What is Wrong with Big Ten Football?

So another year comes and goes, and the Big Ten once again has a pathetic performance in Bowl games. The 1-6 record is the worst in decades, and some of the games looked even worse. So what is wrong with the Big Ten?

5. No strength in the middle - This was a conference that during the 1990s had six different teams go to the Rose Bowl. Teams such as Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Purdue challenged for league championships year in and year out. And that was considering that Michigan dominated the leage, capturing 6 Big Ten Titles during the decade. The middle of the pack is now waning. Wisconsin this year was supposed to be a power, but ended up flailing. Iowa was strong earlier in the decade, but Kirk Ferentz has not been able to refind the magic. Northwestern has been lost in the wilderness, as has Purdue. Minnesota looks like it is coming back, but slowly. Michigan State is the only team that has made positive strides. They are a long way from making the middle of the Big Ten as strong as other conferences.

4. Weak Non-League Play - While not necessary for other conferences, such as the SEC, with the weaker bottom half of the Big Ten, playing quality nonconference opponents is even more important. Other than Ohio State playing USC (and albeit getting annhilated) and Michigan playin Utah at home and losing, no other team played a top 10 team in their nonconference schedule. This sets a low bar for the league as a whole.

3. Recruiting and Speed - Now, I don't believe the SEC or Big 12 is really faster. But they sure do seem to play faster. Other than Ohio State, the rest of the Big Ten has not been in the Top 5 of recruiting rankings this decade. Michigan came the closest, and they have lost much of their talent because of the coaching changes. The powers in the Big 10 must be able to recruit in the south and west to be competative.

2. Defenses win Championships - The biggest weakness I saw in the Big Ten teams is their suspect defenses. Penn State and Ohio State, who were among the best defensive teams in the country, could not control USC and Texas, respectively. Penn State, especially, was dominant during the year but looked like a second rate group in the Rose Bowl. Defense wins Championships. Michigan does not win the 1997 National Championship without Charles Woodson and a spectacular defense. Ohio State doesn't win in 2002 without a steadfast defense. Neither of those two defensive groups has been matched by any other Big Ten team this decade.

1. Living in the Past and Jim Tressel - Not really Tressel's fault, as he is one of the great coaches today. But he has brought blandness back into style in the Big Ten. The 'Vest' plays about as conservative a game plan as anyone in football. And that works great, when you are against lesser competition in the Big Ten; but when you face the likes of Florida, LSU, and Texas, their vitality overpowers your old style football. And worse yet, Tressel-ball is spreading in the Big Ten, with Michigan State and Wisconsin playing similar styles, without evolving. Success breeds copiers; and right now Tressel's boring coaching is not helping the Big Ten as a whole.The Big Ten is the slowest conference to change, bar none. As I commented above with Tressel, people in the Midwest like '3 yards and a cloud of dust' football. And it shows. The question now is, will Rich Rodriguez and others bring the change in style and speed that the Big Ten needs? Only time will tell.