ESPN: Week 1 is a big moment for B1G momentum

[BleedGopher]

per ESPN:

The conference has arguably the toughest opening slate of any Power 5 conference. Big Ten teams will take on the No. 2 (TCU at Minnesota, Thursday night) and No. 3 (Alabama vs. Wisconsin, Saturday night) teams in the preseason Associated Press poll. No. 21 Stanford will visit Northwestern. Michigan initiates the Jim Harbaugh era with a challenging road game at Utah, which probably should be ranked.

Nebraska doesn't ease into the Mike Riley regime, either, kicking off with BYU. And Ohio State must start its title defense in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech on Labor Day.

More than anything else, these games -- along with Michigan State's Week 2 faceoff with Oregon -- will shape the early reputation of the Big Ten in 2015. The league can't fall flat on its face, as it has too many times in the recent past. That's what happened last year, when the conference dropped all of its high-profile games to begin the season, including a disastrous Week 2 that had pundits already piling dirt on the Big Ten's playoff chances.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/122699/week-1-is-a-big-moment-for-b1g-momentum

Go Gophers!!

 

[Nokomis]

per ESPN:

The conference has arguably the toughest opening slate of any Power 5 conference. Big Ten teams will take on the No. 2 (TCU at Minnesota, Thursday night) and No. 3 (Alabama vs. Wisconsin, Saturday night) teams in the preseason Associated Press poll. No. 21 Stanford will visit Northwestern. Michigan initiates the Jim Harbaugh era with a challenging road game at Utah, which probably should be ranked.

Nebraska doesn't ease into the Mike Riley regime, either, kicking off with BYU. And Ohio State must start its title defense in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech on Labor Day.

More than anything else, these games -- along with Michigan State's Week 2 faceoff with Oregon -- will shape the early reputation of the Big Ten in 2015. The league can't fall flat on its face, as it has too many times in the recent past. That's what happened last year, when the conference dropped all of its high-profile games to begin the season, including a disastrous Week 2 that had pundits already piling dirt on the Big Ten's playoff chances.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/122699/week-1-is-a-big-moment-for-b1g-momentum

Go Gophers!!

Why? OSU fell flat on it's face last season and ended up winning the NC. The rest of the league had a decent bowl season.

I also keep hearing that Michigan needs to get better for the good of the league. Why? OSU won the NC leaving its principal rival in the dust. WI & MSU both had big bowl wins. A relevant MI to go along with a good OSU would be fun for fans of college football. But it's not needed for the league to be successful. Just like falling on our faces Week 1 isn't a predictor for the rest of the season.

 

[e.bigelow]

Why? OSU fell flat on it's face last season and ended up winning the NC. The rest of the league had a decent bowl season.

I also keep hearing that Michigan needs to get better for the good of the league. Why? OSU won the NC leaving its principal rival in the dust. WI & MSU both had big bowl wins. A relevant MI to go along with a good OSU would be fun for fans of college football. But it's not needed for the league to be successful. Just like falling on our faces Week 1 isn't a predictor for the rest of the season.

I agree Nokomis with the bold 100%.

 

[wait!what?]

well....maybe Norwood is in the past cuz

we might make it to game day without the media calling the team the Golden Gropers. tho there is still time.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

I really want to see Michigan and Jim H struggle. The amount of hype that they are garnering is obnoxious.

 

[e.bigelow]

I really want to see Michigan and Jim H struggle. The amount of hype that they are garnering is obnoxious.

Totally agree with you on that!