Bein a Osu fan, I don't take "moral" victories at all. there is no, "well they played good and i am proud of them, they lost. They were up with 30 seconds to go and there great defense couldn't stop a better QB.
The only to take from the end of the season, is that the seniors had great careers. That they can be proud of, but they certainly can't be proud of their bcs bowl record.
The big 10 is no longer the power conference it was. Kids don't want to play in the cold up north anymore. The south and west teams have better atheletes, better coaches and better weather so the kids can play ball all year round (yea i know its against the ncaa rules, but don't think for a minute it don't happen) and they do.
Out of the 6 bcs conferences, the big 10 is probably tied for 6th with the big east with no one in 5th. Yea I understand these things run in cycles, but i am pretty sure it will be a longggg cycle for the big ten.