Big Ten Weekend: Wisconsin-MSU is on!

The Big Ten had three unbeatens on Friday. Now, just Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is the league's last hope to reach the BCS title game, and that seems iffy, since the champions of the SEC and Big 12 seem slotted to go to the big game in New Orelans. Plus, who's to say Wisconsin wins at Michigan State Saturday? Or at Ohio State the Saturday after? That's quite the tall order.

Now, on with the notes and quotes from Saturday, with some of this information coming from the Chicago Sun-Times, Indianapolis Star, Lincoln Journal Star, Chicago Tribune, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Associated Press.

Illinois (6-1 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten). Lost to Ohio State, 17-7. Saturday: at Purdue.

Illinois had its streak of forcing a turnover in 21 straight games, the longest in the nation, snapped. So was its seven-game winning streak.

“The doubters are going to say what they want,” said Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said. “People are going to say stuff, and they have the right to. The best thing about college football is you have another chance to prove yourself next week. We'll be ready to go.”

There are always doubters, aren't there?

Indiana (1-6, 0-3). Lost at Wisconsin, 59-7. Saturday: at Iowa.

The Hoosiers have quarterbacking problems, among others.

Ed Wright-Baker, after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury, started at Wisconsin. He completed 6 of 15 passes for 54 yards and two interceptions. Wright-Baker replaced Dusty Kiel, who took Wright-Baker's place in the starting lineup those two game. Kiel's problem: An ankle injury.

Michigan (6-1, 2-1). Lost at Michigan State, 28-14. Off this week.

The start of Drew Sharp's Sunday column in the Detroit Free Press:

Can we now -- finally -- put to rest the Denard Robinson myth?

He's a big-time exciting player, but he's not a quarterbacking playmaker in the big moments.

Robinson was actually the biggest liability on the field in the fourth quarter of a game that was still in doubt -- all right, maybe just a little bit in doubt. Michigan State's relentless defensive pressure assured that Robinson wouldn't beat them with his legs. And if Robinson can't run, he's powerless. He's pedestrian. He's Superman with Kryptonite in his boot.

Michigan State (5-1, 2-0). Saturday: Wisconsin.

Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy has a tattoo of a Spartan stomping a Wolverine. Worthy played for four MSU teams that beat Michigan, so ...

"We're always fighting for respect," Worthy said. "I feel even better about getting that tattoo now."

"The score was closer than the play was," MSU quarterback Kirk Cousins said in this column by Lee Barfknecht of the Omaha World-Herald. "I felt like we really dominated the game."

Andrew Johnson, a 19-year-old Michigan State sophomore, won a 2012 GMC Acadia valued at over $32,000 by kicking a 40-yard field goal as part of an in-game contest. According to Associated Press, the wind appeared to switch directions in his favor when he tried the kick.

Minnesota (1-5, 0-2). Did not play. Saturday: Nebraska.

"I just know where our roster is," Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill said in this Minneapolis Star Tribune story. "We're old, and we're young, and nothing in between that. So we're just going to keep getting younger. We got younger this year. Those kids have to grow up. ... We're not going to cheat, we're not going to grab steroid pills to get bigger and stronger. It's going to be a process.

"Who knows how long it will take them, because we've got everybody else in the Big Ten getting better as we talk. It's a competitive world out there."

Nebraska (5-1, 1-1). Did not play. Saturday: at Minnesota

Last week on a his radio show, Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini said he doesn't like to hear college athletes get booed.

Some booing was heard in Memorial Stadium during Nebraska's 34-27 win over Ohio State a week ago Saturday. The Cornhuskers trailed 17-6 at halftime. Boos were heard after a Taylor Martinez interception, and on the following play when the Buckeyes advanced into field goal range after poor NU tackling.

"I know they want to win badly, but I just got to remind them we want to win just as bad," Pelini said.

"I don't believe there's any place for booing in a college stadium, and that's something I feel strongly about."

Had the Huskers not rallied to win that game, it would have more than booing directed Pelini's way last week.

Northwestern (2-5, 0-3). Lost at Iowa 41-31. Saturday: Penn State

All is not well with the Northwestern defense, which surrendered 24 fourth-quarter points to Iowa.

"You have guys coming off the field saying: 'I'm playing this concept, (he's) playing that concept,'" Wildcats Coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "When those breakdowns in communication have happened this year, they have been disastrous. It starts with us as coaches. Why are they confused?

"I think we're turning algebra into calculus right now."

Ohio State (4-3, 1-2). Won at Illinois, 17-7. Off this week.

Dan Herron rushed for 114 yards in his season-debut after serving a six-game NCAA suspension for a tattoo parlor scandal and overpayment for work at a Cleveland booster's company.

"I hadn't played a game yet, so I guess I was pretty fresh," Herron said.

Illinois defensive coordinator Vic Koenning was asked how much Herron improves OSU's offense.

“Twofold, threefold, maybe fourfold,” Koenning said.

Penn State (6-1, 3-0). Beat Purdue, 23-18. Saturday: at Northwestern

The Nittany Lions are unranked in the Associated Press poll (but are ranked in the USA Today coaches poll and are 21st in the BCS standings), which would indicate they aren't highly regarded. Narrow wins over Temple, Indiana and Purdue may have something to do with that.

"We don't really care what anybody else says. We're 6-1," said Penn State running back Silas Redd.  We know what type of team we are. As long as we keep winning, I don't care what they say about us."

Purdue (3-3, 1-1). Lost at Penn State, 23-18. Saturday: Illinois

Purdue rushed for 162 yards against the Nittany Lions. It didn't matter.

Wisconsin (6-0, 2-0). Beat Indiana, 59-7. Saturday: at Michigan State.

Last season, Wisconsin's only regular-season loss was a 34-24 defeat at Michigan State.

"I probably didn't stress playing on the road in the Big Ten as much as I should have going into that game," Wisconsin Coach Bret Bielema said. "To win Big Ten games on the road, that's when you win championships.

"I think our guys will embrace the opportunity. I think they'll be excited about the challenge."