A single game can end up meaning totally different things depending on what description it is given by the talking heads. However, these varying descriptions really should be impossible if you think about it; the great thing about sports is that there is a score, one team wins the game while the other lost it, and every important game attribute is numerically quantifiable. But the spin is everything.

Take the Texas win a few years ago. That game ended up not buying any mileage for the Bucks once Texas lost to Kansas St. The Spin was that this was not a good Texas team. But, that means it was still generally a damn good team we beat on the road. Had USC gone and beaten that same team, the win would have continued to have been pumped all year long and trotted out as a one of the great wins for SC that year. In contrast, after only a few weeks, that win for the Bucks was downgraded to an “ok” win on an overall weak schedule.

While I do think the Big 10 as a whole is not very good anymore COMPARED TO ITSELF of a decade ago, or to the present day SEC … it is not even close to being as bad as the ACC or Big East. Yet, only the Big10 gets hammeree the way the other conferences do.

You brought up Virginia: had OSU had the exact same game against Virgina, the Mark Mays of the world would be saying, “…yeah, but Va is a bottom feeder in the nation’s weakest conference, and their defense is entirely new, young, and untested.” But USC plays them and he has to take a personal break to wipe the drool off his mouth, then talks NONSTOP about the awesome victory for two straight weeks.

If this team plays admirably against a recognized national power – then the respect will come (the talking heads won’t have any choice, and the minions that allow the talking heads to think for them will go along like sheep).

Until then, OSU and the rest of the Big 10 will be doubted. It’s what ESPN has written, it’s what shall be done. It stinks, I know.