The college football season is heading into Week 9 action, and some crucial games in the B1G await.

First up will be FOX’s Big Noon game between Michigan and Michigan State. The Wolverines and Spartans are both undefeated and ranked inside the top 10, adding some even bigger stakes to an already heated rivalry series.

In Saturday’s primetime slot on ABC, it will be Penn State squaring off with Ohio State. The Nittany Lions have since slid a bit after back-to-back losses, but the Buckeyes appear to be hitting their stride and have been on a roll since a loss to Oregon.

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit previewed this weekend, a slate that has been referred to as “Statement Saturday” in the B1G East. He explained where that term comes from and what he sees ahead of kickoff:

“These teams have been building momentum, especially Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State towards this weekend. This is the weekend we really learn who these teams truly are,” said Herbstreit via ESPN’s Press Room. “Is Michigan State, which to me Mel Tucker’s got to be the Big Ten, if not National Coach of the Year, are they a legitimate threat to win the Big Ten east? This is the weekend we learn that.

“And Jim Harbaugh. Here’s a guy that, his own fans had him on the hot seat – his own fans questioning whether or not his teams were ever going to get over the hump. And here they are undefeated, playing as efficient as anybody in the conference. And now, they get their chance to go on the road against a top-10 team to kind of show, you know, we are that good.

“Ohio State had a setback early in the year against Oregon. Now they’ve positioned themselves back up where they’ve got a real shot to be in a position to maybe win a Big Ten Championship, maybe get back to the Playoff, but we don’t know. They looked incredibly improved in the last four weeks, but this maybe is the week we learn a little bit more about how far they’ve really come against Penn State.

“Then, with Penn State, up until about three weeks ago we had them as a top-10 team looking good and they’ve kind of taken an about face. They have a chance to kind of salvage their season by going to Columbus and trying to knock off Ohio State. So I just feel that instead of speculating who these teams are, we’re going to really find out. We’re going to have some evidence now as far as these teams after this weekend.”