Big Ten Banter: Farewell, Big Ten West, You Beautiful Disaster
Nobody is supposed to feel an emotional attachment to a conference division in college football. Yet here I sit, wearing a black shirt and preparing for the funeral of the Big Ten West. It’s long overdue, but I’m not quite ready to say goodbye.
The East and West will be represented for the final time in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday when No. 2 Michigan (12-0) takes on No. 16 Iowa (10-2). Divisions will cease to exist next season, as the conference adopted a No. 1 vs. No. 2 format for its title game moving forward — one of the changes as the league welcomes Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington in 2024.
It’s the right call.
This weekend marks the 10th playing of the Big Ten Championship Game since the conference realigned its divisions in 2014. The West is 0-9 in those matchups and, barring a miracle upset by the Hawkeyes, will go an entire decade without claiming a league title.
Overall, the Big Ten East placed three teams in the College Football Playoff: Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan. That’s the most for any division in the sport. Meanwhile, the West never earned a bid.
If that doesn’t scream imbalance, I don’t know what wouldl.
Championship-caliber football isn’t what endeared me to the West for the last 10 seasons, though. It was the utter chaos unfolding every single week that appealed to this college football fan.
If the Big Ten East hosted an elegant ball, the West would pull up in a doorless Jeep Wrangler blasting Rednex’s Cotton Eye Joe over the speakers. It never tried to impress anyone; it just hung around for a good time.
Three times in the last five seasons, the division winner was not determined until the final week of the regular season. This season, six of the seven teams (sorry, Purdue) still had an opportunity to win the West with just two weeks remaining.
The final standings were a beautiful disaster:
Shenanigans within the division were not unique to 2023. Almost everyone had something to offer.
Nebraska lost nine games by nine points or less in 2021. Iowa inserted a 25-points-per-game clause into the contract of offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz following the 2022 campaign. Purdue might be the only team in history to post wins over a pair of top-three teams (No. 2 Ohio State in 2018 and No. 3 Michigan State in 2021) while also going 0-2 against Rutgers (2017 and 2020).
Who could forget the four-year roller-coaster ride for Northwestern, alternating between two Big Ten Championship Game appearances (2018, 2020) and a pair of three-win seasons (2019, 2021)?
Bret Bielema says whatever he wants at Illinois. Wisconsin’s three head coaches — Gary Andersen, Paul Chryst and Luke Fickell — have barely said anything. At Minnesota, P.J. Fleck has morphed into the coach other fans love to hate.
My love for the West exceeded the football aspect. It was the chaos, personalities and ridiculousness that continued to pull me in.
So, excuse me if I shed a tear this weekend. Goodbyes are never easy. The West may not have provided us with the best football, but it certainly kept us entertained for the past 10 seasons.
Related Big Ten Stories
- ALL-BIG TEN DEFENSE, SPECIAL TEAMS: On Tuesday, the Big Ten announced the All-Conference selections for defense and special teams, as well as individual award winners. CLICK HERE
- ALL-BIG TEN OFFENSE: Wednesday, the Big Ten revealed the All-Conference selections for offense. It also announced offensive individual award winners. CLICK HERE