Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor, August 30, 2014

The Big Ten kicked off the 2014 college football season on a high note as Minnesota, Rutgers and Michigan State all came away with nice wins. There are 11 Big Ten games on tap on for Saturday, highlighted by Wisconsin's prime-time showdown with LSU at 9 p.m. ET at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Here is a rundown of Saturday games (view our scoreboard) and a recap of this week?s news leading up to the big weekend ahead.

BTN?s coverage will kick off at noon ET with a doubleheader as Iowa takes on Northern Iowa and Illinois hosts Youngstown State. Immediately following that, at 3:30 ET, Big Ten newcomer Maryland entertains James Madison and Nebraska welcomes Florida Atlantic. All four games will also be available on BTN2Go. Find your Week 1 game.

[ MORE: Who wins Week 1 games? Cast your votes! ]

Let?s break down the Big Ten games here.

Get our latest Week 1 coverage:

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PENN STATE vs. UCF - 8:30 a.m. ET, ESPN2

The Penn State football team arrived in Dublin on Wednesday, and it is enjoying its time across the pond before taking on UCF at 8:30 a.m. ET Saturday. Check of this photo gallery of the team taking in the sights and getting familiar with Dublin.

INDIANA STATE at INDIANA - noon ET, Watch ESPN

Will Indiana score 70 against Indiana State? That's one of Tom Dienhart's 20 Big Ten football questions for Week 1.

NORTHERN IOWA at IOWA - noon ET, BTN/BTN2Go

Who's the top player in the Big Ten heading into the 2014 college football season? Find out that answer in Tom Dienhart's preseason Big Ten player rankings.

APPALACHIAN STATE at MICHIGAN - noon ET, ESPN2

Which Big Ten players will have the spotlight on them in Week 1 of the season? Tom Dienhart has that answer here in this Big Ten players on the spot piece.

WESTERN MICHIGAN at PURDUE - noon ET, ESPNU

Every week during the 2014 football season, BTN.com?s Tom Dienhart, Brent Yarina, Sean Merriman and a different Big Ten beat writer make their Big Ten picks. Did all of our experts pick Purdue across the board? Find out here as we reveal our Week 1 Picks.

OHIO STATE at NAVY - noon ET, CBS

With Braxton Miller's season ending shoulder injury, redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett will take over at quarterback for the Buckeyes. Get to know Ohio State's new QB here.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE at ILLINOIS - noon ET, BTN/BTN2Go

How will Wes Lunt play in his first game as Illinois' starting quarterback? Tom Dienhart has a bold prediction for Lunt in this week's edition of 4th and Long.

JAMES MADISON at MARYLAND - 3:30 ET, BTN/BTN2Go

Can Maryland kick off its Big Ten dubut with a victory? The Terrapins will have to do so without receiver Levern Jacobs and safety A.J. Hendy, who have been suspended for the season due to a violation of the University of Maryland?s Student Code of Conduct.

CALIFORNIA at NORTHWESTERN - 3:30 ET, ESPN2

With the transfer of Venric Mark and a season-ending injury to WR Christian Jones, who will step up for the Wildcats' offense against Cal? Sean Merriman believes it will be WR Tony Jones, who he selected in this year's BTN.com Big Ten fantasy draft.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC at NEBRASKA - 3:30 ET, BTN/BTN2Go

When will Bo Pelini finally get Nebraska over the hump? That was one of several questions Tom Dienhart answered in this week's edition of Big Ten Mailbag.

WISCONSIN vs. LSU -  9 p.m. ET, ESPN

Wisconsin's matchup against LSU is a prime opportunity for the Big Ten to earn some much-needed credibility by scoring a victory vs. an elite program. Tom Dienhart explains in this column.