The first full week of Big Ten play is upon us, as all 14 teams square off against Big Ten opponents Saturday.
Week 4 came with some surprises, as Wisconsin dominated Michigan State in East Lansing and Rutgers nearly pulled off a shocking upset of Iowa. Ohio State, Illinois and Maryland kick off their conference seasons Saturday after bye weeks.
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Here's a look at the list of Big Ten matchups:
7. Rutgers at Ohio State
Game details: Saturday at noon
This could be the ugliest game in the country this weekend. Ohio State comes off a bye week and kicks off its Big Ten season at home against Rutgers, which just lost its best player for the season. With Janarion Grant out, Rutgers doesn't have the one playmaker on special teams that can turn field position and make an explosive play. Chris Ash's return to the Horseshoe should be a rough trip.
6. Purdue at Maryland
Game details: Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Purdue and Maryland both managed to finish the nonconference season with winning records, but neither did so with even a hint of quality wins. Purdue used a second-half comeback to top Nevada last weekend, while Maryland took its bye week. The Terrapins are undefeated after two wins in the state of Florida and are looking to surpass last season's win total before October can even get started. D.J. Durkin has Maryland headed in the right direction.
5. Illinois at Nebraska
Game details: Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
It's been a brutal start to the season for Illinois, so fans got a much-needed Saturday off last weekend. Now, the Fighting Illini will travel to Lincoln to face a Nebraska team that has risen into the top 20 and is playing some of the best football in the conference. Tommy Armstrong Jr. is off to a hot start both running and throwing the ball, and Saturday will be a chance for him to further pad those stats.
4. Northwestern at Iowa
Game details: Saturday at noon
Finally, the battle of Big Ten schools that lost to FCS teams is here. Northwestern is desperate to get its season back on track, but the Wildcats hit the road for the first time in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes are similarly in need of a win after losing to North Dakota State and struggling against Rutgers. Both teams have been under whelming, but this looks like a chance for Iowa to right the ship.
Listen below: Big Ten football Podcast: Week 1 Recap and Week 2 Preview
3. Michigan State at Indiana
Game details: Saturday at 8 p.m.
Most of the country expects Mark Dantonio's team to bounce back from the loss to Wisconsin, and it probably will, but Indiana has a fighting chance at home. Richard Lagow threw five interceptions in the loss to Wake Forest, but Indiana still racked up over 600 yards. If the Hoosiers can keep the turnovers in check, they'll force Tyler O'Connor to beat them -- a recipe that worked for Wisconsin.
2. Minnesota at Penn State
Game details: Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
After all the struggles Penn State has had under James Franklin, and even after his team failed to show up in Ann Arbor last weekend, Penn State is still favored over Minnesota. The home field advantage clearly works in the Nittany Lions' favor, but Minnesota is an improving team with a veteran quarterback, while Penn State is heading in the opposite direction. There's a chance Mitch Leidner could lead the Golden Gophers to a win in Happy Valley.
1. Wisconsin at Michigan
Game details: Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
It's been four weeks, and now the country will finally get its first look at Michigan against a legitimate opponent. The Badgers come into Ann Arbor with the best resume in the country, already having beat LSU and Michigan State. Michigan, on the other hand, has only played one half of competitive football in four games -- all of which ended in blowouts. Michigan's offense is averaging 52 points per game and Wilton Speight will be forced to throw the ball against a strong Wisconsin front seven. For redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook, Michigan's defensive line will be the toughest challenge he's faced in his college career. At 4.3 sacks per game, Don Brown's aggressive defense is among the best in the country at getting to the passer. Hornibrook proved he could handle the Big Ten stage in East Lansing, but this week's test will be even tougher. The winner of this game will maintain its top-10 ranking and join Ohio State in the top tier of Big Ten teams.