We’ve reached the stage of the season where you learn a lot about a team. And by that, I mean what a team is made of in terms of fortitude.

Illinois, for instance, looked done-for after a 2-4 start. This is when a team can start mailing in the rest of the season. Instead, the Illini shocked Maryland on Caleb Griffin’s game-winning field goal at the gun. Now there’s something to strive for the rest of the way.

Maryland also showed us something a week after going toe-to-toe with Ohio State for 3 quarters — though not exactly something good.

Michigan State showed it hasn’t quit, either. The Spartans roared out to a 24-6 lead at Rutgers… and then showed why they were 2-4 going in. But it’s good to see losing teams who have a little bit of fight in them.

Here’s what I learned in Week 7 in the Big Ten.

Illinois: The Illini get you when you’re least expecting it

Just as we were tossing the dirt on Illinois’ grave, the Illini popped out of their casket to stun a Maryland team that looked like Ohio State’s equal for about 50 minutes last week. And that’s fitting.

Bret Bielema’s team can’t be trusted to live up to expectations, as it has shown since ascending to the top of the Big Ten West last November. But the Illini can also never be counted out. Saturday’s win felt reminiscent of the 2021 victory at Penn State, when Illinois was 2-5 and beat a top-10 team.

Indiana: The clock is ticking on Tom Allen

Let’s check in on how former Indiana quarterbacks performed Saturday.

  • Donaven McCulley, Indiana WR: 1-1, 44 yards, 1 TD
  • Jack Tuttle, Michigan QB2: 5-5, 22 yards, 1 TD
  • Michael Penix Jr., Washington: 22-37, 302 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT

And current Indiana quarterbacks:

  • Tayven Jackson: 7-13, 52 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT
  • Brendan Sorsby: 6-15, 44 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT

Maybe Tom Allen has enough goodwill (and buyout money) stored to find a real offensive coordinator this offseason. But he’s running out of time fast.

Iowa: Tory Taylor is the first punting superhero

Madison is a mere 873 feet above sea level. Yet Iowa punter Tory Taylor looked like he was in Mexico City during the Hawkeyes’ win at Wisconsin. Or maybe outer space. We can’t even be sure he’s human.

Despite punting 10 times, Taylor maintained an average of 50.6 yards per punt against the Badgers, constantly flipping the field to keep Iowa’s defense from being betrayed by its troubled offense.

Taylor was the first Hawkeye on the podium in the postgame press conference, because who else would it be?

Maryland: Will always be Maryland

You can never trust the Terrapins, and never should.

I erroneously thought Maryland was ready for the big-time heading into the Ohio State game. Even though its performance for 3 quarters looked like validation of that theory, it was a false flag. By following it up with a homecoming loss to Illinois, the Terps proved that they’ll never take the leap.

This is a forever mid program with an 8-win ceiling.

Michigan: Can destroy you in 30 minutes or less

The Wolverines trailed 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and it looked like they might have a fight on their hands against a pesky Indiana team.

JJ McCarthy didn’t even need to play a snap by the start of the fourth quarter, because it was already over. For a team that doesn’t run a tempo offense, it’s incredible how quickly Michigan can dismantle you.

Michigan State: Is a special teams disaster

We’ve reached John L. Smith levels of bad in East Lansing.

The Spartans squandered a 24-6 fourth-quarter lead against Rutgers — a team with an offense that needs 50 minutes to overcome an 18-point deficit — because the special teams blew it.

A botched snap and punt that Rutgers recovered in the end zone started the avalanche. After the Scarlet Knights finally scored an offensive touchdown, Michigan State simply whiffed when fielding the ensuing kickoff, giving Rutgers an unintended onside kick. Kyle Monangai scored a 21-yard touchdown to give Rutgers the lead 1 play later.

What a nightmare of a season.

Ohio State: Ryan Day is MacGyver

Remember when MacGyver could build a bomb out of duct tape, paint thinner and a fortune cookie? Ryan Day does that with running backs now.

Ohio State was down TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams heading into the game, so Day created some packages for backup quarterback Devin Brown to take advantage of his skills. And when No. 3 back Chip Trayanum went down, 4th-stringer Dallan Hayden stepped in for 76 yards on 11 carries. Wide receiver Xavier Johnson also had 5 carries for 39 yards.

Master improvisation.

Penn State: Isn’t looking past anyone

A rainy day in Happy Valley. UMass. A game with Ohio State in a week. All reasons to focus on anything but the task at hand.

Penn State didn’t take the bait in a 63-0 clubbing of the Minutemen. James Franklin’s crew is locked in.

Purdue: Should sign the kid from the crowd

Purdue really went 0-for-3 on field goal attempts against Ohio State, including a 27-yarder when trailing 27-0, on the same day a random student from the crowd hit a 40-yarder to win a timeout promotion.

Find that kid, Ryan Walters.

Rutgers: Never stops chopping

Give the Scarlet Knights a ton of credit. As mentioned, their run-first offense is not built to come back, yet they found the will to make it happen against Michigan State. And now Rutgers is 1 win away from earning a bowl bid on the field for the first time since 2014. That’s a good place to be in early October when you’re Rutgers.

Wisconsin: The rebrand is officially a flop

The Dairy Raid is officially spoiled milk. Perhaps with another offseason of tweaking, Luke Fickell and Phil Longo can get the results they promised this offseason. But Wisconsin is just as ineffective passing the ball as it was under Paul Chryst.