Big Ten Bowling: A Fan’s Take

After years of hearing that the SEC was the top conference, I predicted this would be the year that changed. The Big Ten would sweep the SEC, and win most of their bowls. After a 4-6 mark in the bowls, I have to admit I was wrong. This is a recap of the Big Ten’s bowl season.

December 27th. Little Caesar’s Bowl: (6-6) Purdue 37, (7-5) Western Michigan 32
Not the most impressive way to start the bowls, but Purdue only barely qualified and could be regarded as the weakest bowl team overall for the Big Ten. A win regardless, no matter how Purdue got it. Big Ten bowl record: 1-0

December 30. Insight Bowl: (9-3) 19th ranked Oklahoma 31, (7-5) Iowa 14
I think even the most diehard Hawkeye fan knew this game wasn’t really winnable. Oklahoma spent most of the season in the top 5 and still remained in the Top 25 despite getting blown out. Still, the Hawkeyes were still in this game until a late TD run by Landry Jones sealed the game. Big Ten bowl record: 1-1

December 31. Meineke Car Care Bowl: (6-6) Texas A&M 33, (6-6) Northwestern 22
When the bowl schedule was released, I expected Northwestern’s offense to shred a terrible Aggie defense that blew a 42 point halftime lead earlier in the year. The problem was that Northwesten’s offense was never quite right all year. Seems QB Dan Persa never fully recovered from his torn Achilles’ tendon last year. Big Ten bowl record: 1-2

Fight Hunger Bowl: (6-6) Illinois 20, (6-7) UCLA 14
Could be called any of a number of names. I’ll go with the “Who cares? Bowl”. UCLA was bad most of the year, and needed NCAA permission to play this bowl since they had a losing record. The Fighting Illini hadn’t won since October 8th. An ugly game but the Illini pulled it out. Big Ten bowl record: 2-2

January 2nd. TicketCity Bowl: (12-1) 20th ranked Houston 30, (9-3) 24th ranked Penn State 14.
Penn State had been reeling since the Sandusky scandal, and subsequent firing of legend Joe Paterno, broke. Then starting QB Matt McGloin gets injured in a locker room disagreement with one of his receivers, gets a concussion, and was out for the game, meaning Rob Bolden, who’d been benched for turning the ball over, gets the start. Predictably, against one of the highest scoring offenses in college football, and worst defenses, he throws three interceptions. The game wasn’t as close as the score made it appear.Big Ten bowl record: 2-3

Gator Bowl: (6-6) Florida 24, (6-6) Ohio State 17
On paper, two of the worst offenses in the country squared off. In reality, Florida was bad all year, while Ohio State could claim they were missing key offensive personnel most of the season but had gotten them all back. A blocked punt and a punt return for a TD sealed the Buckeyes’ fate, and laid to rest my hopes of a Big ten sweep. Big Ten bowl record: 2-4

Capital One Bowl: (10-2) 10th ranked South Carolina 30, (9-3) 21st ranked Nebraska 13
The key reason I thought the Big Ten would sweep is that South Carolina had lost their starting QB to getting kicked off the team and their starting RB to a torn ACL. I didn’t account for the Gamecocks defense, one of the best in the nation. I had chalked up their continuing to win being based on feasting on the weak offenses in the SEC East. Nebraska actually led 13-9 at the end of first quarter. They never scored again. Big Ten bowl record: 2-5

Outback Bowl: (10-3) 12th ranked Michigan State 33, (10-3) 18th ranked Georgia 30. (3 OTs)
At first glance, this would appear to be a high scoring game, but in reality the defenses controlled the game. In all, there were 6 turnovers (5 ints, one of which was returned for a TD, and a fumble recovery), a safety, and a blocked FG. The two teams didn’t get a 100 yards rushing between them, and both QBs were under siege the entire game. The Spartans get the SEC gorilla off their back, and the big ten avoids getting swept by the SEC. At this point, need Wisconsin to win to salvage the day. Big Ten bowl record: 3-5

Rose Bowl: (11-2) 6th ranked Oregon 45, (11-2) 9th ranked Wisconsin 38
Most of the talk leading into the game featured talk of contrasting styles, and power vs. speed. But the Badger defense was also spoke of being too slow to stop the Duck offense. The whole game, they did nothing to disprove that notion. Much of the postgame talk centered around the fluke fumble by Badger WR Abbrederris and the bad clock management by coach Bret Bielema and QB Russell Wilson. The real reason the Badgers lost this game was terrible tackling. The Oregon Ducks racked up a ton of yardage after contact and had the defense put up some kind of fight maybe they win this game. Overall a bad day for the Big Ten. Big Ten bowl record: 3-6

Sugar Bowl: (10-2) 13th ranked Michigan 23, (11-2) 17th ranked Virginia Tech 20
When this bowl was announced, the outrage could be heard in Kansas, Idaho, and East Lansing, among others. After all, weren’t Boise State, Arkansas, Kansas State, and Michigan State all ranked higher than either team in the AP polls? Didn’t Michigan State beat Michigan? But Arkansas was eliminated by BCS rules, which stated only two teams from the same conference could be in the BCS. With LSU and Alabama in the national title game, Arkansas was left out. Michigan State somehow fell to 17th in the BCS rankings, eliminating them from consideration. And all the bowls care about is which teams have the largest draw. Both of these teams travel better than the other options. It’s sad, but unfortunately, that’s the system in place. In any case, the consensus outside of Ann Arbor and Blacksburg was that neither of these teams belonged. This game did nothing to disprove that notion, and Big East champ West Virginia’s subsequent destruction of ACC champ Clemson the next night further argued against Virginia Tech being in this bowl. Michigan being the third best Big Ten team, as Legends Division runner up, was the argument against them being here. In any case, the Big Ten somewhat salvaged its reputation. Big Ten bowl record: 4-6

So the Big Ten faces another offseason of being, at best, the 2nd best conference with arguments coming from the PAC-12 and Big 12 that they are better conferences. Too bad we’ll have to wait until next year, once again, to answer those questions


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