This year the Big Ten has been all about the running backs, from the veteran excellence of Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells, to the smash mouth Wisconsin run game spearheaded by P.J. Hill, all the way to the conference leader in carries in Michigan State’s Javon Ringer.

They’re all great, but like many would-be tacklers, none of them come close to touching Iowa running back Shonn Greene.

“I don’t know that there’s a better back in the Big Ten than Shonn Greene right now,” said Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster, whose Golden Gophers face the Hawkeyes on Saturday to close the Big Ten season.
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Northwestern fans may have felt it most when quarterback C.J. Bachér left Saturday’s loss to Indiana with a leg injury. But he is not the only Big Ten passer nursing a wound.

Three other schools — No. 3 Penn State, Indiana and Purdue — do not know who will be starting for them under center this weekend.
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Northwestern’s offense had its biggest game of the season — and didn’t score in the first quarter.
Wideout Eric Peterman had a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in less than four minutes. Quarterback C.J. Bachér had so many carries, he began to look like the second coming of Vince Young.

This game was full of surprises. And the biggest surprise was the beating NU and its offense put on Purdue.
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I’ve struggled to come to terms with Pat Fitzgerald’s belief of flushing the good and flushing the bad.

At first glance, it was puzzling to see one of the most successful players in Northwestern history use this technique to motivate his team.

As I watched alums flock to Ryan Field for Homecoming this weekend and the Wildcats cruise to their most convincing Big Ten victory in three seasons, it finally clicked in my head as to what Fitzgerald is trying to do here.

Homecoming is all about memories. And it made me realize — many Evanston locals and NU students struggle in forgetting the good and the bad.
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Northwestern’s offense had its biggest game of the season – and didn’t score in the first quarter.

Wideout Eric Peterman had a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown – in less than four minutes. Quarterback C.J Bachér had so many carries, he began to look like the second coming of Vince Young.

This game was full of surprises. And the biggest surprise was the beating NU and its offense put on Purdue.

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NU is used to playing tight fourth quarter games. But how will the Cats deal with holding this lead? The current 15-point margin marks the largest lead for the Cats in a Big Ten conference game since 2006 against Michigan State. In that affair, NU was on the wrong end of the largest comeback in FBS history.

That is unlikely to happen today. With the offense moving at will into Purdue territory, NU is clearly the better team. Pounding runs by Tyrell Sutton and Omar Conteh are not only juicing the clock, but juicing the energy of Purdue’s defense.

And with the experience of big seniors leading the way today (Peterman, Bachér), this is a model performance on how to win a Big Ten game — in a big way.

Halfway through the third quarter, Curtis Painter has yet to find his rhythm. Brad Phillips and Sherrick McManis have shined in the secondary this afternoon, with Phillips laying several hits on Kory Sheets, and McManis playing tight pass coverage on Greg Orton.

NU has allowed only 10 points in six fourth quarters this season, so if the Boilermakers are to mount any comeback, now would be the time.

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Senior leadership has been a main reason behind NU’s 5-1 start. After a rough home Big Ten opener last week at Michigan State, it appears Eric Peterman has taken it into his own hands to get the Cats back on track.

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A solid kickoff return, setting NU up at its own 40-yard line. A Purdue 12-men-on-the-field penalty. A pair of strong runs by Tyrell Sutton.

C.J. Bachér’s decision-making takes the wheels off the offensive wagon again.

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Scary moment for Northwestern. Senior middle linebacker Malcolm Arrington is down on the field, grasping his left knee in intense pain. With Purdue facing 2nd and goal from the 10, Curtis Painter handed off to Kory Sheets on a counter run right. As Sheets cut back, Arrington fell to the ground in pain. He needed two attendants to walk him off the field.

More details on this injury as soon as they are available.

As it stands, Purdue is driving at the NU 10-yard line.