5 Things To Watch For In The Big Ten: Week 7

Now that conference play is here, we debut a new feature to preview the weekend in the Big Ten.

1. Minnesota will be playing themselves as much as Nebraska. The program hasn't been 5-0 in 15 years, and even got a special No.26 designation from the AP Poll in its release this week. These are heady times for what's still a young team with a young coach. It hasn't breathed this thin air in quite a while, and having Adrian Martinez very questionable to play could only add to some potential over-confidence and lack of focus. 

2. When you're coming off giving up eight sacks, you probably don't want to next play a team that had 10 sacks in its last game. But that's what a rarely beleaguered Iowa offensive line is facing when Penn State comes to town Saturday night at Kinnick. Now the Nittany Lions won't scheme it up as much as Dr. Blitz last week, relying more on their guys' natural pass rush abilities. And the Hawkeyes will have the crowd noise in their favor this time. Plus, look for Alaric Jackson to play much better his second week in the lineup after missing several weeks due to injury. 

3. If you're a praying person, feel free to send prayers up for Illinois quarterback Matthew Robinson. The redshirt freshman, who is essentially the Illini's third-string quarterback, will be making his first career start on Saturday against Michigan. So congratulations, kid, on your big break. For your reward you get probably the most aggressive defense in the league, coming in with max confidence after last week's performance. Buckle that chin strap tight. 

4. Michigan State has given up 30+ points in consecutive games for the first time since that disastrous 3-9 campaign in 2016. Worse, that vaunted Sparty defense has been lit up in the air (Indiana) and then on the ground (Ohio State) in those two games as well. Have opponents found a hole in what's perennially one of the league's stingiest units? We'll find out in Madison, where swirling winds and falling temps could make the game the very rock fight Mark Dantonio's squad prefers. 

5. With Josh Jackson injured, Maryland will be going with Tyrrell Pigrome under center at Purdue. The redshirt junior has been an on-again, off-again starter for the Terps and adds a different dimension from Jackson. He's the much better runner, but you have to wonder how much Mike Locksley will turn him loose given the lack of depth behind him.