• After losing a shootout at Michigan last week, Indiana has a bye week heading into its Nov. 2 home game against the Gophers. The Hoosiers need three wins to secure their first bowl berth since 2007, and besides Minnesota, they also have remaining home games against Illinois and Purdue. Indiana already got a signature win for third-year coach Kevin Wilson when it defeated Penn State 44-24 on Oct. 5. Next week's game against Minnesota will be a measuring stick for both programs.

• Two weeks ago, Ohio State's next game against Penn State didn't look so tough. But that was before the Nittany Lions bounced back from the Indiana loss by winning a four-overtime thriller over Michigan. Now Penn State will head to Columbus coming off a bye week. Christian Hackenberg, a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week selection, will get his next test Saturday in prime time, at the Horseshoe.

• While NFL teams are combing the college ranks for tall, fleet-footed receivers in the mold of the Vikings' Cordarrelle Patterson (6-2, 220 pounds), it's still fun to see a little guy like Michigan's Jeremy Gallon (5-8, 184) light it up on Saturdays. Gallon, a senior from Apopka, Fla., set a Big Ten record last week with 369 receiving yards against Indiana.