Big Ten teams were not entirely successful in convincing skeptics that the conference is among the strongest in college football. Although Big Ten squads were 24-8 in non-conference play the last three weeks, they were just 4-5 against opponents from BCS Conferences . While the Big Ten season kicks off Saturday with what seems like just two teams a cut above the rest of the field âÄî No. 5 Penn State and No. 13 Ohio State âÄî eight different teams have won or shared the Big Ten title in the last 10 seasons . HereâÄôs a look at SaturdayâÄôs Big Ten openers: Indiana at No. 23 Michigan In a matchup of undefeated teams that have equaled their win totals from last season , the Wolverines (3-0) will seek their 16th straight victory over the Hoosiers (3-0). Indiana features senior defensive ends Greg Middleton (a 2007 All-American ) and Jammie Kirlew (a returning All-Big Ten selection ) who have combined for 40 career sacks . Indiana has held the ball for at least 11 minutes in the first quarter of each of its three games and has outscored its opponents 53-31 before halftime . In three games, Michigan leads Big Ten teams in scoring (38 points per game) and rushing offense (270.7 yards per game). Senior running back Carlos Brown was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 187 yards against Eastern Michigan last week . Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier has five touchdown passes and just one interception in his first three starts . Michigan State at Wisconsin Michigan State (1-2), which finished third in the Big Ten last year , was picked by the media to finish third again this season but has lost to Central Michigan and Notre Dame the last two weeks . The Spartans lead the Big Ten in passing offense (295.7 yards per game) and sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins leads the Big Ten in passing efficiency . The Spartans defense is anchored by Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Greg Jones. The junior linebacker leads the conference with 38 tackles . Following a 3-4 start last season, Wisconsin won four of its next five games to reach its seventh straight bowl game . The Badgers (3-0) have been perfect in 12 trips to the red zone through three games, scoring 10 touchdowns and two field goals , but they have also been penalized for an average of 61.7 yards per game . Illinois at No. 13 Ohio State Illinois (1-1), which followed its 2007 Rose Bowl season with a 5-7 campaign in 2008 , has seen its top two offensive players injured in its first two games. Returning All-Big Ten junior wide receiver Arrelious Benn has been hampered by an ankle injury suffered in the opener against Missouri on Sept. 5 . His streak of 26 games with a reception was snapped when he did not catch a pass against Illinois State on Sept. 12 . Illini senior quarterback Juice Williams , who led the Big Ten in passing yards and total offense last season , was sidelined after the first series against Illinois State with a strained quadriceps . Both were listed as starters on the depth chart as of Monday . Ohio State (2-1) was the preseason favorite to win its fifth consecutive Big Ten title . Sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor leads the Buckeyes in rushing and passing yards and tops Big Ten players in total offense (263 yards per game) . The Buckeyes have won four of the last five meetings , but the last time the Illini traveled to Columbus, they upset the No. 1 Buckeyes on their way to a Rose Bowl berth . Iowa at No. 5 Penn State Iowa (3-0) was the only Big Ten team to win its bowl game last season, defeating South Carolina 31-10 in the Outback Bowl . The Hawkeyes have defeated the Nittany Lions in six of the last seven meetings , including a 24-23 win over then-unbeaten Penn State last season . IowaâÄôs sophomore defensive back Tyler Sash leads the Big Ten with four interceptions and six total passes defended . The Hawkeyes defense had not allowed a touchdown for nine straight quarters until ArizonaâÄôs offense scored against Iowa with less than two minutes remaining last week . Penn State (3-0), the defending conference co-champion , has allowed the fewest points (6.7), rushing yards (46.3) and total yards (212.3) per game of any Big Ten team through the first three weeks . Nittany Lions senior quarterback Daryll Clark leads the Big Ten with eight touchdown passes and 253.3 passing yards per game . Senior linebacker Sean Lee , a 2007 All-Big Ten selection , returned after missing all of last season with a torn right ACL . Lee was Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after last SaturdayâÄôs games and has 32 total tackles (7.5 for loss) in three games . Notre Dame at Purdue Irish junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen has passed for 300 yards in four consecutive games âÄî a Notre Dame record . As a team, the Irish (2-1) lead the nation in passing efficiency . Irish head coach Charlie Weis reported on Sunday that sophomore wide receiver Michael Floyd , a graduate of Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, will likely miss the rest of the regular season with a broken collarbone . Purdue (1-2), under first-year head coach Danny Hope , leads the conference in total offense (440.3 yards per game) . The BoilermakersâÄô sophomore running back Ralph Bolden leads the Big Ten in rushing (140.3 yards per game, second in the nation), all-purpose yards (182.7 per game) and scoring (five touchdowns) . Senior quarterback Joey Elliott , who made his first career start in the opener against Toledo on Sept. 5 , has thrown four touchdowns and five interceptions .