14. Michigan State (4-5, 2-4): The Spartans, idle last week, finish with Illinois, Purdue and Rutgers, and need to win two games to reach a bowl.
15. USC (4-5, 2-5): Coach Lincoln Riley has benched QB Miller Moss in favor of UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava. A visit from Nebraska on Saturday is the first chance to see if the move pays off.
16. Northwestern (4-5, 2-4): The Wildcats were idle last week and face Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois to close the season, so a bowl trip seems to be a long shot.
17. Maryland (4-5, 1-5): Three turnovers doomed any upset chances the Terrapins had at Oregon. With Rutgers, Iowa and Penn State left to play, a bowl appearance seems unlikely.
18. Purdue (1-8, 0-5): The Boilermakers weren’t competitive in a 45-0 loss to Ohio State. They’ve played both the No. 2 Buckeyes and No. 1 Oregon, falling by a combined 80-0.
