Buckeye nation can let out the collective breath it has been holding since junior tailback and Heisman hopeful Chris "Beanie" Wells went down with an apparent right foot injury Saturday.

In the words of Jim Tressel: "Beanie's going to be fine."

Wells took the handoff in the redzone, but his right foot buckled under him as he tried to cut against Youngstown State. Wells clutched at his foot and had to be helped off the field. He did not put any weight on his right leg and did not return to the game. X-rays earlier this week came back negative, meaning Wells has no broken bones.

Tressel told reporters at his weekly press conference yesterday he saw Wells that morning. Tressel said the running back told him he "felt great."

The No. 3 Buckeyes will travel to Southern California in two weeks to play No. 1 USC -- a game in which Ohio State will likely need Wells' services. First, however, Tressel's squad will play Mid American foe Ohio in Columbus and Tressel hasn't ruled out playing Wells against the intrastate Bobcats.

Tressel said Wells and the team doctor would vote on whether Wells could play. Tressel has the deciding vote and said he would wait to cast it until he's seen Wells in practice.

"Most of those guys are saying, I feel fine," Tressel said. "But then the medical people have a major vote and how you practice has a little bit to do with it, especially as you get into the back end of the week."

Tressel would not specifically say what the injury was, but noted that Wells played with injuries last season.

"His foot's hurting," Tressel said. "A lot of times you hear like brachial plexus and all this stuff. It used to be, you know, my shoulder's hurting me now, then it became a brachial plexus. I'm still back in the 'his foot hurts' era."

Rodriguez not set on a QB

Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez told reporters at a Monday press conference that he doesn't know who will start at quarterback for the Wolverines when they play Miami (OH) in Michigan Stadium on Saturday.

Rodriguez will choose between sophomore Nick Sheridan and freshman Steven Threet.

"Right now, Steve probably had a little more positive things," Rodriguez said. "They both did some good things and both did some bad things, and Steve probably came out of that game grading a little bit higher and took the edge a little bit there and we'll see how they execute this week in practice."

Sheridan started for Michigan, but was replaced in the third quarter by Threet who was able to claw the Wolverines back within two. Threet misfired on the two-point conversion attempt then finished two-for-six.

Sheridan finished the game 11-for-19 with 98 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

QBs notch Top Player awards

Two quarterbacks, No. 24 Illinois' Juice Williams and Indiana's Kellen Lewis were named co-Big Ten Players of the Week.

Despite his team's loss to No. 6 Missouri on Saturday, Williams set career highs for passing yards and touchdowns with 451 yards and five scores, respectively. The junior told reporters on Monday the loss was all that mattered to him.

"I'd trade all of that in for a 'W' on Saturday."

Lewis ran for 185 yards and two touchdowns and added two more scores through the air in the Hoosier's 31-13 win over Western Kentucky.

Sophomore linebacker, Obi Ezeh was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. He recorded a career-high 15 tackles in Michigan's loss to Utah.