November upside: Competitive games, division races. Downside: Dropping temperatures, snow flurries.
The Big Ten is definitely making the trade worth it.
1. Boiling down the Broyles: The guys on the field jockeying for individual awards deserve the attention, and their coaches are always quick to deflect any praise back to the players doing the work in pads. But it's time to take a minute and give a little credit to the assistants in headsets, either on the sidelines or in the booth, because the Big Ten might have the deepest pool of candidate for the coveted but often overlooked Broyles Award for the country's top assistant. The list is longer than three names in the league, of course, but Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman, Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop would all be deserving winners for the incredible work they've done this season. The guys on the defensive side of the ball have put together units that both rank in the top three in the nation in total defense, with the Badgers currently No. 1. That gives Aranda a slight edge over Shoop, but it's a tougher call against Herman, who not only has Ohio State leading the Big Ten in scoring again, but as the quarterbacks coach, is also responsible for the rapid rise of redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett. If both teams stay on track for a collision in the Big Ten title game, maybe they can settle the matter once and for all in Indianapolis.
2. B1G love: The first time could have been written off as a fluke, but the College Football Playoff selection committee proved it truly respects the depth at the top of the Big Ten this week with five teams ranked among its Top 25. It would have been easy to write off No. 25 Minnesota following a home loss or to drop Nebraska out entirely after getting crushed by Wisconsin. But just like Michigan State last week, the way the committee has reacted to losses in the conference reflects how highly it thinks of the Big Ten despite those early missteps to start the year. The Huskers and Gophers square off Saturday in what will definitely serve as an elimination game in the West Division and will probably wind up being a loser-leaves-town matchup for the committee, which would drop the Big Ten down to four teams in its poll. But considering how that compares with the ACC or Big 12, the committee still clearly isn't buying the supposed demise of the Big Ten.
3. Under-the-radar matchup: Michigan has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons essentially all season long, and this week has been no exception with the troubling off-the-field issues with defensive lineman Frank Clark and his subsequent dismissal. The Wolverines may even be in a hurry to get the year over with and move on. Even with all their problems on the field, they are in position to qualify for the postseason and go out on a high note as Brady Hoke's tenure likely draws to a close. The odds are going to be stacked against them in a major way next week against Ohio State, but the Wolverines have home-field advantage, an underrated defense and potentially no shortage of motivation with Maryland coming to the Big House -- and if the chance to earn a trip to a bowl game doesn't bring out the best in Hoke's club, there's really no reason to even consider it a possibility he could return for another year.
East Division
Brady Hoke has spoken with Frank Clark, but the Michigan coach is keeping the details private.
Michigan State is still looking for a "statement" victory.
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett admits it's a little "crazy" to think about being in the Heisman Trophy conversation.
Janarion Grant is once again making an impact for Rutgers.
Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs is unlikely to play this week due to injury.
After four weeks away, Penn State safety Ryan Keiser was back in a team meeting on Wednesday.
Kevin Wilson is making a sales pitch to keep star running back Tevin Coleman at Indiana.
West Division
What in the world happened to Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon against Western Illinois? A look at the scheme that slowed down a Heisman hopeful.
Jordan Westerkamp isn't counting the number of times he's targeted in the Nebraska offense.
Taking stock of Darrell Hazell's rebuilding job at Purdue as the season winds down.
Snubbed as a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, Minnesota's Jerry Kill is expecting that to add fuel to David Cobb's fire.
Does Illinois have a shot to spring an upset over Penn State? Not according to this comparison of personnel.
Has Northwestern finally found a No. 1 wide receiver?
Mark Weisman isn't going to win many head-to-head comparisons with Gordon, but the tenacious Iowa running back has a chance at least beat the Badgers on the field.