With only three weeks left in the regular season, the Big Ten race is coming down to the wire.
This week's game between No. 10 Penn State and No. 14 Wisconsin will go a long way toward determining who will go to a lucrative Bowl Championship Series game.
And with Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez retiring at the end of the season, this game could also be the difference between him going out on top or not.
"I really don't want to see him leave, I really don't," Penn State head coach Joe Paterno said. "Barry's been an outstanding football coach in the right ways. All the right ways. He's been a credit to our game and our profession."
For a clearer path to the Big Ten title, Penn State will have to stop Wisconsin running back Brian Calhoun, who tied a school record with five touchdown runs against Illinois last weekend.
Alvarez will have to plan for Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson, who is a major reason behind the Nittany Lions' revival.
"He is playing real well," Paterno said. "It's tough for me to tell you that there's a better quarterback around than Michael Robinson."
Penn State (8-1 overall, 5-1 Big Ten) is on a two-game win streak after a last-minute loss to Michigan three weeks ago, while Wisconsin (8-1, 5-1) has won three straight.
The Badgers have been a model of consistency throughout the years. Paterno said this year isn't different.
"They do everything a well-coached football team does," Paterno said. "It's a typical Barry Alvarez football team."
Alvarez said he's looking forward to the battle, which could potentially be his last shot at the conference crown as head coach.
"I'm excited because this late in the season we're still in the mix, and the game means something," he said. "This game is an important game in the league race, and we're a part of it."
In the ranks
Only two other teams besides Penn State and Wisconsin are ranked in this week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll.
Ohio State is sandwiched between the two at No. 12, while Michigan moved up to No. 22.
Northwestern fell out after a one-week stint.
Four Big Ten teams appeared in the latest BCS poll, paced by Penn State at No. 7. They're followed by Ohio State at No. 10, Wisconsin at No. 12 and U-M at No. 21.
Weekly laurels
Calhoun and Ohio State running back Antonio Pittman were named the conference's co-offensive players of the week, while U-M cornerback Leon Hall picked up the defensive honor.
MSU junior cornerback Demond Williams was named the league's special teams player of the week.
