If NIU was in the B1G West . . .

[grayhair81]

Where would you rank them based on the state of their program compared to the B1G West teams? Don't look just at this year but where these programs are now.
Here is my take.
They would be below
Wisconsin, Iowa, Northwestern, Nebraska (yes, I know they beat the Cornholers last year but that was the worst Nubby team in my lifetime).
They are better than Illinois.
They are on par with Purdue and MN.
So, maybe a 5th or 6th place team in the B1G West.
A fair question to consider is what they would look like in November after playing B1G caliber teams for 6 weeks. Ask Nebraska about that.
In summary, if we can't beat the 5th place team in the B1G West at home, it may portend bad things for the season.

 

[CO_hawk]

No

 

[thewop]

We'll know more in a few weeks, but all I'd be comfortable saying today is "they wouldn't finish last." That might even be wrong.

 

[hawkedoff]

The injuries would matter in a very real way by season end

 

[StallmanCurse]

Part the problem with these types of questions is all the variables that come with it. Facilities, budget, recruiting, fan support would all be dead last if they joined the B1G tomorrow, but where would those things be in 10 years with BTN $ rolling in?

In a single game, I think they'd be competitive with any team in the B1G-W, sans-Wisconsin. But playing a full B1G schedule + an FCS and 2 MAC non-con, I'd guess hovering around bowl eligibility. 5-7 wins/ year.

 

[WestIAHawk]

1A Wisky-1 til someone knocks them off
1B Hawks- 1B cause I want them here.
3 NW-Fitz, he bugs me tho
4 Purdue-coaching, Moore kid a stud
5 MN-?????
6 NIU- lot of guys back beat Debby
7 ILL-15 starters back
8 Debby-no proven QB like last year

 

[hawkedoff]

Rutgers can't make it work and they have one hell of a lot more than n illinois.

Wouldn't happen

 

[BioHawk]

Rutgers can't make it work and they have one hell of a lot more than n illinois.

Wouldn't happen

Northern Illinois has a stronger program than Rutgers though. It's easier to recruit Chicago talent because it's closer than Illinois. It's probably the 2nd best program in the state behind Northwestern.

 

[hawkedoff]

If Rutgers played their schedule they would do really well

 

[iowa12]

Where would you rank them based on the state of their program compared to the B1G West teams? Don't look just at this year but where these programs are now.
Here is my take.
They would be below
Wisconsin, Iowa, Northwestern, Nebraska (yes, I know they beat the Cornholers last year but that was the worst Nubby team in my lifetime).
They are better than Illinois.
They are on par with Purdue and MN.
So, maybe a 5th or 6th place team in the B1G West.
A fair question to consider is what they would look like in November after playing B1G caliber teams for 6 weeks. Ask Nebraska about that.
In summary, if we can't beat the 5th place team in the B1G West at home, it may portend bad things for the season.

Apples to watermelons. Completely irrelevant. If they were in the b10, their resources would expand exponentially