It’s been a topsy-turvy year in college football with upsets everywhere and traditional powers cut down by upstarts.

Yet some things never seem to change.

A quick glance at the Big Ten standings and you’d think it was the 1970s all over again. Tied for first place are Ohio State and Michigan.

Twenty times since their annual rivalry game was shifted in 1935 to the final Saturday of the season, the Ohio State-Michigan showdown has decided the Big Ten title. It appears that might be the case again this season.

The Wolverines opened with two shocking losses at home, first an inexplicable upset at the hands of last year’s I-AA national champion, Appalachian State, followed by a rout at the hands of Oregon.

Five consecutive wins later, the Wolverines are 3-0 in the conference, the same as top-ranked Ohio State.

“It’s nice to play well and improve,” coach Lloyd Carr said of his team’s climb back to No. 24 in the poll. “The thing that is important is that we improve. If we can do that on a week-to-week basis, day-to-day basis, we can know that we have got a chance to do something.”

Michigan has won at least a share of 42 Big Ten titles, Ohio State 31. They meet Nov. 17 at the Big House.

Scary fall, strong recovery

Wisconsin receivers coach Henry Mason says he was as close to paralyzed as anyone could be.

But Mason, 51, doesn’t like thinking about the night in June when he slipped and fell in his own home, leaving him with a severe spinal cord injury.

“I knew I was falling. I hit a nightstand. The next thing I knew I was in intensive care. It wasn’t a pretty thing but thank goodness I survived it,” Mason said this week in his first interviews since the injury.

Mason declined previous requests because he wanted to walk into an interview room rather than depend on a wheelchair or walker. He must still use power wheelchairs and a walker at home at times and on trips to the hospital.

“In the world of spinal cord injuries, I would say I’m a little bit ahead of schedule right now,” he said. “I’ve been able to have some pretty good gains from where I’ve started.”

Mason’s rehabilitation sessions are three to four times a week at the hospital and every day at home.

“It’s about a five- to six-hour program a day to get it done. I never worked out that much in my life,” joked Mason, who calls it his “redshirt” coaching year.

Mason, named associate head coach earlier this year, has been with the Badgers since 1995. He hopes he’ll be ready to return to work full time in February and be ready for spring practice in late March.

Night moves

Michigan will play under the lights Saturday at Illinois, setting up a unique atmosphere.

“A year ago, one of the great environments I’ve ever been in college football was at Penn State,” Carr said of Michigan’s win in Happy Valley. “There was an electricity there. The game had great significance. I think the same thing will happen this week.”

The last time Illinois beat Michigan in Champaign, Ronald Reagan was a first-term president, no current member of the Illini roster had been born and the Illini made a rare appearance in blue pants.

Coach Ron Zook said someone e-mailed him this week suggesting Illinois break out the blues again for Michigan, but Zook says that’s not going to happen.

The last time Illinois wore blue pants was two years ago when the Illini lost to Penn State 63-10.

Karate kid

Michigan State RB Javon Ringer credits years of flexibility exercises with helping him quickly recover from a torn ligament in his right knee that sidelined him for four games last season.

Ringer, whose hobbies include karate, now is back in top form. He’s averaging 133 yards per game this season, second in the Big Ten to only Michigan’s Mike Hart.

Ringer said he’s more focused on helping Michigan State, with a 5-2 record entering Saturday’s game at Ohio State, rebound from three consecutive losing seasons.

“My job is just to do what it takes to win,” Ringer said.

Ringer has rushed for more than 100 yards in four straight games, including a career-high 203 yards last week against Indiana.

“He’s got the heart of a lion,” coach Mark Dantonio said.

Dissin’ Dorien

Purdue’s offense has fallen on hard times, and Dorien Bryant hasn’t avoided blame.

Bryant was the Big Ten leader in receptions last year and was among the nation’s leaders this year until he ran into Michigan and Ohio State.

Ohio State held the speedster to minus-4 yards on two catches in Purdue’s 23-7 loss. He caught six passes for 57 yards against Michigan, and his TD came with 8 seconds left in a 48-21 defeat.