Big Ten Burial

Last night I slashed my wrists with a rusty fork ... Oh, wait ... no I didn't, I just watched "Saturday Night Live." Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. I always admire that cast because when skits tank it's pretty hard to endure. I don't know if I'd be able to do that every week and make it funny. But I do know that after watching bland episodes like last night's, I have no desire to stay up (or stay in) and watch it for the rest of the season.

Sooooooo ... the Big Ten ... word is that the biggest obstacle to a playoff system is from Big Ten commish, Jim Delany. Is there any wonder why that obstacle exists after his top team from 2008, Ohio State, gets its pants beaten off by USC? Ever since Ohio State upset a Miami team pre-destined for the national championship in 2003, the Big Ten has held a place as the second-best football conference in the nation behind the SEC. Sometimes it may have been true, but we'll never know because they seldom get to prove that on the field before the bowl games. Big Ten's record in bowl games since 2003? 3-7. Time to rethink the Big Ten's status. Differ with that opinion? Then they're going to have to prove it to me on the field, because right now the Big Ten is the biggest reason I think the BCS is broken.

Secretly surprising ... No. 17 Penn State hasn't played anyone on their level yet this year, but they have totally trucked every other squad they've taken the field against. So far they've beaten Coastal Carolina (66-10), Oregon State (45-14) and Syracuse (55-13). Nice run thus far and they have some serious weapons.

They should next eradicate Temple. The Illinois defense, which couldn't even slow a similar offensive scheme from Missouri shouldn't pose a challenge either. Bold prediction: If Penn State tops Ohio State, date, they'll play in a BCS game ... BUT it will not be for the BCS championship. Ohio State stained the Big Ten's rep too bad by getting smacked in Southern Cal last night. Without a non-conference foe against whom the Lions can prove their worth, they'll spend the early new year lamenting a lost opportunity to play for the national championship. Maybe Joe Pa should have added some substance to that slate of non-conference cupcakes.

Last night ESPN.com exclaimed "Maryland's Relentless Defense Stifles No. 23 Cal."

Interesting headline, considering that "relentless" defense sure seemed to relent when it allowed 21 points in the fourth quarter. Look, it's a good win for Maryland, but let's not blow it out of proportion. The Terps, who lost to Middle Tennessee, and nearly lost to D-IAA Delaware week one, almost allowed a likely jet-lagged team from the west coast to come back on them. Forget Cal's ranking, because we all know how accurate early season rankings are ... cough, cough, Michigan 2007, cough ... this helps the ACC's abysmal track record, but it doesn't eliminate the whole conference from critcism. Cal hasn't beaten a halfway decent non-conference team on the road since 2003 when the Bears beat Illinois 34-31.