Big Ten - Bizzaro World

It's no secret - Big Ten football is struggling.

Entering a season with five teams ranked in the preseason top 25 polls (Michigan #9, Michigan State #12, Ohio State #14, Wisconsin #15, and Nebraska #21), they have since fielded a gridiron debacle that could have never been foreseen.

Only Michigan and Nebraska are currently still ranked (Nebraska at #14, and Michigan at #21). Ohio State is undefeated and ranked highly in certain polls, but excluded from the BCS due to NCAA sanctions. Wisconsin is receiving votes at 7-3, but having not notched a win against a ranked opponent, they sit outside of the top 25. And Michigan State with a record of 5-5 tops all teams as the conference's biggest disappointment.

Throughout the rest of the conference, almost every team has under-performed. Other than Northwestern sitting at 7-3, no team is achieving anything worthy of analysis.

Luckily, there is a shining light for the Big Ten. A light so bright, it could potentially help erase the embarrassment brought about but their football programs. That light is... college basketball.

Similar to football, entering the college basketball season the Big Ten once again has five teams in the preseason polls; three of them in the top five. Indiana comes in at #1, Ohio St #4, Michigan #5, Michigan State #21, and Wisconsin #22.

Many analysts made claims before the college football season kicked off that certain teams in the Big Ten were ranked too high. Michigan highlighted that talk. Their predictions have for the most part come to pass. However for basketball, there aren't many people doubted the Big Ten's positions in the polls.

As we saw with football, just because a team is ranked high, that doesn't mean they deserve it. There's still a chance that the Big Ten doesn't live up to its preseason basketball rankings, as Michigan State and Purdue have already earned early season losses. But we'll have to wait a couple of months before we make any final conclusions.

For now most of the media buzz still surrounds football, and most likely will until after the bowl season in January. Lets just hope that when the smoke clears, the Big Ten has managed to salvage something positive to take into next fall.