It's the art of "MACrifice."
The Big Ten is 301-49-4 all time against the Mid-American conference, and there are five Big Ten vs. MAC matchups on Saturday. The Big Ten went 9-3 against the MAC last season, but Ohio beat Penn State, Central Michigan beat Iowa and Ball State beat Indiana.
How they rank
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Nebraska
4. Wisconsin
5. Northwestern
6. Michigan State
7. Penn State
8. Minnesota
9. Purdue
10. Iowa
11. Indiana
12. Illinois
MORE: SN's All-Big Ten | Big Ten stats that matter | Hayes on Bill O'Brien, Penn State
POWER RANKINGS: ACC | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
Three things to watch:
1. Expectations haven't been higher in Evanston since the mid 1990s, but Northwestern can't look past a tricky opener at Cal. The notion Big Ten teams perform poorly on the West Coast isn't manufactured, the conference is 6-22 on the road against the Pac-12 since 1998. First-year Cal coach Sonny Dykes will oblige if a shootout starts. Pat Fitzgerald has never lost a season opener at Northwestern, however, and that streak includes last year's wild 42-41 win at Syracuse. That set the tone for a 10-3 season and Gator Bowl win. This game is more important than it looks for the Wildcats.
2. Good luck, Buffalo. You'll need tons of it. The Buckeyes have won 34 consecutive home openers, the last loss coming in 1978. Ohio State won't have Bradley Roby or Carlos Hyde, but don't be surprised if freshman speedster Dontre Wilson fills up Twitter feeds early Saturday afternoon with a big play or two. He's already drawing obligatory Percy Harvin comparisons.
3. Where's the best chance for a little "MACtion?" Iowa escaped Soldier Field with an 18-17 win against Northern Illinois last season, and the Huskies return Heisman Trophy long-shot Jordan Lynch. A loss at home could signal the beginning of the end of the Kirk Ferentz era. A win puts Iowa back on respectability road.
