We've been enjoying the nostalgia of the 2013 season by highlighting the best individual performances by Big Ten players, and now we've reached the top five.
Our list takes into account the difficulty of opponent and stakes of the game and tries to identify record-breaking, honor-winning, jaw-dropping games from league players. Players are limited to one entry on this list for variety's sake.
Our next entrant saved his best for last ...
No. 5: Hack attack at Camp Randall
Who and against whom: Penn State freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg led the way in a shocking 31-24 road upset of Wisconsin in the regular-season finale on Nov. 30.
The numbers: Hackenberg completed 21 of 30 passes for 339 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.
A closer look: Hackenberg showed off his talent throughout his freshman season, including a solid opener against Syracuse and his comeback overtime victory against Michigan. But he was never better than he was against the Badgers, who entered the game as a BCS at-large hopeful and a 24-point home favorite.
Wisconsin's defense had been one of the Big Ten's best all year and had done a great job limiting big plays. Hackenberg chewed that defense up with a 68-yard touchdown pass to Adam Breneman less than two minutes into the game. He threw for 221 yards in the first half and connected on a 59-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to Geno Lewis.
Hackenberg's 339 yards were one shy of his previous season high, and he put up by far his best passer rating of the year vs. Wisconsin while avoiding any turnovers. He cemented his Big Ten freshman-of-the-year trophy with his final 2013 performance and gave Nittany Lions fans plenty of reasons for optimism for 2014 and beyond.
More top performances
Christian Kirksey vs. Nebraska
