What the Big 10 Must Do to Overcome SEC

[TheCheshireCat]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/420774-what-the-new-big-ten-must-do-to-challenge-the-sec-for-football-supremacy

 

For four seasons, the SEC has been the undisputed king of college football, with four straight national titles finding their way south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

 

And while Alabama is favored to win the next national champion, the SEC's run at college football dominance could face a new challenge beginning in 2011.

 

In 2011 Nebraska will join the Big 10 and adds a great team to a conference that many feel is already the second best conference in college football.

 

And the bowl season in 2009 showed that the Big 10 was already on its way back, with Iowa and Ohio State winning their BCS bowl games, and Penn State upsetting LSU, albeit on one of the worst playing surfaces we have ever seen.

 

The final step in that comeback process will be if either Ohio State can overcome their 0-fer record against the SEC under coach Jim Tressel to win the national championship or Iowa can recreate the magic in 2009 and take the final step in Glendale.

 

Of course, they will have to go through either Alabama or Florida most likely to win a national championship, and both teams have question marks.

 

Can Alabama deal with the pressure of being the defending national champion, and can they overcome a nightmare schedule with six opponents coming off bye weeks?

 

Can Florida overcome the loss of Tim Tebow and repair a defense losing Brandon Spikes and Joe Haden, among others?

 

But there is no doubt that the road to the national title goes through the SEC.

 

And there is a growing question as to whether or not the Big 10 is ready to challenge the SEC for college supremacy after looking so feeble over the past few years, thanks in large part to USC.

 

Between these two conferences, including Nebraska, the two conferences combine to have half of the projected top 10 teams in the country, according to most early predictions.

 

But these conferences have so many differences between them.

 

The SEC is typically the more flashy league, with great offenses and some of the best athletes in the country.

 

The Big 10 is more simplistic, where the best teams rely on physical defenses and the old-school running game.

 

But what the new Big 10 has done a better job of lately is getting SEC-caliber talent to come up north, especially at Ohio State, to add some speed to the power game.

 

However, what is similar between the two is that these conferences share a tremendous passion for their teams, and an undying loyalty to their own colors.

 

That is probably why this rivalry between the conferences is good for college football.

 

And while the Big 10 might not be on the SEC's radar just yet, the timing might be ripe for them to make a big stride to get to that level as soon as this season.

 

But several things have to happen for the Big 10 to be a major threat to the SEC:

 

 

 

1. Ohio State must beat an SEC team and/or win the 2011 BCS National Championship Game in Glendale.

 

2. Nebraska has to live up to the hype of their past season and become an elite team in the conference, like Ohio State, Iowa, and Penn State have been in recent years.

 

3. Michigan must become relevant again.

 

 

 

All three of those things happening is entirely possible, whether it be now or somewhere down the road.

 

But all eyes in the college football world should be centered around the midwest and southeast this year.

 

Some of the best football of the year will play itself out in these parts of the country. And the chances are high that any combination of Iowa, Ohio State, Alabama, and Florida will meet for the national title this year.

 

None of these teams are clearly better than the others because they all have major question marks.

 

But should the new Big 10 capture a title and capturing multiple BCS wins, with Nebraska still in the Big 12 this season, the expectations heading into 2011 with 12 teams and a conference championship game at a site TBD could be massive.

 

And that is what the Big 10 needs to do if they want to come into 2011 challenging the SEC as the best conference in college.

 

The potential to do so is there, but the results in 2010 will weigh heavily into how this new Big 10 might shake down in 2011.

 

The Big 10, even with Nebraska, is not at the level of the SEC quite yet.

 

If they want to be there, it will take a great 2010 from the top programs, including the Huskers, to get to their level and raise the question of who is truly better.

 

But to do so, it will take a national championship from either Ohio State, Nebraska, or Iowa for this to happen.

 

There is simply no other way around it, because someone is always better than you until you beat them at what they do best.

 

In the case of the SEC, that is winning national championships.

[husker B-rent]

the SEC is just the latest conference to have the "best" conference tag, it will come around to another conference before long. of that imma sure.

 

p.s. Nebraska is gonna win it all this season.

[bleedNUred]

Agree with the article, and I too believe Ohio State will win a BCS game, Nebraska will make great strides maybe get into a BCS or title game, and that Michigan will become relevant in the next year or so.

[corncraze]

Please tell me u knocked on wood!!!!!!

[bshirt]

Agree with the article, and I too believe Ohio State will win a BCS game, Nebraska will make great strides maybe get into a BCS or title game, and that Michigan will become relevant in the next year or so.

 

I doubt Michigan turns it around real quick but Ohio St, NU, PSU, Wisconsin & Iowa is a tough load.

[deedsker15]

Agree with the article, and I too believe Ohio State will win a BCS game, Nebraska will make great strides maybe get into a BCS or title game, and that Michigan will become relevant in the next year or so.

 

I doubt Michigan turns it around real quick but Ohio St, NU, PSU, Wisconsin & Iowa is a tough load.

not to mention michigan state isn't a sluff either

[HuskerBill85]

the SEC is just the latest conference to have the "best" conference tag, it will come around to another conference before long. of that imma sure.

 

p.s. Nebraska is gonna win it all this season.

 

 

Nebraska is going to win the Championship?

[Scratchtown]

my money is on Ohio State this season. Bama vs Penn St will tell the story on how well bama should be this season.

[husker B-rent]

the SEC is just the latest conference to have the "best" conference tag, it will come around to another conference before long. of that imma sure.

 

p.s. Nebraska is gonna win it all this season.

 

 

Nebraska is going to win the Championship?

 

yes.

[Coqui]

2009

 

Outback: Auburn 38, Northwestern 35 OT

Capital One: Penn St. 19, LSU 17

 

2008

 

Outback: IOWA 31, South Carolina 10

Capital One: Georgia 24, MICHIGAN STATE 12

 

2007

 

Outback: Tennessee 21, Wisconsin 17

Capital One: Michigan 45, Florida 31

BCS: LSU 38, Ohio State 24

 

2006

 

Outback: Penn State 20, Tennessee 10

Capital One: Wisconsin 17, Arkansas 14

BCS:Florida 41, Ohio State 14

 

 

 

I didn't realize we had to overcome them as a whole conference. Looks to me like we've had no issues being considered equals to them. Just their top team was better than our top team.

[junior4949]

Call me a skeptic, but the NC game last year wasn't even played in a bowl game. It was played in the SEC Championship game. I'm not sure any other conference taking their best team could have beatean the top two SEC teams. If I had to bet on which conference could take away the top spot from the SEC, I'd place my bet on the ACC or Big 12 before ever putting money on the Big 10 if there's no more alignments. For 2011, I'd say Ohio State has the best chance to beat a SEC team in the title game. However, I wouldn't put any money on them.

[deedsker15]

i think the sec has a perfect storm again this year of everyone getting 1 or 2 losses...i may be wrong, but i think it will happen

[Husker from Kansas]

Call me a skeptic, but the NC game last year wasn't even played in a bowl game. It was played in the SEC Championship game. I'm not sure any other conference taking their best team could have beatean the top two SEC teams. If I had to bet on which conference could take away the top spot from the SEC, I'd place my bet on the ACC or Big 12 before ever putting money on the Big 10 if there's no more alignments. For 2011, I'd say Ohio State has the best chance to beat a SEC team in the title game. However, I wouldn't put any money on them.

 

idk about that, imo the only 2 teams after this season that will be able to make a serious title run will be texas or oklahoma, and the big ten is going to have 3 or more teams that have a shot. i think the big 12 will be a 2 team conference at best every year, and if recent history is a sign ou will choke in their bcs game

[MichiganMan]

just win more bowl games.

 

edit alot of people forget that Michigan is 20-5-1 against SEC teams.

[Manhattan]

just win more bowl games.

 

edit alot of people forget that Michigan is 20-5-1 against SEC teams.

 

Which is much better than Ohio State's 7-10-2.