The State of the Big Ten
I haven't posted here very much lately and merge this if need be, but with all the talk about the state of the Big Ten I feel like it's a good idea to post this. I know pretty much everyone is saying that the Big Ten is having a some down years, although I agree, there is no doubt that it is improving by leaps and bounds. I think this year has provided a lot of hope for the future in the Big Ten.
Illinois - Yea, I know, they have been EXTREMELY disappointign this year, but they have been recruiting very well and Zook is on his way out sooner rather than later. If they can get a good coach to lead their high talent level, they could be a consistent bowl team in the coming years.
Indiana - They showed signs of drastic improvement at the beginning of the year, but have faltered since. But, I think Lynch has this program going in the right direction, this year is an improvement, and they REALLY needed one.
Iowa - A great year for the Hawkeyes should end with them as a ten win team with a trip to Glendale in early January. They were a much better team than I thought they would be and Vandenberg and a host of retuning starters gives them a lot to look forward to next year and beyond. Ferentz is also a much better coach than I though him to be, although I think he is a tad overrated (and his late game coaching was questionable yesterday) he had this team ready. Look out for them as a contender in the Big Ten next year.
Michigan - This is what I see as only one of the cloudy spots in the Big Ten this year. Although they have a young, decent talent base to run with in the coming years, I'm not sure Rodriguez is the answer. They are slightly better than they were last year, but the Big Ten needs Michigan to be a consistently good to excellent team. With a coaching change and maybe a few more rebuilding years, I see them back among the Big Ten's elite.
Michigan State - This team stumps me, last year they were a solid team and even gave Georgia a run in the Capital One Bowl, but I never really saw them as a real threat in the Big Ten. This year they seem to have fallen back into extreme mediocrity, maybe Dantonio isn't the answer but their recruiting is improving and they should continue to be a consistent bowl team, making a run i nthe Big Ten every few years.
Minnesota - Brewster has the program improving, better talent, better stadium, and growing fanbase should bring Minnesota back into some sort of relevance. Recruiting is greatly improving and Brewster's coaching has made this team a bowl team after their dismal 2007 season. Although I don't see them as a threat, they should make many appearances in low-level bowl games for a few years. I still don't understand the problems they have with 1-AA teams, this is very unsettling.
Northwestern - Fitzgerald has doen a tremendous job with this program. They have beome a consistent threat in the Big Ten even with how difficlut it is to recruit there. They should continue to be a solid to good team in the next few years, making them an occasional run at the Big Ten Championship. But, they lose a lot after this year.
Ohio State - The Buckeyes are clearly the most talented team in the Big Ten. Another BCS bowl game appearance is in store, but with the fall of USC in the recent weeks, the Buckeyes stumble against the Trojans early in the season looks much worse. This years team may not be a great team on the national scale, but a Rose Bowl berth in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year is fantastic. The recruiting is at an all-time high and it's still getting better. They are also very young and should make a serious run at a National Title in 2010. The continued development of Pryor should lead to a much more potent and consisten offense in the coming years.
Penn State - Although next year may not be so happy in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions have had two straight ten win seasons (I'm assuming they win out) and their recruiting is improving. Their overall talent is second to only Ohio State in the Big Ten and improved recruiting will only help that. Although they seemed to have problems in the big games this year, they have won all the games they should have, but a better OOC schedule might be a good call. The looming retirement of JoePa might put the program in a better position in the ocming years.
Purdue - Their upset win over Ohio State shows that this team can be dangerous. Although they may never get back to the level they were at a few years ago, they should become a solid, consistent bowl team under the leadership of new coach Danny Hope. After a dismal start, they have improved and that improvement should continue in the next few years under Hope.
Wisconsin - Bielema has done a great job this year. After a disappointing 2008 season, Bret has this team back to relevancy, putting the Badgers in the position to make them one of four possible Big Ten teams with 10 win season. A host of returning starters shoudl make them a serious threat to the Buckeyes in 2010. Also, look for Wisconsin as a possible player on the national scene next year.
Review - The Big Ten this year is not great, but 4 ten win teams is a great stat and they should build on that in the coming years. The Buckeyes look like a serious contender for the whole shebang in 2010 and beyond, while Wisconsin and Iowa could make an impact on the national secene in the comign years. Look for Penn State to falter slightly next year before returning back near the top of the Big Ten.
BTW, I fully expect the Big Ten to have a much better showing in bowl games this year.
