The Big Ten Conference #1 seed is at stake this weekend as GRR #3 Indiana faces GRR #12 Wisconsin.

It’s a must-win for Wisconsin if the Badgers want to be in the conference final (played between the top two teams). Indiana can stay in the top two with a loss (a bonus point wouldn’t hurt and two would make it official), but Wisconsin needs to make sure that neither Ohio State (4-1, 21 standings points) or Michigan (4-1, 20) catch them. Of course the Buckeyes and the Wolverines play each other on Saturday.

The likelihood, however, is that Indiana, which has scored 386 points in five conference wins, and given up exactly seven (that’s right, 7), will win and clinch 1st, with the winner of Ohio State and Michigan the #2 team. This is partly a function of the unbalanced schedule in the Big Ten, a state of affairs that many teams (including those who don’t have to play Indiana) would like to see changed.

Indiana has a large group of excellent backs benefiting from a solid forward effort. Teddy Terezis, who missed last week’s 31-30 loss to Notre Dame College, should be back and leads the team with 116 points in the Big Ten. Jake Hidalgo leads the team with nine tries in conference tries, while center Tyler Graham has eight and fullback Tyler Sousley, along with Terezis, has seven.

They can score. In fact, likely their best player, Bryce Campbell, doesn’t feature strongly in the scoring because he does so much work setting others up for the tries.

Wisconsin is unbeaten, too, and their points for an against (average of 60-6) is pretty impressive, too. Fullback Daniel Pettay has been excellent and leads the team with eight tries. Wing Dane Fleck is second with seven, and leads the team with 51 points.

Indiana and Wisconsin have shared three opponents, but the comparison doesn’t tell you much - IU was 3-0 against Purdue, Michigan State, and Iowa, scoring 240 and allowing no points. Wisconsin was 3-0 against the same teams, scoring 224 and allowing zero. But most would say Indiana is favored.

Meanwhile, Ohio State and Michigan can still get that playoff spot. Both are 4-1, but got there in different ways. OSU has won most of their games by wide margins, whereas Michigan has had to battle. The teams share three opponents - Iowa, Michigan State, and Illinois. Michigan beat all three, scoring 97 and allowing 49. OSU beat all three, shutting them out while scoring 182.

The question remains how the Big Ten will set up its schedule going forward. Some have thought of a 1st and 2nd division, with the top five in one division, and the bottom four in the other (Penn State and Northwestern don’t participate - if there was a lower division, one wonders if Northwestern might wish to join).

Such a schedule could see the top five play each other once, and play one low-division opponent. It would even be possible for a 2nd division team to get some playoff opportunity if the top team did especially well.

All questions to address later. Right now it’s time to find out who’s the best.