Lifelong Big Ten fan and follower here....hope this does not come off as being an apologist for the conference, but here goes.
The league is down this year. But, one reason why people have been dumping on it so much from a national media and casual fan perspective is that people have not realized how good this Illinois team is.
Can you blame them for being slow to see this? no, as the Illini have had eight total wins the last four seasons combined coming into this game.
Nevertheless, they are the clear #3 in this league having beaten PSU, Wisco and now OSU. Not to mention sticking with missou 'till the very end on opening day. The Illini have not really been given their due as legit team in the league, while teams like PSU, Wisco and Iowa were. As those teams underachieved, folks say so has the Big 10. To be fair, the league has underachieved, but its not as weak as people say because Illini has over achieved. If they are looked at as a legit team in the Big 10, all of sudden people look at the conference differently.
Probably rambling here....and I still put the Big 10 as a distant 4th behind SEC, Pac 10 and Big 12 in league pecking order.....but because of Illinois rise, this league is not as down as people say......still am shocked that my Wolverines went into Illinois and got a win......Juice will probably own the field at the Big House next fall when they play.
Maybe people still doubt them, but they wont after they beat Georgia or Tennessee on New Year's morning......or, maybe Florida
Wouldn't that be an interesting storyline?!?!
