Reputation and respect are ever-evolving concepts. They take many years -- decades even -- to establish, yet they can be damaged or destroyed very quickly. The Big Ten Conference is a great example. The league has enjoyed remarkable success, and it was a mere three years ago that it was on top of the college football world. For 16 seconds. Then? Ohio State blew it. The exact turning point of the Big Ten's fate can be pinpointed to Jan. 8, 2007. The Buckeyes, led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith, entered the BCS national championship game ranked No. 1 and were coming off a thrilling 42-39 win over No. 2 Michigan in the regular-season finale. The Buckeyes and Wolverines were clearly the two best teams in the nation, many people thought, so why not let them play a rematch in the BCS title game? It didn't happen, as Florida jumped Michigan in the standings and played Ohio State for the title.