Dennis Dodd: Ohio State is great, but lousy Big Ten is ruining its BCS dreams

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BleedGopher

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per Dodd:

Ohio State's national championship run needs help. But first Ohio State needs a conference that is worthy of it.

You probably haven't noticed: A Big Ten flagship is ranked fourth, has won 20 in a row and you'd think it was playing in Conference USA. That's because it sure doesn't seem like Ohio State is actually playing in the Big Ten. Not the one you and I grew up watching.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...t-but-lousy-big-ten-is-ruining-its-bcs-dreams

Go Gophers!!
 

No mention of the fact that one of the biggest brand names in college football decided to schedule something called Florida A&M? I would think that at least deserves some mention considering Dodd's discussion is about being worthy of playing for a national championship (and being compared vs. other potential undefeated teams).
 

I think OSU is clearly 4th in the Alabama, Florida St, Oregon, tOSU order. That doesn't mean the others will all go undefeated, but I'd take any of those first three over Ohio St. And in the end this year, I think Florida St may very well be the best team.
 

This would have been a great year for the playoff system to have kicked off. If this was the season end top 4, what a great lineup!
 

The writer acts like none of this is Ohio St.'s fault. First of all, they would have played in the National Championship last year if they didn't get in trouble. And they haven't done themselves any justice by scheduling terrible non conference games, as already mentioned.
 


Dodd. Consistently the worst sports writer in America.
 

SelectionSunday said:
No mention of the fact that one of the biggest brand names in college football decided to schedule something called Florida A&M? I would think that at least deserves some mention considering Dodd's discussion is about being worthy of playing for a national championship (and being compared vs. other potential undefeated teams).
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Hey now.....don't be making fun of the Rattlers. They were my favorite team in College Football USA 97' for the Sega Genesis.
 

I have said it before and Dennis didn't read it. The OSU, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Penn State need to step up their non conference schedules. Play neutral site or away games against regional powers. But most of all if you are representing the Big 10 in a Bowl Game you must win to bring the value of the Big 10 back up. Wisconsin has failed on the biggest stage. The decision to use Legends and Leaders was hair brained. Delaney should include in his 9 game schedule that if you want to make the final 4, you must play at least one power school in the non conference. No directional Michigan Schools. The only A&M is Texas. If you want to schedule Tech, its Virginia or Texas. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Come on Ohio State, if you want to play for the National Title, go to LSU or Tallahassee or Tuscaloosa for the non conference. Invite Oregon, Miami, or Northern Illinois in to Columbus. Until Those screaming for respect, and take steps to earn it they don't even deserve any comment from Dodd.
 

GophersInIowa said:
The writer acts like none of this is Ohio St.'s fault. First of all, they would have played in the National Championship last year if they didn't get in trouble. And they haven't done themselves any justice by scheduling terrible non conference games, as already mentioned.
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California was ranked ninth in the preseason the year the series with Ohio State was announced.
 



Dodds ignores the fact that the tOSU was losing to NU (0-4 in conference) in the 4th quarter and tied with Iowa in the 4th quarter. They are the best but they are not head and shoulders above the rest.
 


Ohio State will need to start scheduling marquee programs in the non-conference in order to get past the drop off the Big Ten has taken. They'll need to do what Wisconsin and Michigan are doing. Games with Alabama and LSU. Cal may have been good when the series was scheduled, but they are not a helmet school.

EDIT: I see I'm only repeating previous posts. Carry on.
 

Maximus said:
California was ranked ninth in the preseason the year the series with Ohio State was announced.
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Yes, but they're not a team you'd expect to be in the top 15 just about every year.
 




practically every single FBS team plays an FCS team, 2 lower tier non BCS teams and one averagish BCS team from another conference on their non conference schedule so don't criticize OSU for scheduling Florida A&M, and non conference schedules are made years in advance, i don't think it is OSU's fault and its not their fault that the big ten is so bad this year
 

die hard gopher said:
practically every single FBS team plays an FCS team, 2 lower tier non BCS teams and one averagish BCS team from another conference on their non conference schedule so don't criticize OSU for scheduling Florida A&M, and non conference schedules are made years in advance, i don't think it is OSU's fault and its not their fault that the big ten is so bad this year
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Nope, it isn't their fault. All they can do is win every game and see where the chips lay. Fact is, though, strength of schedule may bite them in the rear. But I don't much care, because all 4 teams ahead of them are better and would stomp them. I really hope to see Florida St and Alabama for the title this year. Or maybe Bama loses and we get FSU v Oregon.
 

Speaking of FSU, i thought this comment was interesting.

Minnesota entered the season with the second youngest and most inexperienced quarterback corps in the nation. The Gophers were only one of two teams in the county that met the following criteria 1.) does not have a junior or senior on the roster and 2.) quarterbacks have combined to play fewer than 10 career games. Redshirt sophomore Dexter Foreman is the oldest quarterback on the roster, while sophomore Philip Nelson was the only quarterback to play last year. Prior to the season, Florida State had the youngest and most inexperienced group in the nation, as the
five underclassman Seminole quarterbacks had appeared in a combined four games.
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I don't understand how it isn't Ohio State's fault. They know how mediocre the Big Ten has been. It's Ohio State. If you want to play a great team, it isn't hard to find one to play you. Ask Wisconsin and Michigan how they got it done.
 

Not that I'm playing a violin for poor tOSU or anything, but Big 10 teams have generally absolutely failed to show up in big games against out of conference teams the last couple of years. Big Ten teams, not just Ohio State, are going to have a hard time breaking into #1 and #2 until the conference starts winning important out of conference games again. There's not a lot to be done about it. I think the fact that "Traditional Powers" Nebraska, Penn State, and Michigan are all perceived to be average at best hurts too. If the Buckeye fans want to blame someone, have them blame Michigan for looking like absolute garbage against UCONN and Akron. If Michigan stomps those teams like they ought to have, maybe suddenly "The Game" becomes a win that could move them up a spot. As it stands, there isn't a win in conference play this year that would be considered a "good win" for the Buckeyes. The playoff should help a bit, but maybe we need some new "Traditional Powers", eh?
 

afurry91 said:
Ohio State will need to start scheduling marquee programs in the non-conference in order to get past the drop off the Big Ten has taken. They'll need to do what Wisconsin and Michigan are doing. Games with Alabama and LSU.
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And Michigan State. Home and home with Oregon starts next season in Eugene.
 

Ohio St. does play Virginia Tech for the next two years, and then Oklahoma the two years after that.
 

Apart from those games against Virginia Tech and Oklahoma, Ohio State plays Oregon, Texas, TCU, North Carolina, Boston College, Cincinnati, and Northern Illinois between 2014 and 2024 and still has some open dates that it could fill with quality opponents near the end of that stretch.
 


I think OSU not being near as good as Alabama, Oregon and FSU is also ruining OSUs dreams.
 

Torres9 said:
I think OSU not being near as good as Alabama, Oregon and FSU is also ruining OSUs dreams.
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I've heard that before...

Ohio St. maybe should get a more practical dream, like a Rose Bowl birth.
 

The OSU, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Penn State need to step up their non conference schedules. Play neutral site or away games against regional powers..."

Played ASU on the road earlier and playing BYU at home this weekend. Open with LSU in Houston next year. Think Alabama in Dallas the year following and LSU again at Green Bay in 2017. A return to Provo in there somewhere and other games forthcoming with the PAC-12. Alvarez understands the implications of the NCAA title playoff format. Schedule up or run the risk of non-selection. Clearly, with that, better head-to-head games early separating the wheat from the chaff. Teams with strong conference and non-conference schedules who prove better than the challenges DESERVE stronger consideration.

"...But most of all if you are representing the Big 10 in a Bowl Game you must win to bring the value of the Big 10 back up. Wisconsin has failed on the biggest stage..."

Harsh. Those college kids may have lost but they hardly failed. Each Badger team travelled to Pasadena to play favored TCU, Oregon and Stanford teams. Explain which game we lost where we "failed"? I saw three games come down to the last drive, two of which came down to the last play. Simply, if you've a problem with losing then, ummm...beat us.

Not our fault that PSU had a pedophile def. coord. and tOSU had a lying head coach. Both deserve censure. Nebraska STILL could have changed things at the BiG10 champ. game. They couldn't. Neither could MSU the year before.

Lot of places in this conference to point fingers but Madison is absolutely not among them.
 

bendbadgersteve said:
The OSU, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Penn State need to step up their non conference schedules. Play neutral site or away games against regional powers..."

Played ASU on the road earlier and playing BYU at home this weekend. Open with LSU in Houston next year. Think Alabama in Dallas the year following and LSU again at Green Bay in 2017. A return to Provo in there somewhere and other games forthcoming with the PAC-12. Alvarez understands the implications of the NCAA title playoff format. Schedule up or run the risk of non-selection. Clearly, with that, better head-to-head games early separating the wheat from the chaff. Teams with strong conference and non-conference schedules who prove better than the challenges DESERVE stronger consideration.

"...But most of all if you are representing the Big 10 in a Bowl Game you must win to bring the value of the Big 10 back up. Wisconsin has failed on the biggest stage..."

Harsh. Those college kids may have lost but they hardly failed. Each Badger team travelled to Pasadena to play favored TCU, Oregon and Stanford teams. Explain which game we lost where we "failed"? I saw three games come down to the last drive, two of which came down to the last play. Simply, if you've a problem with losing then, ummm...beat us.

Not our fault that PSU had a pedophile def. coord. and tOSU had a lying head coach. Both deserve censure. Nebraska STILL could have changed things at the BiG10 champ. game. They couldn't. Neither could MSU the year before.

Lot of places in this conference to point fingers but Madison is absolutely not among them.
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Feel better now?
 


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