Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, November 5, 2015

Time and again over the years, I have heard many coaches roll out the old quote ?They play the games to remember in November.? Well, the calendar says November, so here are the seven biggest Big Ten games that will shape the league race down the stretch. Two of them go down this Saturday.

Lots of good football left to go, and every game has major implications.

1. Michigan State at Ohio State, Nov. 21. The Big Ten?s 2015 version of the "Game of the Century." This tilt has been circled on our calendars since the first college football preview mag hit newsstands at Walgreens in June. Both teams have navigated through the first two months of the season unbeaten–as we anticipated. The winner will have a huge step up in winning the East-while also staying in the playoff hunt.

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2. Ohio State at Michigan, Nov. 28. This could be the most anticipated edition of the "Big Game" since the epic 2006 meeting when Ohio State was No. 1 and Michigan was No. 2. The Buckeyes won that game in Columbus, 42-39, and went on to play for the national title. Could this year?s encounter be a similar springboard for OSU?

3. Iowa at Indiana, Nov. 7. Is this game too high? Debatable. But I think this may be the most dangerous contest left for Iowa and that zero to the right of the dash in the Hawkeyes' record. Yes, even more deadly than the finale at Nebraska. The Hoosiers? offense is scary. If IU can get a lead and force the Hawkeyes into trying to trade points, Iowa may be in trouble. The last time the Hawkeyes visited Bloomington in 2012, they lost. Interesting.

4. Iowa at Nebraska, Nov. 27. Put off that Black Friday trip to Big Lots to buy Granny a Ginsu knife for Christmas. This clash could be all that stands between Iowa and perfection. The Hawkeyes won the last time they visited Lincoln in 2013, taking a 38-17 verdict. Iowa blew a 24-7 third-quarter lead to the Huskers last year en route to losing in overtime, 37-34. It was part of a late-season meltdown that caused Kirk Ferentz to scrutinize how he operates and then alter his program. A year later, behold Herky.

5. Penn State at Michigan State, Nov. 28. The Nittany Lions have lost the last two vs. Michigan State-both in State College. This will be Penn State?s first trip to East Lansing since 2009, when it won 42-14. If Christian Hackenberg is still hot, the Spartans and their spotty secondary could be in for a long day.

6. Michigan at Penn State, Nov. 21. Each team is still technically alive in the East as they chase Ohio State and Michigan State. The last time Michigan was in State College, Pa., it lost an epic 43-40 four OT game to Penn State in 2013. The Wolverines have not played well away from Ann Arbor under Jim Harbaugh, who no doubt will feed each player a steak with a tall, cold glass of whole milk on Friday night.

7. Michigan State at Nebraska, Nov. 7. Meet Nebraska, college football's conundrum that single-handedly has caused a spike in Maalox sales across the state. The Cornhuskers are dazed after a 3-6 start that moved the Nebraska A.D. to pen a letter to fans. A win here against the unbeaten Spartans would get the Huskers off the psychiatrist's couch. And don?t think Nebraska can?t pull it off. This team has talent. But, does it have want-to?