It’s now time to focus on one of college football’s most historic conferences.  These school’s have been living and breathing football for a very long time and are extremely rich with tradition.  As of late, their credibility has fallen off when playing out of conference, but there probably isn’t another conference where every team has resounding support.

Where they stood

Every year, there are a couple title contenders in this conference, and like clockwork, once the post season starts, they get pummeled in their bowl games.  This conference seems to still be playing with athletes from the 1940’s.  Most team’s lack overall speed and they lack supreme athleticism.  This has been evident when they play Pac-10 or SEC opponents, its never a close contest.  The Rose Bowl over the past few years has become Southern Cal vs. A Sacrificial Lamb (you pick the school).  This conference just needs to pick up the level of athlete on their teams to compete nationwide.

Where they stand

This year will still provide more of the same when it comes to out of conference and also when it comes to within the conference.  These teams are slowly building up speed and athleticism to compete nationally and that will pay dividends down the road, just not this year.  The favorites in the conference will be the usual suspects: Ohio State and Penn State.  Michigan still needs a year or two to change their style of play.  After that, this conference should be very competitive top to bottom.  It is a deep conference that, after the top two, will be very hard to determine the pecking order.

Team by Team Breakdown

Illinois – Coach Ron Zook has slowly been turning this team into a cosistent competitor.  With Juice Williams returning, the offense should stay consistent.  At times, this team has seemed over matched due to the fact that the offense would become one dimensional.  Now, the most important loss in my opinion on the team is Vontae Davis.  He was a lock down corner, a position that is very hard to find consistency at (by the way, I think he will be a pro bowler for the Dolphins in about 3 years).  In the end, Zook knows all about recruiting athletes from coaching at Florida.  Expect enough talent to be on the field to be in the top half of the conference.  Prediction: 6-8 wins.

Indiana:  This team has been on an emotional roller coaster for the past few years.  However, as it stands, the team has lacked consistency at quarterback, and the defense is full of holes.  This year should show slight improvement, but not enough to be bowl eligible.  Prediction: 2-4 wins.

Iowa: This team has always been a strong willed team that grinds it out every game.  They have had plenty of close wins over the years thanks to Coach Kirk Ferentz.  Richard Stanzi’s development along with a steady dose of the running game in 2009 should help; just not enough to contend for the Big Ten title.  Prediction: 7-9 wins.

Michigan: There should be more of the same this year in Ann Arbor.  Slow transition from a pro style to a spread will ache the heart’s of Wolverine fans.  I think Michigan will have plenty of glimpses of success, just nothing to sustain wins.  This team needs two more years in my opinion.  Prediction: 4-5 wins.

Michigan State: This team made huge strides last year to make sure people knew there name.  The Spartans had lots of success thanks to Javon Ringer rushing the ball.  Now they must fill the gap left behind.  Mark Dantonio is a solid head coach and should have this team successfull again once he rebuilds the defense and secures the running game.  This year they will take a slight step back though.  Prediction: 7-8 wins.

Minnesota: ‘Sota has been a solid team over the past few years and that appears to be their ceiling.  They haven’t sustained good enough recruiting to play with the big boys in the conference.  They seem to be stuck in mediocrity (but consistently winning at a smaller budget school isn’t necesarily a bad thing).  Adam Weber could be enough to make this team better than usual because of his success as a sophomore, but I don’t think it will realistically happen with the defense not getting off the field fast enough.  Look for more consistency as this team remains in the middle of the conference.  Prediction: 5-7 wins.

Northwestern: This team came on to the scene last year as a great success story.  The question will be, can they sustain that this year?  The short answer is no.  The starting QB, RB, and top two receivers have all graduated on offense.  The defense has lost considerable talent also.  This team will still be alright, just not win as many games as last year due to the lack of veteran leadership.  Prediction: 4-6 wins.

Ohio State: This team is as consistent as they come in regards to winning games.  They have averaged just about 10 wins a season since winning the national title in 2002 (Call me biased, but that title was stolen and that was an unfair pass interference call at that stage of the game, it wasn’t even the right call, if the call was indeed the contact at the line of scrimmage which is what the referee said it was….legal contact within five yards….then the ball could only have been placed at the 5 yard line, making it 4th and goal again, instead they get 1st and goal at the 2, completely unfair, but I digress).  This team has plenty of returning talent and plenting of incomming freshman that can contribute.  Lets not forget about QB Terrell Pryor.  He will be a stud.  Look for him to assert himself as the leagues best QB next year.  They have a chance to turn some heads with USC coming to the Horseshoe but they won’t win that game due to the lack of speed, its that simple.  I expect them to win the conference, followed by a drubbing by USC in the rose bowl.  Prediction: 9-11 wins.

Penn State: The reigning champs will still pack a powerful punch this season and give defenses heavy doses of RB Evan Royster.  Penn State keeps their tradition of steady game managers on the field with the return of Darryll Clark.  They will challenge Ohio State for the conference title, but don’t expect them to win their Nov. 7 meeting against the Buckeyes, not enough talent to math up with them.  Prediction: 8-10 wins.

Purdue: The Boilermakers had a stronger passing game last season, but lost too much talent on offense and never really had much to begin with on defense.  They had a bunch of senior leaders but could only muster 2 conference wins last year (4 overall).  This team will continue to slide and have a tough season in 2009.  Prediction: 2-4 wins.

Wisconsin: The Badgers have been a team that has had talent but couldn’t match that talent to elite success.  They have always had strong running backs and consistent defense.  Last year the defense had some mental lapses.  Expect more of that this year.  But look for the offense to improve.  In the end, the offense will improve enough to make up for the losses on defense.  Another above average but not spectacular season is ahead of them.  Prediction: 6-8 wins.

Overall, this conference has two contenders, a great middle of the pack battle, and a couple bottom feeders.  Outside of the conference, they are below average competition.  They are increasing their credibility slowly, it is just going to take a few more years to solidify it.  Ohio State will win the conference but Penn State will give them a huge challenge in November.

Conference Standings:

1st to Last – Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Northwester, Indiana, Purdue

Related posts:

1. College Football Preview: Pac Ten
2. College Football Preview: Big Twelve
3. College Football Preview: ACC
4. College Football Preview: Big East
5. College Football Preview: SEC