It’s cliché, but it’s true.

With rivalry games, you throw it all out the window. You can sit there and break it down all you want, but rivalry games are the toughest to predict. It doesn’t necessarily matter how the previous 12 weeks have gone. It doesn’t come down to who has more talent or who won the game last year.

It’s almost a new season in itself.

For Purdue, it’s a chance to spoil Indiana’s bowl hopes and continue one of the sadder streaks in FBS.

For Northwestern, it’s a chance to show people that not only is it Chicago’s team, it’s the state of Illinois’ team.

For Minnesota, it’s a chance to avenge a loss that stung more than most in program history.

For Nebraska, it’s a chance to quiet a rolling team its long considered itself above and clinch a once-improbable bowl berth.

All of those scenarios create new seasons in themselves. And amazingly, that doesn’t include the two games that will dictate the B1G East winner. Penn State/Michigan State and Ohio State/Michigan are the games that will determine the perception of an entire season.

Everybody has something on the line in the final week of the regular season. I can try and predict outcomes all I want, but ultimately, these games will come down to who wants it more.

And that’s the beauty of rivalry week.

Last week: 5-2

Season total: 84-21

No. 4 Iowa 27, Nebraska 24

Rutgers 35, Maryland 28

Indiana 41, Purdue 38

No. 8 Ohio State 28, No. 10 Michigan 24

Illinois 24, No. 16 Northwestern 21

Minnesota 17, Wisconsin 14

No. 5 Michigan State 27, Penn State 14