Capsules of the Big Ten Conference pairings for Saturday from The Associated Press:

Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) at Penn State (8-1, 4-1), 3:30 p.m., (ABC) Line: Penn State by 3½. Series record: Tied 12-12. Last meeting: 2008, Penn State 13-6.

What's at stake Bragging rights aside, both teams could use a signature win to improve their resumes for a BCS bowl berth. Ohio State hosts Iowa next week, but this will be Penn State's last chance to play a ranked foe with Indiana and Michigan State left on its schedule. The winner also solidifies a hold on second place in the Big Ten and be in position to move up should the unbeaten Hawkeyes falter.

Key matchup Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor vs. Penn State front seven. Pryor, a western Pennsylvania native, may be taking heat from the Beaver Stadium fans and the Nittany Lions' Big Ten-best defense. DEs Jack Crawford and Jerome Hayes and the standout linebacking corps may have their hands full trying to contain dual-threat Pryor.

Players to watch Ohio State: Pryor. The sophomore spurned Penn State about 18 months ago to sign with the Buckeyes to end a hotly contested recruiting race, and Nittany Lions fans haven't forgotten. Penn State: QB Daryll Clark. The senior from Youngstown, Ohio, would like to do well in his last game against Ohio State, especially after getting knocked out of last year's win because of a concussion.

Facts & figures A loss could threaten Ohio State's streak of at least a share of four straight Big Ten titles. ... Penn State hasn't turned the ball over the last three games, and has lost just two turnovers overall during its five-game win streak. ... Saturday's game will be the 300th played in the 50-season history of Beaver Stadium.

Purdue (3-6, 2-3) at Michigan (5-4, 1-4), Noon (Big Ten Network) Line: Michigan by 5½. Series record: Michigan leads 41-13. Last meeting: 2008, Purdue 48-42.

What's at stake Michigan desperately needs a sixth victory to become eligible for a bowl. If the Wolverines lose to Purdue at home for the first time since 1966, they could turn a 4-0 start into a 5-7 flop and Rich Rodriguez would have another miserable off-season. Purdue has to win to keep its postseason hopes alive after a 1-5 start. The Boilermakers have dropped 11 straight road games.

Key matchup Michigan QB Tate Forcier vs. Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan. If Forcier has time to throw and room to run, he'll have a chance to play as he did earlier in the season. If Kerrigan does what he did against Ohio State — three sacks — it could lead to another disappointing day for Forcier. In Big Ten games, Purdue has given up a conference-low 155 yards passing a game.

Players to watch Purdue: QB Joey Elliott had the worst game of his career in last week's 37-0 loss at Wisconsin. The fifth-year senior was 5-of-23 for 59 yards with an interception and was benched. He should have chances to bounce back against Michigan, whose defense has given up 430 yards a game in the Big Ten. Michigan: DE Brandon Graham leads the Big Ten with 17 tackles for losses this season and he's behind only Kerrigan with 4½ sacks in conference games. Forcier has not thrown a touchdown in the last three conference games, all losses.

Illinois (2-6, 1-5) at Minnesota (5-4, 3-3), noon Line: Minnesota by 6½ Series record: Minnesota leads 32-27-3. Last meeting: 2008, Minnesota, 27-20.

What's at stake Both teams are looking to build on encouraging performances. The Gophers racked up 505 yards in a 42-34 win over Michigan State after managing just seven points total in two straight losses to Penn State and Ohio State. They are in the middle of a three-game home stand as they chase a lower-level bowl game. The Illini snapped a five-game losing streak by rushing for 377 of 500 total yards in a 38-13 thumping of Michigan. Coach Ron Zook could need a strong finish to the season to save his job.

Key matchup Minnesota LBs Lee Campbell, Nate Triplett and Simoni Lawrence vs. Illinois QB Juice Williams. The Gopher LB corps is one of the most active in the Big Ten. They'll spend the day chasing Williams, who woke from a season-long slumber to put up 220 total yards against Michigan. He needs 85 yards to become the sixth player in conference history to surpass 10,000 for his career.

Players to watch Illinois: RB Mikel Leshoure. Has set a career high for yards rushing in a game three straight weeks, culminating with 150 yards and a TD against the Wolverines last week. Has 350 yards rushing and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry in last three weeks. Minnesota: QB Adam Weber. Has struggled with a new throwing motion and new system for most of the season, particularly in two straight losses to Penn State and Ohio State. But broke out of that funk last week with 416 yards and five TD passes against Michigan State.

Western Mich. (4-5, 3-3 MAC) at Michigan State (4-5, 3-3), Noon Line: Michigan State by 18 Series record: Michigan State leads 8-2. Last meeting: 2003, Michigan State, 26-21.

What's at stake Bowl eligibility. Both teams are coming off losses and need to win two more games to have a chance to play in the postseason. Plus, Michigan State wants to avoid dropping home games to two in-state MAC foes in the same season. The Spartans lost 29-27 to Central Michigan on Sept. 12. Western gets its third shot at a Big Ten opponent after losing at Michigan and Indiana.

Key matchup Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller and RB Brandon West vs. Michigan State's defense. The normally stout Spartans were shredded for 505 yards and six TDs by Minnesota and will be tested by the Broncos, who average 393.4 yards and 25.6 points per game. Hiller is a prolific senior passer and West already has 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season.

Players to watch Western Michigan: DE Justin Braska. The senior is coming off a performance at Kent State that earned him the first MAC West Division player of the week award of his career. Braska recorded 2½ tackles for loss — including a sack — to go along with six tackles (five solo). He also batted down a pass attempt at the line of scrimmage. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Braska will be going against a Michigan State offensive line that averages around 300 pounds per player. Michigan State: QB Kirk Cousins. The sophomore's been steady this season and has had his moments, but still hasn't put together a true breakthrough performance. It could come against Western, which gives up 27 points a game.

Northwestern (5-4, 2-3) at Iowa (9-0, 5-0), Noon Line: Iowa by 16½ Series record: Iowa leads 46-21-3 Last meeting: Northwestern 22-17 (2008).

What's at stake Iowa can move one step closer to a Big Ten title and stay in the BCS championship game hunt with a win. The Hawkeyes could also use a clean, decisive win over an unranked foe to boost their resume for those unconvinced pollsters. For Northwestern, a win would make them bowl-eligible and give the Wildcats the signature win they've lacked this season.

Key matchup Northwestern's running game vs. Iowa's defense. The Wildcats are 94th nationally with just 121.9 yards rushing per game, which is about as much as the Hawkeyes allow per game. Northwestern will have to establish a running attack given the questionable health of QB Mike Kafka.

Players to watch Northwestern: Kafka. He suffered a hamstring injury in a 34-13 loss to Penn State. Mobile quarterbacks have given Iowa some trouble this season, so Kafka's health is key. Iowa: QB Ricky Stanzi. Although he threw five picks against Indiana, his pair of TD throws to open the fourth quarter helped Iowa beat the Hoosiers 42-24. Iowa is a heavy favorite against the Wildcats, but turnovers could keep Northwestern in the game.

Facts and figures Northwestern is the only team that's won more than once at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa's last 51 games there. The Wildcats won in Iowa City 21-7 in 2006 and 22-17 last season. ... Iowa is 5-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 2002, when it finished 8-0 in league play. ... Both teams are averaging exactly 25.7 points per game, but the Hawkeyes are stingier on defense by eight points. Iowa is also plus-18 in turnover margin, while Northwestern is minus-1 in takeaways.

Wisconsin (6-2, 3-2) at Indiana (4-5, 1-4) Noon (Big Ten Network) Line: Wisconsin by 11. Series record: Wisconsin leads 35-18-2. Last meeting: 2008, Wisconsin, 55-20.

What's At stake Indiana needs two wins in the last three games to become bowl-eligible. With a trip to No. 11 Penn State next week, this is as close to a must-win as the Hoosiers have. Wisconsin ended a two-game skid and a win Saturday would allow the Badgers to improve its bowl seeding.

Key matchup Wisconsin RB John Clay against Indiana's run defense. The Hoosiers have been outscored 47-3 in the second half the last two weeks. Now the Hoosiers must contend with the 248-pound Clay. If the Badgers spend the first two quarters delivering body blows to the Indiana defense, Clay could take advantage later.

Players to watch Wisconsin: Clay. He's tied for 13th in the nation in touchdowns rushing (10), has four 100-yard games this season and is 20th in the nation with 104.9 yards per game. This week, he faces a defense that allows more than 145 yards rushing per game and has given up 15 TDs on the ground, tied for second-most in the Big Ten. Indiana: CB Adrian Burks. With Burks replacing Indiana's top cornerback, Ray Fisher, who is out with a knee injury, Wisconsin may be tempted to try play-action to open the passing game.

Facts & figures Badgers have won four straight in the series. ... Indiana LB Chad Sherer and Wisconsin QB Dustin Sherer are brothers who grew up in Cicero, Ind. ... Badgers are 6-0 against unranked teams, 0-2 vs. ranked teams this season. ... Clay, the Big Ten's leading rusher, needs 161 yards to reach 1,000 this season. ... Wisconsin has the second-longest active streak of consecutive bowl games in the Big Ten with seven.