The Big Ten-ACC Challenge has been sort of a joke the past 11 seasons. This is because there hasn’t been much challenge. The ACC is 11-0. The Big Ten came close last season — they finished 5-6 against the ACC — but still, it’s never come out on the winning side of this thing. WHERE IS YOUR MIDWESTERN PRIDE, BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE LAST 11 YEARS.

Yet, if there’s any year to strike on this, it’s now. As some guy with a weird Irish name points out, the Big Ten is more complete top to bottom this season, while the ACC is just sort of top-heavy. Purdue (No. 4), Michigan State (No. 9) and Ohio State (No. 15) are playing good basketball out the gate. (Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota were also ranked earlier this season, but losses have dropped them out of the 25.)

The Big Ten also has a head start: Penn State beat Virgina last night. So they need five more wins.

Gary Parrish adds this:

Consider that home teams are 61-28 all-time in Big Ten/ACC Challenge play, and that the Big Ten — which entered with home-court advantage — already has a road win thanks to Penn State winning at Virginia. In other words, six of the final 10 games in this year’s event are in Big Ten arenas, and the Big Ten only needs five more wins to clinch.

Oh, and here’s the lineup:

Tonight: Maryland at Indiana, Michigan State at North Carolina, Northwestern at North Carolina State, Virginia Tech at Iowa, Wake Forest at Purdue.

Tomorrow night: Boston College at Michigan, Duke at Wisconsin, Illinois at Clemson, Florida State at Ohio State, Minnesota at Miami (Fla.).

So yeah: the Big Ten is in a nice spot right now. But, you know, there’s still time to blow it.