No. 24 Michigan returns from its bye week Saturday at No. 22 Illinois (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) with its season hanging in the balance. A win for the Wolverines (4-2, 2-1) would keep their playoff hopes alive,

As for Illinois, the Illini's only loss was by two scores on the road to undefeated Penn State. They have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Nebraska, another fringe contending team in the Big Ten facing potential playoff elimination this week. The Cornhuskers need to beat Indiana in Bloomington to give them the best chance at survival.