Here we are, 10 weeks into the college football season, and little has changed with Indiana or Purdue.

The Hoosiers can't protect huge leads, the Boilermakers can't protect the football, and both coaches keep insisting players haven't quit and taken their ball home, probably because they'd lose it along the way.

Yet, as wild as it sounds, three more wins and Purdue (3-6) is bowl eligible. Two more wins and Indiana (4-5) is bowl eligible. A student driver should be able to back in as easily.

Two weeks ago, the Hoosiers blew a 25-point lead and lost to Northwestern. In Saturday's 42-24 loss at Iowa, they were body-slammed by a 28-point fourth quarter.

"There were so many positive things we did in that game," coach Bill Lynch said. "In the fourth quarter, there were things we didn't do to win the game, so we'll spend all our time and energy there, working to improve."

Up 21-14, Indiana had a touchdown grab by Terrance Turner in the corner of the end zone overturned by video, and Nick Freeland added to the frustration by muffing a 28-yard high school field goal.

"As a coach, I don't really like reviewing things that were out of our control because in some ways, it gives your kids an excuse," Lynch said of the nullified TD. "I think there were 173 plays in that game and we had an opportunity on each of those 173 plays, so those certainly are the things we're focusing on."

Every week during the Big Ten coaches teleconference, Lynch claims his team is making progress. He says his kids will continue to battle, which any scholarship player would be crazy not to do.

"We've got to correct the things that have kept us from winning," he said, citing poor fundamentals and execution.

Purdue was blown out by Wisconsin, 37-0, gaining only 141 total yards -- the Badgers had 150 in the first quarter alone -- and benching quarterback Joey Elliott after he went 5-for-23 with 59 yards.

Coach Danny Hope charged his Boilermakers weren't nearly as physical and called them "inept" in throwing and catching the ball.

"In losing, if things are even, then it comes down to the turnover part of it," Hope said. "We've had some games where we turned the ball over four, five, six times -- and still played well enough to compete right down to the final plays of the game."

Against Northwestern, Purdue had five turnovers in 18 minutes and lost. There really is no excuse for such sloppy play, week after week, or is there?

"We weren't predicted to do so well as a football team. Many people were sure we didn't have any chance to have a winning season. Some didn't think we'd win any games," Hope said. "But we ended up doing some things very well and growing and developing as a football team.

"We're disappointed that we haven't won seven or eight games. Bottom line is, we have been the team that never quits. We have defied all odds in some ways. We've turned the ball over an inordinate number of times but, for the most part, we've competed and played to win in just about every ballgame."

Listen to yourself, coach. You've played hard, but not smart, and have given games away like candy.

And you're proud of that?

This column solely represents the writer's opinion. Reach him at al.hamnik@nwi.com.