Preliminary numbers

HuskerfaninOkieland

Heisman Trophy Winner
I've been tired of hearing fans from other Big 12 teams saying the Big 10 is a weaker conference and how Nebraska can't compete in the Big 12, so we're taking our ball and going somewhere else. So I decided to do some quick research to see how these conferences stack up against each other. My initial idea was to put together each conferences Top 5/15 and 25 finishes going back to 1996 (which I did). Then knowing some jack-nut would say "Welll...our conference played a tougher schedule" I thought I would gather data on SOS for each conference going back to 1999 (because that's as far as the NCAA Stats page would show me). But I didn't. Nor I did I research Conference Bowl records, BCS appearances/wins, etc. So if someone else wants to do that, go for it. Otherwise it'll take me some more time to compile that info. Nonetheless, here is what I have so far. Remember, this is from 1996-2009

Big 12

Top 5 Finishes: 13

Top 15 Finishes: 37

Top 25 Finishes: 56

Big 10

Top 5 Finishes: 12

Top 15 Finishes: 37

Top 25 Finishes: 58

Take it FWIW

 
BCS wins (from Wikipedia)

http://en.wikipedia....pionship_Series

PAC-10 is 8-5 - 5 wins by USC.

 

Big Ten

Appearances At-large bids W L Pct

21 9 10-11 .476

7 Schools

Ohio State (5-3)

Michigan (1-3)

Wisconsin (2-0)

Penn State (1-1)

Illinois (0-2)

Iowa (1-1)

Purdue (0-1)

 

SEC

19 7 14-5 .737

6 Schools

Florida (5-1)

LSU (4-0)

Georgia (2-1)

Alabama (1-2)

Tennessee (1-1)

Auburn (1-0)

 

Big 12

17 5 7-10 .438

7 Schools

Oklahoma (2-5)

Texas (3-1)

Nebraska (1-1)

Kansas (1-0)

Colorado (0-1)

Kansas State (0-1)

Texas A&M (0-1)​


 
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The Big 10 has had some high profile losses in BCS (and "big") games lately. That's really where all such talk came from. It doesn't mean sh#t, because if you want to win the Big 10, you've still got to beat at least one top program. And our position in the Big 10 will probably make it harder to consistently have a shot at a BCS bowl game rather than easier. So yeah, it's all a load of sh#t.

 
The Big Ten has gotten more at large bids to BCS bowls than any other conference since the start of the BCS

Take it for what it's worth, a product of no Championship game, or whatever

In the end the Big XII has exactly one more National Championship than the Big Ten in that time

And no conference has had any success against the SEC in the last several years so who can down grade the Big Ten for that

 
Also keep in mind these things when you talk about the Big10 and their bowl games.

We have consistently played USC in Pasadena, LSU in New Orleans, Florida in Orlando.

Also #2 Big10 teams have played #1 teams in other conferences and it goes down the line.

Remember in 2008, Ohio State was just one broken tackle away from winning the game against Texas.

Now take into account last season.

Ohio State dismantled the unstoppable Oregon Offense (at least everyone else called it unstoppable)

Iowa destroyed Georgia Tech (at least in terms of yardage and first downs)

Penn State beat LSU

Wisconsin beat Miami

Even our mediocre teams kept it close against their games.

Remember Michigan State was 6-6 when they played Texas Tech, Minnesota was 6-6 before playing Iowa State, and Northwestern had no business playing Auburn, yet they still took them to overtime and only lost because of incompetent kicking.

We had a very strong showing this past season.

Even our newest addition destroyed their opponent during last years bowl game.

 
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Ohio State dismantled the unstoppable Oregon Offense (at least everyone else called it unstoppable)

Iowa destroyed Georgia Tech (at least in terms of yardage and first downs)

Penn State beat LSU

Wisconsin beat Miami
If I remember correctly, I think I called the Ohio State win, but I think I got the other three wrong. If that's not right, I think I got all four wrong.

The Big 10 really showed up well in the Bowl Games. I was impressed.

 
Ohio State dismantled the unstoppable Oregon Offense (at least everyone else called it unstoppable)

Iowa destroyed Georgia Tech (at least in terms of yardage and first downs)

Penn State beat LSU

Wisconsin beat Miami
If I remember correctly, I think I called the Ohio State win, but I think I got the other three wrong. If that's not right, I think I got all four wrong.

The Big 10 really showed up well in the Bowl Games. I was impressed.
GT played like crap...i remember their halfback running backward and almost get safteyed-made that up-lost like 20 yards on one play :facepalm:

 
Quite frankly, Illinois had no business being in BCS games. Furthermore, 5 of those losses came against the USC goliath driven by NCAA violations and inappropriate conduct.

I do, however, enjoy the fact that Notre Dame is 0-3 in BCS bowl games. The only 3+ game player with a worse record than Oklahoma and Florida State.

 
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The Big 10 is .500 against the SEC in all Bowl games in the BSC era and usually these games are in the SEC team's back yard. Also, the fact that the Big 10 has gotten at large BSC births in many years, it means a lower seed Big 10 team is playing in a higher level bowl than if only one Big 10 team received a BSC invite.

 
I'll miss playing OU and Texas, that's for sure. We have one hell of a score to settle with Texas. One victory won't do it. I hope we beat them twice this year and play them sometime in the future. We have to make up six games? They dominated us in the Big 12, and it's almost always been real close.

 
Also, the SEC has gotten some very favorable match ups in BSC games over the years. See UGA vs Hawaii and LSU vs Notre Dame, Florida vs Cincinnati, Utah vs Alabama, WVU vs UGA. All these games played in Sugar Bowl.

On the other hand Big 10 has had to get match ups like IL vs USC (Rose Bowl), Mich vs USC (Rose Bowl), OSU vs Texas (Fiesta)

 
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