Purdue is down, Michigan is down some, Wisky is down, Michigan St is down, Rutgers is down, Minnesota is not near the team it was two years ago. No, the Big 10 is not what it was 2 and 3 years ago, but WE have not improved. We should have been at worst 9-3 this season, not 7-5. If we would have gone 9-3, I would say were trending up, but 7-5, with two wins against D2 teams, were actually level best a .500 team this seasonTraditionally weak programs are leveling up.
Illannoy has a decent coach. So does Rutgers. Indiana NOW has a future HOF coach. The league doesn't have a lot of weak links like they once did. And when a team does, he gets fired fairly quickly. Unless you're wisconsin.