Big Ten Bowl Record 1-5

Everyone knows the Big Ten is down this year. Any year that has Rich Rodriguez riding the Wolverines down into the ground, is going to be a down year for the conference. Still, I don't think that many people thought that the Big Ten would be 1-5 in bowl games with only OSU in the Fiesta Bowl left. Who is to blame for the atrocious bowl showing this year? I don't think you can blame the teams. The people to blame are Ohio State football fans.

Let's take a walk down What Should Have Been Lane. The Buckeyes have the lowest ranking of any at large team in a BCS game this year (10). They wouldn't have had a chance to get in if the PAC-10 hadn't righted itself. OSU would have been headed to the Capital One Bowl, instead of the Fiesta Bowl. Texas Tech had a legitimate gripe for not getting a BCS game (ranked 7), but only 2 teams per conference can get a BCS Bid (Texas, Oklahoma). Boise State was also ahead of OSU, but their weak schedule and Utah's outstanding season kept them from getting a bid. So why did OSU get a BCS game? Their fans. Plan and simple, Ohio State travels well, and Arizona is their home away from home. No other fan base (from those left to pick from) would have traveled as well and brought as much revenue as Buckeye Fans. In a season of economic downturn, the Fiesta Bowl Committee went with the sure thing; Buckeye fans spend money. This is where the Big Ten's road to 1-5 in Bowl Games begins, not recruiting, coaching, or anywhere else.

Here are what the Bowl Projections would have been if Ohio State had played in the Capital One Bowl instead of the Fiesta Bowl:
Penn State vs USC
Ok this one wouldn't have changed at all Big Ten 0-1

Ohio State vs Georgia
Nothing against the Bulldogs, but the Buckeyes win this one easily Big Ten 1-1

Michigan State vs. South Carolina
MSU rolls the Gamecocks just like Iowa did. Big 10 2-1

Iowa vs. Missouri
This would be a good game, but Iowa's defense and run game prevails. Big Ten 3-1

Northwestern vs Kansas
Northwestern almost beat Missouri, so they would likely beat Kansas as well. Big Ten 4-1

Minnesota vs Florida State
Minnesota is just awful. Big 10 4-2

Wisconsin vs ???
Wisconsin shouldn't even be in a bowl this year. So whoever they played, they would likely lose. This team just lost its Spirit. Big Ten 4-2 or 4-3



So the Ohio State fans are playing a big part in the Big 10 getting no respect. It's not because of the things they are saying, it's because of the money they are willing to spend. 4 and 2 or 4 and 3 in bowl games for a conference isn't amazing, but it is respectable, and it would also put them around the same winning percentage this bowl season as the rest of the major conferences. If only bowl match-ups were decided by the teams on the field and not the fans in the stands