Regular Season Wrap-Up

Time for the Big 10 and Big 12.

Big 10

Illinois
Record: 2-10
Conference Record: 1-7
Pythagorean Record: 3.88-8.12
Grade: C-
Illini have to improve next season or Zook is toast. Hurt by 1-4 record in close games. Can take solace in the fact they helped derail Michigan State’s season.

Indiana
Record: 5-7
Conference Record: 3-5
Pythagorean Record: 3.63-8.37
Grade: C+
After 9 games, looked to be bowl bound, but lost their final 3 games to finish with a losing record. Still significant progress was made. If they had just beaten Southern Illinois (or Connecticut) would be bowl eligible.

Iowa
Record: 6-6
Conference Record: 2-6
Pythagorean Record: 7.14-4.86
Grade: D-
Just an awful season for the Hawkeyes. Take away the games against Montana and defense’optional Purdue and the offense averaged under 20 points per game.

Michigan
Record: 11-1
Conference Record: 7-1
Pythagorean Record: 10.18-1.82
Grade: A-
Wolverines rebounded about as well as possible from the disappointing 7-5 campaign. Didn’t have the number of quality wins Florida had, but their loss was much better. Their resume for the championship game hinges on what you value more: better wins or better losses.

Michigan State
Record: 4-8
Conference Record: 1-7
Pythagorean Record: 5.14-6.86
Grade: D
Raise your hand if you knew the season was finished after the loss to Notre Dame. Raise your hand if you knew the season was saved after the comeback over Northwestern. Ah, the fickle nature of momentum. Spartans did make a good hire after they rid themselves of the combustible John L. Smith.

Minnesota
Record: 6-6
Conference Record: 3-5
Pythagorean Record: 6.92-5.08
Grade: C+
Glen Mason deserves a tremendous amount of credit for getting this team to keep playing hard en route to winning 4 of their last 5 and 3 in a row to qualify for another bowl game. Gophers fan should appreciate the job Mason has done at the school and not hound him for failing to turn them into Ohio State or Michigan.

Northwestern
Record: 4-8
Conference Record: 2-6
Pythagorean Record: 3.01-8.99
Grade: C-
In a season mostly devoid of bright spots, the Wildcats did win two of their last 3, including a victory over Iowa. Hard to evaluate Pat Fitzgerald since he stepped into a situation with a team destined to decline no matter who was coaching.

Ohio State
Record: 12-0
Conference Record: 8-0
Pythagorean Record: 11.41-0.59
Grade: A+
Buckeyes did a fantastic job as they completely reshuffled their defense breaking in 9 new starters. After a somewhat down year in 2004, Buckeyes will be making their 4th BCS bowl appearance in 5 years (and 4th trip to Glendale).

Penn State
Record: 8-4
Conference Record: 5-3
Pythagorean Record: 8.77-3.23
Grade: B
Lions beat the teams they should and lost to the teams they should. Benefited from a bogus pass-interference call to beat Minnesota. Two shut-outs on the year, including one on the road against a good Purdue offense.

Purdue
Record: 8-5
Conference Record: 5-3
Pythagorean Record: 6.65-6.35
Grade: C
Instead of bitching about going to Hawaii in late November, maybe Joe Tiller should concentrate on finding a defense to take advantage of a Big 10 schedule lacking both Ohio State and Michigan.

Wisconsin
Record: 11-1
Conference Record: 7-1
Pythagorean Record: 10.81-1.19
Grade: A
Pretty good start for Bret Bielema. Imagine this scenario. Wisconsin beats Michigan and finishes 12-0. Where does Wisconsin finish in the BCS standings? Would there be an outcry if two teams from the same conference played for the championship under those circumstances?

Big 12

Baylor
Record: 4-8
Conference Record: 3-5
Pythagorean Record: 3.81-8.19
Grade: C
Used to be 4 wins at Baylor was cause for celebration. The Bears have got to be a little disappointed after their 3-1 conference start, but the Texas Tech-lite offense looked good until quarterback Shawn Bell got hurt.

Colorado
Record: 2-10
Conference Record: 2-6
Pythagorean Record: 3.90-8.10
Grade: C-
Not the start Dan Hawkins envisioned, but there are several facets to build on. For starters, the team was 0-4 in close games, and teams with a poor record in close games one year tend to improve in that category the following year and vice-versa. Secondly, the offense was the problem and Dan Hawkins is an offensive minded coach. Look for the Buffs to make a run for the North Division title next season.

Iowa State
Record: 4-8
Conference Record: 1-7
Pythagorean Record: 2.86-9.14
Grade: D
It’s a shame Dan McCarney’s final season was also one of his worst. It did end on a positive note with the upset of Missouri in the home finale. Cyclones didn’t beat a single team; not Toledo (5-7), UNLV (2-10), or Division I-AA Northern Iowa by more than 6 points.

Kansas
Record: 6-6
Conference Record: 3-5
Pythagorean Record: 6.91-5.09
Grade: B-
Mark Mangino did a fine job replacing 8 starters on the defensive side of the ball and getting Kansas back to bowl eligibility for the 3rd time in 4 seasons. Also beat Kansas State for the second time in 3 years after going winless for a decade. If they didn’t blow the game to Toledo, they’d be back in the postseason.

Kansas State
Record: 7-5
Conference Record: 4-4
Pythagorean Record: 6.36-5.64
Grade: B
Not a bad opening act for the Ron Prince era. Highlight was obviously the upset of Texas over Veteran’s Day Weekend. Only quibble would be they only won road game (Colorado). Lost road games to Baylor and were pasted by both Missouri and Kansas away from Manhattan.

Missouri
Record: 8-4
Conference Record: 4-4
Pythagorean Record: 9.17-2.83
Grade: B
The season ended on somewhat of a down note with 4 losses in the final 6 games. Still, the Tigers have equaled the apex of wins in the Brad Smith era with 8 and have a chance to eclipse it in Chase Daniels first season as the starting quarterback.

Nebraska
Record: 9-4
Conference Record: 6-2
Pythagorean Record: 10.22-2.78
Grade: B+
It took a while, but Bill Callahan has turned Nebraska into a dynamic passing offense. Huskers couldn’t beat any of the elite teams on their schedule (Southern Cal, Texas, and Oklahoma), but made up for it by beating everyone they should save Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma
Record: 11-2
Conference Record: 7-1
Pythagorean Record: 10.72-2.28
Grade: A
Bob Stoops did a terrific job keeping his team together despite injuries, dismissals, and some questionable officiating. He may have complained a little too much for my taste, but if not for that debacle in Oregon, the Sooners could make a case for inclusion in the BCS Championship Game (not that they would win that argument).

Oklahoma State
Record: 6-6
Conference Record: 3-5
Pythagorean Record: 8.29-3.71
Grade: B+
After a disappointing maiden voyage under Mike Gundy, the Cowboys rebounded by exploding on offense. After averaging a shad over 20 points per game (20.2) in 2005, the Cowboys jumped to 35.3 points per game and actually scored the second most points in conference games (Texas). Cowboys lost some heartbreakers (0-4) in close games, especially the OT game against Texas A&M (two missed extra points).

Texas
Record: 9-3
Conference Record: 6-2
Pythagorean Record: 10.17-1.83
Grade: B+
A few weeks ago, the Horns were thinking national title. Then it was Big 12 title. Now its, Alamo Bowl title. Even with the late-season struggles, still have a chance to win 10 games for sixth straight season.

Texas A&M
Record: 9-3
Conference Record: 5-3
Pythagorean Record: 8.99-3.01
Grade: B+
If he hadn’t saved his job before Thanksgiving, he certainly did afterward by beating Texas. Hard to tell how good A&M really is. Went 5-3 in close games, so very small margin for error.

Texas Tech
Record: 7-5
Conference Record: 4-4
Pythagorean Record: 7.94-4.06
Grade: B
Red Raiders were all over the place. Blown out by Colorado. Beat A&M. Narrow loss to Texas. Blew out SMU. Barely scraped by UTEP. If you want to lose money, bet on their bowl game.