Big Ten Stats: Factoids and oddities

This is incredible to me: Three Wisconsin running backs have 13 rushing touchdowns apiece. They are John Clay, James White and Montee Ball. The co-league leaders, Denard Robinson of Michigan and Dan Herron of Ohio State, have four.

Oh, the irony. Had Damarlo Belcher of Indiana caught that pass in the end zone against Iowa, the Hoosiers would have defeated the Hawkeyes. Still, Belcher is the runaway Big Ten leader in receptions, with 70.

Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan leads the league in sacks (five more than anyone else) tackles for losses (seven more than anyone else) and forced fumbles (two more than anyone else).

The Big Ten doesn't have an NCAA leader in any team statistical category, and has just one individual leader. That's Kerrigan, in tackles for losses. He is good.

Michigan has made four of 13 field goal tries. How can Michigan, program of such renown, be so bad at defense and placekicking?

Penn State is 10th in the conference in touchdowns. Penn State!

Tyler Sash, who had 11 interceptions in his first two seasons, has the fewest of any starting Iowa defensive back this year. He has two. Shaun Prater and Brett Greenwood share the Big Ten-lead with four, while Micah Hyde has three. I didn't research this, but I'd bet Iowa has the only Big Ten secondary that has multiple interceptions by four different players. I wouldn't bet much, I'd still bet.

Illinois leads the Big Ten in field goals made, and in field goals scored against it.

Only four teams in the nation have allowed more quarterback sacks than Northwestern.

Iowa's opponents have completed 61.5 percent of their passes against the Hawkeyes. That number was 54.3 percent last year. Minnesota's opponents have completed 66.7 percent of their passes against the Gophers. That number was 51.7 percent last year.

Northwestern has allowed just 43 yards in punt returns, and has punted 52  times.

Minnesota averages 34.1 yards per punt. That's poor. What's worse: The Gophers have just eight quarterback sacks. What's even worse: The Gophers have been out-rushed by 799 yards.

Michigan leads the league in first downs and in first downs allowed.

The most-penalized team in the conference is 11-1 Michigan State.

Minnesota leads the conference in fourth-down conversion tries with 25. It has converted just 12. Ohio State, on the other hand, is 8-of-9.

Wisconsin and Ohio State are a combined 111-of-111 in PAT kick attempts.

Indiana is 0-1 when playing home games in Maryland.