Five Big Ten football facts heading into Week 10

It?s a historical week for the Big Ten. With a 31-15 victory over Maryland last Saturday, Iowa continues to keep pace with Ohio State and Michigan State as the three remaining undefeated teams in the conference. But what makes this so special is that the Big Ten has three teams who have all reached 8-0 for the first time in 112 seasons. It was last accomplished in 1903 when Illinois, Minnesota and Northwestern all started a perfect 8-0.

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Outside of this historic win in Iowa City, Michigan used a goal-line stand to pick up its 16th win in a row at Minnesota. Penn State racked up its first conference shutout since 2009 in a win against Illinois, Wisconsin held its sixth-straight visiting opponent to ten points-or-fewer in a victory against Rutgers, and Purdue picked up its first conference home victory under Darrell Hazell in a triumph against Nebraska.

There are a trio of games on BTN this weekend, beginning with Illinois traveling to West Lafayette to take on Purdue at noon. Rutgers will then take its first-ever trip to Michigan Stadium to battle the Wolverines, while Wisconsin makes its first visit to College Park to battle Maryland at 3:30 p.m. (all times eastern).

With all fourteen teams in action, here are five facts you should be aware of when you tune into BTN this weekend.

Although still dominating, Michigan?s impressive defense has shown some cracks recently. After holding each of their previous five opponents to seven points-or-fewer (including three shutouts), the Wolverines have given up an average of 26.5 ppg over their last two contests. However, Michigan still boasts the nation?s second-best scoring defense at 11.4 ppg on the season (Wisconsin - 11.0 ppg). Should this mark hold, it will be the fewest points allowed per game by Michigan since they led the nation in scoring defense (8.9 ppg) in 1997. It?s been even tougher to score against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, as they are allowing 8.2 points per game at home this season, which would be the lowest single-season mark at the Big House since 2000. In addition to their scoring defense, Michigan also ranks in the Top 5 in the FBS in total defense and rushing defense. The last time the Wolverines finished in the Top 5 in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense in the same season was 1974.

Corey Clement?s return to the lineup is a good sign that Wisconsin?s previous rushing issues may soon be laid to rest. After missing the previous seven games due to a sports hernia, Clement returned to action last weekend against Rutgers, scoring his first three touchdowns of the season. His 12-yard rushing score in the first-quarter was his first since Nov. 29, 2014 against Minnesota. Describing himself at 85 percent healthy, Clement finished with 115 yards on eleven carries en route to earning his first-ever three touchdown game and eighth career 100-yard rushing output. Amazingly, six of those eight career rushing performances of 100-plus yards have come when he has carried the ball fewer than 15 times. Of all active players in the FBS, only Lousiana-Lafayette?s Elijah McGuire (7) has had more of those performances than Clement.

After struggling to find a consistent and effective rushing presence in recent years, Purdue may have found a reliable weapon in Markell Jones. Making his second career start last weekend against Nebraska, he had a career-high 23 carries for 92 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. Jones also added five catches for a career-high 51 receiving yards. In his two career starts (at Michigan State and vs. Nebraska), he has rushed 45 times for 249 yards (5.5 ypc) and scored four touchdowns. Jones is now third among all true freshmen in the nation with a team-high 550 yards on the ground this season. But here?s another reason why he?s been so effective: Jones is hard to bring down behind the line of scrimmage. He has 553 rushing yards gained and 550 net yards; those three yards lost are the fewest in the nation among players with 100-plus rush attempts. He opened his career at Purdue with 62 straight rushes without a negative gain.

Will Likely has established himself as one of Maryland?s most effective offensive weapons with his returning ability. He was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season after he returned six kickoffs for 220 yards against Iowa this past weekend. His day was highlighted by a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, marking his second career 100-yard kickoff return TD. There have been 35 total 100-yard kickoff returns in Big Ten history and Likely has been responsible for the last two. Likely?s kickoff return TD last week was his eighth career TD on defense or special teams. He?s the first FBS player to have eight such touchdowns through his junior year since Ohio State?s Ted Ginn Jr. from 2004-06.

Kicking the ball against the Fighting Illini has not been an easy task this season. Last weekend at Penn State, Illinois blocked two PAT?s back-to-back following the Nittany Lions? first two scores. It marked the first time that Illinois had two blocked kicks in a game since 2003 at Purdue. They entered the week tied with Temple for the FBS lead with five blocked kicks (two punts, two PAT?s, one FG) this season. That?s the most blocked kicks for the Illini in any season since they posted six in 2001. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Rob Bain has been responsible for three of Illinois? five blocks. That is currently tied with Temple?s Sharif Finch for the most of any player in the FBS.

Check us out on Twitter at @BTNStatsGuys as we will be providing more facts and stats on game day.