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The Big Ten's nonconference struggles the past two weeks don't come as a major shock to those around the league. "We do subpar in our nonconference schedule year in and year out," one league coach said. "[Against] the SEC and the Pac-12 and the MAC, it's subpar. And then you get into bowl games and it's a s---storm." Added a former Big Ten coach: "It's not like 2014 came about and the league is weak. This league has been weak for a long time. If you list the Power 5 conferences, you know who No. 5 is." The league's 8-33 regular-season record against Power 5 teams since 2010 bears that out, and the bowl record (10-21) isn't much better. But a conference that has spent much of the past decade closer to college football's basement than its penthouse has moved down yet another floor. After Big Ten newbie Rutgers beat Washington State in Seattle on college football's opening night, the league has lost 10 consecutive games against Power 5 teams and Notre Dame. The Big Ten didn't just drop its two marquee showcases -- Wisconsin-LSU and Michigan State-Oregon -- but games it was heavily favored to win (Ohio State-Virginia Tech, Northwestern-Cal, Iowa-Iowa State). The 1-10 mark against the Power 5 is compounded by three home losses to Mid-American Conference foes. Big Ten bashing, seemingly a national pastime every September, has intensified. "When you go 0-and-whatever," one league coach said, "you're an easy target." Why has the Big Ten seemingly gone from bad to worse? Inside Access asked those who best know the league.
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