When Urban Meyer came to Ohio State on Nov. 28, 2011, the Big Ten had bottomed out.
The league's highest rated team in the BCS standings was No. 10 Wisconsin, guaranteeing no Big Ten representation in the national championship game for the fourth consecutive season. Penn State was embroiled in scandal, weeks removed from Joe Paterno's firing. Ohio State was headed toward its first seven-loss season since 1897. The Buckeyes' 24-17 loss to Florida in the Gator Bowl would be part of a 4-6 bowl record for the Big Ten, the league's eighth non-winning record during bowl season in nine seasons.