Big Ten players due for breakout performances in Week 11

The Big Ten Conference has arrived at crunch time. For USC, Indiana, and the rest of the league, it's time to put up or shut up. Dylan Raiola has taken over for the Oregon Ducks and looks like a quarterback capable of taking them where they want to go. The same could be said for UCLABruins backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach. Darius Taylor is a non-quarterback who delivers a huge performance this week.

Here are the players to watch in Week 11 of Big Ten football:

Ty Dieffenbach

Will a couple of solid performances turn into even more consistency? I think Ty Dieffenbach is turning the corner and building the exact confidence needed to play at an elite level when the big games come. The UCLA Bruins are facing the Illinois Fighting Illini this week, and I think Dieffenbach will have another star performance. He will have his best game yet and throw for 300 yards along with 2 touchdowns. The Bruins will win this game off of his arm, not their domiant run game.

Anthony Colandrea

Anthony Colandrea is going to be the Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback next season, too. He has had a slump in the last few games in this losing streak. He was fantastic to start the season. I think this week we'll see him get back to great play against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. This is the exact game to have a big performance. Colandrea will have multiple touchdowns and 300 total yards this week.

Darius Taylor

If the Minnesota Gophers want to get back on the right track, it starts with the run game. Darius Taylor has had a disappointing season, but I think against the Penn State Nittany Lions, he will come to play. Darius Taylor will run for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns this week, being the engine of the Gophers' offense.

Underrated performer of the week: Malik Washington

Malik Washington is coming off leading the Maryland Terrapins to a big win. He is looking to finish the season off on a high note. No Mike Locksley moving forward, but Washington will still remind the Terrapins he is the guy they need to prioritize for the future of the program. Malik Washington will have one of the best quarterback performances in the conference this week.

Star of the week: Dylan Raiola

Now with Jay Johnson calling plays for the Oregon Ducks, it seems like the offense is clicking on all cylinders. Dylan Raiola had one of his best performances of the season against the Ohio State Buckeyes. I think that will propel him to an even better game this week. The Michigan Wolverines have an elite defense, but the Ducks need to strengthen their resume by winning games with style. I think Oregon wins big, and it comes in part due to Raiola playing unbelievably.

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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Big Ten players due for breakout performances in Week 11