2008 Big Ten Football discussion

[Dryden]

While it was nice to see all the BigTen teams handle their business yesterday, there are still some big games next week for the conference.

Absolutely. It's just good to see there aren't any embarrassments to hang on the conference so far like teams losing to BGSU & Duke. The Big-10 is 18-3 in non-conference play, with the losses being to Cal, Mizzou, and Utah.

A bit more respectable than last season, so far.

 

[morbitzerker]

Losing OOC games gives all the others and the talking heads more ammo to talk the B10 down. We need to root for the B10 teams to win so we can regain our status as the top conference'.
Thats not going to happen unless all the B10 teams start winning these games.

B!-I!-G! T!-E!-N! B!-I!-G! T!-E!-N!

That's how it goes right?

In this Conference discussion, I really believe that the BCS system has made it essential for the Conference a team is in to be strong, although some non-BCS schools could be used as counter-evidence against this. And lately the Talking Heads have seemed to put alot more emphasis on this as well. With SOS playing more of a factor lately and the strength of Conference influencing the perception, as well as competition, it has almost become necessary for people to "root for" the Conference their favorite team is in.

That being said, some Conference fans take it a little too far, but I understand the concept. If the Conference is strong more slack will be given in the rankings, and in National perception.

And although I believe the Big Ten is improved this year, I'm somewhat glad the opening weeks for the ACC have helped draw some of the attention away from everyone disecting every game in the Big Ten like last year.

 

[Buckeye Nut]

ESPN-Gophers top running back to miss season

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota running back Duane Bennett will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

The Gophers' leading rusher and second-leading receiver tore a ligament in Saturday's victory over Bowling Green, though coach Tim Brewster did not specify which knee was injured.

Bennett led the Gophers (2-0) with 140 yards rushing and also had 12 catches for 125 in the first two games of the season, both victories.

Continued...

 

[brodybuck21]

ESPN-Gophers top running back to miss season

damn. that's a tough break for minn.

 

[Buckeye Nut]

damn. that's a tough break for minn.

Even more bad news for Minnesota is they come to The Shoe in 2 1/2 weeks.

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Big 10 enters conference play with no clear-cut favorite

Monday, September 22, 2008 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter

Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark is conjuring up memories of Michael Robinson, leading the Nittany Lions to the No. 3 ranking in the nation in 2005, while the Nits have watched tape of the Kerry Collins-Ki-Jana Carter undefeated offense of 1994.
After four wins by a combined score of 211-40 against weak competition, Penn State isn't the obvious favorite with conference play beginning this weekend, but it is the most dangerous team in the Big Ten.
With Ohio State in flux, there is no favorite.
Figuring that the Big Ten won't be taking a spot in the national title game this year, who's going to the Rose Bowl?
Cont...

 

[Taosman]

Illinois at State Penn could be very revealing. State Penn had 5 fumbles last week against Temple. They lose the turnover battle against Illinois... they lose. I think they are way over-rated. :tongue2: But the schedule has been very favorable so far.

Aug. 30 - Coastal Carolina - Win 66-10
Sept. 06 - Oregon State - Win 45-14
Sept. 13 - at Syracuse - Win 55-13
Sept. 20 - Temple - Win 45-3
Sept. 27 - Illinois - 8:00 ABC
Oct. 04 - at Purdue
Oct. 11 - at Wisconsin - 8:00 ESPN or ESPN2
Oct. 18 - Michigan - 4:30 ESPN or ESPN2
Oct. 25 - at Ohio State - 8:00 ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Nov. 08 - at Iowa
Nov. 15 - Indiana
Nov. 22 - Michigan State

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Big Ten football: Ups and downs
Ohio State appears vulnerable entering conference play, but Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State are rising
Friday, September 26, 2008 4:46 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Neal C. Lauron DISPATCH
Dan Herron finds little running room against Southern California. The 35-3 loss was a black eye for Ohio State's reputation.




What once looked like it might be a coronation has become a free-for-all. Before the first Big Ten team kicked off its season, Ohio State was the consensus conference front-runner. The Buckeyes returned nearly everybody from a team that had won two straight outright conference titles. They had a veteran quarterback and a Heisman Trophy candidate at running back.
Much has changed in the month since, not only with Ohio State but with the conference. Though the Buckeyes still could be considered the favorite, they are hardly the lock they once appeared to be.
That veneer of invincibility was first cracked by the close call against Ohio University. The Catastrophe in the Coliseum -- a 35-3 loss at Southern California -- might have shattered it. Add the change at quarterback from Todd Boeckman to Terrelle Pryor and Chris "Beanie" Wells' foot injury, and questions abound about the Buckeyes.
But it's not just about Ohio State coming back to the pack. Only one Big Ten team -- 1-2 Michigan -- doesn't have a winning record entering conference play Saturday. Even Northwestern and Minnesota are undefeated.
"I think the Big Ten is an extremely competitive conference," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. "I think there's the opportunity for anyone to beat anyone on Saturday."
Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State and Illinois all have reasons to believe they can win the Big Ten. The Spartans, by beating Notre Dame, and the Badgers, with a victory at Fresno State, had the two biggest nonconference wins, such as they were.
Michigan State running back Javon Ringer might be the favorite for the conference's offensive player of the year. Maybe this will be the year the Spartans shed their reputation as talented underachievers.
Cont...

 

[Bucklion]

Who's the favorite to win the Big Ten?

Now that Wisconsin took a laughable loss, it HAS to be Penn State right, and not us? Well, with apologies to those political pundits who don't like to live in the past, let's look at history. Since Penn State's obliteration-fest in 1994, the schedules, with the respective records of the teams at those venues against those opponents (i.e. since 1995):

Penn State
@ Purdue: 4-1
@ Wisconsin: 2-3
Michigan: 1-4
@ Ohio State: 0-6
@ Iowa: 2-2
Indiana: 4-0
Michigan State: 6-0
Total record: 19-16

Ohio State
@Wisconsin: 3-1
Purdue: 4-0
@ Michigan State: 3-1
Penn State: 6-0
@ Northwestern: 3-1
@ Illinois: 5-0
Michigan: 4-2
Total record: 29-5

Lesson? Of course, every team is different over time, an obvious example being playing Illinois this year isn't the same as 5 years ago. But still...if they win the title, they'll have earned it, but based on historical evidence, we're the clear favorite.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

We're still in the Big Ten? I just figured we seceded after the SC game....since we're never mentioned in any kind of Big Ten title talk.

 

[Dryden]

UW is due to reach into their seemingly infinite bag of plug in game manager QB's and pull out a dud.

It just has to happen at some point.

7 weeks later, this one deserves a GPA. :tongue2:

 

[LitlBuck]

Midseason Big 10 Rankings

There was a post regarding this in one of this past weekend's games threads but I would just like to throw this out to see how different people would now rank the teams in the Big 10. I took the polls, for whatever they might be worth, into consideration in doing these rankings. I guess you can probably take Wisconsin thru Northwestern and mix them up pretty good and draw them blindly. I think the only definite in this list would be Indiana at #11. It is hard to believe, but very pleasant to see, sCum at #10.

Penn State
Ohio State
Michigan State
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Illinois
Northwestern
Iowa
Purdue
Michigan
Indiana

 

[jwinslow]

CBS SPortsline

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Charlie Gantt #83 of the Michigan State Spartans runs the ball against Torri Williams #2 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium on November 8, 2008 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Johnny Adams #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his touchdown after an interception against the Purdue Boilermakers for a touchdown at Spartan Stadium on November 8, 2008 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Johnny Adams #5of the Michigan State Spartans runs an interception past Dan Dierking #25 of the Purdue Boilermakers for a touchdown at Spartan Stadium on November 8, 2008 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Joe Holland #30 of the Purdue Boilermakers breaks up a pass in the endzone by Blair White #25 of the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 8, 2008 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Johnny Adams #5of the Michigan State Spartans runs an interception against the Purdue Boilermakers for a touchdown at Spartan Stadium on November 8, 2008 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Michigan State's Danny Fortener (33) breaks up a pass intended for Purdue's Desmond Tardy during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis) [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Purdue quarterback Justin Siller (5) is sacked for a 12-yard loss by Michigan State's Brandon Long (47) and Brandon Denson (34) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, in East Lansing, Mich. Siller was also penalized for intentional grounding on the play. At left Michigan State's Greg Jones (53). (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

[/FONT]

getty
2008-11-08


EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 08: Brian Hoyer #7 of the Michigan State Spartans throws a pass against the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium on November 8, 2008 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Penn State loss shakes up Big Ten

By Rusty Miller
Associated Press

Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A kicker's field goal in Iowa City meant the world to a lot of folks in Columbus.
Daniel Murray, who hadn't converted a field goal since the season-opener, booted a 31-yarder with 1 second left to give Iowa a stunning 24-23 upset over No. 3 Penn State on Saturday. Besides knocking the Nittany Lions out of the national title picture, it also shook things up in the Big Ten race.
Ohio State (8-2, 5-1) now finds itself tied with the Nittany Lions (9-1, 5-1), a half-game back of Michigan State (9-2, 6-1).
If they win their last two games, the Buckeyes will likely share the title, giving them at least a piece of the last four championships. No team has ever won three straight outright titles.
Cont...

 

[buckeyesin07]

More great ESPN journalism from this week's Forde-Yard Dash :

"The Dash wishes to send a fruit basket and a set of steak knives to Kirk Ferentz and Iowa (2). Thank you, Hawkeyes, for saving college football from a third straight season of sending an overmatched, overrated and outdated Big Ten champion to the BCS National Championship Game. Now that Iowa has taken overly conservative Penn State (3) out of the title mix and Ohio State has removed itself with two losses in a season of great expectation, hopes are high for a worthy title game.

And the Big Ten is free to send its champion to Pasadena, where it figures to be throttled by USC (4). But the parade will be fabulous."

ESPN - Pat Forde: Let the battle between Big 12 & SEC begin