FREQUENT PARTNERS
A consistent partnership exists between schools in the Big Ten and those in the Mid-Amercan Conference (MAC). The Gophers face Western Michigan, a MAC school, on Saturday. Here is a look at all the games between Big Ten and MAC schools in 2011 -- when eight Big Ten teams scheduled at least one MAC opponent -- and the outcomes from the perspective of the Big Ten team.
Michigan: Western Mich. (W, 34-10); Eastern Mich. (W, 31-3)
Michigan State: Central Michigan (W, 45-7)
Gophers: Miami of Ohio (W, 29-23)
Illinois: Western Michigan (W, 23-20)
Indiana: Ball State (L, 27-20)
Ohio State: Akron (W, 42-0); Toledo (W, 27-22)
Penn State: Temple (W, 14-10); Eastern Michigan (W, 34-6)
Wisconsin: Northern Illinois (W, 49-7)
Notes: Both Penn State victories were officially vacated later; Temple was a football-only MAC associate member in 2011.