Today is the first day of the dreaded bye week, a period of time in which I have to find something other than football to devote my higher brain function to. The team of course has two bye weeks that bookend the Big Ten slate, all thanks to that crazy could awesome could be a disaster schedule. The schedule at the beginning of the year looked to be one of the leagues toughest with the non-con only having one true gimme game. Of course the season reveals what games will be challenges and what will be easier than predicted. Those looking for good news should turn away now.

Ohio State- Tressel and Terl held the #3 in the nation Trojans to 10 points in three and a half quarters on Saturday, and nearly ground the whole thing out Tressel style until a two minute drill at the end of the game.

Good news: The Buckeyes looked vulnerable against the run on the last drive
Bad News: The Illini do not start Joe McKnight.
Prognosis: Tougher

Penn State- The Nits rolled their second straight cupcake with out so much as breaking a sweat. Eat it Paulus. In short we learned nothing we didn't already know.
Good News: Derrick Williams= gone
Bad News: Evan Royster=Still here.
Prognosis: No change, still tough

Michigan State: What is bad news for the conference is good news for the Illini and their hopes for starting at least 2-3. The Spartans fell to the MAC-tacular Central Michigan Chippewas (don't laugh to hard, remember Western Michigan too) in a crazy touchdown-field goal double whammy with an onside kick thrown in for good measure. sure that might not tell us much, but this team that was picked 3rd preseason was also tied at 10 half. Trending downward.
Good News: They lost to a bad MAC team
Bad News: So did we, last year.
Prognosis: easier.

Michigan: Heroics from Tate Forcier to kill the monster that is Notre Dame, great for Michigan, bad for Illini who were hoping to reap the benefits from Rich Rod's gulag of football tyranny. Alas it looks like absent Steven Threet this team is competent offensively once again.
Good News: Notre Dame was probably way overrated anyway
Bad News: Barwis transforms mere mortals into titans of football and anger.
Prognosis: Sigh, much much tougher.

Cincinnati: Crap. and double crap
Prognosis: The wrong team to schedule with bowl hopes on the line.

Oh and just for kicks Fresno State took Wisconsin to double overtime. I can't wait for December (we don't even get the benefit of playing these bad Badgers...)