The penultimate week of the regular season is upon us.
The Top five remain in place but there will definitely be some changes after this weeks big “semifinal” game between Ohio State and Indiana. Who can pull out a big win and set themselves up for a big playoff run.
#1 Oregon Ducks (Previously #1 — Win 16-13 at Wisconsin)
Well that was significantly closer than anyone was thinking it was going to be. That looked like the Oregon team that struggled the first few weeks of the season before going on a tear. Will it be a wake-up call? The win did clinch a Big Ten Championship Game berth for the Ducks, who get a week off this week before closing out the regular season against Washington.
#2 Indiana Hoosiers (Previous #2 Bye)
Indiana got an extra week to get ready for one of the biggest games in school history this weekend when they head to Columbus with a Big Ten Championship Game berth likely on the line. The winner can feel pretty safe they are locked into the CFP as well while the loser is likely in, but will need to do a lot of watching and waiting to make sure.
#3 Ohio State Buckeyes (Previously #3 — Win 31-7 at Northwestern)
The Buckeyes barely even tried and still beat Northwestern by 3 TDS. They await the Hooisers this week—will they look past them onto Michigan next week? That would be a very bad idea.
#4 Penn State Nittany Lions (Previously #4 — Win 49-10 at Purdue)
Another sleepwalker of a game for the Nittany Lions. Can Minnesota at least give them a bit of a game this week?
#5 Iowa Hawkeyes (Previously #5 — Bye)
Iowa got a bye last week and stays set at #5. They head to Maryland this week in what should be an easy win and will lock down a Florida bowl game.
#6 #Illinois Fighting Illini (Previously #7 Win 38-16 vs Michigan State)
Illinois leaps Minnesota with the nice win over the Spartans and is in the drivers seat of a 3-0 finish as they have just Rutgers this week before Northwestern next week.
#7 Wisconsin Badgers (Previously #8 Lose 16-13 vs Oregon)
Yes I am rewarding Wisconsin for damn near upsetting Oregon. They they fired their OC this week. They head to Lincoln for a battle of 5-5 teams with a ton on the line.
#8 Minnesota Golden Gophers (Previously #6 Bye)
This is the punishment for losing to Rutgers, just a week delayed. Minnesota rightfully should not have stayed at six last week but nobody wanted to jump them. This week Illinois and Wisconsin get the honors. I don’t expected the Gophers to beat Penn State this week, but it would be nice to keep it close at least.
#9 Washington Huskies (Previously #12 — Win 31-19 vs UCLA
The Huskies get a big win over UCLA and clinch a bowl berth and sent the Bruins needing a win over USC to go bowling. This will be Washington’s peak though as they get a bye this week before standing in the way of a perfect 12-0 season by Oregon next week.
#10 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Previously #13 Win 21-17 at Maryland)
Rutgers gets a big win over Maryland to go bowling and has two wins in a row. Can they take out Illinois this week at home? If so, the Scarlet Knights could be shooting up the bowl possibility list.
#11 Michigan Wolverines (Previously #11 — Bye)
The Wolverines stay put with their bye as two teams jump ahead and two fall back. Michigan should clinch bowl eligibility this week with a win over Northwestern before The Game next week for bragging rights.
#12 UCLA Bruins (Previously #9 Lose 31-19 at Washington)
So much for that three game winning streak. A loss to Washington means UCLA must win at USC and against Fresno State to clinch a bowl game—no easy task. The game this week is Pac….I mean Big Ten After Dark with a 9:30 PM central kick on NBC—should be an interesting one.
#13 Nebraska Cornhuskers (Previously #10 Loss 28-20 at USC)
Nebraska drops to #13 with a loss at USC. So much for that new OC bounce. The Cornhuskers are now very much on the ropes to make a bowl game as they need to either beat Wisconsin at home this weekend or knock off Iowa in Iowa City on Black Friday. Clenching engaged in Lincoln.
#14 USC Trojans (Previously #15 Win 28-20 vs Nebraska)
USC find a way to knock off the Cornhuskers and out themselves back in bowl contention. They head to the Rose Bowl in basically a bowl elimination game this week as Notre dame has to head to the Coliseum next Saturday as they play for a playoff spot.
#15 Michigan State Spartans (Previously #14 Lose 38-16 at Illinois)
The Spartans drop to #15 after a blowout loss at Illinois that puts their backs against the wall looking for a bowl berth. The Spartans should win when they host Purdue this week but then head to Rutgers the following week. They need to win both.
#16 Northwestern Wildcats (Previously #16 Lose 31-7 vs Ohio State)
Northwestern only lost be 24 to the Buckeyes—that’s progress. They can still make a bowl if they upset Michigan and Illinois on back to back weeks.
#17 Maryland Terrapins (Previously #17 Lose 31- 17 vs Rutgers)
Maryland needed this one, and did not get it. Now to go bowling they need to beat both Iowa and Penn State. Not gonna happen.
#18 Purdue Boilermakers (Previous #18 Lose 49-10 vs Penn State)
Purdue is the only Big Ten team completely bowl ineligible with two weeks to go. Impressive. They host Michigan State on Friday night this week before being fodder for Indiana clinching a playoff spot next week. At least it’s basketball season…