Tough Day for Big Ten Football
In addition to two ranked teams losing to two unranked teams (MSU/ASU, Maryland/Temple), two other Big Ten teams played less than aspiring football versus overmatched opponents (PSU/Pitt, Minn/Ga Southern), and another Big Ten team (Illinois) lost to perennial doormat Eastern Michigan.
These upsets and poor performances hurt the narrative that the Big Ten is the best top to bottom conference in the nation, and hurt the argument that the Big Ten champion should be given the benefit of the doubt in the College Football Playoff selection process. Now, I don't really care about the Big Ten's performance, except where it concerns Michigan. But, if the conference is seen as weak, it may be necessary for Michigan to go undefeated in order to make the CFP.
Undefeated is possible this year. All but OSU and Wisconsin have been exposed thus far. But, there is really no room for error on this schedule because the rest of the conference hasn't helped out this year's Big Ten Champion.
September 14th, 2019 at 11:51 PM ^
I ain’t even mad
September 14th, 2019 at 11:51 PM ^
We WILL make it as a one loss team if we also win the B1G Championship Game.
We will have still played Wisconsin, PSU, ND, OSU, MSU, Army, Iowa in the end, that's plenty of competition to make it.
That's unless the one loss is against ND, then perhaps ND makes it depending on the rest of their schedule.
Still pretty improbable though to only have 1 loss.
September 15th, 2019 at 1:02 AM ^
One of these things is not like the other.
May as well include MTSU in that list.
September 15th, 2019 at 1:50 AM ^
I just listed all the teams that will probably get top 25 votes.
Assuming you mean Army, Army >>> MTSU.
September 15th, 2019 at 8:15 AM ^
I assume he means the low T MTSU aka State.
September 15th, 2019 at 8:30 AM ^
Yeah, I think including MSU is a little extreme as well, but they're a rival.
September 14th, 2019 at 11:53 PM ^
Screw the rest of the conference. They all revel in any and all Michigan losses/struggles. So I take enjoyment in the same from all of them.
September 15th, 2019 at 9:09 AM ^
This is an emotional position which I understand. But it's not rational. It is a fact that national perception of conference strength or weakness does impact playoff chances, that's been shown. So we should hope for good performance from other B10 teams until they play us. Excepting MSU of course.
September 15th, 2019 at 10:23 AM ^
Until Michigan gets by Ohio State then plays for, and wins, a conference title I'm not gonna worry about national perception of the rest od the Big Ten.
September 16th, 2019 at 11:56 AM ^
Tough call. Week in and week out I root for most of these teams to lose, but as a Michigan alum residing in Tallahassee, FL I catch shit about the B1G pretty regularly. You can't promote a narrative about the SEC being top-heavy and then watch the B1G sputter badly, and often.
Certainly, at bowl time, I am rooting for all of our teams. (I feel that you can safely do that because MSU is going trip over its own feet hilariously anyway.)
September 14th, 2019 at 11:53 PM ^
I don't care about the playoffs right now. I want to beat OSU and win the big ten. If we do all that and get left out, oh well. We're not competing with Clemson and bama
September 15th, 2019 at 12:15 AM ^
I agree with this.
September 15th, 2019 at 7:09 AM ^
Until Michigan beats OSU and wins the Big 10, we will only be second best. The thing is, right now, I don't see how Michigan even belongs on the same field as OSU.
To be honest, it isn't just the Big 10. The ACC, the Big 12, the PAC 12, are also underwhelming. You can hate the SEC, which I do, but they still have Bama, Georgia, LSU, Auburn and Florida in the top 10. The ACC has Clemson, the Big 12 has Oklahoma, and the Big 10 currently has OSU and UM. PAC 12 is shut out, and there is independent ND. Half the top 10 for the SEC is telling.
September 15th, 2019 at 8:33 AM ^
100% co-signed. I mean watching OSU play and then watching every other B1G team play (us included) it's like they're playing a different game than the rest of us.
I have a theory on why that is. Maybe, just maybe recruiting a shit-ton of 5 star athletes DOES matter and no matter how much you try and "coach up" lesser athletes they simply can't compete against much stronger, much faster and seemingly better coached players.
This is crazy talk I know.
September 15th, 2019 at 10:51 AM ^
Yep. The truth is they are playing a different game than we are. They're playing pro football, and we're playing amateur.
OSU, Oklahoma, Clemson, Alabama, Georgia - a few other wannabes like LSU - they're paying players six figures while the best we can do is get their dad or coach an analyst position for a year or two.
It's not the same game, and it shows. Just got to appreciate it for what it is. Unlike a lot of folks, I don't have really any expectations for beating OSU, winning the B1G, etc. It could happen if we get lucky, sure. But it will require some luck.
September 16th, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^
Saying that other major programs pay their players, and yours doesn't is just stupid.
especially when you have no proof on any of those accounts.
September 15th, 2019 at 8:47 AM ^
I mean we went to double OT in Columbus and O’Korn had a shot at a game-winning drive in between drubbings so it’s not as if they’ve blown us out every year.
September 15th, 2019 at 9:23 AM ^
Right.
But look at the 2017 game - it proves my point.
Sprieght goes down - we bring JOK
Barrett goes down - they bring a guy who goes #16 in the draft the following year.
#talentmatters
September 15th, 2019 at 10:57 AM ^
Until Michigan starts playing players like the rest of the big boys we are at or ceiling.
September 15th, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^
It's not the X's and O's that win Football Games.
It's the Jimmy's and Joe's
Fred Jackson.
September 15th, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
If Mork and Glasses can beat OSU with Urban we sure as shit can beat them this season.
September 15th, 2019 at 9:56 AM ^
Excellent point. Right now, however, Ohio State through their first two games looks very very sharp. I would also throw Oklahoma into the mix with Alabama and Clemson. Honestly, with their schedule, Clemson looks to repeat easily this year. Alabama or LSU cannot beat them with Lawrence at QB
September 15th, 2019 at 10:07 AM ^
Excellent point. Right now, however, Ohio State through their first two games looks very very sharp. I would also throw Oklahoma into the mix with Alabama and Clemson. Honestly, with their schedule, Clemson looks to repeat easily this year. Alabama or LSU cannot beat them with Lawrence at QB
September 15th, 2019 at 1:52 PM ^
You say that now but if we get left out as a one loss champion I bet you cry bloody murder.
September 14th, 2019 at 11:53 PM ^
Turns out a lot of our conference foes look average when not stomping tomato cans.
We get a clearer picture of what UM and Wisconsin are after next week.
OSU is still death.
September 14th, 2019 at 11:56 PM ^
The big ten (or any other conference) could win all their games against non-conf opponents and win all their bowl games but at the start of the next season the Sec would be considered the strongest conference in the country.
September 15th, 2019 at 8:11 AM ^
They’re proving it on the field. All of the Marquee out of conference games they had...they’ve won! Georgia has a shot to add to that next week
September 15th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
Right, but my point is that even if another conference would win all those marquee games it still wouldn't change the perception that the Sec is the best. A few years ago the big ten won every bowl game they were in except for Michigan. The following year it was the same old song and dance about the Sec.
September 16th, 2019 at 12:09 AM ^
Not quite. aTm got beaten by Clemson.
September 14th, 2019 at 11:59 PM ^
It's not that big of a deal. MSU lost, lol. People have been thinking about Maryland for a grand total of 7 days, and most of the country probably still thinks they're in the ACC. Nobody has ever cared or will ever care about Minnesota (who won), or Illinois. PSU won.
Iowa won, pretty much cancelling out Sparty. Nebraska won. Northwestern won. Purdue lost but everyone thinks TCU is better than Purdue.
I don't see the big problem here, it's a non-conference week in college football.
September 15th, 2019 at 12:06 AM ^
The BTN Final Drive crew all belly laughing about MSU not being able to score more despite having over 400 yards of offense (and doubling up ASU's yardage )is priceless.
September 15th, 2019 at 12:10 AM ^
Win all the games, and you have nothing to worry about.
September 15th, 2019 at 7:05 AM ^
UCF would like a word
September 15th, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^
You have to play in a real conference.
September 15th, 2019 at 12:10 AM ^
Disagree on all fronts.
Compared to preseason, Ohio state, Wisconsin Iowa stock is up
michigan, penn state, MSU is down
the rest is about as expected.
Ohio state looks so good that if anyone can knock them down that will make up for any conference wide deficiencies
September 15th, 2019 at 12:10 AM ^
It’s week 3.
September 15th, 2019 at 12:13 AM ^
How did OSU do?
September 15th, 2019 at 12:14 AM ^
B10 fans love to automatically think the league is far superior to the PAC12. It’s not.
September 15th, 2019 at 12:45 AM ^
It is tho
September 15th, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
USC lost to BYU, but yea USC is better than Michigan (hahaha)
September 15th, 2019 at 12:15 AM ^
Netflix has Bob Ross and "The Joy of Painting"
September 15th, 2019 at 1:19 AM ^
What heartless wretches would downvote Bob Ross?
September 15th, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
Bob Ross rules - "happy trees"
September 15th, 2019 at 12:17 AM ^
Who the hell cares. Wisconsin is going to be exposed next week.
September 15th, 2019 at 12:53 AM ^
But...but...they're 110-0 in their first two games.
Maryland: Shhhh....
September 15th, 2019 at 12:23 AM ^
Hey our neighbors, EMU, have beaten Big Ten teams on the road 3 years in a row! Great scheduling on their part picking the right opponents from the Big Ten but kudos to a program that almost folded, but now seems to be trending in the right direction.
September 15th, 2019 at 1:21 AM ^
I hope they schedule the Buttnucks.
September 15th, 2019 at 8:55 AM ^
Yes, good for them. I can remember the Ron English apologists saying it was *impossible* to win there and that he was actually doing a good job.
September 15th, 2019 at 12:23 AM ^
Relax my friend. The SEC has 9 teams with at least one loss. Three of those teams have two losses. 11 ACC teams have at least one loss.
September 15th, 2019 at 12:24 AM ^
I hate to break it to you, but we are not going to the playoffs. This is at best a 9 or 10 win team. The only shot we have at going to the playoffs is if Patterson somehow radically improves pocket presence, radically improves decision making, and stops turning the ball over coupled with the coaching staff actually utilizing speed in space, being more aggressive, learning proper clock management, and develop a short yardage package. We also lack depth in some crucial areas on defense... I don’t see how this team makes it to Indy much less the playoffs. This team is loaded at WR and TE but we refuse to put the ball in their hands. It’s infuriating. I obviously hope this team finds their stride and accomplishes their goals but I have serious reservations about the capabilities of the offensive coaching staff and Harbaugh in general.