JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
With a weakened Ohio State, Wisconsin already figured its chances at a Leaders Division title were better than they were say two months ago.
With Russell Wilson finally making it official by announcing he will be transferring to Wisconsin, that puts the Badgers as the front runner for the Leaders and possibly for the Big Ten title...if not more.
Wilson is a huge addition...it's not often (as in has maybe never happened) where a quarterback who has thrown for 76 touchdowns and more than 8,000 plus another 1,000 yards on the ground, has transferred to a new school.
Those guys go into Hall of Fames at the school where they racked up those totals. Wilson will be trading in his NC State red for the Badgers red...
Back in early June when Wilson's move to Wisconsin seemed imminent, I wrote that such a thing could vault the Badgers into the national title picture. Today, I am reading similar sentiments across the twitterverse from national college football pundits. They have the schedule to do it, they have the offensive line to do it, they have the running backs to do it and now may have their most dangerous threat at quarterback in more than a decade to do it.
Simply put, Bret Bielema has things rolling and they just cured their biggest weakness...which for this year could 'help' the Big Ten on the whole.
Now, how does this 'help' the Big Ten?
Well, if you want to win the Big Ten title and you are not a Wisconsin fan, it doesn't help you feel better. But since there is only going to be one champion anyway, there is a silver, or gray lining, if you will; the Big Ten will likely send two teams to the BCS again this year.
That has happened more often than not in the history of the BCS (all but three years) but this year was looking pretty grim on that front, especially with the downward projections for Ohio State. Enter Wilson, enter the Badgers and now things are looking better for what we call the 'one up' scenario in Big Ten bowl jargon...if two teams go to the BCS from the Big Ten, then everyone else moves up one spot in the bowl pecking order.
That could mean the difference between the Mieneke Car Care Bowl (Formerly the Texas Bowl) and the Insight for some team.
I am still of the opinion that Nebraska wins the Legends and am now firmly in the camp of Wisconsin winning the Leaders. I am still feeling 8-4ish as it relates to Iowa's season. If the Badgers and Huskers make the BCS, an 8-4 Iowa team could be on the border for a Top Tier bowl game this coming year....as in the Outback or Gator bowls.
One more positive related to a strong Wisconsin this year; Iowa doesn't play them and Legends foes Michigan State and Nebraska do face the Badgers...Nebraska is in Madison while Michigan State will host Bucky.
Another thing to keep in mind is the possibility that Ohio State could face a bowl ban this year, which would move a lot of people up another rung in the hierarchy, almost assuring that an 8-4 Iowa team would go bowling in Florida.
Let's run this scenario where Ohio State is banned from post season play this year:
Rose: Wisconsin
BCS: Nebraska
Cap One
Outback
Insight
Gator
Mieneke (Texas)
Ticket City
Little Ceasar's
When I took a snapshot look at the Legends and Leaders in May, I had two double-digit win teams in Ohio State and Nebraska, then several 8-4 teams and three 7-5 teams.
Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State and Wisconsin were my 8-4 teams, with Illinois, Michigan and Purdue 7-5. I think Wisconsin is a 10-win team at worst now and for this scenario, Ohio State's record doesn't matter. As it relates to Iowa, if the Hawks and Spartans are at the same record, Iowa is going to get the bowl call as MSU continues to disappoint the bowl organizers in Florida with soft turnouts. Penn State is always a good draw, too. If Michigan is 8-4/7-5, they had their 'back to the bowl' moment last year for the Gator but the Insight would likely take a long look at the Wolverines.
If Iowa goes 8-4 and if Ohio State is not in the bowl picture and the Big Ten sends two teams to the BCS not named Iowa, the Hawks would fare no worse than the Gator Bowl.
I don't want to go too far down this road right now as July is going to serve as our Iowa & Big Ten football preview here on the site, where we'll go on the record so our picks can be laughed at again in a few months...
But the last 30 days have really been amazing as it relates to impact on the 2011 Big Ten football season. Mike Hlas of The Gazette also writes about that aspect at this story.
With Russell Wilson finally making it official by announcing he will be transferring to Wisconsin, that puts the Badgers as the front runner for the Leaders and possibly for the Big Ten title...if not more.
Wilson is a huge addition...it's not often (as in has maybe never happened) where a quarterback who has thrown for 76 touchdowns and more than 8,000 plus another 1,000 yards on the ground, has transferred to a new school.
Those guys go into Hall of Fames at the school where they racked up those totals. Wilson will be trading in his NC State red for the Badgers red...
Back in early June when Wilson's move to Wisconsin seemed imminent, I wrote that such a thing could vault the Badgers into the national title picture. Today, I am reading similar sentiments across the twitterverse from national college football pundits. They have the schedule to do it, they have the offensive line to do it, they have the running backs to do it and now may have their most dangerous threat at quarterback in more than a decade to do it.
Simply put, Bret Bielema has things rolling and they just cured their biggest weakness...which for this year could 'help' the Big Ten on the whole.
Now, how does this 'help' the Big Ten?
Well, if you want to win the Big Ten title and you are not a Wisconsin fan, it doesn't help you feel better. But since there is only going to be one champion anyway, there is a silver, or gray lining, if you will; the Big Ten will likely send two teams to the BCS again this year.
That has happened more often than not in the history of the BCS (all but three years) but this year was looking pretty grim on that front, especially with the downward projections for Ohio State. Enter Wilson, enter the Badgers and now things are looking better for what we call the 'one up' scenario in Big Ten bowl jargon...if two teams go to the BCS from the Big Ten, then everyone else moves up one spot in the bowl pecking order.
That could mean the difference between the Mieneke Car Care Bowl (Formerly the Texas Bowl) and the Insight for some team.
I am still of the opinion that Nebraska wins the Legends and am now firmly in the camp of Wisconsin winning the Leaders. I am still feeling 8-4ish as it relates to Iowa's season. If the Badgers and Huskers make the BCS, an 8-4 Iowa team could be on the border for a Top Tier bowl game this coming year....as in the Outback or Gator bowls.
One more positive related to a strong Wisconsin this year; Iowa doesn't play them and Legends foes Michigan State and Nebraska do face the Badgers...Nebraska is in Madison while Michigan State will host Bucky.
Another thing to keep in mind is the possibility that Ohio State could face a bowl ban this year, which would move a lot of people up another rung in the hierarchy, almost assuring that an 8-4 Iowa team would go bowling in Florida.
Let's run this scenario where Ohio State is banned from post season play this year:
Rose: Wisconsin
BCS: Nebraska
Cap One
Outback
Insight
Gator
Mieneke (Texas)
Ticket City
Little Ceasar's
When I took a snapshot look at the Legends and Leaders in May, I had two double-digit win teams in Ohio State and Nebraska, then several 8-4 teams and three 7-5 teams.
Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State and Wisconsin were my 8-4 teams, with Illinois, Michigan and Purdue 7-5. I think Wisconsin is a 10-win team at worst now and for this scenario, Ohio State's record doesn't matter. As it relates to Iowa, if the Hawks and Spartans are at the same record, Iowa is going to get the bowl call as MSU continues to disappoint the bowl organizers in Florida with soft turnouts. Penn State is always a good draw, too. If Michigan is 8-4/7-5, they had their 'back to the bowl' moment last year for the Gator but the Insight would likely take a long look at the Wolverines.
If Iowa goes 8-4 and if Ohio State is not in the bowl picture and the Big Ten sends two teams to the BCS not named Iowa, the Hawks would fare no worse than the Gator Bowl.
I don't want to go too far down this road right now as July is going to serve as our Iowa & Big Ten football preview here on the site, where we'll go on the record so our picks can be laughed at again in a few months...
But the last 30 days have really been amazing as it relates to impact on the 2011 Big Ten football season. Mike Hlas of The Gazette also writes about that aspect at this story.
