The myth of the "stronger" West

[phatcat]

Minnesota - better. But we haven't played them yet so it doesn't excuse our suck

ILL - same

Purdue - terrible/worse

Iowa - about the same, perhaps a bit better but not enough to justify us getting shutout

Nebraska - about the same (still bad)

Wisconsin - somewhat better but hardly the "Old Wisconsin" . Let's see how they do against Minn.

Our protected East "rival" MSU. About the same, maybe worse

Summary. A couple of the teams we beat last year are clearly better, but we haven't played them. The others are, collectively, about the same, some better/some worse

It's NU that has changed, drastically. This team isn't even a pale shadow of last year's.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Minnesota - better. But we haven't played them yet so it doesn't excuse our suck

ILL - same

Purdue - terrible/worse

Iowa - about the same, perhaps a bit better but not enough to justify us getting shutout

Nebraska - about the same (still bad)

Wisconsin - somewhat better but hardly the "Old Wisconsin" . Let's see how they do against Minn.

Our protected East "rival" MSU. About the same, maybe worse

Summary. A couple of the teams we beat last year are clearly better, but we haven't played them. The others are, collectively, about the same, some better/some worse

It's NU that has changed, drastically. This team isn't even a pale shadow of last year's.

Yeah, every game has a winner and a loser. The math will tell you someone would have to go down when someone goes up. The West is no longer just the domain of Wisconsin or Iowa. Lovie has done wonders this season and even Illinois is no longer a laughingstock. I think you will see a lot of different winners in the West in the next decade. Of course, I doubt the West remains in tact for a decade. PSU and Michigan will bitch their way into a realignment where the 3 big boys are split up.

 

[villox]

Heh. Remember when the Big Ten thought “Legends and Leaders” was a good idea?

 

[SmellyCat]

Sagarin says NU *still* has the hardest schedule thus far, though UMass is the worst FCS team, so that will change. Minnesota is 18 and Illinois 58.

 

[NURoseBowl]

Sagarin says NU *still* has the hardest schedule thus far, though UMass is the worst FCS team, so that will change. Minnesota is 18 and Illinois 58.

Small consolation, I’m afraid.