Jim Tressel has resigned as head coach at Ohio State, and with that step, there’s been a major power shift in Big Ten football.
↵Recent revelations have shown that Tressel was corrupt to the core, and his resignation is the right move. But make no mistake: He was also a brilliant football coach who led Ohio State to the Big Ten title (either shared or outright) in each of the last six seasons. With Tressel gone, much will change.
↵For starters, don’t be surprised if NCAA sanctions lead Ohio State to be ineligible for this year’s inaugural Big Ten championship game. Some team other than Ohio State may be at the top of the conference simply because Ohio State may be ineligible to compete for the top spot in the conference.
↵But even beyond the NCAA sanctions, there’s going to be a shift of power at the top of the Big Ten because whoever succeeds Tressel is basically being set up to fail. Tressel’s on-field success is a nearly impossible act to follow. Co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell is the interim head coach at the moment, and he has the toughest job in college football.
↵Tressel’s tenure was marked by greatness on the field, but his departure because of off-field transgressions will signal a dramatic shift in the Big Ten. Ohio State won’t be on top again for a long time.