Big Ten East Division Quickly Becoming Best in College Football
With all due respect to the SEC West, the Big Ten East Division will be the best in college football this year. Whether it’s from arrogance, complacency or the demise of the rigged BCS system, the SEC’s reign of supremacy is dead.
Without question, early-season poll favoritism will keep too many SEC teams in the hunt when they don’t belong resulting in another season of having to endure the constant fawning by sycophants like Paul Finebaum and Mark May. Nonetheless, it will be gratifying watching their beloved SEC fall like a house of cards again this season.
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The pendulum is swinging in the Big Ten’s favor right now, and here are three reasons why the conference will be back on top in 2015:
Winning in September Again
September has not been kind to the Big Ten lately, but there is optimism in the Midwest that 2015 will be a continuation of the end of 2014 when its best teams delivered. A few games will have significant implications on the playoff chase.
Wisconsin vs. Alabama
Whether the Big Ten likes it or not, the image of the conference is often measured by how well the teams do against SEC opponents. For the first time in years, the Big Ten has the upper hand. This game won’t make or break the either team, but it does present a good opportunity for the Badgers to drive a stake into the king of the SEC.
Interestingly enough, both teams enter this game with something to prove. Wisconsin has one of the most consistent programs in the nation, but it always seems to come up a little short in big games.
Alabama has not won a title in two years, which for most teams is normal, but not for the Crimson Tide. Head coach Nick Saban tried his best to sell the loss to Ohio State, telling reporters in his Sugar Bowl postgame news conference, "I don't think you necessarily have to get a trophy to be a winner," but the reality at Alabama is a non-championship season is a bust.
Other than kicking off the Paul Chryst era with a monumental upset, there is not a lot of pressure on the Badgers in this game. Few expect them to win, especially with concerns at quarterback and having to break in several new starters on the offensive line.
The good news for Wisconsin is Alabama lost many of its key players too. The bad news is the Crimson Tide’s cupboard is stocked with 5-star talent so the team is just reloading again.
This game has upset written all over it. Wisconsin’s defense is good enough to keep it in the game, and the offense will grind out enough points to win it.
Michigan St vs. Oregon
The Spartans had the Ducks on the ropes early in the second half in last year’s game in Eugene, but Oregon scored 28 unanswered points to secure a convincing 46-27 victory. The loss humbled the Spartans, who entered the game looking to build on their momentum from their 2013 Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl win.
He may not mention it, but payback is on head coach Mark Dantonio’s mind. With 14 returning starters, including senior quarterback Connor Cook and 2013 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Shilique Calhoun, the Spartans have expectations of making the College Football Playoff this year. A loss to Oregon won’t kill their chances, but it would make the road significantly difficult. They’ll be ready.
Breaking in a new quarterback and playing on the road against a Top 10 opponent will be too much for Oregon to overcome. Michigan State will win with its ground game and defense setting up a possible epic November showdown with the Buckeyes in Columbus.
Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech
Just as November 8 was circled on last season’s calendar, September 7 is circled on this year’s calendar. The Hokies embarrassed the Buckeyes 35-21 last September in the Horseshoe as coach Urban Meyer’s young team was ill-prepared to handle Bud Foster’s hard-nosed, pressure defense.
That loss banded the team together, which helped it make its magical run to the title, but avenging the loss is the first step in Ohio State’s quest to defend its title. Expect a highly motivated Buckeyes team to rise to the occasion in Blacksburg. Ohio State wins the game convincingly by three touchdowns.
Minnesota vs. TCU
Many TCU fans pointed to last year’s 30-7 win over Minnesota as Exhibit A to support their argument that the Horned Frogs belonged in the playoff over Ohio State. The selection committee felt differently, and the sting is still lingering as coach Gary Patterson told reporters on April 9:
“I was told the reason we had a [selection] committee is we were going to take all that stuff out of it. [Conference] championship games shouldn't have mattered.”
The stakes in this game are pretty high for both teams. TCU is almost in a lose/lose situation. A blowout win did not help the team last year, so anything less could be an anchor all season. Minnesota coach Jerry Kill has done wonders for the program, but he still needs a statement game. A loss almost ensures another season without 10 wins.
TCU is loaded for a title run, but it will be interesting to watch how Patterson’s team manages the pressure of being the favorite. Playing on the road in Game 1 might be a little more difficult than desired. The Horned Frogs will win, but the game will be very close.
Beyond these featured matchups, the Big Ten has several other significant nonconference games against quality FBS opponents, including Stanford, Duke, Miami, BYU, Utah, West Virginia and Pitt. Winning most of these games is a must to earn that coveted "best conference" trophy.
Year of the Quarterback
Last season was the year of the running back in the Big Ten. With Ameer Abdullah, David Cobb, Melvin Gordon and Tevin Coleman off to the NFL, the quarterback position is emerging as the strength of the conference. Several high-profile quarterbacks are returning in the Big Ten that will keep the teams highly competitive.
Ohio State’s Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller are all Heisman candidates vying for one spot. Most conferences would be thrilled with having three elite-level quarterbacks, let alone one school. Jones is in the lead right now mainly because Barrett and Miller are still rehabbing injuries. Eventually Meyer will have to make a decision, but getting paid $5.8 million this year should ease the stress a bit. Any decision he makes will work. The Buckeyes are loaded for another title run.
Michigan State’s Cook is 23-3 as starter, and he already has two impressive bowl wins and a Big Ten championship on his resume. Returning for his senior season was a smart decision as Cook has a good chance at finishing his career as Michigan State’s all-time leading passer in yards and touchdowns. Barring injury, he’ll also be one of the top quarterbacks taken in the 2016 NFL draft. His experience will help carry the Spartans to another 10-win season or maybe even more if they catch a few breaks.
Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg had a sloppy sophomore season in Happy Valley, but there was little help up front or from the skills. Depth was a major problem too. Offensive line is still a huge concern going into this season, but a second year under the same coaches and more depth in every spot will pay dividends for Hackenberg and the Nittany Lions. They won’t dethrone the Buckeyes or Spartans this year, but they have a good chance to win 10 games for the first time since 2009.
Minnesota’s Mitch Leidner is a big kid with a strong arm looking for a breakout season. Without tight end Maxx Williams and Cobb to lean on, Leidner will shoulder a bulk of the offensive load this year. The only way the Golden Gophers compete for the Big Ten West Division is if he elevates his game and the players around him. He has the skill and toughness to do it if he can stay on the field.
Jim Harbaugh
Love him or hate him, there is no denying Harbaugh’s a winner. Contrary to popular opinion in Ohio and East Lansing, the Big Ten is better off when Michigan is among the elite football programs. Sure, it feels good to kick Michigan when it's down, but beating the Wolverines when they’re a good team is so much sweeter.
This season is really about Harbaugh resetting expectations, changing the team’s identity and getting the team to buy into his brand of football. Being a winner should not be a hard sell.
Despite some concerns, the rebuilding project is not as drastic as some make it out to be. The roster has talented players, and you can bet that he will make them better. What the Wolverines have been lacking for a decade are their signature offensive line and pro-style quarterback. Harbaugh will fix these problems quickly and make the team competitive this season.
Outside of Ohio State and Michigan State, every game on the schedule is winnable. If Harbaugh can get the team to jell early, there’s an outside shot at a 10-win season. That would exceed everyone’s expectations for his first year in Ann Arbor.
Analysis
What seemed impossible just a year ago, the Big Ten is suddenly a football powerhouse again. To be fair, Ohio State and Michigan State already made the conference formidable, at least at the top. Bowl season restored some glory back to a conference that has been ridiculed for the last 10 years.
The riches will get even better when Michigan and Penn State return to prominence in the next season or two as expected.
The road to the top is not complete yet, but a second playoff championship by Ohio State coupled with another remarkable season by Michigan State will secure the Big Ten’s lock as the best conference in college football.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
