Ohio State and here's why......
Two years ago, before NU was even a thought in Big Ten expansion, who did most college football fans think of when Big Ten football was mentioned?: Ohio State and Michigan..
.
Michigan: proud program on hard times, much like Nebraska was (or "is" for you downers). The Wolverines are a sleeping college football giant; if you believe Nebraska can return to the glory years you have to believe Michigan is capable of the same thing.
Ohio State: the Big Ten golden boy (2 years ago when current recruits were in their formative years). These guys were in the NC discussion, running over Michigan, they were Rose Bowl bound before the first snap of the season, these guys are the "Texas" of the Big Ten.
Fast forward two years. Nebraska is brand new to the Big Ten and looking for a statement that it can build upon. Would Nebraska be better off playing a "second tier" team in the inaugural championship game; or get right after it and play the "big boy". A NU vs. OSU championship game could be the beginning of a "NU vs. Oklahoma" type rivalry. If NU was able to pick a rivalry in the Big Ten, why not let that rival be the biggest and baddest mo fo on the block. As I mentioned earlier, current high school underclassmen know OSU as the powerhouse of the conference, what would they think of NU being the new AND BETTER show in town?
(disclaimer....I enjoy the people and state of Wisconsin very much!!!)
Wow. Ok, I don't post much but had to put my .02 cents in on this....
OSU is NOT the flip side of Texas in the Big 12 Unloaded. That would be Michigan. OSU would be more like Oklahoma. This is just my opinion, I'll explain.
Michigan way way back when we didn't really have CFB, we still had a rough sort of rugby, had a coach who actually re-made the rules that we now use in what we refer to as College Football. Before the big rivalry between Michigan and the University of Chicago (I think it was)... yeah, before Notre Dame knew what a football was, these two teams kind of created our CFB. Michigan got to make up the rules, they wracked up an absolute BUTTLOAD of wins this way.... not unlike the way the Texas State Legislature, way back in like... 1908 got together and decided they needed ONE main school that the lion's share of the state's resources, money, prestige, and good recruits went to. I present to you, the University of Texas in Austin. This is also how UT wracked up a huge amount of wins. Compound that with Texas's back room dealings, stacking the deck, etc. A lot of pomp, a lot of ego, And still probably the most under preforming program in all of sports, for what they have working in their favor.....
And yes, if you're under 30 years old you probably think of OSU as the dominant program in the Big 10. They were from around 2001-02. But things are / were cyclic in college football. When I was growing up, Ohio State wasn't much, well, Michigan really wasn't either. Penn State was a powerhouse but they weren't in the Big 10 yet. Before my recollection, you had the 10 year war with Bo and Woody, etc etc.
All I'm saying is for folks who are wanting the beat or play the absolute best in the Big 10, and are talking about OSU (I do think they have the best defense in the Big 10 imho) I kind of think they are on the downward spiral with the stuff they were caught doing.... you know, Kind of like Oklahoma after blowing up the Huskers in the 80's, then Switzer got caught... and you have the Sooner 90's.
