Wisconsin took a massive step toward booking a place in the Big Ten championship game with a 51-26 defeat of Michigan State in Madison, WI, on Saturday to move to 4-1 and edge into first place in the conference.

This was a key game for both the Badgers and the Spartans, as a victory would put the winner in the best position to make the final game. And as expected, it was tight at halftime, with Wisconsin holding onto a 22-19 lead. But at the break UW head coach Nic Tyson made some changes in defense and simplified the offensive game plan, and the Badgers exploded for five tries.

"Michigan State is very much improved over last year," Tyson said. "They are very physical and their forwards run downhill. Our defense kind of messed with their game plan."

Badgers team captain and flanker Ben Lehrmann continued to lead from the front, and he and lock Amos Mayberry were critical defensively. Tyler Crass scored two tries in the early going of the second half to open up the game.

Indiana kept pace at 4-0 with a 41-36 road win over Ohio State. OSU has lost three games, all by a try or less. Davoda Worth has been a force in the backs for IU, and he surged over for two against the Buckeyes. Meanwhile, Fred Barry, Jake Ney, Luke Sutherland, and Connor Marsh also got in on the scoring for the Hoosiers.

OSU scored two late to get the bonus points for four tries and for a close loss, including one against Wisconsin and two against Indiana.

But it looks now as if Wisconsin and Indiana will play in the championship game. These two face off next week in Bloomington, IN, but the important game is a week later when Wisconsin plays at Ohio State. The winner of that game almost certainly will face Indiana for the conference title.

Tyson thinks that final game is a toss-up. 

"Indiana is very good, but they are not invulnerable," he said.

Also this weekend, Illinois beat Michigan 22-14 to move to 3-2.