Is the Golden Era of the B10 Upon Us?

W

WinOneThisCentury

Well-Known Member
The B10 has a chance to go 8-0 in bowl games with some impressive victories (USC, Washington, Miami). When you look at the teams at the top of the conference, they are pretty young from a roster standpoint (other than Wisconsin on defense). If you look at teams and what they have coming back...it's going to be a brutal league next year.

These teams will be better:
Ohio State - They will reload at QB.
Penn State - McSorely back...frustrating little shit.
Wisconsin - they just reload on defense...and how does Jim Leonard not get a HC gig this year?
Michigan - they are a top QB away from being scarey.
Purdue - Say what you will...they will be a tough out...definitely pointing up.
Iowa - Added size to an already impressive DL. Two bookend OTs, QB with huge upside, best TE tandem in the country.

In hindsight, with the Bowl performance, you could say OSU deserved the playoff bid. I think you have to go to 8 teams and take the champion of the Power 5 conferences. You would have 3 at large bids to fill out the brackets.
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
I think you have to go to 8 teams and take the champion of the Power 5 conferences.
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I think this year was a good example of why you shouldn't expand.

Clearly there was a drop-off after the top 3. The "resume" of Alabama / OSU / anybody else was not as good / deserving as that of those 1st 3. The more you add, the more you give teams a chance for the championship that they didn't earn during the year.
 
The Big Ten is the top 4, then everyone else. I would say MSU will be coming on again, as they have some impressive talent at receiver, and will have a stout defense. Purdue is definitely trending up, and that game could easily be a loss. Brohm has them headed in the right direction. Say what you want about Nebraska, but Frost will turn them around in a hurry. Next year I see a step back for us. We lose the one playmaker we had that teams had to account for every time he was on the field, we still have a lack of talent at receiver, and no just because the guys there are a year older doesn't automatically mean they somehow will be infused with talent. We lose all 3 lbs, 2 of which will be hard to replace, Jackson at corner, and the other corner position doesn't look all that promising unless Hankins improves. We, of course will still have the same inept coaching staff as always, including our wonderful hire at offensive coordinator, but hey people will be happy with him if he just gets our offense in the top 100 in the nation. The bar is pretty high here at Iowa.
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
The B10 has a chance to go 8-0 in bowl games with some impressive victories (USC, Washington, Miami). When you look at the teams at the top of the conference, they are pretty young from a roster standpoint (other than Wisconsin on defense). If you look at teams and what they have coming back...it's going to be a brutal league next year.

These teams will be better:
Ohio State - They will reload at QB.
Penn State - McSorely back...frustrating little shit.
Wisconsin - they just reload on defense...and how does Jim Leonard not get a HC gig this year?
Michigan - they are a top QB away from being scarey.
Purdue - Say what you will...they will be a tough out...definitely pointing up.
Iowa - Added size to an already impressive DL. Two bookend OTs, QB with huge upside, best TE tandem in the country.

In hindsight, with the Bowl performance, you could say OSU deserved the playoff bid. I think you have to go to 8 teams and take the champion of the Power 5 conferences. You would have 3 at large bids to fill out the brackets.
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How so??
 
The golden era of the Big 10 started to wane in 1966 when UCLA beat MSU in the Rose and the PAC 12 started beating up on the Big very regularly in the Rose Bowl. OSU won a natty titel a few years ago but the Big doesnt have too many of those titles in the last 20-30 years.

Maybe the big is getting much better top to bottom and could be one of the stronger leagues though.
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
The B10 has a chance to go 8-0 in bowl games with some impressive victories (USC, Washington, Miami). When you look at the teams at the top of the conference, they are pretty young from a roster standpoint (other than Wisconsin on defense). If you look at teams and what they have coming back...it's going to be a brutal league next year.

These teams will be better:
Ohio State - They will reload at QB.
Penn State - McSorely back...frustrating little shit.
Wisconsin - they just reload on defense...and how does Jim Leonard not get a HC gig this year?
Michigan - they are a top QB away from being scarey.
Purdue - Say what you will...they will be a tough out...definitely pointing up.
Iowa - Added size to an already impressive DL. Two bookend OTs, QB with huge upside, best TE tandem in the country.

In hindsight, with the Bowl performance, you could say OSU deserved the playoff bid. I think you have to go to 8 teams and take the champion of the Power 5 conferences. You would have 3 at large bids to fill out the brackets.
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I have no doubts that Leonard is a good coach. But at a certain point you have to wonder how much that system should get credit. The guy before him got a raise to go down to LSU and they thought he was a genius but the UW defense didn’t miss a beat. There were some rumors that Saban offered Leanord to come be the DC at Bama. He will get a HC opportunity if that’s what he wants relatively soon. Right now he’s in a pretty nice spot at his alma mater. I’ve also heard NFL might be where his sights are.
 
Sorry...I forgot to add Michigan State to the teams that will be better next year. They are also a young team.

Maybe "Golden Age" isn't the right word. Resurgence of the league maybe. I think top to bottom, the B10 was the best league in the country and with the Bowl results, it's hard to argue against that. The SEC may be top heavy with Alabama, Georgia, and Auburn...but when you consider the top 7-8 teams in the B10...it's no contest.
 
Caddy said:
The Big Ten is the top 4, then everyone else. I would say MSU will be coming on again, as they have some impressive talent at receiver, and will have a stout defense. Purdue is definitely trending up, and that game could easily be a loss. Brohm has them headed in the right direction. Say what you want about Nebraska, but Frost will turn them around in a hurry. Next year I see a step back for us. We lose the one playmaker we had that teams had to account for every time he was on the field, we still have a lack of talent at receiver, and no just because the guys there are a year older doesn't automatically mean they somehow will be infused with talent. We lose all 3 lbs, 2 of which will be hard to replace, Jackson at corner, and the other corner position doesn't look all that promising unless Hankins improves. We, of course will still have the same inept coaching staff as always, including our wonderful hire at offensive coordinator, but hey people will be happy with him if he just gets our offense in the top 100 in the nation. The bar is pretty high here at Iowa.
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Can't say your logic is all wrong but I'm glad I don't share your pessimism. I think the RBs Iowa will have will be pretty darn good. Yes losing Wadley hurts but I think who we'll have will be a step up from what Butler was able to give. I'll go out on a limb and say the running game will be better overall with Kelly-Martin and Young. With Toks/Bryan in the wings too. (I kinda want to preface that by saying if Daniels comes back)
I'm not nearly as scared about replacing the LBs. If only because the LBs coming in will all have played some already and aren't totally green behind the ears. Sure Jewell is who he is but there's nothing special about Nieman or Bower. I think they'll be replaced adequately and due to the Dline being as good as they should be their job will be a ton easier.
Corner does have me nervous I can't really put lipstick on that pig other then there's a bunch of young athletic bodies that will be competing for open spots. If you can give coach Parker credit for anything it's his ability to coach up DBs.
So I don't think we'll take a step back next year. The Oline should be solid (really darn good if Daniels is back) making Stanleys job easier. I think he'll get better and I look forward to next year.
 
I think the B1G has a great group of coaches and it keeps getting better with recent hires at Purdue, Minnesota, & Nebraska. As a whole I think the league is getting tougher and more athletic

I also think there might be a little too much put on the exhibition/bowl season. This is the first time in the playoff era that the B1G hasn’t had a team in it, which knocked everyone down a peg which helps get more favorable matchups. That being said, Ohio st, Wisconsin, & Michigan st have been very impressive
 
Resurgence .... maybe...

When B1G has a playoff team that advances to championship and other top teams win when the lights are bright...yes that would signal.
 
hawkeyes87 said:
I think this year was a good example of why you shouldn't expand.

Clearly there was a drop-off after the top 3. The "resume" of Alabama / OSU / anybody else was not as good / deserving as that of those 1st 3. The more you add, the more you give teams a chance for the championship that they didn't earn during the year.
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I think if you won your conference Championship you did earn at least a chance.
 
This year's Big Ten bowl performance is much like Iowa's victory over Ohio State this year.

A total dominating performance that seem to come out of nowhere, with no explanation why, with no chance it will ever be repeated again.
 
guffus said:
This year's Big Ten bowl performance is much like Iowa's victory over Ohio State this year.

A total dominating performance that seem to come out of nowhere, with no explanation why, with no chance it will ever be repeated again.
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Disagree. The bowl dominance was done with physical play and controlling the line of scrimmage, typically on both sides of the ball. I wouldn't say it came out of nowhere. There is simply better defensive line play in the B10 conference and it finally showed. That's always been the difference between the B10 and the SEC...defensive line play. When you hammer and chase the QBs against the top two PAC 12 schools and shut down the running games of most schools...it's not out of nowhere. It's clear the B10 is the more physical conference this year. Granted, OSU didn't face Bama, Clemson, or Georgia...but I'm saying top to bottom...the B10 is the best league.

Here's what pisses me off. When the B10 does shitty in the bowls, every pundit on ESPN takes their shots and puts the stamp on the conference that it is overrated. Now, when we dominate the top schools in other conferences, it's more about match ups and teams being disappointed they didn't make the playoff (Washington, USC, Miami). You can only have it one way EVERY YEAR. B10 fans should be rubbing this in the nose of every friend who went to the PAC12, ACC, or whatever conference.
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
Disagree. The bowl dominance was done with physical play and controlling the line of scrimmage, typically on both sides of the ball. I wouldn't say it came out of nowhere. There is simply better defensive line play in the B10 conference and it finally showed. That's always been the difference between the B10 and the SEC...defensive line play. When you hammer and chase the QBs against the top two PAC 12 schools and shut down the running games of most schools...it's not out of nowhere. It's clear the B10 is the more physical conference this year. Granted, OSU didn't face Bama, Clemson, or Georgia...but I'm saying top to bottom...the B10 is the best league.

Here's what pisses me off. When the B10 does shitty in the bowls, every pundit on ESPN takes their shots and puts the stamp on the conference that it is overrated. Now, when we dominate the top schools in other conferences, it's more about match ups and teams being disappointed they didn't make the playoff (Washington, USC, Miami). You can only have it one way EVERY YEAR. B10 fans should be rubbing this in the nose of every friend who went to the PAC12, ACC, or whatever conference.
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You all have to be serious. over two years the Big is 10-10. Last year the Big powers of NW and IU saved the Big along with Wisky's big win over WMU.

3 years 15-14.
4 years 20-19
5 years 22-24

Ask me in a couple of years. The above demonstrates why the Big isn't taken seriously.. The Big results speak fro themselves. What is it about being Iowan that turns people into victims?
 
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Here is our schedule, kind easy. Toughest game is at PSU. We HAVE to beat Wisconsin, I think that is our biggest game followed by N'Western. Those two teams have been a huge thorn in our sides as of late.

September
1 Northern Illinois
8 Iowa State (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series)
15 Northern Iowa
22 Wisconsin
29 Open
October
6 at Minnesota
13 at Indiana
20 Maryland (HC)
27 at Penn State
November
3 at Purdue
10 Northwestern (FW)
17 at Illinois
23 Nebraska (Hy-Vee Heroes Game)
 
EstronHawkKing said:
Here is our schedule, kind easy. Toughest game is at PSU. We HAVE to beat Wisconsin, I think that is our biggest game followed by N'Western. Those two teams have been a huge thorn in our sides as of late.

September
1 Northern Illinois
8 Iowa State (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series)
15 Northern Iowa
22 Wisconsin
29 Open
October
6 at Minnesota
13 at Indiana
20 Maryland (HC)
27 at Penn State
November
3 at Purdue
10 Northwestern (FW)
17 at Illinois
23 Nebraska (Hy-Vee Heroes Game)
Click to expand...

There are a lot of teams on this schedule that are on the upswing and would like to knock off a solid but beatable program if that program stays status quo. Nebby probably can't improve that much in 1 year. IL will probably struggle, but unlike Iowa, they really did have a claim to being young. Will have some new coordinators. NIU is probably not a rising team, but has been a tough out. UNI is probably sideways to down.

Excepting no OSU, UM, and MSU, this could be a twilight zone nightmare schedule. Rising teams IL, Purdue, IU, and MN all on the road.

NW is always a twilight zone game. Wisky is Wisky. Maryland showed signs up until QB injury issues.

2014 again?

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Locker67 said:
I think if you won your conference Championship you did earn at least a chance.
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Power 5 Champs plus 3 at large would cover it, IMHO. If you end up losing your Conf Champ game you still have a shot if your resume is strong enough. It also leaves the door open for non P5 team if they're really that good.
 
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