Big Ten improved in 2009 but needs BCS title

The Big Ten has risen from the ashes of 2007, perhaps the worst calendar year in league history.

The year began with heavy public debate that Michigan and Ohio State should meet for the national title. Both teams were unbeaten in their traditional finish in 2006 and Ohio State won the epic clash 42-39. Ultimately, voters decided to put one-loss Florida ahead of the Wolverines, but the public posturing continued.

Then came the bruising. USC blasted Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Florida destroyed Ohio State in the BCS title game. Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany issued a letter all but condemning the Southeastern Conference of shortchanging the student portion of “student-athlete.”

By August the league debuted its Big Ten Network but faced distribution challenges throughout its eight-state footprint. Division I-AA power Appalachian State provided perhaps the most shocking upset in college football history by beating No. 5 Michigan in Ann Arbor. Iowa's football program was racked with five felony charges ranging from stealing credit cards to sexual assault to drug dealing. Ohio State backed into the BCS title game and again was thrashed by an SEC school (LSU) in early 2008.

The Big Ten weathered that dip in public perception, the public scorn of a 1-6 2008 bowl season and six straight BCS bowl losses.

The conference regrouped in 2009.

Ohio State and Iowa won BCS bowls. Four Big Ten teams posted bowl wins over top 15 schools for the first time in 11 years. The Big Ten Network now is available to 75 million homes. The conference is competitive on the football field and no longer a laughingstock.

“We needed to have a good bowl season last year. We had it,” Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said. “We won a couple BCS games and beat some top-quality teams, and I think that was a good step in the right direction.”

The off-field issues related to expansion - Nebraska will join the league in 2011 - and realignment (which could be finalized within two weeks) overshadowed the on-field spotlight for the Big Ten and college football. But the league is earning respect, with three schools ranked in the top 12. Defending league champion Ohio State, which beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl last year, is the consensus No. 2 behind national champion Alabama. Iowa, which beat Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, is ranked No. 10 by the USA Today Coaches' Poll and No. 9 by the Associated Press. Wisconsin is No. 12 in both polls.

Iowa owns the more favorable schedule, playing Wisconsin and Ohio State at home. Wisconsin hosts Ohio State in a prime-time slugfest. The Buckeyes seek a record-tying sixth consecutive Big Ten crown.

But there are other teams lurking that could challenge the top three. Penn State won 11 games last year and returns Evan Royster, its leading rusher. Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones was tabbed the preseason defensive player of the year. Purdue returns defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, who led the league in sacks last year.

With better teams and marquee players, the Big Ten is poised to re-enter the national discussion. But it has one hurdle to climb, DiNardo said.

“I think the thing that would put it over the top right now is a national champion,” DiNardo said. “Until the Big Ten wins a national championship, it's always (going) to be the SEC.”