ESPN

Recognizing the best and the brightest from Week 5 in the Big Ten:

Iowa's group of linebackers: Where do we even begin? The trio finished 1-2-3 in tackles and led the defense to a dominating win over Minnesota. But the most impressive number wasn't found within the individual stats. Minnesota came into the game with the nation's 13th-ranked rushing offense and limped out with just 30 yards on 27 carries. Each linebacker contributed something different. Anthony Hitchens paced the Hawkeyes with 10 tackles, Christian Kirksey came up with an interception, and James Morris finished with a sack and a pick. They came up big Saturday and were a huge reason for the win.

Wisconsin WR Jared Abbrederis: Wisconsin might not have come out a winner, but that had nothing to do with the sure-handed Abbrederis. He dominated an All-American cornerback, became the first Wisconsin wideout to finish with 200 receiving yards since Lee Evans in 2003 and was clearly the Badgers' MVP. He made 10 catches for 207 yards, while the rest of his team wound up with eight receptions for 88 yards. He was nearly unstoppable Saturday night and added some nice clips to his highlight film, including a leaping 33-yard catch, where he held on despite a big hit. Abbrederis made a statement in Saturday's game, and it was a pretty easy decision to hand the man a helmet sticker.

Ohio State QB Braxton Miller: Wait, Miller's coming off an injury? It certainly didn't look like it. Wisconsin had no answer for the dual-threat quarterback in the first half, and Miller did enough in the second half to keep Ohio State's 17-game winning streak alive. Miller is known more for his legs than his arm, but he impressed greatly with the latter against the Badgers. He completed 68 percent of his passes, threw for 198 yards and tossed four touchdowns to no interceptions. He flashed good arm strength and launched a 40-yard TD to Corey Brown with just one second left in the first half. That was one of the game's key plays, and Ohio State's undoubtedly happy to have Miller back. (Oh, and he did rush for 83 yards on 22 carries.) There's no quarterback controversy in Columbus after that performance.

Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase: It's pretty difficult to ignore a quarterback who tossed five touchdowns in one half -- even if they did come against the hapless Miami (Ohio) Redhawks. The senior signal-caller finished 19-of-24 for 278 yards and guided the Illini to six scores on their first seven drives. Outside of an interception, Scheelhaase played a perfect game. He's a no-brainer for a helmet sticker here, especially because he basically put those numbers up in just two quarters. He took a seat in the third quarter because Illinois already had the game in hand.

Iowa RB Mark Weisman: He didn't find the end zone, but he's the one who often drove the Hawkeyes downfield against the nation's No. 21 run defense. Weisman's number was called five times on the eight-play, 80-yard TD drive -- and he came up with 19 of the 27 yards in the first scoring drive that resulted in a field goal. Jake Rudock played well, but his longest pass came on a wide receiver screen. Weisman was consistent throughout and rushed 24 times for 147 yards against a good run defense. He earned his helmet sticker this week.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After Oklahoma called a timeout with 1:21 to play and the ball at the Notre Dame 17-yard line on Saturday, "Boomer! Sooner!" chants began to rain down from the crimson-clad contingent seated near Notre Dame Stadium's northeast corner, threatening to turn this place into Owen Field North. The Irish's student section responded with furious chants of "Let's Go, Irish!"

Two kneels and one final horn later, everyone was left to figure out where these Irish go from here.

Notre Dame had been flirting with a result like this in its previous three games. And, just like they did against Michigan three weeks ago, the Irish once again ran into a team more than happy to take advantage of another rough opening.

Starting painfully slow is just no way to live. And after a 35-21 loss to Oklahoma, Notre Dame's second defeat this month, neither is essentially having to win seven remaining games to return to a BCS bowl for the second year in a row.

"You never expect those things, but they happen," coach Brian Kelly said of the Irish's early mistakes. "That's why we have ulcers in this business."

In front of a green-out crowd against the Sooners, those gaffes were interceptions on back-to-back Tommy Rees throws on the Irish's first two drives, leading to an early 14-0 deficit. Much like Michigan showed in Notre Dame's other loss -- and much like Purdue and Michigan State couldn't, try as they might -- Oklahoma proved once again that shootouts are not conducive to the Irish's style.

Rees threw three picks against the Sooners, which accounted for one more than the two he had thrown in four starts entering the contest. Oklahoma converted those turnovers into 21 points, including a 24-yard Corey Nelson pick-six on the game's first possession.

Andrew Hendrix provided a nice wrinkle in some zone-read packages, and the Irish finally got the ground game going behind George Atkinson III, who tallied a career-best 148 yards.

But after falling behind by two scores, they began just two drives while trailing by just one score -- the second of which ended with Rees getting picked off by Julian Wilson on third-and-10 with the Irish in field goal range. Oklahoma then went 88 yards in 10 plays to take a 21-7 lead 42 seconds before halftime.

"I don't know about a dream-like start," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said, "but a good start."

Stoops went on to say that toughness was not a problem with his Sooners, and that they did not lose to the Irish at home last year because of physical football.

Call it what whatever you want, but it was something that Notre Dame mastered last year, especially in its near-perfect outing in Norman.

Then, the Irish won the turnover battle 1-0. They limited Oklahoma to just 15 rushing yards. They won 30-13.

On Saturday, they lost the turnover battle 3-0. They surrendered 212 rushing yards. And they were down 14-0 less than three minutes into the game.

"I'm not sure, to be honest. I don't know how we fix our slow start," co-captain TJ Jones said. "I think it's just kind of a collective thing to come out with -- I really don't know what it is. Whether it's feeding off the energy and executing plays or not letting the mis-execution of plays slow us down."

Added Kelly: "Look, if I knew what that was, I would not be standing here right now. I'd be doing something else. This is my 23rd year as a head coach. You never expect to not pick up the simplest of stunts and have your quarterback get the ball stripped. You never expect not to run the right route when you're supposed to."

No, Notre Dame does not know how it got here, and it does not exactly know how to leave here, either. The student section booed heavily when the Irish began to head up the tunnel instead of staying for the alma mater. Fifth-year senior Carlo Calabrese urged his teammates to come back out and sing, per postgame ritual. They obliged, though it turns out a new team policy, instituted two years ago, calls for the players to regroup first in the locker room following a loss before reappearing and crooning.

Notre Dame had not lost in the 10 home games since the creation of that policy, a streak that came to an end against the Sooners. The Irish's national title dreams -- the Jan. 6 date at the BCS National Championship that is listed inside the football complex for all to see — are long gone. Their BCS bowl hopes are on life support.

"This season's a new season, we're a different team," co-captain Bennett Jackson said. "We have different characteristics as a team, and we take each game each week. We can't do anything about the past. As a team, we're going to come together and try to win the rest of our games. That's our main objective."

Illinois senior guard Ahmad Starks is still awaiting a decision from the NCAA on whether he will be permitted a hardship waiver and be eligible to play this season, Illinois coach John Groce said on Friday.

Starks transferred to Illinois from Oregon State after the last school year to be closer to his ailing grandmother in Chicago. Starks’s grandmother helped raise him. If Starks doesn’t receive the waiver, he will have to sit out this season and will be eligible next season.

“Obviously, you always want to know,” Groce said prior to practice Friday in a video posted by Illinois. “We continue to have dialogue back and forth with our compliance office and the NCAA. We want to know. The kid, most importantly, he wants to know. I feel for the kid. We’re going to know sooner than later. We’re finishing up a couple of things and should have a formal answer here soon.”

(Read full post)

I'm 4-for-4. You probably don't want me to go 5-for-5.

When Oklahoma has the ball: Blake Bell is making his first career road start. He has given everyone he has faced trouble with his ability to run the football, but Brian Kelly stressed this week that Bell will beat you with your arm as well. He is 6-foot-6, 252 pounds, and he is coming off a 413-yard, four-touchdown outing two weeks ago in his first career start, albeit against Tulsa. Notre Dame gave up a lot of yardage last year in Norman, Okla., but the Irish were able to keep the ball in front of them, bunkering down when push came to shove in the red zone. They cannot afford to miss tackles the way they have early this season, and they cannot let the Sooners' receivers -- namely, Jalen Saunders, he of 15 catches and 181 yards in last year's meeting -- get behind them.

When Notre Dame has the ball: The Sooners have the nation's No. 5 scoring defense (9 ppg). Of course, they have played just three games against three bad opponents. Notre Dame won last year's game by 17, but it is easy to forget that this was a 13-13 contest with six minutes remaining. The Irish had done a brilliant job of controlling the line of scrimmage before catching the Oklahoma defense off-guard with a big play -- a 50-yard, play-action strike to then-freshman Chris Brown that set up the go-ahead score. That's easier to do with Everett Golson than it is with Tommy Rees. And it's easier to execute when you have a strong running game. Cierre Wood's 62-yard first-quarter touchdown helped open that up for the Irish early. They should continue to try to establish a ground attack early, but they have had lots of trouble getting it going through four games.

Intangible: Everyone was sleeping on the Irish during last year's contest. That is no longer the case. Oklahoma got pushed around in a venue the Sooners don't pushed around much in, and they are coming off a bye entering this contest.

Prediction: Oklahoma 24, Notre Dame 17. These slow starts will eventually catch up to the Irish, and the Sooners are too talented to not make them pay.

Running back Josh Ferguson leads Illinois in all-purpose yardage for the second straight season. Makes sense, since Ferguson, a third-year sophomore from Naperville, Ill., prides himself of his all-purpose traits. A year ago, he did it all -- rushing, receiving and returning kicks. This season, Ferguson has dropped the kick returns.

The Illini offense, under first-year coordinator Bill Cubit, is averaging 37 points per game, more than double its figure from a year ago. Ferguson ranks as Illinois’ second-leading rusher. He’s averaging 26.4 yards per reception to lead the team, and he ranks No. 1 among all FBS running backs in receiving yardage.

Ferguson and the 2-1 Illini host Miami of Ohio on Saturday at noon ET before opening Big Ten play next week at Nebraska.

ESPN.com caught up with Ferguson this week.

How do you feel about playing in Bill Cubit’s offense?

Personally, I love the offense. I’m sure that a lot of the guys here would say the same thing. He’s a great coach, and we’re having a lot of fun.

What changes have you seen this year in senior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase?

He hasn’t shown it as much this year, but the kid can run. He can pass. He’s a great leader. He’s got a lot of intangibles you need from that position.

Your 185 receiving yards through three games lead all FBS running backs. Did you know that?

I did not know that. I think it’s pretty cool. It’s a credit to guys I play with and the kind of offense that we run.

How do you assess your play as a receiver?

It’s going well. For me, I just needed to work on shorter, quicker routes, getting out there against in places where our coaches like certain matchups.

Are the Illinois receivers jealous of you?

Nah, they’re good guys. They want what’s best for the team. We’ve got a lot of hard workers at that position.

You returned 19 kickoffs for 344 yards a year ago. Why not this year?

I’m not too sure, but I want to do whatever the coaches want me to do.

What does it mean to you to be considered an all-purpose back?

As much as possible, I want to be the type of runner who can do a lot out of the backfield. I want to be that versatile kind of guy.

You missed the Ohio State game last year because of injury and 10 games in 2011, leading to a medical redshirt waiver. What are you doing this year to stay healthy?

I train a little bit harder during the week. I’ve gained a lot of weight these last couple years. I feel great.

Do you focus on taking care of your body when you’re not in football mode?

Right, that’s experience. Being a young guy, you don’t really see what your body needs. That’s been a focus for me this year.

What do you eat now that you didn’t two years ago?

Honestly, I just eat more vegetables and more protein and try to take care of my body.

How do you get away from the game?

Homework. I’m a kinesiology major, so I’ve got a lot of reading. Outside of that, I love music. I used to played the tenor saxophone. I like jazz. I like all types of music.

What do you like to do back home in Chicago?

Probably just home with the family. I’m pretty much on campus all year round, so when I do get back home, I like to hang out with my brothers.

Northwestern's record is a perfect 4-0, but the Wildcats haven't exactly been perfect. They enter the bye week after an unconvincing 35-21 win over FCS school Maine, and they'll try to regroup in time for their next big test -- against No. 4 Ohio State on Oct. 5. Here are a few things they'll have to focus on to improve in time for the conference season:

1. Get tailback Venric Mark up to speed. Northwestern's option just hasn't been the same without Mark, who hasn't played since Week 1 because of a leg injury. He returned to practice Tuesday, however, and Pat Fitzgerald labeled him "day to day." The Wildcats' rushing attack has fared well in his absence, but Northwestern sure could use the running back who rushed for 1,366 yards and a dozen scores last season. Northwestern needs its best players for its best opponents, so Mark's progress here is paramount. This bye week is crucial to him healing.

2. Shore up the secondary. Pat Fitzgerald was thrown a curveball when cornerback Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1, and the Wildcats' secondary just hasn't been able to rebound. Teams are targeting Jones' replacement, Dwight White, and Northwestern will have to find a way to neutralize opponents' passing games. The numbers just haven't been pretty so far. Northwestern ranks No. 115 in pass defense, allowing 308 yards a game, and that issue has caused problems elsewhere. Opponents are converting more than 44 percent of their third downs, which puts NU at No. 94 in that area. And their red-zone defense has been atrocious. Opponents, which include the likes of Maine and Western Michigan, have combined to score on all but one of their 14 trips to the red zone. Those aren't numbers expected of a Big Ten title contender.

3. Limit the turnovers. It's difficult to point too many fingers at an offense that's scored at least 35 points in four consecutive games. But turnovers have stalled too many Wildcats drives. They've committed seven turnovers already -- four interceptions, six fumbles (three lost) -- when they had just 15 all last season. In just the last three games, Kain Colter fumbled twice (neither lost) and threw two interceptions on 35 passing attempts. He has to protect the ball better or this trend could turn into a bigger problem. Northwestern was ranked within the top 15 last season when it came to limiting turnovers. This season? Tied for 82nd.

ESPN.com's Brandon Chatmon previews Saturday's Big 12 Game of the Week: Oklahoma vs. Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

Illinois has finalized its 2015, 2016 and 2017 nonconference schedules. How strong you think they are will depend on your view of North Carolina.

The Illini announced on Thursday that they would play a home-and-home series with the Tar Heels in 2015 and '16. The first game will be in Chapel Hill on Sept. 19, 2015, with UNC coming to Champaign on Sept. 10, 2016.

If you're not too jazzed about North Carolina as an opponent, well, there's not much else that will get you excited on these schedules. Take a look:

2015

Sept. 5: Kent State
Sept. 12: Western Illinois
Sept. 19: at North Carolina
Sept. 26: Middle Tennessee

2016

Sept. 3: Murray State
Sept. 10: North Carolina
Sept. 17: Western Michigan

2017

Sept. 2: Ball State
Sept. 9: at South Florida
Sept. 16: Western Kentucky

The Big Ten is making a push for upgraded nonconference schedules throughout the league, but Illinois isn't exactly embracing that wholeheartedly. North Carolina could be a solid team by 2015 because Larry Fedora is a good coach. But just look at that 2017 schedule.

Illinois AD Mike Thomas said in a school release that the program wants to keep an opponent from the five power conferences on the schedule every season. That doesn't happen in '17, unless USF somehow finds its way into the ACC or Big 12. The Illini are also playing an FCS team in '16 despite the conference's intention to eliminate those games.

Remember that the Big Ten goes to a nine-game conference schedule in 2016. Illinois is not really in the business of competing for national championships or the College Football Playoff right now, so you can understand why the Illini might want to take it easy outside of those nine Big Ten showdowns. The program is signaling that the first priority is to schedule some wins so it can get to a bowl. Minnesota has done the same thing of late, and the strategy does make sense.

Still, there's not much here that an Illinois fan can get pumped up about when dreaming of future seasons.

Welcome back, Ron Swanson.

• Braxton Miller will "probably start" for Ohio State after missing the last two games and almost all of a third. Bradley Roby took some exception to all the praise about Wisconsin as Big Ten royalty. The absence of Bret Bielema has softened some of the hatred in a competitive series, Kyle Rowland writes.
• Chris Borland is looking to make an impression in his home state. Badgers defensive coordinator Dave Aranda sought out some help to prepare for the Buckeyes. Wisconsin is trying to find a role for Tanner McEvoy, and it might just come on defense this week at Ohio State.
• Penn State players are pleased about the positive developments for the future of the program, but right now the focus is on the present. So, how long will Bill O'Brien stick around with the program now, Bob Flounders asks.
• Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson is improving, but his status is still uncertain for the team's Big Ten opener against Iowa. Ben Lauer has grown two more inches since the Gophers started recruiting the left tackle, but it still might be hard to believe he was ever overlooked at his size.
• Iowa is finding big plays in a variety of different areas, sparking a much more entertaining start to the season. Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes can relate to what Minnesota coach Jerry Kill is going through.
• An American board the International Space Station played football at Illinois and finished his career as a captain. The Monheim family is tough to miss at Illinois games, and Mason Monheim is making an impression on the field as well.
• Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter weighs in on the "All Players United" movement, and Pat Fitzgerald doesn't appear to be a fan. Taking stock of the Wildcats during the bye week.
• Michigan is going to give Fitzgerald Toussaint some rest this week and work in a few younger backs to the rotation during the bye. Brady Hoke is stressing the need for Devin Gardner to stop trying to be "Superman."
• Connor Cook has a chance to prove he can be resilient at quarterback for Michigan State. After no shortage of success with quarterbacks, how did the Spartans get in their current situation?
• Most of the Purdue coaching staff is familiar with Jordan Lynch and Northern Illinois after taking him on last season at Kent State. The Huskies can return the favor by noting some similarities between Kent State and Purdue.
• Nebraska has gone back to basics on defense, and Bo Pelini is seeing improvement during the bye week. Those who have been around quarterback Tommy Armstrong aren't surprised with his quick success.
• Indiana kicker Mitch Ewald is making a run at a significant school record.

A few nuggets to keep track of this weekend in Big Ten action:

1. The quarterback quandary in Columbus: Braxton Miller returns to Ohio State’s depth chart not as the starter but as a co-starter, listed alongside Kenny Guiton. There’s probably not too much of a QB controversy as Miller is the Buckeyes’ three-year starter, but it will be interesting to watch how much Guiton sees the field.

2. Big run potential in The Horseshoe: Wisconsin and Ohio State lead the Big Ten in rushing yards per game with 350 and 311 yards, respectively. They also field two pretty stout rushing defenses. The Badgers have only given up 76 rushing yards per game while the Buckeyes have only given up 80 yards per game. This head-to-head matchup should be an interesting one to watch as both teams try to break through for a few big runs, allowing their QBs to relax a little bit.

3. Hog heaven: Nothing like two Midwestern teams playing for a statue of a pig named Floyd. Or there’s nothing more Midwestern than two teams playing for a statue of a pig named Floyd. Like Wisconsin-Ohio State, the Iowa-Minnesota game should feature the run plenty. Look for both teams to try and break down the other’s defensive line, really looking to get after it. And with that statue on the line, how could they not?

4. Illinois continuing its stellar pass game: The Illini are averaging 306 yards of passing per game so far this season, second only to Indiana in the Big Ten. This weekend Illinois faces Miami (Ohio), which has given up 290 yards per game this year while playing Marshall, Kentucky and Cincinnati. It’s a good opportunity for Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase to air it out against the RedHawk defense and continue building chemistry with receivers.

5. Well-timed bye weeks: For a few Big Ten teams this weekend, sitting at home watching other teams play might be the best possible way to get better. The Wolverines -- following two poor outings -- are using this bye week to prepare themselves to enter Big Ten play next weekend against Minnesota. Michigan State, which had two QBs see action last weekend, can use this week to continue figuring out its quarterback situation. And Penn State gets another week to rehab and gain confidence with the relief of having a few scholarships returned to next season’s team.

6. MACtion in West Lafayette: When NIU and Purdue hit the field this weekend, it’ll be the best offense in the MAC (NIU, 516 yards per game) against the worst in the Big Ten (Purdue, 246 yards per game). Northern Illinois leads the MAC in rushing offense (295 yards per game), while the Boilermakers have the second worst rushing defense in the Big Ten, giving up 184 yards a game. So, keep your eyes on the Big Ten-MACtion matchup, because the Huskies might put on a show.

We're past the quarter pole of the Big Ten season, and the predictions race is all even at 40-6. It's Week 5 on the schedule, but there are only four games involving Big Ten teams, as half of the league is off.

Let's get started ...

MIAMI (OH) at ILLINOIS

Brian Bennett: Miami is 0-3 and has been outscored 107-21. Have fun, Nathan Scheelhaase. I see a 350-yard passing day in your future. ... Illinois 38, Miami 10


Adam Rittenberg: The first open week fell at a good time for Illinois, which had a chance to regroup on both sides of the ball. This might feel like another Saturday off as Miami is truly awful. The Illini's defense rebounds and Josh Ferguson reaches the end zone twice as Tim Beckman's squad exceeds last year's wins total. ... Illinois 31, Miami 13

NORTHERN ILLINOIS at PURDUE

Adam Rittenberg: Northern Illinois hasn't been overly impressive so far and could easily be 1-2. Purdue is a desperate team doing some "soul searching," according to coach Darrell Hazell, after a 1-3 start. The Boilers take an early lead but Northern Illinois' run game, led by quarterback Jordan Lynch, proves to be too much in the second half. Lynch scores two fourth-quarter touchdowns as NIU prevails. ... Northern Illinois 38, Purdue 27

Brian Bennett: It would be hard to pick Purdue against any half-decent FBS team right now with the way the Boilermakers' offense is sputtering. Defensive coordinator Greg Hudson helped slow down the Huskies in last year's Orange Bowl as a Florida State assistant, and Hazell knows Northern Illinois very well from his MAC days. That should help a little, but Purdue has a hard enough time staying out of its own way right now. ... Northern Illinois 28, Purdue 20.


IOWA at MINNESOTA

Brian Bennett: Very difficult call, as both teams are similar in their approach. I think Iowa has a better chance of moving the ball through the air than Minnesota, though Jerry Kill might surprise us. I'd pick Iowa if the game were in Iowa City, but I think the home field may be just enough to get Minnesota over the top. The Gophers pick up a defensive score, and the legend of Mitch Leidner grows as he runs for 125 and two scores. ... Minnesota 23, Iowa 21


Adam Rittenberg: Toughest pick of the week, for sure. I really liked what I saw from Minnesota against San Jose State, but sooner or later, the lack of a passing game will catch up with the Gophers. Iowa is showing better balance on offense and should do just enough to contain Minnesota's ground game. Jake Rudock finds C.J. Fiedorowicz for the winning touchdown pass in the final minute as Iowa keeps the bacon. ... Iowa 28, Minnesota 24

WISCONSIN at OHIO STATE

Adam Rittenberg: It wouldn't shock me if Wisconsin records the upset, but Ohio State has too much firepower, and the Badgers remain one-dimensional on offense. Melvin Gordon shows why he's arguably the nation's top running back with 180 yards and two touchdowns, but Ohio State rallies in the second half behind Braxton Miller, who accounts for three touchdowns in his return. This will be a fun one in Columbus ... Ohio State 37, Wisconsin 30

Brian Bennett: Fun one is right. Wisconsin never gets blown out anymore, and the Badgers have the run game to give Ohio State's young defense fits. But I agree that the Buckeyes have a few too many weapons on offense, particularly with Miller's return, while the Badgers' passing game is too shaky. Miller leads the Buckeyes out to a big early lead before Wisconsin makes a late comeback behind scores from James White and Gordon. Bradley Roby intercepts Joel Stave to seal it. ... Ohio State 34, Wisconsin 28


There's our forecast. Now it's time to reach out to our adoring public. As a reminder, throughout the season we'll choose one fan/loyal blog reader each week to try his or her hand at outsmarting us. There's nothing but pride and some extremely limited fame at stake. If you're interested in participating, contact us here and here. Include your full name (real names, please) and hometown and a brief description why you should be that week's guest picker. Please also include "GUEST PICKS" in all caps somewhere in your email so we can find it easily.

This week's guest picker has been all over the Big Ten map. Phillip Mykleby from Minneapolis, the floor is yours.

I'd like to be a guest picker for this weeks games if you don't mind. I guess you can I've been all around the Big Ten in my lifetime. I'm a lifelong Iowa Hawkeye fan growing up and undergrad (I actually met you once in Iowa City for Iowa-Michigan in 2009), then off to Nebraska for grad school, and now I work for the U of Minn. This weekend's game for the Floyd of Rosedale has some added meaning for me. And my entire family will be coming up from Iowa and cheering for the Hawkeyes in the Gopher student section!

Here are Phillip's Week 4 picks:

Illinois 45, Miami (Ohio) 10
Northern Illinois 41, Purdue 28
Iowa 28, Minnesota 24
Ohio State 42, Wisconsin 24

SEASON RECORDS

Adam Rittenberg: 40-6
Brian Bennett: 40-6
Guest pickers: 36-10

On Saturday, Oklahoma will make its first trip to Notre Dame Stadium in 14 years. The Irish won that 1999 contest, 34-30, and have won eight others against the Sooners, as they hold a 9-1 all-time mark in the series. Last season's game turned on several big Notre Dame plays on both sides of the ball, lifting the Irish to a 30-13 road win and an 8-0 record.

What will happen this time around? We turn to Big 12 reporter Brandon Chatmon and Notre Dame reporter Matt Fortuna to preview this weekend's tilt in South Bend, Ind.

Matt: Brandon, Blake Bell earned the noble distinction last year of becoming the first player to rush for a touchdown against Notre Dame. That was eight games into the Irish's season, and this year they have already given up two scores on the ground. Obviously, Bell has a lot more on his plate this time around. And he is making his first career road start, in a stadium where the Irish have won 10 straight games. What can Notre Dame's defense expect to see from Bell on Saturday?

Brandon: The Irish will actually have to account for the possibility they will see No. 10 throw the ball when he's behind center. Notre Dame will have to be prepare for Bell to test its secondary with his arm more than his feet, and he showed he might be a better passer than people think in his first start against Tulsa. Undoubtedly, the windows will shrink against ND but the fact remains that the Irish will have to prepare for Bell, who could test them with his arm and feet, unlike their preparations for Landry Jones, who doesn't put fear into the heart of any defense with his legs. The overriding question in Norman is: how have the Irish changed in the trenches after manhandling OU in Norman last season? Can they do that again?

Matt: The depth of Notre Dame's defensive line took some hits this offseason -- first with the transfer of Eddie Vanderdoes to UCLA, then with the ACL tear suffered by Tony Springmann. Still, the front-line guys remain very dangerous, though the numbers have not exactly depicted that through four games. The Irish's opponents have done a good job of establishing a quick-strike passing game, effectively negating the strengths of the Irish's defensive linemen. A mobile quarterback like Bell will likely present more challenges Saturday, and it us up to the Irish to continue to adjust. The other side is a bit of a mystery as well. Notre Dame has struggled to establish much of a run game so far, but its offensive line has done a tremendous job of keeping Tommy Rees standing up straight through four games, and the offense has again limited the turnovers. Rees and this year's group of running backs just don't pose the kind of threat that Everett Golson and last year's backfield did, so it's hard to imagine the Irish running to set up the deep pass in the same way they were able to last year, when they connected with Chris Brown for a game-changing 50-yard strike in the fourth quarter. They may have more weapons at receiver this year, though. How does Oklahoma's pass coverage match up with TJ Jones, DaVaris Daniels and company?

Brandon: Well, Matt, the Sooners' secondary would like to think it's ready for the challenge against Rees and Notre Dame's receivers. All-Big 12 cornerback Aaron Colvin won't be a concern, but the rest of the secondary is somewhat untested. Senior Gabe Lynn is starting at safety, a new position, after spending his first three seasons at nickelback and corner, and he has played well. OU's three new starters, nickelback Julian Wilson, cornerback Zack Sanchez and safety Quentin Hayes, have looked good but haven't yet played a quarterback who will capitalize on their mistakes. That said, the OU secondary, without question, is faster and better in coverage than the 2012 version. Whether it will it hold up mentally in a hostile environment is the unanswered question, so I can't wait to see how it all plays out. Anyway, who do you like this weekend?

Matt: Notre Dame's defense played its best game Saturday, responding to Brian Kelly's mid-week challenge. But I'm just not sure it has completely turned the corner yet. I think the Irish are getting Oklahoma at a more opportune time, as Bell is making just his second start and the Sooners have yet to really be tested. But I have not seen enough so far that makes me believe Notre Dame will be able to handle everything Oklahoma will throw at it offensively. Oklahoma has had one more week to prepare, and I sense a bit of wounded pride coming from the Sooners after the Irish out-muscled them late last year and, eventually, ended up ruining the their BCS-bowl hopes. How do you see this one unfolding?

Brandon: I think everything falls on the shoulders of the quarterbacks. Rees is much more experienced than Bell and I have a feeling that's going to show itself on Saturday as the Irish make Bell uncomfortable in the pocket and force a couple of mental mistakes from the junior during his first road start. OU's defense will hold up and play well, giving the Sooners the chance to remain in the game no matter what happens offensively. But turnovers will be the difference and ND will win the turnover battle and win a close, hard-fought game at home.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Brian Kelly might have inadvertently left Greg Bryant out of the running back rotation when he said Sunday that Notre Dame was rotating four men in the backfield. But the Irish coach said Tuesday that the highly-touted freshmen still factors into the running game moving forward.

"We just got to four. I'd like to get to five," Kelly said. "Greg certainly has a skill set that we just haven't gotten into the game yet. But again, we're trying to get him in on special teams. He's on kickoff right now. We're trying to get him involved in some of the other running teams. But we got to four, we're trying to get to five."

Notre Dame's run-game struggles have been no secret this season, as the Irish have not eclipsed the 100-yard mark as a team since the opener against Temple. Bryant received two of his three carries on the season late in that game, tallying 12 yards. He then rushed gronce in the first quarter against Purdue for two yards, and received no carries in the Irish's second and fourth games.

The four-star recruit from Delray Beach, Fla., was ESPN's No. 2 running back prospect last season, and he had initially committed to the school he will face this week, Oklahoma.

"It's about scripting five and trying to get five into the game more than anything else," Kelly said of the 5-foot-10, 204-pound Bryant. "We have him scripted into certain plays, it's just really the flow of the game and the circumstances in trying to get him in."

Fellow Florida freshman back Tarean Folston, ESPN's No. 6 player at the position last season, received three straight carries during one drive Saturday against Michigan State, tallying nine yards. He has nine carries on the season for 26 yards, to go with a nine-yard catch.

All five running backs are listed as co-starters on this week's depth chart. Cam McDaniel's 45 carries for 169 yards both lead the team, with much of his work coming in late-game situations with the Irish trying to run the clock out. McDaniel received Notre Dame's final 12 carries Saturday.

George Atkinson III, the front-runner for the No. 1 spot heading into the season, has 24 carries for 121 yards, trailing Amir Carlisle's 33 carries for 157 yards.

Notre Dame is averaging just 114.3 rushing yards per game, 99th in the nation. Its offensive line, however, has surrendered just three sacks on the season.

"There are so many factors to that," Kelly said of the difference in pass- and run-blocking. "They're blocking the five guys that they're supposed to block pretty good. There are times when obviously we need to be better at it. We have to block seven and eight, and we've got to get better at that. But they're doing a great job in pass protection. We need to do a much better job as a unit, as a whole, and that's not just the offensive line, that's everybody, coaches and tight ends included, in blocking the whole play."

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Oklahoma had a 356-yard passer and a 181-yard receiver in last year's game against Notre Dame. The Sooners put the ball in the end zone just once, though, and they lost by 17.

Call it keeping the points down or bending but not breaking. Whatever it is, it has worked well for the Irish in the past, and they are cognizant of that as they ready for a rematch Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.

"A lot of it has to do with our ability to not give up big plays — keeping the ball in front of us has been one of our mainstays defensively ," coach Brian Kelly said during his Tuesday news conference, adding: "You've got to be sound and fundamental and contain. You can't give up easy runs. I think that's really what it comes down to. When the quarterback's running the football, you've got to make sure you're minimizing their ability to get big plays."

New Sooners quarterback Blake Bell was used in short-yardage situations last year, as he accounted for the first rushing score against the Irish in 2012.

Will Cronin and Rashad Kinlaw, both of whom stand 5-foot-11, have mimicked the 6-6, 252-pound Bell on the scout team this week.

The challenge is different from facing drop-back passer Landry Jones last season, though the Irish have become familiar with mobile signal-callers in different parts of each of their first four games.

"I think from a chemistry standpoint they put you in a position where you have to cover a lot of different scenarios," Kelly said. "You're put in a very difficult position when you can be running the football and have options to throw as well. That constant bind that the running quarterback gives you is a stress on your defense, and we've had that for the last couple of weeks. Our staff and [defensive coordinator Bob] Diaco have done a great job of formulating a plan, and we're going to have to have another great one this weekend."

Notes: Matthias Farley and Austin Collinsworth were listed as co-starters at one safety spot, with Elijah Shumate holding down the other. The inside linebacker depth chart showed similar structure, with Jarrett Grace and Dan Fox as co-starters at one spot while Carlo Calabrese was the lone starter at the other spot. All five running backs were listed as co-starters. … Notre Dame Stadium is calling for a "green out" but the team will not wear green jerseys. Upward of 40,000 pom-poms will be given out.

Northern Illinois and Northwestern will play each other next season for the first time since 2005, the schools announced on Tuesday.

Northern Illinois will play at Northwestern on Sept. 6, 2014. The schools have met seven times with Northwestern winning six games and one tie.

Northwestern defeated the Huskies 38-37 in their last meeting in 2005. Northwestern running back Tyrell Sutton had 214 yards and four touchdowns in the game, and Northern Illinois running back Garrett Wolfe had 245 yards and three touchdowns.

"This is a truly exciting time for Chicago's Big Ten Team as we continue to upgrade our nonconference football schedule," Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips said in a statement. "Both Pat Fitzgerald and I have said repeatedly that Northwestern is committed to challenging itself in nonconference play, in addition to the always rigorous Big Ten slate. We're excited to add the two-time defending MAC champions and 2013 Orange Bowl participants, and an in-state program that I have the deepest respect and admiration for, to a list of future opponents that already includes teams such as California, Notre Dame and Stanford. There has never been a better time to be a Wildcats football fan."

Northern Illinois was also looks forward to the opportunity to play Northwestern.

"I am extremely excited to add Northwestern, a high-quality opponent, to our 2014 football non-conference schedule," Northern Illinois athletic director Sean Frazier said in a statement. "Declining attendance at college football games is a national trend and scheduling has been identified as a prime factor in the decline. I am continually evaluating our future football schedules, and the addition of this game is just the first announcement regarding concerted efforts to improve our football schedule, connect with our alumni base in the Chicago region, increase exposure for NIU and promote the NIU Huskies as a national brand."

Northern Illinois has played in five consecutive bowl games and has been to seven bowl games since 2004. The Huskies are 3-0 this season and received nine votes in the latest Associated Press poll and 21 votes in the USA Today poll.

Northwestern has also been to five consecutive bowl games and has made seven bowl appearances since 2003. The Wildcats are 4-0 this season and are ranked No. 17 in the AP poll and No. 16 in the USA Today poll.