So how difficult is it to win in the Big Ten?

[Bayfieldgopher]

Here are each conference teams average BT wins the last ten years, most wins, least in a year and Big Ten crowns

OSU 6.0---8---3---five
Michigan 5.8---7---2---three
Wisconsin 4.6---7---2---one
PSU 4.4---7---1---two
Iowa 4.3---8---0---two
Purdue 4.3---6---2---one
MSU 3.4---6---1---zero
NU 3.4---6---1---one
MN 3.2---5---0---zero
Illini 2.8---7---0---one
IU 2.0---4---1---zero

It interesting to see how difficult it is to average 5 Big Ten wins a season for an extended period of time. The Illini won two games in a four year stretch and Indiana won just four games in four years! Even the great JoPA won just three BT games in a two year period. The only teams to average five wins over a consecutive five year stretch are OSU, Michigan, Iowa, Wisky and PSU (barely).

 

[dinkything]

bayfield-
interesting stuff...
looks like you went a little high on Purdue's average number of wins over the past decade...
should be 4.1....not 4.3...
also, for the mason followers, who continue to yearn for a time that has passed...his numbers weren't all bad...

OSU.............6.0.......8....3....five
Michigan.......5.8.......7....2....three
Wisconsin.....4.6.......7....2.....one
PSU.............4.4.......7....1.....two
Iowa............4.3.......8....0.....two
Purdue.........4.1.......6.....2....one
MSU............3.4.......6.....1....zero
NU..............3.4.......6.....1....one
MN..............3.2.......5.....0....zero
Illini.............2.8.......7.....0....one
IU...............2.0.......4.....1....zero

mason.........3.625....5......2...zero (8 years)
brewster......1.5.......3......0...zero (2 years)

 

[GophersInIowa]

Here are each conference teams average BT wins the last ten years, most wins, least in a year and Big Ten crowns

OSU 6.0-8-3-five
Michigan 5.8-7-2-three
Wisconsin 4.6-7-2-one
PSU 4.4-7-1-two
Iowa 4.3-8-0-two
Purdue 4.3-6-2-one
MSU 3.4-6-1-zero
NU 3.4-6-1-one
MN 3.2-5-0-zero
Illini 2.8-7-0-one
IU 2.0-4-1-zero

It interesting to see how difficult it is to average 5 Big Ten wins a season for an extended period of time. The Illini won two games in a four year stretch and Indiana won just four games in four years! Even the great JoPA won just three BT games in a two year period. The only teams to average five wins over a consecutive five year stretch are OSU, Michigan, Iowa, Wisky and PSU (barely).

The thing that jumps out to me is that the most wins we had in the Big Ten in the past ten years is 5 (which has happened only twice). Only Indiana has had a worse number (4). We've been consistantly average to below average in the Big Ten and never had a great conference season.

To me its all about winning in the conference and competing for a Big Ten championship. I'd rather play much tougher teams for the non conference schedule to get us more ready for the Big Ten, even if it means we may lose a few games during the noncon.