The supposedly high-performance offenses at Illinois and Minnesota spent most of the first seven weeks of the season stuck in the shop, sputtering and struggling to get going.

Two teams, both looking for a signature win, and neither can afford a loss.

Don’t like the way Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi is playing? Give it a little time.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio sees plenty of reasons to get ready for Western Michigan this week. His team has either three or four games left this season. And playing just three is unacceptable.

Purdue has had stretches of ineptitude this season, but nothing like the game’s worth of ugliness last Saturday.

JoePa vs. Jim Tressel. Daryll Clark vs. Terrelle Pryor. The best defense in the Big Ten against the league’s second-best unit.

Another Minnesota basketball recruit is in trouble: Freshman forward Royce White faces misdemeanor charges of theft and fifth-degree assault for allegedly shoplifting and shoving a security guard at the Mall of America.

Charles Woodson says “it’s hard to watch” Michigan play football.

Two numbers are scaring a lot of Ohio State fans. The two teams who have beaten the Buckeyes this season have a combined record of 9-8.

No. 25 Wisconsin cracked the Top 25 this week and have a remaining schedule that sets up nicely for a strong push to the finish - may.

Rich Rodriguez wants people to have patience with him and his program, even if he doesn’t.

Junior forward Trevor Mbakwe, one of Minnesota’s touted new recruits, will not be allowed to play for the 25th-ranked Gophers until his pending court case on a felony aggravated battery charge is cleared up.

Ohio State kicker Aaron Pettrey is out for the rest of the regular season with a torn MCL.

Cardale Jones is getting more and more play as an Ohio State caliber quarterback prospect. He leaves no doubt he would love to direct the Buckeyes’ offense.

Terrelle Pryor’s strengths and weaknesses, the No. 3 Ohio State senior prospect, and much more.