College Football: When it Comes to the Big Ten, It's a Buckeye World

I hate the term "Buckeye." I despise stickers on helmets. I hate the fans in Columbus who sliced the tires of a friend of mine's car when she was in Ohio, just because he had a Penn State sticker in his back window.

I hate the 'Dotting of the I', where despite it's simply a band member adding a nice touch to an amazing band move, it's still that—a band move. And you know what? I LOVE it when the Buckeyes lose National Championship games. So you can imagine my joy when Florida (2007) and LSU (2008), destroyed them in back-to-back games.

Come to think of it, Woody Hayes isn't my favourite coach of all time, either.

But I've got to say this: the Ohio State Buckeyes OWN the Big Ten. Penn State came into the Big Ten expecting big things, and it simply hasn't happened. Two Big Ten titles in 10 years isn't so bad, but then again, Ohio State have won two in the past, er, two seasons.

Not only that, but they only lost one game during that period, and it was at home to Illinois (which I enjoyed thoroughly, by the way!).

I'm not going to compare PSU and OSU anymore, but it's safe to say that if Jim Tressel can make the Terrelle Pryor experiment work as well as he made the Troy Smith experiment work, then Penn State, Michigan and the rest of the Big Ten are in trouble for years to come.

The fact is this: Ohio State IS the best team in the Big Ten. Michigan may say that they can rival that, but the amount of times that Lloyd Carr has beaten Michigan? Once in the last seven years.

Penn State? The Buckeyes have the edge, 12-11, but in recent years (like 2007) it wasn't even close. The continued losses—and that lovely one against Appalachian State—probably cost Lloyd Carr his job.

Jim Tressel's record at Ohio State speaks for itself: 72 wins, four conference titles, and one controversial (I saw the play again in the 2003 National Championship game against Miami, and I STILL think that was a B.S. call!) National Championship.

The Buckeyes (as well as Michigan, though I'm loath to say it) are ALWAYS a fixture on New Year's Day. Only recently have Penn State been able to say that. Illinois? Nope. 

Don't get me wrong, you won't see me cry tears if I see the Horseshoe on TV this season (unless they lose, and that'll be tears of joy!!), but credit where credit's due.

If the conversation's about recent college superpowers, then Ohio State has been up there with the Southern Cals, LSUs and Oklahomas of this world.