Big Ten Roundup - Week 3 Standings & More

Big Ten conference roundup, standings, player and game of the week

Click on each team for game recaps, thoughts, schedules and more and scroll down for the games, results, players of the week and the conference roundup.

Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Michigan | Michigan State | Minnesota
Northwestern | Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Wisconsin
- Week 1 | Week 2

Big Ten Game of the Week

Oregon 32 ... Purdue 26 2OT
Oregon got a three-yard touchdown run from LeGarrette Blount in the second overtime to finish off the comeback. Purdue jumped out to a 20-3 lead helped by Kory Sheets touchdown runs from 80 and two yards, and had a chance to win in regulation but Chris Summers badly missed a 44-yard field goal. The Ducks roared back in the second half with an 87-yard Jairus Byrd punt return for a score and a five-yard Blount touchdown run, but they could only manage a 38-yard Matt Evenson field goal in the fourth quarter to tie it at 23. Summers hit a 22-yarder in the first overtime but missed a 47-yarder in the second.

Big Ten Player of the Week
Michigan State RB Javon Ringer ran for 282 yards and two touchdowns on 43 carries, adding a 12-yard reception in the win over Florida Atlantic

	Overall
	W-L	PF	PA	STK
Northwestern	3-0	87	37	W3
Minnesota	3-0	108	67	W3
Penn State	3-0	166	37	W3
Wisconsin	3-0	102	41	W3
Iowa	3-0	105	8	W3
Indiana	2-0	76	16	W2
Michigan State	2-1	90	48	W2
Illinois	2-1	109	90	W2
Ohio State	2-1	72	49	L1
Purdue	1-1	68	42	L1
Michigan	1-2	56	66	L1

Saturday, September 13
12:00	at Illinois 20 ... UL Lafayette 17 CFN Prediction: Illinois 45-24  Ill. -24.5
12:00	at Northwestern 33 .. Southern Illinois 7 CFN Prediction: NU 38-23
12:00	at Michigan St 17 ... Florida Atlantic 0 CFN Prediction: MSU 37-17 MSU -16.5
12:00	at Minnesota 35 ... Montana State 23 CFN Prediction: Minnesota 40-20
12:00	at Iowa 17 ... Iowa State 5 CFN Prediction: Iowa 31-23  Iowa -13.5
3:30	Oregon 32 ... at Purdue 26 2OT CFN Prediction: Oregon 38-28  UO -7.5
3:30	Penn State 55 ... at Syracuse 13 CFN Prediction: PSU 41-14  PSU -27.5
3:30	at Notre Dame 35 ... Michigan 17 CFN Prediction: Mich. 24-10  PICK
8:00	at USC 35 ... Ohio State 3 CFN Prediction: OSU 27-23  USC -11
10:30	Wisconsin 13 ... at Fresno State 10 CFN Prediction: FSU 23-20  PICK

Games of the Week
Aug. 30 - Cal 38 - MSU 31
Sep. 6 - NW 24 ... Duke 20
Sep 13 - Oregon 32 - Purdue 26 2OT

Players of the Week
Aug. 30 - PJ Hill, Wisconsin
Sep. 6 - Javon Ringer, MSU
Sep 13 - Javon Ringer, MSU

Conference
Roundup

Illinois … The Illinois defense did a decent job of keeping Michael Desormeaux and the UL Lafayette running game under wraps, but the offense didn't exactly turn on the juice to put the game away. The running game only came up with 194 yards and Juice Williams struggled both as a passer and to get the running game going. With a week off, the team needs to sharpen up the passing game and get the timing down on the ground attack before dealing with Penn State.
Indiana … Didn’t Play This Week
Iowa … Ricky Stanzi got the keys to the offense and … pffffffft. The Hawkeyes didn’t go anywhere against Iowa State with little passing game and RB Shonn Greene the only consistent producer. The defense was swarming as it kept the Cyclone running game in check, and it bent, but didn’t break. This was a tough rivalry game, and while it was ugly, Iowa will take the big win and move on.
Michigan … Do we know anything about Michigan after the bad loss to Notre Dame? The offense outgained the Irish 388 to 260 and the defense did a decent job overall, but this loss proved just how costly mistakes will be. There's no margin for error for the Wolverines, and the last thing they need is to get behind 21-0. Steven Threet appears to be the best of the quarterback options and Sam McGuffie is a good all-around playmaker to work with, but there needs to be a steadier rushing option.
Michigan State … Javon Ringer might be a superstar who can handle 43 carries, but the Spartans need to get some other players more involved. Six Spartans came up with just 15 carries in relief of Ringer. There might have been rainy and lousy conditions against Florida Atlantic, but Brian Hoyer's 5-of-15 passing day has to be a bit of a concern. Aaron Bates had a nice day booting the ball to keep FAU pinned deep.
Minnesota … In play of Duane Bennett, who suffered a torn ACL, DeLeon Eskridge looked strong running the ball against Montana State. The Gophers didn’t spread the ground game around much, and Adam Weber didn’t have his sharpest game throwing the ball, but the offense rolled when it had to in the second quarter. Now the defense has to continue to tighten up the pass defense and the penalties, eight for 87 yards, have to slow down.
Northwestern … That's what you're supposed to do to an inferior team. Northwestern had few problems with Southern Illinois with a balanced offense and a great day from the defense. 3-0 is 3-0, even though the schedule hasn't been that great and Ohio is up next. At some point, the team will need C.J. Bacher to revert to his 2007 form. He was fine against SIU, completing 21-of-29 passes, but he hasn't been the playmaker he was last season despite having more experienced talent around him.
Ohio State … The Buckeye lines got destroyed by the USC lines. There were positive signs early on with good, crisp drives, but a whole bunch of bad luck with penalties, and then the team went into a funk once USC started producing. Todd Boeckman had an awful game with too many poor decisions, but he was under constant pressure. While the game got out of hand and not much could've been done to change it, Jim Tressel and the coaching staff might have to wonder why they didn't go with Terrelle Pryor more in the first half when he was effectively tearing off yards. Now the team has to regroup, get by Troy and Minnesota, and be ready for a showdown at Wisconsin. The Buckeyes could still play USC again in the Rose Bowl.
Penn State … The machine keeps on rolling. Penn State’s schedule might not seem that nasty, but Oregon State and Syracuse are BCS league teams and they got blown away. The Nittany Lion offense has exploded while the defense isn’t blinking despite the suspensions up front. 560 yards to 159. Everything is clicking as the JoePa’s bunch is flying under the radar. This team is good. Really good.
Purdue … Purdue let one slip away. The Boilermakers got up early on Oregon and had a chance to win in regulation, but couldn't close. Curtis Painter, for him, had a rough day completing 26-of-50 passes with two interceptions, and while he had help from the running game, he couldn't come up with the big plays needed in the second half. This was Purdue's chance to make a huge statement on a national scale, and it blew it. The team has to get over this in a hurry, or there might be a major upset issue against Central Michigan.
Wisconsin … The Badgers survived the trip against a very dangerous Fresno State. It wasn't pretty, but it was an important road win that might not get enough credit on a national scale. However, the game exposed two big problems. 1) The defensive back seven still gives up too many big plays. The Badgers were fortunate Fresno State couldn't close on some big drives. 2) They need better quarterback play. Allan Evridge was fine, but he has to prove he can be better on third downs. He struggled to keep the chains moving and misfired on too many throws. Even so, UW will take this win and run going into the off week. The nasty stretch of the season kicks in starting at Michigan on the 27th.