It’s already Week 8 in the Big Ten, which is hard to believe as we start to lose days in October. There’s plenty of huge games this weekend, as usual, with nothing bigger than Michigan at Michigan State.

Here are five players with a lot to prove this weekend:

Shea Patterson, Michigan quarterback

Shea Patterson transferred to Michigan from Ole Miss specifically for games like this. Jim Harbaugh is a combined 1-5 so far against arch-rivals Michigan State and Ohio State, and the biggest reason for all the losses has been poor quarterback play. Enter Patterson, who has been very good so far in Michigan’s 6-1 start. He needs to have a big game on the road, and he just might since Michigan State’s secondary is still beat up and giving up a ton of yards. This is his moment.

Felton Davis, Michigan State wide receiver

When Michigan State went in to Penn State and won last week, it changed the narrative on its entire season. Now, suddenly, they’re viable again. To beat Michigan at home, it’s going to need big-time players to make big-time plays. Felton Davis has turned into the Spartans’ No. 1 receiver and he needs to have a huge game against the Wolverines. He’s a great route-runner, so he will get open. He’ll need to break a few tackles and make some long gains to make this upset possible.

Adrian Martinez, Nebraska quarterback

Nebraska has never started a season 0-6, and it’s just been shocking that the Scott Frost era has started this way. They’ve been competitive lately, though, and true freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez has been very good, especially considering his lack of experience. The Cornhuskers are home against Minnesota this week, and it’s time to finally end the losing streak. Nebraska is favored by four, but it’s up to Martinez to make sure the Huskers get it done.

Entire Purdue defensive front

Purdue has 17 sacks in six games this season, and four guys (Cornel Jones, Markus Bailey, Derrick Barnes, Jacob Thieneman) have three sacks or more. It’s critical that they get pressure on Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who’s really good firing away from the pocket but gets very erratic when he’s forced to throw on the run. If the Boilermakers can exert pressure, they have a chance to pull off a monumental upset. History is on their side; Purdue has won four of the last seven games at home against Ohio State.

Toren Young, Iowa running back

Iowa’s offense has exploded for 90 points in the past two weeks — on the road, no less — but they still haven’t hit a high gear with the running game. So far this season, they’ve averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and only 155 yards per game, in the bottom third of the country in the rankings. It’s been a running back by committee approach, but this could be the week someone like Toren Young steps up.