The Final Score - Your source for Big Ten Sports

Monday Morning QB...
Week two of the college football season is in the books and after a stellar 11-0 start, the Big Ten fell to earth over the weekend. The match-ups were tougher - by far - and the results tell the story. 7-4 for the week, with three big road losses and a shocking home loss to a 1-AA squad.

Penn State played Notre Dame for the first time in 14 years and found out that they have work to do to be anywhere close to last year's team. The Nittany Lions were outmatched on defense and struggled to get things rolling on the offensive side of the ball. Minnesota ran into an angry Cal team and lost its first non-conference regular season game in the last several years. Illinois got smacked around at Rutgers and really, really struggled on the offensive side of the ball. Finally, there was Northwestern, playing an emotional home opener against 1-AA New Hampshire. New Hampshire took control early and never looked back in a telling loss for Northwestern.

On the bright side, Ohio State dominated defending national champion Texas and in the process boosted Troy Smith up the early Heisman watch list. Michigan and Michigan State had no troubles (well, virtually no troubles - fans of both schools know what I am speaking about) with in-state, directional MAC squads although both Indiana and Purdue did struggle to put away their MAC foes (Ball State and Miami-OH). Iowa fought to a tough, overtime road win without Drew Tate and Wisconsin breezed over 1-AA Western Illinois.

Team of the Week...
How can it not be the Buckeyes? Ohio State served notice that it reloaded just fine, thank you, on defense and is fully loaded on offense. From the looks of it, only the scarlet and gray's own possible complacency (if it ever comes to fruition) stands in the way of the Bucks and a trip to the national title game.

Player of the Week...
Michigan State's Matt Trannon was brilliant in a Spartan blowout win over Eastern Michigan. Trannon broke the school record for receptions in a game with 14, scored two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass as well. It might well have been the best game ever for the senior who may have previously been more well known for what he meant to Tom Izzo and the basketball team.

Get Gamm Standings...
No one out-picked yours truly this week but that shouldn't stop you from continuing to try!

T1 - Gamm - 20-2 (.909), 1 GG win
T1 - Buckeye Nation - 20-2 (.909), 1 GG win
T1 - Dan Meyer - 20-2 (.909)
T1 - mayo170 - 20-2 (.909)
T1 - Aaron Roberts - 20-2 (.909)
T6 - andrewj1313 - 19-3 (.864)
T6 - phatsdawg - 19-3 (.864)
T6 - flakcat - 19-3 (.864)
9 - BigTenSportsFan - 18-4 (.818)
10 - Mike - 10-1 (.909)*
11 - PUFan - 8-3 (.727)*

* = Did not play week two

This weekend's slate:
Iowa State @ Iowa
Syracuse @ Illinois
Michigan State @ Pittsburgh
Cincinnati @ Ohio State
Ball State @ Purdue
Eastern Michigan @ Northwestern
Youngstown State @ Penn State
Michigan @ Notre Dame (TIEBREAKER)
Southern Illinois @ Indiana
Temple @ Minnesota
San Diego State @ Wisconsin