We have favorites and we have loyalties, but if the Big Ten is going to climb out the national perception doldrums, we're going to have to do it together.  That means that we have to all be pulling in the same direction.  Here's what I want to see from each Big Ten team in their non-conference battles this week. These columns are really short this time of year...

Illinois (BYE)

Illinois gets to rest this week.  They moved their non-con game with Fresno State to the first week of December. Before that, though, they'll need to upset Cincinnati in Nippert Stadium.

Shhh...let them rest.

What I Want

I want Illinois to rest up and devise a plan to outscore Brian Kelly's offense.  They have no chance of stopping it.

What I Expect

The Zooker to work with intensity.

What We've Got So Far

The Big Ten is 31-10 (.756) out of conference.  The league is 5-8 against BCS Conference teams (plus Notre Dame). Indiana's loss to Virginia guarantees that the Big Ten can finish with no better than a .500 record against the other BCS schools.  The league has two losses to non-BCS teams (Northern Illinois over Purdue and Central Michigan over Michigan State).