You’re Nuts’ Unpopular Opinion: What B1G team other than Ohio State do you think will win the CFP title?

From now until the start of preseason camp in August, Land Grant Holyland will be writing an article on a different topic each week. This week it’s about our unreasonable expectations.. Theme week content can be found here And all of us Unreasonable expectations here.

We all know that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most important (and least important) questions in the world of sports with your friends, so we’re bringing that fun to you with our favorite LGHL head-to-head column, “You’re Nuts.”

In “You’re Nuts,” two LGHL staff members take different positions on one question and passionately argue their opinions. In the end, it’s up to you to decide who’s right and who’s nuts.

Question of the day: Which B1G team other than Ohio State would you like to see win a national title?

Jamie’s Take: Washington Huskies

I’m a traditionalist when it comes to college football. I’m a huge supporter of the College Football Playoff and I’m nostalgic for the days when the Rose Bowl was in the traditional Big Ten vs. Pac-10/Pac-12 format. I’m against the inevitable superconference we’re heading towards. I believe historic rivalries should be preserved and respected. After all, I’m a nostalgic guy, and nostalgia breeds traditionalism.

And while I’m thrilled as someone who now lives in Los Angeles that a number of former Pac-12 teams will join the Big Ten this fall and the Buckeyes will be playing in my backyard more often, I can’t help but miss the atmosphere that existed before.

This desire to preserve the old ways (combined with a deep-seated hatred for Michigan, see “Respecting a Historic Rivalry” above) led me to root for Washington so loudly in last year’s national championship that I consider myself a Huskies fan.

“Do it for the Pac-12. Let’s end this chapter with a win! A Washington win is a win for the old conference lineup!”

Of course, my wish was not granted, but if the Huskies were to win this year, my feelings would still be the same, and there would be a fair bit of revenge involved, since it was a Big Ten powerhouse that snatched the title from them last year, after all.

“Good luck to the Pac-12. Rest in peace.” Washington is a Big Ten team now, but winning in their first year in the conference would mean a lot. They’re here to shake things up. It’s about to get interesting. OSU and Michigan can’t get complacent with the status quo now that new guys are in town.

To be clear, I’m not hoping for Washington to win. that’s all The Buckeyes. Sure, I want Ohio State to win, but if the Buckeyes don’t win the national championship this year, I want the Huskies to win it.

If things are going to change, and it seems like they are going to change whether we like it or not, then we should embrace that change.

Plus, if the Huskies win, it means Michigan can’t win, and no matter what changes happen to the Big Ten Conference, the hatred for Michigan will never go away.

Matt’s Take: Iowa Hokies

I approached this question from as realistic a standpoint as possible. After thoroughly researching the new 18-team conference, I decided to pick teams that at least have a legitimate chance to make the College Football Playoff. Where is the “unpopular” part in picking Northwestern when they have a better chance of winning a national title than Northwestern?

So if we were to only choose from the top teams in the Big Ten, we would have to find the schools that have the best chance of winning, but that aren’t going to win a national title and immediately become powerhouse programs for years to come.

So the only school that really fits this profile is Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa has routinely stayed outside of the playoff picture until November, with late-season losses dashing their playoff dreams, but with the CFP now expanded, it’s not impossible for them to sneak in with two or even three losses in the Big Ten.

From there, anything can theoretically happen thanks to Kirk’s always-solid defense, and while Iowa certainly doesn’t expect to beat teams like Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas or Alabama, there’s a chance Iowa could pull off a miracle win.

But even if that were the case, does anyone really think Iowa City would suddenly become a major recruiting destination? Would Kirk Ferentz start signing five-star quarterbacks and wide receivers? Would winning a title really catapult Iowa City from a nasty conference contender with a great defense into a well-rounded, perennial winner?

I don’t think so. I think it will be viewed similarly to Michigan’s 2023 title run five years from now: the culmination of a multi-year strategy that defied expectations (and, in Michigan’s case, NCAA rules) and ultimately was viewed as an anomaly.

I don’t think the same can be said about schools like the aforementioned Korn and Blue, Penn State, Washington, Oregon and USC, which would automatically move them to the top of the B1G hierarchy if they were to win a CFP title, potentially jeopardizing Ohio State’s status in the conference.

So if someone other than the Buckeyes has to win the College Football Playoff title, I want it to be someone who’s unlikely to surpass their status in the near future. So I’m asking you, Iowa Hawkeyes.

Tell us who you agree with: