There were five more Big Ten games this weekend, with Ohio State and Michigan State enjoying an off-week. Four of the five games weren't dreadful, as even lowly Illinois gave the now bowl-eligible Minnesota Golden Gophers a decent tussle, falling to the Gophers 17-3. The luck gods were on the sides of Michigan and Nebraska this weekend. They've been on Nebraska's side a few times this year, but it hasn't been any more evident than against Penn State on Saturday. Down 29-23 midway in the 4th quarter, Penn State drove the field only to lose a fumble in the end zone for a touchback. Upon further review, it appeared as if the ball carrier extended the ball beyond the goalline before losing control, which would have (assuming the extra point was converted) given the Nittany Lions a 30-29 lead, with a very legitimate chance at winning the game. The officials didn't see indisputable evidence to overturn the call, so Nebraska got the ball at the 25-yard line and never looked back. Michigan benefited from a hail mary late in their game against Northwestern. This allowed them to kick the game-tying field goal and eventually beat the Wildcats in overtime. Purdue and Iowa almost headed to another session as well, but a last-second field goal by the Boilermakers prevented that, and prevented them from going winless in Big Ten conference play this season. There was much riding on the game between Wisconsin and Indiana. With a victory at home against the Badgers, the Hoosiers would have moved into a first-place tie atop the Leaders division with Wisconsin, holding the head-to-head tie-breaker. Wisconsin pounded Indiana into oblivion, beating the Hoosiers by the final score of 62-14. It's now a certainty that the Badgers will be representing the Leaders division in the Big Ten title game against either Nebraska or Michigan.
Looking ahead to next week, Northwestern will travel to East Lansing to face the 5-5 Michigan State Spartans, still in need of a win to become bowl eligible. Iowa won't go bowling if they don't win their final two games - the first of which comes in Ann Arbor against the Michigan Wolverines. Indiana and Purdue are in similar situations. Both teams come into next week's games at 4-6, where the Hoosiers will travel to Happy Valley to take on Penn State and Purdue will play against Illinois in Champaign. Minnesota will take their bowl-bound selves to Lincoln to face Nebraska. Lastly, the suddenly resurgent Wisconsin Badgers will welcome unbeaten Ohio State to Madison.
If I had to make a call now, I'd say that we went from six to four unbeatens this weekend with both Alabama and Louisville losing, and will fall to three next week with Ohio State falling in Madison.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/standings
Looking ahead to next week, Northwestern will travel to East Lansing to face the 5-5 Michigan State Spartans, still in need of a win to become bowl eligible. Iowa won't go bowling if they don't win their final two games - the first of which comes in Ann Arbor against the Michigan Wolverines. Indiana and Purdue are in similar situations. Both teams come into next week's games at 4-6, where the Hoosiers will travel to Happy Valley to take on Penn State and Purdue will play against Illinois in Champaign. Minnesota will take their bowl-bound selves to Lincoln to face Nebraska. Lastly, the suddenly resurgent Wisconsin Badgers will welcome unbeaten Ohio State to Madison.
If I had to make a call now, I'd say that we went from six to four unbeatens this weekend with both Alabama and Louisville losing, and will fall to three next week with Ohio State falling in Madison.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/standings
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