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East Division:
Indiana
Maryland
Michigan State
Michigan
Ohio State
Penn State
Rutgers
West Division:
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Purdue
Wisconsin
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Appears the West Division could be ripe for the taking for UW
Didn't the SEC have similar concerns with the Eastern division with all the traditional powerhouses, only to find that things worked themselves out?
I predict that the alignment will actually serve to balance the power in the BT.
I predict that the alignment will actually serve to balance the power in the BT.
It worked itself out.
The previous configuration was ridiculous.
The previous configuration was ridiculous.
You have to think Iowa will get better, and Northwestern has been a pretty respectable team. I think Illinois and Minnesota could be very good if they ever found a good head coach. Those schools are located in pretty good recruiting areas and it wouldn't take a lot of effort for them to get a lot better IMO.
I doubt it happens that way.
Illinois is the most populous state in the big 10, slightly more than Pa. All of the east school states are larger than the #2 west state, Wi.
Not counting Indiana, which has a team in both divisions, the east has a 20 million+ recruiting advantage, not including the other east coast populations like NY, Boston, DC, etc
Illinois is the most populous state in the big 10, slightly more than Pa. All of the east school states are larger than the #2 west state, Wi.
Not counting Indiana, which has a team in both divisions, the east has a 20 million+ recruiting advantage, not including the other east coast populations like NY, Boston, DC, etc
The overall state population doesn't always translate to recruiting advantages.
Sure, the best players tend to reside in states like Florida, Texas, Ohio, and California. But other states like Louisiana, Georgia, New Jersey, Michigan, etc also produce a lot of really good players.
There are also population areas within states that are recruiting hotbeds- ie Tidewater, Chicagoland, STL metro, etc.
Champaign is 2 hours from Chicago. They could easily become a college football power if they got a decent head coach that could recruit. To a lesser extent same thing with the Gophers. There are a lot of decent prospects that have come out of the Twin Cities area.
If you build a good program you can get players to come no matter what.
Sure, the best players tend to reside in states like Florida, Texas, Ohio, and California. But other states like Louisiana, Georgia, New Jersey, Michigan, etc also produce a lot of really good players.
There are also population areas within states that are recruiting hotbeds- ie Tidewater, Chicagoland, STL metro, etc.
Champaign is 2 hours from Chicago. They could easily become a college football power if they got a decent head coach that could recruit. To a lesser extent same thing with the Gophers. There are a lot of decent prospects that have come out of the Twin Cities area.
If you build a good program you can get players to come no matter what.
States have two distinct advantages for retaining homegrown players. Those who don't feel comfortable traveling a long distance for school. And the walk-ons who provide a good deal of practice depth and occasionally a viable starter. Not many will pay out of state tuition for the chance to get beat up everyday by the scholarship players.
Bigger state, larger pool of better players.
Bigger state, larger pool of better players.
So explain Oregon for me? Is Oregon a hotbed of college football talent? I don't think so. They win and they get So Cal players to go there.
Virginia Tech has mined the Virginia Beach area for years.
South Carolina, LSU, Michigan, heck even Wisconsin have made it work pretty well.
You don't have to be based in TX or CA or FL to be good.
Virginia Tech has mined the Virginia Beach area for years.
South Carolina, LSU, Michigan, heck even Wisconsin have made it work pretty well.
You don't have to be based in TX or CA or FL to be good.
Might want to hold off exalting Orgeon as an example of recruiting excellence. They're unde investigation for Kelly's recruiting violations...
OK then Boise State
Lots of blue chippers hailing from Idaho
Lots of blue chippers hailing from Idaho
It's no secret that its a program that recruits want to be a part of. Look at the programs Gary Anderson has been a part of. Under Urban Meyer, they ebacme a powerhouse, and he resurrected Florida's program after The Ballcoach left.
The hope here is Anderson is that kind of guy. He Badgers have had enough to win in th BT, but Bielema's efforts still had them short of national prominence. That gap, plus a better coaching philosophy, may be what sets Andrson above Bielema. That's his task at UW. Not to maintain, but to advance.
And now they're scheduling Bama and LSU... The Big Ten is making a statement. They're tired of all the SEC talk.
The hope here is Anderson is that kind of guy. He Badgers have had enough to win in th BT, but Bielema's efforts still had them short of national prominence. That gap, plus a better coaching philosophy, may be what sets Andrson above Bielema. That's his task at UW. Not to maintain, but to advance.
And now they're scheduling Bama and LSU... The Big Ten is making a statement. They're tired of all the SEC talk.
My fear is that compete with the SEC, the Big Ten will start to cut some corners. While I'd like to see UW and the rest of the Big Ten have the opportunity to play in the BCS national title game, I don't want to do it at the expense of having recruits sent to the highest bidder (Cam Newton) or some of the other stuff that happens in the SEC. I'm not naive enough to think there aren't already some ethical problems in the Big Ten, but the SEC takes it to a whole nother level.