Putting a bow on the Big Ten season

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The end result wasn't what most Big Ten fans had in mind, but 2008 still brought plenty of intrigue around the league. Before putting the season to bed, here are some moments that stick out in my mind.

Terrelle Pryor takes over — Pryor came to Ohio State with unparalleled hype as the nation's No. 1 recruit, but most expected him to sit out most of the season. Everything changed after the USC loss, and Jim Tressel's decision to start Pryor in Week 4 marked a significant shift for a program that usually sticks with its seniors. Pryor had some growing pains along the way, but he also showcased incredible talent and the potential to take Ohio State a long way in the years to come.

Joe Paterno keeps on winning — Despite a bum hip that needed to be surgically replaced in November, Paterno gutted his way through the season and proved once again that he knows exactly what he's doing. Despite spending the final nine games in the press box, including the Rose Bowl, Paterno helped Penn State to a co-Big Ten title and won Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. The 82-year-old signed a three-year contract after the season and will be back in 2009.

Holy Toledo — Michigan had never lost to a MAC team in 24 tries, but this season was anything but ordinary in Ann Arbor. The low point for Rich Rodriguez and the Wolverines undoubtedly arrived Oct. 11, when a subpar Toledo team came into the Big House and beat Michigan 13-10. Michigan went on to lose a school-record nine games, posted a losing season for the first time since 1967 and missed a bowl for the first time since 1974.

The collapse at the Coliseum — The most anticipated game of the season turned into a disaster for the Big Ten and Ohio State, which got steamrolled 35-3 by USC. Ohio State couldn't stop Mark Sanchez, committed uncharacteristic errors and didn't score a touchdown for the first time since 1996. The loss reinforced the perception that Ohio State struggles in big games, a reputation the Buckeyes helped restore in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Murray kicks Penn State out of title game — Penn State seemed destined for a date in the BCS Championship Game until it ran into an inspired Iowa team on Nov. 8 at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes rallied from a 9-point fourth-quarter deficit and won the game in the final seconds on a 31-yard field goal by Daniel Murray, an Iowa City native who had lost his starting job seven weeks earlier. Head coach Kirk Ferentz went back to Murray in the clutch, a decision that paid off.

Coordinators take off — The Big Ten had no head-coaching changes this year, but several of the league's top assistants left following the season. Illinois offensive coordinator and chief recruiter Mike Locksley left to become New Mexico's head coach. Minnesota lost both of its coordinators, as Mike Dunbar stepped down and Ted Roof left for the defensive coordinator spot at Auburn. Michigan defensive coordinator Scott Shafer resigned after only one season.

Another bowl flop — The league needed a boost in the postseason after dropping four consecutive BCS games and four Rose Bowls. Instead, the Big Ten's national perception took another blow as the conference went 1-6 in bowl games. Despite a dominant Outback Bowl win by Iowa and encouraging performances from Ohio State and Northwestern, the Big Ten lost two more BCS games and another Rose Bowl.

Rodriguez sounds off — His comments were largely misrepresented, but Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez didn't do himself any favors during a Nov. 17 news conference. Speaking about outlandish comments on fan message boards, Rodriguez said, "You almost want to tell them, 'Get a life.' There's a whole lot bigger problems. Look at the economy." Though the comments weren't directed at Michigan's fan base, they made headlines around the Big Ten and added to the woes for the first-year coach.

Northwestern's Smith stuns Minnesota — No play symbolized Northwestern's renaissance on defense more than Brendan Smith's 48-yard interception return for a touchdown with 12 seconds left to beat Minnesota 24-17 on Nov. 1. Defense was the story for Northwestern during a 9-4 season, as first-year coordinator Mike Hankwitz revolutionized one of the conference's worst units. Smith's return also signaled the beginning of the end for Minnesota, which dropped its final five games after a 7-1 start.

Dantonio gets rewarded with new deal — Mark Dantonio's stock is on the rise at Michigan State, and the university rewarded him before the Capital One Bowl with a restructured contract. Dantonio's salary raise puts him on par with other Big Ten coaches, and he will receive a million bonus if he's still coaching Michigan State on Jan. 15, 2016. The Spartans have made upgrades in facilities and recruiting, and if they can keep Dantonio, they'll consistently be in the mix for league titles.

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The top five Big Ten games of 2008

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

With the regular season in the books, it’s time to look back at the best Big Ten games from the 2008 season. What puts a game on this list? Great endings certainly help, and short- and long-term significance also increases a game’s appeal.

My only condition was that the game occurred between Big Ten teams. It was a fairly forgettable nonconference slate for the Big Ten, so I decided to confine the list to conference play.

Here’s my top five (OK, six). Please feel free to send me your nominations. Remember, conference games only.

1. Penn State at Iowa, Nov. 8, Kinnick Stadium

Not only did the game impact the national title race, but it featured a fairly dramatic shift and a thrilling finish. After falling behind early, Penn State controlled the clock and the game for most of the way, taking a 23-14 lead into the fourth quarter. But Iowa came alive late behind quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who overcame some early mistakes to attack the Big Ten’s top defense. Stanzi led the game-winning scoring drive, setting up a 31-yard field goal by Daniel Murray, an Iowa City native who hadn’t attempted a field goal since Sept. 20. Though the game took Penn State out of the national title mix, it might have turned around an Iowa program that had fallen off the last three years.

2. Penn State at Ohio State, Oct. 25, Ohio Stadium

Much like the Big Ten itself, the Penn State-Ohio State clash lacked the sexy offensive numbers and defense-optional feel that seemed to dominate college football this season. But this was a smart, well-played football game. Both defenses came to play and showed things that might not impress the average college fan but certainly made an impression on NFL scouts. In the end, it came down to the first major mistake, a fourth-quarter fumble by Ohio State freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who had played a solid game until that point. Despite losing starting quarterback Daryll Clark to a concussion, Penn State capitalized for the win.

3. Northwestern at Minnesota, Nov. 1, Metrodome

It’s pretty rare when you see a walk-off interception, but Northwestern safety Brendan Smith essentially pulled one off against the surging Golden Gophers. After several deflections, Smith intercepted an Adam Weber pass and raced to the end zone with 12 seconds left to give Northwestern a 24-17 victory. The game featured another defensive touchdown — on a Traye Simmons interception return — and a Big Ten record for quarterback rushing, as Northwestern backup Mike Kafka racked up 217 yards on the ground.

4. Ohio State at Wisconsin, Oct. 4, Camp Randall Stadium

When Terrelle Pryor’s college career is over, many will look back to this night as the start of something special. After Wisconsin took a 17-13 lead with 6:31 left, Pryor led a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive. He converted two third downs and a second-and-15, and also benefited from two fumble recoveries. Pryor scored the game-winning touchdown on a Badgers defensive breakdown with 1:08 left. Ohio State running back Chris “Beanie” Wells turned in a big performance (168 rush yards), and the Buckeyes snapped Wisconsin’s 16-game home win streak.

T-5 . Wisconsin at Michigan, Sept. 27, Michigan Stadium

After covering this game, I figured it would end up much higher on the end-of-year list, but both teams ended up going downhill. Still, the greatest comeback in Michigan Stadium history deserves a place here. Wisconsin totally dominated the first half, building a 19-0 lead on a hapless Michigan team that got booed by its own fans at halftime. But Michigan transformed after the break and Wisconsin lost its edge on defense. A Wolverines defensive touchdown proved to be the game-winner, though Wisconsin had a chance to tie at the end.

T-5 Minnesota at Wisconsin, Nov. 15, Camp Randall Stadium

The Badgers were on the wrong end of several heartbreaking losses this year, but they rallied to beat rival Minnesota in dramatic fashion. After Minnesota dominated the first half, Wisconsin responded behind running back P.J. Hill (117 rush yards, 2 TDs). The Badgers broke a 24-24 tie with back-to-back safeties and scored another touchdown before Minnesota struck back late. But a Niles Brinkley interception sealed an emotional win for Wisconsin and kept Paul Bunyan’s Axe in Madison.

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Wrapping up the Big Ten regular season

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

The Big Ten entered the fall with a reputation to repair after some damaging BCS bowl performances the last two seasons.

Despite several bright spots and surprises, the league continues to search for national respect.

	AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
	Shonn Greene rushed for at least 100 yards in all of Iowa’s games this season.

Penn State undoubtedly became the Big Ten’s guiding light this fall. After an offseason filled with disciplinary issues and questions about coach Joe Paterno’s ability to maintain control, the Nittany Lions quieted their critics by going 11-1 and earning their first Rose Bowl berth since 1994. They were a 1-point road loss away from a national title appearance but didn’t get their due nationally, most likely because of the Big Ten’s sagging reputation.

Paterno won Big Ten Coach of the Year honors, but Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio and Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald got the most out of their teams, both of which went 9-3. Iowa overcame its crunch-time blues to finish 8-4, and Ohio State still managed to win another Big Ten co-championship despite a shaky September.

Still, the Buckeyes’ 32-point loss against USC on Sept. 13 stained the Big Ten for much of the fall. Michigan didn’t help matters by having the worst season in team history in head coach Rich Rodriguez’s first go-round in Ann Arbor. Illinois went from Rose Bowl to no bowl, Wisconsin fell far short of expectations and Purdue coach Joe Tiller’s final season gave him his worst record (4-8) in West Lafayette.

Yet it wasn’t all bad. The Big Ten boasted the nation’s best crop of running backs, led by Iowa’s Shonn Greene and Michigan State’s Javon Ringer. Minnesota made a 6-win improvement and several Big Ten defenders emerged for national awards.

The league’s image still could use a boost, and a strong bowl season would go a long way toward restoring the Big Ten’s place among the elite.

Offensive MVP — Iowa running back Shonn Greene

Greene’s amazing comeback story can’t be told enough. A year ago, the Hawkeyes junior was working in a furniture warehouse, totally out of football after academic shortcomings. He returned to the field and eclipsed 100 rushing yards in all 12 games, finishing second nationally in rushing average (144.1 ypg) and setting Iowa’s single-season rushing record (1,729 yards).

Defensive MVP — Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin

Maybin wasn’t even supposed to be a starter, but injuries, suspensions and dismissals on Penn State’s defensive line thrust him into the spotlight. The sophomore didn’t flinch and recorded a league-leading 12 sacks (all solo) and 19 tackles for loss. The Big Ten’s next superstar pass-rusher improved as a run stopper and recorded sacks in nine of 12 games. Iowa defensive tackle Mitch King also deserves a mention here.

Newcomer of the Year — Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor

It’s rare when a heralded recruit actually lives up to his overwhelming hype, but Pryor performed as advertised after becoming Ohio State’s starter in Week 4. His smooth and seemingly effortless running ability complemented passing skills that improved during the season. Pryor became the starter after the USC debacle and led Ohio State to an 8-1 record and another BCS bowl appearance.

Coach of the Year — Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio

This is extremely close between Dantonio and Pat Fitzgerald, but Michigan State’s ability to finish third in the league with so-so talent affirms what many have felt about Dantonio’s coaching ability. The Spartans overcame their struggles in close games, snapped their losing streak to archrival Michigan and avoided the prolonged losing streaks that have doomed them in the past. Paterno deserves a mention here, but his assistants took on the lion’s share of the work. Minnesota’s Tim Brewster also did an excellent job.

Biggest surprise — Minnesota

After a 1-11 season marred by the worst defense in team history, the Gophers had to get better. But few foresaw a 7-1 start built on opportunistic defense (league-high 30 takeaways) and disciplined offense. Tim Brewster effectively blended a group of junior college transfers and elicited improvement from holdovers like Adam Weber, Willie VanDeSteeg and Marcus Sherels. Northwestern also deserves some recognition after recording its highest victories total since Fitzgerald was a senior linebacker in 1996.

Biggest disappointment — Illinois

Sustaining success has been a problem in Champaign before, but no one could have imagined Illinois going from the Rose Bowl to no bowl. The Illini were a preseason top 20 team with an improved quarterback (Juice Williams) and loads of talent at the skill positions. Illinois didn’t have many major injuries but could never find consistency, winning consecutive games only once and making inexcusable errors at the wrong time. A Wisconsin team with BCS bowl aspirations also falls under this category after a 7-5 season. Michigan also shouldn’t be absolved after sinking to new lows this fall. 

Game of the Year — Penn State at Iowa, Nov. 8

This one had drama, Big Ten weather, elation and heartbreak. Iowa was seen as Penn State’s toughest remaining hurdle to the national title game, and the Nittany Lions couldn’t hold onto a nine-point, fourth-quarter lead. After limiting damage for three quarters, Iowa rallied behind quarterback Ricky Stanzi in the fourth. It all led to the game-winning field goal by Daniel Murray, a walk-on from Iowa City who hadn’t attempted a kick since Sept. 20. Other notable games include Penn State-Ohio State, Northwestern-Minnesota and Wisconsin-Michigan.

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Big Ten internal affairs: Week 13

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Iowa – Kicker continues to be a question mark for the Hawkeyes with the re-emergence of junior Daniel Murray in recent weeks. Murray, who made the game-winning field goal against Penn State, connected on a 45-yard attempt last week against Purdue. Starter Trent Mossbrucker missed two extra-point attempts against the Boilers, and head coach Kirk Ferentz said the freshman needs a strong week of practice to reclaim a spot on the field Saturday at Minnesota. Mossbrucker had performed well entering the Penn State game, but Ferentz went with the more experienced Murray in the clutch. “He’s been kicking a long time,” Ferentz said of Mossbrucker. “He knows a lot more about it than I do or anybody here does. Yeah, just get back to what’s made you a successful player. He’ll be fine.”

Michigan — It will be interesting to see how head coach Rich Rodriguez uses his running backs Saturday at No. 10 Ohio State (ABC, noon ET). Junior Brandon Minor, the Wolverines’ most productive back during the second half of the season, expects to return from a multitude of injuries against the Buckeyes. But junior Carlos Brown comes off his best performance, a 115-yard effort against Northwestern, and freshman Michael Shaw also is in the mix. Brown and Shaw likely will get the first opportunities against the Buckeyes, but Minor will be a factor. Michigan has racked up 170 rushing yards or more in five of its last six games.

Penn State — Derrick Williams is playing his best football at the end of his career, and the Nittany Lions are doing all they can to get the ball to the talented senior. Two weeks ago, Williams took snaps at quarterback as Penn State used a Wildcat-like formation at Iowa. Last week against Indiana, he racked up 164 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, getting eight touches on offense to go with three returns. If quarterback Daryll Clark continues to struggle early against Michigan State (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET), don’t be surprised to see Williams with the ball in his hands. Also, defensive end Josh Gaines (ankle) practiced Monday and is expected to play against the Spartans.

Illinois – The days of removing Juice Williams from games to let him regroup appeared over after the Illini junior quarterback had a scorching start to the 2008 season. But after committing two turnovers last Saturday against Ohio State, the coaches replaced Williams with backup Eddie McGee. Williams has committed nine turnovers (8 interceptions, 1 fumble) in Illinois’ last four games. He leads the Big Ten in both touchdown passes (22) and interceptions (15) this season. Still, head coach Ron Zook maintains confidence in Williams heading into the regular-season finale at Northwestern. “A lot of times he gets a lot of the blame that isn’t necessarily his fault,” Zook said. “That’s part of it as well and it gets exaggerated when things aren’t going right, particularly with a football team that was expected to play a little bit better and be a little bit more productive than we have been.”

Indiana – After dealing with a multitude of injuries all season, the Hoosiers appear to be getting healthy right at the end. Tackle Rodger Saffold returned to action against Penn State, and the other starting offensive linemen are all fine for Saturday’s season finale at Purdue (ESPN2, noon ET). Head coach Bill Lynch isn’t sure if backup running back Bryan Payton (ankle) will play, though Payton did more in practice Monday than he has in previous weeks. Running back Marcus Thigpen and wideout Mitchell Evans should be fine, and Indiana actually will have the option of playing either Kellen Lewis or Ben Chappell at quarterback. The Hoosiers previously had been forced to rotate the two because both have been banged up.

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Iowa AD cautions against storming the field

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

The view from the Kinnick Stadium press box was pretty cool, as fans from all four corners of the stands stormed the field after Daniel Murray’s 31-yard field goal lifted Iowa to a 24-23 win against Penn State. But when you’re high above, it’s easy to forget how dangerous things can get in that type of situation.

There were injuries and arrests, and Iowa athletic director Gary Barta issued a statement this morning about the situation.

“As always, our fans and the magic of Kinnick Stadium played a significant role in the victory. Thanks to every Hawkeye who joined us in Iowa City for this historic win.

Unfortunately, the celebration that took place on the playing field after the game became uncontrollable and very dangerous.  Sadly, some of our fans were injured.  I also know there were several coaches and student-athletes from both teams as well as game officials who were deeply concerned for their safety.

As we look ahead to this week’s Senior Day game against Purdue and future games inside Kinnick, I ask that fans of the Hawkeyes temper their enthusiasm with a dose of common sense. I know the temptation of the moment can be great, but safety has to be our highest priority.

In addition to injuries, I’m aware there were several arrests made throughout the game including some on the field post game. It certainly is never our desire to have fans experience this level of consequence, but, again, creating a wonderful, family friendly, and safe college football experience is our goal.

Thank you for assisting us in this effort in the future.”

Penn State quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno and the other coaches headed down to the field from the press box after the final play.

“You’ve got to have some field security,” Paterno said. “I know walking back across the field, we had to walk across the field to get to the locker room. And there were [fans] saying things to you, and that kind of stuff.”

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Buckeyes Suddenly Back In Big Ten Race

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State’s darkened team bus was on its way back from the airport to campus on Saturday night when word spread that unbeaten Penn State was on the ropes at Iowa.

The Buckeyes, on the last leg of a trip back from a lopsided win at Northwestern, took notice.

The bus driver had a small radio that he handed to coach Jim Tressel. Everyone else used cell phones to get updates.

Penn State led 23-21 when Daniel Murray came on the field for a 31-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds.

“When the Iowa kicker kicked it through, you could see that piqued interest, because all of a sudden you’re ostensibly back with a shot (at the Big Ten title), if you do your work,” Tressel said Tuesday.

What was thought to be out of reach – a chance at a fourth consecutive conference title – was suddenly back on the table.

A team that had no real definitive goals after losses to Southern California and Penn State seemed to wipe away any hope of a national title or even a Big Ten crown, suddenly had one.

“Now everything is back in our hands,” cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. “If we want a share of the Big Ten championship or even win it outright, depending on what happens, it’s up to us. We’ve got to win these games.”

Michigan State (9-2, 6-1) has a bye this week. Penn State (9-1, 5-1) hosts Indiana before entertaining the Spartans in what will likely be showdown to determine at least a share of the Big Ten title. A rejuvenated and no longer rudderless 10th-ranked Ohio State (8-2, 5-1) plays at Illinois this week before hosting rival Michigan in the season finale.

Two wins and the Buckeyes are assured of at least a piece of the Big Ten title, and may be in store for something much bigger – the inside track to an at-large Bowl Championship Series berth.

Because of how many people they bring to games, and of how many TVs they turn on when they’re playing, the Buckeyes would seem to be a popular choice come bowl season.

Tressel acknowledges that, but he is also aware that such talk can be distracting.

“The only thought I have on that is you can’t be 10-2 until you’re 9-2, and being 9-2 is going to be a challenge,” he said of the game at Illinois (5-5, 3-3). If we would become 10-2, we will get as our works deserve.”

Tight end Rory Nicol said the Buckeyes are excited about the possibilities, but fully aware of how much can still be lost. He said the coaching staff talks constantly about how the biggest games are played at the end.

“Statistically over the years, the teams that end up being good in the Big Ten don’t lose in November. It’s so true,” he said. “Really, our goals now are to be undefeated in November and then let everything else take care of itself.”

Linebacker James Laurinaitis isn’t a fan of speculation about bowl trips, rankings and title games. He constantly repeats the mantra that the only game that matters is the next one. In this case, that’s Illinois.

The Buckeyes feel they owe the Illini, since they provided Ohio State’s only loss during the regular season a year ago.

“We always say, we’ll play for what we can control,” Laurinaitis said. “We just have to keep battling. Things are going to happen in college football, it’s crazy. Obviously, we know we can only control our own destiny with what we do, and that’s playing well on Saturday.”

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History suggests big things ahead for Iowa

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Kirk Ferentz earned his Bachelor’s degree in English Education, but the Iowa head coach could easily pass for a history major.

	David K Purdy/Getty Images
	Daniel Murray’s field goal on Saturday clinched Iowa’s upset of Penn State.

Ferentz frequently references the program’s past when he surveys the present and the future of Hawkeyes football. And for quite some time, Ferentz has talked about the 2001 season.

Back in the spring, as Iowa endured an embarrassing series of off-field incidents involving football players, Ferentz brought up 2001, “our worst conduct year,” he said. The Hawkeyes were solid citizens the next fall, and Ferentz hoped the same would hold true with his current squad.

The pattern from 2001 also has been reflected on the field. That year, Iowa lost five regular-season games by single digits, adding up to a total of 27 points. The 2008 Hawkeyes entered Saturday at 5-4, with all four losses coming by five points or fewer (12 points total).

“I talked to the team [Nov. 2] about our 2001 season, which was a little bit like how this one’s been,” Ferentz told ESPN.com on Monday night. “It took us till our 12th game, the Alamo Bowl against Texas Tech, where we finally won a close one. We drove the ball the length of the field, kicked a field goal and then Bob Sanders picked off a Hail Mary in the end zone to seal it.

“We were hopeful it wouldn’t take 12 games to get one of those.”

It didn’t. Iowa’s breakthrough came early Saturday evening against then-No. 3 Penn State, as Daniel Murray drilled a 31-yard field goal to lift his team to a 24-23 come-from-behind win.

The upset triggered a raucous on-field celebration, a congratulatory message from Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and the hope that perhaps Iowa had turned a corner. After all, the Hawkeyes followed the 2001 season with a dominant run from 2002-04, averaging 10.3 wins per year and reaching three January bowl games.

Could the Penn State win be the breakthrough Iowa needs?

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Ohio State’s Wells Earns Big Ten Honor

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A kicker’s field goal in Iowa City meant the world to a lot of folks in Columbus. Daniel Murray, who hadn’t converted a field goal since the season-opener, booted a 31-yarder with 1 second left to give Iowa a stunning 24-23 upset over No. 3 Penn State on Saturday. Besides knocking the Nittany Lions out of the national title picture, it also shook things up in the Big Ten race.

Ohio State (8-2, 5-1) now finds itself tied with the Nittany Lions (9-1, 5-1), a half-game back of Michigan State (9-2, 6-1). The Spartans have a bye week before playing at Penn State on Nov. 22. The Nittany Lions host Indiana this week. Ohio State plays at Illinois on Saturday and then welcomes Michigan the following week.

If they win their last two games, the Buckeyes will likely share the title, giving them at least a piece of the last four championships. No team has ever won three straight outright titles – a distinction Ohio State lost with a 13-6 home defeat to Penn State on Oct. 25.

Winning four straight titles isn’t all that rare, surprisingly. Ohio State won at least a share of six in a row 1972-77, Michigan took five consecutive titles 1988-92, and the Wolverines have won four in a row on four other occasions.

BCS REP: So who gets the Big Ten’s automatic Bowl Championship Series bowl berth in case of a tie for the title?

We have to assume that we’ll end up with co-champions because of that MSU-PSU showdown. Then it’s simple: The winner of the head-to-head meeting will be assured of a BCS berth. Ohio State, because of its win over Michigan State, would get it should the Spartans beat Penn State. And Penn State, with a win over MSU, would receive the guaranteed BCS spot because it beat OSU.

All of that does not mean that the Big Ten could not get a second, at-large BCS berth. Since BCS rules preclude a conference from having more than two teams in the 10-team pool, that means that only two teams from the Big 12 – from Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri – will get in. Same goes for the SEC, where Alabama, Florida or Georgia will end up disappointed.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Buckeyes’ final two games will both start at noon Eastern, this week at Illinois and the annual year-ending rivalry with Michigan at Ohio Stadium.

BIG TEN’S BEST: TB Chris “Beanie” Wells shared offensive player of the week honors in the Big Ten. Wells had 140 yards rushing and two TDs in an easy win at Northwestern.

He’s averaging 117.2 yards per game and needs just one more yard to top 3,000 for his career.

Wells won the award twice last season as a sophomore.

Wisconsin WR David Gilreath (168 yards rushing, 2 TDs) in a win over Indiana, also got a piece of the award.

Iowa S Tyler Sash, who had a late interception which ended Penn State’s final drive, was the defensive honoree. The special-teams award went to Michigan K K.C. Lopata, who kicked five FGs in the win at Minnesota.

TEAM AWARDS: Ohio State’s coaching staff also singled out stars for the 45-10 win at Northwestern.

LB James Laurinaitis, QB Terrelle Pryor and special-teams player DB Shaun Lane won weekly awards.

The scout team honorees were: OL Scott Sika, DL Scott Ingham and WR Kyle Ruhl on special teams. The top defensive player on the front seven was DL Nader Abdallah. TE Rory Nicol was the top offensive lineman. The hit of the week will be decided at Tuesday’s team meeting.

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Wells earns Big Ten offensive honor

COLUMBUS (AP) — What’s brewing today with the 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes …

BIG TEN’S BEST: TB Chris “Beanie” Wells shared offensive player of the week honors in the Big Ten. Wells had 140 yards rushing and two TDs in an easy win at Northwestern.

He’s averaging 117.2 yards per game and needs just one more yard to top 3,000 for his career.

Wells won the award twice last season as a sophomore.

Wisconsin WR David Gilreath (168 yards rushing, 2 TDs) in a win over Indiana, also got a piece of the award.

Iowa S Tyler Sash, who had a late interception which ended Penn State’s final drive, was the defensive honoree. The special-teams award went to Michigan K K.C. Lopata, who kicked five FGs in the win at Minnesota.

BUCKEYES BUZZ: A kicker’s field goal in Iowa City meant the world to a lot of folks in Columbus.

Daniel Murray, who hadn’t converted a field goal since the season-opener, booted a 31-yarder with 1 second left to give Iowa a stunning 24-23 upset over No. 3 Penn State on Saturday. Besides knocking the Nittany Lions out of the national-title picture, it also shook things up in the Big Ten race.

Ohio State (8-2, 5-1) now finds itself tied with the Nittany Lions (9-1, 5-1), a half-game back of Michigan State (9-2, 6-1). The Spartans have a bye week before playing at Penn State on Nov. 22. The Nittany Lions host Indiana this week. Ohio State plays at Illinois on Saturday and then welcomes Michigan the following week.

If they win their last two games, the Buckeyes will likely share the title, giving them at least a piece of the last four championships. No team has ever won three straight outright titles — a distinction Ohio State lost with a 13-6 home loss to Penn State on Oct. 25.

Winning four straight titles isn’t all that rare, surprisingly. Ohio State won at least a share of six in a row 1972-77, Michigan took five consecutive titles 1988-92, and the Wolverines have won four in a row on four other occasions.

BCS REP: So who gets the Big Ten’s automatic Bowl Championship Series bowl berth in case of a tie for the title?

We have to assume that we’ll end up with co-champions because of that MSU-PSU showdown. Then it’s simple: The winner of the head-to-head meeting will be assured of a BCS berth. Ohio State, because of its win over Michigan State, would get it should the Spartans beat Penn State. And Penn State, with a win over MSU, would receive the guaranteed BCS spot because it beat OSU.

All of that does not mean that the Big Ten could not get a second, at-large BCS berth. Since BCS rules preclude a conference from having more than two teams in the 10-team pool, that means that only two teams from the Big 12 — from Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri — will get in. Same goes for the SEC, where Alabama, Florida or Georgia will end up disappointed.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Buckeyes’ final two games will both start at noon Eastern, this week at Illinois and the annual year-ending rivalry with Michigan at Ohio Stadium.

TEAM AWARDS: Ohio State’s coaching staff also singled out stars for the 45-10 win at Northwestern.

LB James Laurinaitis, QB Terrelle Pryor and special-teams player DB Shaun Lane won weekly awards.

The scout team honorees were: OL Scott Sika, DL Scott Ingham and WR Kyle Ruhl on special teams. The top defensive player on the front seven was DL Nader Abdallah. TE Rory Nicol was the top offensive lineman. The hit of the week will be decided at Tuesday’s team meeting.

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Iowa gets national award after Penn State win

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

The Football Writers Association of America selected Iowa as its National Team of the Week following the Hawkeyes’ dramatic 24-23 upset of Penn State. Iowa is the second Big Ten team to win the award this season, joining Penn State, which won after it beat Ohio State on Oct. 25.

Texas Tech and Utah also were nominated for this week’s award.

Iowa’s win made waves throughout the state, prompting Gov. Chet Culver to issue a congratulatory statement on Sunday.

“I want to congratulate Kirk Ferentz and his outstanding coaching staff for their leadership in today’s win,” Culver said. “I want to also say how proud I am of the determination and athleticism that quarterback Ricky Stanzi, running back Shonn Greene, and the entire team showed today. And of course every fan will celebrate Daniel Murray and his sure foot, which helped carry the day against one of the nation’s top football teams. Finally, I applaud the more than 70,000 fans who were on hand to show their support, and turn a cold Iowa day into one of the hottest things to happen in college football this weekend.”

Ferentz also made a point to acknowledge how meaningful the win was “for our state after a tough year,” referring to the flooding that hit the eastern portion of the state this summer.

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