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Neither win was pretty, but victories on Saturday by the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Penn State Nittany Lions have given both teams a boost in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Big Red moved from No. 13 to No. 9 after a 24-3 dismantling of the Michigan State Spartans in Lincoln. Penn State eked by Illinois in State College after Illini kicker Derek Dimke bounced a game tying field goal off of the upright as time expired. The Nittany Lions, who now sit at 8-1 on the season, climbed to No. 15 from last week's spot at No. 19.
As for the losers, Michigan State dropped from No. 10 to No. 16, and the WIsconsin Badgers, who suffered their second straight heartbreaking loss, this time in Columbus to Ohio State, slid down to No. 17 from No. 11. The Buckeyes, who have scratched their way to 5-3 on the year, are lurking after receiving 21 votes in this week's poll.