Harold Shelton III, BTN Studio Researcher, October 7, 2016

So "BTN Tailgate" will be in Columbus to see the No. 2 Buckeyes host the 3-1 Indiana Hoosiers, and the Buckeyes have won 21 straight games against Indiana, last losing in 1988.

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While the 2010 Ohio State win was later vacated, that 21-game streak is the longest active win streak by one Big Ten team against another and is tied for the third-longest win streak by one Big Ten team over another in conference history.

That's just one of my notes heading into Week 6 of the Big Ten football season.

Michigan hits the road for the first time this season and leave the state for the only time in the first two months as they play at Rutgers. Michigan went 4-0 in conference road games a year ago while Rutgers has lost 14 straight games against ranked opponents, last winning in 2009 against No. 23 USF. The Scarlet Knights got their first Big Ten win two years ago under the lights in Piscataway against Michigan.

The Wolverines have won pretty comfortably in their first four games prior to going against one of the best defenses in the nation last week against Wisconsin. Michigan averaged 52 points per game entering last week, and its 208 total points through its first four games were the most in school history.

Michigan State will play the final regular season non-conference game of any Big Ten team as they host BYU. The Spartans have lost consecutive games for the first time since 2012 and are unranked for the first time in the last 47 AP Polls.

Maryland looks to move to 5-0 for the first time since 2001 as they travel to Penn State. They are trying to become only the second FBS team since 1980 to open a season 5-0 after losing nine or more games the year before, joining Oregon State which did so in 2012.

Penn State is 36-2-1 against Maryland, including winning last year?s matchup 31-30 in Baltimore. But this series is even at 1-1 since Maryland joined the Big Ten. The Terps won 2 years ago in State College 20-19. Prior to Maryland entering the conference, the Terps won just once in the first 37 meetings.

This is the 110th meeting between Iowa and Minnesota in a rivalry dating back to 1891. The Golden Gophers lead the all-time series 62-45-2. Iowa won last year?s meeting 40-35 in Iowa City.

A win would move Iowa's Kirk Ferentz up another spot in the Big Ten record books. He has won 130 games as a Big Ten coach, which is No. 8 all time. With his next win, he?ll tie former Illinois coach Robert Zuppke for No. 7 in conference history.

Ohio State has lost just one game against an unranked opponent since Urban Meyer took over, winning 42 of 43 games in the last 5 seasons. Only Clemson and Alabama have been better in that span.

Best Record vs AP Unranked Teams in Last 5 Seasons
W-L Win pct
Clemson 43-0 1.000
Alabama 32-0 1.000
Ohio State 42-1 .977
Florida State 40-3 .930
Mississippi State 33-3 .917

 

It?s another record watch for J.T. Barrett this Saturday. He?s accounted for 17 touchdowns in just four games this season. He set the school?s passing touchdown record last week against Rutgers. He now has 59 touchdown passes in his career. He?s responsible for 84 touchdowns, which is one shy of tying Art Schlichter for No. 2 on the Buckeyes list and four shy of tying Braxton Miller for the most in school history.

This is the 92nd meeting between Illinois and Purdue. Illinois leads the all-time series 44-41-6, including winning 2 of the last 3 meetings. The Fighting Illini won last year?s matchup 48-14. Purdue is seeking to pick up its second Big Ten road win under Darrell Hazell, where they?ve lost 12 of 13 games since the start of the 2013 season.

Michigan State faces BYU and is 25-1 against non-power conference opponents under Mark Dantonio. Michigan State has won 21 of its last 23 home games but lost their last home game against Wisconsin back in late September. The Spartans are also 26-2 at home against non-conference opponents under Dantonio, including a current 11-game win streak.