Big Ten Week Four Preview

Michigan (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) travels to Notre Dame in what will be just the second night game the Irish have hosted in 22 years. If the Golden Domers win, it will be the first time they have beaten Michigan and Michigan State in the same season since 2004. The Wolverines, however, have won five of the last six against the Irish.

Penn State (1-2, 0-0 Big Ten) faces off with in-state opponent Temple a week after securing head coach Bill O’Brien’s first career victory, a 34-7 trouncing of Navy. The Nittany Lions have not lost to the Owls since World War II and own a 30-3-1 advantage all-time.

Minnesota (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) welcomes Syracuse and the nation’s second-leading passer Ryan Nassib to TCF Bank Stadium. The Gophers will trot out backup Max Shortell, who relieved injured starter MarQueis Gray in last week’s 28-23 win over Western Michigan. The 6’6” sophomore was impressive, throwing for three touchdowns against the Broncos.

The rest of the conference squares off with non-BCS opponents. Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) and Ohio State (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) host a pair of Conference USA teams in UTEP and UAB, respectively. Iowa (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) hosts Central Michigan out of the MAC, and Michigan State (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) hosts Eastern Michigan from the same conference. Illinois (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) welcomes Louisiana Tech to Champaign and Nebraska (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) and Northwestern (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) play host to FCS opponents Idaho State and South Dakota, respectively.