The "What If" portion of the college football season has arrived once again, as Big Ten fans contemplate their team's chances of going to a bowl.
As the season progresses, each game takes on greater meaning, unless you're Illinois, in which case the game means nothing. But I digress, so allow me to return to the real games this weekend.
Northwestern (5-1 Big Ten, 7-2 Overall) at Iowa (4-1, 6-2):
Penn State's win over Northwestern last week ended the Wildcats' 13-game Big Ten winning streak and effectively knocked them out of the Rose Bowl race. Although Northwestern can still claim a piece of the conference championship, it can only go to the Rose Bowl if Ohio State finds a way to lose to Illinois or Indiana.
Steve Schnur connected with D'Wayne Bates for their 10th touchdown of the season last week, setting a Northwestern record. Darnell Autry returned last week after missing 1 1/2 games and ran for 107 yards.
In all likelihood, the Wildcats will spend the holidays representing the Big Ten in Texas, the location of the Alamo Bowl and the Sun Bowl.
Iowa is having another Iowa kind of season. The Hawkeyes are in third place in the Big Ten but do not have a realistic shot at a conference championship.
The Hawkeyes' only loss in the Big Ten came at the hands of Ohio State. They have given up only one touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats' habit of digging a big hole, then pulling out a late rally finally came back to haunt them last week. The fairy tale is over for Northwestern.
Iowa 27, Northwestern 17
Ohio State (5-0, 8-0) at Illinois (1-4, 2-6):
Last week against Minnesota, Ohio State scored 45 points despite turning the ball over four times in the first half.
The Buckeyes' defense held Minnesota's 25th-ranked passing attack to 57 yards. Freshman linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer has lived up to his high expectations, racking up eight sacks and 14 tackles already this season.
Illinois has spent the season in the Big Ten basement. The lone bright spot for the Illini this season is junior tailback Robert Holcombe, who is averaging 108.3 yards per game.
Ohio State ranks first in the Big Ten in scoring defense, total defense, scoring offense, total offense and rushing offense. The Illini, on the other hand, are close to the bottom in virtually all categories. They are next to last in scoring and dead last in scoring defense.
This game will be decided long before big Orlando Pace ever straps on those massive shoulder pads.
Ohio State 84, Illinois 0
Indiana (0-5, 2-6) at Michigan State (4-2, 5-4):
Indiana is terrible. Nothing else can be said for the Hoosiers. After winning their first two games against MAC powerhouses Toledo and Miami (Ohio), the Hoosiers have lost six straight.
Indiana has led four of its five Big Ten games at halftime. Needless to say, the Hoosiers have suffered a few second- half collapses.
The Spartans are coming off a tough loss to Michigan. The game was supposed to prove that Michigan State had returned to the upper echelon of the Big Ten. Instead, it showed how further the Spartans have to come to challenge for the Big Ten championship.
Quarterback Todd Schultz, who has showed moments of brilliance this season, threw four interceptions last week to go along with his two touchdowns. Derrick Mason continued to terrorize Big Ten secondaries, catching 10 passes for 151 yards, his fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season.
Michigan State needs to win this game to secure an above .500 record for the season. The Spartans' defense will be the story of the game.
Michigan State 24, Indiana 9
Minnesota (0-5, 3-5) at Wisconsin (1-4, 4-4):
Minnesota won its first three games of the season, giving hope that it might actually win five games and save Jim Wacker's job. The Golden Gophers have played successively worse in each game since, on their way to losing five in a row.
Last week against Ohio State, Minnesota amassed a paltry 104 total yards and dropped from first to fourth in the conference in passing.
The only sign of life that the Gophers showed was in forcing four Ohio State turnovers. Wisconsin has had the worst luck imaginable. The Badgers lost to Ohio State, Penn State and Northwestern by a combined 10 points.
The Badgers finally won a Big Ten game last week over Purdue. The Wisconsin fans showed their appreciation for coach Barry Alvarez by chanting "take a knee, take a knee" in the final moments of the close victory, referring to Wisconsin's last minute loss to Northwestern three weeks ago.
Freshman running back Ron Dayne had a great day against the Boilermakers, rushing for 244 yards.
Minnesota against Wisconsin is not exactly the best matchup the Big Ten has to offer. But the two teams are playing for Paul Bunyon's axe. Unfortunately, this contest between two of the Big Ten's second-division teams will not look much like a football game.
Wisconsin 12, Minnesota 5
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Fluke? Northwestern and defensive back Hudhaifa Ismaeli hope to get back on the winning track against Iowa on Saturday after their drubbing by Penn State. The Wildcats, out to prove that last year's Big Ten title season was no accident, need to win their remaining contests and hope Ohio State stumbles.