Short takes
• Tracy Claeys' promotion from Gophers defensive coordinator to head coach was somewhat rare in the Big Ten. Only four other Big Ten head coaches were promoted from within, and two remain in interim roles.
Pat Fitzgerald was Northwestern's linebackers coach when he took over for Randy Walker, who died suddenly in 2006. Kyle Flood was Rutgers' assistant head coach in 2012, when Greg Schiano took the Tampa Bay Buccaneers job.
Illinois' interim coach Bill Cubit was offensive coordinator in August, when the school fired Tim Beckman. Maryland interim coach Mike Locksley was offensive coordinator in October, when Randy Edsall was fired.
Iowa's Kirk Ferentz was the team's offensive line coach for nine years under Hayden Fry. He served as an assistant with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens before returning to become Iowa's head coach in 1999.
• Big Ten West teams went 4-1 against East division teams last week, with the lone loss being Minnesota's at Ohio State. The West leads the interdivision battle 6-5. Two of the last three crossover games come Saturday: Ohio State at Illinois and Nebraska at Rutgers. Indiana plays at Purdue on Nov. 28.
