Big Ten links: Penn State receivers, Nebraska struggles & more

The great Mike Griffith thinks Michigan State?s win vs. Indiana sent a statement about the Spartans? title hopes.

"We're 8-0," coach Mark Dantonio said. "We've got an opportunity to be off and not practice for a week, regain ourselves in terms of our health, and move forward."

It hasn't always been pretty. How ugly has it been? Four of the Spartans' victories this season come down to the final possession.

"The bottom line is we know how to win, (and) we've learned how to win close games," said Dantonio, whose program has won seven straight times in games decided by seven points or less. "We expect to win and there's a confidence level.

"We certainly didn't play our best football … "

Don?t you wonder if this team?s luck is gonna run out at some time?

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How about those Penn State receivers? The unit looked very impressive in the win vs. Maryland. I?m looking at you, Chris Godwin and DaeSean Hamilton.

But concerns continue for the PSU defense vs. mobile quarterbacks. Pennlive.com notes that the Lions have made too many mistakes against running quarterbacks and it was more of the same against Maryland's Perry Hills, who ran for 124 yards and a touchdown. PSU allowed 241 total rushing yards.

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Just when you think Northwestern may be in trouble ? the Wildcats turn in an impressive performance to get on track after that ugly two-game losing skid.

It had to please NU to see QB Clayton Thorson play well. InsideNU.com says he chalked it up to slowing down and seeing the game more clearly. Whatever the change, he came out more accurate throwing the ball. His numbers will look worse than his performance because of drops. Still, his 37-yard TD up the seam to Dan Vitale was awfully pretty. Thorson may be OK.

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While Northwestern is ecstatic, Nebraska-the Wildcats? victim on Saturday-was bummed.

I thought the Cornhuskers had turned a corner last week with a resounding win at Minnesota. Alas, Nebraska flopped badly at home to Northwestern. The great Sean Callahan of HuskerOnline.com notes that after eight games, the reality has sunk in that this is not a very good football team. A flawed team that can't consistently run the football, has very poor defensive depth and inconsistent play on special teams. Most importantly, they don't know how to finish off an opponent. NU is 3-5 for the first time since 1960.

The great Tom Shatel of Omaha.com thinks a lack of urgency is troubling in Lincoln. And, he?s correct.

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How about Bart Houston?! Who is Bart Houston? He?s Wisconsin?s backup quarterback. And, he looked pretty good on Saturday subbing for injured Joel Stave.

As Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel notes, no matter how many players fall to injury and no matter their relative value, the Badgers keep winning and refusing to use the hits as a crutch. UW lost Stave and two other offensive starters Saturday against Illinois, but Houston came off the bench to spark the offense with two touchdown passes and Dave Aranda's defense was again impressive as the Badgers rallied for a 24-13 victory.

"I'm proud of the way the guys kept playing," Paul Chryst said when asked about the injuries. "You never know how each game goes….Guys stepped in. Guys stepped up. And you found a way to win it….

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So, what did Rutgers coach Kyle Flood tell his team after that crushing loss to Ohio State?

"My message does not change a lot based on the result because we're going to come back in tomorrow, and we're going to evaluate this performance," he said. "Everybody in the room is going to be evaluated. And then we're going to make the corrections, and then we're going to put our eyes forward."

Trips to Wisconsin and Michigan are next. It?s gonna be a tough road to a bowl.

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Indiana lost its fourth game in a row, throwing its bowl hopes in jeopardy.

But, hey, the basketball team had Hoosier Hysteria on Saturday!

For all the hype around newcomer Thomas Bryant, it?s Yogi Ferrell who still holds the key to this IU team?s hopes notes Zach Osterman of IndyStar.com.

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