The Big Ten's depth is what makes it brutal, not just the top teams lol. Last season, 11 of 14 teams finished bowl eligible, which is a higher percentage than the ACC. Purdue's schedule is tough, but their 4-8 record included losses to Syracuse and Fresno State, so blaming the conference structure is misguided. Every league has scheduling variance, but the overall week-to-week physicality in the Big Ten is unmatched. Their average opponent SP+ rating was 5.5 points higher than Wake Forest's schedule last year. That gauntlet is real, and it shows in the win-loss columns of teams transitioning into the league.