Final B1G Bowl Record: 5-5

Submitted by FrankMurphy on
Wins

Nebraska 37, UCLA 29

Minnesota 21, Central Michigan 14

Wisconsin 23, USC 21

Ohio State 44, Notre Dame 28

Michigan 41, Florida 7


Losses

Indiana 41, Duke 44 (OT)

Michigan State 0, Alabama 38

Iowa 16, Stanford 45

Northwestern 6, Tennessee 45

Penn State 17, Georgia 24
MGoBoard

stephenrjking

January 2nd, 2016 at 8:49 PM ^

I don't know if he's garbage, but this coming season is make-or-break. The program is starting to get that circle-the-drain look that we remember from the Hoke decline and that places like Texas have become accustomed to. And the division is murder right now. Urban isn't slowing down, Harbaugh has us thinking playoff, and Dantonio keeps fielding winners despite losing "indispensable" players every year. Perpetually fourth in their own division is a death sentence for a coach at that kind of program. They probably won't do much better than that next year, but Franklin has to show serious growth.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143974

gwkrlghl

January 2nd, 2016 at 11:54 PM ^

Their division mates all armed themselves for a full on playoff battle and PSU got themselves screwed with sanctions and then hired James Franklin. They're in a bad spot. Almost guaranteed 3 losses in their own division each year. They got inject some life into that program soon or they'll become a perpetual 7-8 win program

Joined: 04/13/2012

MGoPoints: 72

SpikeFan2016

January 2nd, 2016 at 9:54 PM ^

Overall, I view this as an okay big ten bowl season

 

I would say we had four impressive wins:

  • Michigan over Florida-Obviously Florida is not as good as their record indicates, but they are still solid (especially on defense) and beating an SEC division champion by a margin of THIRTY-FOUR POINTS in their home state is highly impressive. I expected Michigan to win. I did not expect Michigan to absolutely slaughter Florida.
  • Ohio State over Notre Dame- Give credit to the Buckeyes; winning a New Year's Six Bowl by a comfortable margin (ND never truly threatened them) against a top tenish team is always a quality win.
  • Wisconsin over USC-The fact that a team that came in third in the Big Ten West defeated the PAC 12 South Champion in their home state, 2 hours from campus, is pretty impressive.
  • Nebraska over UCLA-5-7 Big Ten team defeating 8-4 PAC 12 team on the West Coast  will always be a boost for our conference. 

Three games in which we "held serve" (I mean this as the result neither boosted or diminished the conference's reputation, two of these are losses, one a win). 

  • Minnesota over Central Michigan-nothing impressive about this, but not a negative either.
  • Indiana losing to Duke-Yeah, this was really disappointing because they gave away the game (and there was officiating questions), but it was an incredibly close overtime game that could've gone either way. Obviously not a boost to the conference, but not embarassing either. 
  • Penn State losing to Georgia: Again, would've loved a win, but a 7-5 Big Ten team is never expected to beat a 9-3 SEC team. They made it a one score game and never gave up. 

Three utter catastrophes (obvious): 

  • Michigan State
  • Iowa
  • Northwestern

 

5-5 is not bad. The problem was our three bad losses were REALLY BAD, but otherwise not a terrible season. Not great. But not terrible. Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska really impressed above expectations and Buckeyes showed they were as good as we all thought in a big time game. 

Joined: 04/03/2015

MGoPoints: 6659

Avon Barksdale

January 2nd, 2016 at 7:16 PM ^

Really thought IU would beat Duke and Penn State would beat UGA. Then again, I didn't think Nebraska would beat UCLA. The dismantling of Northwestern and MSU definitely hurt the perception of the league.

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 12859

g_reaper3

January 3rd, 2016 at 9:49 AM ^

I looked it up and they got blown out in 1990 (last appearance) and a couple times in the 80s. They did win it in 1959 during the Eisenhower administration. I never really realized how bad Iowa is, they always seem like a tough opponent. But they really haven't won anything.

Joined: 10/03/2010

MGoPoints: 2654

snarling wolverine

January 2nd, 2016 at 8:27 PM ^

Really, aside from their mysterious game against OSU - when zombies appeared to consume Urban Meyer's brain - MSU never looked very good this season.  They barely beat Purdue and Rutgers.  We had them beat back when we still couldn't complete downfield passes.  

Michigan with the late-season version of Rudock would have won that game by two TDs.

 

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 98374

Muttley

January 3rd, 2016 at 12:30 AM ^

Through three quarters, while it was still a game, MSU contained the Alabama rushing game quite well.  Bama's full game rushing stat totalled 154 yds on 35 carries (4.4 avg), but through three quarters in non-garbage time, the TIde mananged only 62 yards on 25 carries (2.5 avg).

Now why Meyer let JT Barrett keep it 15 times, limiting his best home run hitter (Elliot) to only 12 carries is beyond me.

Joined: 07/07/2009

MGoPoints: -73245

alum96

January 2nd, 2016 at 7:29 PM ^

Jim Mora is quickly moving up the ranks in the "doing less with more" coaching fraternity.  Yes a freshman QB and a devastating injury on defense early but that should not be a 5 loss team that loses to Nebraska.   Many had UCLA pegged for the playoffs if Rosen could be servicable.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82526

Wolverine Devotee

January 2nd, 2016 at 7:19 PM ^

Michigan won. All that matters.

Everyone else can go to hell. They would never root for us. Eye for an eye. 

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

Optimism Attache

January 2nd, 2016 at 7:34 PM ^

I think our non-rival conference colleagues don't necessarily have a problem rooting for us in the post-season contests. And why should I NOT root for Indiana against a team I don't give a shit about?

Nice invokation of Hammurabi's Code though.

Joined: 09/13/2011

MGoPoints: 23980

Niels

January 2nd, 2016 at 7:21 PM ^

So much depends on the relative strength of their opponents compared to other conferences, how many teams go to bowls, etc, which varies a lot. I wish someone would come up with a better stat than simply W-L

Joined: 09/04/2009

MGoPoints: 3430

DoubleB

January 2nd, 2016 at 8:10 PM ^

about defense anything can happen--you can light up Michigan and  Ohio State and you can lose to Duke.

Just ask the Big XII which just looks S-O-F-T. Nobody wants to hit anyone in that league. And it shows in bowl season. And I hope it hurts them next year when they start clamoring that their one-loss team should be in the playoff. 

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 7470