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As colleague Brett McMurphy tweeted earlier today, the SEC leads all conferences with 23 players on the two Super Bowl rosters (based on 2012 conference membership). But the Big Ten isn't too far behind.

The San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens boast a combined 19 Big Ten players on their rosters for Super Bowl XLVII. That's tied with the ACC for the second highest total among conferences this season.

Here's the Big Ten contingent for the Big Ten in New Orleans on Feb. 3.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Active roster:

A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois
Garrett Celek, TE, Michigan State
Trenton Robinson, S, Michigan State
Jonathan Goodwin, C, Michigan
Alex Boone, OL, Ohio State
Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Ohio State
Larry Grant, LB, Ohio State
Donte Whitner, S, Ohio State
NaVorro Bowman, LB, Penn State
Scott Tolzien, QB, Wisconsin

Reserve/Injured list:

Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan

Practice squad:

Al Netter, OG, Northwestern
Nate Stupar, LB, Penn State

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Active roster:

Sean Considine, S, Iowa
Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana
Sam Koch, P, Nebraska
Bernard Pollard, S, Purdue
Marshal Yanda, OL, Iowa

Practice squad:

Jack Cornell, OL, Illinois

Here are some coaching staff connections for each team ...

49ERS

• Head coach Jim Harbaugh played quarterback at Michigan
• Quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst served as a Wisconsin assistant in 1988
• Assistant secondary coach Greg Jackson was a Wisconsin assistant in 2010
• Linebackers coach Jim Leavitt joined Hayden Fry's staff at Iowa in 1989
• Running backs coach Tom Rathman played running back at Nebraska

RAVENS

• Head coach John Harbaugh coached Indiana's defensive backs and special teamers in 1997
• Assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg coached Minnesota's secondary in 1996
• Offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell played at Iowa; served as a Penn State assistant from 1986-92 and a Northwestern assistant in 1981
• Defensive coordinator Dean Pees held the same post at Michigan State from 1995-97
• Secondary coach Teryl Austin held the same post at Michigan from 1999-2002 and served as a graduate assistant at Penn State
• Offensive line coach Andy Moeller played linebacker at Michigan and coached the Wolverines offensive line from 2000-07

After a historically slow start to the 2012 NFL draft, the Big Ten ended up having 41 players selected during the three-day event. It's a strong overall total, one behind the SEC, the league with the most picks (42). Michigan State, Iowa and Wisconsin led the way with six picks each, followed by four teams -- Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State -- with four selections. Michigan had three players selected, and both Purdue and Northwestern had two. Neither Minnesota nor Indiana had a player drafted this year.

Here's the full rundown:

ROUND 1 (four selections)


No. 23 overall: Iowa T Riley Reiff, Detroit
No. 26: Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus, Houston
No. 27: Wisconsin G Kevin Zeitler, Cincinnati Bengals
No. 30: Illinois WR A.J. Jenkins, San Francisco

ROUND 2 (seven selections)


No. 44: Illinois G Jeff Allen, Kansas City
No. 48: Illinois S Tavon Wilson, New England
No. 51: Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy, Green Bay
No. 53: Penn State DT Devon Still, Cincinnati
No. 55: Wisconsin C Peter Konz, Atlanta
No. 56: Ohio State OT Mike Adams, Pittsburgh
No. 58: Nebraska LB Lavonte David, Tampa Bay

ROUND 3 (three selections)


No. 68: Ohio State WR DeVier Posey, Houston
No. 75: Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson, Seattle
No. 82: Michigan DT Mike Martin, Tennessee

ROUND 4 (five selections)


No. 102: Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins, Washington
No. 121: Michigan State WR Keshawn Martin, Houston
No. 122: Wisconsin WR Nick Toon, New Orleans
No. 126: Nebraska DT Jared Crick, Houston
No. 132: Iowa DE Mike Daniels, Green Bay

ROUND 5 (six selections)


No. 141: Iowa G Adam Gettis, Washington
No. 149: Penn State G Johnnie Troutman, San Diego
No. 153: Purdue T Dennis Kelly, Philadelphia
No. 156: Iowa CB Shaun Prater, Cincinnati
No. 157: Wisconsin FB Bradie Ewing, Atlanta
No. 158: Penn State DE Jack Crawford, Oakland

ROUND 6 (seven selections)


No. 180: Michigan State S Trenton Robinson, San Francisco 49ers
No. 183: Michigan State WR B.J. Cunningham, Miami Dolphins
No. 191: Ohio State RB Dan Herron, Cincinnati Bengals
No. 194: Iowa WR Marvin McNutt, Philadelphia Eagles
No. 195: Purdue T Nick Mondek, Houston Texans
No. 197: Ohio State S Nate Ebner, New England Patriots
No. 207: Wisconsin P Brad Nortman, Carolina Panthers

ROUND 7 (nine selections)


No. 217: Iowa CB Jordan Bernstine, Washington
No. 224: Nebraska CB Alfonzo Dennard, New England
No. 227: Michigan C David Molk, San Diego
No. 230: Penn State LB Nate Stupar, Oakland
No. 233: Northwestern TE Drake Dunsmore, Tampa Bay
No. 234: Nebraska T Marcel Jones, New Orleans
No. 235: Northwestern WR Jeremy Ebert, New England
No. 238: Michigan WR Junior Hemingway, Kansas City
No. 250: Michigan State RB Edwin Baker, San Diego

POSITION BREAKDOWN

Wide receiver: 8
Offensive tackle: 5
Defensive tackle: 4
Guard: 4
Cornerback: 3
Defensive end: 3
Safety: 3
Center: 2
Quarterback: 2
Running back: 2
Linebacker: 2
Fullback: 1
Tight end: 1
Punter: 1

We'll post some of the free-agent signings later today, but first some thoughts and themes on the draft.

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Chris O'MearaWith Robert Griffin III on the roster, one has to wonder about Kirk Cousins' future in Washington.
• Many had projected Cousins to be the first Big Ten quarterback off of the board, but Russell Wilson went ahead of him to Seattle. Cousins was one of the more intriguing third-day picks as he went to Washington, which selected Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall selection. Griffin is the future of the Redskins franchise, and it leaves Cousins in a potentially tough spot on the depth chart. The selection surprised Cousins, who didn't know the Redskins were interested and told the Detroit Free Press, "I think Robert is in their immediate plans and the long-term hope for their fan base, but they wouldn't have selected me unless they believed in me."
• The verdict on Ron Zook always seemed to be great recruiter, average coach, and this draft validated it. Illinois was the only Big Ten team with two first-round picks and had four of the first 48 overall selections, yet the team went 7-6 last season after a 6-0 start. Talent clearly wasn't the problem during Zook's tenure in Champaign. Defensive line coach Keith Gilmore is on a roll with back-to-back first-round picks (Corey Liuget and Mercilus). He has two more potentially big-time prospects (Akeem Spence and Michael Buchanan) this year.
• The Houston Texans clearly like what they see from Big Ten country. After drafting Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt with the No. 11 overall pick last year, the Texans added Mercilus, Posey, Keshawn Martin, Crick and Mondek. Watt welcomed the group on Twitter, tweeting, "Big Ten takeover. Welcome to the Texans." The Cincinnati Bengals also had a nice Big Ten haul with Zeitler, Still, Prater and Herron.
• Posey, who last week told me he had no idea where he'd be drafted, had to be pleased with a third-round selection after appearing in only three games last fall because of suspension. Teams didn't shy away from the Ohio State star too much because of his off-field issues. Posey's Buckeyes teammate, Mike Adams, meanwhile, appeared to pay a bit of a price for his off-field issues, falling to the late second round.
• On the flip side, Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, the Big Ten's defensive back of the year in 2011, slipped all the way to the seventh round. Keep in mind some draft gurus, including ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., once projected Dennard in the first round. But after being ejected from the Capital One Bowl, failing to impress in predraft events and getting arrested the weekend before the draft for allegedly punching a cop, Dennard plummeted to No. 224. At least he'll have no trouble getting motivated to prove himself.
• Dennard wasn't the only Big Ten player selected later than expected. Michigan's David Molk, who called himself the best center in the draft, also fell to the seventh round. And Ohio State center Mike Brewster, a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2010, didn't hear his name called at all. While Brewster's play slipped during his senior season, he seemed like a mid-round candidate.
• Other players I expected to be picked earlier: Mercilus, David, Adams, Mike Martin, Cousins, Daniels, McNutt, Hemingway and Baker.
• Some players I expected to be picked later: Jenkins, Allen, Russell Wilson, Tavon Wilson and Posey.
• Although the Big Ten had more wide receivers drafted than any other position, only one (Jenkins) went in the first two rounds and only two, Jenkins and Posey, went in the first three rounds. With only two quarterbacks and two running backs drafted, none in the first two rounds, it's fair to question whether the Big Ten is producing enough elite-level offensive skill players. It will be interesting to see which Big Ten running backs can rise up the draft boards in 2013. Running back might be the league's strongest position group this coming season.
• I'll be very interested to watch how Worthy and Still fare at the next level. Both men have first-round talent, but both seemed to slip to the second round because of questions about their motor. If they don't take plays off in the NFL, they both could be extremely disruptive for the Packers and Bengals, respectively.
• Wisconsin had players selected in each of the first six rounds and had the Big Ten's lone fullback (Ewing) and punter (Nortman) selected in the draft.
• Ohio State's Ebner was one of the more interesting third-day picks. He didn't play football at all in high school -- he starred in rugby -- and spent most of his Buckeyes career on special teams. His selection shows the premium some teams place on the third phase.

We continue our postseason position rankings today as we move on to the linebackers.

Not surprisingly, Linebacker U takes the top spot, though it was a very close call. Depth helped the top two teams on this list, while star power marked spots Nos. 3 through 5. After that, it's a bit of a dropoff.

Away we go ...

1. Penn State: We thought this group could be the deepest linebacking corps in the league this past season, and that depth proved both true and invaluable when starter Michael Mauti went out in the fourth game of the season. Even without him, the Nittany Lions' linebackers played great, led by first team All-Big Ten performer Gerald Hodges, who had a breakout campaign. Nate Stupar filled in nicely for Mauti, and Glenn Carson was solid in his first year as a starter in the middle.

2. Michigan State: We wondered in the preseason how the Spartans would replace stars Greg Jones and Eric Gordon. The answer: very nicely, thank you. Sophomores Denicos Allen and Max Bullough emerged as fierce playmakers, especially on the blitz, and Chris Norman provided steady play on the weak side. All three return in 2012 to give Penn State a run for its money as the best group in the league.

3. Wisconsin: Mike Taylor and Chris Borland were finally healthy in the same season, and what a difference that made. They were a terrific pair, combining for 293 tackles and becoming the only Big Ten duo to average more than 10 tackles per game each. Taylor in particular made great strides. Kevin Claxton was overshadowed a bit as the third Badgers linebacker, but that's understandable given the amount of plays Borland and Taylor made.

4. Illinois: The emergence of Jonathan Brown (108 tackles, 19.5 for loss) as fire-breathing pass-rusher made this unit better than we projected in the preseason. Ian Thomas also had a good season at the position with 85 tackles, and Trulon Henry rounded out a strong crew before he missed time late following a shooting incident. The Illini defense stayed consistent throughout the team's struggles.

5. Nebraska: Depth was not a strong suit for the Huskers by any means, but there was no better linebacker in the league and few better in the nation than All-American Lavonte David. He had 133 tackles and countless big plays. Will Compton came on as the season wore along to provide a good complement to David. Finding consistent play elsewhere at the position was a challenge for Nebraska.

6. Ohio State: We pegged the Buckeyes at No. 3 in our preseason linebacker rankings, but it wasn't a vintage year for a group that struggled down the stretch drive. Andrew Sweat led the way with 72 tackles despite missing two games because of injury, and Etienne Sabino had a decent season (62 tackles, 6.5 for loss) if not the breakout season many had predicted. Freshman Ryan Shazier announced himself late in the year as a potential star in the making.

7. Michigan: The Wolverines' defense surprised everyone in 2011, though the defensive line was clearly the vanguard on that side of the ball. Kenny Demens led the team with 94 tackles, while freshmen Desmond Morgan and Jake Ryan made an immediate impact as starters. This wasn't an overwhelming group, but it was one that mostly did its job.

8. Iowa: The Hawkeyes had a hard time keeping everybody healthy and consistent, but this spot might have been the best part of their defense. James Morris and Christian Kirksey tied for the team lead with 110 tackles each, while Tyler Nielsen added 73 stops while battling some nagging injuries. The Iowa defense overall was disappointing, however.

9. Purdue: Danny Hope usually knew what to expect from week to week out of his linebackers: solid, consistent play. Joe Holland, Dwayne Beckford and Will Lucas each had between 82 and 94 stops as the top three tacklers on the team. Lucas and Holland also recorded double-digit tackles for loss. The chief complaint here is that the Boilermakers gave up some big point totals during the season.

10. Minnesota: The Gophers struggled up front and in the secondary, but linebacker was their most experienced and reliable defensive position, as expected. Veterans Gary Tinsley, Mike Rallis and Keanon Cooper played in every game, and were among the most consistent players on the team. Tinsley led the way with four sacks. Florida transfer Brendan Beal was expected to make an impact, but missed the season with a knee injury.

11. Northwestern: It wasn't a very good year overall for the Wildcats' defense, and linebacker was no exception. David Nwabuisi ranked third on the team with 84 tackles, while Bryce McNaul was right behind with 76. But Northwestern's starting trio combined for just 2.5 sacks and didn't come up with enough difference-making plays throughout the season.

12. Indiana: The good news for the Hoosiers was that Jeff Thomas was the best player on defense in 2011, finishing with 80 tackles, including 10.5 for loss. The bad news is that he was a senior. Besides Thomas, Indiana was forced to go young at the position, playing freshmen Chase Hoobler, Mike Replogle and Mark Murphy, a safety/linebacker hybrid, at times during the season. Kevin Wilson hopes the experience makes them better in '12, but this is yet another position that needs vast improvement going forward.

Linksanity!

• Penn State filled out its strength and conditioning staff and still needs to hire one more offensive assistant. Here's a Valentine's Day story for you: Nate Stupar proposed to his girlfriend at Beaver Stadium. Penn State administrators are showing more openness.
• Former Michigan star Mike Martin wants to break the bench-press record at the NFL combine. The Wolverines have already offered a scholarship to a high school sophomore offensive lineman.
• Getting to know some future Iowa players here, here, here and here.
• Wisconsin is introducing new pricing tiers for football and men's basketball, with the bigger games costing more to attend. Ron Zook weighed in on the Bret Bielema-Urban Meyer dustup.
• A backup fullback transferred from Ohio State to Pitt. The lawyer who tipped off Jim Tressel to violations via email had his license suspended.
• Some Purdue football players are starring on the track this offseason.
• Michigan State's beloved, retired frisbee-catching dog Zeke II passed away.

The grading continues today as it's time to distribute Penn State's season report card.

OFFENSE: D+

The unit slogged along for most of the season, and Penn State won nine games largely in spite of its offense. Penn State used a confounding quarterback rotation of Matthew McGloin and Rob Bolden and had eight games with fewer than 200 pass yards and four games of fewer than 120 pass yards. If not for heroic sophomore running back Silas Redd, who emerged as a workhorse and one of the Big Ten's top ball-carriers, Penn State would have had a real struggle putting up points. The offensive line seemed to make strides as the season progressed and a creative game plan against Ohio State led to good results, but Penn State underachieved on offense much of the fall.

DEFENSE: A-

No unit in the Big Ten carried a team more than Penn State's defense, which was simply fabulous this season. All-American tackle Devon Still led the way as arguably the nation's most disruptive interior lineman. Penn State overcame the loss of standout linebacker Michael Mauti and received big contributions in the midsection from Gerald Hodges, Glenn Carson and Nate Stupar. The Lions held nine of their 12 opponents to fewer than 20 points and ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense, scoring defense and pass efficiency defense. There's no way Penn State would have started the season 8-1 without huge contributions from its defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C+

The Lions had some bright spots in the kicking game, such as punter Anthony Fera and kickoff returner Chaz Powell, who averaged 28.3 yards per runback with a touchdown. Penn State was mediocre on kickoff and punt coverage and missed more field-goal attempts (8) than any Big Ten team (the Lions also attempted a league-high 24 field goals). Special teams played a key role in wins like a 24-18 triumph against Purdue.

OVERALL: B

Penn State exceeded most outside expectations with an 8-1 start and put itself in position to win the Leaders Division. The defense undoubtedly carried the team and had only one poor performance (at Wisconsin). We'll never know how Penn State's season would have ended if the sex-abuse scandal hadn't surfaced and Joe Paterno hadn't been fired, but the closing stretch always appeared daunting. There are many unknowns going forward for the Lions, but they have an excellent foundation on the defensive side of the ball.

When Joe Paterno announced his retirement to the team Wednesday morning, it wasn't a firm goodbye.

He would be seeing his players for practice later this week. He would address them in the locker room before Saturday's home finale against Nebraska. He would be with them 'til the end, in some bowl game -- perhaps the Granddaddy of Them All.

Paterno wasn't gone yet.

"It seemed pretty much that Joe was going to coach for the rest of the season and retire after the season," safety Drew Astorino said.

Penn State's board of trustees had other ideas. Around 10:15 p.m. ET Wednesday, the board announced Paterno had been terminated as Nittany Lions coach.

“

Right now, I'm not the football coach, and that's something I have to get used to.

” -- Joe Paterno told a group of students at his home, according to the Associated Press

After 46 seasons and 548 games, the Joe Paterno era is over.

Longtime defensive coordinator Tom Bradley will be Penn State's acting head coach for the remainder of the season.

"Right now, I'm not the football coach, and that's something I have to get used to," Paterno told a group of students at his home, according to The Associated Press, after the trustees' announcement.

He's not the only one. His players must get used to this reality, too. It hit them hard Wednesday night.

"It's messed up they are doing this to a man who is a big reason Penn State is what it is today," senior wide receiver Derek Moye said on Twitter.

"Can't even shake my own head coach's hand wen I run out into beaver stadium for the last time...yall dk how much this man has done," senior defensive tackle Devon Still tweeted.

"Wake me up...this is a nightmare!" senior linebacker Nate Stupar tweeted.

The shock value certainly will be there in the coming days and hours. Although Paterno's direct involvement with the team had been reduced in recent years, his presence on Saturdays, even in the press box, was significant for his players. I remember a 2009 game at Michigan where Paterno, sensing his team needed a jolt, started jumping up and down in the tunnel to fire up the players before they took the field. His departure will stir emotions throughout the team, particularly with the seniors.

But Paterno's exit also makes it all about these players and this team, which it should be. It's not about Joe anymore. It's about the 2011 Penn State Nittany Lions, trying to win a Big Ten championship and reach the Rose Bowl.

As Astorino said earlier Wednesday, "The 125 guys on this team didn't have anything to do with what happened 10 years ago." He's right. Penn State's players didn't do anything wrong.

The players have the right to push forward. The seniors have the right to enjoy their final home game. For 46 years, Penn State football has been all about Joe. On Saturday, it will be all about the players. Bradley should reinforce this to the team, and I'm sure he will.

Saturday will be a tough day. There will be emotions. It will be hard to remain focused. Penn State could play inspired football against Nebraska. It also could perform like a team emotionally exhausted by the week and rattled by all the distractions. Tough to tell at this point.

The process should get easier, perhaps when Penn State hits the road next week at Ohio State. The firestorm will die down a bit. Not having Paterno could direct the focus more toward the team and its task at hand.

Joe Paterno is gone. The players aren't. This is their program now.

Some notes and nuggets to get you primed for this weekend's games:

• Michigan State is currently riding an 11-game home winning streak, the longest for the Spartans since they won 12 straight from 1964-66. MSU’s longest home winning streak ever is 23 games (1904-07). The home team has won the past six games in the Michigan State-Wisconsin series. The last road win by either came in 2002, when Wisconsin claimed a 42-28 victory in Spartan Stadium.
• Wisconsin has given up just 58 points on the season, while it has scored 59 points in two games this year. The Badgers have allowed just seven TDs this season, or 10 fewer than RB Montee Ball has scored. Wisconsin and Stanford are the only two teams in the country to rank among the top 10 in both scoring offense and scoring defense.
• Illinois kicker Derek Dimke has made 10 straight field goals dating back to last year’s Texas Bowl, which is tied for the third-longest streak in school history. Dimke is a perfect 7-of-7 this season and is 36-of-41 for his career (.878), which makes him the nation’s most accurate active kicker.
• Purdue totaled 344 yards last week against Penn State (162 rushing, 182 passing). That was the most yards gained against the Nittany Lions by any team except Alabama (359) this year. The Boilermakers only had 7 negative yards against the nation's No. 4-ranked defense. Ralph Bolden's 39-yard run was the longest rush against Penn State this year.
• Indiana rushed for 223 yards on 45 attempts against Wisconsin last week. The last time the Hoosiers ran for 200 yards against a Big Ten opponent came against Purdue (219 yards) on Nov. 17, 2007. Sophomore Stephen Houston had a career-high 135 yards on 19 carries, the most yards by an IU back since Darius Willis had 142 against Purdue in 2009,
• Iowa defensive back Tanner Miller returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown last week against Northwestern. That tied the Hawkeyes' record for longest interception return, matching Adam Shada's 98-yard effort against Purdue in 2006. Receiver Marvin McNutt tied the school career record with his 21st touchdown catch last week. He needs one more to move ahead of Tim Dwight (1994-97) and Danan Hughes (1989-92).
• Of all its new Big Ten opponents, Nebraska is most familiar with Minnesota. The Gophers and Huskers have played 51 times in nonconference action during their history, dating back to 1900. The Gophers have had nine- and 10-game winning streaks against Nebraska in their history, but have lost 14 straight. The last meeting between the two came in 1990.
• With 102 rushing yards against Ohio State, Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez posted his eighth 100-yard rushing day in 19 career games. That tied him with Jammal Lord for the second-most 100-yard rushing games by a Huskers quarterback in school history. Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch (18) is the only Nebraska quarterback in history with more 100-yard rushing games than Martinez.
• Northwestern's two-quarterback system has been far more productive than Penn State's. The tandem of Dan Persa and Kain Colter has combined to account for an average 299.3 of the Wildcats’ 420.7 yards of total offense since Persa returned from injury three games ago. The Wildcats have averaged 30 points per game during that time.
• Penn State has forced multiple turnovers in six of its first seven games and is tied for 10th nationally with 17 turnovers gained. The Nittany Lions forced a total of 17 turnovers during the 2010 season. Penn State grabbed a season-high three interceptions in last week's win over Purdue, including two by Nate Stupar. The Nittany Lions now have 11 interceptions this season, already surpassing the 2010 total of 10.

If my rap's soup, this post is stock.

Stock up

Dan Herron: The Ohio State running back sat out the first five games as part of the tattoo scandal, then missed a sixth game because of a summer job-related suspension. He returned last week as if he'd never been gone, rushing 23 times for 114 times and scoring his team's only offensive touchdown in a 17-7 win over Illinois. Guess he was worth the wait.

Michigan State's offensive line: The Spartans had three new starters at the beginning of the season up front, then had to replace two guys because of injury. They struggled establishing a running game the first five weeks. But last week against Michigan, the line paved the way for 167 yards rushing by Edwin Baker and generally pushed the Wolverines around. Mark Dantonio said Dan France played with the most confidence he's had all season, while Fou Fonoti and Travis Jackson also showed strong improvement. If the line keeps playing like that, with the way Michigan State's defense is performing, the Spartans will be hard to beat.

Marcus Coker: Much was expected from Coker after his huge finish to 2010, but Iowa's sophomore running back was inconsistent earlier this season and had had some fumbling problems. He had perhaps his best game last weekend against Northwestern, running 22 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns and showing the power that got people got so excited about him in the first place. "It was almost like he'd been thinking a little too much when he'd been back there," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "I thought Saturday was clearly the most decisive he's been in terms of just going with the cut. He looked a little more aggressive as a result of that. Hopefully we're on the right track."

Stephen Houston: Kevin Wilson isn't real happy with his running game, but Houston has at least given Indiana something to work with. A junior-college transfer who had signed with North Carolina and ended up in Bloomington just before fall camp, Houston ran for 135 yards on 19 carries, including a 67-yard touchdown, last week at Wisconsin. He had 138 total yards a week earlier against Illinois. "He had to kind of play himself into shape," Wilson said. "He has practiced well for three or four weeks and has some good momentum."

Nate Stupar: Michael Mauti's season-ending knee injury looked like a big blow for the Penn State defense, and no doubt the Lions would love to have their star linebacker. But Stupar has stepped in superbly and helped keep the defense air tight. He came up with the interception that sealed last week's win over Purdue. "Now our problem would be if something happened to Stupar," Joe Paterno said. "But Stupar has played well. I think there's no question about that."

Stock down

Against the Wind: Maybe the Big Ten should eliminate Chicago as a potential title game destination in the future. Based on what we saw this weekend, league quarterbacks would not enjoy the Windy City. The Purdue-Penn State, Michigan-Michigan State and Ohio State-Illinois games were all affect by severely windy conditions. The quarterbacks in those games went a combined 70-of-146 (47.9 percent accuracy). More hot dog wrappers hit Michigan receivers than Denard Robinson pass attempts. Ohio State had the best idea -- run the ball 51 out of 55 times. The Buckeyes scored as many touchdowns off an interception return as they did their own offense.

Purdue's special teams: Carson Wiggs may have the strongest leg in the league, but it's not always a precision-based tool. He missed an extra point and a 44-yard field goal try and sailed a kickoff out of bounds to aid a Penn State scoring drive as the Boilermakers lost by just five points. But it wasn't all Wiggs' fault (and the wind certainly didn't help him). Purdue's kickoff coverage team let Chaz Powell go 92 yards on a return to set up the game's final field goal. The Boilers don't have enough margin for error to give away points and so much field position on special teams.

Carlos Hyde's Twitter feed: The Ohio State running back rushed for more than 100 yards against Nebraska and then mostly stayed on the bench against Illinois as Herron returned. Hyde let out his frustration on Twitter, typing "Guess I'm not good enough. Take myself elsewhere." Hyde later deleted the tweet, but not before a flood of rumors began about him transferring. Unhappiness is understandable, but there are better forums to express it.

Illinois' rushing game: The Illini boasted a powerful ground assault earlier in the season against some lesser opponents, but against Ohio State that running game was mostly, uh, grounded. They managed just 116 yards on 35 carries, an average of only 3.3 yards per attempt. Two games earlier, Illinois had just 82 rushing yards versus a shaky Northwestern defense. Paul Petrino's offense is at its best when it is balanced, and that starts with a strong rushing game.

Eggheads: I realize strength of schedule plays a huge role and that these things will even out over time, but some of the BCS computer rankings of Wisconsin are laughable. My favorite is the Massey Ratings, which has the Badgers 17th, or one spot behind Nebraska, despite the tiny fact that Wisconsin beat the Huskers by 31 points. Massey also has Texas ranked 11th. Um, OK. Colley Matrix isn't much better with the Badgers at 14, while Peter Wolfe puts them 12th. I don't need any software to know that their wiring is all wrong.

Bring it back, come rewind. I bring it back all the time:

Team of the week: Michigan State. The Spartans notched their fourth consecutive victory against chief rival Michigan, sending their seniors out without ever having lost to the Wolverines. They also became the new Legends Division favorites with another intimidating defensive performance. Can they keep it up this week against Wisconsin?

Best game: Penn State 23, Purdue 18. Week 7 didn't feature many fantastic finishes, but this game remained interesting until the final couple of minutes. The Nittany Lions could never quite put away the Boilermakers and benefited from a missed field goal, botched PAT and failed two-point conversion try. Purdue's final chance to win the game was snuffed out by a Nate Stupar interception. Maybe not the prettiest game -- Penn State's never are -- but it had the most tense moments.

Biggest play: Isaiah Lewis' 39-yard interception return for a touchdown against Michigan with 4:31 left in the game. That gave Michigan State a 28-14 lead that would hold up as the final score and extinguished Denard Robinson's Heisman Trophy campaign. And Lewis wasn't shy after the game. "We knew already he wasn't a good passer," Lewis said of Robinson. "Our DBs were looking for interceptions." They only got one, but it was a big one.

Best call: Ohio State fans might criticize offensive coordinator Jim Bollman for his conservative philosophy, but getting back to Woody Hayes football got the Buckeyes back on the winning track. Ohio State ran 55 offensive plays on Saturday at Illinois and only threw the ball four times. Braxton Miller attempted just one pass in the second half -- and it went for a touchdown. With windy conditions all over the Big Ten, Bollman banked on his offensive line and the return of running back Dan Herron to get the job done while the defense held down the fort. That was good enough for a 17-7 win that ensured Ohio State won't go 0-for-October.

Big Man on Campus (Offense): Wisconsin running back Montee Ball. The junior ran for 142 yards on 14 carries against Indiana, including touchdown runs of 45, 35, and 54 yards. He also had some fun by throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Russell Wilson on a trick play. Ball now has 32 total touchdowns in his past 12 games. And let's not forget Ball's prescient NLCS prediction last week.

Big Man on Campus (Defense): Ohio State defensive tackle John Simon. The junior made a career-high eight tackles in the win against Illinois, including two sacks and four total tackles for loss as the Buckeyes allowed just seven points. Are there any defensive tackles in America playing better than Simon, Michigan State's Jerel Worthy and Penn State's Devon Still right now?

Big Man on Campus (Special teams): Penn State's Anthony Fera. The Nittany Lions' punter/kicker converted on his three field-goal attempts despite heavy wind gusts, and placed three punts inside the Purdue 20. The last one was a 69-yarder that Penn State downed at the Boilermakers 2-yard line with 2:36 left in the game.

Worst hangover: Northwestern. The Wildcats are now 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten. They couldn't beat Iowa, a team which they had held the upper hand against in recent years. They sure couldn't stop Iowa as the Hawkeyes rolled up 24 points once Northwestern tied the score at 17 in the third quarter. Pat Fitzgerald's team still gets to play Indiana, Minnesota and Rice this season, so some more wins should come. But gaining bowl eligibility for a fifth straight year is no guarantee.

Best scene: Props to Iowa fans, who not only pulled off a neat-looking "stripe the stadium" black-and-gold color scheme at Kinnick Stadium but also used card stunts to honor both America and America's farmers. You can see it in this excellent time-lapse video by the Cedar Rapids Gazette's Brian Ray and also in this YouTube video. I can't even fathom the coordination that goes into that type of thing (what if too many people in one section had to go to the bathroom, for instance?). It was all very cool.

It's time to recognize the best and the brightest from Week 7 in Big Ten play.

• Penn State LB Nate Stupar: The veteran recorded two interceptions against Purdue and added seven tackles and a pass breakup as Penn State improved to 6-1 off a 23-18 win. Stupar's second interception helped the Nittany Lions run out the clock. Linebacker Gerald Hodges (3 tackles for loss) also merits a mention.
• Ohio State's defense: The Buckeyes need their defense to play at an elite level to win Big Ten games, and the unit delivered against No. 16 Illinois in a 17-7 victory. Individual standouts included linemen John Simon (4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks) and Johnathan Hankins (team-high 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss), safety Tyler Moeller (forced fumble, pass breakup) and linebacker Storm Klein (forced fumble, fumble recovery, tackle for loss). But the collective effort lifted Ohio State, which was physical, fundamentally sound and opportunistic (3 takeaways).
• Michigan State RB Edwin Baker: For the second consecutive year Baker shredded the Michigan defense as Michigan State beat its archrival at Spartan Stadium 28-14. The junior racked up 167 rush yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. He eclipsed 100 rush yards for the first time this season and now has 314 rush yards in two games against Michigan.
• Wisconsin RB Montee Ball: All the man does is score touchdowns -- and, now, pass for them. Ball had 14 carries for 142 rush yards and three touchdowns, including a 54-yarder late in the third quarter, in the Badgers' 59-7 win over the Hoosiers. He also showed off his throwing arm on a 25-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Russell Wilson.
• Iowa RB Marcus Coker: The Hawkeyes' bruising back was far too much for the Northwestern defense, especially in the second half. Coker carried 22 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the 41-31 win.

We've got a good one brewing in Happy Valley, as Penn State and Purdue have reached halftime with Penn State leading 10-6.

Purdue has to feel encouraged with its performance and very disappointed not to be ahead in this game. The Boilers outplayed Penn State for most of the half, holding a 224-155 edge in total yards and displaying good offensive balance. Running back Ralph Bolden (7 carries, 58 rush yards) has found some room to roam, and Purdue hit on big pass plays to Justin Siller (50 yards) and Antavian Edison (20 yards).

The problem? Purdue can't reach the end zone, thanks in large part to Penn State's defense. Lions star defensive tackle Devon Still made a huge play on third-and-1 inside the red zone, timing the snap count perfectly to record a tackle for loss and force a field-goal try. It has been bend, but don't break for Penn State today.

While Purdue has some talent, it still makes far too many major mistakes. Case in point: quarterback Robert Marve made an ill-advised throw just before halftime, which Penn State linebacker Nate Stupar intercepted. Tack on a Purdue personal foul penalty -- the Boilers' fifth of the half -- and Penn State received a gift-wrapped field goal. We've seen far too much of this from Purdue in 2011.

Penn State's quarterback competition is getting even more confusing. After being outplayed the past few games, sophomore Rob Bolden led Penn State's only scoring drive and completed 2 of 4 passes. Matthew McGloin hasn't been sharp, completing just 2 of 8 passes in the half. The Lions seem to be missing top receiver Derek Moye (foot). It will be interesting to see if Bolden plays more after halftime.

Can Penn State's defense carry the team to another win, or will Purdue pull off the upset?

Stay tuned.

Gerald Hodges saw the first signs in the Outback Bowl, as Penn State capped a mediocre season with a loss to Florida.

Although Florida prevailed 37-24, Penn State held the Gators to 279 yards. Penn State was stout on third down (Florida converted just 4 of 15 opportunities), forced two takeaways and received strong performances from tackle Devon Still (3.5 tackles for loss), cornerback D'Anton Lynn (tackle for loss, interception, fumble recovery) and other players who would return for the 2011 season.

"You could just see different spurts of talent, different spurts of fire in people's eyes," said Hodges, who recorded 1.5 tackles for loss in the bowl game. "And then you see who was coming back."

Seven defenders who started the bowl game were set to return for 2011, as well as key reserves like Hodges, fellow linebackers Glenn Carson and Michael Mauti, and defensive tackle Jordan Hill. All the familiar faces allowed the unit to build confidence during the winter, spring and summer.

Hodges sees the same faces when he lines up on Saturdays this season. From series to series and play to play, Hodges knows who will be where and at what time.

"We don't have to worry about coming out for each and every mistake," Hodges said. "Our coaches are more relaxed, letting us just play ball."

The coaches are loving what they're seeing right now. Penn State's defense has carried the team to a 5-1 mark, 2-0 in Big Ten play and on the brink of re-entering the AP Top 25 rankings.

The Lions rank fourth nationally in total defense (250.8 ypg) and fifth nationally in both scoring defense (10.5 ppg) and pass defense (157.7 ypg). They have allowed 10 points or fewer in five of six games and last week held Iowa to three points, marking the first time in four years the Hawkeyes had failed to reach the end zone in a game.

"I've got a little history growing up in that part of the country, and they've been pretty good on defense since the late '60s, maybe longer than that," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "They've got good players, they're very well coached and Saturday they played very hard, it didn’t seem to matter who's in there.

"When they have a good defensive team, it's not a big surprise to me."

Penn State didn't have a great defense in 2010, ranking 50th in points allowed and 74th against the run. The typical guarantees weren't there, especially up front as Penn State didn't generate much of a pass rush and finished 101st nationally in sacks.

Still, coach Joe Paterno saw the number of returning players and thought the defense would be improved.

"We've got some depth," he said.

It has shown in the first six games. Although Michigan State ranks higher in the defensive statistics, no Big Ten unit has been more heroic than Penn State's defense, which has had to overcome key injuries and the Lions' own offensive woes.

"We have a lot of people on defense that care about one another," linebacker Nate Stupar said. "That’s what makes a great defense, that connection with one another and knowing the person next to you can do all he can to do his best.

"Last year, it didn't seem like a team defense, but this year, it definitely is."

Penn State didn't have divisions within its defense, but it became difficult to build cohesiveness with a core group.

"We really didn't have people set in stone last year with positions," Stupar said. "A lot of things were still up in the air. ... It was more of worrying we were going to make a mistake than actually going out there and playing and competing. This year, they're trusting us more."

The Lions are making it easy on their coaches. Still is having an All-America type season, recording nine tackles for loss in the first six games. Fellow tackle Hill has solidified the interior line, while Hodges, Carson and safeties Drew Astorino and Nick Sukay also have stood out.

Penn State has showed greater willingness to blitz and has been better at generating turnovers. The Lions already boast 13 sacks, four shy of their total from 2010, and 14 takeaways, three shy of their total from 2010.

Perhaps most impressive is that the defense hasn't backslid at all despite losing Mauti to a season-ending knee injury. Lynn has been out since Week 4 with a head injury. Freshman Adrian Amos has stepped in at cornerback, while Penn State's depth at linebacker has helped in Mauti's absence.

"It says we have a lot of depth," Hodges said. "It says we have a lot of confidence. It says we have the willpower to win."

From the moment we saw Michael Mauti on the sideline training table, towel over his head in obvious frustration, the thought was that he'd torn his ACL.

Penn State confirmed the bad news on Sunday. The team's leading tackler and an All-Big Ten candidate at linebacker, Mauti is out for the year with a torn ACL in his left knee. He tore his right ACL in preseason camp in 2009, missing the whole year, and he missed two games last year while battling injuries.

Some players just can't seem to stay healthy, and this is a real shame. Mauti is one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten when healthy, and he looked primed for a big season. He had a terrific game against Temple, coming up with that fourth quarter interception that led to the winning touchdown and making plays all over the field. We just hope that Mauti, a redshirt junior, can come back next year and finally get some luck in the health department.

In Mauti's absence, senior Nate Stupar gets a chance to shine. Stupar led Penn State with seven tackles, including three for a loss and a sack, while replacing Mauti against Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Stupar has played a lot for the Nittany Lions and should keep the defense playing at a high level. If there's any bright spot in this tough news, it's that Penn State came into the year loaded with depth at linebacker.

Some other better news on the Lions' injury front: cornerback D'Anton Lynn, who had a scary collision and was carted off on a backboard Saturday, was released from the hospital later on that afternoon. He didn't appear to suffer any serious injuries, though the team's medical staff will continue to evaluate him this week.

Penn State seemed cursed by the injury bug last year. Let's hope this isn't the start of a repeat.

Penn State's easy win against Eastern Michigan likely came with a cost.

Standout linebacker Michael Mauti will undergo an MRI on his left knee Sunday after suffering an injury in the first half. While nothing is official yet, it doesn't look good for Mauti.

"I think we've lost Mike for the year," coach Joe Paterno said. "… He’s got an ACL."

I feel terrible for Mauti, who missed all of the 2009 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee in a preseason practice. He also was limited for part of last season with shoulder issues.

Mauti appeared on the brink of a breakout season after recording an interception and three tackles for loss in last week's defense-fueled win against Temple, which embarrassed Maryland on Saturday. This week, I talked to the Lions junior about how he no longer worried about getting injured on the field.

"It feels great. You're just not worried about anything. All you worry about is go out and make the plays and help the team win. I spend a lot of time in the training room, just taking care of my body. You can't really do anything about injuries when they happen, but I'm just happy to be healthy right now and flying around."

This one hurts.

Penn State boasts good depth at linebacker with Glenn Carson, Gerald Hodges, Nate Stupar and others. But Mauti added a lot to the mix, especially from a leadership standpoint, and he will be missed.

Week 2 is just around the corner, and it brings us a few more appealing matchups around the Big Ten.

Here are 10 items to track during a 12-pack of games Saturday.

1. The Big House in prime time: Michigan has played 520 games at Michigan Stadium, but none has kicked off at night. History will be made Saturday at the Big House as Michigan takes on Notre Dame under the lights. It should be an electric atmosphere at Stadium and Main as more than 110,000 fans will watch two of the game's iconic programs, who will honor the occasion with retro uniforms. Trust me, they're better than Maryland's.

2. Opportunity knocks for Nits: Penn State wants to be viewed as a legitimate Big Ten title contender and a team that belongs among the nation's elite. There's no better opportunity to make a statement than Saturday's game against No. 3 Alabama. Penn State hasn't beaten a top-5 team in the Associated Press poll since crushing Arizona in the 1999 season opener. An upset of Alabama would put the Penn State program -- and not just its iconic coach Joe Paterno -- in the national spotlight.

3. Coker tries to rebound: Iowa running back Marcus Coker entered the season with a lot of hype but fumbled twice in the season opener, earning him a trip to the bench. Coach Kirk Ferentz remains confident in the sophomore and was pleased Coker didn't use the lousy weather conditions as an excuse. Coker gets a great chance to redeem himself on the road against in-state rival Iowa State, which last week surrendered 204 rush yards to FCS Northern Iowa.

4. Bauserman's building blocks: Joe Bauserman took a step toward securing Ohio State's starting quarterback spot in the opener, completing 12 of 16 pass attempts with three touchdown strikes to tight end Jake Stoneburner. Although freshman Braxton Miller remains very much in the mix and should see time Saturday against Toledo, another strong performance from Bauserman should establish the senior as the team's top option before a Week 3 trip to Miami.

5. Linebacker U. vs. Trent Richardson: Penn State will lean heavily on its defense, and particularly its linebackers, as it aims for the upset against Alabama. Linebacker U appears to be back as the Lions boast excellent depth in the defensive midsection with Michael Mauti, Nate Stupar, Glenn Carson, Khairi Fortt, Mike Hull and Gerald Hodges, who got hurt last year in Tuscaloosa but could be a difference-maker Saturday. The linebackers must contain one of the nation's top running backs in Heisman Trophy candidate Trent Richardson.

6. Huskers' offense under the gun: Nebraska scored 40 points in its opener but left plenty of questions on the offensive side. Coordinator Tim Beck is looking for fewer mental mistakes and better execution Saturday night against a Fresno State team that surrendered 36 points and 417 yards to Cal last week. Quarterback Taylor Martinez must show greater accuracy as a passer, while an offensive line dealing with youth and injuries needs to show it can control the line of scrimmage before the competition level gets tougher.

7. Gophers, Hoosiers look for first wins: Minnesota and Indiana were the only Big Ten teams to lose last week, although the teams came away feeling differently about their performances. The Gophers never quit at USC and nearly stunned the Trojans. They return home to TCF Bank Stadium and look for a strong effort against a New Mexico State squad that lost its opener 44-24 to Ohio. Indiana faces a much tougher challenge in Virginia and looks for better play up front on both sides of the ball, not to mention more enthusiasm, as it makes its home debut at Memorial Stadium.

8. The Denard Show, Act II: Quarterback Denard Robinson carried Michigan to a dramatic victory last year with a record-setting performance at Notre Dame Stadium. Can "Shoelace" replicate his heroics Saturday night against the Irish? He'll face what looks like a stronger Notre Dame defense, and he's still transitioning to a new offensive system. But Robinson also works behind a strong offensive line and finally appears to have some help at running back with Fitzgerald Toussaint and Michael Shaw. It will be interesting to see if Notre Dame can contain a Michigan quarterback after being flummoxed by Robinson and Tate Forcier the past two seasons.

9. Backup QBs try to maintain winning ways: Northwestern's Kain Colter and Purdue's Caleb TerBush both recorded victories in their first career starts at quarterback last week. Colter, filling in for the still-rehabbing Dan Persa, showed improved passing skills to complement his running ability against Boston College. He needs to limit hits and build more confidence against FCS Eastern Illinois. TerBush made big throws in clutch situations against Middle Tennessee but must limit mistakes on the road at Rice. Purdue's Robert Marve also could return to the field.

10. Receiving orders: Week 1 was huge for Big Ten wideouts, as five players eclipsed 100 receiving yards in the opening games. Illinois continues to look for big things from A.J. Jenkins and Darius Millines this week against South Dakota State. Michigan State's B.J. Cunningham needs one catch to become the team's all-time receptions leader. Other receivers like Iowa's Marvin McNutt and Indiana's Damarlo Belcher try to build on impressive opening performances.