Here is the latest Big Ten Conference sports news from The Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The last week of the regular season in the Big Ten means a slate of rivalry games. Ohio State and Michigan usually gets the most attention, but for other schools, rivalry games mean a lot for a lot of reasons, including tradition, marketing and simple bragging rights. A couple rivalry matchups outside of The Game between the Buckeyes and Wolverines matter. Minnesota can become bowl eligible by upsetting Wisconsin. The Indiana-Purdue winner also becomes bowl eligible.

UNDATED (AP) — Signs point to a breakthrough for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan against Ohio State. The Wolverines have lost six straight and 13 of the past 14 meetings but are four-point road favorite. The Nebraska offense against the Iowa defense is a matchup to watch. The Huskers went over 450 yards in seven straight games before being slowed down in the snow and cold against Michigan State. The Hawkeyes are sixth in the nation in total defense. Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor could hit 2,000 yards rushing.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Nebraska fired Bo Pelini in part because beating Iowa wasn't good enough. The Huskers canned Mike Riley partly because they weren't good enough to beat the Hawkeyes. New coach Scott Frost will get his first crack at Iowa on Friday in a border rivalry that has blossomed into something of annual referendum on both programs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Luka Gazra scored 22 points, freshman Joe Wieskamp had a career-high 20 and 20th-ranked Iowa rolled Alabama State 105-78 in its home debut as a ranked team. Tyler Cook scored 16 points and Isaiah Moss added 15 for the Hawkeyes, who dismissed any notion of a letdown with 68 first-half points _ their most under ninth-year coach Fran McCaffery.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Gabe Kalscheur made a challenged 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left, lifting Minnesota to a 68-66 win over Washington in the final of the Vancouver Showcase. Washington led 66-65 and had possession, but Jaylen Nowell was called for an offensive foul with 12.8 seconds left.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — No. 10 Ohio State has been watching what Shea Patterson has done with No. 4 Michigan. It sees a dual-threat quarterback who looks nothing like the players Jim Harbaugh had under center the previous three years. The Wolverines are favored to win at Ohio State on Saturday at least in part because of an offseason victory that allowed Patterson to play right away after he transferred from Ole Miss.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Erik Chinander was a Hawkeye through and through as a kid and then as a walk-on offensive lineman who earned two bachelor's degrees from Iowa. He is the Nebraska defensive coordinator now, and he says he has no conflicted feelings heading into the Cornhuskers' final game in Iowa City this week. Nebraska coach Scott Frost said Chinander is on the good side of the rivalry now.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Urban Meyer doesn't seem to be having much fun this season. The Ohio State coach weathered a preseason scandal that led to a three-game suspension. He has had a flairup of the arachnoid cyst that causes severe headaches. He has dealt with on-the-field breakdowns culminating in a shocking blowout by unranked Purdue. But the season will likely be considered a success if the Buckeyes can beat No. 4 Michigan on Saturday.

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