BCS Bowl Schedule: 5 Reasons Why the Big Ten Stinks in the Postseason

After finishing 3-5 in bowl games a year ago, the Big Ten conference has not done too much better this postseason.

Consecutive losses by Penn State, Ohio State and Nebraska highlight a poor showing to start the new year.

The conference has not had much respect in the national media since Ohio State lost back-to-back national championship games in 2006 and 2007. The Buckeyes were outscored 79-38 in those two games and no Big Ten team has been in the title conversation since.

There are two teams in BCS games this season, but it means little if the schools continue to lose when it counts.

Here are some reasons for the Big Ten's lack of success in the postseason. 

Too Much Coaching Turnover

Including Penn State, there are five coaches who are new to their teams this season.

Jerry Kill, Brady Hoke, Kevin Wilson, Luke Fickell and Tom Bradley are all new to the Big Ten, and only Kirk Ferentz has been with his school for more than six years.

This type of turnover ruins a program's ability to grow. The lack of continuity makes it harder for young athletes to learn different systems, and recruits do not want to join a program that is unsure of the coaches.

The changes have not all been due to ineffectiveness: Jim Tressel and Joe Paterno were forced out of their positions, but teams cannot grow without a steady hand at the helm.

Hopefully, the new batch of coaches will be there for the long term.

Lack of Team Speed

The Big Ten played in four early games on Jan. 2: the TicketCity Bowl, Outback Bowl, Gator Bowl and Capitol One Bowl.

In those games, Big Ten teams gave up six touchdowns on plays of 40 yards or more.

These plays included two special teams returns of over 90 yards and two passing plays of over 75 yards.

The defenses were simply not able to stay with the playmakers on the opposing teams. Speed allowed the athletes to get all the way to the end zone, and it has been a consistent problem for the past few years.

Until the schools start recruiting faster players, they will continue to give up big plays to non-conference opponents.

Little Preparation

The best way to judge a conference is by seeing the teams compete against quality competition.

Over the past few seasons, teams from the Big Ten have been scheduling less non-conference matchups in an effort to have less losses. All this has done is leave the teams less prepared for the bowl games.

While LSU was facing Oregon and West Virginia, teams from the Big Ten continually scheduled cupcakes. Penn State took on Alabama at home, but the conference was otherwise quiet.

Each conference has its own style, and until a team sees that first-hand they will continue to struggle.

Tough Bowl Matchups

This is something that is not likely to change, but the bowl matchups make success very difficult for the Big Ten.

The conference has three January games against the SEC—the deepest conference in college football—every year.

Penn State should have been given a break against a weaker Conference USA team, but ended up drawing Houston. Until the last week of the season, the Cougars were undefeated and the No. 6 team in the country. 

It might take a down-year for the SEC for the Big Ten to end the postseason with a winning record.

Scandals

The biggest story of the 2011 season was the Jerry Sandusky scandal that surrounded Penn State.

It led to the firing of Joe Paterno, and an exodus of almost everyone who was involved with the program a decade ago (via CBS Sports)

During the offseason, Jim Tressel took over headlines as his players were found receiving improper benefits. This caused the Ohio State coach to resign from his position (via Sports Illustrated).

Each of these scandals are sure to set back two of the most prestigious programs in the country for at least a few years. 

The Big Ten will continue to fail on the football field if the programs keep making the headlines for the wrong reasons.