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Coming to grips with a love/hate relationship with Jabrill Peppers, laughing at Ohio State’s “basic” beatdown of Oklahoma and appreciating the latest Michigan State upset victory.

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I loved Bennie Fowler when he played for Michigan State. Two years before he became the answer to a trivia question by catching the final pass of Peyton Manning’s career – a 2-point conversion in Super Bowl 50 – he played his senior season with the Spartans without a 100-yard receiving game.

I know, his college stats don’t exactly pop out. But that’s what I liked so much about him: Fowler’s play always was steady while having the ability to make a splash with a big play.

So when Fowler retweeted me during Michigan State’s win over Notre Dame on Saturday night, I looked like the emoji with hearts for eyes. He noticed my tweet, thought enough to show it to his 21,400-plus followers, and would provide an unsuspecting big play just like during his college days – except this time it would be to help add followers to my Twitter account that was dormant for months until I joined the team at Campus Insiders.

It didn’t exactly work that way. My number still remains pathetically low. Not even Bennie Fowler could help. Damn.

At least Bennie – we’re on a first-name basis now, right? – and I still shared in the joy of a Spartans victory over the Fighting Irish that few seemed to expect. And I’m on that list, too. Hopefully Bennie and I can connect again through the world of social media during Saturday’s Big Ten showdown with Wisconsin. And maybe this time he’ll notice me after reading this new column.

This is the first installment of what I hope to be a weekly feature of my thoughts on the Big Ten. So join me in saying goodbye to FCS teams on the schedule, some not-so-“basic” football, the love/hate relationship with Jabrill Peppers, and a shared love of Bennie Fowler.

Ok, maybe not that last one.

… The Big Ten decided last July that it would no longer allow conference teams to schedule FCS opponents beginning next season. This year, the conference began playing a nine-game league schedule with the mandate that each team schedules another Power 5 opponent, or either Notre Dame or BYU. Schools were allowed to play previously scheduled FCS teams this season, and eight did. At least two wish they hadn’t.

In Week 2, Northwestern was shut out into the fourth quarter before losing, 9-7, to Illinois State on a field goal as time expired. The biggest stunner happened this past weekend, though, as Iowa fell to North Dakota State 23-21, also on a last-second field goal. But was it all the surprising? The Bison now have won six consecutive games against FBS teams since 2010 while getting paid $2.175 million to do so.

The Big Ten is a business, and having a representative in the College Football Playoff each year adds revenue. Getting FCS teams off the schedule adds more quality opponents without the potential for the embarrassment Northwestern and especially Iowa suffered this season. And it’s about time.

… Speaking of things that never will be done again, Oklahoma backup quarterback Austin Kendall likely won’t be speaking to the media. He provided all the bulletin-board material Ohio State needed by calling the Buckeyes’ defense “basic.” Ha.

Ohio State’s Jerome Baker returned an interception for a touchdown and was credited with a sack and a half, Marshon Lattimore picked off another Baker Mayfield pass and the Buckeyes routed the Sooners, 45-24, in Norman. Boy, is Austin’s face red or what?

… I went to Michigan State, so everything inside of me says I should hate Jabrill Peppers. He wears that ugly uniform, and plays for that other Michigan team with that stupid fight song and on and on. But man, that kid a freak, and I hate how much I love him. Peppers not only leads the nation in tackles for a loss, he’s one of the most dynamic returners in the country, which he proved by bringing a punt back 54 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown that iced a 45-28 win over Colorado.

Hats off to you, Jabrill, from a Spartan who can give credit where credit is due.

… And how about those Spartans, by the way? Is there a sarcasm font? Let’s pretend there is and it’s italics. Here we go: It’s so rare that Michigan State is overlooked, so I was completely shocked when the Spartans were listed as 7.5-point underdogs against Notre Dame. Then I was even more surprised when they scored 36 unanswered points to break the game open before holding on for a 36-28 win. I was so shocked! It never happens that Michigan State is the underdog and everyone overlooks them, only to have a ton of success. I just can’t believe it!

Seriously, though, doubting the Spartans hasn’t worked out for years now. But Wisconsin is coming to East Lansing on Saturday afternoon looking to knock them down a peg. If my colleague Jonathan can set aside his SEC bias, that should be included in his Threat Level Tailgate column on Friday. Maybe there will be a Bart Houston sighting out there as he chomps on a bratwurst since it sure seems like he’s lost his starting job to Alex Hornibrook, who led last week’s comeback win over Georgia State after coach Paul Chryst benched Houston.

… The Big Ten has five teams ranked in the top 20 of the AP poll this week with Nebraska rounding out the group after beating Oregon, 35-32. A win is a win, even if the Cornhuskers likely would’ve lost if the Ducks hadn’t gone for the 2-point conversion five times and converted only once. “Thank you very much, Mr. Ducksworth. Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, Mr. Ducksworth.”

… Five conference teams are 3-0, and one of them is … Maryland? That matches the Terps’ win total from all of last season. DJ Durkin is off to a good starting in rebuilding the program, and guided it through Maryland’s first sign of adversity of the year in last week’s 30-24, double-overtime win at UCF. The Terps have a bye before opening Big Ten play against visiting Purdue on Oct. 1.

MORE: 1-128 College Football Rankings – Week 4