• The NCAA basically admitted to overstepping on its initial Penn State sanctions this week, when it announced the Nittany Lions could have 75 players under scholarship next season (instead of 65) and return to the full allotment of 85 scholarships by 2016 (two years ahead of schedule). As despicable as Jerry Sandusky's acts were, it wasn't the NCAA's place originally to weigh in so heavily on a criminal matter.

• Indiana's bowl hopes probably were dashed with its Sept. 7 loss to Navy. The Hoosiers fell to 2-2 with last week's loss to Missouri. But the Hoosiers will pose a real threat to the Gophers when they meet at Indiana on Nov. 2. As Gerry DiNardo said on Big Ten Network last weekend, "You give Indiana Minnesota's nonconference schedule, it very well could be 4-0."

• Maryland and Rutgers look like they will enter the Big Ten with positive momentum next season. Maryland finished 4-8 last year but improved to 4-0 last week with a 37-0 pasting of West Virginia. Rutgers opened with a 52-51 loss to current No. 25 Fresno State and came back from 17 points down to defeat Bret Bielema's Arkansas squad last week.