Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, November 25, 2015

It?s the final weekend of the regular season. And, a lot is on the line. Michigan State is trying to sew up the East Division, while four teams are fighting to get to win No. 6 and guaranteed bowl eligibility. Oh, and Urban-Jim Bowl I takes place.

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Here are some Week 13 Hard Takes.

1. The Big Ten looks primed to send a team to the playoffs. Iowa has the West wrapped up, while Michigan State can take the East with a win at home vs. Penn State on Saturday. Ohio State and Michigan still hold out hope that MSU loses and the winner of their game takes the division. But, there is one scenario where the Big Ten may not get a playoff team. And, here it is: Iowa loses at Nebraska on Friday ? and then beats the East Division champ in the Big Ten title game. Would a one-loss Hawkeye squad with a less-than-stellar resume still be judged as a Top Four team? Hmmmm.

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2. Iowa is in the midst of one of the greatest seasons in school annals. The Hawkeyes will bring an 11-0 record to Nebraska, looking to continue an unbeaten run and earn a spot in the four-team College Football Playoff. Despite all of this greatness, will Iowa have a first-team All-Big Ten skill player on offense? The Hawkeyes have several very good players-QB C.J. Beathard, RB Jordan Canzeri, WR Matt VandeBerg–but I?m not sure there is a clear-cut first-team all-leaguer at the skill positions. The best bet: Beathard. Here is what I could envision happening: Michigan State?s Connor Cook will be first-team by the media; Beathard will be first-team by the coaches.

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3. Speaking of Beathard ? could he be Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year? Or should we go ahead and give the award to Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott? I say: Not so fast. Hey, this award can?t be all about stats, right? Look what Beathard has meant to the Iowa offense from a leadership and general intangible standpoint. No way the Hawkeyes are perfect without Beathard taking snaps.

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4. What about Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year? This could be an interesting race between Penn State DE Carl Nassib, Iowa CB Desmond King, Wisconsin LB Joe Schobert and Ohio State DE Joey Bosa. Who am I going with? Give me Nassib, who enters the season?s final Saturday pacing the nation in sacks and tackles for loss. He has been the ultimate difference-maker off the edge.

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5. Of the four Big Ten teams needing a win to reach bowl eligibility, I like the chances of Indiana and Nebraska the best. The Hoosiers travel to rival Purdue, and the Huskers host No. 4 and undefeated Big Ten West champ Iowa. The latter one might be surprising, but Nebraska has won two games in a row, is coming off an open week – while Iowa will be playing on short rest – and faces no pressure. The other teams needing one more win to guarantee bowl eligibility are Illinois (vs. Northwestern) and Minnesota (vs. Wisconsin).

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6. The fuss, folly and ?stress? of wondering if 80 bowl slots can be filled by teams that meet the bare minimum 6-6 won-loss standard is laughable. It?s at the point now where the NCAA is scrambling to figure out a way assign 5-7 teams to bowl games-if they are needed. This is really happening, America. Enough. Are the TV networks this desperate for December programming? Because, that?s what these bowl are about; they aren?t ?rewards? for teams. Rather, they are ?TV programs.? If there ever was an example of excess, this is it. I've said it for years, and I'll say it again: Why not just let every team play a 13th game? There are 127 FBS schools. Eighty will be in bowls. That?s 63 percent of FBS schools in bowls. That?s WAY too many.

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7. Pat Forde of Yahoo! reports that Michigan DC D.J. Durkin is a strong candidate for the Maryland job. Hey, Durkin is a fine coach who has done a nice job in 2015. He may even be a bang-up head coach one day. But I think Maryland needs to hit a home run with this hire. The Terps need to create some buzz and excitement with this appointment to replace Randy Edsall, who was fired in October and replaced on an interim basis by offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. I know winning the press conference doesn?t mean squat. Still, for Maryland, it needs a big name with a proven track record to amp up the program and generate interest in a busy Beltway sports scene. Can Maryland afford to hire an anonymous defensive coordinator who never has been a head coach?

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8. On the subject of hot Big Ten coordinators, I think Wisconsin DC Dave Aranda has the fastest-rising star. His unit leads FBS in scoring and is fourth in total defense. Where would the Badgers be without Aranda?s standout defense in 2015? Scary thought, huh? Someone soon will hire the ultra-smart and ultra-intense Aranda as a head coach.

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9. I get asked often: Who is the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy? I have no idea. I can?t recall the race being this muddled since I became a voter in 2001. Alabama?s Derrick Henry? Clemson?s Deshaun Watson? Stanford?s Christian McCaffrey? Florida State?s Dalvin Cook? Oklahoma?s Baker Mayfield? Here's what I do know: TCU's Trevone Boykin, Ohio State?s Ezekiel Elliott and LSU?s Leonard Fournette have fallen off the Heisman map. The 2015 Heisman chase reminds me of 2003, when Oklahoma?s Jason White won the honor over Pitt?s Larry Fitzgerald, Ole Miss? Eli Manning and Michigan?s Chris Perry. Pretty forgettable.

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10. I can?t say I was surprised Urban Meyer didn?t make a fuss over Ezekiel Elliott ripping his coaching staff after the loss to Michigan State. That said, Elliott?s behavior sends the wrong message on many fronts: It?s OK to speak your mind if you are correct ? AND a star. Elliott apologized ? but not really. Go back and read it. And his ?apology? came via social media. Come on. Regardless, if Elliott rushes for 100 yards and the Buckeyes win at Michigan on Saturday, this all will be washed away ? right?

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