It’s traditional.
The most important game in the 2004 Big Ten Conference football season is Nov. 20, when defending champion Michigan visits Ohio State in their annual game to end all games.
Or is it?
The Michigan-Ohio State game might decide the conference championship and a spot in the Rose Bowl–unless the BCS standings mess up college football’s oldest bowl game. At least the series has a history to back it up–the Wolverines defeated Ohio State 35-21 last season to win the title.
Still, was that game more important than Michigan’s come-from-behind 38-35 thriller over Minnesota, the week after a painful 30-27 loss to Iowa? Was Ohio State’s win over Michigan more important to its 2002 national championship than its fourth-quarter win on the road over Purdue?
In truth, the Big Ten is competitive enough that any number of games can turn out to be the most important of the year. The Associated Press Top 25 poll has six Big Ten teams rated, including Michigan at No. 8 and Ohio State at No. 9. Iowa, which has finished No. 8 in the AP poll the past two seasons, was No. 19, followed by Wisconsin at No. 21, Purdue at No. 24 and Minnesota at No. 25.
“There isn’t a game in the conference you can’t lose,” Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. “The level of competition right now is wonderful. It has been 27 years now that I’ve been coaching in this conference, and it’s always been tough, but I don’t think it ever has been as balanced as it is today.”
That competitive level is likely to keep a Big Ten team from reaching the BCS Championship Game. Five of the last six Big Ten champions have had at least one conference loss; both Ohio State and Iowa were unbeaten in 2002.
“From the looks of it, it looks like there will be a lot of good football teams in our league,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “You’re looking at a pretty clear two at the top and maybe one or two at the bottom and everyone else in between. We’re all not that far from each other. Over the course of the season, so many things can happen–breaks, injuries–that make the season exciting.”
Michigan, despite replacing Silver Football-winning tailback Chris Perry and four-year starting quarterback John Navarre, is the favorite. The Wolverines, with an unmatched receiving trio in Braylon Edwards, Steve Breaston and Jason Avant, have seven returning offensive starters and six defensive starters. Presumed starting quarterback Matt Gutierrez, or Clayton Richard, will have a strong team behind him.
“We don’t want all the pressure put on those guys, ” said Carr, whose team lost to USC 28-14 in the Rose Bowl. “No matter who the quarterback is, he’ll have a much more experienced team than John Navarre had his first year.”
Ohio State, Iowa and Minnesota ended last season with bowl victories. Ohio State, which is replacing quarterback Craig Krenzel, defeated Kansas State 35-28 in the Fiesta Bowl while Iowa defeat Florida 37-17 in the Outback Bowl and Minnesota defeated Oregon 31-30 in the Sun Bowl. All three are hoping to be busy on the field on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl.
Wisconsin has nine offensive starters returning, including tailback Anthony Davis, and eight defensive starters. The Badgers have been an uncharacteristic 9-15 the last three seasons in conference play and lost to Auburn in the Music City Bowl in December.
Purdue returns quarterback Kyle Orton and receiver Taylor Stubblefield from a team that lost to Georgia in overtime in the Capital One Bowl. The Boilermakers are overhauling their defense and will have eight new starters.
Northwestern finished with a 6-7 record but made it to the Motor City Bowl, losing to Bowling Green 28-24. Quarterback Brett Basanez has a veteran line, and the Wildcats could surprise.
Michigan State will miss quarterback Jeff Smoker, now in the NFL. Drew Stanton was thought to be his successor but is doubtful to open the season because of a knee injury.
Penn State and Illinois both have starting quarterbacks returning. Both teams need to improve in all areas to achieve their goals of making a bowl game. Indiana will improve.
Ohio State-Michigan traditionally has been the marquee game on the Big Ten schedule. But even the participants realize it’s more than a one-game season.
“The Big Ten schedule is hard,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. “I don’t care what order you play them–night or day, 3:30 or noon, it doesn’t matter. You better be ready to play in the Big Ten. We play four at home and four away just like everybody else. Our home schedule is brutal, and so is our away schedule.”
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BIG 10 BIGGIES
Several games that could be “the most important game of the season,” starting with the opening weekend of Sept. 25:
Iowa at Michigan, Sept. 25. The Hawkeyes will be looking for an unprecedented third straight victory over the Wolverines.
Minnesota at Michigan, Oct. 9. This was the one that got away from the Gophers. If Minnesota had won last year, who knows who would have gone to Pasadena?
Wisconsin at Ohio State, Oct. 9. A tough loss in Madison last year for the Buckeyes. Badgers have won three of the last five against OSU.
Ohio State at Iowa, Oct. 16. The Michigan game might not mean much if Ohio State can’t win here. Buckeyes have won eight straight against Iowa.
Minnesota at Wisconsin, Nov. 6. These two schools have played 113 times, the most of any two schools in Division I.
Iowa at Minnesota, Nov. 13. The Gophers still are smarting from 2002, when Iowa’s fans tore down the goal posts at the Metrodome.
Wisconsin at Iowa, Nov. 20. Who knows? This may beat out Michigan-Ohio State as the game of the day.
