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Big Ten fortunate to have potential spoilers in Michigan, Wisconsin
By Ryan O'Gara
Published:
To answer your question, Pat Narduzzi, Wisconsin. And Michigan.
In case you missed it, the Pitt coach caused a bit of a stir this week when he said “… Ohio State’s been pretty dominant in the Big Ten. Who else is there right now?”
While Wisconsin and Michigan don’t have a viable path to the College Football Playoff, the Big Ten is fortunate to have them both playing very well — both in non-conference and conference play. They are the biggest difference between leagues like the Big Ten and the ACC. Or the Pac 12. Or the Big 12. They are the reason the Big Ten could potentially get two teams in the CFP, though a lot would have to break right for that to happen.
No. 12 Wisconsin (8-2) and No. 13 Michigan (8-2) will play a major role in determining whether Ohio State and Minnesota can get to the CFP, and they have already done wonders for the league in taking care of business in recent weeks. Wisconsin will meet Minnesota next week, likely with a spot in the Big Ten championship game on the line. And while Ohio State may not have to beat Michigan next week, the No. 13 Wolverines (8-2) have the marquee win over Notre Dame that boosts the Big Ten’s credibility considerably.
You have to feel for the ACC, Big 12 and Pac 12. No one cares if your middle-of-the-pack or bottom-tier teams could beat the middle-of-the-pack SEC or Big Ten teams. Like how Arizona State beat Michigan State, like how Colorado beat Nebraska and how Stanford beat Northwestern. Like how Cal beat Ole Miss and Kansas State beat Mississippi State. All that matters is how the top of your conference does, or at least that’s how it looks in the rankings. The Big Ten has six of the top 17 teams, and the SEC has five of the top 15. The way Wisconsin and Michigan haven’t let a few demoralizing losses derail their seasons has been critical to boosting the Big Ten.
Since back-to-back losses, Wisconsin rebounded with a win over No. 18 Iowa and a two-touchdown win at Nebraska. Since dropping its second game, Michigan routed Notre Dame and Maryland by 31 and then beat Michigan State by 34.
Aside from Wisconsin losing to Illinois, none of the Big Ten’s six ranked teams have lost to someone they shouldn’t have. It’s like the SEC, where only Georgia has lost to a non-top five team.
There is so much more parity in the ACC. Outside of Clemson, the conference has no ranked teams. Wake Forest got to No. 19, then lost to unranked Louisville. It got to No. 22 a week before playing Clemson and lost to unranked Virginia Tech. After Virginia got to No. 18, it lost to Notre Dame and unranked Miami in back-to-back weeks. Syracuse’s short-lived run in the rankings ended with a 43-point loss to Maryland. Virginia Tech just cracked the AP poll, but let’s see how long that lasts with games against Pitt and Virginia up next.
The ACC also needs Florida State to get back to being Florida State and challenge Clemson. Regardless of who wins, the league will. It’s like Ohio State and Penn State this weekend for the Big Ten.
You can understand Narduzzi’s frustration. Every time one of the league’s teams get some notoriety, it loses. It’s terrible timing as Clemson and the ACC try to build credibility. If the CFP committee and general public have no idea who the good teams are on a weekly basis, how do you expect the rankings to reflect that?
The Big Ten has been fortunate to have two good programs in Wisconsin and Michigan take care of business and, with one exception, not stumble against unranked teams.
Ryan O'Gara is the lead columnist for Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @RyanOGara.