Professors were as much the cause of Kyle Orton's first off game as pass rushers and defensive backs.\nThe Purdue quarterback went through the first four games without throwing an interception. Then came a difficult week of tests and papers in class -- and a tough Penn State defense -- and the result was a rather ordinary day for Orton in Purdue's 20-13 win Saturday.\n"The thing about college is, when you have a test, you have four tests," Orton said. "It was a tough week last week, mainly because of academics. ... It's funny, all the professors seem to save the tests for the same week."\nOrton had to write an English paper and take tests in history and also Race and Gender, all while preparing for a road game at raucous Beaver Stadium.\n"It was very demanding," coach Joe Tiller said. "He had a very challenging week, but didn't let on. He really subscribes to the theory, 'never show weakness.'"\nOrton wasn't as sharp against Penn State, throwing two fourth-quarter interceptions and missing a wide open Taylor Stubblefield on one play that would have gone for a game-breaking touchdown.\nStill, he managed to throw for 275 yards and a touchdown, and the Boilermakers stayed perfect on the year to climb to No. 5 in the nation.\n"I thought I played a solid game," Orton said. "They were dropping nine guys into coverage and there wasn't much room to squeeze the ball in there."
THAT UPSETS ARE MADE OF\nIt's a familiar problem for the haves -- ignoring the have-nots until it's too late.\nMichigan knocked off unbeaten Minnesota last week. The next big game on all the Wolverines' list is in two weeks at Purdue. But, first, there is lowly Illinois (2-4, 0-3).\n"It's tough not to overlook games," fullback Kevin Dudley said.\nCoach Lloyd Carr preaches that his players keep the big picture in mind when they're preparing for non-marquee games.\n"If you have big goals, aspirations for doing something special, you better be improving as you go," he said.\nDefensive tackle Gabe Watson said it's different playing at places such as Illinois, where just 50,000-plus people will be in the stands instead of the more than 100,000 the Wolverines play in front of at home.\n \nNO HISTORY BUFF\nIowa quarterback Drew Tate doesn't get hung up on history -- at least football history.\nHe doesn't know much about Iowa's victories over Ohio State or the quarterbacks who led the way in those wins. All he knows is that he'd like to join that group when the Buckeyes visit Saturday.\n"I don't look much at what has happened here," Tate said. "I probably should. That might be important. I understand the respect for the older guys who have been around and things like that, but I don't really worry or care much about that kind of stuff."\nOf course, it wouldn't be hard to memorize the list of Iowa quarterbacks who have beaten Ohio State because there have only been three in the past 41 years: Chuck Long (1983), Chuck Hartleib (1987) and Matt Rodgers (1991).
TV TALK\nFormer Purdue and NFL quarterback Gary Danielson, now a college football analyst on TV, has strong opinions on what's ahead in the conference race.\nOn Wisconsin's schedule: "They have Minnesota at home and they don't play Michigan. They've already beaten Ohio State. So if Wisconsin wins this week (at Purdue), I don't know who they lose to."\nOn Purdue's soft side: "Purdue has the type of offense that, usually they have a week where it all doesn't click. Usually there's a week where you need to grind it out and kind of play dirty football, and the other schools have the advantage of being able to do that."\nOn the stretch run: "Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan and maybe Minnesota are still in it. It's still a good four-team race."
COUNTERFEIT BUCKS\nAfter a 3-0 start that took them to No. 7 in the nation, Ohio State has lost at Northwestern 33-27 in overtime and at home 24-13 to Wisconsin to open the Big Ten with consecutive losses for the first time in a dozen years.\nFor a program grown haughty by the 2002 national championship and a No. 4 ranking last year, it has been an appalling slide.\n"We've been kind of spoiled the last few years," fullback Branden Joe said.\nThe Buckeyes say they are embarrassed, frustrated and humiliated.\nOthers hope for a turnaround Saturday at Iowa, while one freshman is confident that there is nothing but good times ahead.\n"The way I see it, flat-out, we're going to win them all from here on out. There's going to be no team that can stop us," tailback Tony Pittman said.
