This is one of those rare weeks when even Michigan fans might hope for an Ohio State victory. Minnesota wouldn’t mind a win by Wisconsin, either, as much as the Badgers are disliked across the state line.
The best opportunity until bowl season for the Big Ten to make a statement as a national power conference will take place on Saturday, with four nonconference games against top-tier Pac-12 competition.
”We’ve got so much pride in this conference and we have a lot of pride in the schools that are in this conference,” Michigan coach Brady Hoke said Tuesday. ”And we have some bitter rivals, believe me, but this conference is a great conference.”
Said Nebraska coach Bo Pelini: ”I think it’s very good. It’s deep. And I think that’s going to show itself as the year goes on.”
– No. 4 Ohio State, which had trouble beating California in Columbus last year, plays the rematch with the Golden Bears on the road.
– No. 20 Wisconsin travels to Arizona State, which is 8-0 all time at home against Big Ten teams.
– No. 23 Nebraska hosts No. 16 UCLA with a chance to avenge last season’s loss to the Bruins.
– And Illinois, coming off a startlingly decisive victory over Cincinnati, takes on 19th-ranked Washington in Chicago, their first meeting since 1972.
Continue Reading: Big Ten pride at stake with 4 games vs. Pac-12
