Six Big Ten teams are receiving votes in the latest Associated Press (AP), USA Today coaches and Harris Interactive polls, including three teams among the top 25. Ohio State became the nation's first 10-0 team with a win over Illinois and moved up one slot to stand tied for fifth in the AP poll. Nebraska edged Michigan State to climb to No. 16 in the coaches and Harris vote and No. 18 in the media poll. Northwestern had a bye last weekend but re-entered the polls after a four-week absence at No. 21 in the USA Today ratings, the Wildcats' highest ranking this season, and No. 24 in the Harris poll. Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin received votes in at least one poll.
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Rushers: Five Big Ten players finished with 100 or more yards on the ground on Saturday, led by Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez with 205 yards and two touchdowns in a comeback win at Michigan State. Other 100-plus yard rushers were Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell (188 yards, two touchdowns), Ohio State's Carlos Hyde (137 yards, three touchdowns), Penn State's Zach Zwinak (134 yards) and Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah (110 yards).
Passers: Five Big Ten signal-callers threw for more than 200 yards on Saturday, including two 300-yard passers in Penn State's Matt McGloin and Indiana's Cameron Coffman. McGloin threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns in a victory at Purdue and Coffman compiled 315 yards and three scoring strikes in a triumph over Iowa. Three other quarterbacks surpassed 200 yards in Iowa's James Vandenberg (249 yards, one touchdown), Michigan's Devin Gardner (234 yards, two touchdowns) and Ohio State's Braxton Miller (226 yards, two touchdowns).
Receivers: Six conference standouts recorded seven or more catches or 100 or more receiving yards on Saturday. Iowa's Kevonte Martin-Manley totaled 131 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions while two Purdue wideouts hauled in nine passes each - Antavian Edison (93 yards and one touchdown) and Gary Bush (47 yards). Other 100-yard receivers were Penn State's Brandon Moseby-Felder (six catches for 129 yards, one touchdown) and the Indiana duo of Cody Lattimer (seven catches for 113 yards, three touchdowns) and Kofi Hughes (six catches for 110 yards).
Tackles: Ten Big Ten defenders registered 10 or more tackles last weekend, topped by Iowa's Anthony Hitchens and Ohio State's Ryan Shazier with 14 defensive stops each. Nebraska and Michigan State boasted multiple defenders with double-digit tackles - the Cornhuskers' P.J. Smith (12 tackles), Will Compton (11) and Daimion Stafford (11) and the Spartans' Max Bullough (10) and Kurtis Drummond (10). Other Big Ten players with 10 or more tackles were Michigan's Kenny Demens (10), Illinois' Terry Hawthorne (10) and Purdue's Josh Johnson (10).
Tackles for Loss: Nine conference players notched two or more tackles for loss (TFL) on Saturday, including three TFLs each for Illinois' Glenn Foster (two sacks), Michigan's Jake Ryan and Penn State's Gerald Hodges. Other Big Ten defenders with two tackles for loss were Illinois' Terry Hawthorne (one sack), the Indiana duo of Larry Black (one sack) and Adam Replogle, Iowa's James Morris, Michigan State's Kurtis Drummond and Ohio State's Ryan Shazier.
MIchigan's Craig Roh, Nebraska's Cameron Meredith and Ohio State's John Simon were named to the midseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive end. On-field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities, contributions to school and community and academic preparedness are some of the criteria used to determine the winner. Two Big Ten standouts have claimed the Hendricks Award since its debut in 2002 - Michigan's LaMarr Woodley in 2007 and Illinois' Whitney Mercilus in 2011.
Indiana's Adam Replogle and Nebraska's Rex Burkhead were named two of 10 finalists for the annual Awards and Recognition Association (ARA) Sportsmanship Award. Given annually to one outstanding NCAA Division I collegiate football player who best personifies the spirit of sportsmanship, the award is now in its eighth year. Northwestern's Eric Peterman won the ARA Sportsmanship Award in 2008.
The 2012 Awards and Recognition Association Sportsmanship Award recipient will be chosen from the 10 finalists and announced later this year. To qualify for the award, an athlete must be a starting player or significant contributor on his team; be in good academic standing; demonstrate great respect for competitors, school, teammates and coaches; show an ability to accept victory and defeat graciously; convey a high degree of humility and integrity; and demonstrate commitment in the classroom and to the community.
Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots (Michigan) - Threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-35 passing in New England's 45-7 win over St. Louis.
Eric Decker, WR, Denver Broncos (Minnesota) - Caught two touchdown passes in the Broncos' 34-14 win over the Saints.
Brandon Fields, P, Miami Dolphins (Michigan State) - Pinned four of his six punts inside the 20-yard line, averaging 53.3 yards per punt, in Miami's 30-9 victory over the New York Jets.
Larry Foote, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Michigan) - Recorded six tackles, including two for loss, and one sack in the Steelers' 27-12 win over the Redskins.
Robbie Gould, K, Chicago Bears (Penn State) - Nailed a game-winning 41-yard field goal as time expired in the Bears' 23-22 win over the Panthers.
Chad Greenway, LB, Minnesota Vikings (Iowa) - Tied for the team lead with 13 tackles in the Vikings' 36-17 loss to the Bucs.
Malcolm Jenkins, S, New Orleans Saints (Ohio State) - Tied for the team lead with nine tackles in the Saints' 34-14 loss to the Broncos.
Dustin Keller, TE, New York Jets (Purdue) - Caught seven passes for 67 yards in the Jets' 30-9 loss to the Dolphins.
Corey Liuget, DE, San Diego Chargers (Illinois) - Recorded five tackles, one sack and two pass deflections in the Chargers' 7-6 loss to the Browns.
Brandon Lloyd, WR, New England Patriots (Illinois) - Caught two touchdown passes in the Patriots' 45-7 win over the Rams.
Shaun Phillips, LB, San Diego Chargers (Purdue) - Notched six tackles, 0.5 sacks and one pass deflection in the Chargers' 7-6 loss to the Browns.
Marcus Thigpen, RB, Miami Dolphins (Indiana) - Returned two kicks for 78 yards and two punts for 26 yards in the Dolphins' 30-9 win over the Jets.
Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks (Wisconsin) - Threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-35 passing in Seattle's 28-24 loss to Detroit.
Donte Whitner, S, San Francisco 49ers (Ohio State) - Tied for the team lead with seven tackles in San Francisco's 24-3 win over Arizona.
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Ohio State's Bradley Roby was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back. The Big Ten has claimed five Thorpe Awards, most recently when fellow-Buckeye Malcolm Jenkins was honored in 2008.
Three Big Ten student-athletes have been named semifinalists for national awards honoring the top overall and defensive players in the country.
Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller and Wisconsin running back Montee Ball were chosen as semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, which honors the nation's most outstanding player. Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson was named a Maxwell Award semifinalist last season. Current Big Ten schools have claimed the Maxwell Award on 20 occasions, most recently when Penn State running back Larry Johnson was honored in 2002.
Ohio State defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins was tabbed as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the country's top defensive player. Four Big Ten student-athletes were named Bednarik Award semifinalists last season - Illinois' Whitney Mercilus, Michigan State's Jerel Worthy, Nebraska's Lavonte David and Penn State's Devon Still, who was eventually named a finalist for the national honor. Current conference teams have earned the Bednarik Award eight times, including two-time honorees Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern (1995 and 1996) and Paul Posluszny of Penn State (2005 and 2006). Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh was honored in 2009.
Times and television for Big Ten football games on Saturday, Nov. 10, are partially finalized and appear below. The television assignments for the Northwestern-Michigan and Wisconsin-Indiana games will be announced after the games on Nov. 3.
Noon ET/11 a.m. CT
Northwestern at Michigan, ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Wisconsin at Indiana, ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Purdue at Iowa, BTN
3:30 ET/2:30 p.m. CT
Penn State at Nebraska, ABC (regional) or ESPN2 (outer market)
Minnesota at Illinois, BTN
Six Big Ten teams are receiving votes in the latest Associated Press (AP), USA Today coaches or Harris Interactive polls. Ohio State continues to lead the way after becoming the nation's only 9-0 team and moved up three spots to No. 6 in the AP poll, the Buckeyes' highest ranking this season. Nebraska returned to the top 25 after a three-week absence and is ranked No. 21 by the media, coaches and Harris voters. Northwestern is just outside of the top 25 in each poll, while Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin are also receiving votes in at least one poll.
