Big Ten needs a squeeze play

The Big Ten has a problem.

It's a good problem, but something to worry about as the season's final four weeks play out.

Will there be enough postseason spots to reward all of the teams that figure to be bowl-eligible?

Five schools -- Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin -- have already hit the 6-win minimum.

Four more -- Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State and Northwestern -- are all resting at the 5-win mark. All of them have at least one game, if not more, left on the schedule in which they'll be favored.

How can too much success be a problem? When there aren't enough tie-ins to satisfy everyone.

In four of the last five seasons, the Big Ten has enjoyed the chance to fill eight bowl outlets: Its seven bowl tie-ins as well as one of the wild-card BCS spots.

But this year, the Big Ten won't receive two BCS spots unless Michigan runs the table and Ohio State doesn't lose until "The Big Game" on Nov. 17.

That means we're looking at nine teams trying to squeeze into seven spots.

That means teams better be thinking about winning at least seven games instead of settling for the 6-win minimum.

Why are 7 wins exponentially better than 6? Because they open up the rest of the 32-bowl universe as potential destinations.

A Big Ten team can play in one of the seven Big Ten-affiliated bowls (BCS, Capital One, Outback, Alamo, Champs Sports, Insight, Motor City) with just 6 wins, but not at the expense of a team with a better record.

Meanwhile, a 6-win Big Ten team cannot play in a bowl unaffiliated with the conference -- but a 7-win team can.

It appears the Big East and Conference USA might have a problem filling their last bowls, so there could be a few spots open that way.

So remember: Don't celebrate when your school hits 6 wins. This year's magic number figures to be 7.

Juice Daddy: Illinois sophomore quarterback Juice Williams didn't need extra incentive to work on his passing skills.

But on Sept. 3, two days after the Illini's opener against Missouri, along came a brilliant 6-pound, 14-ounce reason to keep trying to improve:

His daughter, LaChez.

"It's a little different," Williams said. "Actually, it's a lot different. Knowing that you have another responsibility -- that you have another you out there in the world -- it just gives you something to fight for in life."

Williams sees LaChez frequently. He cradled her, swaddled in a blue Illinois cap and blue sweats, in his massive hands just outside the locker room after Illinois' upset of Penn State.

Williams, if you recall, came into the world at 13 pounds, 8 ounces, which means he started almost twice as heavy as his daughter. He laughs at that thought.

"She's a bit tiny," Williams said. "She's healthy. She's a beautiful little girl.

"Knowing that when things don't go right in football, it just gives me extra motivation knowing that I've got something to live for. My life is not over. I've got a child now and just continue to go out there and be successful, whether it's in football or in the business world."

This … is Jeopardy: Here's the answer: Florida International, Marshall and Utah State.

Can't figure out the question? Here it is:

Name the three teams in the 120-school Football Bowl Subdivision that have fewer wins than Notre Dame.

A tough road

Strength of schedule used to play an official role in the BCS standings, but no more. Here, courtesy of College-BCS.com, are the top 10 in strength of schedule to date:

1. Washington (2-5)

2. Notre Dame (1-7)

3. North Carolina (2-5)

4. Duke (1-6)

5. Florida (5-2)

6. LSU (7-1)

7. Auburn (5-3)

8. South Florida (6-1)

9. Kentucky (6-2)

10. Oregon (6-1)

Note: Illinois leads the Big Ten with the 20th-toughest schedule overall, Northwestern ranks next-to-last in the Big Ten at No. 84, and Northern Illinois finds itself 118th (out of 120 teams).