Hoosiers will throw ball — a lot — vs. Ohio State

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

No. 2 Ohio State is beat up in the secondary and starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor is coming off an injury.

Indiana is scoring a lot of points — and also giving up a lot — and is tired of a history of beatdowns at the hands of the Buckeyes.

Something’s got to give when the teams meet today at Ohio Stadium.

Adding spice to a series that Ohio State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) has dominated is the fact that the Buckeyes’ defensive backfield is missing two front-line players while the pass-happy Hoosiers are coming in confident that they can throw and score against anybody.

The Hoosiers (3-1, 0-1) will try to exploit those injuries, if quarterback Ben Chappell gets enough time against Ohio State’s pass rush. Chappell is among the top passers in the nation.

Penn state-illinois

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

Illinois and Penn State will meet in Happy Valley with both trying to avoid an 0-2 start in the Big Ten.

The Nittany Lions (3-2) dropped out of the polls last week after a 24-3 loss to Iowa. Coach Joe Paterno hopes to get improvement out of his struggling offense in the red zone.

It could be a big day for tailback Evan Royster, who is 128 yards shy of setting the school career rushing record of 3,398 held by Curt Warner since 1982.

But the Illini (2-2) have an improved defense and hope to build off their performance in a 24-13 loss last week to Ohio State. They held the Buckeyes’ high-powered offense to a season-low 24 points.

Coach Ron Zook hopes his team can spoil Penn State’s homecoming weekend.

Pitt-NOTRE dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

Last week, Notre Dame held Boston College to just 5 rushing yards in a 31-13 win.

Now comes a real test.

Pittsburgh will play at Notre Dame with a 1-2 running punch featuring Dion Lewis and Ray Graham. Lewis ran through and past the Irish for 152 yards last season, and Graham carried 29 times for 277 yards last week in a win over Florida International.

Pitt (2-2) is going for a third straight win over Notre Dame (2-3). They won at home last year and in South Bend in 2008 — a 36-33 quadruple overtime victory that remains the longest game in each school’s history.

Michigan State-Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich.

Michigan State-Michigan football games always rivet alums and fans of the programs regardless of the records.

This year, the matchup isn’t just provincial.

The 17th-ranked Spartans and 18th-ranked Wolverines will play at the Big House without a loss between them for the first time since 1999 and as ranked teams for the first time in seven years.

People who aren’t pulling for either team will likely tune in to watch Michigan’s sensational quarterback Denard Robinson and to witness how Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio handles the stress of the rivalry in his first game back after having a heart attack.

WEST VIRGINIA-UNLV

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.

West Virginia’s Bill Stewart must decide whether to turn running back Noel Devine loose against UNLV. Devine is listed as probable on the injury report.