Big Ten reality check, Mark Dantonio returns to Michigan State and Kirk Ferentz praises Denard Robinson
After the college football season’s first month, the Big Ten Conference has six teams ranked in the nation’s Top 25 and six unbeaten teams. It is the only conference with five 4-0 teams.
“This may be the best the Big Ten has been, collectively, in a long, long time,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Tuesday.
That’s the good news for the conference.
But here’s a reality check as the Big Ten prepares to open its 115th season this weekend: Not much was accomplished during the nonconference portion of the schedule. Big Ten teams went 1-3 against opponents currently ranked in the AP Top 25 poll.
Ohio State running back Dan Herron (1) picks up 17 yards in the fourth quarter of a game against Miami (Fla.). The Buckeyes' 36-24 win is the Big Ten Conference's only victory over a top 25-ranked opponent.
Associated Press
Only No. 2 Ohio State notched a win against a ranked opponent, beating No. 16 Miami (Fla.) 36-24.
The conference fell in three other key games: Arizona beat Iowa, Alabama pummeled Penn State and USC beat Minnesota.
Given that Toledo upset Purdue last week, South Dakota beat Minnesota and Northwestern needed officiating kindness to hang on against Vanderbilt earlier this season, there’s plenty to be proven.
“I’m going to ruin the party here, but I don’t think we know a lot about anything,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “It’s not even October yet.”
It’s been less than a year since Big Ten teams beat the No. 7, No. 9, No. 12 and No. 15 teams in the BCS standings in bowl games, and the feel-good vibe from that performance still lingers, and rightfully so.
Starting Saturday, the Big Ten will start to show whether it’s ready to build on that record.
LATE ADDITION
It doesn’t count this year, but had Nebraska been added to the conference in 2010, the Big Ten would have seven unbeaten teams, seven in the Top 25 and six 4-0 teams.
In fact, the No. 6 Cornhuskers would be the second-highest ranked team in the conference, only behind No. 2 Ohio State.
ACCOLADES FOR DENARD ROBINSON
It will be three more weeks before Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz sees Denard Robinson play in person, but he’s already impressed by the Michigan sophomore quarterback.
“It’s amazing, remarkable,” Ferentz said of Robinson’s emergence. “The first thought I had was to my early years here, trying to prepare for a guy like Antwaan Randle El, and it appears like this quarterback is off to a same kind of start.”
Randle El, an Indiana quarterback from 1998 to 2001, became the first player in college football history to record 2,500 yards of total offense for four consecutive seasons.
MARK DANTONIO RETURNS TO SPARTANS
Mark Dantonio’s absence from the Michigan State football team lasted all of one game.
After resting while Don Treadwell coached the Spartans to a 45-7 victory over Northern Colorado last Saturday, he said he’ll coach from the press box this Saturday when No. 24 Michigan State faces No. 9 Wisconsin.
“I feel very good,” said Dantonio, who suffered a mild heart attack following a 34-31 win over Notre Dame on Sept. 19. “I’ll ease back into this just like any injured player would. I guess you’d say I’m day to day.”
(The Grand Rapids Press has more on Dantonio's return.)
Pete Bigelow can be reached at (734) 623-2556, via email at petebigelow@annarbor.com or followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
azwolverine
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 7:12 p.m.
I agree with Ferentz that no one really knows much of anything about the B-10 right now. I personally would argue that the Pac-10 is the best conference based on Oregon and Stanford's dominance at the top, Arizona beating Iowa, UCLA beating Houston and blowing out Texas on the road (Stanford's 35-0 thrashing of UCLA looks fantastic right now), and ASU hanging with Wisconsin on the road. That doesn't even include USC who, even though they are down, are still 4-0 and have the talent to beat most teams in the country. Certainly considering the B-10's troubles against the Pac-10 this season and with PSU apparently being down, it would be hard to argue that the B-10 is better than them.
rensational
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 2:21 a.m.
I meant to say every team in every conference plays one semi-decent team non-conference.
rensational
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 2:19 a.m.
I agree re: "how does RR know." The way it was phrased in my mind is "what does RR know about the Big Ten?" Um...as far as "playing" teams in the preseason...with some of our teams, I don't think it was for lack of trying. Michigan almost always schedules a team that is supposed to be semi-decent (Conn) and Notre Dame, which is supposed to be way more than semi-decent. Ohio State did play Miami and beat them. Minnesota played USC. Wisconsin played Arizona State, which looks like a top 5 Pac-10 team to me. Iowa played Arizona, and Penn State played Alabama. This non-conference scheduling was better than 2009, and, come on, every conference goes and plays maybe one semi-decent team out of the 3-4 non-conference games they have. I don't understand all the picking on the Big Ten in Week 4 for it. Sure, we all had "easy" games scheduled at the same time, but if the week before conference play starts isn't the absolute best time to schedule "cupcakes," then I don't know when is. It was brilliant scheduling, in my opinion. As for Dantonio, I, personally, don't think he should be coming back this soon. I knew he would be out there for the Michigan game, though.
HailToASquared
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 1:26 a.m.
Heartbreak, let me guess... you're one of the Rich Rodriguez haters? Come the **** on.. he's been a head coach in college football for a couple decades now. He has a better idea than ANY fan, and just as good an idea as any coach who didn't coach in the big ten... when it comes to knowing how good or bad the big ten has been in years past. Sorry, but that was a lame ass comment.. looks like you were just looking to jab at Rodriguez more than anything. It's not that hard to know how good or not good a conference is/was... especially when you are a HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
heartbreakM
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 10:45 p.m.
Not to nitpick too much, but how in the world does RR know that this is the 'best that B10 has been in a long time'? He has not been in the conference for long, and probably has not paid too much attention to it. And if the conference was that bad the last 2 years, what does that say about his poor record? Furthermore, who has the B10 even played in the preseason? Out of 44 games, only 4 or so were against ranked teams!! Last weekend was a good example of 'dumbing down' of schedule. Look at UCLA as a team looking at a challenge (Houston, Texas) and Stanford (ND, Wake Forest). I think the pac-10 most years plays the most challenging out of conference schedules, while at least this year, the B10 really shied away. I think every B10 team played a FCS team! No wonder they 'look good'.
Metalc0reJ
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 7:40 p.m.
Can't wait until the Cornhuskers join the conference. Going to be fun having them come to the Big House or us going to their field every year. Especially since they're so good right now, and hopefully Michigan is heading that direction as well. College football is better when Nebraska and Michigan are good, but it is even better when both teams are good and playing each other every year! Taylor Martinez and Denard Robinson will get to face off a couple times.