Last week I praised Northwestern for their huge win over Wisconsin and highlighted the possibility of going 8-0 and playing Ohio State for a CFP playoff berth.
A lot has changed now after Week 13.
Northwestern lost to one of the worst teams in the B1G, Michigan State, and had their game against Minnesota cancelled. While they’re still in the driver’s seat to win the Big Ten West, they must beat Illinois first. Fortunately, the Illini have struggled mightily this year and the Wildcats should be favored.
But let’s celebrate the opponent who beat Northwestern: the Michigan State Spartans! Not a lot has gone right for them, but this is a win new coach Mel Tucker can be proud of his guys for.
Let’s see who the 5 biggest winners of Week 13 were:
5. Penn State
They finally won a game! After starting 0-5 for the first time ever, the Nittany Lions got into the win column against another hapless powerhouse: Michigan. Their remaining games are against Rutgers and Michigan State, so maybe they can salvage the shattered pieces of their season in the next two weeks. Meanwhile, things couldn’t be worse right now for Michigan, who cannot avoid a losing record either and is a loss in The Game away from a 2-5 season. Their fans don’t like those, and direct most of their feelings at the coach in such circumstances. It might be an ugly offseason in Ann Arbor.
4. Iowa State
With a hard-earned win over Texas last Saturday, the Cyclones are a win away from the Big 12 Championship game. Who would’ve thought that they’d be in this position after starting their season with a loss to Sun-Belt resident Louisiana? Fans will forgive them for that if they win the Big 12 for the first time in their lifetimes.
3. Oregon State
A CBS writer suggested that the Oregon-Oregon State rivalry be renamed to the Battylpus (Battle for the Playtpus). Who knows if that’ll happen, but I’ll show my support for the idea by referring to it as that here! In the latest edition of the Battylpus, the Oregon State beavers shook off their losing history and cut down their rival Ducks in a 41-38 classic. At 2-2, can they finish .500? If so, it’ll likely have only been made possible by the awe-inspiring Battylpus trophy.
2. Rutgers
You know it’s 2020 when Rutgers wins a B1G game. That was the word back in October when they took down Michigan State on the road. Well, you really know it’s 2020 when Rutgers does it again! Last Saturday the Scarlet Knights won at Purdue to earn their 2nd win of the year. That’s 0 times more than how many B1G wins they had last year, because 0 x 2 = 0. Maybe that stat isn’t so impressive after all. Anyway, that’s one to celebrate a week after losing a 3OT game to Michigan in their best chance to knock them off maybe ever.
2. Michigan State
Sometimes a season doesn’t go your way. Sometimes you start it off by losing at home to the laughingstock of the Power 5 (the team above at #2), get shut out by Indiana, and blasted by Iowa. But you can never give up, and that’s how the 2-3 Spartans are one of the happiest 2-3 teams around with the two wins being at arch-rival Michigan and this one: an upset over the #8 Northwestern Wildcats. Losing to Rutgers and beating a top-10 team in the same season? Yes, that is possible in 2020.
1. Rutgers
Surprise! Rutgers is number one, mostly because (1) I like laughing at Purdue and (2) I have no idea how this happened. You know it’s 2020 when Rutgers wins a B1G game. That was the word back in October when they took down Michigan State on the road. Well, you really know it’s 2020 when Rutgers does it again! Last Saturday the Scarlet Knights won at Purdue to earn their 2nd win of the year. Purdue is the egg-layer of all egg-layers sometimes, in basketball and football, but that’s for another article. Also, Rutgers’ win is 0 times more than how many B1G wins they had last year, because 0 x 2 = 0. Hmm, maybe that stat isn’t so impressive after all. Anyway, that’s one to celebrate a week after losing a 3OT game to Michigan in their best chance to knock them off maybe ever.
Until next time!
5 Biggest Winners So Far:
5. Rutgers W over Purdue
4. Northwestern W over Wisconsin
3. Kentucky W over Tennessee
2. Indiana W over Penn State
1. Notre Dame W over Clemson