In the notes offered up at last week's 2008 football preview, Big Ten p.r. wags noted that the league sent a record eight teams to bowl games in 2007. It matched a record set in 2003.
It was also noted that for the first time, 10 of the 11 teams in the league were "bowl eligible."
With the 12-game schedules now in place, that takes at least a 6-6 record. Only 1-11 Minnesota was ineligible.
Good stuff? Sure. But upon closer inspection of this year's composite Big Ten schedule, I'd venture to say the league should match that record every year.
Yes, there's tough competition up and down the line for each team as it plays eight conference games, four at home, four on the road. But then, there's those other four games.
Some are tough. Take three-time defending champ Ohio State. They travel to Southern Cal for a non-conference tilt this season. The Trojans return the favor next year. The previous two years, coach Jim Tressel had a home-and-home with Texas. He wants those games to stay in the national title hunt each year.
His other non-conference games this year? Hosting Youngstown State, Ohio University and Troy.
His Buckeyes are one of nine teams in the league that will play seven of their 12 games at home this year. Illinois only plays six, but has two "neutral site" games, playing Missouri in St. Louis and Western Michigan at Detroit's Ford Field. Indiana plays eight games at home this season.
Get that home field edge every year (and they do) and you should have a boatload of bowl eligibles.
Rick Armstrong 
Jim Owczarski 
Mike Knapp 