Big Ten football picks: No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Indiana to play one for playoff position

Two weeks remain in major college football’s regular season, and the latest Game of the Season in the Big Ten will play out in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, when No. 2 Ohio State faces No. 5 Indiana in a game heavy with College Football Playoff implications. Elsewhere in the Big Ten, Michigan, Nebraska, USC and Wisconsin seek their sixth victory to secure a bowl berth. (All games Saturday unless designated. The Gophers-Penn State prediction will run later this week.)

No. 5 Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State, 11 a.m., Fox

• Will the clock strike midnight for Cinderella? Maybe, but if the Hoosiers are competitive against the Buckeyes, a loss likely won’t cost them a spot in the playoff. Ohio State takes a step closer to a rematch with Oregon for the Big Ten title. Ohio State 34, Indiana 23

Wisconsin at Nebraska, 2:30 p.m., BTN

• The Huskers turned over their offensive keys to Mike Leach disciple Dana Holgorsen last week, and the Badgers fired offensive coordinator Phil Longo on Sunday. Wisconsin has a 10-game winning streak vs. Nebraska, but the Huskers end that skid and secure a bowl trip for the first time since 2016. Nebraska 24, Wisconsin 20

USC at UCLA, 9:30 p.m., NBC

• The Trojans and Bruins have split the past dozen games between the former Pac-12 powers. UCLA needs victories over USC and Fresno State to reach a bowl game, while USC must beat either UCLA or Notre Dame. UCLA 27, USC 24

Iowa at Maryland, 11 a.m., BTN

• The Hawkeyes are 1-3 on the road, with upset losses to Michigan State and UCLA. They’ll buck that trend against the Terrapins. Iowa 31, Maryland 20

No. 24 Illinois at Rutgers, 11 a.m., Peacock

• The Scarlet Knights are on a two-game win streak after a four-game skid. Look for a tight, low-scoring game against the Illini. Rutgers 17, Illinois 16

Northwestern at Michigan, 2:30 p.m., FS1

• The Wolverines need a victory to reach bowl eligibility, and it would behoove them to get it this week because they finish against Ohio State. Michigan 20, Northwestern 13

Purdue at Michigan State, 7 p.m. Friday, Fox

• The Spartans have lost five of their last six, so a visit from the 1-9 Boilermakers comes at just the right time. Michigan State 31, Purdue 10