This was the weekend that the Big 10 and its fan could point to. This was the weekend they could show they are a legitimate power conference or prove its critics right if they faltered. Many on fannation have questioned why OSU or the Big 10 is questioned. Lets look at how it fared.
The top 5 teams of this 11 team conference going into this season were OSU, Wisconsin, PSU, Illinois and Michigan.
OSU struggled against Ohio but perhaps it was just looking ahead. Wisconsin started slowly before some handy wins. Illinois got ran over by Missouri (the 2nd year to lose to Chase and Co) but Missouri is a powerhouse. Michigan lost another home opener. But it wasn't to a Div I playoff team (formerlyI-AA) but to Utah and they were good a few years ago. Werent they? And Michigan turned it around last year. So the Big 10 fans said we are good. We are strong -- stop criticizing us. So this weekend came
Illinois had weak Louisiana Lafeyette coming... a chance to dominate and impress
Michigan was playing an awful Notre Dame team that had to rally against San Diego State (who had lost the week before to Cal Poly). So they could win two in a row and start the believing
Purdue could get some respect if they win at home against ranked Oregon.
Wisconsin has pesky Fresno State. But they are ranked so a win could make things look better.
But the real deal. The game that was hyped. Was Ohio State v USC. Many such as myself said USC too fast and we have seen what SEC speed did to tressel and company the last two years. But many said not so fast including buckeye nation. They are a strong team, a power team. OSU's qb Boeckmen said this was their chance to earn the nation's respect.
SO how did things go.
First Penn State has looked good and dominated this week.
BUT...
Michigan did not just lose but got embarrased against Notre Dame 35-17. They were never in it. 21-0 in the 1st quarter. ND scored only 21 all game against San Diego State and most of that was in the 4th. It was ugly and Michigan and the Big 10 can only hang their heads
Not to Worry. Illini had Juice. If you listen to his fans he is a heisman stud on a great team. Here they were Playing a bad team. And they are bad. Yet, LA Lafeyette was within 7 with 9 left in the game. And made it a 3 point game in final minute. Juice threw for poor 13 of 25 for only147 yds with an int and only 35yds rushing. Oh and this was at home. Ugh. I dont have to comment about this
BUT for a half it looked like Purdue could be the answer. Scored 20 in first 3 possessions. Up 20-3 and then 20-6 against the ranked Ducks of Oregon. BUT... then the 2nd half. Oregon 14-0 in 3rd and game is tied then did on the road what a good home team should have. Got it done and pulled it out in overtime. A chance squandered.
BUT THE REAL GAME
At half USC was up 18 points; 21 to 3 over Ohio State. But who knows with some adjustments things could change. Couldn't they. After all USC is young and Ohio State had so many returning starters. This is why they were supposed to be great. This is why their fan base said we are a legit National Champ contender. This is why we stackup. We do. No really stop picking on us.
So things kicked off and the 3rd quarter began. Then nine minutes in it grew to 28-3 and counting...4 minutes later 35 to 3. As former buckeye Herbstreet said OSU looks like they are playing with their tail between their legs. Enough said
STAY TUNED FOR MORE
Lucia Dvorska
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College Superfans
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So are you proposing that they change the name of the conference to the Lil 11?
rhymeister
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PSU has looked great. They played 3 bad teams, but none the less. They've dominated in all 3 winning by at least 20 points in all 3. Today they scored 55 points with their starters out for almost 2 quarters.
PhillyFan83: WS…
Total Comments (766)
Blab all you want in weeks one and two...when the end of the season comes around and Big 10 has the most bowl conference ELIGIBLE teams out of any conference come talk...which seems to be the way things have been going for years now...
Steveo16220 says:…
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They'll also have the most bowl losses for a conference.
GabeFlor806
Lubbock, TX
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Steveo I did talk last year in the bowls... against you. And I was right the Big12 did better then the Big 10. And your conference wont have the most bowl teams. Last year the big 10 was 3-5 in bowl games. compare to 5-4 for Big 12 with 2 BCS bowl teams and a 3rd far more deserving then Illinois in Missouri who beat them
Sooner in WA-…
Tacoma , WA
Total Comments (1706)
when you bring that many games to the table, lossses are expected, but when you look at the win loss margin over the confernce history then tell me how much better we are than any other conference...
Funny, i didnt hear all this talk about the big 12 when Nebraska vanished into the corn fields or mizzou was just a name of a city with no football team....yeah brag all you want when your conference does good but then shut the pie hole when you suck....good job
Steveo16220 says:…
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ha play the team we played in BCS games and your season ending bowl w/ would look the same...if mizzou hand got crushed by your own conference team, then they might have had the chance toget crushed by USC as well...but when you lose big games, by big points dont expect to get big bowl bidds....
not to mention when 4 of our 8 bowl games come agianst 3 top 10 teams along with a #13 team then talkk....last time i checked your little tigers of mizzou played a BADLY overrated Arkansas team...Oklahoma got SPANKED by a west virgina team who was hype...so ill take my 3-5 record knowing the teams we played against the teams you guys played...
oh yeah it always helps when USC plays AT HOME for their bowl games seeing they cant make the National champ game..
Steveo16220 says:…
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OSU has looked bad in all 4 games this year - their heads aren't in the sport. (They're 20-somethings... what you gonna do but hope the next group of 4 and 5 star starters don't pick up their bad habits)
Nobody but the homers had Michigan in the top 5 in the conference.
The Illini looked god the 2nd half. When you can sit back and say "We are going with 4 wide outs and pass the entire half - come and stop us" and put up 31 points against a team expected to challenge for their conference title, that says a lot (didn't note that, did you girl - that was a team expected to finish 4th or 5th in the Big 10 (the equivalent to 2nd or 3rd in a division) on the road against a team expected to make their conference title game... what a great, even match up to use to evaluate a conference.
On the flip side, PSU's offense has looked awesome (45 or more points per game) and Wisconsin looks like they were suppose to look last year before the injuries and suspensions.
If you want to look at the inter-conference records in an apples to apples comparison (equating 2nd and 3rd in the Big 10 to a division 2nd, etc.) it is all here (be warned - this isn't a 2 paragraph 3 team 4 game rant but a detailed comprehensive look)
http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/234156
And finally, with match ups in bowls like the Big 10 #8 Michigan State against the ACC #2 Boston Colege the Big 10 will not have a great bowl record. What can I say - the bowls like the money brought in by fans looking to spend a week and a half of vacation some place warm rather than fly in 2 days before the game and leave the next morning.
Then again, if you celebrate a teams expected to compete for the Big 12 winning at home over a team expected to finish 4th or 5th in another conference, #8 vs. #2 probably seems like a viable chance for a win...
Prove It
Frellin Cold In, AK
Total Comments (6753)
oops - sorry - thought you were someone else - referrig to you as "Girl' wasn't meant to be a slam dude.
Purdue? FYI - expected to finish in the bottom 3 of the conference - which by your line of thought makes them about even with Oregon... then again if you have Michigan in the top 5, you really don't know what you are rambling about anyway...
Prove It
Frellin Cold In, AK
Total Comments (6753)
Illini had a heisman candidate, BCS bowl team and a rival to Mizzou and 0-2 last two years.
Please Big 12 3 top 5 teams, 4 top 10 and 6 top 20 teams Which is 30% of all top 20 teams
Sooner in WA-…
Tacoma , WA
Total Comments (1706)
Didn't talk about Mizzou then because Kansas State, Colorado, and Tex AM where also top 20 teams along with OU and Texas.
OU 1 title and 3 title shots
Texas 1 title
Nebraska played for 1.
No one other than Ohio State can say the same in Big 10.
Sooner in WA-…
Tacoma , WA
Total Comments (1706)
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