The college football regular season is complete, and in the Big Ten, Michigan and Iowa reigned supreme over their respective divisions over the course of 13 weeks. The two programs meet this weekend with a conference championship on the line. Reaching the title contest was a preseason goal — and perhaps even an expectation — for the Wolverines, while winning the league at times appeared to be a stretch for the Hawkeyes throughout the campaign.

Coming up short of Big Ten supremacy is nothing shy of a disappointment for teams such as Ohio State and Penn State. Failing to reach bowl eligibility was a letdown for Nebraska, Illinois and Michigan State. But for others, like upstart Northwestern, the 2023 regular season was a resounding success.

Not every team’s expectations can become a reality, and that is particularly true in the Big Ten, where numerous squads vie for the conference title and College Football Playoff berths each year.