Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 12: Michigan State rebounds

Nov 14, 2015; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers linebacker Marcus Newby (3) and defensive end Ross Dzuris (88) celebrate sack of Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Chris Laviano (5) at High Points Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

As the season progresses, we are learning more about the teams that started the season hot as well as the ones that struggled for a bit. Illinois was one of the former as the Fighting Illini shocked people out of the gates, winning four of their first five games. They have since lost four of five.

People expected the Fighting Illini to fall short against Ohio State in week 11, but to lose by three-plus scores like they did was kind of surprising seeing as they’ve played well all year against tough teams. Like most teams, though, Illinois just couldn’t stop Ezekiel Elliott.

Everyone was kind of interested to see how the Cornhuskers would respond following their biggest win of the season over No. 7 Michigan State, and they played well enough to take down a reeling Rutgers team.

No aspect of Nebraska’s offense was overly impressive as Tommy Armstrong Jr. was 14-of-21 for 188 yards and three touchdowns, but his poor decision-making continued as he threw three errant passes to the Scarlet Knights. If the Cornhuskers want to make a bowl game, he has to protect the ball better.

Penn State got its bye week at the perfect time. The Nittany Lions stay put because of their inaction in week 11, but the coming two weeks will tell us a lot about this team. With the toughest part of Penn State’s schedule looming, the bye week was the right time for these players to get focused on the task at hand.

Winning out and beating two ranked teams to end the year — Michigan at home and Michigan State on the road, respectively — would be the icing on the cake to a somewhat-impressive season with its ups and downs.

Next: No. 6 Northwestern - No. 4 Michigan