Eric Olson
FILE - Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald walks on the field during the fourth quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., in this Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, file photo. Pat Fitzgerald figures he'll add a few more gray hairs by the time No. 15 Northwestern steps on the field to face No. 3 Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday, Dec. 19. Then again, if Northwestern wins? “Not gonna lie to you, it would be a helluva ride home on I-65,” Fitzgerald said. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)
Big Ten Champions Week has game for title and 4 on undercard

By Eric Olson Dec. 17, 2020 01:44 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2020, file photo, Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck looks at his bench during an NCAA college football game with Michigan in Minneapolis. Minnesota is among 10 of the 14 Big Ten football teams sitting at two wins entering the final weekend of the regular season. The statistical anomaly begs the question of whether it's difficult for those teams to stay motivated in a season that brought unique challenges because of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
What's my motivation? Stakes low for 2-win Big Ten teams

By Eric Olson Dec. 10, 2020 04:58 PM EST

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day talks to his players during an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Anything goes, from one day to the next, in wacky Big Ten

By David Ginsburg Dec. 03, 2020 01:08 PM EST

Indiana quarterback Jack Tuttle (14) throws during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Bloomington, Ind. Indiana won 27-11. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
No. 10 Hoosiers, No. 18 Badgers meet with undefined stakes

By Eric Olson Dec. 03, 2020 01:28 AM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2020, file photo, North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) passes against Wake Forest during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C. Howell's 25th-ranked Tar Heels host No. 2 Notre Dame on Friday. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Week 13: Notre Dame-N Carolina; Iowa St-Texas top game menu

By Eric Olson Nov. 26, 2020 09:18 PM EST

Penn State head coach James Franklin walks the sideline during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Iowa in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Bluebloods Penn St., Michigan enter game with case of blues

By Eric Olson Nov. 25, 2020 01:53 AM EST

Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson, left, carries the ball while Bowling Green linebacker Darren Anders (37) and defensive lineman Ja'von Lyons (56) close in during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Bowling Green, Ohio, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. (Scott W. Grau/Sentinel-Tribune via AP)
STAT WATCH: Bulls' Patterson owns season's 1st 300-yard game

By Eric Olson Nov. 23, 2020 05:20 AM EST

Kansas State fans and students stand for the national anthem before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
No. 17 Cyclones meet Kansas State team battling virus cases

By Eric Olson Nov. 19, 2020 01:38 PM EST

Northwestern linebacker Blake Gallagher, right, celebrates after he tackled Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Northwestern won 21-13. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
STAT WATCH: Northwestern yet to give up a point in 2nd half

By Eric Olson Nov. 09, 2020 02:15 AM EST

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz questions a call against his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Spartans riding momentum heading into game at winless Iowa

By Eric Olson Nov. 05, 2020 04:43 PM EST

Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. looks for a receiver during the second quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
No. 13 Indiana looks for 1st win over Michigan since 1987

By Eric Olson Nov. 05, 2020 04:25 AM EST

Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras (7) looks to throw against Purdue during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Hawkeyes host Northwestern with sense of urgency after loss

By Eric Olson Oct. 29, 2020 02:05 AM EDT

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields throws a pass against Nebraska during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
No. 3 Buckeyes look to keep rolling at No. 18 Penn State

By Eric Olson Oct. 29, 2020 02:02 AM EDT

Kansas State defensive back AJ Parker (12) scores on an interception ahead of TCU running back Zach Evans (6) in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
STAT WATCH: Bulldogs' stalled offense leaves Leach in lurch

By Eric Olson Oct. 12, 2020 02:16 AM EDT

Florida receiver Kyle Pitts celebrates his fourth touchdown of the day during an NCAA college football game against Mississippi on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Oxford, Miss. (Thomas Wells/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP)
STAT WATCH: Baylor's versatile Ebner makes Big 12 history

By Eric Olson Sep. 28, 2020 03:08 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 4, 2019, file photo, Rutgers NCAA college football head coach Greg Schiano speaks at an introductory news conference in Piscataway, N.J. Big Ten is going to give fall football a shot after all. Less than five weeks after pushing football and other fall sports to spring in the name of player safety during the pandemic, the conference changed course Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, and said it plans to begin its season the weekend of Oct. 23-24. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Reverse: Big Ten will try to play fall football after all

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 16, 2020 09:28 AM EDT

Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban walks off the field after losing to Auburn in an NCAA college football game in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (Chris Shimek/The Decatur Daily via AP)
STAT WATCH: Kentucky is closing in on 1st SEC rushing title

By Eric Olson Dec. 02, 2019 02:14 AM EST

Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins, left, breaks through the line of scrimmage to score a touchdown against Maryland during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
No. 2 Ohio State dominating in way not seen since 1940s

By Andrew Seligman Nov. 14, 2019 02:32 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2019, file photo, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow (9) scrambles in the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Auburn, in Baton Rouge, La. For the first time in college football history, there will be two games matching teams of at least 8-0 on the same day, according to ESPN Facts and Info. In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, LSU and the Crimson Tide will play the first regular-season game matching AP Nos. 1 and 2 since 2011 _ when No. 1 LSU beat No. 2 Alabama 9-6 in overtime. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
1 vs 2: LSU-Alabama is big, but loser still could make CFP

By Eric Olson Nov. 08, 2019 01:59 AM EST

Tennessee defensive back Bryce Thompson (20) runs back an interception in the first half of an NCAA college football game against UAB, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
STAT WATCH: Hubbard on pace for top rushing total since 2014

By Eric Olson Nov. 04, 2019 02:53 AM EST