Back when Woody Hayes scowled from Ohio State’s sideline and Bo Schembechler screamed from Michigan’s, the Big Ten Conference became popularly known as the Big Two and the Little Eight.With Urban Meyer’s dominance with the Buckeyes, and Jim Harbaugh’s ostentatious first season at Michigan, pundits have predicted a return. They’ve forgotten someone: Michigan State, the Big Ten East stepchild that just keeps winning. Together, they could be the best conference trio in college football. Plus, the Big Ten has defensive stars, top recruits and pesky Iowa.A look at how the conference shapes up: Top story linesCan Jim Harbaugh win a conference title?Harbaugh came close but never won a conference title at Stanford. Michigan hasn’t won one since 2004, which ties the longest drought in its history. (The other: 1906 to 1918.)Winning this season means succeeding where the Wolverines failed last season: defeating rivals Ohio State and Michigan State. Michigan might be good enough, but both games are on the road. Is Iowa more than a one-season wonder?Iowa was a field goal away from the College Football Playoff last season. A long stretch of mediocrity makes it easy to forget that Coach Kirk Ferentz once seemed destined for many such seasons after winning conference titles in 2002 and…
Continue Reading: Ohio State and Michigan poised to rule Big Ten, but don't tell Michigan State or Iowa
