THE WEEK AHEAD

IOWA AT MICHIGAN STATE

11 a.m. Saturday, ESPN or ESPN2

• Michigan State, the preseason favorite in the Legends Division, looked quite ordinary in escaping Indiana's upset bid. That should be good news for the Hawkeyes, who've found a strong rushing game in the form of Mark Weisman.

WISCONSIN AT PURDUE

11 a.m. Saturday, BTN

• Purdue's nonconference schedule included Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan and Marshall. That's no way to get prepared for Big Ten play, and it showed in a lopsided loss to Michigan. Now the Boilermakers face a Badgers team that is rediscovering its offense.

SATURDAY'S OTHER GAMES

• No. 24 Northwestern at Gophers, 11 a.m., ESPN or ESPN2

• Illinois at Michigan, 2:30 p.m., Ch. 5

• No. 12 Ohio State at Indiana, 7 p.m., BTN

• No. 21 Nebraska and Penn State are idle