Watkins makes his first career start at quarterback.

No. 9 Ohio State (9-1, 5-1) at No. 20 Iowa (7-3, 4-2): The Buckeyes must win out to give themselves a chance at a record-tying sixth consecutive Big Ten title. To do so, they must play better on the road after losing at Wisconsin and struggling at Illinois. Iowa gave Ohio State all it could handle last year in Columbus, and this time the Hawkeyes will have starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi available. It's Senior Day at Kinnick Stadium, where Iowa aims for a signature win to salvage an otherwise disappointing season.

Bye: Minnesota (2-9, 1-6).

For the first time in 72 days, the Minnesota Golden Gophers entered a locker room with smiles on their faces.

What happened after their 38-34 win against Illinois was to be expected.

"It was definitely insane," Gophers running back DeLeon Eskridge told ESPN.com. "I wish we had cameras in there or something because we just went crazy. It was wild, and we just enjoyed it."

Minnesota had waited a long time to celebrate something after a season filled with disappointment.

The Gophers came to Illinois as losers of nine consecutive games. Their head coach, Tim Brewster, had been fired Oct. 17 after the team dropped its sixth consecutive contest. The team had struggled mightily in all three phases, and most assumed Minnesota would finish 1-11 for the second time in four years.

Motivating Minnesota to play out the string wasn't an easy task, but interim coach Jeff Horton saw no quit in the players.

"The easy thing to do is walk away or believe what everybody's saying, 'You've got no chance,'" Horton said. "That's human nature. And I thought in the second half [against] Ohio State, it got away from us. The turning point was against Michigan State last week at the half, when they scored on the last play. They had all the momentum, but we came back out in the second half, played really well and it carried over into [Saturday]."

Minnesota jumped out to a 17-7 halftime lead, but as has been the case all season, the good times didn't last. Illinois stormed back to claim a 34-24 edge with 8:14 to play, as the Gophers had no answer for running back Mikel Leshoure.

Another defeat seemed certain, but Minnesota got some life when Troy Stoudermire returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards.

"The main thing that was being said was, 'We can still win this, don't give up, it's still a close game, keep going,'" Eskridge said. "We definitely did that."

After Minnesota stopped Illinois with 2:44 left, the Gophers took the ball at their own 20-yard line, trailing 34-31. Horton approached senior quarterback Adam Weber, telling him to enjoy the moment: his last road game in college, trying to run the 2-minute drill to win the game.

Weber also had received some encouragement from Brewster, who sent him a text message Friday that read: "Call me after you beat them." Weber came through, making plays with both his feet and his arm as Minnesota reached the end zone in 10 plays.

"He puts up with so much crap and never complains," Horton said of Weber. "All he does is do the right thing all the time, say the right thing, so it was really rewarding for him."

The emotion in Horton's voice was still there hours after the game, as Minnesota waited to board its flight home.

"Just the circumstances, all the uncertainty, coaches, players, all we've been through," Horton said. "I don't think people realize how hard this is. It's a daily grind to try to keep moving forward. To see it pay off for the kids and the coaches was awesome."

It's time to recognize the best and the brightest in a wild Week 11 in Big Ten play.

Northwestern QB Dan Persa: What a bittersweet day for Persa and the Wildcats. Persa delivered another Herculean performance in the 21-17 win, completing 32 of 43 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. He led Northwestern on two fourth-quarter scoring drives against No. 13 Iowa and fired the game-winning touchdown with 1:22 left. Unfortunately, he also suffered a ruptured Achilles' tendon on the touchdown play and will have season-ending surgery. Persa will be missed, but he went out a winner.

Wisconsin RBs Montee Ball and James White: No John Clay? No problem for the Badgers, who ran all over Indiana for a school-record six touchdowns on the ground. Ball and White combined for 311 rush yards and five touchdowns on 41 carries in the 83-20 rout. They share the sticker with quarterback Scott Tolzien, who completed 15 of 18 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns.

Ohio State RB Dan Herron: There's no doubt about the identity of Ohio State's top running back. It's all about Boom. Herron continued his strong second-half push with 190 rush yards and a touchdown on 21 carries as No. 9 Ohio State rallied past Penn State for a 38-14 win. The junior has eclipsed 100 rush yards in each of his past two games.

Minnesota CB Troy Stoudermire: It hasn't been an easy season for Stoudermire or his Gophers teammates, but they finally had a chance to celebrate Saturday. With Minnesota down 34-24 midway through the fourth quarter, Stoudermire turned momentum by returning a kickoff 90 yards to set up a touchdown. He then sealed the 38-34 victory with an interception on the final play. He shares the sticker with quarterback Adam Weber (225 pass yards, 2 TDs) and running back DeLeon Eskridge (3 rush TDs).

Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan: OK, I'm breaking my own rule about giving stickers to players on losing teams. But Kerrigan has been horribly overlooked for much of the season, and he deserves some love after another truly dominating performance. Kerrigan recorded 10 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in a 27-16 loss to Michigan. He now owns the Big Ten record for career forced fumbles (14) and has tied the FBS mark.

Minnesota just showed why you should never give up in college football. Kudos to Jeff Horton and his team.

Meanwhile, Illinois fans might be ready to give up on Ron Zook once again.

Minnesota ended its nine-game losing streak with a 38-34 come-from-behind win against Illinois. It marked the Gophers' first win since Sept. 2 and their first conference victory since Oct. 31, 2009, against Michigan State.

The most impressive thing from Minnesota was its resiliency after getting down 34-24 with 8:14 remaining. Think about it: you're 1-9, your coach has been fired, you're on the road and a bye week beckons. But the Gophers didn't quit, mounting two touchdown drives and scoring the game-winner on DeLeon Eskridge's third touchdown run, with 16 seconds left.

Adam Weber passed for 225 yards and two touchdowns for a well-deserved win.

This is crushing for Illinois and it once again raises serious questions about Zook's leadership. It's not merely that the Illini have lost two straight, but how they did. Defense and special teams have been Illinois' hallmarks this season, but both areas have let down in the past two losses.

Illinois had everything to play for today on Senior Day but came out flat. And after taking control late, the Illini let up and gave Minnesota new life.

Bowl eligibility seemed like a foregone conclusion two weeks ago. Now Illinois needs to beat Northwestern in Chicago or Fresno State on the road to get it done. Won't be easy.

This game is starting to slip away for Minnesota, which could be playing for coach Tim Brewster's job at Purdue.

The Golden Gophers are down 14-0 despite dominating the time of possession battle. Minnesota is struggling to get its run game going, rushing for just 21 yards so far today. After gashing Purdue in last year's victory, the Gophers have to find more production from DeLeon Eskridge and crew.

Purdue's defense really turned things around during the bye week. The Boilers had one great player through the first four games -- end Ryan Kerrigan -- but a shaky unit still trying to find itself. Coordinators Donn Landholm and Gary Emanuel are seeing production from more sources the past two weeks.

The Boilers are keeping everything in front of them, and Adam Weber missed an opportunity to attack downfield moments ago.

The only downside for Purdue are some injuries: safety Albert Evans and cornerback Mike Eargle both left the game.

A few notes and nuggets to hopefully make you smarter when you watch the second Saturday of Big Ten play. Thanks to the fine folks at ESPN Stats & Info for most of these.

• Jim Tressel’s next win will be his 100th as the Ohio State coach (99-21 record). Only two coaches have reached 100 wins at a Big Ten school in fewer games than Tressel -- Fielding Yost and Bo Schembechler (both at Michigan). Each accomplished the feat in their 119th game at the school.
• Indiana is 0-26 all-time against teams ranked No. 1 or No. 2. The highest-ranked opponent the Hoosiers have defeated is No. 3 Purdue in November 1967. IU faces No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday.
• This is just the third time that both Michigan and Michigan State have started 5-0 in the same season and the first time since 1999. That season was also the last time both teams came into this game undefeated. Michigan State won the game 34-31 in East Lansing. It's the first time these two teams have met as ranked opponents since 2003 when 11th-ranked Michigan beat 9th-ranked Michigan State 27-20 in East Lansing.
• Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson has 98 rush attempts this season, but only once has he scrambled for a gain after dropping back and looking to throw the ball. Robinson has been the designated ballcarrier on a running play 76 times, has kept the ball on a zone read 19 times, and the final two rushes were a sack and a fumbled snap. Robinson has used a run-fake before exactly one-third of his passes this season, and he has completed more than 78 percent of his passes after faking the run. Perhaps the greatest effect of Michigan’s play-action is giving Robinson time to hit receivers downfield.
• After being ranked in the Associated Press poll for the past 38 polls (tied with Alabama for fourth-longest in the nation), Penn State is not ranked in the AP or USA Today Coaches' polls this week.
• Indiana is the only team in the country with three receivers in the top 30 in receptions per game -- Damarlo Belcher, Tandon Doss and Terrance Turner -- and is one of two programs (Hawaii) with two receivers in the top 12 in receiving yards per game (Belcher and Doss).
• Wisconsin has not turned the ball over since the third quarter of the San Jose State game. The last time the Badgers had three consecutive games without a turnover was during the first three games of the 2007 season when Wisconsin had zero giveaways against Washington State, UNLV and The Citadel. Wisconsin is 30-5 under coach Bret Bielema when it wins the turnover battle or is even in turnover margin.
• Saturday night's meeting between Purdue and Northwestern will be played almost 75 years to the day of the first-ever night game in Big Ten history. That game also involved Northwestern and Purdue, on Oct. 5, 1935 in Evanston. Purdue and Northwestern have not met in a night game since that inaugural game under the lights.
• Before last week's game with Northwestern, Minnesota junior running back DeLeon Eskridge hadn't rushed for 100 yards or more in nearly two years. Eskridge ripped off 119 yards against the Wildcats for his third career 100-yard game. The last time he eclipsed the century mark was Oct. 11, 2008 when he rushed for 124 at Illinois. In between those two games, he hadn’t rushed for more than 80 yards.
• Northwestern has started 5-0 for the second time in the past three years. It has not started 6-0 since 1962, the last time Northwestern was ranked No. 1 in the nation.
• Illinois is one of only five teams in the nation to score on all of its red zone drives this season. In 12 trips inside the 20, the Illini have scored seven touchdowns and five field goals. East Carolina (15-15), Washington (13-13), San Jose State (9-9) and Memphis (8-8) are the only other teams with a perfect red-zone scoring percentage.
• Purdue senior defensive end Ryan Kerrigan forced his 12th career fumble against Toledo on Sept. 25 to tie James Looney (1979-80) for the team record. His next strip will tie him for the Big Ten record, which is currently shared by Simeon Rice of Illinois (1992-95) and Bob Sanders of Iowa (2000-03).

Who's rising? Who's falling?

Time to check the market.

STOCK UP

Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins: Count me among those questioning whether Cousins could get it done in the clutch, but he came through in a big way against Wisconsin. The Spartans junior bounced back from two first-half interceptions to complete 8 of 10 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the final two quarters. Cousins was masterful on Michigan State's 15-play, 84-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter, completing two third-down passes and a fourth-down touchdown strike to B.J. Cunningham.

Iowa's defense: The Hawkeyes put it all together defensively against Penn State, despite some injuries at the linebacker spot. Defensive end Adrian Clayborn showed why he'll be a first-round draft pick in April with 10 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Cornerback Shaun Prater recorded a pick-six and the Hawkeyes received big performances from Karl Klug, James Morris and Christian Ballard.

Illinois' defense: The Illini didn't complete the upset against Ohio State but validated their early-season improvement under coordinator Vic Koenning, particularly in the secondary. Safety Trulon Henry became the latest Illinois defensive back to showcase his playmaking skills, recording two interceptions. Linebackers Martez Wilson and Nate Bussey also played well as Illinois held Ohio State's offense in check.

Indiana WR Tandon Doss: A lot of folks who should have known the name do now after Doss set career highs in both receptions (15) and receiving yards (221) against Michigan. Doss added 21 rushing yards and 121 yards in returns to finish with an insane 363 all-purpose yards, the third-highest total in team history. Several weeks removed from a groin injury, Doss is hitting his stride and showing why he's a future NFL receiver.

STOCK DOWN

Wisconsin's offensive line: Tabbed by some as the nation's best O-line before the season, the Badgers haven't looked the part so far. Michigan State recorded two sacks and three quarterback hurries against Wisconsin on Saturday, and the Badgers couldn't keep All-American Greg Jones out of the backfield. The rushing numbers are still good, but Wisconsin's experienced and talent line needs to do better.

Northwestern's defensive line: After several strong performances, the Wildcats got pushed around for much of last Saturday's game at TCF Bank Stadium. Minnesota's offensive front won the line of scrimmage as DeLeon Eskridge went for 119 rush yards and a touchdown. Although Vince Browne continued to make plays, the Wildcats need a better effort going forward to protect a vulnerable secondary.

Penn State's receivers: I still really like the potential of this group, but the receivers didn't help out a young quarterback in a tough situation last Saturday at Iowa. Several dropped passes really hurt the Lions, who didn't reach the end zone for the second time this season. Rob Bolden was under a ton of pressure against an excellent defense, and he could have used some more plays from his targets.

Minnesota's two-minute offense: The Gophers' coaches called a great game for 58 minutes, pounding away at Northwestern with Eskridge and executing nifty play-action passes to the tight ends. But aside from a good bootleg call on fourth-and-3, Minnesota really botched the 2-minute drill when it had two timeouts and only needed a field goal to win. The run call on first-and-10 from the Northwestern 39 in the final minute was a major head-scratcher.

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Moving on to the Big Ten awards races. Thanks to a good suggestion by one of you, I'm going to include each player's season statistics rather than the stats from the previous week. It gives a better big-picture view.

The Freshman of the Year award looks like a two-horse race right now.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR RACE: OFFENSE

(Player, season statistics)

1. Michigan QB Denard Robinson: 67-for-96 passing, 1,008 pass yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT; 98 rushes, 905 rush yards, 8 TDs.

2. Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor: 80-for-123 passing, 1,015 pass yards, 12 TDs, 3 INTs; 54 rushes, 373 yards, 3 TDs; 1 reception for a 20-yard touchdown

3. Indiana QB Ben Chappell: 116-for-162 passing, 1,370 pass yards, 12 TDs, 1 INT

4. Northwestern QB Dan Persa: 108-for-136 passing, 1,358 pass yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs; 68 rushes, 271 rush yards, 2 TDs

5. Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi: 82-for-121 passing, 1,226 pass yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs

PLAYER OF THE YEAR RACE: DEFENSE

(Player, season statistics)

1. Michigan State LB Greg Jones: 41 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 2 INTs, 1 sack, 4 quarterback hurries, 3 passes defended

2. Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan: 34 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery

3. Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt: 24 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 5 pass breakups, 4 quarterback hurries, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick

4. Iowa DL Mike Daniels: 19 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 quarterback hurry

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

1. Michigan State RB Le'Veon Bell: 64 carries, 471 rush yards, 7 TDs; 4 receptions, 63 receiving yards

2. Wisconsin RB James White: 44 carries, 367 yards, 6 TDs; 5 receptions, 55 receiving yards, 15 kick returns for 283 yards