Last season, the Big 10 finished with three teams in the Top 10 and four in the Top 20 if you include Nebraska. This season, it looks like the B1G is going to open the BCS rankings with one Top 10 team and five total Top 25 teams.
You may be thinking that starting out with five Top 25 teams is pretty good, especially since the SEC has the same amount. The problem is that three of the B1G's Top 25 are in the bottom 10 while the SEC has four teams in the Top 15.
Last year, Ohio State, Michigan State and Wisconsin all finished good enough to go to a BCS Bowl game. Only two could though, with Ohio State beating Arkansas and Wisconsin losing a close game to TCU. Alabama ravaged Michigan State, however, rolling over them 49-7 in the Capital One Bowl. Of the 11 other Big 10 schools, five others also went to bowl games.
This year, it looks like Ohio State may have trouble reaching a bowl game, Michigan State may experience the same let down as last year, and Wisconsin is heading toward a second-straight Rose Bowl. Four of the 12 teams have already qualified for a bowl game, and another four are poised to secure a bowl position over the next two weeks.
The B1G, otherwise known as the new Big 10, may actually improve the number of schools that go to a bowl game this year. Only Minnesota and Indiana are in the position where making a bowl game seems next to impossible. The other 10 all have more than a chance.
As for power though, the B1G's influence on the college football landscape may be diminishing. Seeing three teams finish in the Top 10 last year was inspiring for the B1G future, but now it seems tough enough for two to finish in the Top 15.
The B1G is full of powerful universities and Ohio State is obviously having an off year, but bringing in stronger competition may have only diluted the field of play. So which is it? Is the conference stronger now more than ever or are they weaker because of adding more powerful teams?
The answer is stronger. This year may be a weak year for the B1G with Wisconsin the only school in a BCS Bowl, but more schools have a shot at making a bowl game. There will be more years like last season, but the addition of Nebraska has only made the B1G more influential.
This year may not be the conference's year to shine, but looking forward to the future, it's brighter than ever.
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