Rivalry Weekend in Big Ten Overflowing with Drama

Rivalry weekend couldn't be more intriguing for college football's best conference in 2016.

Five Big Ten teams—led by heavyweights Michigan and Ohio State—are in contention for a division crown with one game left to play.

And even better for the conference, four programs remain in the chase for the College Football Playoff. Not only will their games decide East and West Divisions, the results will have an enormous impact on the national picture.

The Big Ten will send one team to the CFP, but the upcoming slate will determine whether the conference has a legitimate chance for two representatives.

Without question, "The Game" between Michigan and Ohio State will garner the most attention.

Though the matchup isn't quite a best-case scenario because the winner is not guaranteed a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, it's a critical tilt. After an eight-year stretch where one of the programs failed to survive the season, that's a welcome sign.

Best of all, we have no idea what to expect.

The Wolverines dominated for nine weeks, but a loss at Iowa and an injury to their starting quarterback have complicated the outlook.

Despite reports of a broken collarbone, Wilton Speight participated in warm-ups prior to Saturday's 20-10 triumph over Indiana. After the game, head coach Jim Harbaugh called Speight day-to-day, according to MLive's Nick Baumgardner.

Andrew Weber/Getty Images

Harbaugh at least caused doubts for Ohio State and its preparation. Urban Meyer's team will need to study both Speight and his replacement, John O'Korn.

If Saturday was any indication, the Houston transfer isn't a major worry. O'Korn finished a mere 7-of-16 with 59 yards, tossing inaccurate passes at every level of the field. But considering his experience gained with the Cougars, a bounce-back game is possible.

Any improvement from O'Korn backed by an elite Michigan defense would become a major concern for the Buckeyes.

The Wolverines defense has carried Harbaugh's club in 2016. On paper, the unit is capable of shutting down Ohio State like Michigan State did as long as it contains outside runs. It doesn't matter if Speight or O'Korn lines up under center; Michigan will need that strength in Columbus. Just like the Buckeyes must be able to count on an offense that is significantly more dangerous than the unit that occupied the field during a 17-16 escape from East Lansing.

Meyer knows a repeat of Saturday's showing—just 86 passing yards compared to 224 on the ground—likely won't cut it against the nation's top-ranked defense. According to Tim Shoemaker of Eleven Warriors, Meyer said:

"

Meyer: "It'll be tough to win next week if we're not balanced."

— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) November 19, 2016"

Ohio State's offense is loaded with potential, but consistency is an issue. Although a poor performance from quarterback J.T. Barrett in the game immediately preceding a date with Michigan isn't a death knell, it's not ideal for the offense.

Still, thanks to several recent upsets, the Buckeyes are a top contender for the CFP even without a conference championship. And a wild-card berth is possible, since Ohio State would lose a tiebreaker with Penn State.

Which would've seemed like lunacy eight weeks ago.

To end September, Michigan routed the Nittany Lions 49-10. Since then, James Franklin's squad has engineered one of the nation's most impressive turnarounds and earned seven straight wins, including a 39-0 victory against Rutgers.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Yes, a favorable non-divisional slate is a noteworthy part of Penn State's resurgence. The Lions have no reason to apologize for it, but unlike the other East Division contenders, they played neither of the possible winners from the West.

Wisconsin owns the simplest scenario: win and get in.

History suggests that will happen, considering the Badgers have recorded 12 consecutive victories in the battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. But Minnesota would love to snap a dreaded streak while derailing its rival's dreams in the West Division.

An upset win by the Gophers—who have won five of their last six games—would open the door for Nebraska, which needs a victory because it cannot win a tiebreaker over Wisconsin.

However, Kevin Sjuts of KOLN/KGIN-TV notes head coach Mike Riley said quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr.'s status is uncertain.

The Huskers rolled over a hapless Maryland squad without him, but they're now preparing for a road game against a confident Iowa team. After upsetting Michigan on Nov. 12, the Hawkeyes held Illinois below 200 yards in a shutout win.

Armstrong (hamstring) is the key to a victory. If he can't play, Nebraska will be at a significant disadvantage. Should he suit up, though, the Cornhuskers could record a victory Friday and put immense pressure on Wisconsin, which will spend a day thinking about the implications before hosting Minnesota.

Penn State could face the same internal battle, albeit in a smaller time frame. The Lions will start at 3:30 p.m. ET, following the noon kickoff for Michigan and Ohio State.

And if the Buckeyes win that showdown, it will produce the craziest outcome of 2016: A matchup of Top Five Wolverines and Buckeyes teams did not guarantee a division champion.

Michigan and Nebraska may be without their quarterbacks in the most important game of the year. Wisconsin must avoid a letdown against a bitter rival. Penn State might complete a masterful resurgence. Ohio State could lose the division yet make the CFP.

What more could the Big Ten want from rivalry weekend?

Stats from NCAA.com, cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.