Yeah, that's the most realistic scenario where it would matter.
If Wisconsin drops a game and it's just us and Purdue with 3 losses, the head-to-head matchup would determine the winner.
Michigan State (Nov. 5th) & Purdue (Nov. 12th) Games
- Status
Yeah, that's the most realistic scenario where it would matter.
If Wisconsin drops a game and it's just us and Purdue with 3 losses, the head-to-head matchup would determine the winner.
I'm not sure if we are actually in disagreement or not. Your link only covers the tie breakers. So, I will lay out the two scenarios that were being (sort of) discussed. The East and West games count towards the team's Conference record. If we lose to Purdue and Michigan that leaves us with a 6-3 conf record. If Purdue loses to Iowa, that leaves them with a 6-3 conf record. If it is just these two teams, then the tie breaker is head to head and we lose. (Michigan absolutely affected us.) If we count that Wisconsin runs the gauntlet and finishes at 6-3 and we have a three way tie, the first tie breaker is moot. The 2nd tie breaker is divisional record which would exclude the Michigan and Indiana games for us. Penn St out for Purdue. Ohio St and Mich St for Wisconsin. This eliminates Minnesota but leaves us and Wisconsin proceeding to the the next step. The Michigan loss is still what dropped us into a tie. Are we in agreement or not?
Big Ten Conference Football Divisional Tiebreaker
The Big Ten football championship will be decided by a game played between the two division champions. A team or teams that are not eligible to participate in a postseason football bowl game as a result of NCAA and/or Big Ten sanctions shall not be eligible to participate in the Big Ten...bigten.org
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
No one is saying the Michigan game has absolutely no impact on the West. We are saying the relative impact is very little in the grand scheme of things.
As long as Illinois beats Purdue, it won't - but if Illinois loses to Purdue it could have a big impact.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
You can construct scenarios where a particular thing becomes important. Sure. But the second order inquiry is to assess the likelihood of the constructed scenario. Something can be highly impactful within a narrow circumstance while being unlikely to be impactful based on the aforementioned second order inquiry.
I guess it depends how you look at it. If Purdue beats us, and is the only team (other than us) with 3 losses or less, then the Michigan game has a huge impact.
I did not think about Wisconsin or Iowa running the table and creating a 3 way tie (very unlikely IMO). In that case, I agree the Michigan game doesn't matter much. Our good divisional record (5-1) would take us to Indy in that scenario.
If Purdue beats Illinois - It's likely - not a narrow circumstance.
IL ends 6-3 with a loss to PU and MI
PU ends 6-3 with a W vs. IL and loss vs. Iowa
No one else has 6 wins in conference (very likely) - PU is West Champion.
The above seems like the 3rd mostly likely scenario beyond #1 - Illinois winning out except for MI (West Champs) and #2 - PU winning out entirely (West Champs)
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
If we are that close to a sellout for MSU, I refuse to believe that two more wins wouldn’t do the trick for the Purdue game.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
For real, though, I’m just ready for us to be legit. My whole life, I’ve watched my Hawkeyes friends tailgate in crazy atmospheres. Build their fall weekends around the football schedule. Travel to visiting stadiums just to subconsciously reinforce the idea that “Iowa fans travel well.” Turn Thanksgiving Weekend football into a TRADITION rather than an inconvenience.
And I’ve wanted this for the Illini for years (wait, DECADES, I’m kind of old now!). And we are SO close. I know this huge “sleeping giant” of a fan base is there (we saw it with the 2005 Illini and 2007 Rose Bowl team), and I’m eager to be proven right.
Go Illini!
Ah to hell with Devine Billy
illini80
- Forgottonia
So apparently they won’t release a game time until Sunday for MSU? TV drives the bus, but dang that makes it tough only 6 days out. I really wanted to go. It really can’t help season ticket sales either when you have no clue when games could be played, but that’s life in the big time I guess!
Just tell your spouse (like I do) that we have to plan the ENTIRE day around it. Tailgate before, tailgate after, game time doesn't matter then, it's all good!
BloNo (slightly out of the way for Chicago bound traffic) has rooms available. About 50 minutes to the east side (near airport).
What are the possible start times for the Purdue Game? Any possibility of a night game?
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
I believe 11 am , 2:30 afternoon and a 6:30 night game are always possible until an official announcement is made
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
I believe the B1G rule is that for a night game to happen in November both teams have to sign off on the night game. I think an away team might opt not to sign off on that if it thinks it will have a disadvantage. So its not likely, but should be possible.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
I55 waves hello.
Just got my tickets for the Purdue game. Will be flying into Midway Friday with my 10yo son, renting a car, driving down to stay two nights at the Illini Union Hotel, and will be sitting in Section 128, Row 24. Best seats available, $81x2 after taxes and fees be damned. First time back to Champaign since I joined the military almost 12 years ago. I cannot wait, and if they clinch the West, the only sporting event I've attended in person that could compete with it for best of my life would be Game 2 of the 2005 World Series.
I went to almost every home game as a student circa 2004-2006, but I was never much into the tailgate scene and obviously haven't seen Grange Grove at all. Any recommendations (or invites!), bearing in mind my son's age?
I went to almost every home game as a student circa 2004-2006, but I was never much into the tailgate scene and obviously haven't seen Grange Grove at all. Any recommendations (or invites!), bearing in mind my son's age?
Thanks for your service
I wouldn't be surprised if we get the 11 AM Fox game
This is our competition
| Indiana at 2 Ohio State | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
| Purdue at 17 Illinois | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
| Nebraska at 4 Michigan | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
| Wisconsin at Iowa | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
| Maryland at 13 Penn State | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
| Northwestern at Minnesota | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
| Rutgers at Michigan State |
- Status