OSU loss greatly hurts the Big Ten?

Submitted by NorCalGoBloo on

How much does an OSU loss tomorrow to USC hurt the Big Ten? How much does it just hurt OSU?

I'm going to say that it won't hurt the conference that much, especially if the Big Ten performs better down the road at bowl time.

However, I think it will be pretty bad for OSU, and could lead to a BCS snub if they are on the fence come December. What say you, MGoBlog community?

As a disclaimer, I know this is just part of the somewhat meaningless "perception war", but it's not totally irrelevant.

KBLOW

September 11th, 2009 at 6:22 PM ^

If tOSU was a big favorite and lost I think it would further hurt the perception of the entire conference, but so many are down on the Big 10 right now that a loss seems pretty much expected. That said, I'm one of those that want tOSU ranked as highly as possible when they play them.

MGoEOD

September 11th, 2009 at 6:22 PM ^

I for one couldn't care less about the perception of the conference. I'll go as far as to say I don't care how the rest of the Big Ten teams perform on a week to week basis.

Nobody says that the perception of the Pac-10 makes USC look bad. That's because they kick ass and dominate their bowl games.

All I want is for Michigan to WIN GAMES. The rest of the conference can fend for themselves.

A-train32

September 11th, 2009 at 9:24 PM ^

USC beating OSU, Michigan beating an undefeated OSU team who beat USC. I have more fun being the team to knock them off and be the reason they don't make it to the national championship game. The USC VS OSU game doesn't really mean anything for us or the big ten, but what is the pleasure of winning a bad conference.

bklein09

September 11th, 2009 at 6:34 PM ^

I agree that I could care less about conference perception. If Michigan goes undefeated we will probably go to the national title game. If we win, we will get all the respect in the world. I strongly dislike people who root for teams like msu and osu so that the conference looks better. Come on now! All I care about is MICHIGAN. When the other big ten teams lose it means we will probably have a better chance of beating them down the road. I'll take my chances with big ten perception somehow keeping us out of a national title. Don't think it'll ever happen.

Niag

September 11th, 2009 at 8:58 PM ^

My main concern is a Michigan victory weekly, and while I think we have a long ways to go, in a year or two we will need that national respect like the SEC or Big 12 consistently get.

I think I have to pull for OSU (not that it will change the outcome), as it would launch some credibility to the conference. After our bowls year after year lately, we are in the bottom half of the major BCS conference schools, which could hurt us if we come out on fire next year.

So does it benefit Michigan more to have OSU win or lose? I feel a win does a lot more good for us than a loss would. Now I hope OSU loses all their conference games and we smack them square in the face, but national respect is much needed for the Big 10.

Blue_Bull_Run

September 11th, 2009 at 6:44 PM ^

I'm with you on this one. USC rolls everyone, except for the PAC 10 bottom feeders who catch them off guard. I hope USC beat OSU this weekend, because I don't want OSU to "slay the USC dragon."

I'm hoping we see USC at the Rose Bowl in a year or two, and beat them. And beating USC would be much sweeter if we do it and OSU can't.

As for the conference, I don't think anyone would be surprised by a USC win; therefore, the perception of the big ten won't really change.

An OSU victory could be the turning point for the big ten, but like I said, I want Michigan to be responsible for the return of the big ten, not OSU.

MichiganExile

September 11th, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^

The only Pac-10 bottom feeders USC has lost to was Stanford.

Here are SC's losses to Pac-10 teams and their conference standing at the end of the year the past 6 years
2003: Cal (3OT) T-3rd
2004: None
2005: None
2006: Oregon State 3rd, UCLA 4th
2007: Stanford 9th, Oregon (ranked 5th nationally at the time) 4th
2008: Oregon State T-2nd (tiebreaker goes to Oregon so we'll say 3rd)

Doesn't look like bottom feeders except Stanford.

The only thing that gets respect nationally is handling your business within your conference and then doing so in your bowl game. Hiccups are forgiveable as long as you beat your out of conference (especially bowl) opponents.

Winning BCS bowls will cure all the Big-10's ills.

tomhagan

September 11th, 2009 at 6:45 PM ^

IMO even if OSU wins the game, it is going to take a heck of a lot more than that to change the national perception of the Big Ten.

The Big Ten will need to consistently beat big time out of conference opponents for a couple of years before that perception will change.

jmblue

September 11th, 2009 at 7:19 PM ^

However, I think it will be pretty bad for OSU, and could lead to a BCS snub if they are on the fence come December.

If you're talking about an at-large BCS birth, it won't matter at all. Those bowls are strictly about making money, and OSU brings in a lot. A BCS bowl will always take one of UM/OSU/PSU if available.

As for a national title appearance, if they lose they aren't likely to be in the picture regardless.

imablue

September 11th, 2009 at 7:36 PM ^

OSU will not be able to keep up with USC. If they play like
they did last week it won't even be close. A close game won't
take them out of the BCS hunt, but that loss on Nov.21 will.
The big 10 needs to win their big non-conference games and more importantly their bowl games to change their perception, that's one of the few times they're on nationally. Last year
the Big 10 got spanked.

nmwolverine

September 11th, 2009 at 8:07 PM ^

But it will come back. I have predicted 10 wins this year based on the Big ten being down. An OSU victory will upset my prediction. I'm just being realistic. I wouldn't mind an OSU victory, by the way, because I detest USC. And it will look better when we clean OSU's clock.

AMazinBlue

September 11th, 2009 at 8:36 PM ^

Michigan State or Illinois losing again would certainly damage the rep of the Big 10. Illinois needs to simply not suck and they should win over Ill. St.

On its own, the OSU is big but not overly detrimental to the conference. The bucknuts stand to lose more on their own if they lose. Tressel will begin to get the rep for not coming thru in big games and BCS will look a little dimmer for old osu.

As a conference the Big 10 fared pretty well last week. If Michigan, Iowa and OSU win, the conference will start to get some kudos around the media outlets. (Assumption: Ill and MSU win against weaker in-state teams.)

jabberwock

September 11th, 2009 at 11:10 PM ^

The Buckeyes have become the Buffalo Bills of college football, they lose more credibility losing championship games than other teams that can't even get there. (which only moderately soothes the pain of losing to them)

The BigTen suffers as well, but I don't think nearly as much. A few BSC Bowls, a few wins, some actual, you know exciting, high scoring games, the perception will improve no matter what Ohio state does (as long as Michigan or PSU replace them as top dog).

Ohio State is also our biggest recruiting rival (not that USC doen't pick our pocket on occasion) so having them stumble might make some top talent pass them up in favor of us. Although I think the best way to do that is to beat them.

Anyway, it's USC they'll either crush you, or once a season fall asleep at the wheel and let one slip by.

The King of Belch

September 11th, 2009 at 9:50 PM ^

Michigan plays three OOC games against absolute shit this year--and then Notre Dame. I want UM to beat an undefeated Notre Dame every year.

UM then has a big rivalry game with OSU to close out the season. I want UM to beat an undefeated OSU every year. I want UM to beat the best on the way to being the best. I guarantee ya that this would be the kind of year where if UM miraculously won all their games, and the BCS had a one-loss Florida team and a one-loss Texas team--UM would be going to Pasadena to play Petey's boyzz again.

jabberwock

September 11th, 2009 at 11:19 PM ^

For example, a Big Ten sweep of the SEC, provided there were at least a few big match-ups, could send a pretty big message.
If the teams can do it with speed and scoring (a la the Capital One win over Florida) all the better.
The Pac-10 may be bad at times, but at least they don't get labeled "slow, boring, and bad".
Back to perception again.

bignige1000

September 11th, 2009 at 11:31 PM ^

It won't hurt the conference that much because its USC. everyone loses to USC. if OSU has 1 loss against USC going into the game with us it wouldnt diminish a M victory. granted it would be better to beat an undefeated team but its worth it to see USC beat their teeth in

SwordDancer710

September 12th, 2009 at 12:13 AM ^

Michigan winning the NC game in 2011.

Basically, the only way for the Big 10 to look good again is to win a major bowl game, probably a national championship. OSU isn't doing that any time soon, nor Penn State.

Seth9

September 12th, 2009 at 2:24 AM ^

OSU getting blown out hurts the Big Ten a bit, but expectations are not high. Also, I think that respect for our conference is somewhat irrelevant because the Big Ten keeps getting two BCS teams even when the second bid is undeserved. The nationwide ragging on the Big Ten is annoying, but not really important in the overall scheme of things*.

*This only applies to football. Basketball is another matter entirely.

psychomatt

September 12th, 2009 at 5:45 AM ^

I am so sick of hearing that the entire Big Ten is pulling for OSU and that we need them to win to restore our credibility. Fuck OSU. There are only one or two teams in the country that most people would think should beat USC, and OSU is not one of them. It is far more important how the rest of the Big Ten does this week (esp. Michigan v. ND, Purdue v. Oregon, Wisconsin v. Fresno State, Minnesota v. Air Force).