Week 10 in college football, and specifically in the Big Ten, was filled with positivity for Northwestern. The Wildcats took care of Penn State at home, and results elsewhere around the country pushed NU up to 18th in the College Football Playoff rankings. Then, late Saturday night, Michigan State lost a wild game at Nebraska, who Northwestern beat in Week 8.
Nebraska's win was crucial for Northwestern in multiple ways. It sent the Spartans tumbling into likely-two-loss territory, with a game at Ohio State still looming, and likely dropped them out of the New Year's Six picture unless they can knock off the Buckeyes.