Hoosiers in the drivers seat?

FIRST DOWN:

And goal to go …                

Indiana in the Rose Bowl? The way the Big Ten’s been trending this year, why the heck not? After a come-from-behind win over Iowa, the Hoosiers pushed their record to 4-5 overall, 2-3 in league play. And get this: If the Crimson and Cream beat Wisconsin this weekend, they’ll somehow be in the driver’s seat, mathematically, to represent the Leaders division in the Big Ten Championship Game Dec. 1 in Indianapolis. The division’s two best teams, Ohio State and Penn State, aren’t eligible to play in the game (or in a bowl), while Purdue and Illinois have all but been eliminated from the division race already. That leaves the Badgers and the upstart Hoosiers, who’ve won two league games in a row for the first time since 2007.                

Gene Chizik’s record as a head coach before Cam Newton: 13-24. Gene Chizik’s record with Cam Newton: 14-0. Gene Chizik’s record after Cam Newton: 10-12. In case you were curious.                

Points Kansas State has scored following an opponent’s turnover: 111. Points Kansas State opponents have scored following a Wildcat turnover: 0. Oklahoma State played well in Manhattan but fell to K-State by two touchdowns thanks to five turnovers, four of them interceptions. Bill Snyder’s men aren’t flashy, but they’re 9-0 for a reason: They never, ever beat themselves.

THE BIG 8:

Ranking the best eight teams in the Big 12 and Big Ten, one through eight…

TEAM (RECORD) / UP NEXT

1. Kansas State (9-0) / vs. Texas Christian

2. Oklahoma (6-2) / vs. Baylor

3. Ohio State (10-0) / Bye (vs. Wisconsin, Nov. 17)

4. Texas (7-2) / vs. Iowa State

5. Nebraska (7-2) / vs. Penn State

6. Oklahoma State (5-3) / vs. West Virginia

7. Michigan (6-3) / vs. Northwestern

8. Texas Tech (6-3) / vs. Kansas

ONE MAN’S RUNNING HEISMAN BALLOT:

1. Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State: Before a reported head injury ended his evening vs. Oklahoma State, the Wildcats’ quarterback had thrown for 245 yards and rushed for 64 more.                

2. Kenjon Barner, HB, Oregon: We’ll admit it — it’s easy to get all those speedsters coming out of the Ducks’ backfield confused sometimes. Barner changed all that with a career-defining performance at USC, rushing for 321 yards and five scores.                

3. A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama: You wondered if, in a hostile environment, the kid could pull the Tide’s rears out of the fire. McCarron did just that last week, completing 4 of 5 passes for 72 yards and during Bama’s final, game-winning drive at LSU.

SET YOUR TIVO:

The games you won’t want to miss…

1. Oregon State at Stanford, FOX, 2 p.m.: The surprising Beavers have been trounced in their last two trips to Palo Alto by an average score of 37-14.                

2. Texas A&M at Alabama, CBS, 2:30 p.m.: Strength vs. strength — Johnny “Football” Manziel vs. The Crimson Wall. Bama picked up a statement win in Death Valley; the upstart Aggies will be looking to do the same in Tuscaloosa.                

3. Kansas State at TCU, FOX, 6 p.m.: Since a 14-point home loss to Iowa State, the Froggies are averaging 38.8 points per game. But Baylor, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and West Virginia don’t play defense the way K-State does.

THIS WEEK’S COACH(ES) ON THE HOT SEAT: DANNY HOPE, PURDUE (TIE); KIRK FERENTZ, IOWA (TIE)

The Big Ten’s two most embattled bosses lock horns Saturday in Iowa City after a weekend they’d both rather forget. The Boilermakers dropped their fifth straight game, being routed, 34-9, by Penn State in West Lafayette. The Hawkeyes, meanwhile, have dropped three in a row, with fans wondering if a 24-21 loss at Indiana was officially rock bottom. Chances are, Hope is likely a goner either way — the buyout clause in his contract is reportedly $600,000, and it increases by $100,000 each year through 2016. CV