COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh says the 14th-ranked Wolverines hope to stay on a roll in their Big Ten matchup with fading Maryland. Harbaugh says his team played with 'unconditional belief' in each other during last week's rout of Notre Dame. The Terrapins are reeling. They have lost five of six under first-year coach Michael Locksley.
UNDATED (AP) — Illinois is set up to be eligible for a bowl under coach Lovie Smith for the first time in his four seasons. No. 3 Ohio State and No. 5 Penn State are two of seven Big Ten teams already bowl eligible and one of those teams will have a legitimate shot to be in the College Football Playoff. No. 13 Minnesota is in prime position to reach the Big Ten championship game for the first time.
UNDATED (AP) — It's a light schedule in the Big Ten this week with six of the teams being idle. No. 14 Michigan plays at Maryland after posting an impressive win over Notre Dame. Indiana's prolific passing attack will be tested when it goes against Northwestern. Illinois' Dre Brown ran for a career-high 131 yards against Purdue last week and will face the Big Ten's worst rushing defense in Rutgers. Nebraska is 1-7 on the road under second-year coach Scott Frost heading into its game at Purdue.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — It has been nearly a decade since Illinois was a 20-point favorite against a Big Ten team. That's the case for Saturday's home game against Rutgers. Illinois is coming off a huge win over then-No. 6 Wisconsin and a 24-6 win over Purdue. Illinois needs two wins to become bowl eligible. Rutgers has struggled to a 2-6 record.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Fred Hoiberg knows the track record of Nebraska basketball coaches is not good. He wanted the job anyway. Hoiberg takes over a program that has not won a conference championship in 70 years or ever won a game in the NCAA Tournament. He says a sold-out arena and top-notch facilities can trump the program's lack of tradition. He says his sales pitch to recruits is that they can come to Lincoln and do things that have never been done before at Nebraska.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State says linebacker Joe Bachie has been declared ineligible by the Big Ten after testing positive for a banned supplement. The school says it will appeal. Bachie made the second team on the AP's list of midseason All-Americans. The senior has 36 tackles and 35 assists this season, along with 3 ½ sacks.
UNDATED (AP) — Two Rutgers softball coaches, a husband and wife, have been accused of fostering a climate of fear, intimidation and abuse on the team. The university president says he wants an independent investigation of allegations made against softball head coach Kristen Butler and her husband Marcus Smith, a volunteer assistant. Rutgers President Robert Barchi says in a statement that "nothing is more important than the health and safety of our students."