Welcome back to the big table, Big Ten
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Ohio State tight end Spencer Smith kisses the Rose Bowl trophy after Ohio State downed Oregon to win the 2010 Rose Bowl. (Icon SMI)
By Mike Beacom
Forget about the fact that no Big Ten team came close to the BCS title game, or that one of its proudest members, Michigan, was at home licking its wounds – this past bowl season was a smashing success for the Big Ten … a Sandra Bullock-like comeback.
The Big Ten had earned its reputation for failing in the bowl season. Consider the records of seasons past:
• 2008: 1-6
• 2007: 3-5
• 2006: 2-5
• 2005: 3-4
• 2004: 3-3
The Big Ten had earned its reputation for failing in the bowl season. Consider the records of seasons past:
• 2008: 1-6
• 2007: 3-5
• 2006: 2-5
• 2005: 3-4
• 2004: 3-3
It used to be that the Big Ten and SEC were the two top dogs; lately experts had begun to question whether the Big Ten even belonged in conference supremacy discussion.
But a 4-3 finish this year has quieted doubters. Slowly, Big Ten backers are starting to bark a little again.
The wins were all quality, and all unexpected.
• No one gave Wisconsin a chance against a much more athletic Miami Hurricanes roster, but after sacrificing a quick score the Badgers took command on the chilly evening. As Hurricane players huddled around the sideline heater, the Badgers continued to pound the football in the 20-14 win.
• The Buckeyes were not going to win against Oregon, surely not if Terrelle Pryor had to pass the ball. But Pryor passed all game long, with great accuracy, and Ohio State broke its bowl losing streak.
• LSU was a fringe BCS team before its regular season debacle against Ole Miss. Penn State was considered an over-achiever whose bubble was about to burst. Didn’t happen. Collin Wagner nailed a 21-yard field goal in the final minute of the Nittany Lions’ 19-17 win.
• Iowa wasn’t believed to be for real, and therefore had little chance against Georgia Tech. Surprise! No trickery, no cheap turnovers, just sound Hawkeye football in a 24-14 win.
But the real story was in the losses. In years past the Big Ten not only failed to win during the bowl season, it failed to compete (last year’s six losing teams lost by an average of 14.3 points).
• Minnesota did use a trick play – a fake punt – to keep pace with Iowa State, and lost by a single point, 14-13.
• Michigan State’s secondary was awful, and it had lost a number of players due to suspension. Still, it carried a lead into the fourth quarter against pass-happy Texas Tech before losing in the Alamo Bowl.
• Of course, the one bowl game everyone talked about was Northwestern’s thrilling loss to Auburn — a game in which the Wildcats rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit.
Yes, the Big Ten found its swagger, and you can bet heading into next year fans will again be asking whether the Big Ten is on par with the SEC and Pac-10. It’s a fair question (finally). Loaded Ohio State and Wisconsin clubs will assist in that debate, and the rest of the conference should be at least as strong as it was in 2009.
If nothing else, Big Ten teams can take comfort in knowing that no one can label them a January joke anymore.
But a 4-3 finish this year has quieted doubters. Slowly, Big Ten backers are starting to bark a little again.
The wins were all quality, and all unexpected.
• No one gave Wisconsin a chance against a much more athletic Miami Hurricanes roster, but after sacrificing a quick score the Badgers took command on the chilly evening. As Hurricane players huddled around the sideline heater, the Badgers continued to pound the football in the 20-14 win.
• The Buckeyes were not going to win against Oregon, surely not if Terrelle Pryor had to pass the ball. But Pryor passed all game long, with great accuracy, and Ohio State broke its bowl losing streak.
• LSU was a fringe BCS team before its regular season debacle against Ole Miss. Penn State was considered an over-achiever whose bubble was about to burst. Didn’t happen. Collin Wagner nailed a 21-yard field goal in the final minute of the Nittany Lions’ 19-17 win.
• Iowa wasn’t believed to be for real, and therefore had little chance against Georgia Tech. Surprise! No trickery, no cheap turnovers, just sound Hawkeye football in a 24-14 win.
But the real story was in the losses. In years past the Big Ten not only failed to win during the bowl season, it failed to compete (last year’s six losing teams lost by an average of 14.3 points).
• Minnesota did use a trick play – a fake punt – to keep pace with Iowa State, and lost by a single point, 14-13.
• Michigan State’s secondary was awful, and it had lost a number of players due to suspension. Still, it carried a lead into the fourth quarter against pass-happy Texas Tech before losing in the Alamo Bowl.
• Of course, the one bowl game everyone talked about was Northwestern’s thrilling loss to Auburn — a game in which the Wildcats rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit.
Yes, the Big Ten found its swagger, and you can bet heading into next year fans will again be asking whether the Big Ten is on par with the SEC and Pac-10. It’s a fair question (finally). Loaded Ohio State and Wisconsin clubs will assist in that debate, and the rest of the conference should be at least as strong as it was in 2009.
If nothing else, Big Ten teams can take comfort in knowing that no one can label them a January joke anymore.
