The conference race is heating up and teams are beginning to battle for bowl game positioning as the Big Ten surpasses its halfway point in the schedule.
Indiana at No. 4 Iowa
After downing Michigan State on the road last weekend, Iowa is now clearly the Big Ten's only shot at a BCS National Championship Game participant. Now that Iowa is squarely placed in the national spotlight, pundits around the country are bashing the Hawkeyes for their close calls against Northern Iowa and Arkansas State, but select defendants, such as ESPN.com writer Adam Rittenberg, are pointing to the Hawkeyes' feats of going into State College, Madison and East Lansing, and coming out without a loss. It will be interesting to see the national opinion of Iowa if the Hawkeyes keep winning. Indiana (1-3 Big Ten) is in the midst of another poor conference season after allowing Northwestern to overcome a 25-point deficit last weekend.
New Mexico State at No. 17 Ohio State
The Buckeyes' season already feels like a disappointment, considering Ohio State already has two losses at this point in the season. But the Buckeyes have to keep their head up, realizing if they win their remaining games, including the late-season clash against Iowa, the Big Ten title will be theirs.
Purdue at Wisconsin
The Boilermakers are still riding high after upsetting Ohio State two weeks ago. Purdue took care of business against Illinois last week, and is now in the middle of the Big Ten with the Badgers with a 2-2 record. While Purdue looks to keep its momentum going, Wisconsin is hoping to halt the force of its two-game losing streak. This game will have bowl game ramifications. While both teams have little chance of taking the conference crown, both are still hoping to play in a New Year's Day bowl game.
Michigan at Illinois
The Wolverines' dream start is now a distant memory, as Michigan now has a 1-3 record and finds itself near the basement of the Big Ten. In that basement are the Fighting Illini, struggling through a brutal season.
No. 12 Penn State at Northwestern
The chances of a conference championship for the Nittany Lions are slipping with each Iowa victory, as the Hawkeyes own the tiebreaker with Penn State. Penn State's eyes may now be on a New Year's Day bowl game.
Michigan State at Minnesota
The Spartans' chance for a Big Ten title went out the window last weekend, but they are still looking to position themselves for a good bowl game, and should help their positioning with a win this weekend against the struggling Gophers.
