Josh Moyer, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Big Ten morning links

You know the drill: Coffee first. Notes and observations here second. And links at the bottom third.

1. Iowa transfer?: It appears as if freshman wideout Derrick Willies might have played his last game for the Hawkeyes. He posted a cryptic message on his Instagram Monday night that read, "It's been real Iowa, things are just moving on to a different chapter in the story..." A Hawkeyes spokesman told the Des Moines Register that any roster updates would be addressed by coach Kirk Ferentz on Tuesday. Willies was not listed on the team's Monday depth chart.

2. Hoke domino effect: Brady Hoke says no one's talked to him about his job status, and that kind of uncertainty is not what you want to hear when it comes to recruiting. As a result, ESPN 300 DB Garrett Taylor decommitted from the Wolverines on Monday. And U-M will be lucky if he's the last recruit to decommit. Oft-given advice is for a player to commit to a school, not a coach, but it rarely seems to work out that way. Michigan is down to nine commitments right now.

3. No Nova?: Rutgers senior QB Gary Nova is listed as "questionable" for Saturday's game against Wisconsin, which means redshirt freshman Chris Laviano could be in line for his first career start. Laviano could push Nova for time, regardless, as he outplayed Nova in the Nebraska game and even led his team with 54 rushing yards. But I'm more in line with the thinking of NJ.com's Dan Duggan: If Nova is medically cleared, he should play. A one-game sample size isn't enough to vault Laviano over Nova, who's been pretty good this year. Nova still gives the Scarlet Knights their best chance to win.

East Division

  • Michigan State's quest for respect is about to go national.

  • Urban Meyer is focusing on the positives after a close win.

  • The chance for pride in Michigan's season vanished on Saturday, writes the Detroit Free Press' Mark Snyder.

  • A 10-hour time-lapse of Penn State's entire "White Out."

  • Indiana coach Kevin Wilson wants third-string QB-turned-starter Zander Diamont to do his talking on the field.

  • Rutgers backup QB Chris Laviano is ready if Gary Nova can't go Saturday.

  • The good and bad from Maryland's loss to Wisconsin.

West Division

  • November will be Iowa's true measuring stick, according to the Des Moines Register's Rick Brown.

  • Nebraska is feeling "fresh" at this point in the season, and it's hoping that pays off in November.

  • Purdue freshman Ja'Whaun Bentley has found a home at middle linebacker.

  • Wisconsin is clawing its way out of a Big Ten hole.

  • Jerry Kill is trying to heal the Gophers' psyche for the home stretch.

  • Is slow progress enough for Tim Beckman to return to Illinois next season?

  • Northwestern LB Collin Ellis remains sidelined by a concussion.

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