So many different ways to look at 2-6.
Wisconsin is 2-0 against the group, with a blowout win, but with the worst loss of the group, and a loss to Ohio State (but is the only one that has played OSU to date). I don't hold the OSU game against the Badgers, particularly in Columbus, but I do hold the Illinois game against them.
Penn State is 2-1 against the others, with a one-score win at home against Michigan, and a one-score win on the road against Iowa, the latter likely the more impressive. (?) And a one-score loss on the road at Minnesota. Hard to know if they are that good, or just got the bounces.
Minnesota is 1-1 against the others, with a one-score win at home against Penn State, and a one-score loss on the road at Iowa. So Penn State did better against Iowa, in Iowa City, but lost head-to-head. I think that puts Penn State on the high side there, but just barely.
Michigan: this is the real conundrum for me. 1-2 against the group. Bad loss in Madison. No sugar coating it. And lost to Penn State on the road by one score. Happy Valley is a tough place to play. One-score win against Iowa at home. Good blowout win over Notre Dame, which isn't in this conversation, but it was still a good win.
Iowa: only team to play them all, and 1-3, which kind of has to put it at the bottom. Nothing wrong with the one-score losses in Madison and Ann Arbor, but losing at home to Penn State was tough. Good win at home against Minnesota, but I'm sure the Hawkeyes were happy they didn't have to play another five minutes.
The two best wins in this group are Penn State at Iowa, and Wisconsin in a romp over Michigan. Wisconsin has the worst loss, the rest are all basically washes (one score on the road).
Ohio State (maybe) is the big winner here: it's only had one decent game this season, and that was at home against Wisconsin, where it smacked the Badgers around--not unlike what the Badgers did at home against Michigan.
The last two weeks are put up/shut up time for the Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota (and Ohio State). The first two get their shots at Ohio State, and Michigan gets it at home. Michigan doesn't control its destiny, but with Harbaugh's wins against Michigan State and Notre Dame, can he make it a trifecta and slay the Buckeye beast to go 3-0 in rivalry games? That would leave a sweet taste in Ann Arbor for the off season.
Penn State has a free shot at the conference title and the CFP--all it needs to do is beat Ohio State in Columbus, before it plays a scrimmage against the State University of Doesn't Play Football. So buck up, boys. It's time to play.
What if the Big Ten West really is the better division, outside of Columbus? Iowa is finished playing good teams, but can still screw things up against Illinois and Nebraska.
Minnesota still has a shot at the CFP--just beat Wisconsin at home, and Ohio State (or PSU--with a neutral field...would be an interesting rematch). The Badgers will come hungry for the Axe, but let's be honest, they haven't been inspiring since owning the state of Michigan.
And Wisconsin...will lose a rematch with Ohio State, but I expect whomever plays in Indianapolis to lose to Ohio State. Winning in Minneapolis is going to require a lot of pressure on the gopher quarterback. The Wisconsin D is capable of it, but will have to return to its early season form.
Although I don't think the conference championship will be all that interesting, the last two weeks of the conference season are better than usual.
