Around the Big Ten: Intraleague play mercifully begins after disappointing nonconference slate

AP File Photo Now that an embarrassing set of big games in the preconference season, the Big Ten finally begins league play on Saturday.

• The Big Ten is actually 33-13 in nonconference play – better than the preconference performance in the last couple of years. But a 1-4 record in highly publicized games is dragging the league's reputation to the point it's a good thing teams are facing each other starting this weekend. [Chicago Sun-Times]

• After another Big Ten team fell to a nonconference opponent when Michigan lost to Notre Dame, Nebraska might be the next one anointed for the Rose Bowl, despite Northwestern and Minnesota both leading the league with 4-0 records and Ohio State ineligible for postseason play. [ESPN]

• Not everyone may be giving the undefeated Wildcats and Gophers respect, but the Big Ten Network senor writer Tom Dienhart thinks they're second- and third-best teams at this point. [Big Ten Network]

• Wisconsin's Week 2 loss to Oregon State was disappointing, but the Badgers may have suffered a bigger loss this week – though they finished ahead of UTEP on the scoreboard – when star running back Montee Ball suffered an unspecified injury early in the second quarter and didn't return to the game. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

• Losing at home, 32-31 to Central Michigan is bad enough to leave Iowa wondering if it has a legitimate shot to win another game now that the Big Ten season is starting. [Iowa Press-Citizen]

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