Season Springboard or Pinnacle?

As I sat contently after the game enjoying a victory beverage, I had to ponder, where the team goes next? 

That isn’t to brush aside what just happened. Beating UM for the second year in a row, and physically smacking them around, is new territory. I absolutely love this latest twist in the rivalry. However, while beating Michigan is the cherry on top of the season, it is a milestone towards the end goal, not the end goal itself.

Yes, it is the biggest game of the year (At least for me, I don’t care about the Wolverines lying through their teeth about OSU. Go sit on it for another year.). It is big for recruiting, state pride, but this year it was huge in breaking a losing streak, and starting the ascent up the Big Ten standings.

I came away 80% impressed with the defense. The angry mob ready to run Narduzzi out of town can disperse, at least for the moment. For most of the game, they were dominant. It was the best defensive effort since at least the Georgia game, where they did a very solid job of containing a NFL stocked roster. The same defensive effort and execution will be needed next week against another spread team next week in Illinois, and that one is capable of passing better.

Call me greedy, but I am not satisfied with just beating UM. I would like to see this team in a bowl game, and preferably a good one. As we approach the halfway mark in the season, how do you see it playing out?