IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – No. 13 Michigan just finished its best October in years, winning three games after taking just two in its last two years under Rich Rodriguez.  But the Wolverines (7-1, 3-1 Big Ten) know the true measure of their season will come during four-game grind that starts Saturday at reeling Iowa (5-3, 2-2).  The Hawkeyes are coming off a stunning 22-21 loss at Minnesota.  They’ve struggled stopping the run, while Michigan ranks among the best running teams in the country.  But Iowa is unbeaten at home this season, and six of Michigan’s seven wins have come in the Big House.  Michigan closes the season at Iowa and Illinois before a two-game home stand against Nebraska and Ohio State.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State went on the road last week as a double-digit underdog that hadn’t won a Big 12 game – and won by 34 points. Kansas hits the road this week as a double-digit underdog that hasn’t won a Big 12 game.  On Saturday, the Jayhawks (2-6, 0-5 Big 12) face Iowa State, the one team that knows how dangerous a supposedly weaker team can be in this league.  Iowa State (4-4, 1-4) stunned the Big 12 by throttling Texas Tech 41-7 in Lubbock last week. The Cyclones insist they’re on guard against letting Kansas (2-6, 0-5) pull off a similar feat.  The Jayhawks have lost six straight and gained just 46 yards in a 43-0 loss at Texas last week.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Northwestern brings its spread offense to Nebraska on Saturday, the kind the ninth-ranked Huskers used to go against week after week in the Big 12.  Cornhuskers defensive coordinator says Northwestern’s Dan Persa is close to if not the best quarterback Nebraska has faced.  Persa has been sharing time with the versatile Kain Colter, and the pair has combined to throw for 289 yards a game in Big Ten play.  Nebraska has been playing some of its best defense the last two games, holding Minnesota and Michigan State under 300 total yards.  Nebraska (7-1, 3-1 Big Ten) has won three straight to move into a three-way tie for the lead in the Big Ten’s Legends Division.  Northwestern (3-5, 1-4) is playing its final road game and needs to win three of its last four to become bowl eligible.

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Bob Forsch, who threw two no-hitters for the St. Louis Cardinals and is the third-winningest pitcher in team history, has died at the age of 61.  Cardinals spokesman Brian Bartow said Forsch died Thursday at his home near Tampa, Florida.  A cause was not immediately known.  The death came less than a week after Forsch threw out the first  pitch at Game 7 of the World Series.  The Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 last Friday to win the championship.  Forsch won 163 games for the Cardinals from 1974 to 1988, trailing only Bob Gibson and Jesse Haines, before ending his career in Houston in 1989. He threw no-hitters in 1978 and 1983, the only Cardinals pitcher to accomplish the feat twice.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Iowa State senior guard Scott Christopherson is one of 30 men’s basketball candidates eligible for the 2011-12 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence- community, classroom, character and competition.
A native of LaCrosse, Wis., Christopherson averaged 13.7 ppg and made 86 3-pointers while earning All-Big 12 honorable mention honors in 2010-11. Christopherson, who is Iowa State’s all-time leader in 3-point percentage (43.7 pct.), achieved over a 3.5 GPA in finance in the spring of 2011 and has been extremely active in the Ames community in his four years at Iowa State.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The 30 men’s basketball candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, Division I men’s and women’s coaches and fans who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
For more information on all of the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.