4. The Really Big Thing Was …
Wisconsin, Indiana, and Northwestern all won.
Those three didn’t just win their respective Big Ten games, but they did it on the road. And now, because those three got through to this point in the season without a blemish on the record, the Big Ten season is set up for what amounts to a Division Championship Saturday in the conference.
Yeah, it’s still possible for other teams to win out, or for Wisconsin to miss another game if there’s a relapse of coronavirus issues, or for a number of other things to take place, but for all intents and purposes, this is it. It’s going go be November 21st, the Big Ten divisions will almost certainly be settled.
Minnesota and Illinois are awful, Nebraska is questionable, and Iowa already has two conference losses. Northwestern is a 1.5 games up on Purdue after going to West Lafayette and winning 27-20, surviving despite giving up points in the second half for the first time all season.
Later on Saturday, Wisconsin had to go to Michigan and fight through the absence of several key players, little to no real practice time, and worries about whether or not some of the affected players like QB Graham Mertz would be able to produce.
Michigan didn’t get off the bus, Wisconsin ran the jet sweep a gajillion times, and it all turned into a 49-11 win that wasn’t even that close. Now the Badgers have to go to Evanston this week with the winner – at the very least – taking a stranglehold on the West.
Ohio State’s game with Maryland was canceled, but that was on Maryland’s side.
Penn State’s season got hit by a truck, Rutgers is Rutgers, Maryland – as improved as it is – is Maryland, Michigan State is meh, and Michigan wishes it could be as good as meh. Going into this weekend, all that stood between Indiana and a chance to play for something massive was a win at Michigan State.
No problem. 24-0, QB Michael Penix was good, the defense was better, and now your 2020 Indiana Hoosiers have the Big Ten East right there for the taking this weekend when they travel to Ohio State.
– Week 11 Winners & Losers
– All the missed games: Most Overrated Thing
– Miami 25, Virginia Tech 24: Most Underrated Thing
– We got through the week: What It All Means, Week 11