BIG WEEK FOR THE BIG 10

September 8, 2009

Perception is not always reality. In fact, many important people don’t concern themselves at all with how the public perceives them. Who cares if people they don’t know have the wrong idea about them? However, in the world of college football, perception can trump what happened on the field.

No other sport is more dependent on perception and opinion than college football. It is perception and opinion that tells us which two teams will be chosen to play for the national championship.

Andre Agassi was right. Image is everything, and right now, the Big 10 has an image problem. The nation’s most mathematically challenged conference is 0-6 in the BCS over the last three postseasons. Throw in Ohio State’s 35-3 loss at USC last September, and you end up where we are today. Fans of the SEC, Big 12 and Pac 10 feeling the Big Ten gets fat off weak non-league competition, but cannot compete with the rest of the nation’s elite.

The Big 10 could go a long way in restoring its image by improving on last year’s 1-6 mark in bowl games. Until then, the only way to change the nation’s perception of Big 10 inferiority lies in non-conference victories.

A 10-1 start last weekend sounds pretty good, but if you are playing weaker competition, simply winning isn’t enough. The mighty Ohio State Buckeyes had to hold on for dear life to beat Navy! Iowa had to block two FGs in the closing seconds to beat 1-AA Northern Iowa!

The only Big Ten team that played someone noteworthy to start the year was Illinois. An Illini team that brought back eight offensive starters including four-year starter Juice Williams at QB and WR Arrelious Benn managed nine points in a four touchdown loss to Missouri.

The good news for the Big Ten is that the close calls of week one will be long forgotten with a strong showing conference wide in week two. The eleven games this Saturday break down into four categories: statement games, swing games, “don’t you dare” games and “who cares” games.

The “Who cares?” games are obvious. Northwestern hosts Eastern Michigan while Indiana entertains Western Michigan. Wins in either or both games will not boost the league’s resume. Conversely, NW and IU are so far down the college football food chain, losses this week will barely be noticed.

The “Don’t you dare” games involve match-ups that can only hurt the Big Ten’s image. If Penn StateSyracuse, Michigan State defeats Central Michigan and Illinois bests Illinois State, they each get a meaningless W. Should any of them dare to lose this Saturday, it would be another embarrassment for a league that cannot afford any. beats

The four swing games will not receive national attention no matter who wins, but the opponents are noteworthy enough to boost the league’s resume. To start the day, Wisconsin hosts Fresno State and IowaIowa State. Fresno is not a BCS conference team, but they have a solid enough reputation that a Badger win is not to be glossed over. The Hawkeyes have scored 17 points or less in 8 of their last 11 meetings with the Big 12 North’s perennial doormats. After Iowa’s scare last week, they can ill afford to come up short here. At 7pm, Minnesota opens its new on campus stadium against Air Force. I know what you’re thinking. If Ohio State edging Navy was cause for concern, why is this game with another service academy so important? Quite simply put, Minnesota is not Ohio State. It’s one thing for the Gophers who were 1-11 just two years ago to beat an academy. It’s a major concern when one of the league’s elite struggles to do the same. Lastly, Purdue visits Oregon. The last time America saw the Ducks, they were getting pushed around by Boise State and throwing punches leaving the field. That’s not exactly a program you want to lose to the next week. battles in-state rival

That leaves us with the statement games. Ohio State-USC is an obvious one. One of the Big Ten’s favorite explanations (or excuses) for their impotence in the Rose Bowl has been that USC plays a virtual home game. That is an advantage, but the talent gap has been so wide in those games, they could have played on the moon. It wouldn’t have mattered. This time the Trojans come to the Horseshoe. They have a true freshman at QB. The Big Ten needs this game.

The second statement game is in this category for different reasons. Michigan is hosting Notre Dame. Ohio State has a chance to beat the top program this decade in college football. Notre Dame is trying to show they are back among the elite. A Wolverine victory is necessary because the Big Ten needs a rebirth in Ann Arbor to help change the nation’s perception.

When the power teams in any league are down, the perception is the league is down. The ACC is deep. It just doesn’t have any elite teams. How much would perception change if Miami and Florida State started winning 10 or 11 games a year again? Even if a few teams slid back under .500, the league’s reputation would be much higher than it is now even with fewer quality teams.

This is it Big Ten. After this weekend, the opportunities to make a statement are slim. There are three must haves, four resume builders and two snoozefests. Those nine outcomes can become irrelevant in a good way or a bad way depending on how the Buckeyes and Wolverines fare.

Games of the Week:

UCLA @ Tennessee – Lane Kiffin debuted with a 63-7 drubbing of Western Kentucky. The Bruins downed San Diego State 33-14, one year after giving Coach Rick Neuheisel a debut OT win over these Vols. UCLA still won’t be confused with USC or Florida for that matter (the Vols opponent next Saturday). However, another solid performance here and there will be more interest in next Saturday’s showdown in the swamp than just, “How many points will Meyer hang on Kiffin?” Expect to hear Rocky Top all night.

Notre Dame @ Michigan – Each program is coming off hard times. The Wolverines showed life last week but are still lacking experience at QB. The Irish are 3-8 in their last 11 road games. The home team is 8-2 in the last ten meetings. Michigan is definitely better than they were a year ago when they turned the ball over six times in South Bend. Jimmy Clausen will be the difference this time, not Wolverine mistakes.

USC @ Ohio State – The biggest must win game in recent memory for any conference. The mighty Trojans finally come to the Midwest. Better yet, they come with a true freshman QB making his first road start. USC’s athleticism will keep them in the game. OSU’s defense and kicking game will eke out the win.

Upset Alert – James Madison @ Maryland – The ACC did not have a good opening week. In its ten non-league games, the ACC went 4-6 with two losses to 1-AA competition. The Terps traveled 3,000 miles to get manhandled by Cal 52-13. The Dukes have not played yet. They have experience at QB and RB, and are always a contender for the 1-AA title. Last year, Delaware didn’t fear the turtle at all losing 14-7 in College Park. If there’s any lingering effects from the cross country journey and Cal beatdown, the Dukes will take advantage.