Worst of the 21st: Sweet 16—Peay Regional

So, we’re down to 16. I will provide an update in terms of each school’s record in the tournament, but since voting is still open for a couple of regionals, that will come in a day or two. In the meantime, two announcements:

First, with each subsequent post, we will be “honoring” teams whose play would have been worthy of inclusion had this tournament extended back into the 20th century.

Today’s honorees are the selections of the Veterans’ Committee and reach back to the “dead ball” era, so to speak, or, more accurately, to the Big 2, Little 8 era, 1968-1980, the 13-year stretch where either Michigan or Ohio State made the Rose Bowl each year.

Without further delay, let’s give it up for:

1968 Wisconsin Badgers: 0-10/0-7, -9.45 SRS #96 of 118), 8.6 PPG (#119 of 119), 31.0 Opp. PPG (#107 of 119) (yes, two different denominators).

1969 Illinois Fighting Illini: 0-10/0-7, -12.34 SRS (#105 of 122), 10.6 PPG (#113 of 122), 39.7 Opp. PPG (#121 of 122)

1973 Iowa Hawkeyes: 0-11/0-8, -4.23 SRS (!) (#80 of 129), 12.7 PPG (#113 of 129), 36.5 Opp. PPG (#127 of 129)

Congratulations to each team. By not winning a game, you have won...a place in infamy.

Second, I’ve tried to respond to any and all quibbles and objections that have come up in the comments. I appreciate whatever any of you want to bring to the table.

That said, a while back there was a comment to the effect that I shouldn’t refer to the “selection committee.” While the reason given was that such a reference creates a visual of I, your author, talking to empty chairs, I am most concerned about the potential blow to the integrity of the selection process should you be led to believe that the selection and seeding decisions were purely at my whim.

Thus, I am taking the unorthodox step of releasing video footage of the committee’s deliberations. Please note that THE CHAIRS ARE NOT EMPTY:

Anyway, on to the matchups:

[Nitty gritty time. Just the numbers. If you want the capsules, they can be found here:

https://www.offtackleempire.com/2020/4/29/21240676/worst-big-ten-football-teams-2015-2019-rutgers-2003-2004-2013-illinois-2016-purdue-2008-indiana]

(3) 2003 Indiana Hoosiers 2-10/1-7 (1-10 vs. FBS)

SRS -9.87: #97 of 117 (B1G ranked #3 conference)
14.8 PPG: #115 of 117 (13.9 vs. FBS)
32.3 Opp. PPG: #94 of 117 (35 vs FBS)

• L 10-34 @ UConn Huskies (finished 9-3 as Independent, no bowl)
• L 13-38 @ #22 Washington Huskies (6-6 no bowl)
• W 33-3 vs. Indiana State Sycamores (FBS opponent)
• L 17-34 vs. Kentucky Wildcats (4-8; never closer than 10 in second half)
• L 17-31 @ #11 Michigan Wolverines (10-3, #6; 24-0 at halftime, 31-3 in 4^th)
• L 3-31 @ #25 Michigan State Spartans (8-5, made bowl)
• L 31-37 vs. Northwestern Wildcats (6-7, made bowl; Indiana led 31-24 in 4^th, fell in OT)
• L 6-35 vs. #8 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2; #4; 35-0 until last 4:00)
• L 7-55 @ #24 Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-3, #20)
• W 17-14 vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (1-11; is 1-seed in field, Indiana trailed 14-7 entering 4^th)
• L 7-52 @ Penn State Nittany Lions (3-9; was 7-seed in field, Indiana scored first, 52-7 after 3^rd)
• L 16-24 vs. #16 Purdue Boilermakers (9-4, #18; Indiana closed from 21-3 to 21-16)

(2) 2019 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2-10/0-9

SRS -11.15: #118 of 130 (B1G ranked #2 conference)
13.2 PPG: #129 of 130
36.7 Opp. PPG: #123 of 130

• W 48-21 vs. UMass Minutemen (finished 1-11; UMass led 21-7 after 1^st, Rutgers scores 31 in 2^nd)
• L 0-30 @ #20 Iowa Hawkeyes (10-3, #15)
• L 16-30 vs. Boston College Eagles (6-7, made bowl; 24-16 early in 4^th)
• L 0-52 @ #20 Michigan Wolverines (9-4, #18)
• L 7-48 vs. Maryland Terrapins (3-9; was 4-seed in field, no scoring in 4^th)
• L 0-35 @ Indiana Hoosiers (8-5; no scoring in 4^th)
• L 7-42 vs. #20 Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-2, #10; 21-0 after 3^rd)
• W 44-34 vs. Liberty Flames (8-5, made bowl; 21-21 at half, Rutgers 17-3 in 3^rd)
• L 10-38 @ Illinois Fighting Illini (6-7, made bowl; 10-10 at half, Illinois 21-0 in 3^rd)
• L 21-56 vs. #2 Ohio State Buckeyes (13-1, #3; 49-7 late in 3^rd)
• L 0-27 vs. Michigan State Spartans (7-6, made bowl)
• L 6-27 @ #12 Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2, #9; 13-6 early in 4^th)

(5) 2008 Indiana Hoosiers 3-9/1-7 (2-9 vs. FBS)

-8.72 SRS: #100 of 120 (B1G ranked #4 conference)
20.5 PPG: #97 of 120 (18.3 vs. FBS)
35.2 Opp. PPG: #100 of 120 (38.2 vs. FBS)

• W 31-13 vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (finished 2-10)
• W 45-3 vs. Murray State Racers (FBS opponent)
• L 20-42 vs. Ball State Cardinals (12-2, made bowl; 21-20 late in 3^rd)
• L 29-42 vs. Michigan State Spartans (9-4, #24; 34-29 late in 3^rd)
• L 7-16 @ Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-6, made bowl; 13-7 late in 4^th)
• L 9-45 vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (9-4, #20; 17-9 at half)
• L 13-55 @ Illinois Fighting Illini (5-7; fell behind by 21 midway in 2^nd)
• W 21-19 vs. Northwestern Wildcats (9-4, made bowl; NW -5 turnover, no scoring in 4^th)
• L 34-37 vs. Central Michigan Chippewas (8-5, made bowl; Indiana led 34-28 entering 4^th)
• L 20-55 vs. Wisconsin Badgers (7-6, made bowl; 24-20 at half)
• L 7-34 @ #7 Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2, #8; 10-7 at half)
• L 10-62 @ Purdue Boilermakers (4-8; 41-3 at half)

(1) 2003 Illinois Fighting Illini 1-11/0-8 (0-11 vs. FBS)

-8.63 SRS: #92 of 117 (B1G ranked #3 conference)
16.9 PPG: #107 of 117 (14 vs. FBS)
33.2 Opp PPG: #98 of 117 (34.2 vs. FBS)

• L 15-22 (N) Missouri Tigers (finished 8-5, made bowl; Illini turned 14-3 into 15-14 lead in 4^th)
• W 49-22 vs. Illinois State Redbirds (FBS opponent)
• L 3-6 @ UCLA Bruins (6-7, made bowl; Illinois -3 turnover margin, outgained UCLA 283-204)
• L 24-31 vs. California Golden Bears (8-6, made bowl; 31-14 in 4^th)
• L 20-38 vs. Wisconsin Badgers (7-6, made bowl; 28-20 after 3^rd)
• L 10-43 @ #22 Purdue Boilermakers (9-4, #18; 20-0 after 1^st)
• L 14-49 vs. #21 Michigan State Spartans (8-5, made bowl; 49-7 late in 4^th)
• L 14-56 @ #17 Michigan Wolverines (10-3, #6; 35-0 at half)
• L 10-36 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-3, #20; 23-10 late in 3^rd)
• L 10-41 @ #13 Iowa Hawkeyes (10-3, #8; 34-0 after 3^rd)
• L 14-17 @ Indiana Hoosiers (2-10; is 3-seed in field, Illinois rallied from 14-7 deficit in 4^th)
• L 20-37 vs. Northwestern Wildcats (6-7, made bowl; Illinois led 13-7 at half, was 23-20 in 4^th)