Hawks are happy with mediocrity!

[ISUFan22]

Also, Illinois was a fumble away from beating Missouri.

And Michigan was a blocked kick away from beating App. State.

But, the chips fell where they did and the result is set in stone.

I think you're looking for this...

[SplitIdentity]

Indeed the chips did fall where they did. But, my point is that the Big Ten and the Big 12 are very comparable, and there is no way that anybody - Iowa or ISU - could expect to win a championship, even after the improvements both teams have made.

It would be like Iowa fans last year claiming they could win the Big12 North, and that the Big Ten was just oh-so-very tough.

[djcubby]

It would be like Iowa fans last year claiming they could win the Big12 North, and that the Big Ten was just oh-so-very tough.

Isn't this what the typical Iowa fan thinks every year?

[jumbopackage]

1st, ISU lost to a D-IAA opponent as well - so maybe we compare Minnesota and ISU? If your argument is that Minnesota can't be compared to another team because they lost to a D-IAA, then so be it.

Also, Illinois was a fumble away from beating Missouri.

I'd take PSU over OU, sure. But Texas has been off and on, and so has UW. Both are very comparable this season. My point is, you're getting a little ahead of yourself by proclaiming ISU would contend for a Big Ten title - when they couldn't take care of business against a terrible Nebraska team, and needed a HUGE 2nd half effort to beat a bad Colorado team.

ISU may be able to beat Iowa - since they did earlier in the season, I'm not going to argue this. However, play the game again, it's not a "gimme" and ISU wouldn't win by 30 points. If the ISU that's playing now could play the Iowa that played then, it would be a much wider margin. But, if ISU played like they have been playing more recently, they wouldn't have lost to Kent State, Northern Iowa, at Toledo, and probably would have beaten Nebraska.

At the same token, if Iowa could play the ISU team back then with the Iowa team that is playing now, it would be Iowa's game to lose (again). But arguments like these are dumb, because that's not how it works. Iowa and ISU are improving, Iowa just benefited from a few wins against mediocre OOC teams. But ISU's OOC schedule wasn't that much more difficult than Iowas - Kent State, Northern Iowa, and Toledo are no better than Northern Illinois, Syracuse, and Western Michigan. In fact, WMU smacked Toledo around pretty good, and NIU/KSU are both bottom of the MAC.

Anyways, I guess to get back on topic, both Iowa and ISU have improved, but neither team right now would be in contention for any kind of title. IMO, Iowa is the better team right now, but since ISU has the win on the field, that's not something I can prove, nor do I intend to try. This is just my opinion based on record, what I've seen since the Iowa-ISU game, amongst other things.

I'm not saying that the 1-AA loss discounts Minnesota, but their ONLY win was over Ball State at home in 3 OTs. Nebraska is a much, MUCH better team than Minnesota. So is ISU.

Toledo is one win away from bowl eligibility. Kent State isn't great, but still had 3 wins, which is 1 fewer than Northern Illinois and Syracuse combined.

I know it's a bit ahead of myself to say that we would be contending for a Big 10 championship, but I think it's quite possible that we would have 5-6 wins in the Big 10 conference had we played Iowa's schedule, and I highly doubt there would be any blowout losses on our schedule.

If you remember from the ISU-Iowa game, ISU dominated Iowa in the first half, just couldn't put the ball in the endzone. Iowa made some adjustments and came out strong in the third quarter, just couldn't close the deal. This was WITH the "good" starting receivers.

That game wouldn't even be close today, IMO. I can assure you that ISU wouldn't be 20+ point underdogs in most of those games if you swapped Iowa and ISU's schedule.

[SplitIdentity]

I'm not saying that the 1-AA loss discounts Minnesota, but their ONLY win was over Ball State at home in 3 OTs. Nebraska is a much, MUCH better team than Minnesota. So is ISU.

Toledo is one win away from bowl eligibility. Kent State isn't great, but still had 3 wins, which is 1 fewer than Northern Illinois and Syracuse combined.

I know it's a bit ahead of myself to say that we would be contending for a Big 10 championship, but I think it's quite possible that we would have 5-6 wins in the Big 10 conference had we played Iowa's schedule, and I highly doubt there would be any blowout losses on our schedule.

If you remember from the ISU-Iowa game, ISU dominated Iowa in the first half, just couldn't put the ball in the endzone. Iowa made some adjustments and came out strong in the third quarter, just couldn't close the deal. This was WITH the "good" starting receivers.

That game wouldn't even be close today, IMO. I can assure you that ISU wouldn't be 20+ point underdogs in most of those games if you swapped Iowa and ISU's schedule.

1st - the good starting receives? When were Iowa's receivers good this year? Brodell and Moeaki. Again, there is no excuse for that game, Iowa lost, and I'm not arguing that.

However, what I am saying is that Iowa has improved just as much, if not more than ISU has. ISU has had 3 great games since the Iowa win, 2 of those were wins. However, beating KSU and CU does not mean they could all of the sudden finish in the top half of the BT.

I'd really be interested in knowing what teams from the BT, other than Iowa, you think ISU could beat?

Probably Northwestern, Iowa, and Minnesota.

Doubtfully Michigan State, not Purdue, Penn State, Illinois (need a defense to beat them). The only "push" game that I logically see is Indiana - but had ISU played them when Iowa did, it wouldn't have been a contest. That team has dropped off significantly with injuries (although they're still playing) to Hardy and Lewis.

[herbiedoobie]

The Little XI is "comparable" to the Big XII this year? Kind of like a Saber Toothed Tiger is "comparable" to a newly born housecat kitten.

I have not seen football as pathetic as that played by the Little XI this year....

What three Little XI teams are currently in the Top 5?

[Cyclonesrule91]

It's pretty easy to point out how weak the little 11 is. Last year Ohio State dominated everybody they played. First the weak non conference schedule and then the just about as weak in conference schedule. They thought all they had to do was field the practice squad to take home the BCS trophy. And what happened against Florida?????? Florida handed them their *** as they trounced them something like 42-14 or something like that. Throw in the fact that Florida called off the dogs in the 4th quarter and it proves the point even further.

[SplitIdentity]

It's pretty easy to point out how weak the little 11 is. Last year Ohio State dominated everybody they played. First the weak non conference schedule and then the just about as weak in conference schedule. They thought all they had to do was field the practice squad to take home the BCS trophy. And what happened against Florida?????? Florida handed them their *** as they trounced them something like 42-14 or something like that. Throw in the fact that Florida called off the dogs in the 4th quarter and it proves the point even further.

No it doesn't. The Big Ten was 3-1 vs. the SEC last year - including Wisconsin over Arkansas, and PSU over Tennessee.

[bellzisu]

No it doesn't. The Big Ten was 3-1 vs. the SEC last year - including Wisconsin over Arkansas, and PSU over Tennessee.

Typical response from you like always. Like 22 says... Welcome to Spin City, good luck running for Mayor with Dan McCarney and Kirk Ferentz there.

[jumbopackage]

No it doesn't. The Big Ten was 3-1 vs. the SEC last year - including Wisconsin over Arkansas, and PSU over Tennessee.

Ohio State also beat a then-#2 Texas team on the road. I wont' disagree that the Big 10 was on it's way to "bad" last year, especially looking back at the bowls, but the Big 10 did play a fairly decent non-conference schedule, and actually had some solid wins coming into the bowl season.

[crash_zone]

Even when we beat EIU, the come out and say that we "stole" the game (odd, cause if any one was good at stealing something, you would think it would be EIU......but I guess they keep getting caught - not a real sign of being good at it). ISU is better than EIU. Leave it at that. Stop all the "we have developed more and would beat you now" bs. We had the head to head. Give us that much respect and just say that you might be better next year.

[Wx4Cy]

People, you're arguing with Hawk fans...in college we proved mathematically that Logic + Truth does not equal a Hawk fan.

[SplitIdentity]

Typical response from you like always. Like 22 says... Welcome to Spin City, good luck running for Mayor with Dan McCarney and Kirk Ferentz there.

I'm not spinning. I'm making the point that last year, the BigTen had the SEC's number. It wasn't like the SEC completely dominated the BT. Florida did against OSU, but I thought that was funnier than anything else.

[ajk4st8]

"ISU is better than EIU. Leave it at that."

Very well said. The facts dont lie. We beat Iowa this year. This year we are the better team.

This year the Big 12 has 3 of the top 5 teams in the country. The Big 10 hasn't had a team beat a team in the big 12 this year. We are far more superior to the Big 10 this year.

Facts are facts.

Next year it could be all different.

[herbiedoobie]

And SOMEDAY the Little X(I) "just might" be competitive with the MAC.

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!