Things to watch this week in the Big Ten Conference:
Michigan (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) at No. 2 Ohio State (10-1, 7-1, No. 2 CFP), Saturday, noon ET (Fox)
The circumstances aren´t the same as they were for their last three matchups, when both teams entered the game with legitimate national championship aspirations. But there´s still plenty at stake.
An Ohio State win locks up a trip to the Big Ten championship game and a rematch with No. 1 Oregon (No. 1 CFP), which handed the Buckeyes their only loss. A two-loss Ohio State team would get to the Big Ten title game only if No. 4 Penn State and No. 10 Indiana also lose this week.
Michigan has beaten Ohio State each of the last three years but is a 21-point underdog this time, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
No. 6 Notre Dame (10-1) at Southern California (6-5), 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (CBS)
Although this isn´t a conference game, it´s definitely the second-best matchup this week involving a Big Ten team.
Notre Dame likely earns a home playoff game in the first round of the playoff with a victory. If USC snaps Notre Dame´s nine-game winning streak, the Irish probably won´t make the 12-team playoff field at all.
BetMGM has USC as a 7 ½-point underdog.
Penn State DE Abdul Carter is one of three finalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award that is given each year to college football´s top overall defensive player.
Ohio State S Caleb Downs is one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award that goes annually to the nation´s top defensive back.
Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel is one of three finalists for the Maxwell Award given to college football´s top overall player and the Davey O´Brien Award that goes to the nation´s best quarterback.
Michigan DL Mason Graham is one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy that goes to college football´s top interior lineman.
Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson is one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award given to the nation´s best running back.
Michigan TE Colston Loveland and Penn State TE Tyler Warren are two of the three finalists for the Mackey Award that goes to the nation´s best tight end.
UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger is one of five finalists for the Butkus Award that goes to college football´s top linebacker.
Wisconsin has 22 consecutive bowl appearances and winning seasons. Both streaks are in jeopardy Friday when the Badgers (5-6, 3-5) host Minnesota. … Each of the last six Nebraska-Iowa games has been decided by seven points or fewer. They face off again Friday at Iowa. … Penn State owns a 24-2 home record against Maryland. A victory over Maryland on Saturday would likely guarantee Penn State a playoff spot and probable first-round home game. … Illinois (8-3) is seeking to win nine games in a regular season for the first time since 2007. The Ilini play Northwestern at Wrigley Field. … Washington has won its last three matchups with Oregon but BetMGM has the Huskies a 19 ½-point underdog this time.
Nebraska is a six-point underdog at Iowa but has plenty of momentum after trouncing Wisconsin last week to become eligible for its first bowl appearance since 2016. Don´t be surprised if the Cornhuskers win this one outright.
