Big Ten Preview: Week 13
The final week of conference play is finally upon us, with all 14 teams in action. The Big Ten leads the nation with six teams in the College Football Playoff Top 25 and four in the top 10, and several more look for that illustrious sixth win to make a final push into bowl season.
No. 8 Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) vs. No. 10 Michigan (9-2, 6-1)
“The Game” may not have quite the flare that could have been if Ohio State had won last week, but the stakes are still high in one of the oldest and meanest rivalries in College Football. If Michigan State falters against Penn State, the winner of this game finds themselves in the Big Ten Championship Game. It’s also a much-anticipated matchup of the minds, as perennial National Championship contender Urban Meyer leads the Buckeyes against Jim Harbaugh, fresh out of the NFL and looking to return Michigan back to national prominence. Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott looks to have a nice rebound game after a dismal 12 carries for 33 yards last week against Michigan State, likely taking him out of Heisman contention. This prompted him to question the play-calling after the game, and Urban Meyer agreed. He will face a stiff test against a Michigan defense, who caged Penn State breakout running back Saquon Barkley last week after looking shaky against struggling Indiana, who took them to two overtimes. Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock has been a “godsend” for his team according to Jim Harbaugh, after throwing for 256 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week. No one wants to beat Ohio State more than Harbaugh, who, in his senior season at quarterback back in 1986, led Michigan to a two-point victory on the road, which clinched a spot in the Rose Bowl. One thing we do know coming into this game is that the loser will have to wait a grueling 364 days to wash the bitter taste of defeat out of their collective mouth.
No. 4 Iowa (11-0, 7-0) vs. Nebraska (5-6, 3-4)
The conference’s last hope for a perfect season resides not in Columbus, but a great distance west in Iowa City, where the Hawkeyes have already clinched a spot in the December 6th Big Ten Championship. The Hawkeyes will likely need to win this game, however, to keep their College Football Playoff dreams alive. It will be no easy task against Nebraska, as they have already knocked off Michigan State in Lincoln earlier this season. Plenty is on the line for Nebraska as well, as they would clinch a spot in a bowl game if they can upset the Hawkeyes.
No. 16 Northwestern (9-2, 5-2) vs. Illinois (5-6, 2-5)
Headlined by an opening week win over Stanford, Northwestern has put together a special season under Pat Fitzgerald. A win against Illinois at Wrigley Field in Chicago could give them a 10-win season and still possibly a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl if a couple of teams ahead of them falter in this last week of conference play. Illinois, on the other hand, has fallen off the deep end after starting out 2-0 but, much like Nebraska, they can salvage their season and make a bowl appearance if they knock off the Wildcats. It would be the second straight bowl trip for the Illini, something they haven’t accomplished since five straight appearances from 1988-92.
Other Games
Indiana (5-6, 1-6) vs. Purdue (2-9, 1-6)
Maryland (2-9, 0-7) vs. Rutgers (4-7, 1-6)
Wisconsin (8-3, 5-2) vs. Minnesota (5-6, 2-5)
Tom Shively is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. You can contact him at shivelyt97@gmail.com
