Anybody got Penn State-Purdue tickets?

Josh Gaines' family and friends are scrambling for tickets for No. 6 Penn State's game Saturday at Purdue.

The Nittany Lions' senior DE and captain hails from Fort Wayne, Ind., about a 2 1/2-hour drive from the Purdue campus in West Lafayette. It's a much shorter trip than the one to Beaver Stadium, two states away.

Gaines said 81 family members and friends attended the Nittany Lions' game last year at Indiana, which was an hour farther from Fort Wayne, so he's expecting a bigger turnout this weekend at Purdue.

The tougher job will be impressing them when he gets on the field. Penn State needs to get pressure on QB Curtis Painter to disrupt the pass-happy Boilermakers.

"You can't give him a lot of time. He's a lethal guy," said Gaines, who has five sacks.

---

NOT ON THE SCHEDULE: So who's got the biggest advantage in the Big Ten's rotating schedule, with each team playing only eight of the other 10 teams?

Early returns point to Northwestern. The Wildcats are not only off to a 5-0 start, but they don't have to play toughies Penn State or Wisconsin. On top of that, they have Michigan State (next up on Oct. 11), Ohio State and Illinois - three more bullies - all at home.

---

MIDTERM EXAM: Michigan State has plowed its way to a 4-1 record, but now the true test begins for the Spartans. They have often faded once October rolls around and the Big Ten season hits full stride.

From 2005 through this season, Michigan State is 15-4 in games played before October. But in games played on or after Oct. 1, the Spartans are just 5-17.

---

MACIEJOWSKI'S MOMENT: Minnesota sent fifth-year senior Mike Maciejowski in at QB toward the end of its 34-21 loss at Ohio State last week to complete a 2-point conversion pass. He has only attempted two passes in his college career, but he's maintained a good attitude as a backup to first Bryan Cupito and now Adam Weber.