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Big Ten
Nothing shocking happened last week. There were no crazy final plays in the conference. The most excitement from last week was another close Maryland-Penn State game and Nebraska blowing ANOTHER fourth quarter lead.
Big Ten East
Ohio State is starting to look like the unstoppable force that wrecked Oregon in the national championship game. The Buckeyes are starting to wake up but they will be tested down the stretch by Michigan State and Michigan.
1) #1 Ohio State (8-0, 4-0)
The Buckeyes demolished Rutgers on the road, 49-7. That's what we have come to expect from this Ohio State team. They have always been very good but they are starting to get better with each week and that is pretty scary.
The Buckeyes get the week off before taking on Minnesota.
Up Next: Bye
2) #6 Michigan State (8-0, 4-0)
The Spartans didn't play a phenomenal game against Indiana but still got a convincing win. Connor Cook continues to prove that he is one of the all-time greats at Michigan State. He threw for 398 yards and four touchdowns.
The Spartans head to Lincoln to take on the unlucky Cornhuskers. When the Cornhuskers lose (and they have lost a bunch), they lose close.
Up Next: at Nebraska (3-5, 1-3)
3) #15 Michigan (5-2, 2-1)
After the bye week, the Wolverines are probably ready to play some football and put the bad taste of the Michigan State loss behind them. They will get a chance to get back in the win column against the offensively-challenged Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Up Next: at Minnesota (4-3, 1-2)
4) Penn State (6-2, 3-1)
Christian Hackenberg threw a pretty deep ball and didn't look good doing much else. He only had 13 completions but went for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. The important thing for Penn State is that they are now bowl eligible.
The Nittany Lions head home to take on Illinois.
Up Next: Illinois (4-3, 1-2) at home
5) Rutgers (3-4, 1-3)
This team got crushed by Ohio State. Now they have to go to Camp Randall. Yikes.
Up Next: at Wisconsin (6-2, 3-1)
6) Indiana (4-4, 0-4)
Indiana has not done well in the fourth quarter. Rutgers scored 22 unanswered in the fourth to come back and beat them and Michigan State hammered them (to the tune of 24 points) in the final quarter as well.
The Hoosiers have the week off to lick their wounds.
Up Next: Bye
7) Maryland (2-5, 0-3)
The Terps looked competitive against Penn State but shot themselves in the foot over and over again with turnovers in the red zone and terrible passing. They played like they had nothing to lose. They were awful in the secondary but looked great when it came to pressuring the quarterback and stopping the run.
Can they fix the former and keep up the latter against the ranked and undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City?
Up Next: at #10 Iowa (7-0, 3-0)
Big Ten West
Iowa had the week off and Northwestern got back in the win column. Wisconsin may have lost Joel Stave but Bart Houston looks like a capable replacement.
1) #10 Iowa (7-0, 3-0)
The Hawkeyes had the week off. Now they'll face a Maryland team that is very good at defending the run and is playing like they have nothing to lose.
Up Next: Maryland (2-5, 0-3) at home
2) Wisconsin (6-2, 3-1)
The Badgers took care of business against Illinois on the road and continue to try and put pressure on Iowa at the top of the Big Ten West.
Up Next: Rutgers (3-4, 1-3) at home
3) Northwestern (6-2, 2-2)
The Wildcats are the latest team to break the hearts of the Cornhusker faithful. Northwestern has the bye week to prepare for the strongest arm in the conference in Penn State's Christian Hackenberg.
Up Next: Bye
4) Illinois (4-3, 1-2)
Illinois lost at home to Wisconsin but they played hard. They have the ability to put up another tough fight this week. A win against Penn State would be huge for this program.
Up Next: at Penn State (6-2, 3-1)
5) Nebraska (3-5, 1-3)
Mike Riley must have some pretty messed up karma. Five fourth quarter losses. That is more than the Huskers had in seven years under Bo Pelini. Nebraska hasn't lost five games in a season since 2007. If they lose to Purdue this week, grab your pitchforks.
Here is BTN's Brent Yarina on how brutal Nebraska's losses have been.
Nebraska's five losses this season are by a combined 13 points (5, 3, 1, 2, 2). pic.twitter.com/NsdhyBAdYI
— Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) October 24, 2015
Up Next: at Purdue (1-6, 0-3)
6) Minnesota (4-3, 1-2)
Minnesota had a bye week. Now they have ranked Michigan.
Up Next: #15 Michigan (5-2, 2-1) at home
7) Purdue (1-6, 0-3)
The Boilermakers had a bye week to get ready for Nebraska. Will it help?
Up Next: Nebraska (3-5, 1-3) at home