For all but two teams, there are only two weeks left before bowl season. We're still not sure which two teams will play an extra week in Indianapolis, but we're getting much closer to finding out. Here's your quick Week 12 preview (Note: All games are at noon ET except Penn State-Ohio State, which is at 3:30 p.m.):
No. 16 Nebraska (8-2, 4-2 Big Ten) at No. 18 Michigan (8-2, 4-2), ESPN: Not much at stake here. Just a virtual elimination game in the Legends Division race. Plus, whoever wins could be in good shape for a BCS at-large bid even if it doesn't claim the division title. Oh, and these are two blue-blood programs who have only played six times and who split the 1997 national title.
No. 21 Penn State (8-2, 5-1) at Ohio State (6-4, 3-3), ABC regional/ESPN: This game won't affect Penn State's Big Ten title game chances unless Wisconsin loses this week. The Nittany Lions are likely facing a one-game season in the finale at Madison. Of course, there are other storylines surrounding Penn State, and it will be interesting to see how the team is received on the road. The Buckeyes must win out, hope Wisconsin loses this week and then beats the Lions so they can win the Leaders Division through head-to-head tiebreakers. Penn State has won only once in Columbus since joining the Big Ten.
No. 17 Wisconsin (8-2, 4-2) at Illinois (6-4, 2-4), ESPN2: The Badgers got the road monkey off their back on Saturday at Minnesota and will go for two in the row away from home this week in Champaign. If they win, they'll be back in the comfy confines of Madison with the Leaders Division title on the line in Week 13. Will the Illini ever get off the mat, or is this destined to be a lost season -- and potentially a lost job -- for Ron Zook?
Iowa (6-4, 3-3) at Purdue (5-5, 3-3), Big Ten Network: The Boilermakers just have to win here or beat Indiana the following week to get to a bowl game for the first time since 2007. Iowa hasn't won a road game all year, which is bad news since the Hawkeyes' last two games are away from Kinnick Stadium.
Indiana (1-9, 0-6) at No. 15 Michigan State (8-2, 5-1), BTN: The Spartans are two wins away from reaching the league championship game, and it's hard to envision them slipping up at home on Senior Day against the Hoosiers. At least Indiana had a bye week to prepare for this one.
Minnesota (2-8, 1-5) at Northwestern (5-5, 2-4), BTN: The Wildcats can clinch bowl eligibility with a win. Not bad for a team that was 2-5 a few weeks ago.