Big Ten this season

[HailtoPitt]

As memory serves, the Big Ten typically has more ranked teams. Their middling programs usually beat the non Power 5 or lower level Power 5 programs, so teams like Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern, Penn State, Michigan State, etc. 'LOOK' great, and get a nice ranking. Then they get into conference place, lose to one another, and can still claim that they are all good teams, and remain ranked higher than better non Big Ten teams with similar results.

Well, that hasn't happened this season. Some of these teams lost early to some non power 5 schools, or some bad power 5 programs, and they can't claim the typically Big Ten "we are good but just beat up on one another" nonsense. One exception is Penn State, who has not played anyone decent yet, and when they lose to one of those middling Big Ten programs, it's going to be hard to claim they are still worthy of a high ranking. Let's see how it plays out.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Big Ten West should get at least as much criticism as the Coastal

 

[Fk_Pitt]

As memory serves, the Big Ten typically has more ranked teams. Their middling programs usually beat the non Power 5 or lower level Power 5 programs, so teams like Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern, Penn State, Michigan State, etc. 'LOOK' great, and get a nice ranking. Then they get into conference place, lose to one another, and can still claim that they are all good teams, and remain ranked higher than better non Big Ten teams with similar results.

Well, that hasn't happened this season. Some of these teams lost early to some non power 5 schools, or some bad power 5 programs, and they can't claim the typically Big Ten "we are good but just beat up on one another" nonsense. One exception is Penn State, who has not played anyone decent yet, and when they lose to one of those middling Big Ten programs, it's going to be hard to claim they are still worthy of a high ranking. Let's see how it plays out.

Under Paterno, PSU made a living of beating all the teams in the league they were supposed to beat, but couldn’t win the big games and therefore finish the season with 2-3 losses and then play on New Year’s Day each year thanks to the inflated B1G bowl tie ins. There’s something to be said about winning the games you’re supposed to. Lord knows our program never did it enough. But it always struck me as bull that PSU had that cache for beating up on the average teams in the B1G.

 

[MartyInLawrenceville]

Purdue wins at Minnesota, Illinois wins at Wisconsin. Watching PSU/NW, 3 TO’s in 1st quarter. But yeah, the B1G is the bestest…

 

[ShipofFools]

Unranked to start the season. Beat two MAC teams at home. Win two middling games on the road. Move up to 11th in the country. Talk about horsecrap. Northwestern has lost to Miami of Ohio and Southern Illinois. UPS will win by 3tds and move up another 3 spots. Just watch.