Big Ten links: Catch up on Wednesday's football headlines

Wisconsin?s offense is struggling. Purdue?s defense is floundering. Are you thinking what I?m thinking?

Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says UW's offense remains uneven. The Badgers are capable of moving the ball methodically, as they demonstrated with 469 total yards against the Cornhuskers, but they have only three touchdowns of 20 yards or longer - two runs and one pass. More big plays are needed. I?m not sure where they are going to come from. I think this attack is what it is at this point.

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We are one more day closer to the Michigan State at Michigan game. Watch Mlive.com writers Mike Griffith and Kyle Austin break it down. I'm going to the game and I cannot wait to see if the Spartans can solve the Michigan defense.

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Cleveland.com had a quick conversation with Urban Meyer about why J.T. Barrett was better in the red zone. Was it Barrett? Or play-calling?

"I think that's pretty much the focus of most people," Urban Meyer said when asked by Cleveland.com. "When you get in the red zone, you better be able to run the ball, but you're a guy short. How do you equate that? You run option football or you run the quarterback."

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Penn State slowed down Ohio State?s offense last year. Don?t bet against it happening again this year. Nittany Lions DC Bob Shoop is one of the best in the biz.

Bob Flounders of Pennlive.com notes that the Lions lost to Ohio State 31-24 last year in double overtime but Shoop's defense turned in a tremendous effort, limiting the eventual national champs to 293 yards. PSU scored a defensive touchdown on an Anthony Zettel interception and the Lions' defenders never let any of Ohio State's skill players break free for big yards after initial contact.

Urban Meyer's offense, which featured quarterback J.T. Barrett, running back Ezekiel Elliott and wideouts Devin Smith, Michael Thomas and Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson, was held to a long gain of just 21 yards (a Barrett rush) and the Buckeyes picked up only 74 yards on 12 completions. Elliott gained 109 yards but PSU made the standout work for them. He needed 26 carries. So, could Penn State do the ?impossible? and win in Columbus this Saturday?

Hmmmm.

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Indiana has a big game this Saturday with Rutgers coming to town. And the IU quarterback situation is in flux. Not good for a team whose bowl hopes need a lift.

Starter Nate Sudfeld didn?t play against Penn State last Saturday because of an ankle injury, and backup Zander Diamont was knocked out of the game with an injury to his throwing shoulder. Freshman Danny Cameron led the team for the final quarter and a half of the 29-7 loss on the road. Coach Kevin Wilson said Monday that Sudfeld did more work Sunday night than he had in a week but that his senior quarterback would be evaluated throughout this week.

?He did a few things last week and he was at practice but he didn?t have any live throws until Friday,? Wilson said. ?We?ll see how Nate does.?

Indiana REALLY needs to win this game.

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Good news for Minnesota: It should get back some of its injured players. The Gophers were down eight projected starters at Purdue-and still ripped through the Boilermakers. But Nebraska figures to provide a bit more resistance. But it doesn?t sound like o-linemen Brian Bobek or Josh Campion will be back. And neither will CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun.

The good news: safety Darius Travis and defensive linemen Scott Ekpe and Gaelin Elmore should be back. It?s a start.

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Hats off to Norries Wilson, who did a good job under difficult circumstances as interim head coach of Rutgers.

"I have the utmost respect for Coach Wilson," linebacker Quentin Gause said. "He's definitely a great leader."

Dan Duggan of NJ.com says Flood was involved in all practices and meetings leading up to the games during his suspension, but he was not allowed to have any contact with the team on game days. That left Wilson, who was the head coach at Columbia from 2006-11, to lead the team on game day. Wilson had the Scarlet Knights fired up for the prime-time matchup with the Spartans, who arrived at High Point Solutions Stadium ranked No. 4 nationally.

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Since tomorrow is Big Ten hoops media day, enjoy this video of former Wisconsin star Frank Kaminsky dancing for Hornets fans in China.

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More hoops: Purdue has had no lack of good big men of late. But good shooters? They have been lacking. No more.

Kendall Stephens and Dakota Mathias can shoot it. And I can?t wait to see freshman Ryan Cline.

"Kendall, (Ryan Cline), we have a lot of great shooters on this team and I honestly think Ryan is probably the purest shooter of all three of us," Mathias said. "But we're all pretty good.

"We haven't had any competitions yet, but it would be interesting to find out (who'd win)."

My money would be on Cline.