On the eve of the Big Ten Championship I find myself thinking about the Big Ten conference, and all its wonderful mediocrity over the last decade in football. The Buckeyes have dominated the conference. They have won either a share, or an outright conference title six times since 2002. All six of these titles are Jim Tressel coached teams. During the tress era, Ohio State football competed against better competition than the Current Buckeyes have seen. For example, the Buckeyes won the Big Ten title five consecutive times from 2005-2009. After evaluating their strength of schedule on (http://www.teamrankings.com), the average strength of schedule from 2005-2009 was eleventh. Tress's Buckeyes had only one year that they faced a strength of schedule out side the top ten and that was in his last season at the helm. So how about Urban's Bucks? Since Urban has taken over the Buckeyes they have sleep walked through the regular season only losing three games in three years. They have dominated Big Ten regular season play, but they have nothing to show for their efforts other than Rings that were provided by the athletic department in 2012. Everyone gets a trophy right Urbz? (http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2013/04/ohio_state_buckeyes_get_rings.html), yes they got rings the year they went 12-0, and were on probation. Now how does Urbz Bucks, compare to Tress's dominate version? Lets compare strength of schedule. From 2012 to current the Buckeyes average strength of schedule is thirty second. This season it is forty second and dropping. Last year was the anomaly as the schedule strength beefed up to 21st because of Sparty, and Clemson. The two biggest test of the Urban Meyer era at Ohio State were failures. This year was supposed to be different. Then the unexpected happens with Braxton Miller's injured shoulder, then they tripped over themselves vs. Va Tech at home, but out of nowhere J.T. Barrett develops and makes a run for the Heisman breaking records along the way. Then tragedy struck when Barrett broke his ankle against Michigan, and is now done for the season. Here comes Cardale (I ain't here to play school) Jones. Hopefully he lives up to his famous tweet (see the link for entertaining reminder), (http://m.espn.go.com/ncf/story?storyId=8466428&src=desktop). If he truly is only at Ohio State to play football he should be prepared for the biggest game of his life and of the Urban Meyer era.At least the Buckeye faithful hope so. This Big Ten Title game is important on so many levels for Urban Meyer, who did not receive a contract extension for his performance thus far. It's been three years of falling short for some reason, or another. You had probation in 2012, the best Michigan State football team in its history in 2013, and now you are down to your third string QB, and are facing a Classic pound the football, play action Wisconsin football team. The Buckeyes should honestly be favored in this game. why should they be favored you ask? The reason I feel they should be favored is that the Badgers have fed off of a weaker schedule than the Buckeyes this year ranking at number fifty three in the nation. Wisky did nearly beat LSU to open the year, but eventually were exposed for what they are, a one dimensional football team. Joel Stave would be fourth on the Buckeyes depth chart. Melvin Gordon is the centerpiece of the Badger attack, and with a big game he could win the Heisman. The Buckeyes will certainly key on Gordon Saturday Night. If the Buckeyes struggle to stop Gordon, Wisky will play keep away all night. This will be the plan for Wisconsin and I think the plan can work. But Urban needs this one desperately. I had made a comment back in 2012 that Urban would not win a Big Ten Title before Brady Hoke. If the Badgers win I will be partially right about my guarantee from 2012. Hoke will obviously never win a BIg Ten Title, but I'm going to hedge my bet, and say that if Urban doesn't win this game Saturday, whoever coaches Michigan Next, (Insert the many Names here), will still win a title before Urban Meyer. So Urban, how important is this game to you? The Buckeyes are always so focused on National titles, but the truth of the matter is you have to win the Big Ten Title, and let the rest take care of itself. A Buckeye loss on Saturday means it was all for nothing again. Urban as of now remains the second best college coach next to Saban, but a loss on Saturday will prove Urban is just a good coach at this point, not a great coach, and the conversation of whether he can still win the big game at the highest level will become the topic of conversation in Columbus, and on the national level. A win will almost certainly get the Buckeyes in the College Football final four, and Gene Smith can finally extend Urban Meyer's contract because they actually won something.