As we've reached at least the midway point for all twelve Big Ten teams, I think it's safe to say that the top doesn't appear to be as strong as was anticipated at the season's outset, the bottom doesn't appear to be as weak and there's still some uncertainty regarding whether certain teams are more fitting in the top or bottom half of the conference.
The Ohio State/Indiana game on Saturday night was very reflective of this. Ohio State is the lone unbeaten in conference and the lone Big Ten team ranked in the top 20. The only other school ranked in the top 25 is 4-2 Michigan at #23. Indiana, meanwhile, is 2-4, 0-3 in conference play and appears to be on the verge of vying for one of the bottom spots in the conference when the season's all said and done. On Saturday night, the 7-0 and 7th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the 2-4 Indiana Hoosiers by the final count of 52-49. For the time being, the Buckeyes are definitely the best team in the conference and if it weren't for Illinois, Indiana may be seen as the worst team in the Big Ten at the moment. After Saturday night's nail-biting shoot-out, I think most honest people would say that Ohio State definitely doesn't look like a top 10-caliber team and Indiana doesn't appear to be as bad as their record would indicate.
Iowa looked awful during their rather soft non-conference schedule, yet following a 19-16 double overtime win in East Lansing against Michigan State on Saturday, they're now 2-0 in conference and 4-2 overall. Michigan State, meanwhile, dropped to 1-2 in conference and 4-3 overall. They, along with Purdue, have to be seen as the most disappointing team in the Big Ten to this point in the season. Speaking of Purdue, after starting the year 3-1, they've gotten throttled the past couple weeks by Michigan and Wisconsin by the combined score of 82-27 (average of 41.0 - 13.5). Wisconsin has played anything but pretty football to this point in the season, but after that dominating performance against Purdue in West Lafayette on Saturday, they're 2-1 in Big Ten play and 5-2 overall. Northwestern improved to 6-1 with a 21-13 win over 4-2 Minnesota. Lastly, Michigan pummeled Illinois 45-0 and sadly, it wasn't even that close. Nebraska and Penn State both had bye weeks.
Looking ahead, there are some big games in conference play next week. Illinois is the only team to have a bye and Indiana will play Navy on the road out of conference. Purdue goes to Columbus to take on unbeaten Ohio State. Minnesota takes on Wisconsin in Madison. Nebraska comes off their bye to face Northwestern on the road. Penn State does likewise against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Lastly, Michigan State travels to Ann Arbor to take on in-state rival Michigan.
Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan should be home favorites, but can't fall asleep on Purdue, Minnesota or Michigan State. If they do that, they can count on losses. On paper, the Nebraska/Northwestern and Penn State/Iowa games appear to be the most evenly matched
Looking even further ahead, the Big Ten better hope that Wisconsin continues to play well or that Purdue suddenly gets hot, because when one excludes Ohio State and Penn State due to their both being bowl ineligible at season's end, the other four Leaders Division teams (Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois) are a combined 2-9 in conference play and 12-14 overall. Ouch!
The Ohio State/Indiana game on Saturday night was very reflective of this. Ohio State is the lone unbeaten in conference and the lone Big Ten team ranked in the top 20. The only other school ranked in the top 25 is 4-2 Michigan at #23. Indiana, meanwhile, is 2-4, 0-3 in conference play and appears to be on the verge of vying for one of the bottom spots in the conference when the season's all said and done. On Saturday night, the 7-0 and 7th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the 2-4 Indiana Hoosiers by the final count of 52-49. For the time being, the Buckeyes are definitely the best team in the conference and if it weren't for Illinois, Indiana may be seen as the worst team in the Big Ten at the moment. After Saturday night's nail-biting shoot-out, I think most honest people would say that Ohio State definitely doesn't look like a top 10-caliber team and Indiana doesn't appear to be as bad as their record would indicate.
Iowa looked awful during their rather soft non-conference schedule, yet following a 19-16 double overtime win in East Lansing against Michigan State on Saturday, they're now 2-0 in conference and 4-2 overall. Michigan State, meanwhile, dropped to 1-2 in conference and 4-3 overall. They, along with Purdue, have to be seen as the most disappointing team in the Big Ten to this point in the season. Speaking of Purdue, after starting the year 3-1, they've gotten throttled the past couple weeks by Michigan and Wisconsin by the combined score of 82-27 (average of 41.0 - 13.5). Wisconsin has played anything but pretty football to this point in the season, but after that dominating performance against Purdue in West Lafayette on Saturday, they're 2-1 in Big Ten play and 5-2 overall. Northwestern improved to 6-1 with a 21-13 win over 4-2 Minnesota. Lastly, Michigan pummeled Illinois 45-0 and sadly, it wasn't even that close. Nebraska and Penn State both had bye weeks.
Looking ahead, there are some big games in conference play next week. Illinois is the only team to have a bye and Indiana will play Navy on the road out of conference. Purdue goes to Columbus to take on unbeaten Ohio State. Minnesota takes on Wisconsin in Madison. Nebraska comes off their bye to face Northwestern on the road. Penn State does likewise against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Lastly, Michigan State travels to Ann Arbor to take on in-state rival Michigan.
Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan should be home favorites, but can't fall asleep on Purdue, Minnesota or Michigan State. If they do that, they can count on losses. On paper, the Nebraska/Northwestern and Penn State/Iowa games appear to be the most evenly matched
Looking even further ahead, the Big Ten better hope that Wisconsin continues to play well or that Purdue suddenly gets hot, because when one excludes Ohio State and Penn State due to their both being bowl ineligible at season's end, the other four Leaders Division teams (Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois) are a combined 2-9 in conference play and 12-14 overall. Ouch!
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