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Some unfortunate news out of Champaign as Illinois senior LB Trulon Henry was shot in the hand at an off-campus party early Sunday and will miss the remainder of the regular season.

According to the school, an Illini teammate called Henry to come to the party and help get other players to leave. He arrived there and was one of three people injured when shots were fired into a crowd. Henry underwent surgery Sunday and his status for a possible bowl game is unknown.

You hate to hear about this, especially for a player like Henry, who has turned his life around after serving nearly five years in prison for armed robbery. The older brother of former Illini star WR Arrelious Benn, Henry resumed his football career upon his release and transferred to Illinois after spending two years at a junior college near Chicago. I was very impressed talking with Henry and hearing his candor about his mistakes and his desire to be a better man.

Some will see this latest incident and Henry's past and conclude he relapsed, but the details show otherwise, and Henry had avoided any trouble since his release from prison.

He has two interceptions and 39 tackles this year for Illinois, which has dropped four straight games after a 6-1 start.

Here's hoping Henry has a speedy recovery.

The Illinois-Missouri series goes on hiatus after Saturday's clash in St. Louis. For the men wearing orange helmets, it seems like the break can't come soon enough.

Illinois has opened its season against the rival Tigers five times since 2002, including each of the past three years. All five games have produced the same result for the Fighting Illini: 0-1.

Many forecast another opening loss for Ron Zook's crew Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome. Translation: there's no better time for the Illini to step up and get some revenge.

If Illinois wants to make a statement that things are turning around, the Missouri game provides the perfect platform.

"They're all important, but this one has an awful lot of importance on it," Zook told ESPN.com. "Obviously, we haven’t had a lot of success against them."

The Missouri game has been a buzzkill for Illinois in each of the past two seasons. After a run to the Rose Bowl in 2007, preseason No. 20 Illinois entered the dome to face No. 6 Missouri in one of the more anticipated matchups of the 2008 opening weekend.

Game result: Missouri 52, Illinois 42

Illinois season result: 5-7

Optimism had been restored by the time Illinois made the trip to St. Louis last year. Quarterback Juice Williams and receiver Arrelious Benn had returned, linebacker Martez Wilson seemed on the brink of a huge season and the team had gone through a very successful preseason camp. Plus, Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin were no longer on Missouri's roster.

Game result: Missouri 37, Illinois 9

Illinois season result: 3-9

"We were healthy, we were fresh, no one was beat up, we put a big emphasis on it," Zook recalled. "And we get over there and the second play of the game, it was like somebody threw a blanket over us."

Benn and running back Jason Ford both went down with injuries. Wilson suffered a neck injury in the first quarter but remained in the game, only to learn days later that he needed season-ending surgery.

The team never fully recovered, plummeting to a 1-6 start.

As Zook prepares his team for another tough opener against Mizzou, he doesn't stiff-arm what has taken place the past few years.

“Traditionally, Missouri’s probably played if not their best, one of their best games of the year against us," Zook said. "That's the one thing we've tried to stress to our guys. You look at Missouri in the first game of the year, you look at them in the end, and they're not the same team.

"We've got to match the way they're playing."

Illinois isn't as healthy as it was a year ago, as two projected starters in the secondary, safety Supo Sanni and cornerback Terry Hawthorne, will miss the game. Missouri will play without running back Derrick Washington, but the Tigers still have quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who torched the Illini for 319 pass yards and three touchdowns last year.

Redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase makes his first career start for the Illini, who debut a new offense under coordinator Paul Petrino.

"I'm like everyone else, I want to see him play, too," Zook said. "I'm not going to say he’s going to be perfect, but he’ll learn from his mistakes and he'll do a great job."

After last year's loss, Zook and his players lamented that something happened on the bus ride from Champaign to St. Louis. No one could pinpoint the problem, but it zapped Illinois' mojo from a strong camp.

Saturday is a chance to get the momentum back.

"We all have something to prove," defensive end Clay Nurse said. "You can dwell on what your season was like last year, but I'm not one to dwell on that.

"I'm just ready to go out here and show people we can produce and be successful."

Let it be known that I'll have no objections if the Big Ten ends its expansion study tomorrow.

The Big Ten already improved itself with the addition of Nebraska, and a 12-team structure provides the chance to have a championship game while maintaining the intimacy of a league built on long-standing rivalries. If commissioner Jim Delany and the Big Ten presidents and chancellors decide 12 is enough, so be it. I'll go back to blogging about actual football, and we'll all survive.

But the Big Ten says it will continue to examine expansion for the next year or so, and Delany could "act and act again," he said earlier this month.

So here's some advice to the league: If Phase 2 of expansion becomes a reality, make recruiting a top priority.

Nebraska adds a lot to the Big Ten: great football tradition, great fans, a program that matters nationally. But what Nebraska doesn't bring is a new area rife with recruits. According to an in-depth study by SI.com, the state of Nebraska produced only 43 BCS-conference players between 2004-08.

The Big Ten's recent recruiting challenges have been well documented, and Delany has listed the shifting population to the south as a driving force for the expansion push. The Big Ten wants alums, but more importantly, it wants access to recruits.

Texas obviously would have been a great addition for recruiting. Every Big Ten team spends some time in the Lone Star State looking for prospects. But the Longhorns aren't leaving the Big 12.

So where should the Big Ten look to improve its recruiting? Here are two possibilities:

Rutgers: Besides its location near the nation's top media market -- a potential huge boost for the Big Ten Network -- Rutgers would help the Big Ten get a better foothold in New Jersey, a very good state for high school prospects. Plenty of Big Ten programs already recruit in New Jersey, including Penn State and Wisconsin (primarily during Barry Alvarez's tenure). Having a permanent presence in the Garden State would boost Big Ten recruiting efforts there.

Maryland: The Washington D.C. and Baltimore markets appeal to the Big Ten Network, but the real benefit here could come in recruiting. Penn State has plucked top prospects from Maryland for many years, and Illinois built its recruiting success in 2006 and 2007 on a pipeline to Washington D.C. that landed players like Arrelious Benn and Vontae Davis. By adding the University of Maryland, the Big Ten would have a greater chance to reel in recruits from the state and the Beltway.

Again, the Big Ten doesn't need to add any more teams. But if there's a move to be made, it must be strategic and keep recruiting very much in mind.

The 2010 NFL draft is in the books, so let's take a look at the 34 Big Ten players who heard their names called in New York. When the full list of undrafted free agents comes out, I'll post it later in the week.

ROUND 1

• Michigan DE Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 13 overall
• Iowa LT Bryan Bulaga, Green Bay Packers, No. 23 overall
• Penn State DT Jared Odrick, Miami Dolphins, No. 28 overall

ROUND 2

• Indiana LT Rodger Saffold, St. Louis Rams, No. 33 overall (first pick of Round 2)
• Illinois WR Arrelious Benn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, No. 39 overall
• Penn State LB Sean Lee, Dallas Cowboys, No. 55 overall
• Purdue DT Mike Neal, Green Bay Packers, No. 56 overall
• Iowa LB Pat Angerer, Indianapolis Colts, No. 63 overall

ROUND 3

• Iowa CB Amari Spievey, Detroit Lions, No. 66 overall
• Illinois G Jon Asamoah, Kansas City Chiefs, No. 68 overall
• Minnesota WR Eric Decker, Denver Broncos, No. 87 overall
• Penn State LB Navorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers, No. 91 overall
• Iowa TE Tony Moeaki, Kansas City Chiefs, No. 93 overall

ROUND 4

• Northwestern DE Corey Wootton, Chicago Bears, No. 109 overall
• Ohio State DE/LB Thaddeus Gibson, Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 116 overall
• Wisconsin TE Garrett Graham, Houston Texans, No. 118 overall
• Iowa LB A.J. Edds, Miami Dolphins, No. 119 overall
• Northwestern QB Mike Kafka, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 122 overall
• Wisconsin DE/LB O'Brien Schofield, Arizona Cardinals, No. 130 overall

ROUND 5

• Illinois TE Mike Hoomanawanui, St. Louis Rams, No. 132 (first pick of fifth round)
• Northwestern CB Sherrick McManis, Houston Texans, No. 144 overall
• Michigan P Zoltan Mesko, New England Patriots, No. 150 overall
• Penn State TE Andrew Quarless, Green Bay Packers, No. 154 overall
• Minnesota LB Nate Triplett, Minnesota Vikings, No. 167 overall

ROUND 6

• No Big Ten players selected

ROUND 7

• Penn State TE Mickey Shuler, Minnesota Vikings, No. 214 overall
• Michigan State CB Jeremy Ware, Oakland Raiders, No. 215 overall
• Iowa RT Kyle Calloway, Buffalo Bills, No. 216 overall
• Indiana DE Jammie Kirlew, Denver Broncos, No. 232 overall
• Ohio State DT Doug Worthington, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 242 overall
• Ohio State S/CB Kurt Coleman, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 244 overall
• Indiana CB/KR Ray Fisher, Indianapolis Colts, No. 246 overall
• Michigan LB/S Stevie Brown, Oakland Raiders, No. 251 overall
• Ohio State LB Austin Spitler, Miami Dolphins, No. 252 overall
• Penn State LB Josh Hull, St. Louis Rams, No. 254 overall

Here are the selections according to Big Ten team:

Illinois: 3
Indiana: 3
Iowa: 6
Michigan: 3
Michigan State: 1
Minnesota: 2
Northwestern: 3
Ohio State: 4
Penn State: 6
Purdue: 1
Wisconsin: 2

Quick thoughts:

• Three of the biggest draft steals from the Big Ten were pass-catchers in 2009: Illinois wideout Arrelious Benn, Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker and Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki. Benn had first-round skills but a fourth-round college résumé. Decker most often was compared to former Broncos wideout Ed McCaffrey, and if healthy, he could do big things in Denver. If Moeaki stays healthy, the Chiefs might have found the next Tony Gonzalez. Kirk Ferentz puts Moeaki right up there with Dallas Clark in Iowa's top tight ends.
• Love the Colts' pick of Angerer, who could be a very good pro in a great situation in Indy. With Angerer and Indiana's Fisher going to Indianapolis, the Colts now have drafted 26 Big Ten players under Bill Polian.
• Northwestern's Kafka also goes to a very good situation in Philly, as the Eagles love to pass the ball and will run some shotgun.
• Penn State's Lee, Purdue's Neal, Wisconsin's Schofield and Northwestern's McManis could all be steals for their teams. Health has been an issue for Lee, Schofield and McManis, so they need to find ways to get on the field and stay there.
• It was interesting how one Big Ten left tackle, Indiana's Saffold, rose up the draft boards late in the process, while another, Iowa's Bulaga, dropped.
• Ohio State had four players drafted, but this has to be the Buckeyes' weakest draft class in recent memory. I thought Gibson would go in the second or third round, but Worthington, Coleman and Spitler barely made the cut. Did Jim Tressel deserve Big Ten Coach of the Year over Ferentz? The case looks stronger now.
• Draft snubs included Michigan State wide receiver Blair White, Michigan cornerback Donovan Warren, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark and Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott. Warren was the only Big Ten junior not to get drafted, though it was tough to fault his decision at the time. All four players have reportedly signed free-agent deals.

Illinois Fighting Illini

The class

Recruits: 20 (19 high school seniors, one junior college player, three players enrolled early)

Top prospects: Chandler Whitmer gives the Illini another option at quarterback as the team tries to replace four-year starter Juice Williams. Wide receiver Darius Millines, a last-minute addition, bolsters the receiving corps, while safety Earnest Thomas will get a chance to play right away in the secondary.

Sleepers: Linebacker Mark Wilson should help a group that regains the services of Martez Wilson this fall. Arguably the team's most intriguing prospect is junior college safety Trulon Henry, the younger brother of former Illinois star Arrelious Benn. Henry served nearly five years in prison for armed robbery but has turned his life around and should help in the secondary.

Needs met: Time will tell if Illinois addressed its need in the secondary, as players like Henry and Thomas need to contribute right away. Losing safety Corey Cooper to Nebraska hurt, but embattled head coach Ron Zook and his new-look staff closed recruiting well with players like Millines and Brandon Denmark. The wide receiver position should once again be strong this season.

Analysis: The class isn't drawing high marks, which puts pressure on the coaching staff to develop players for a make-or-break 2010 season. Illinois held onto Whitmer, which could be key, and finished strong after the class looked bleak in early December. If the defensive recruits can come in and contribute this fall, Illinois might be able to stabilize itself on that side of the ball.

Scouts Inc. grade: C-minus

What Ron Zook said:

• "The strengths are the linemen and obviously the receivers. If you go back and you look at who we lost, we filled in the positions. ... Hopefully, we're getting to a point where we don't have to continually count on freshmen playing. Although I think there will be some guys [in this class] who have a pretty good opportunity to do that."
• "Darius [Millines] is an unbelievable athlete, he can run like a deer. He probably surprised a lot of people down there because he committed early to West Virginia. Doc Holliday really had a great relationship with him, and he's at Marshall now. I think he has a chance to be a special guy. Jarred Fayson said, 'Coach, he's one of us.' That makes me feel good."
• "There's been a lot of negative recruiting going on, but that's part of it. People don't have to say anything. They just take the articles that are written and show them. You're defending your manhood, you're defending everything about you every time you go out there."

Before the season, I ranked Illinois receiver Arrelious Benn as the Big Ten's best player, using the criteria of past accomplishments and future potential.

And while Benn didn't have the type of season that he hoped for and that most of us expected, his past achievements and, most important, his NFL potential led to his decision to enter the NFL draft. Benn will announce he's turning pro later today, sources tell ESPN's Joe Schad.

This was the decision we expected all along. The only question seemed whether Benn's subpar season, the prospect of playing in a more receiver-friendly offense in 2010 and the chance to play with his older brother would keep him in Champaign.

I can't fault Benn at all for making this move, especially with all the uncertainty surrounding the Illinois program right now. The NFL scouts I've spoken to love the guy, and despite this season, Benn still projects extremely well to the next level.

His departure shouldn't surprise Illinois one bit, though the wide receiver/tight end position looks rather thin heading into 2010, when new offensive coordinator Paul Petrino implements his system. Illinois likely will consider moving Terry Hawthorne back to receiver after a solid freshman year at cornerback. Jarred Fayson will have to take on a much bigger role next fall after battling injuries this season.

Best of luck to Rejus, a player I always enjoyed watching and getting to know these last few years.

Ron Zook didn't waste much time in finding one of Illinois' new coordinators.

Illinois is expected to name Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino to the same position early this week, sources tell ESPN Scouts Inc.'s JC Shurburtt and The (Champaign) News-Gazette. Petrino, the brother of Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino, will replace Mike Schultz, one of four Illinois assistants fired Friday following a 3-9 season.

Zook also might find a defensive coordinator after demoting Dan Disch and Curt Mallory. Former Kansas defensive coordinator Bill Miller, who served under Zook at Florida, is a possibility.

An Illinois official couldn't confirm Petrino's hiring Sunday night.

Petrino, who was in the mix for Western Kentucky's head-coaching vacancy, guided a Razorbacks offense that leads the SEC and ranks eighth nationally in scoring (37.3 ppg). Arkansas ranks 10th nationally in passing and 14th in total offense, and quarterback Ryan Mallett, a transfer from Michigan, has developed into a superstar under the Petrino brothers.

This is an interesting move for Petrino, who has a much more stable situation at Arkansas but likely will be making much more at Illinois. He would join a coaching staff in Champaign that likely needs to reach a bowl in 2010 to keep their jobs.

Petrino's power spread offense is much more pass oriented than the system both Schultz and Mike Lockley ran at Illinois. The Illini lose several receivers but could get Arrelious Benn back next year.

I feel sick for Juice Williams. And Arrelious Benn. And Ron Zook.

If there's a more heartbreaking way to lose a football game, please feel free to let me know. Illinois seemingly had a shootout victory in hand, up 52-45 in the closing seconds. But Fresno State reached the end zone on an incredible stretch by wide receiver Jamel Hamler on a 19-yard reception.

Hamler's touchdown set up The Craziest Play of the 2009 Season.

Fresno State head coach Pat Hill went for the 2-point conversion and the win, which didn't surprise me one bit. Illinois got the penetration it wanted and had quarterback Ryan Colburn in its grasp, forcing a desperation throw to Hamler. Illinois couldn't knock down the pass, and it caromed to Devan Cunningham, a 6-6, 350-pound offensive tackle, who rumbled into the end zone to put Fresno State up 53-52.

A replay review upheld the call, though it looked like the ball hit Hamler first, which would have prevented a teammate from advancing it. What a tough blow for Illinois.

The Illini offense really showed up today, especially sophomore running back Mikel Leshoure, who rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns on only 11 carries. Williams passed for 211 yards and three scores, though he also had two interceptions. Still, Juice deserved to win this game.

Illinois' defense didn't show up when it mattered, and it likely will lead to changes on the staff. Williams is gone, and Benn could join him.

You can't fault the effort from the Illini today. But the results are still ugly: 3-9.

The Big Ten faces the WAC this week, as I get two more chances to pad my record before the inevitable disaster known as my bowl picks. Both of the contests this week were tough to call.

Fresno State 33, Illinois 30: Ryan Mathews will be the difference against Illinois, which hasn't seen many running backs of Mathews' caliber this season (the Illini didn't face Wisconsin's John Clay). Juice Williams tosses three touchdown passes, one to Arrelious Benn, in his final career game, but Fresno State eventually takes control behind Matthews and hands Illinois its ninth loss of the season.

Wisconsin 38, Hawaii 27: Too much John Clay in this one. The Badgers' star steamrolls Hawaii's defense behind his huge offense line and scores three touchdowns. Hawaii's passing attack keeps it close for a while, as Greg Salas causes problems for the Badgers' secondary, but Wisconsin end O'Brien Schofield makes some big plays in the second half. Clay wears down the Warriors in the fourth quarter and Wisconsin improves to 9-3.

Week 13 record: 1-0

Season record: 62-24 (.721)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

On the surface, it seems like little has changed for the Big Ten at halftime of the 2009 season.

Once again, the league is struggling for national respect after a poor nonconference performance in which members went 5-8 against BCS conference teams and Notre Dame. The Big Ten struggled in its premier intersectional matchups, falling to USC, Cal, Missouri and Oregon and dropping two of three against Notre Dame.

	Scott Boehm/Getty Images
	Greg Jones has five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss to go with 85 tackles, which is tops in the Big Ten.

Once again, the league has been defined by superb defense and subpar quarterback play, dominant pass-rushers and questionable offenses. And once again, the Big Ten will need to wait to prove itself in postseason play.

This is a carbon copy of 2008, right? Not exactly. Several interesting new developments have taken place through the first seven weeks.

The league's balance of power has shifted, as Iowa sits alone atop the standings. The Hawkeyes have overcome adversity to put together their best start (7-0) since 1985. Ohio State's conference hegemony is very much in doubt after last week's loss to Purdue, as Terrelle Pryor and the offense continue to sputter.

Michigan has clearly turned a page on the worst season in team history, and Rich Rodriguez's offense leads the league in scoring (37.3 ppg). The Wolverines are still searching for more signature wins but appear destined for a decent bowl. Wisconsin also has been a pleasant surprise, winning its first five games before falling on hard times, and Indiana already has eclipsed its wins total from 2008.

Michigan State is proving that its days of total meltdowns are over, rallying from a 1-3 start to win three straight.

Illinois, meanwhile, is proving that top-level recruiting classes don't translate to victories or even competitive play, as the Illini sit at 1-5.

And let's not forget the league's crackdown on player conduct, as three one-game suspensions were handed out in as many weeks.

As the second half beckons, there are several key questions: Will Iowa run the table? Will Michigan win some more big games? Will Big Ten quarterbacks pick up their play? How good is Penn State? Can Ron Zook keep his job?

The biggest unknown is whether the Big Ten can reverse its postseason fortunes. If not, it will be more of the same for an embattled league.

Offensive MVP: Minnesota WR Eric Decker

It's scary to think where Minnesota's offense would be without Decker, who leads the league in receiving yards (104.4 ypg) and ranks fourth in receptions (47) despite slowing down a bit recently. There isn't a tougher wide receiver in America than Decker, who still struggles for national respect but has the admiration of every coach in this league. There honestly aren't many strong candidates here, but honorable mentions go to Wisconsin running back John Clay, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark, Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier and Purdue wideout Keith Smith.

Defensive MVP: Michigan State LB Greg Jones

A lot of good choices here, but the Big Ten's preseason Defensive Player of the Year gets the nod for backing up the hype. After leading Michigan State in tackles in each of his first two seasons, Jones leads the Big Ten with 85 stops, eight more than any other player. His tackles total also leads the nation and Jones has recorded five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. Honorable mentions go to Wisconsin defensive end O'Brien Schofield, Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman, Iowa safety Tyler Sash, Michigan cornerback Donovan Warren and Indiana defensive end Jammie Kirlew.

Biggest surprise: Iowa

The Hawkeyes brought back a good team from 2008, but they also lost the nation's best running back (Shonn Greene) and two of their top defenders (tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul). A brutal road schedule and a season-ending knee injury to running back Jewel Hampton before the season further tempered expectations. But it seems like the more adversity Iowa faces, the better it responds. The nation's most resilient team has come from behind six times in its seven victories and finds itself in the driver's seat for the Big Ten title.

Biggest disappointment: Illinois

For the second straight year, the talented Illini teased us, only to fall flat. But unlike last year's team, which showed flashes of its potential, Illinois has been a disaster pretty much from the opening kickoff against Missouri. Senior quarterback Juice Williams already has lost and then regained his starting job, wideout Arrelious Benn still doesn't have a touchdown catch and the defense has struggled without middle linebacker Martez Wilson. Zook is facing his fourth losing season in five years, a stretch that could end his tenure in Champaign.

Best game: Notre Dame at Michigan, Sept. 12

Two of college football's most tradition-rich programs produced a dandy at Michigan Stadium. The game featured several plot twists, tremendous offensive play on both sides, a questionable coaching decision from Charlie Weis and a gutsy game-winning drive led by Michigan freshman quarterback Tate Forcier. Other memorable contests include Michigan-Michigan State, Michigan-Iowa, USC-Ohio State, Purdue-Oregon, Michigan State-Notre Dame, Indiana-Michigan and Notre Dame-Purdue.

Best coach: Iowa's Kirk Ferentz

Ferentz built his reputation on maximizing talent, and after a three-year lull from 2005-07, he's doing it again. Iowa has picked up where it left off after a strong finish to last season and extended the nation's-second longest win streak to 11 games. Ferentz and his staff have filled in the gaps along the defensive line, put their faith in quarterback Ricky Stanzi and received decent play from young running backs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher. It hasn't been easy for Iowa, but Ferentz is finding ways to win.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

I went 6-1 last week but don't expect such favorable results this time around. A lot of tough games to pick on Saturday's slate.

Here's hoping for good games and exciting finishes.

Wisconsin 24, Iowa 23 -- The Hawkeyes have won two of their last three games in Madison, but I've gotten in too much trouble picking against the Badgers at home. Iowa has lived on the edge for much of the season, and a costly turnover or two gives the Badgers an opportunity at the end. Best matchup: Iowa left tackle Bryan Bulaga vs. Wisconsin defensive end O'Brien Schofield.

Michigan State 28, Northwestern 23 -- This is the type of game that Northwestern often wins, and the Wildcats should make things close with their precision passing attack. But Michigan State seems to have found its mojo, and quarterback Kirk Cousins tosses three touchdown passes in his return. Larry Caper adds a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown as the Spartans get back on the right side of the .500 mark.

Ohio State 30, Purdue 10 -- For some reason, Terrelle Pryor seems to play better away from Ohio Stadium. He only needs to play decently against a Purdue team that consistently beats itself. Defensive end Thad Gibson and linebacker Brian Rolle turn in big performances from the Buckeyes defense as Purdue drops its sixth straight contest.

Michigan 41, Delaware State 7 -- Whether it's Tate Forcier or Denard Robinson at the helm, Michigan's offense will have a big day against the overmatched Hornets. Michigan's Brandon Minor rushes for two touchdowns and Robinson adds two more. The Wolverines defense finally plays a complete game against a Delaware State team that averages just 14.3 points a game.

Penn State 28, Minnesota 16 -- Minnesota star wide receiver Eric Decker will be a load for Penn State's secondary, but the Nittany Lions defensive front produces a big performance in this one. The Gophers hang tight for a while before Daryll Clark and Chaz Powell break things open with a long touchdown connection in the third quarter. Lions' linebacker Navorro Bowman stifles Minnesota's run game.

Illinois 27, Indiana 26 -- I understand Illinois has been downright miserable, failing to score a first-half touchdown in four games against FBS opponents. But I can't get two images out of my head: the Illini shredding Indiana's secondary last year and Indiana failing to show up on defense last week. This one is a total toss up, but Juice Williams starts at quarterback and makes enough plays to lead the Illini to an ugly win. Wideout Arrelious Benn breaks his scoring drought with two touchdown grabs.

Week 6 record: 6-1

Season record: 37-14 (.725)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

I guess we shouldn't be totally surprised that Penn State and Illinois have combined for only 10 first-half points. The Lions have struggled up front all season, while Illinois came into the game with just one touchdown against an FBS team.

Defense has ruled the day so far as Penn State leads 7-3 at halftime. Both teams have actually moved the ball, combining for 392 total yards, but both have stalled in plus territory. While Evan Royster has been kept at bay, Stephfon Green sparked the Lions' offense with a 52-yard touchdown run. He received a great block from lineman Lou Eliades on the play, and the sophomore has 81 yards on just seven carries. Credit Illinois' defense for hanging tough in this one.

For Illinois, it seems pretty simple: Turn Juice Williams loose and stretch the field. When Illinois attacks downfield to wideout Arrelious Benn and others, the offense seems to move well. When Mike Schultz gets conservative and calls zone run after zone run, the offense seems to stall. Penn State's linebackers have done a decent job, but the secondary looks vulnerable to me. Illinois really missed an opportunity for more points at the end of the half.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Let's not attempt to sugarcoat this: it was an absolutely brutal week for the picks, as I went 2-4. Just typing that hurts my fingers. I took a few chances, nearly hit on one with Purdue and Notre Dame, but ended up with a losing record. At least Michigan State, Illinois and Purdue know how I feel.

Here's hoping for better results in Week 5.

Michigan 38, Michigan State 37 -- Both teams have issues on defense, and both are capable of putting up points. But Michigan has the more dynamic offense, and while freshman quarterback Tate Forcier could make some mistakes in his first road start, he'll make enough plays against a flawed Spartans secondary. Michigan State holds the lead most of the way before Forcier leads another game-winning drive.

Wisconsin 28, Minnesota 26 -- Another tough one to call, but I'm going to finally buy into Wisconsin. Minnesota's secondary has struggled the past two weeks, and Badgers quarterback Scott Tolzien takes advantage with another big game. Gophers star wideout Eric Decker drives Wisconsin nuts, but the Badgers' opportunistic defense forces two key second-half turnovers to retain Paul Bunyan's Axe.

Purdue 37, Northwestern 33 -- This has all the makings of a shootout as both defenses have struggled this fall. Purdue might own the lesser record, but the Boilermakers have looked more impressive than the Wildcats, who are still waiting for their veteran-laden defense to show up. Boilers running back Ralph Bolden has a big day against a vulnerable NU defensive line, and Wildcats quarterback Mike Kafka once again falls short in the clutch.

Iowa 30, Arkansas State 10 -- Expect a slow start for the Hawkeyes, who come off an emotional win against Penn State. But quarterback Ricky Stanzi delivers a steady and complete performance against the Red Wolves, finding Derrell Johnson-Koulianos for two touchdowns. Arkansas State gets an early Reggie Arnold touchdown before the Hawkeyes defense clamps down.

Penn State 26, Illinois 17 -- A desperate Illini team comes out strong and attacks Penn State's untested secondary with star wideout Arrelious Benn. But Penn State eventually gets to Juice Williams with pressure and forces mistakes that turn the game around in the third quarter. Lions running back Evan Royster gets on track after a rough game against Iowa and eclipses 100 rushing yards in Champaign.

Ohio State 27, Indiana 14 -- This won't be an easy game for the Buckeyes, who face a confident Indiana team playing on its home field. The Hoosiers jump out to an early lead before Ohio State's defense tightens up despite not having safety Kurt Coleman (suspension) on the field. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor and his running backs gash Indiana's defense in the second half as Ohio State eventually pulls away.

Season record -- 27-11 (.711)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The calendar hasn't even reached October yet, and two Big Ten teams are seeing things slip away after being hyped throughout the summer.

	Jeff Hanisch/US PRESSWIRE
	Mark Dantonio will try to turn it around against No. 22 Michigan on Saturday.

Michigan State and Illinois own a combined record of 2-5 with zero FBS wins between them. The Spartans were picked third in the league before the season, while Illinois had been pegged as a potential dark-horse candidate in the league because of its explosive offense led by quarterback Juice Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn. Needless to say, both squads have fallen well short of expectations.

Is it surprising to see these two teams in this position? Yes and no.

We expected some growing pains at quarterback for Michigan State, which didn't settle on a starter in camp, but not the struggles Williams has endured against Missouri and Ohio State. We expected Illinois' secondary to fall off a bit without star cornerback Vontae Davis, but Michigan State crowed all offseason about its depth at defensive back, only to get shredded by Dan LeFevour, Jimmy Clausen and Scott Tolzien.

Those trends are somewhat shocking, but then again, both programs historically don't handle high hopes well.

Illinois followed its surprising Rose Bowl run in 2007 with a 5-7 clunker last year. The Illini followed another BCS bowl appearance in 2001 with a 5-7 letdown the next fall. They haven't reached consecutive bowl games since 1991-92.

Michigan State's recent disappointments are even more infamous, perhaps because they've often taken place within a season. The Spartans started strong in 2003, 2005, 2006 and even 2007 before struggling down the stretch.

Both teams host ranked opponents Saturday, as No. 15 Penn State visits Champaign and No. 22 Michigan visits East Lansing. A week later, Michigan State and Illinois meet in Memorial Stadium.

Which team will ultimately fall apart? Will it be both? Or could both squads turn things around and make the postseason?

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Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

People will continue to take shots at Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have gotten better each week of the season, and not many top-15 teams can make that claim.

Playing in a driving rain, the Buckeyes' defense made another strong statement against Illinois, which boasted its full complement of offensive players but looked lost once again. The combination of Ohio State's suffocating defense and lousy weather led to Illinois being shut out 30-0 for the first time since Sept. 9, 2006, against Rutgers (33-0). It marked Ohio State's second consecutive shutout.

Maybe this is good enough for the Buckeyes to move up in the polls rather than down.

Juice Williams' odd career arc took another turn for the worse, as the senior tossed two interceptions and completed 13 passes for only 77 yards. Star wideout Arrelious Benn was a nonfactor.

On the other side, Terrelle Pryor wasn't asked to do much with his arm, as Ohio State had more than enough offense on the ground. Fans got their wish and saw more of Brandon Saine (13 carries, 81 rush yards), but Dan "Boom" Herron showed why he's still a big part of the offense with two touchdown runs. The much-maligned Buckeyes offensive line generated good push against a shorthanded Illinois defense.

If Ohio State's defensive line continues to play at this level, the Buckeyes will make another serious push for the Big Ten title. As for Illinois? The season is slipping away with Penn State and Michigan State visiting Champaign the next two weeks.