The Year of the Big 10

That's right, it is the year of the Big 10. Tonight's Orange Bowl between Georgia Tech and Iowa marked the last game of the season for any Big 10 team. Much like their fellow Big 10 BCSers Ohio State, the Hawkeyes took care of business and gave the conference a stunning (if not miraculous or amazing) 2-0 record for the 2009-2010 in BCS bowl games. Last year, the conference went 0-2 with OSU and Penn State getting owned. The year before that? Much more embarrassing as both losses in BCS games were blow-outs. Before that, after the 2006 season? That's right also 0-2. So this 2-0 performance should be celebrated throughout the Midwest as the conference has finally restored but of its torn reputation. However, the BCS wins are only part of the story.

The conference obviously had some other bowl games right? Well, yeah. Here is how it did in those: 2-3. Yes, it's a losing record, but let's consider some factors about those three losses. Minnesota lost by a mere point to Iowa State, so obviously that game could have gone either way. Northwestern lost in a bowl game played in the South against an SEC team. Furthermore, if it wasn't for a trick play, they could have tied the game up in OT and perhaps win it. The last loss came in the state of Texas against Texas Tech, a team that was playing with lots of emotion. There you go, three really close losses that could have gone either way. Also, it used to be where the Big 10 would get blown out and flat out embarrassed, so this is clearly a huge improvement.
Overall, the conference went 4-3 which is not great but quite good. It definitely beats the Pac 10's amazing 2-5 record. The Big 10 has played two tough BCS games and came out on top, twice. Only one other conference has a chance to do that this year and that is the SEC. But remember, Florida's win came in New Orleans which is not too far from Gainsville. Anyone want to compare that to the distance from Columbus to Pasadena or Iowa City to Miami?