Week 13: Big Ten ends regular season play; Iowa smokes Minnesota 55-0 in final game in Metrodome

Week 13 is in the books... the Big Ten closed out the 2008 campaign with only seven bowl eligible this year, as opposed to ten in '07. Michigan (3-9, 2-6 Big Ten) will stay home for the holidays for the first time in 33 seasons. Also, Illinois (5-7, 3-5 Big Ten), Purdue (4-8, Big Ten) and Indiana (3-9, 1-7 Big Ten) will all remain home for the holidays, as well, after bowling last season.

The Big Ten will not be in the BCS title game after the '08 season, unlike the past two seasons, but the future looks bright. It will be interesting to see how the conference plays out the seven bowl games, yet to be determine. We know Penn State (11-1. 7-1 Big Ten) will represent the Big Ten Conference in the Rose Bowl, either vs. USC or a rematch with Oregon State.

The Big 12 South is in a three-way tie at 6-1, after OU soundly took Texas Tech down. In my book, Texas hopefully will win the tie-breaker at this point. Of course, all three have their final Big 12 game to play.

Here's cidsports' Top 25 after Week 13:

1. Florida Gators (10-1, 7-1 SEC)
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (11-0, 7-0 SEC)
3. Southern Cal Trojans (9-1, 7-1 Pac 10)
4. Texas Longhorns (10-1. 6-1 Big 12)
5. Oklahoma Sooners (10-1, 6-1 Big 12)
6. Penn State Nittany Lions (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten)
7. Utah Utes (12-0, 8-0 MWC)
8. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten)
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-1, 6-1 Big 12)
10. Boise State Broncos (11-0, 7-0 WAC)
11. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-2, 5-2 Big 12)
12. Missouri Tigers (9-2, 5-2 Big 12)
13. Georgia Bulldogs (9-2, 6-2 SEC)
14. Ball State Cardinals (11-0, 7-0 MAC)
15. TCU Horned Frogs (10-2, 7-1 MWC)
16. Cincinnati Bearcats (9-2. 5-1 Big East)
17. Oregon State Beavers (8-3, 7-1 Pac 10)
18. Oregon Ducks (8-3, 7-1 Pac 10)
19. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-3, 5-3 ACC)
20. Michigan State Spartans (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten)
21. West Virginia Mountaineers (7-3, 4-1 Big East)
22. Pittsburgh Panthers (7-3, 3-2 Big East)
23. Northwestern Wildcats (9-3, 5-3 Big Ten)
24. (tied) Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten)
    Mississippi Rebels (7-4, 4-3 SEC)
    Brigham Young Cougars (10-2, 6-2 MWC)
    

Teams Out of the Top 25 after Week 13 - LSU Tigers (7-4, 3-4 SEC), Miami-FL Hurricanes (7-4, 4-3 ACC), North Carolina Tar Heels (7-4, 3-4 ACC), Maryland (7-4, 4-3 ACC).

Team to Watch - Fresno State (7-4, 4-3 WAC) travels to #10 Boise State, who is working to finish the top non-BCS team in the country, battling #7 Utah.

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