The Iowa Hawkeyes have opened the season in dominating fashion, recording two wins by a combined score of 88-3.  This week, however, rival Iowa State heads to Kinnick Stadium for the annual Cy-Hawk Trophy, which is currently in the possession of the Cyclones after a 15-13 victory over the Hawkeyes last year.  Dating back to 2002, Iowa has won nearly 83 percent of its 41 home games, and when battling in the annual in-state battle, the Hawkeye hold a 20-11 advantage in the Cy-Hawk series since 1977.

All signs are pointing up for Iowa, especially when it comes to on-field performance.  Iowa has already seen a number of new leaders step up and perform in the first two games, including quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who completed 8-of-10 passes for 162 yards and three TDs in one half of his first career start against Florida International last week.  In just two games, Stinzi tops the Big Ten pass efficiency charts with an impressive 200.3 rating, as he has completed 17-of-24 passes (.708) on the year.  Junior running back Shonn Greene is second in Big Ten rushing with 119.5 yards per game and boasts an average of 6.8 yards per carry.  In its first two wins, Iowa State struggled in defending the run.  The Cyclones rank 11th in the Big 12 in rush defense, allowing 211.5 yards per game, and are giving up a conference-high 6.2 yards per rush.  When defending the pass, ISU is in much better standing, boasting an average of 168.5 passing yards allowed each contest, which ranks fifth in the Big 12.  In last week's 48-28 victory over Kent State, ISU recorded nine tackles for loss, including three by DL Kurtis Taylor, while recovering four fumbles and blocking two punts.  Senior linebacker Michael Bibbs has 13 solo stops on the year and averages 8.0 total tackles per game, which is 12th-best in the Big 12.

Despite being out-gained in total offense, 410-374, last week, ISU managed to improve on its rushing attack.  ISU is third in the Big 12 with 194.5 rushing yards per game and is led by sophomore Phillip Bates with 69.0 yards per outing.  Quarterback Austen Arnaud completed 12-of-15 passes for 166 yards and a score last week.  His 76.9 completion percentage is the highest in the league, but his 132.0 yards per game is the second lowest total.  Wideout R.J. Sumrall caught four passes for a career-high 104 yards and two touchdowns against Kent State, but no Cyclone receivers rate in the Big 12's top 12 for receptions or receiving yards.  Iowa is allowing just 122.5 yards through the air, the second-best figure in the Big Ten.  Juniors Pat Angerer and A.J. Edds have combined for three interceptions on the season and defensive end Karl Klug earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting career highs with nine tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in last week's shutout over FIU.

Like Iowa, Michigan will also be playing in a rivalry game this week, traveling to Notre Dame for the 36th meeting between the two teams.  The Wolverines blanked the Fighting Irish last year in Ann Arbor, 38-0, and hold a 20-14-1 advantage overall.  They were victorious last time out in South Bend, winning 47-21 in 2006.  Remarkably, Michigan has not won two straight at Notre Dame since 1942 and 1978 and for the second consecutive season, both teams enter the contest unranked.  Despite Michigan's last two big wins over the Irish, the average margin of victory in series history is just 5.0 points.

Michigan has struggled to score points in its first two games.  The Wolverines are 11th in the league with 19.5 points per game and have posted only five touchdowns, exactly one-third of conference leader Penn State's total.  Quarterback Steven Threet will get the nod as Saturday's starter.  He is 14-of-32 on the year for 132 yards and a touchdown.  A host of receivers have been targets in the first two games, led by Martavious Odoms with a team-high eight catches and 64 yards.  Sam McGuffie is pacing the Wolverines on the ground, averaging 41.0 yards per game on 25 total carries.  Michigan is only averaging 242.0 total yards of offense each game, an average of nearly 55 yards fewer than its opponents.  Notre Dame gave up 345 yards on defense last week, but allowed San Diego State only 71 yards rushing on 15 carries.  That was a step up from surrendering 195.4 yards rushing each time out last year.  Junior safety Sergio Brown had single-game career-highs in tackles (6), tackles for loss (1.0), pass breakups (2), QB hurries (1) and punt blocks (1) in his first career start last week.  Strong safety Kyle McCarthy led the Irish with 14 total tackles, including 10 solo stops.

Notre Dame managed to get the 21-13 victory over the Aztecs, but the offense struggled throughout the game.  The Irish turned the ball over four times, including twice in the SDSU red zone.  QB Jimmy Clausen was 21-of-34 in the opener for 237 yards and three touchdowns, but was also picked for two interceptions.  Wideout Golden Tate caught a team-high six passes for 93 yards and a score, while Armando Allen and Robert Hughes added to Notre Dame's 105 yards on the ground.  Allen, who totaled 158 all-purpose yards, had 59 yards rushing on 17 carries, while Hughes posted 54 yards on 16 attempts.  Michigan's Obi Ezeh has been all over the field in the first two games, posting 20 stops, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception, and a recovered fumble.  Brandon Harrison has 14 tackles and 5.5 of Brandon Graham's 11 tackles have been for loss, including two sacks.  Of the 296.5 yards the Wolverines are allowing each game, only 41.5 yards are on the ground.

Michigan State and Florida Atlantic will meet for the first time Saturday, with both teams sporting a 1-1 record.  Each team lost its season opener on the road as well. The Spartans fell to Cal, while FAU was blown out at Texas.  A strong 49-34 win over UAB has Florida Atlantic entering Saturday's game hungry for Big Ten competition.  The Spartans will be the first of two straight conference opponents for FAU, as the Owls travel to Minnesota next week.

Michigan State has been led this season by a potent running and receiving combo in Javon Ringer and Mark Dell, respectively.  Ringer, one of three standouts named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, has totaled 216 yards and seven touchdowns on 61 carries this year.  His seven scores, which makes him the nation's top scorer, are already one better than his previous best of six that he set last year.  Dell has been quite the playmaker, boasting an average of 22.8 yards per catch and 273 yards overall for one score.  His average of 136.5 yards per game is sixth in the nation.  Throwing Dell the ball is QB Brian Hoyer, who is 28-of-60 on the season for 469 yards with a touchdown and an interception each.  Florida Atlantic is allowing 43 points per game and 492.5 total yards each outing.  That total breaks down to 194 yards on the ground and 298.5 in the air, which should please both Ringer and Dell. Frantz Joseph has been the leader of the Owls' defense this season, totaling 26 tackles and one sack.  Greg Joseph has 14 tackles on the year, followed by Corey Smith with 12, 10 of which are solo stops.

FAU also has impressive players at running back and wide receiver.  Charles Pierre has carried the ball 19 times for 141 yards this season, scoring a pair of touchdowns and averaging 7.4 yards per rush.  Cortez Gent is averaging 18.6 yards per catch so far, as he has already accumulated 205 yards on 11 catches.  QB Rusty Smith is 36-of-65 for 578 yards and four touchdowns and an interception. The Owls' offense is only averaging 24:30 minutes on the field, but is putting up 423 yards each outing - 13 yards more than the Spartans.  Michigan State is allowing just over 400 yards on defense, including 239.5 in the air.  MSU's Eric Gordon has 13 tackles on the year, including 10 assisted stops and one tackle for loss.  Senior Otis Wiley, who tops the Big Ten and is ninth in the nation with 22.6 yards per punt return, also has an interception and 10 tackles this season.

Things are certainly promising in Minneapolis as Minnesota is 2-0 for the first time since the 2005 season.  The Golden Gophers were dominant on the road last week, ousting Bowling Green 42-17.  Now they return home to face a Football Championship Subdivision team in Montana State, which was blown out last week in a 69-10 decision at Kansas State.

Despite losing running back Duane Bennett to a season-ending ACL injury, sophomore quarterback Adam Weber continues to impress and was one of three standouts honored this week as Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after near-flawless effort against the Falcons.  He was 21-of-25 passing for 233 yards and three touchdowns, while running for another score as well.  On the season, Weber is 45-of-62 (.726) passing for five touchdowns and no interceptions.  The latter statistic is huge for the Gophers as Weber threw 19 picks a year ago.  Junior wideout Eric Decker has made it easy for Weber to post the numbers, as he leads the Big Ten with 8.0 receptions per game and is averaging 87.5 yards per outing.  Minnesota is third in the conference with 265.5 passing yards per game and second in pass efficiency with a 171.1 rating.  The Bobcats are allowing 183 yards in the air compared to 118 on the ground.  Cornerback Cory Nicol has two picks on the season, while Dane Fletcher is MSU's defensive leader overall.  The junior linebacker has 13 tackles on the year, 12 of which are solo stops, 4.5 are for loss, and one was a sack.

Northwestern showed last week it could not only find away to avoid Tropical Storm Hanna, but it could also avoid a second straight loss to Duke.  The Wildcats took the lead with nine minutes remaining in the game and had two critical fourth-down stops in the final minutes of play to hang on to a 24-20 victory.  NU is the lone Big Ten squad to post its first two wins of the season over Football Bowl Subdivision teams.  In order for the Wildcats to earn their third victory, that note will have to change as Northwestern welcomes FCS squad Southern Illinois to Ryan Field on Saturday.

NU's offense got the job done when it needed to last week and did so without committing a turnover.  Senior running back Tyrell Sutton scored the Wildcats' first two touchdowns last week and finds himself fourth in Big Ten rushing with 105.0 yards per game.  Quarterback C.J. Bacher ranks fifth in the conference in passing (220.5) and total (237.5) yards per game, but the Wildcat passing attack is an uncharacteristic seventh in conference passing and eighth in total offense at 406.0 yards per game.  Those numbers can also be attributed to playing tougher competition over these first two games.  Southern Illinois, in its 37-31 season-opening win over Hampton last week, allowed 450 total yards, including an eye-opening 403 in the air.  That bodes well for Bacher and Co.  SIU did manage to pick off Hampton three times and sophomore safety Mike McElroy had two of them.  Inside linebacker Brandin Jordan led the team in the opener with eight tackles.

The game many critics are already dubbing as the season's top battle takes place Saturday in Los Angeles, as fifth-ranked Ohio State travels to No. 1 Southern California.  The heavyweight bout is the 22nd in the series, yet the first since 1990 when USC topped the Buckeyes, 35-26.  One week after recording its 800th all-time victory, might a win on Saturday be one of the Buckeyes' biggest yet and keep their to a third straight BCS national championship game clear?  Remember the last time OSU played the top-ranked team was when it upended Miami for the BCS title in double overtime, 31-24, in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.

Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said this week that running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, who injured his foot in the season opener, will take the field against the Trojans, but later countered by saying his status is unclear.  OSU could sure use him in the lineup as he posted 111 rushing yards on 13 carries prior to getting hurt in the 43-0 win over Youngstown State.  Without him last week, OSU managed 162 yards on the ground in a testy 26-14 victory over Ohio.  Quarterback Todd Boeckman is 30-of-45 on the season and averaging 148.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 10th in the conference.  The Buckeyes hold an average of 383.5 total yards of offense each game - also ranked 10th, but they top the league in time of possession, owning the ball for 33:40 each game.  In OSU's way is the Trojan defense, which allowed just one touchdown and 187 total yards in their opening 52-7 win at Virginia.  USC allowed only 32 yards rushing as well, while recovering three fumbles and picking off a pass.  Seniors Kaluka Maiava, Clay Matthews and junior Taylor Mays recorded six tackles each in the win.  Senior Rey Maualuga has been dominant in the middle, recording 115 solo tackles, 81 assists, three picks and four forced fumbles in his career.

The Buckeyes are prepared to head west with one of the nation's top defenses.  OSU has allowed an average of 164 total yards in its first two games, which ranks second nationally.  Its pass defense is giving up just 97 yards in the air each game.  Needless to say USC quarterback Mark Sanchez will be tested, although he was impressive in the season opener.  Sanchez earned Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors after his 338-yard, 3-touchdown game, in which he completed 26-of-35 passes. His primary target was Damian Williams, who caught seven balls for 91 yards.  Ronald Johnson (3 rec., 78 yds.) and Patrick Turner (2 rec., 62 yds.) were also deep threats in the opener, hauling in a touchdown each.  The ground attack was led by C.J. Gable, who gained 73 yards a touchdown on nine carries, but Allen Bradford and Stafon Johnson also saw nine attempts each.  The USC offensive unit totaled 558 yards overall.  OSU juniors Lawrence Wilson and Anderson Russell each have an interception, while James Laurinaitis leads the squad with 7.0 tackles per game.

Penn State and Syracuse are meeting for the first time since 1990, and the Orange might be getting the Nittany Lions at the wrong time.  PSU, which owns a 40-23-5 advantage in the series, has posted a ridiculous 111 points in their first two games this season, including a dominant 45-14 rout of Oregon State last week.  But the Nittany Lions will have to find their third win of the year indoors, as they travel to the Carrier Dome on Saturday for their first road test of the season.

Last week PSU sophomore running back Evan Royster racked up a career-high 141 yards on 17 carries for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.  Junior quarterback Daryll Clark, who set career highs for rushing (61 yds) and passing (215 yds) last week, is seventh in conference passing (180.5 yds) and total offense (211.0 yds).  His main target, senior Jordan Norwood, is third in the league with 6.0 receptions and 95.0 receiving yards per game.  He tied his career-high with eight receptions for a career-best 116 yards last week in a game in which the Nittany Lions boasted a balanced attack, totaling 215 yards passing and 239 yards rushing.  The Syracuse defense has struggled in its first two games, giving up 72 points, 962 yards and nine touchdowns overall.  The Orange are allowing 243.5 yards on the ground and 237.5 yards in the air.  Senior linebacker Jake Flaherty is ranked third in the BIG EAST with 8.5 tackles per game, while senior teammates Vincenzo Giruzzi and Paul Chiara rank ninth with 7.0 stops per outing.  Two weeks ago against Northwestern, senior strong safety A.J. Brown tallied 11 tackles with an interception. Junior tackle Arthur Jones leads the conference with 4.0 tackles for loss.

Purdue's Joe Tiller tied the school record for wins last week when the Boilermakers took out Northern Colorado, 42-10.  Breaking the school record will be a bit tougher this week as Purdue welcomes Oregon, which is on the road for the first time in the 2008 campaign.  The two teams meet for just the second time ever as Purdue won the lone contest 13-7 back in 1979. 

The Boilermakers were impressive in their season opener last week on both sides of the ball and special teams.  Senior quarterback Curtis Painter passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns, Desmond Tardy hauled in three passes for 112 yards and Kory Sheets totaled 81 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.  Purdue recorded 402 total yards, scoring five touchdowns and averaging 7.4 yards per play.  The Boilermakers owned the ball for only 22:40 in the opener, while Oregon is averaging a time of possession of just over 26 minutes per game.  However, that figure also ranks last in the Pac-10.  The Ducks are allowing 274 yards of total defense, including 91.5 on the ground.  Oregon is one of just two Pac-10 teams that have yet to snag an interception, but they have been tough on third downs, allowing opponents only 11 conversions in 35 attempts.  The Ducks have also yet to stop opponents from scoring in the red zone, giving up three touchdowns and two field goals in five tries.  Sophomore linebacker Spencer Paysinger is tied for first in the Pac-10 with 9.5 tackles per game, while junior end Will Tukuafu is second with a pair of sacks on the year.

Purdue's defense allowed Northern Colorado 338 total yards, including 216 in the air.  The Boilermakers also blocked two punts, scored a TD off of a blocked punt, and averaged 38.7 yards per kickoff return.  Frank Halliburton, the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, blocked both those punts, becoming the first Boilermaker in 121 years to accomplish that feat.   Purdue was also led last week by safety Frank Duong, who carded seven solo tackles and a career-best eight total stops on the day.  Alex Magee and Ryan Baker both had sacks in the game as well.  Purdue will have to be ready for Oregon's high-powered offense as it has posted 110 points in two games and leads the Pac-10 in total yards (1184) and touchdowns (15).  The Ducks have gotten it done on the ground, averaging a league-best 332 yards rushing.  Senior Jeremiah Johnson (80.5 yds) and junior LeGarrette Blount (76.5 yds) rank fifth and sixth in conference rushing, respectively, and each have scored two touchdowns so far.  Sophomore Justin Roper is fifth in league passing with 161.1 yards per game and his primary target, Terrance Scott, rates eighth at 80.5 yards per game.

After two promising performances inside Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin travels west to California to take on a hungry Fresno State ballclub ranked 21st in the nation.  The Bulldogs have only played against Big Ten teams on five occasions, but they beat the Badgers 32-20 in Madison in 2001.  That same year the Bulldogs defeated then-No. 10 Oregon, 44-24, which was the highest-ranked squad to ever travel to FSU.  Now the 10th-ranked Badgers come to town looking to move to 3-0 on the season and stay among the nation's elite.  Speaking of 2001, UW has not lost a non-conference game away from Camp Randall that season.

The Wisconsin offense will need to get out of the gates quick Saturday, something it has yet to do in its first two games.  Last week against Marshall, Wisconsin trailed 14-0 before scoring 51 unanswered points, while in the season opener against Akron, the Badgers only led by a touchdown at the half.  Perhaps the expected return of tight end Travis Beckum will give UW a boost at kickoff.  Beckum has nearly been a 1,000-yard receiver in each of the past two seasons and will definitely help the UW passing attack.  The Badgers rank eighth in the conference with 202 passing yards per game, but when they do throw the ball, they average a league-high 10.9 yards per toss.  Senior Allan Evridge is 24-of-36 on the year for 191.5 yards per game.  Ten of the 12 Badger touchdowns have come on the ground and junior P.J. Hill has been responsible for four of those.  His 133.5 yards per game is first in the league.  FSU's Chris Carter and Moses Harris each totaled eight tackles in their first game, while Kyle Knox and Jake Jorde had seven apiece. Marvin Haynes had two interceptions in the game, but look for the Bulldogs to continue to defend the run, having given up only 106 in their 24-7 win at Rutgers.

Like Wisconsin, Fresno State was also slow to start in the opener.  The Bulldogs' offense did not score until the third quarter, but finished the game with a very balanced 422 yards.  Ryan Matthews ran for 163 of the 206 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback Tom Brandstater was 11-of-24 for 216 yards.  Most of those yards went to Seyi Ajirotutu, who racked up 116 yards in just three catches.  Wisconsin ranks sixth in the Big Ten for allowing 305.5 yards a game, including just 72.5 yards on the ground.  UW needs improve its pass rush Saturday as it ranks 11th in the league with just two sacks on the year.  Junior Jaeve McFadden is second in the conference with 20 tackles, while sophomore Niles Brinkley is tied for first with two interceptions.