I have some startling news for you, news you don’t want to hear. We’ll ease into it so that you’re not so crushed that you pass out while working and they find all those web sites on your screen while they’re hauling you off in an ambulance.

Wisconsin plays Iowa this weekend. Wisconsin already has two conference losses to Ohio State and Michigan. Iowa has a conference loss to Northwestern but losing to Wisconsin would give the Hawkeyes a second conference loss.

Iowa has a 35% chance of winning against Wisconsin, 31% against Penn State, and an 8% of winning against Michigan. Add in a loss against Nebraska, and that's four more conference losses on the season.

Nebraska has yet to play both of these teams, as well as Ohio State. SBNation's Bill Connelly projects the Huskers have a 36% chance of winning at Wisconsin, 18% at Ohio State, and a 57% chance at Iowa.

Wisconsin is favored in their remaining games (look at all those W’s under the “Proj W-L” column), so Nebraska either needs to make damned sure they win in Madison next week OR have the Badgers lose another conference game. Nebraska is closest in the possibility of handing the Badgers another conference loss, but.... do you want to rely on that?

This assumes that there are no huge surprises such as Minnesota suddenly playing like the top team in the nation for the remainder of the season.

Therefore, Nebraska fans need to root for Iowa to knock off Wisconsin this weekend.

You may now proceed to tell me about all the things you’d rather do than root for Iowa under any circumstance.

NEWS

The volleyball team has a YUUUUGGE weekend coming up in Lincoln:

Mike Riley gets the nod as the Big Ten Coach of the Year at the mid-season point. It doesn’t matter all that much, but it’s a helluva lot better place than we were last year.

Wednesday practice quick hits

Quick hits, news and notes from Wednesday's practice.

Why Nate Gerry Helps Quarterback the Blackshirts - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site

Nebraska Defensive Coordinator Mark Banker has been fundamentally involved with safeties for all but three years of his coaching career, a fact which probably explains why he embraced a tighter role with the position that he understands best.

Versatility paying dividends for O-line - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site

Nebraska ran its first offensive play from scrimmage against Indiana, and right tackle David Knevel, already bothered by a sore ankle, lay on the ground as he repeatedly pounded his fist into the turf.

Purdue at Nebraska Preview - Hammer and Rails

Purdue is under an interim coach and plays a top 10 team on the road, so expectations are low.

Nebraska defense not sure what Purdue, interim coach will throw at it

I hope we’re not going into Purdue expecting them to lie down and die. With Hazell gone, they could be rejuvenated and come away with a surprise win that would be disastrous for where Nebraska is right now.

Duke, Kentucky, KU top CBS Sports' 1-351 college basketball rankings - CBSSports.com

The most rigorously delightful, detail-oriented, all-in-one college hoops preview you'll find

Big Ten

WHO'S GOING TO COACH PURDUE? - Every Day Should Be Saturday

IS IT YOU? SERIOUSLY, YOU WANNA?

Wednesday Scrambler: ‘Sconnie Talk - Black Heart Gold Pants

Should (do) we hate Wisconsin?

KIRK SPEAKS: IOWA VS. WISCONSIN - Black Heart Gold Pants

Kirk was funny this week!

Rutgers vs Minnesota: Complete Opponent Preview - On the Banks

Rutgers heads to Minnesota this Saturday to take on the 4-2 Golden Gophers. This marks the first ever matchup between the two teams and I look forward to seeing how this matchup takes shape in the...

Was J.T. Barrett’s performance against Wisconsin his best at Ohio State? - Land-Grant Holy Land

His late-game heroics stack up well against his legendary Michigan State win.

Penn State vs. No. 2 Ohio State Game Preview - Black Shoe Diaries

Penn State welcomes the nation’s #2 team for a prime time whiteout clash at Beaver Stadium.

Illinois Football is a 36-point underdog against the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines - The Champaign Room

The first matchup since 2012 could get rather ugly.

Indiana at Northwestern Game Preview: Hoosiers head to Evanston for morning showdown with the Wildcats - The Crimson Quarry

Y'all want to go to Evanston, play a game at 11 AM, and try to get the offense back on track?

Big Ten Football: Week 8 Preview in MS Paint Infographics - Off Tackle Empire

Previewing Week 8 for those of you who don’t like to read

Elsewhere

Notre Dame went from a reasonable top-10 pick to 2-5. Here’s what’s gone wrong. - SBNation.com

The Irish might not make a bowl game, and Brian Kelly’s job status is in question. That was sudden!

Former UVA football player sues University, coaches for alleged hazing incident - Streaking The Lawn

n a lawsuit filed in federal court, Howard alleges that he was teased and bullied by upperclassmen wide receivers Doni Dowling and David Eldridge because of Howard’s “soft-spoken and mild-mannered nature.”

Baylor under federal Title IX investigation - WacoTrib.com: Higher Education

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights launched a Title IX investigation of Baylor University on Wednesday in response to a complaint former Title IX Coordinator Patty Crawford filed with the office.

They had to know this would happen.

Then There's This:

This powerful short by two Pixar animators is darker than Pixar has ever gone - The Verge

For movies that are meant to be accessible to children, they can be sharply daring in the directions they take. Ellie Fredricksen's life montage at the beginning of Up, the toys grimly facing oblivion together at the end of Toy Story 3, and Bing Bong's tear-jerking decision in Inside Out all tap into painful emotions around death in order to underline the joy the characters feel around life. But none of these films gets as dark as Borrowed Time