November 25, 2009

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Required Reading
Nov. 10, 2009

Northwestern Named Fiesta Bowl National Team of Week
Nov. 9, 2009

With their 17-10 win at No. 4 Iowa, the Northwestern Wildcats (6-4) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 7, as chosen by the board of the Football Writers Association of America.

Trailing 10-0, the Wildcats forced four second-quarter turnovers to ignite the rally. Corey Wootton sacked Iowa's Ricky Stanzi and forced a fumble that was recovered for a touchdown by Marshall Thomas to put Northwestern on the board. Stanzi was injured on the play and did not return to the game. On Iowa's next possession, a Quentin Davie interception led to the go-ahead score. Drake Dunsmore caught a four-yard touchdown pass to cap the drive and give the Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish. The win was Northwestern's third straight in Iowa City and ended Iowa's 13-game winning streak.

"We fully expected if we could put together 60 minutes of Wildcat football together in all three phases we'd have an opportunity to compete," Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald said after the game. "And, to our young men's credit, we did."

Big Ten Football Weekly Release
Nov. 9, 2009

The Nov. 9 football release has been finalized and is now available on the Big Ten website. Below are a few highlights of the release.

Full release in PDF format

Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin Still Battling for Big Ten Title With Two Weekends Left.

Winner of Hawkeyes-Buckeyes Game Earns At Least a Share of Title and BCS Automatic Berth.

Northwestern Becomes Big Ten's Fifth Bowl-Eligible Team; All 11 Teams Still Have Shot at Postseason.

All Five Big Ten Games Won by Road Team on Saturday for First Time Since 2006.

Big Ten Standouts Named Academic All-District and Finalists and Semifinalists for National Awards.

Big Ten Schedule Confirmed for Nov. 21
Nov. 9, 2009

The following schedule has been confirmed for games on Nov. 21.

Minnesota at Iowa, 11 a.m. CT, ESPN or ESPN2
Ohio State at Michigan, Noon ET, ABC
Wisconsin at Northwestern, 2:30 p.m. CT, Big Ten Network
Purdue at Indiana, 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
Penn State at Michigan State, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (regional - ESPN outer-market)

MSU's Swenson and NU's Demos Named Semifinalists for Groza Award
Nov. 9, 2009

Michigan State's Brett Swenson and Northwestern's Stefan Demos were named two of 20 semifinalists for the 2009 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. Three finalists for this honor will be announced on Dec. 8 and the winner will be announced live on the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10. Two Big Ten standouts have earned the Groza Award - Iowa's Nate Kaeding in 2002 and Ohio State's Mike Nugent in 2004.

Big Ten Football Players of Week for Nov. 7
Nov. 8, 2009

The Big Ten football players of the week for games on Nov. 7 were officially announced on the Big Ten Network, with the offensive, defensive and special teams weekly honorees debuted on Big Ten Tonight at 9 p.m. CT. Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott was named the offensive player of the week after leading the Boilermakers to their first win at Michigan since 1966. Ohio State swept defensive and special teams accolades following a win at Penn State, with defensive end Cameron Heyward nabbing defensive laurels and punt returner Ray Small earning special teams honors. Read more about this week's honorees by clicking on this link. 

Big Ten Leads All Conferences with Four Teams Among Top 20 in Latest BCS Poll
Nov. 8, 2009

For the second straight week, the Big Ten is tied for the lead among all conferences with four teams appearing in the fourth edition of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings, and is the only conference with four schools among the top 20. The Big East and Pac-10 also have four teams in the latest BCS top 25, but only two and three among the first 20, respectively. The Big Ten's four-team contingent is the same as last week but shuffled after Iowa lost its first game and Ohio State won at Penn State. The Hawkeyes dropped six spots to 10th overall, while the Buckeyes are just behind in 11th, an improvement of five over the last BCS poll. The Nittany Lions fell seven slots to 18th, while Wisconsin climbed one spot to 20th. 

Big Ten Polling Place
Nov. 8, 2009

After the 10th weekend of college football, the media, coaches and Harris polls were announced today with four Big Ten teams remaining among the top 25 in all three rankings. With Iowa suffering its first loss of the season and Ohio State winning at Penn State on Saturday, the Buckeyes are now the conference's highest-ranked team. OSU jumped at least four spots and cracked the top 10 in all three polls, rising to eighth in the USA Today coaches and Harris Interactive polls and moving to 10th in the Associated Press (AP) rankings. The Hawkeyes dropped to 12th in the Harris poll, 13th in the coaches rankings and 15th in the AP poll. The Nittany Lions also fell to 17th in both the coaches and Harris ratings while being ranked 19th by the media. Wisconsin improved to 7-2 on Saturday and moved up at least two spots in all three polls, settling at No. 20 in the Harris and coaches rankings and No. 21 in the AP voting. 

OSU's Heyward Named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of Week
Nov. 8, 2009

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced its Bowl Championship Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending November 7 and Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward earned national accolades on the defensive side of the ball. Heyward recorded a game-high 11 tackles, including three for losses, and two quarterback sacks as the Buckeyes defeated 11th-ranked Penn State, 24-7. Heyward led an Ohio State defensive unit that allowed just 201 yards of total offense. This is the sixth year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. Recipients are selected by a panel of national media members and administered by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Big Ten Football Wrapup - Week 10
Nov. 7, 2009

In the seventh weekend of Big Ten play, the road was a friendly place as all five intraconference games were won by the visiting team, including Northwestern handing Iowa its first loss of the season. The Wildcats edged the Hawkeyes, 17-10, to become bowl-eligible with their sixth win. In the afternoon game, the two defending conference co-champions met at Beaver Stadium with Ohio State knocking off Penn State, 24-7. The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes are now tied for first place in the conference standings at 5-1 and meet next weekend, with the winner earning at least a share of the Big Ten Championship. In other conference action, Illinois was victorious at Minnesota, Wisconsin won at Indiana and Purdue picked up a triumph at Michigan for the first time since 1966. Meanwhile, Michigan State wrapped up non-conference play with a victory over Western Michigan. Check out the recaps of each of the six Saturday games by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Football: Week 10 Preview
Nov. 6, 2009

With just three weekends of Big Ten play remaining, Iowa enters week 10 as the conference's only undefeated team, while defending Big Ten Co-Champions Ohio State and Penn State stand one game back in the standings and meet on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The Hawkeyes will look to remain atop the conference standings and maintain their unblemished record with a home matchup against Northwestern on Saturday. The Wildcats are one of three Big Ten schools looking to reach bowl-eligibility with a sixth win this weekend, a group that also includes Michigan and Minnesota, who are both at home this weekend facing Purdue and Illinois, respectively. In other Big Ten games, Indiana hosts Wisconsin while Michigan State wraps up non-conference play against Western Michigan. Check out the www.bigten.org previews for every 10th-week matchup by clicking on this link.

Nine Big Ten Student-Athletes Named Nominees for Wuerffel Trophy
Nov. 5, 2009

Nine Big Ten student-athletes were named nominees for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is presented annually to the Football Bowl Subdivision player that best combines exemplary community service with academic and athletic achievement. The Big Ten nominees for the Wuerffel Trophy are Indiana's Jammie Kirlew, Iowa's A.J. Edds, Michigan's Zoltan Mesko, Michigan State's Blair White, Minnesota's Eric Decker, Northwestern's Andrew Brewer, Ohio State's Kurt Coleman, Purdue's Kyle Adams and Wisconsin's Mickey Turner. The 2009 Wuerffel Trophy finalists will be announced on November 11 while the winner will be unveiled on December 8. In its fifth year of existence, Ohio State's Joel Penton is the Big Ten's lone winner of the Wuerffel Trophy after being honored in 2006.

Big Ten Produces 26 Academic All-District Selections
Nov. 5, 2009

Big Ten student-athletes continue to excel both on the field and in the classroom, as 26 conference standouts were named to the Academic All-District Teams presented by ESPN The Magazine, including 18 first-team selections. The conference's list of first-team honorees included Illinois' Jon Asamoah, Indiana's Brandon Bugg, Trea Burgess and Ben Chappell, Michigan's Zoltan Mesko, Michigan State's Blair White, Minnesota's Eric Decker and Jeff Tow-Arnett, Northwestern's Doug Bartels, Stefan Demos and Zeke Markshausen, Penn State's Jeremy Boone, Josh Hull, Andrew Pitz and Stefen Wisniewski, Purdue's Joe Holland and Ryan Kerrigan and Wisconsin's Brad Nortman. The Nittany Lions led all Big Ten schools with four first-team Academic All-District honorees, making them one of only six schools nationwide with four or more first-team selections. Second-team picks included the Hawkeyes' Julian Vandervelde, the Wolverines' Jon Conover, the Spartans' Adam Decker and Andrew Hawken and the Buckeyes' Bryant Browning, Todd Denlinger, Andrew Moses and Marcus Williams. To be eligible for the award, a player must be in at least his second year of athletic eligibility, be a first-team or key performer and carry a cumulative 3.30 grade point average. First-team selections will be added to the national ballot and are eligible for Academic All-America honors to be announced on November 24. Last season, the Big Ten led all conferences for the second straight year with eight student-athletes named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America football teams. The Big Ten also led the way with seven first-team selections last season, matching the second-highest total in conference history. Penn State's Hull and Pitz are looking to earn Academic All-America accolades for the second straight year.

Required Reading
Nov. 5, 2009

Four Big Ten Standouts Named Semifinalists for Bednarik Award
Nov. 4, 2009

Four Big Ten student-athletes were named semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, earned by the country's top defensive player. The Big Ten semifinalists were linebackers Pat Angerer of Iowa, Greg Jones of Michigan State and Navorro Bowman of Penn State, along with Wisconsin defensive end O'Brien Schofield. The Big Ten has claimed seven Bednarik Awards overall, including three of the last four laurels by Nittan Lions' linebackers - Dan Connor in 2007 and Paul Posluszny in 2005 and 2006. Current Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald became the first back-to-back winner of the Bednarik Award when he played for the Wildcats in 1995 and 1996. Other Big Ten standouts to claim the Bednarik Award including Michigan's Charles Woodson in 1997 and Penn State's LaVar Arrington in 1999.

Iowa's Ferentz and Penn State's Paterno Tabbed as Semifinalists for Munger Award
Nov. 4, 2009

Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Penn State's Joe Paterno were named semifinalists for the George Munger Award today, which is given to the nation's top college football coach. The Munger Award was created for the 1989 season and four Big Ten mentors have earned this coaching accolade, including Michigan's Bo Schembechler (1989) and Lloyd Carr (1997), Northwestern's Gary Barnett (1995) and Paterno (1994, 2005).

Big Ten In the NFL - Week Eight
Nov. 4, 2009

With 233 former Big Ten standouts on the opening day rosters of National Football League (NFL) teams, conference student-athletes have a major impact on the road to the Super Bowl. Every Wednesday, the Big Ten football blog will highlight the top conference performers in the previous week of NFL action. Below is the list of top performers from the previous week.

Jonathan Babineaux, DT, Atlanta (Iowa): Made two tackles and had a sack in the Falcons' 35-27 loss to New Orleans on Monday night.

Marion Barber, RB, Dallas (Minnesota): Rushed for 53 yards on 14 carries and scored a touchdown to help the Cowboys to a 38-17 win over Seattle.

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans (Purdue): Passed for 308 yards on 25 of 33 and two touchdowns in the Saints' 35-27 win over Atlanta on Monday night.
 
Bobby Carpenter, LB, Dallas (Ohio State): Finished with four tackles and a sack in the Cowboys' 38-17 win over Seattle.

Braylon Edwards, WR, New York Jets (Michigan): Finished with four receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown catch in the Jets' 30-25 loss to Miami.
 
Ray Edwards, DE, Minnesota (Purdue): Finished with three tackles and two sacks in the Vikings' 38-26 victory over Green Bay.

Ted Ginn, WR, Miami (Ohio State): Returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and totaled 299 return yards in the Dolphins' 30-25 win over the New York Jets.
 
Chad Greenway, LB, Minnesota (Iowa): Led the Vikings with a team-high 11 tackles as Minnesota defeated Green Bay 38-26.

David Harris, LB, New York Jets (Michigan): Had five tackles with a sack in the Jets' 30-25 loss to Miami.

Dustin Keller, TE, New York Jets (Purdue): Caught eight passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in the Jets' 30-25 loss to Miami.

Derrick Mason, WR, Baltimore (Michigan State): Had four catches for 40 yards and one touchdown catch in the Ravens' 30-7 win over Denver.
 
Shaun Phillips, DE, San Diego (Purdue): Made three tackles, had two sacks, and forced a fumble in the Chargers' 24-16 win over Oakland.

Tracy Porter, CB, New Orleans (Indiana): Recorded six tackles and intercepted a pass in the Saints' 35-27 victory over Atlanta on Monday night.

Jacques Reeves, CB, Houston (Purdue): Finished with three tackles and an interception in the Texans' 31-10 win over Buffalo.

Bob Sanders, S, Indianapolis (Iowa): Made two tackles and had an interception in the Colts' 18-14 win over the visiting San Francisco 49ers.

Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Oakland (Wisconsin): Recorded five tackles and a sack in the Raiders' 24-16 loss to San Diego.

Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans (Illinois): Rushed for 91 yards on 14 carries, had two receptions, and had a rushing and receiving touchdown in the Saints' 35-27 win over Atlanta on Monday night..

Big Ten Set to Challenge Big 12 and Conference USA in Dallas Football Classic
Nov. 4, 2009

Cotton Bowl Stadium, second only to the famed Rose Bowl Stadium in hosting more college bowl games than any other football arena in history, will once again be the home to a New Year's Day intercollegiate post-season football game - the Dallas Football Classic -- following next year's regular season.
 
"The promise of a new bowl game helps ensure that the Cotton Bowl remains a premier venue for college football," said Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert.  "The renovated stadium is a great site for games, as well as an affordable and accessible option for teams and fans.  We are excited to continue the bowl tradition at the Cotton Bowl and Fair Park."

The nation's newest bowl, the Dallas Football Classic will utilize a unique rotation system involving three major conferences.  The Big 12 Conference, the Big Ten Conference, and Conference USA have all added the Dallas Football Classic to their future bowl line-ups, with all three agreements running through the 2013 regular season. Following is the four-year schedule:

January 1, 2011 - Big 12 vs. Big Ten
January 1, 2012 - Conference USA vs. Big Ten
January 1, 2013 - Big 12 vs. Big Ten
January 1, 2014 - Conference USA vs. Big Ten

Should an "at-large" selection be required, Conference USA will provide a back-up team in years 2011 and 2013, and the Big 12 will provide a back-up team in years 2012 and 2014.

"Obviously we are honored that the Big 12, Big Ten, and Conference USA had the confidence to sign with us as we head into our inaugural season next year; they provide the key ingredients," said bowl President Tom Starr.  "In addition, we felt it was very important to land the New Year's Day berth, because that has always been the traditional date for college bowl games.  We have outstanding conferences, the best game date possible, and a beautifully refurbished stadium filled with heritage and tradition; I couldn't be more pleased."

The game will become official after receiving its licensing from the NCAA at the annual post-season bowl meetings next April.

Big Ten Commissioner James Delany:  "The Big Ten looks forward to taking part in the inaugural Dallas Football Classic on New Year's Day in 2011, the start of a four-year agreement to play in historic Cotton Bowl Stadium against a team from the Big 12 or Conference USA.  The Big Ten has played at least one post-season game in the state of Texas in every season since 1995.  With the number of Big Ten alumni in Texas, playing a post-season game in the City of Dallas is a natural fit and should provide an outstanding experience for our student-athletes, coaches, and fans."  

Iowa's Sash Named Semifinalist for Thorpe Award
Nov. 4, 2009

Iowa safety Tyler Sash was named one of 12 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back. The Hawkeye sophomore leads the Big Ten in interceptions for the second consecutive season, with six picks so far this year, including an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown against Indiana last Saturday. He also ranks second with 11 passes defended and is collecting 7.1 tackles per game, while adding two forced fumbles and 5.5 tackles for loss. The Thorpe Award will name three finalists on Nov. 23, and the winner will be announced Dec. 10 during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show. Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins claimed last year's Thorpe Award, the fifth Big Ten player to be honored. 

Required Reading
Nov. 3, 2009

Big Ten Network GameFinder Helps Fans Find Games
Nov. 3, 2009

The Big Ten Network will be televising four football games at noon ET on Saturday, featuring seven different conference teams including two each from Indiana and Michigan. In an effort to decrease last-second confusion, the Big Ten Network is directing fans to their GameFinder website at www.bigtennetwork.com/gamefinder to get specific channel numbers for games in their area. Below are the channels assignments for national providers. Many cable providers carry Extra Football Game Channels, especially in states featuring Big Ten schools.

DIRECTV:
PURDUE at MICHIGAN:  channel 610 or 610 (HD)
WISCONSIN at INDIANA:  channel 611 or 611-1 (HD)
ILLINOIS at MINNESOTA:  channel 615 or 615-1 (HD)
WESTERN MICHIGAN at MICHIGAN STATE:  channel 612 or 612-1 (HD)

DISH NETWORK:
PURDUE at MICHIGAN:  channel 439 or 9500 (HD)
WISCONSIN at INDIANA:  channel 5440 or 9501 (HD)
ILLINOIS at MINNESOTA:  channel 5442 or 9503 (HD)
WESTERN MICHIGAN at MICHIGAN STATE:  channel 5441 or 9502 (HD)

AT&T U-VERSE:
PURDUE at MICHIGAN:  channel 650 or 1650 (HD)
WISCONSIN at INDIANA:  channel 1691
ILLINOIS at MINNESOTA:  channel 1692
WESTERN MICHIGAN at MICHIGAN STATE:  channel 1693

VERIZON FIOS:
PURDUE at MICHIGAN:  channel 85 or 585 (HD)
WISCONSIN at INDIANA:  channel 330
ILLINOIS at MINNESOTA:  channel 331
WESTERN MICHIGAN at MICHIGAN STATE:  channel 332

OTHER CABLE PROVIDERS:
Enter your zip code and provider at www.bigtennetwork.com/gamefinder.

Iowa Makes Case for National Ranking
Nov. 2, 2009

The University of Iowa sent out some interesting numbers comparing the Hawkeyes, who are ranked fourth in the current BCS standings, to the schools currently rated fifth through eighth by the BCS. It is interesting to note that Iowa's schedule has been rated the seventh toughest in the nation overall. In addition, only one team in Big Ten history has beaten Penn State, Michigan State and Wisconsin on the road in the same season (Michigan in 1997). Below are more interesting comparisons between the teams ranked fourth through eighth in the current BCS standings.

Number of opponents defeated that currently have winning records:
1. Iowa: 6
T2. Cincinnati: 4
T2. TCU: 4
4. Oregon: 3
5. Boise State: 2
 
Total won-lost records (and winning %) of defeated opponents:
1. Iowa: 44-31 (.586)
2. Oregon: 29-28 (.508)
3. TCU: 34-33 (.507)
4. Cincinnati: 30-36 (.454)
5. Boise State: 27-37 (.421)
 
Total won-lost records of opponents defeated in their home stadiums (i.e. road wins)
1. Iowa: 23-12 (.657)
2. TCU: 19-14 (.575)
3. Cincinnati: 21-20 (.512)
4. Boise State: 14-18 (.437)
5. Oregon: 6-10 (.375)
 
Number of defeated opponents ranked in current BCS Top 25:
T1. Iowa: 3  (Penn State, Arizona, Wisconsin)
T1. Oregon: 3  (USC, Utah, California)
3. Boise State: 1  (Oregon)
4. Cincinnati: 1  (South Florida)
5. TCU: 0
 
Won-lost records of remaining teams left on schedule:
1. Iowa: 17-10 (.629)
2. Oregon: 19-12 (.612)
3. Cincinnnati: 19-13 (.593)
4. Boise State: 20-22 (.476)
5. TCU: 15-17 (.468)

Big Ten Football Weekly Release
Nov. 2, 2009

The Nov. 2 football release has been finalized and is now available on the Big Ten website. Below are a few highlights of the release.

Full release in PDF format

Iowa Remains in First Place with Defending Big Ten Co-Champs Ohio State and Penn State One Game Back.

Only Two Teams to Win Big Ten Titles Over Last Four Years Meet Saturday when PSU hosts OSU.

Hawkeyes Improve to 9-0 For First Time in School History and Remain One of Seven Unbeatens Nationally.

Wisconsin Becomes Big Ten's Fourth Bowl-Eligible Team Along With Iowa, Penn State and Ohio State.

Big Ten Breaks Four-Million Mark in Total Attendance for 17th Straight Season.

Sixth Annual National College Football Day Set for Nov. 7
Nov. 1, 2009

The holiday season is upon us, and it kicks off with National College Football Day on Saturday, Nov. 7... an event that honors the birth of college football while increasing awareness and raising money for The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the National Association of Collegiate Football Officials (NACFO), the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) and the College Sports Information Directors Association of America (CoSIDA) have teamed up with the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic and The V Foundation for Cancer Research as official partners of the Sixth Annual National College Football Day.

National College Football Day, observed on the first Saturday of November, was created by the AT&T Cotton Bowl six years ago as a way to pay tribute to a significant moment in our nation's history. On Nov. 6, 1869, Rutgers defeated Princeton, 6-4. More importantly, those college athletes left a lasting legacy that would evolve into the great spectacle of football. In 2006, the holiday took on added significance when the Classic teamed up with The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

The V Foundation, based in Cary, N.C., was founded in 1993 by ESPN and legendary coach and commentator Jim Valvano. The Foundation has raised more than $90 million to fund essential cancer research nationwide. The AFCA has asked each Football Bowl Subdivision head coach to donate a minimum of $140, one dollar for each year of college football. NACFO has requested that each game official donate a portion of their stipend on NCFD in support of The V Foundation. The FWAA has made a donation to The V Foundation and will work to solicit other donations from within its membership. CoSIDA and AEMA are the newest additions to NCFD's partners. Both organizations lent their support to NCFD for the first time this year and have pledged to help spread the word about this great cause.

For more information on National College Football Day and to learn more about The V Foundation for Cancer Research, please visit www.NationalCollegeFootballDay.com.

Big Ten Football Players of Week for Oct. 31
Nov. 1, 2009

The Big Ten football players of the week for games on Oct. 31 were officially announced on the Big Ten Network, with the offensive, defensive and special teams weekly honorees debuted on Big Ten Tonight at 9 p.m. CT. Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber and defensive tackle Garrett Brown earned offensive and co-defensive player of the week honors for their performances against Michigan State. Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland shared the defensive accolades for helping the Badgers post their first shutout in Big Ten play since 1999. Spartans' kick returner Keshawn Martin garnered special teams laurels. Read more about this week's honorees by clicking on this link.

Four Big Ten Teams Ranked in Latest BCS Poll
Nov. 1, 2009

For the second time in three weeks, four Big Ten teams were ranked in the latest edition of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings, led by undefeated Iowa holding steady at No. 4 overall. The Hawkeyes improved to 9-0 for the first time in school history and remained fourth, trailing only No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Texas and No. 3 Alabama. Iowa's No. 4 position marks the highest ranking in program history, breaking the previous record when the team rated fifth during the last three polls of the 2002 campaign (Nov. 25, Dec. 2, Dec. 8). Three more conference schools moved up in the latest BCS poll, with Penn State climbing one spot to No. 11, Ohio State jumping one position to No. 16 and Wisconsin reappearing in the poll at No. 21. The Badgers were rated 21st in the first BCS poll before dropping out in the second ranking.

Big Ten Polling Place
Nov. 1, 2009

After the ninth weekend of college football, the media, coaches and Harris polls were announced today with four Big Ten teams ranked among the top 25 in all three rankings. Off to the first 9-0 start in school history, Iowa remains the conference's highest-rated team, ranking sixth in the USA Today coaches poll, seventh in the Harris Interactive poll and eighth in the Associated Press (AP) poll. Penn State also cracked the top 10 in a pair of polls, holding steady at 10th in the coaches and Harris polls and moving up one spot to 11th in the media rankings. Ohio State jumped at least two spots in all three polls, moving up two slots to 13th in the Harris rankings and 15th in the AP poll while climbing three spots to 12th in the coaches ratings. Wisconsin also rated among the top 25 in all three polls for the first time all season, ranked 22nd by the coaches and 24th by the AP and Harris voters. The Badgers were ranked 25th in the USA Today coaches and Harris Interactive rankings on Oct. 4, before dropping out the following week.

Big Ten Schedule Confirmed for Nov. 14
Nov. 1, 2009

The following schedule has been confirmed for games on Nov. 14.

Michigan at Wisconsin, 11 a.m. CT, Big Ten Network
Northwestern at Illinois, 11 a.m. CT, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPN Classic
South Dakota State at Minnesota, 11 a.m. CT, Big Ten Network
Michigan State at Purdue, Noon ET, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPN Classic
Indiana at Penn State, Noon ET, Big Ten Network
Iowa at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (regional - ESPN outer-market)
 

Big Ten Football Wrapup - Week Nine
Oct. 31, 2009

In the sixth weekend of Big Ten play, Iowa once again rallied from a deficit, this time trailing Indiana, 24-14, before exploding for 28 fourth-quarter points in a 42-24 triumph. The Hawkeyes are now 9-0 for the first time in school history and 5-0 in conference to hold onto first place in the standings. The two teams that shared the Big Ten title last season were both victorious and stand at 4-1 in conference play, just one game back in the standings in second place. Penn State tallied 21 fourth-quarter points to break a 13-13 tie and pull away for a 34-13 win at Northwestern. Ohio State wrapped up non-conference play with a 45-0 triumph over New Mexico State, as the Buckeyes' recorded their third shutout in a season for the first time since 1996. Meanwhile, Wisconsin moved into the conference title race by blanking Purdue, 37-0, to improve to 3-2 in conference action, just two games back. In other conference contests, Illinois defeated Michigan, 38-13, and Minnesota edged Michigan State, 42-34. Check out the recaps of each of the six Saturday games by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Football: Week Nine Preview
Oct. 29, 2009

Entering the sixth weekend of Big Ten play, three of the Big Ten's top four teams will look to stay at the top of the standings with conference matchups on Saturday. Iowa, standing in first place with a 4-0 conference mark, will host Indiana while looking to improve to 9-0 overall for the first time in school history. Four-time defending conference champion Ohio State is just one-half game back in the standings at 4-1 and wraps up non-conference play at home against New Mexico State. Penn State, which shared last year's Big Ten title with the Buckeyes, is one game back in the standings at 3-1 and will face a road test at Northwestern. Michigan State stands in fourth place at 3-2 and plays at Minnesota on Saturday night. In other games, a pair of 2-2 conference squads will meet in Madison when Wisconsin hosts Purdue, while Illinois hosts Michigan. Check out the www.bigten.org previews for every ninth-week matchup by clicking on this link.

Required Reading
Oct. 29, 2009

Illinois' Asamoah and Minnesota's Decker Named to National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Class
Oct. 29, 2009

The National Football Foundation announced that Illinois' Jon Asamoah and Minnesota's Eric Decker have been named to the 2009 National Scholar-Athlete Class, making them two of 16 finalists for the Campbell Trophy, given to the nation's top scholar-athlete. Asamoah and Decker will each receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship and be honored at an awards dinner on December 8 in New York City. Candidates for the Campbell Trophy must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. Two Big Ten student-athletes have won the Campbell (formerly Draddy) trophy in the Ohio State duo of Craig Krenzel (2003) and Bobby Hoying (1995).

Iowa's Ferentz and Penn State's Paterno Named to Watch List for Bryant Coach of Year Award
Oct. 29, 2009

Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Penn State's Joe Paterno were named to the watch list for the Paul "Bear" Bryant College Football Coach of the Year Award. Ferentz has led the Hawkeyes to their first 8-0 start in school history, making them one of only seven undefeated teams in the country. Paterno has guided the Nittany Lions to a 7-1 start. He was the recipient of the inaugural Bryant Coach of the Year Award in 1986 and was a finalist in 1994 and 2005. Three Big Ten coaches have earned the Bryant Award, a group that includes Ohio State's Jim Tressel (2002), Michigan's Lloyd Carr (1997) and Northwestern's Gary Barnett (1995). The finalists for the 2009 Bryant Coach of the Year Award will be announced in December, with the winner unveiled on January 14.

Big Ten In the NFL - Week Seven
Oct. 28, 2009

With 233 former Big Ten standouts on the opening day rosters of National Football League (NFL) teams, conference student-athletes have a major impact on the road to the Super Bowl. Every Wednesday, the Big Ten football blog will highlight the top conference performers in the previous week of NFL action. Below is the list of top performers from the previous week.

Tom Brady, QB, New England (Michigan): Threw for three touchdowns and 308 yards on 23 of 32 passing in the Patriots' 35-7 win over the Tampa Bay in a game played in London, England.

Alan Branch, DT, Arizona (Michigan): Recorded two sacks to help the Cardinals to a 24-17 win over the New York Giants on Sunday night.

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans (Purdue): Completed 22 of 38 passes for 298 yards one passing touchdown and two rushing scores in a 46-34 win against Miami.

Dallas Clark, TE, Indianapolis (Iowa): Had three receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown in the Colts' 42-6 win over St. Louis.

Owen Daniels, TE, Houston (Wisconsin): Caught 7 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in the Texans'' 24-21 win over San Francisco.

Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo (Wisconsin): Had five receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown catch in the Bills' 20-9 win over Carolina.

Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets (Iowa): Finished with 19 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-0 win over Oakland.

Leon Hall, CB, Cincinnati (Michigan): Made seven tackles and intercepted two passes in the Bengals' 45-10 victory over Chicago.

Kelvin Hayden, CB, Indianapolis (Illinois): Had four tackles and an interception in the Colts' 42-6 win over St. Louis.

Dhani Jones, LB, Cincinnati (Michigan): Recorded seven tackles and had a fumble recovery in the Bengals' 45-10 win over Chicago.

Aaron Kampman, DE, Green Bay (Iowa): Finished with five tackles and a sack to help the Packers' to a 31-3 win over Cleveland.

Jim Leonhard, S, New York Jets (Wisconsin): Had six tackles and intercepted a pass in the Jets' 38-0 win against Oakland.

Laurence Maroney, RB, New England (Minnesota): Finished with 13 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown run in the Patriots' 35-7 win over Tampa Bay in a game played in London, England.

Shaun Phillips, LB, San Diego (Purdue): Made six tackles and had two sacks to help the Chargers to a 37-7 win over Kansas City.

Paul Posluszny, LB, Buffalo (Penn State): Recorded a team-high 11 tackles to help pace the Bills' defense in a 20-9 win over Carolina.

Tracy Porter, CB, New Orleans (Indiana): Recorded nine tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown in the Saints' 46-34 win against Miami.

Anthony Spencer, DE, Dallas (Purdue): Made four tackles and recovered a fumble in the Cowboys' 37-21 win over Atlanta.

Devin Thomas, WR, Washington (Michigan State): Caught three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown catch in the Redskins' 27-17 loss to Philadelphia on Monday night.

Chris Wells, RB, Arizona (Ohio State): Had 14 carries for 67 yards and one touchdown in the Cardinals 24-17 win over the New York Giants on Sunday night.

Eugene Wilson, S, Houston (Illinois): Made three tackles and had an interception in the Texans' 24-21 victory over San Francisco.

LaMarr Woodley, LB, Pittsburgh (Michigan): Finished with two tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown in the Steelers' 27-17 win over Minnesota.

Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay (Michigan): Finished with three tackles and had an interception in the Packers' 31-3 victory over Cleveland.

Required Reading
Oct. 27, 2009

Minnesota's Decker Named Semifinalist for Biletnikoff Award
Oct. 26, 2009

Minnesota wideout Eric Decker was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation's top wide receiver. Four Big Ten standouts have earned the Biletnikoff Award, including Michigan's Braylon Edwards (2004), Michigan State's Charles Rogers (2002), Ohio State's Terry Glenn (1995) and Penn State's Bobby Engram (1994). Finalists for the 2009 Biletnikoff Award will be named on Nov. 23, with the winner announced on Dec. 10.

Iowa's Stanzi and Penn State's Clark Named Semifinalists for O'Brien Award
Oct. 26, 2009

The Big Ten was one of only four conferences to feature multiple student-athletes among the 15 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, as Iowa's Ricky Stanzi and Penn State's Daryll Clark were among the semifinalists announced today. The Big Ten was joined by the Big East, Big 12 and Pac-10 as the only conferences with multiple semifinalists. Stanzi appears among the semifinalists despite not appearing on the preseason watch list, which featured five Big Ten players including Clark. Four Big Ten standouts have won the O'Brien Award, including Iowa's Brad Banks (2002) and Chuck Long (1985), Ohio State's Troy Smith (2006) and Penn State's Kerry Collins (1994). Finalists for the 2009 O'Brien Award will be announced on Nov. 23, with the winner unveiled on Dec. 10.

Big Ten Football Weekly Release
Oct. 26, 2009

The Oct. 26 football release has been finalized and is now available on the Big Ten website. Below are a few highlights of the release.

Full release in PDF format

Iowa Stands in First Place with Defending Big Ten Co-Champs Ohio State and Penn State Right Behind.

Hawkeyes Improve to 8-0 for First Time in School History; One of Two 8-0 Teams and Seven Unbeatens.

At Least One Big Ten Team Opens With Eight Straight Wins for Fourth Straight Season, Fifth Time in Six Years.

Ohio State Joins Iowa and Penn State as Bowl Eligible; Six More Teams are Within Two Wins of Bowl Eligibility.

Big Ten Set to Crown New Stat Leaders From Six Different Teams in Categories Appearing in Records Book.

Big Ten Schedule Confirmed for Nov. 7
Oct. 26, 2009

The following schedule has been confirmed for games on Nov. 7.

Northwestern at Iowa, 11 a.m. CT, ESPN
Illinois at Minnesota, 11 a.m. CT, Big Ten Network
Wisconsin at Indiana, Noon ET, Big Ten Network
Purdue at Michigan, Noon ET, Big Ten Network
Western Michigan at Michigan State, Noon ET, Big Ten Network
Ohio State at Penn State, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (regional - ESPN2 outer-market)

Big Ten Football Players of Week for Oct. 24
Oct. 25, 2009

The Big Ten football players of the week for games on Oct. 24 were officially announced on the Big Ten Network, with the offensive, defensive and special teams weekly honorees debuted on Big Ten Tonight at 9 p.m. CT. Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark earned the offensive laurels, a pair of defensive ends split the defensive award in Iowa's Adrian Clayborn and Ohio State's Thaddeus Gibson while Northwestern kicker/punter Stefan Demos garnered special teams laurels. Read more about this week's honorees by clicking on this link.

Iowa Climbs to Program-Best Fourth in Latest BCS Poll
Oct. 25, 2009

Three Big Ten teams were ranked in the second edition of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings, led by undefeated Iowa at No. 4 overall. The Hawkeyes improved to 8-0 for the first time in school history and moved up two spots to fourth, while being ranked first overall by the computers. Iowa's No. 4 position marks the highest ranking in program history, breaking the previous record when the team rated fifth during the last three polls of the 2002 campaign (Nov. 25, Dec. 2, Dec. 8). Two more conference schools moved up in the latest BCS poll, with Penn State climbing one spot to No. 12 and Ohio State jumping two positions to No. 17.

Big Ten Polling Place
Oct. 25, 2009

After the eighth weekend of college football, the media, coaches and Harris polls were announced today with four Big Ten teams receiving votes, including two programs among the top 10 in the country. Off to the first 8-0 start in school history, Iowa remains the conference's highest-rated team, ranking seventh in the Associated Press poll and eighth in the USA Today coaches and Harris Interactive polls. The Hawkeyes actually earned one first-place vote from a Harris voter, but dropped one slot from seventh to eighth. Penn State also cracked the top 10 in two of three polls, moving up one slot in all three rankings to 10th in the coaches and Harris poll and 11th in the media voting. Ohio State also improved in all three rankings, jumping two spots to 15th in the USA Today and Harris polls and climbing one slot to 17th in the Associated Press top 25. Wisconsin also received votes in all three polls, appearing 28th in the USA Today coaches poll, 29th in the Harris Interactive voting and 30th in the AP poll.

Big Ten Football Wrapup - Week Eight
Oct. 24, 2009

In the fifth weekend of Big Ten play, Iowa saved its perfect season with a last-second touchdown pass at Michigan State to improve to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the conference to maintain possession of first place in the standings. The two teams that shared the Big Ten title last season both stayed close to the Hawkeyes, with four-time defending champ Ohio State improving to 4-1 in conference action with a triumph over Minnesota while Penn State picked up a road victory at Michigan to move to 3-1 in Big Ten play. In other Big Ten action, Purdue knocked off Illinois and Northwestern rallied from a 28-3 deficit to edge Indiana on a late field goal. Check out the recaps of each of the five Saturday games by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Football: Week Eight Preview
Oct. 23, 2009

Entering the fifth weekend of Big Ten play, three teams sitting among the top four in the Big Ten standings will be in the state of Michigan with first place on the line. Iowa, looking for its first 8-0 start in school history, will also aim to improve to 4-0 in conference play with a road game at Michigan State. The Spartans have rallied from a 1-3 start to win their last three Big Ten games to sit in a tie for second place at 3-1 in the conference standings. Defending Big Ten Co-Champion Penn State is 2-1 in conference, 6-1 overall, to stand in fourth place with a road trip to Michigan, which is 5-2 overall and 2-1 in conference. Four-time defending Big Ten champ Ohio State is tied with MSU for second place overall at 3-1 and hosts Minnesota. In other action, Purdue hosts Illinois and Indiana travels to Northwestern, while Wisconsin has a bye. Check out the www.bigten.org previews for every eighth-week matchup by clicking on this link.

Required Reading
Oct. 22, 2009

Iowa's Pat Angerer Named Nagurski National Defensive Player of Week
Sept. 29, 2009

Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for games of the weekend of Sept. 26. Angerer, a 6-1, 235-pound senior from Bettendorf, Iowa., registered a game-high 14 tackles and produced two key turnovers in Iowa's 21-10 upset victory at Penn State last Saturday night. His 38-yard interception return set up an Iowa touchdown that gave the Hawkeyes an 18-10 advantage in the second half. He also forced a Penn State fumble in the fourth quarter that stalled a Nittany Lions' drive at Iowa's 18-yard line. Angerer will be added to the 2009 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 7 by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 18 or 19. Each week during the 2009 season the FWAA All-America Committee will select a national defensive player of the week from nominations made by the 11 Division I Bowl Subdivision Conferences and major independents.

Big Ten Football Weekly Release - Sept. 28
Sept. 28, 2009

The Sept. 28 football release has been finalized and is now available on the Big Ten website. Below are a few highlights of the release.

Full release in PDF format

Big Ten one of only three conferences with three or more 4-0 teams -- Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Four other Big Ten teams off to 3-1 starts in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio State and Penn State.

Multiple Big Ten players among NCAA stat leaders, including Kirlew, Sash, Jones, Decker and Bolden

Big Ten features three of the nation's top 10 scoring defenses in Iowa, Ohio State and Penn State.

Big Ten standouts continue to move up conference career statistical charts, including Williams, Swenson, Decker and Gilreath

Big Ten Football Players of Week for Sept. 26
Sept. 27, 2009

The Big Ten football players of the week for games on Sept. 26 were officially announced on the Big Ten Network, with the offensive, defensive and special teams weekly honorees debuted on Big Ten Tonight at 9 p.m. CT. Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien nabbed the offensive laurels, while the Iowa duo of Pat Angerer and Adrian Clayborn were honored on defense and special teams, respectively. Read more about this week's honorees by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Schedule Announced for Oct. 10
Sept. 27, 2009

The following schedule has been confirmed for games on Saturday, Oct. 10. Final determination of television for Purdue-Minnesota and Michigan-Iowa will be made following the contests on Oct. 3.

Michigan State at Illinois, 11 a.m. CT, Big Ten Network
Purdue at Minnesota, 11 a.m. CT, ESPN or ESPN2
Miami (Ohio) at Northwestern, 11 a.m. CT, Big Ten Network
Eastern Illinois at Penn State, Noon ET, ESPN Classic
Wisconsin at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (regional - ESPN outer-market)
Michigan at Iowa, 7 p.m. CT, ABC or ESPN

Big Ten Polling Place
Sept. 27, 2009

After a week in which four top-10 teams fell, both the media and coaches polls were announced today and featured major changes, including four Big Ten teams among the top 25 and two more teams receiving votes in at least one of the rankings. Iowa made the biggest move among conference teams, reappearing in the rankings for the first time since the preseason poll by rocketing from unranked to No. 13 in the Associated Press (AP) poll and No. 17 in the USA Today coaches' poll. Ohio State moved back into the top 10 in both polls, rated ninth by both the media and coaches. Following its loss to the Hawkeyes, Penn State dropped to 15th in the AP poll and 13th in the coaches rankings. Michigan remained among the top 25 at No. 22 in the media ratings and No. 20 in the coaches rankings. Wisconsin is receiving votes in both polls while Minnesota also received votes from the coaches.

Big Ten Football Wrapup - Week Four
Sept. 26, 2009

The first weekend of the 114th season of Big Ten play is officially complete, and five conference teams are atop the standings at 1-0 in Big Ten play. Iowa and Minnesota picked up road triumphs at No. 5/4 Penn State and Northwestern, respectively, while Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin all defended their home fields. Check out the recaps of Saturday's game by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Football to Air Nationwide on Sirius XM Radio
Sept. 25, 2009

SIRIUS XM Radio and Learfield Sports announced today an agreement to broadcast Big Ten Conference football and men's basketball games to listeners nationwide. Starting tomorrow, September 26, SIRIUS XM will begin airing live play-by-play of every Big Ten football game through the end of the regular season.

Big Ten Football: Week Four Preview
Sept. 25, 2009

With the 114th season of Big Ten play beginning on Saturday, www.bigten.org has posted previews for every fourth-week matchups. Check out the week four previews by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Offers Bowl Packages for Sweepstakes, Contest Winners
Sept. 24, 2009

The Big Ten Conference is giving a few lucky fans the opportunity to win the ultimate fan experience, a trip for two to the 2010 Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, Calif., and other bowl game prize packages. The contests were inspired by scenes from the recent Big Ten public service announcements. Beginning Saturday, Sept. 26 at BigTenFanCamp.com, fans will have the opportunity to put their knowledge to the test by taking the Big Ten Football trivia quiz and enter for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2010 Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl package includes two tickets, airfare, four-night hotel accommodations, and a $150 travel voucher for ground transportation. Also beginning Sept. 26, fans can share their Big Ten football traditions or "Craft Your Own Big Ten Stadium," and the winners will get to choose which bowl game - Capital One Bowl, Outback Bowl, Insight Bowl or Valero Alamo Bowl - they would like to attend. The bowl packages include two tickets, airfare, hotel accommodations, and a $150 travel voucher for ground transportation. Two other contests, "Decorate Your Cabin" and "Build a Big Ten Legend," will begin Oct. 24 for the same prize package. For more information, click on this link.

Required Reading
Sept. 24, 2009

Big Ten Schedule Announced for Oct. 31
Sept. 24, 2009

The following schedule has been confirmed for games on Saturday, Oct. 31. Final determination of television for Indiana-Iowa, Purdue-Wisconsin and Penn State-Northwestern will be made following the contests on Oct. 24.

Indiana at Iowa, 11 a.m. CT, ESPN or ESPN2
Purdue at Wisconsin, 11 a.m. CT, ESPN or ESPN2
New Mexico State at Ohio State, Noon ET, Big Ten Network
Michigan at Illinois, 2:30 p.m. CT, ABC
Penn State at Northwestern, 3:30 p.m. CT, ESPN or ESPN2
Michigan State at Minnesota, 7 p.m. CT, Big Ten Network

Big Ten in the NFL - Week Two
Sept. 23, 2009

With 233 former Big Ten standouts on the opening day rosters of National Football League (NFL) teams, conference student-athletes have a major impact on the road to the Super Bowl. Every Wednesday, the Big Ten football blog will highlight the top conference performers in the previous week of NFL action. Below is the list of top performers from the previous week.

Marion Barber, RB, Dallas (Minnesota): Rushed for 124 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown, also catching two passes for 31 yards, in the Cowboys' 33-31 loss to the New York Giants Sunday night.

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans (Purdue): Passed for 311 yards and three touchdowns on 25-34 passing to lead the Saints in victory against the Eagles, 48-22.

Dallas Clark, TE, Indianapolis (Iowa): Caught seven passes for 183 yards and a touchdown to help the Colts to a 27-23 victory over the Miami Dolphins Monday night.

Nate Clements, CB, San Francisco (Oho State): Made six tackles and deflected four passes in the 49ers' 23-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Kerry Collins, QB, Tennessee (Penn State): Passed for 216 yards and two touchdowns and completed 21 of his 33 passes in the Titans' 34-31 loss to Houston.

Owen Daniels, TE, Houston (Wisconsin): Had six catches for 72 yards and a touchdown to help Houston record a 34-31 victory over Tennessee.

Kellen Davis, TE, Chicago (Michigan State): Had five receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown to help the Bears defeat the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers 17-14.

Ray Edwards, DE, Minnesota (Purdue): Had eight tackles to go along with a sack as the Vikings defeated the Detroit Lions, 27-13.

Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo (Wisconsin): Had one catch for 32 yards, but it was a touchdown reception that helped the Bills to a 33-20 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jay Feely, K, New York Jets (Michigan): Was 3 for 3 in field goals and accounted for 10 points in the Jets' 16-9 win over New England on Sunday.

Larry Foote, LB, Detroit (Michigan):  Recorded 10 tackles and had a sack for the Lions in their 27-13 loss to Minnesota on Sunday.

Robbie Gould, K, Chicago (Penn State): Kicked the game-winning 44-yard field goal in the Bears' 17-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chad Greenway, LB, Minnesota (Iowa): Had four tackles and two interceptions as the Vikings defeated the Detroit Lions, 27-13.

James Hall, DE, St. Louis (Michigan): Made three tackles and also recorded a sack in the Rams' 9-7 loss to Washington on Sunday.

Nate Kaeding, K, San Diego (Iowa): Converted on all four of his field goal attempts and accounted for 14 of the Chargers 26 points in their 31-26 loss to Baltimore.

Dustin Keller, TE, New York Jets (Purdue): Caught three passes for 22 yards and scored the game's only touchdown as the New York Jets defeated the New England Patriots, 16-9.

Mario Manningham, WR, New York Giants (Michigan): Caught a team-high 10 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown in the Giants' 33-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys Sunday night.

Kyle Orton, QB, Denver (Purdue): Completed 19-of-37 for 263 yards and a touchdown to lead the Broncos to a 27-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Tracey Porter, CB, New Orleans (Indiana): Had just one tackle but also intercepted a pass as the Saints defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 48-22.

Eric Smith, S, New York Jets (Michigan State): Had six tackles and a pass deflection as Jets defeated the New England Patriots 16-9.

Matt Spaeth, TE, Pittsburgh (Minnesota): Recorded two catches for 10 yards, but scored one of the Steelers' two touchdowns in their 17-14 loss to Chicago on Sunday.

Donte Whitner, S, Buffalo (Ohio State): Made six tackles and recorded an interception to help the Bills to a 33-20 victory over Tampa Bay.

Eugene Wilson, S, Houston (Illinois): Recorded four tackles and intercepted a pass in Houston's 34-31 victory against Tennessee.

Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay (Michigan): Made 10 tackles and had two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown in the Packers' 31-24 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday.

Required Reading
Sept. 22, 2009

Four Big Ten Players Named to 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Sept. 22, 2009

The Big Ten led all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences with four members of the 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. Indiana's Jammie Kirlew, Michigan's Zoltan Mesko, Northwestern's Andrew Brewer and Wisconsin's Chris Maragos were honored for their off-the-field achievements and selfless contributions to their communities. The 22 honorees, including 11 from the FBS, were announced by Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

This summer, a record 106 players were nominated for this prestigious honor by sports information directors on behalf of their teams, surpassing all previous single-season nominee totals since the program began in 1992. From the nominations, a special selection committee named 22 college football players from across the country to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. The two 11-member teams honor players that embody the true spirit of "teamwork" and "giving back" through commendable acts of kindness and community service.

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® is now in its 18th season to present the award. In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining good academic standing. Candidates must also display sincere concern and reliability, while also having made a favorable impression on the organizations with which they are involved. Neither athletic ability nor on-the-field achievements are among the selection criteria.

Big Ten Football Weekly Release - Sept. 21
Sept. 21, 2009

The Sept. 21 football release has been finalized and is now available on the Big Ten website. Below are a few highlights of the release.

Full release in PDF format

Big Ten opens 114th season of conference play with five matchups on Saturday.

Big Ten leads all conferences with five 3-0 teams.

Four of the five Big Ten unbeatens will meet on Saturday, with Indiana at Michigan and Iowa at Penn State.

Ohio State aiming for fifth straight Big Ten title while Jim Tressel looks to join prestigious coaching company.

Two more trophy games set for Saturday with Illibuck and Shillelagh up for grabs.

Big Ten Schedule Announced for Oct. 3
Sept. 21, 2009

The following schedule has been confirmed for games on Saturday, Oct. 3. Final determination of television for Wisconsin-Minnesota and Arkansas State-Iowa will be made following the contests on Sept. 26.

Arkansas State at Iowa, 11 a.m. CT, ESPN Classic or ESPN2
Michigan at Michigan State, Noon ET, Big Ten Network
Northwestern at Purdue, Noon ET, Big Ten Network
Wisconsin at Minnesota, 11 a.m. CT, ESPN or ESPN2
Penn State at Illinois, 2:30 p.m. CT, ABC (regional - ESPN outer-market)
Ohio State at Indiana, 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

Big Ten Football Players of Week for Sept. 19
Sept. 20, 2009

The Big Ten football players of the week for games on Sept. 19 were officially announced on the Big Ten Network, with the offensive, defensive and special teams weekly honorees debuted on Big Ten Tonight at 9 p.m. CT. Michigan running back Carlos Brown and Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka shared offensive honors, Penn State linebacker Sean Lee claimed defensive accolades and Iowa punter Ryan Donahue and Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland split special teams laurels. Read more about this week's honorees by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Polling Place
Sept. 20, 2009

After the third weekend of college football, the media and coaches polls were announced today and six Big Ten teams continue to receive at least one vote with three teams ranked among the top 25. Penn State climbed to fourth in the USA Today coaches poll while remaining fifth in the Associated Press (AP) rankings. Ohio State was rated 11th by the coaches and 13th by the media while Michigan continued to climb the polls, moving up to 23rd in the AP poll and making its first appearance in the coaches poll at No. 22. Iowa is also receiving votes in both polls, while Wisconsin and Minnesota received at least one vote from the coaches.

ESPN's College GameDay Headed to Penn State
Sept. 20, 2009

ESPN's popular College GameDay Built by the Home Depot program, with host Chris Fowler and analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard, will originate from Penn State on Saturday, Sept. 26, as the Nittany Lions host unbeaten Iowa in a Big Ten showdown to open the conference slate. The program will air from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET, with other live segments throughout the day, as well as late Friday afternoon. The No. 5/4 Nittany Lions (3-0) and Hawkeyes (3-0) will kick off in Beaver Stadium Saturday at 8:00 p.m. on ABC. Saturday's broadcast marks the third time College GameDay has originated from Penn State in the past five seasons and the fifth time overall. College GameDay was in Happy Valley for the 2005 and 2007 Ohio State contests, as well as the 1999 Pigskin Classic against Arizona and the 1997 game against Michigan.

Big Ten Football Wrapup - Week Three
Sept. 19, 2009

The final weekend of Big Ten non-conference play has concluded with six victories in 10 games, including Iowa's triumph over Arizona and victories for Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin. Check out the recaps of Saturday's game by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Football: Week Three Preview
Sept. 18, 2009

Entering the final full weekend of non-conference play, www.bigten.org has posted previews for all 11 third-week matchups. Check out the week three previews by clicking on this link.

Required Reading
Sept. 17, 2009

Big Ten in the NFL -- Notes of Interest
Sept. 16, 2009

The National Football League (NFL) released a breakdown of opening day rosters today which included some interesting nuggets about Big Ten programs. A total of 250 colleges were represented on the opening day rosters of NFL teams, and Michigan and Ohio State were two of only eight schools to boast 29 or more former players. The Buckeyes were tied for fourth with 36 former standouts in the league, while the Wolverines rated eighth with 29 former student-athletes in the NFL. The league also broke down the players by position, and Big Ten schools led the way at four spots in the lineup. Ohio State topped all intercollegiate programs with seven wide receivers and 10 defensive backs playing in the NFL. Iowa tied for the lead with five offensive guards on NFL rosters, while Michigan State tied for the top spot with five defensive tackles in the league.

Big Ten in the NFL - Week One
Sept. 16, 2009

With 233 former Big Ten standouts on the opening day rosters of National Football League (NFL) teams, conference student-athletes have a major impact on the road to the Super Bowl. Every Wednesday, the Big Ten football blog will highlight the top conference performers in the previous week of NFL action. Below is the list of top performers from the previous week.

Marion Barber, RB, Dallas (Minnesota): Led the Cowboys with 79 yards rushing and a touchdown in Dallas' 34-21 victory over Tampa Bay Sunday.

Tom Brady, QB, New England (Michigan): Threw for 378 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the final 2:06 to lead the Patriots to a come-from-behind win over Buffalo, 25-24.

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans (Purdue): Threw an NFL-high six touchdowns in Week 1, totaling 358 yards in a 45-27 Saints win over Detroit.

Nate Clements, CB, San Francisco (Ohio State): Recorded four tackles with an assist and an interception as San Francisco defeated Arizona 20-16.

Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City (Penn State): Had three tackles with a sack and a forced fumble for the Chiefs in their opening weekend loss to Baltimore.

David Harris, OLB, New York Jets (Michigan): Had six tackles and five assists, with a sack and a pass deflection to help the Jets to a 24-7 victory over Houston. 

Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh (Ohio State): Caught nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown to help the defending Super Bowl Champions to a 13-10 overtime win against Tennessee.

James Laurinaitis, LB, St. Louis (Ohio State): Led the Rams defense against Seattle on Sunday, accounting for 10 tackles and four assists.

Mario Manningham, WR, New York Giants (Michigan): Had three receptions for 58 yards and had the Giants' only offensive touchdown as New York defeated Wahington 23-17.

Adewale Ogunleye, DE, Chicago (Indiana): Had three tackles and recorded two sacks for the Bears in their 21-15 loss to Green Bay on Sunday night.

Kyle Orton, QB, Denver (Purdue): Threw for 243 yards and the game-winning touchdown pass with 27 seconds to play to give the Broncos a 12-7 win over Cincinnati on Sunday.

Antwaan Randle El, WR, Washington (Indiana): Led the Redskins with 98 yards receiving on seven catches, including a long of 35, in a 23-17 loss to the New York Giants.

Ohio State-USC Contest Marks ESPN's Most-Viewed College Football Game Ever
Sept. 15, 2009

ESPN's Saturday night telecast of the Ohio State-USC game averaged 7,243,000 households, 10,586,000 total viewers and a 7.3 rating, making it the network's most-viewed college football game - covering both regular-season and bowl games. The telecast was the highest-rated program of the night among households, total viewers and in every key male and adult demographic, making ESPN the number one television network - cable or broadcast - for the evening. The 7.3 rating is the highest for a college football game - regular-season and bowl games -- in 15 years (Florida State at Miami averaged a 7.7 on October 8, 1994).

Required Reading
Sept. 15, 2009

Minnesota's Triplett Named Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 15, 2009

Minnesota linebacker Nate Triplett has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for games of the weekend of Sept. 12. Triplett, a 6-3, 247-pound senior from Maple Plain, Minn., notched a career-high 17 tackles and returned a fumble 52 yards for the go-ahead, fourth-quarter touchdown in the Golden Gophers' 20-13 victory over Air Force. Triplett had 12 unassisted tackles and a pass break-up against the Falcons in the inaugural game at TCF Bank Stadium. Triplett will be added to the 2009 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 7.

Forcier Named O'Brien National Quarterback of the Week
Sept. 14, 2009

The Davey O'Brien Foundation has named Tate Forcier of the University of Michigan the O'Brien Quarterback of the Week for week two. This honor adds him to The O'Brien Watch List previously announced in August. The Wolverines defeat of the then No. 18 ranked Fighting Irish advanced them to No. 25 in the AP Top 25 poll this week.

In the long standing rivalry among two of the NCAA's winningest schools in college football history, the true freshman quarterback completed a five-yard touchdown pass to Greg Matthews with 11 seconds left to complete the game-winning drive leading his team to a victory over Notre Dame, 38-34. Forcier threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-33 completions and ran for 70 yards and a touchdown.

"He's kind of a unique individual," Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez said of Forcier. "Everything around him may be going crazy, and yet he's still calm in the middle of the storm. Some guys have that quality and he's one of them." Charlie Weis, Notre Dame's head coach, concurred by saying, "For a freshman, I thought he managed the game very well."

Big Ten Football Weekly Release - Sept. 14
Sept. 14, 2009

The Sept. 14 football release has been finalized and is now available on the Big Ten website. Below are a few highlights of the release.

Full release in PDF format

Big Ten posts 8-3 mark in second weekend, including four wins over postseason teams from a year ago.

Six Big Ten players surpass 100 yards rushing in week two.

Big Ten produces 18 wins in first two weeks for fifth straight season, with seven undefeated teams.

Big Ten kickers connect on 59- and 57-yard field goals on first two Saturdays.

Five more sellouts on Saturday, including Ohio State record and full house at TCF Bank Stadium opener.

Big Ten Schedule Announced for Sept. 26
Sept. 14, 2009

The following schedule has been confirmed for games on Saturday, Sept. 26. Final determination of television for Indiana-Michigan and Michigan State-Wisconsin will be made following the contests on Sept. 19.

Indiana at Michigan, Noon ET, ESPN or ESPN2*
Michigan State at Wisconsin, 11 a.m. CT, ESPN or ESPN2*
Minnesota at Northwestern, 11 a.m. CT, Big Ten Network
Illinois at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (regional -- ESPN outer-market)
Iowa at Penn State, 8 p.m. ET, ABC (national)
Notre Dame at Purdue, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

* network to be identified after games of Sept. 19

Big Ten Football Players of Week for Sept. 12
Sept. 13, 2009

The Big Ten football players of the week for games on Sept. 12 were officially announced on the Big Ten Network, with the offensive, defensive and special teams weekly honorees debuted on Big Ten Tonight at 9 p.m. CT. Michigan swept the offensive and special teams accolades, with quarterback Tate Forcier picking up the offensive honors and kick returner Darryl Stonum nabbing special teams laurels. On defense, Iowa safety Tyler Sash and Minnesota linebacker Nate Triplett shared the defensive player of the week award. Read more about this week's honorees by clicking on this link.

Minnesota's Triplett Named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of Week
Sept. 13, 2009

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced its National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 12, and Minnesota linebacker Nate Triplett earns the defensive accolade. Triplett recorded a career-high 17 tackles and returned a fumble 52 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Golden Gophers came-from-behind to defeat Air Force, 20-13. Triplett, who had 12 solo tackles, added a pass break up in the contest. This is the sixth year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. Recipients are selected by a panel of national media members and administered by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Big Ten Polling Place
Sept. 13, 2009

After the second weekend of college football, the media and coaches polls were announced today and six Big Ten teams are receiving votes with three teams ranked among the top 25. Penn State leads the way tied for fifth in the AP poll and standing alone in fifth in the USA Today coaches poll. After a narrow three-point loss to USC, Ohio State drops to 11th in both polls. Meanwhile, Michigan makes its first top 25 appearance at 25th in the AP poll after knocking off Notre Dame. The Wolverines are also receiving votes in the coaches poll, while Iowa, Minnesota and Northwestern are also receiving votes in one or both rankings .

Big Ten Football Wrapup - Week Two
Sept. 13, 2009

The second week of Big Ten football has concluded with conference teams winning eight of 11 games, including Michigan's victory over a ranked Notre Dame team and Iowa's triumph at Iowa State. Check out the recaps of Saturday's game by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Football: Week Two Preview
Sept. 11, 2009

After a 10-1 record in the opening week, www.bigten.org has posted previews for all 11 second-week matchups. Check out the week two previews by clicking on this link.

Big Ten in the NFL
Sept. 11, 2009

With the 2009 NFL season starting last night, the Big Ten will be well-represented in the professional ranks. For more information and a full list of Big Ten players in the NFL, click on this link.

Required Reading
Sept. 10, 2009

Required Reading
Sept. 8, 2009

Big Ten Football Weekly Release - Sept. 7
Sept. 7, 2009

The second weekly football release of the 2009 season has been finalized and is now available on the Big Ten website. Below are a few highlights of the release.

Full release in PDF format

Big Ten posts 10-win week for fifth straight season.

Second weekend of Big Ten action features seven opponents that played in bowls last season.

Nine Big Ten players surpass 100 yards or eight catches in opening week of action.

Minnesota set to debut TCF Bank Stadium, the first new stadium in the Big Ten since 1960.

Purdue's Hope becomes eighth current conference coach to win first game on Big Ten sidelines.

Big Ten Football Players of Week Announced on Big Ten Tonight
Sept. 6, 2009

For the first time ever, the Big Ten football players of the week were officially announced on the Big Ten Network, with the offensive, defensive and special teams weekly honorees debuted on Big Ten Tonight at 9 p.m. CT. For games on Sept. 3 and 5, the Big Ten players of the week were Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark and Purdue running back Ralph Bolden on offense, Minnesota linebacker Lee Campbell on defense and Iowa linebacker Jeremiha Hunter and Minnesota kicker Eric Ellestad on special teams. Read more about this week's honorees by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Football Wrapup - Week One
Sept. 5, 2009

The first week of Big Ten football has concluded, and conference teams won 10 of 11 games, including nine of 10 on the first college football Saturday. Check out the recaps of Saturday's game by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Football Previews: Purdue, Wisconsin
Sept. 4, 2009

With Indiana already 1-0 and the other 10 teams taking the field tomorrow, www.bigten.org has posted its final two previews. Below are links to the previews for the Boilermakers and Badgers.

Purdue Preview
Wisconsin Preview

Indiana Wins Season Opener
Sept. 4, 2009

Indiana's Trea Burgess ran for one touchdown, Ben Chappell threw for another and the Indiana defense met an opening night challenge by holding off Eastern Kentucky 19-13 on Thursday. Read the full game recap by clicking on this link.

Big Ten Fan Camp PSAs Debut During Opening Games
Sept. 3, 2009

On Sept. 3, the Big Ten Conference will debut a new series of football public service announcements (PSA) titled "Big Ten Fan Camp," under the "Big Life. Big Stage. Big Ten." theme introduced last fall. The theme speaks to the breadth, visibility and impact of the Big Ten across all aspects of life and sport. The four PSAs will appear during Big Ten athletic events throughout the academic year on ABC, ESPN and the Big Ten Network. In addition, the conference is unveiling a new interactive website (www.bigtenfancamp.com) on Sept. 5 that will feature the four PSAs, behind-the-scenes footage, fan contests, sweepstakes and a "Campfire Chat" where visitors will be invited to comment on a number of Big Ten football-related topics. For more information on the new "Big Ten Fan Camp" PSA, click on this link.

Required Reading
Sept. 3, 2009