What's Up With The Big-10?

[DT1]

The Big-10 has been down for years, but they look downright pitiful this year after several of their marquis teams were blown out and embarrassed yesterday in non-conference games.

OSU losing at home by 2 touchdowns to an unranked team.
Michigan shut out 31-0 by ND.
Michigan State's supposed "great" defense giving up 24 unanswered and getting dusted by Oregon 46-27.
Northwestern losing to Northern Illinois.
Iowa and Nebraska almost losing to teams they should have blown out by 4-5 touchdowns.


I'm having a hard time envisioning a scenario that puts a Big-10 team in the playoffs. What's happened to this once great football conference?

 

[cnwrobb]

It seems that the best high school football players in the country are overwhelmed and over recruited by the so called elite football colleges. This leads to too many talented players at any one program at most if not all positions on the team. You could have been Mr. Football at some Illinois high school, but you will be likely 3rd or 4th string QB in the Big Ten. The mid major football conferences give these kids a real chance to start all 4 years in school. Schools like N Dakota State, Northern Illinois and Appalachian State have proved they can beat Division I teams on their own home fields. Early season foes for the Big 10 teams used to be a way to go undefeated till conference play, but it is not the norm any longer. As far as a Big 10 team in the hunt for a national championship, I just don't see it this year.

 

[DT1]

^^^Not sure I completely understand the analysis, but the Big-10 definitely has issues from top to bottom. Look at Ohio State, the bell cow of the conference, last year. They skated through a pussy schedule, then played two decent teams at the end (MSU & Clemson) and lost both.

Hey, I'm an SEC homer, but I really hate to see a once proud conference fall to these depths.

 

[wilwith1l]

I think it should be noted that OSU is still under probation. This is their last year of scholarship restrictions, but they will be feeling the effects (all though reduced) for two more years. Also, they lost their Starting QB.

Michigan is basically at the point that Alabama was during the "Bastard Mike" years. They are trying to replace a national championship winning coach, and just haven't found the right guy.

Wisconsin is in the 2nd year of a new head coach. Bielema had them going in the right direction, but couldn't win the big game. They have a lot of upside.

Sparty's stock is pretty good. They haven't lost a bowl game (including last year's Rose) since they got abused by Bama in the 2011 Cap One. The three coaches before Dantonio, which includes Saban, won a combined 0 conference championships.

Northwestern: The last time they lost less than 3 games was the mid 90's, and the time before that Parseghian was the head coach, and Kennedy was in the White House. They are looking as good as they ever have.

Nebraska: Who knows what the deal with Bo Pelini is (he's a Les Miles product), but best I can tell Tom Osborne will not be putting on the headset anytime soon. They are in a similar place to Michigan.

The rest, other than Minnesota, have always been also-rans.

 

[DT1]

"Bastard Mike Years". That's a good one Every time my Bammer friends get on their high horse, I remind them of the great years under DuBose, Price and Shula. They simmer down just a little.....