Is it almost Saturday yet?

Five Big Ten games are on tap this weekend, in addition to Indiana taking on North Texas. Plenty of entertainment and intrigue await, so let's get to it.

Five things to watch in Week 6

1. Top-two B1G teams square off. Michigan State is still widely regarded as the best team in the conference, but Nebraska is the last remaining undefeated team. So, regardless of the winner, this game should determine a lot. If Michigan State wins, there's no more question about the best Big Ten team. If Nebraska comes away with the victory, it should launch itself into the College Football Playoff discussion. This game also has the potential to provide a preview of the Big Ten title game; a lot is on the line here.

2. "Hot-Seat Watch: Brady Hoke" continues. Will he be fired by midseason? Can the Wolverines finally bounce back? Can a U-M quarterback actually turn in a good performance? Plenty of questions are swirling around this program, and there aren't a lot of answers right now. Michigan is even a four-point underdog to Rutgers -- which really shows just how far the Wolverines have fallen. Hoke is still clinging on to hope, as he said Saturday this team is still capable of winning the Big Ten title. But that optimism won't stick if it loses another B1G game. Another loss, and the "Fire Hoke" chatter will only magnify. It looks as if he's already gone -- but another loss could move up that timetable.

3. Maryland and Rutgers' surprising starts. Both teams are just one play away from perfect 5-0 records. Instead, they've had to settle for surprising 4-1 starts. After a bad game against Penn State, Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova has appeared to put it behind him. And a close loss to West Virginia hasn't slowed down the Terrapins' offense. Big Ten fans weren't quite sure what to make of these additions before the season, but both teams have proved their mettle so far. If Maryland can somehow knock off Ohio State, it instantly throws its hat into the Big Ten title race. If Rutgers can beat a reeling Michigan, it's all but assured of a bowl game.

4. Heisman hype. If Nebraska tailback Ameer Abdullah isn't trending upward on your Heisman list then you're doing it wrong. His least-impressive game (McNeese State) still led to his most-impressive play, and he's on pace for more than 2,100 rushing yards. He looked good again this past week, when he rushed for 196 yards by halftime. Wisconsin tailback Melvin Gordon is also back on track after running for 434 yards and seven touchdowns in just the last two weeks. Oh, and let's not forget about Indiana's Tevin Coleman. He won't be invited to the ceremony, and his team isn't on the same level as Nebraska or Wisconsin. But he's showing he deserves to be in the same conversation as those two other running backs. He actually leads the conference -- yes, even over Abdullah and Gordon -- in rushing yards per game (172.75).

5. Is Northwestern finally back? The Wildcats' 29-6 win over Penn State was their largest margin of victory since 2012, and it was their best win in at least a full calendar year. Players said they lacked focus those first two weeks but that everything's changed now. One game doesn't signify a trend, but another win should certainly have the Wildcats feeling better about themselves. A victory won't come easy against Wisconsin, but it'd be a huge statement if it actually happened. In a weak Big Ten, the Wildcats could still end up as a bowl-eligible team.