In a week when there was only four games played by teams in the Big Ten there was still plenty of action as they kept the trend of quality not quantity alive.  We finally got our first taste of multiple head-to-head in conference match-ups as Iowa visited Minnesota in a game where their was plenty at stake for both teams.  While Ohio State and Wisconsin gave the nation one of the best games of the week.  Lets recap all action in four down fashion.

First Down  

Miami (Ohio) at Illinois

Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has been the prime reasons Illinois has already topped last seasons win total (2) in just the first four weeks.  Scheelaase has been flawless this season and has put up gaudy numbers along the way.  On Saturday he threw for 278 yards and five touchdowns with all five coming before the second half.  He also helped his unit attain 36 first downs and a collective 601 yards of total offense.  Scheelhaase used a 29-point second quarter to squash Ohio 50-14.  One of his most dangerous attributes is his ability to spread the ball around to his receivers and he did just that Saturday connecting with 11 different targets.  Wide receiver Josh Ferguson led them all with 5 catches 77 yards and a touchdown.  The Illini quarterback has now passed for 1142 yards on the season with 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions which makes him by far the most efficient passer in the Big Ten.  Illinois gets their first taste of conference blood next week as they travel to Nebraska in what should be a shoot-out with two high octane offenses led by talented gun-slingers.  Illinois was winless last year in Big Ten play. 

Second Down

Northern Illinois at Purdue

The Huskies used all three phases of the game to whoop the Boilmakers on Saturday.  Stud quarterback Jordan Lynch threw three touchdown passes as his defense and special teams units scored on an interception and kick-off return as they routed Purdue 55-24. Lynch helped his team achieve some firsts as he set some personal records of his own.  Saturday was the first time a Mid-American Conference team has beaten two Big Ten conference teams in the same season and they didn't even flinch.  The Huskies also tied a record for widest margin of victory over a Big Ten team with 31.  Lynch became the 26th player in football subdivision history to hit 4,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in his career.  He might want to send a thank you letter to the Boilmakers for their performance Saturday though.  Purdue was awful.  Stupid penalties (7), ugly turnovers (5), and atrocious quarterback play just to name a few things that went wrong for them.  Things got so bad Purdue coach Darrell Hazell pulled senior starter Rob Henry and plugged in true freshman Danny Etling in the first half.  He finished 19 of 39 for 241 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions. 

Third Down

Iowa at Minnesota

Only in the thick of the cornfield filled, tractor riding, hot-dish loving mid-west would two division one football teams play each other not just for records sake, but to hold a bronzed trophy in the shape of a pig at the end of the game.  Meet Floyd.  He is the epitome of what the Hawkeye Gopher rivalry stands for.  Since 1935 the two schools have met for Floyd 77 times meaning the next match-up between these two shouldn't be a smash mouth football game, but an intervention, for everyones sake.  You can't make this stuff up.  As for the game itself Saturday both teams came into it with high expectations.  Iowa was 3-1 and Minnesota a perfect 4-0 with both teams playing their first in conference opponent.  Iowa set the tone early running the ball down the Gophers throat, playing conservative, not trying to make a mistake, and taking points when giving the opportunity.  Iowa kicker Mike Meyer made 3 of his 4 field goal attempts in what was a game of field position most of the day.  The Gophers struggled moving the ball in any way getting stuffed on the ground due to Iowa's trio of stud linebackers and quarterback Phillip Nelson's inefficiency through the air.  Many were hoping coach Jerry Kill was going to ride the hot hand of momentum with freshman quarterback Mitch Leidner after he ran for four scores last week for the injured Nelson.  But that wasn't the case as Iowa was able to shut down Nelson and the Gophers as they climb to 4-1.  Minnesota started their season off last year an all too familiar 4-0 before getting into Big Ten play and falling apart losing their next 7 of 9 games.  Difficult match-ups for both teams as the Hawkeyes play Michigan State in what should be a battle of great defenses and the Gophers travel to Ann Arbor to play 19th ranked Michigan. 

Fourth Down

Wisconsin at Ohio State

By far the cream of the crop game for not just the conference but arguably the nation (besides LSU at Georgia) was number four ranked Ohio State against three time defending Big Ten champs and 23rd ranked Wisconsin.  The headlines coming into the game was could the Buckeyes stop the one-two rushing attack of James White and Melvin Gordon and was Braxton Miller going to have some rust after missing the last two games with a sprained knee.  Helped by the home crowd, Ohio State held the momentum from Wisconsin for most of the game largely in part on Millers arm who was 17 of 25 for four touchdowns which matched his career high as he quieted any quarterback controversy.  Badgers quarterback Joel Stave went into the game with the bulk of the pressure from the media questioning his ability to pass Wisconsin to a victory if needed as they have relied heavily on their run game this season (and rightfully so).  Stave answered with 295 yards in the air while throwing two touchdowns and one pick.  The best running combo in the country was held to a collective 105 yards on the ground and is what forced Stave to make plays through the air.  In the end the combination of Miller, head coach Urban Meyer, and the talented roster of the Buckeyes was just too much even after the Badgers rallied a late comeback.  After a 42 yard field goal that got Wisconsin within seven points (31-24) with 2:05 left in the fourth quarter they managed to get the ball back once more with 1:29 left.  Ohio State didn't give up another first down sealing the victory in a game that lived up to the hype.  The Buckeyes now have a firm grasp on the Big Ten as they travel to number 16th ranked Northwestern in what many people have labeled as a "trap" game for Ohio State.  Wisconsin gets a week off then gets Northwestern as well on October 12th.  Game notes: First year head coach Gary Anderson worked under Urban Meyer at Utah.  Melvin Gordon was held under 100 yards for the first time this season.  The Buckeyes own the longest winning streak in the nation at 17 games.  Miller thrived off his play-action game.  According to ESPN Stats, Miller has completed more passes off play-action against Wisconsin (17) than any other team he has faced.