2012 College Football Schedule: Minnesota kicks off Big Ten play

Jerry Kill's Minnesota Golden Gophers may be one of the unlikeliest teams undefeated teams in college football this season and, with four wins, the team is already halfway to their combined total from the last two years.

But, this Saturday afternoon provides a stiffer test, as the Gophers begin Big Ten play by traveling to face the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Iowa is fresh off of an embarrassing home loss to the Central Michigan Chippewas, and will be looking to avenge their 2011 loss to the Gophers. The Hawkeyes represent a winnable game for a Minnesota program that hasn't started 5-0 since 2004. Kickoff on Saturday takes place at 11:00 a.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

The matchup between Iowa and Minnesota is one of five Big Ten conference games this week. The headliner features the Ohio State Buckeyes traveling to face the Michigan State Spartans, a 2:30 game being broadcast on ABC. The week's primetime game features the Wisconsin Badgers visiting the Nebraska Cornhuskers, with kickoff at 7 pm.

The other two afternoon games are between the Indiana Hoosiers and Northwestern Wildcats (11 a.m., BTN) and the Penn State Nittany Lions and Illinois Fighting Illini (11 a.m., ESPN).