Big Ten: Iowa Hawkeyes
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To your emails ...
David from Chicago writes: I may be out of step with other fans, but I would like to see Iowa schedule a MAC team and a Sun Belt team every year as non-conference opponents, in addition to keeping Iowa State on the schedule. The ultimate goal is to go to the best bowl game as possible, and a guaranteed two (or three) non-conference wins are more important than strength of schedule. If Iowa can consistently go 5-4 to 7-2 in Big Ten play (optimistic but doable), this strategy should translate to seven to ten total wins and a solid bowl invite.
Adam Rittenberg: David, while I disagree with your philosophy, you make some valid points about nonconference games and strength of schedule. Now it's important to note that schedule strength will be a much bigger factor with the upcoming College Football Playoff, and if Iowa intends to ever make the Playoff, your scheduling model likely wouldn't get the job done. If you believe Iowa isn't a Playoff contender -- a pessimistic or realistic view, depends on who you ask -- your model likely would get the Hawkeyes to "better" bowls. But ask yourself: is being an Iowa football fan all about getting to the Outback Bowl or the Gator Bowl or the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl? Or is it about winning championships and playing exciting games?
Most Iowa fans want to see their team on the big stage playing big-deal teams -- not the MAC, the Sun Belt or even Iowa State. If Iowa really wants to elevate its national profile, which a lot of Hawkeyes fans desire, a different non-league scheduling model likely is in order.
Terry from Detroit writes: I know a national title would be ideal, but do you see programs like Wisconsin and Michigan State, if they can consistently put together solid bowl-winning teams, being able to leverage that success more so than if they were to win it all? (both in recruiting and respect) Look at Michigan State basketball, even though they havent won a title since 2000, they have consistently made it deep into the tournament with final 4's and conference championships. It seems as though they have gained this respect because of their consistency (although the 2000 title certainly helps)... could this apply to college football as well?
Adam Rittenberg: Terry, I love discussing program perception, so thanks for raising this interesting question. The Michigan State basketball model certainly is a reasonable goal for both Wisconsin and Michigan State, although Wisconsin is much closer to that level because of its Big Ten titles and Rose Bowl appearances in the past two decades. Michigan State hoops is seemingly always in contention for Big Ten titles, and Tom Izzo's reputation as a brilliant NCAA tournament coach, despite only one national championship, boosts the program's overall stock. You mention winning bowl games, and Michigan State has gotten over the hump the past two seasons, while Wisconsin has dropped three straight Rose Bowls after winning the Champs Sports Bowl in 2009. But both programs have had some consistent success, which matters in terms of perception.
Still, a national championship would fundamentally change the way both programs are viewed. It would show they had the talent and coaching to beat the best in college football, not merely compete with the very good. Neither team would want to fall off after one national title like Auburn has, and I can't deny that overall consistency, good bowl games and bowl wins matter in the long run. But a title would show that Wisconsin and Michigan State could rise from the ranks of the very good to the truly elite, a jump many think will never take place.
William from Spartanburg, S.C., writes: According to ESPN, the Big 12, has 4 teams in the top 25 average rank 15.25. B1G has 4 teams in the top 25, average rank 13.75. The Pac-12 doesn't even have a top 25 ranked team. ACC has 5 in the top 25. SEC has like 8. So yes the SEC and ACC are out recruiting us I can admit that. The Big 12 is close, but the Pac isn't even in the same neighborhood in recruiting as of right now, today. How do you support the article you wrote "Big Ten fourth in recruiting rankings?"
Adam Rittenberg: William, while I wrote the post you refer to, I didn't compile the conference rankings, which were done by our recruiting analysts Tom Luginbill and Craig Haubert. You bring up a good point about the current class rankings, but the league rankings were based on other factors as well. The Pac-12 has outperformed the Big Ten in recent national championships and BCS bowl wins, which contributed to its ranking. Luginbill and Haubert also specify in the post: "Conferences near the top include teams that have proved successful on the recruiting trail in the past." The Pac-12 boasts several of these teams in Oregon, Stanford and USC, and UCLA's recruiting efforts are on the upswing under coach Jim Mora. All that said, I think you can make a good case for the Big Ten's recruiting efforts being better than the Pac-12's at this early stage of the process. Northwestern is putting together a stellar class, and Nebraska is enjoying a strong recent recruiting surge. So it's not all about Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten right now.
Chris from Chicago writes: It seems like everyone predicts the season based on all the star players playing well and/or improving. Because they're impossible to predict, no one discusses the huge impact of injuries. So here's my question: what teams and/or positions are most susceptible and/or least susceptible to injuries in the B1G? I'm thinking Michigan is in trouble if Gardner gets hurt, and OSU/Nebraska would also struggle if Miller/Martinez went down, while Indiana/Northwestern wouldn't miss much since they have capable/experienced backup QBs, and Wisconsin has plenty of RB depth to survive injuries there ...
Adam Rittenberg: Chris, we addressed this topic recently with the most indispensable series. We made our picks for each team's most indispensable players, and Michigan's Devin Gardner, Ohio State's Braxton Miller and Nebraska's Taylor Martinez all made the list. We went with wide receiver Jared Abbrederis for Wisconsin rather than one of the running backs. We also asked fans to vote on the league's most indispensable offensive and defensive players. Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier edged Michigan State LB Max Bullough as the league's most indispensable defender, while Miller beat out both Martinez and Gardner as the most indispensable offensive player. Michigan's Gardner is my pick for the Big Ten's most indispensable player (offense or defense), as his absence could cost the Wolverines 3-4 games and possibly a Legends division title. Ohio State's Shazier also is in the conversation because of Ohio State's inexperience in the defensive front seven. Penn State also lacks depth in its linebacking corps and can't afford to lose a guy like Mike Hull.
Gregory from Kingsport, Tenn., writes: Adam--I still contend that the Cornhuskers downfall in football started when Perlman hired Pederson, then Pederson hired Callahan. All three tried to make it a Wall Street-like business atmosphere. They had no respect for the past culture of the program. Even Dr. Tom could not fix what they broke! The program is no longer respected and feared as it one was. I can not believe that the "real Husker Nation" has not ask for Harvey the rabbit to step down, and find some new young blood to go with the new AD. What do you think?
Adam Rittenberg: Gregory, while Perlman has made some mistakes in relation to the football program, I don't think you fire a university president based on an athletic director hiring decision from more than a decade ago. Although the Pederson and Callahan hires certainly contributed to Nebraska falling from the nation's elite, there have been other factors involved, namely the SEC's historic surge coupled with the change in recruiting demographics with more elite players coming from the South. It's simply harder for Nebraska to get the great players these days.
Nebraska also has had opportunities to elevate its program under Bo Pelini, but the Huskers keep falling short in league title games (Big 12 and Big Ten). I'm not sure what you mean by a "new young blood" to go along with AD Shawn Eichorst. Pelini is 42, which hardly makes him old among major-conference head coaches. Would you feel better if Nebraska hired Scott Frost?
Joshua from Louisiana writes: Hey Adam, I'm a huge Michigan fan, and I fully admit this following question may sound like me being a homer but...Would you say that its pretty clear that Brady Hoke can recruit with the "big dogs"? All I have heard for the past two years from ohio and SEC fans is that he cant keep pace with guys like Saban, Meyer, and Spurrier. I think its obvious he can, seeing as how the majority of recruiting rankings had the Wolverines 2013 class in the top 5 and the 2014 class is sitting pretty at number 1 on a few sites. He has brought in a swagger that RichRod didnt have and has signed top talent out from under OSU and most SEC teams noses. Some more insight on this would be great Adam.
Adam Rittenberg: I think it's pretty obvious that Brady Hoke and his staff can recruit with the nation's best. I've been impressed not only by the quality of recruits Michigan is bringing in, but the plan Hoke and his assistants have followed since his arrival. There's a crystal-clear vision at Michigan for what they want and who they want, and the coaches don't deviate from it when they're scouting prospects. They target players extremely early, which has contributed to the huge numbers of early commits they've had the past few years. It doesn't matter if Michigan signs the No. 1 class in February, and teams that pile up early commits tend to be penalized in the final rankings because they're not making a splash on signing day. It's clear Hoke has restored Michigan's recruiting to the top level. Although Michigan isn't located in the most fertile state for prospects, Hoke has done very well in Ohio and throughout the Midwest. The next step, and you're starting to see it, is branching out to the South and West to bring in elite prospects from those regions and cement Michigan's national recruiting brand.
To your emails ...
David from Chicago writes: I may be out of step with other fans, but I would like to see Iowa schedule a MAC team and a Sun Belt team every year as non-conference opponents, in addition to keeping Iowa State on the schedule. The ultimate goal is to go to the best bowl game as possible, and a guaranteed two (or three) non-conference wins are more important than strength of schedule. If Iowa can consistently go 5-4 to 7-2 in Big Ten play (optimistic but doable), this strategy should translate to seven to ten total wins and a solid bowl invite.
Adam Rittenberg: David, while I disagree with your philosophy, you make some valid points about nonconference games and strength of schedule. Now it's important to note that schedule strength will be a much bigger factor with the upcoming College Football Playoff, and if Iowa intends to ever make the Playoff, your scheduling model likely wouldn't get the job done. If you believe Iowa isn't a Playoff contender -- a pessimistic or realistic view, depends on who you ask -- your model likely would get the Hawkeyes to "better" bowls. But ask yourself: is being an Iowa football fan all about getting to the Outback Bowl or the Gator Bowl or the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl? Or is it about winning championships and playing exciting games?
Most Iowa fans want to see their team on the big stage playing big-deal teams -- not the MAC, the Sun Belt or even Iowa State. If Iowa really wants to elevate its national profile, which a lot of Hawkeyes fans desire, a different non-league scheduling model likely is in order.
Terry from Detroit writes: I know a national title would be ideal, but do you see programs like Wisconsin and Michigan State, if they can consistently put together solid bowl-winning teams, being able to leverage that success more so than if they were to win it all? (both in recruiting and respect) Look at Michigan State basketball, even though they havent won a title since 2000, they have consistently made it deep into the tournament with final 4's and conference championships. It seems as though they have gained this respect because of their consistency (although the 2000 title certainly helps)... could this apply to college football as well?
Adam Rittenberg: Terry, I love discussing program perception, so thanks for raising this interesting question. The Michigan State basketball model certainly is a reasonable goal for both Wisconsin and Michigan State, although Wisconsin is much closer to that level because of its Big Ten titles and Rose Bowl appearances in the past two decades. Michigan State hoops is seemingly always in contention for Big Ten titles, and Tom Izzo's reputation as a brilliant NCAA tournament coach, despite only one national championship, boosts the program's overall stock. You mention winning bowl games, and Michigan State has gotten over the hump the past two seasons, while Wisconsin has dropped three straight Rose Bowls after winning the Champs Sports Bowl in 2009. But both programs have had some consistent success, which matters in terms of perception.
Still, a national championship would fundamentally change the way both programs are viewed. It would show they had the talent and coaching to beat the best in college football, not merely compete with the very good. Neither team would want to fall off after one national title like Auburn has, and I can't deny that overall consistency, good bowl games and bowl wins matter in the long run. But a title would show that Wisconsin and Michigan State could rise from the ranks of the very good to the truly elite, a jump many think will never take place.
William from Spartanburg, S.C., writes: According to ESPN, the Big 12, has 4 teams in the top 25 average rank 15.25. B1G has 4 teams in the top 25, average rank 13.75. The Pac-12 doesn't even have a top 25 ranked team. ACC has 5 in the top 25. SEC has like 8. So yes the SEC and ACC are out recruiting us I can admit that. The Big 12 is close, but the Pac isn't even in the same neighborhood in recruiting as of right now, today. How do you support the article you wrote "Big Ten fourth in recruiting rankings?"
Adam Rittenberg: William, while I wrote the post you refer to, I didn't compile the conference rankings, which were done by our recruiting analysts Tom Luginbill and Craig Haubert. You bring up a good point about the current class rankings, but the league rankings were based on other factors as well. The Pac-12 has outperformed the Big Ten in recent national championships and BCS bowl wins, which contributed to its ranking. Luginbill and Haubert also specify in the post: "Conferences near the top include teams that have proved successful on the recruiting trail in the past." The Pac-12 boasts several of these teams in Oregon, Stanford and USC, and UCLA's recruiting efforts are on the upswing under coach Jim Mora. All that said, I think you can make a good case for the Big Ten's recruiting efforts being better than the Pac-12's at this early stage of the process. Northwestern is putting together a stellar class, and Nebraska is enjoying a strong recent recruiting surge. So it's not all about Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten right now.
Chris from Chicago writes: It seems like everyone predicts the season based on all the star players playing well and/or improving. Because they're impossible to predict, no one discusses the huge impact of injuries. So here's my question: what teams and/or positions are most susceptible and/or least susceptible to injuries in the B1G? I'm thinking Michigan is in trouble if Gardner gets hurt, and OSU/Nebraska would also struggle if Miller/Martinez went down, while Indiana/Northwestern wouldn't miss much since they have capable/experienced backup QBs, and Wisconsin has plenty of RB depth to survive injuries there ...
Adam Rittenberg: Chris, we addressed this topic recently with the most indispensable series. We made our picks for each team's most indispensable players, and Michigan's Devin Gardner, Ohio State's Braxton Miller and Nebraska's Taylor Martinez all made the list. We went with wide receiver Jared Abbrederis for Wisconsin rather than one of the running backs. We also asked fans to vote on the league's most indispensable offensive and defensive players. Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier edged Michigan State LB Max Bullough as the league's most indispensable defender, while Miller beat out both Martinez and Gardner as the most indispensable offensive player. Michigan's Gardner is my pick for the Big Ten's most indispensable player (offense or defense), as his absence could cost the Wolverines 3-4 games and possibly a Legends division title. Ohio State's Shazier also is in the conversation because of Ohio State's inexperience in the defensive front seven. Penn State also lacks depth in its linebacking corps and can't afford to lose a guy like Mike Hull.
Gregory from Kingsport, Tenn., writes: Adam--I still contend that the Cornhuskers downfall in football started when Perlman hired Pederson, then Pederson hired Callahan. All three tried to make it a Wall Street-like business atmosphere. They had no respect for the past culture of the program. Even Dr. Tom could not fix what they broke! The program is no longer respected and feared as it one was. I can not believe that the "real Husker Nation" has not ask for Harvey the rabbit to step down, and find some new young blood to go with the new AD. What do you think?
Adam Rittenberg: Gregory, while Perlman has made some mistakes in relation to the football program, I don't think you fire a university president based on an athletic director hiring decision from more than a decade ago. Although the Pederson and Callahan hires certainly contributed to Nebraska falling from the nation's elite, there have been other factors involved, namely the SEC's historic surge coupled with the change in recruiting demographics with more elite players coming from the South. It's simply harder for Nebraska to get the great players these days.
Nebraska also has had opportunities to elevate its program under Bo Pelini, but the Huskers keep falling short in league title games (Big 12 and Big Ten). I'm not sure what you mean by a "new young blood" to go along with AD Shawn Eichorst. Pelini is 42, which hardly makes him old among major-conference head coaches. Would you feel better if Nebraska hired Scott Frost?
Joshua from Louisiana writes: Hey Adam, I'm a huge Michigan fan, and I fully admit this following question may sound like me being a homer but...Would you say that its pretty clear that Brady Hoke can recruit with the "big dogs"? All I have heard for the past two years from ohio and SEC fans is that he cant keep pace with guys like Saban, Meyer, and Spurrier. I think its obvious he can, seeing as how the majority of recruiting rankings had the Wolverines 2013 class in the top 5 and the 2014 class is sitting pretty at number 1 on a few sites. He has brought in a swagger that RichRod didnt have and has signed top talent out from under OSU and most SEC teams noses. Some more insight on this would be great Adam.
Adam Rittenberg: I think it's pretty obvious that Brady Hoke and his staff can recruit with the nation's best. I've been impressed not only by the quality of recruits Michigan is bringing in, but the plan Hoke and his assistants have followed since his arrival. There's a crystal-clear vision at Michigan for what they want and who they want, and the coaches don't deviate from it when they're scouting prospects. They target players extremely early, which has contributed to the huge numbers of early commits they've had the past few years. It doesn't matter if Michigan signs the No. 1 class in February, and teams that pile up early commits tend to be penalized in the final rankings because they're not making a splash on signing day. It's clear Hoke has restored Michigan's recruiting to the top level. Although Michigan isn't located in the most fertile state for prospects, Hoke has done very well in Ohio and throughout the Midwest. The next step, and you're starting to see it, is branching out to the South and West to bring in elite prospects from those regions and cement Michigan's national recruiting brand.
Former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez is enjoying life in the wild, wild West.
- More on QB Wes Lunt's transfer to Illinois here and here and here and here.
- Check out the latest ESPN 300 recruiting rankings. Michigan still tops ESPN's class rankings
. A closer look at the classes for Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan . - Northwestern's recruiting momentum rolls on with its 12th pledge for the 2014 class.
- Minnesota adds a decorated high school center to its recruiting class. More on new recruit Connor Mayes.
- Indiana's QB competition is a dead heat entering preseason camp. The Hoosiers' recruiting efforts are picking up steam.
- Former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr doesn't like the trend of offering scholarships to younger and younger recruits. The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is the top non-SEC storyline of 2013.
- Former Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins picks Andrew Maxwell to win the team's QB competition. Tight end Dylan Chmura begins his journey at Michigan State.
- Adolphus Washington has some big shoes to fill along Ohio State's defensive line.
- Tom Dienhart ranks the Big Ten stadiums. Dienhart also previews Week 6 in the Big Ten, highlighted by Ohio State at Northwestern.
- QB recruit David Blough took an interesting route to Purdue.
- Nebraska tears up the turf at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska recruiting coordinator Ross Els would like to see official visits allowed in June. Plenty of good Huskers recruiting nuggets from Sam McKewon.
- More than 300 former Penn State players signed a statement supporting the Paterno family's lawsuit against the NCAA. Bob Flounders examines some Penn State numbers. Former Lions assistant Tom Bradley is still coaching.
- Wisconsin student tickets sell out quickly.
- An update on the new video board/sound upgrades at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa players get to work in the weight room.
I like the way you work it. I got to 'bag it up.
A.J. from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: Hey Brian, this is a question regarding the B1G and the SEC. Could part of the reason it's been so hard for the B1G to stay competitive on a national level with the SEC be weather? For instance, it wouldn't be ridiculous to think that recruits would want to choose a school where you almost always play in sunny and warm conditions, and could prevent recruits from wanting to be in the Midwest. Even lower tier SEC schools like Tennessee or Ole Miss continue to get highly-ranked players. Wisconsin has just as much tradition as those schools, and has even been better in the past few years, yet they never get some of the top recruits. Frankly, we see a lot of crummy overcast in the Midwest, and could a national contender like OSU or Michigan be more likely to be upset when the weather is not helping motivate the team? This could be ridiculous, but could this be another reason the B1G may never catch up with the SEC?
Brian Bennett: It's naive to think that weather doesn't play some factor. Big Ten teams always have to worry that it's going to be freezing cold or snowing when recruits -- especially those from the South -- come to campus on official visits. Weather certainly has played some role in the shifting demographics in this country toward the Sun Belt. And players can more easily train year-round outside when it's warm. So it's definitely something the league has to overcome. I still believe the biggest obstacle is simple geography; there are more big-time recruits in the South, and they're more likely to play their college ball close to home. Weather definitely can be a negative for the Big Ten at times, but it's not the only reason the league has fallen a step behind the SEC.
Bratwurst from Milwaukee writes: Rank your top 3 games including at least one B1G team that could appear on College Gameday. Conference or non-conference matchups?
Brian Bennett: Mmm ... bratwurst. Sorry, lost my train of thought there for a moment. We ran a poll last week on the most important Big Ten game, and not surprisingly, Ohio State at Michigan won out. That's always going to be huge, and if the Buckeyes are undefeated and Michigan is having a great season, it could very well be a "GameDay" selection. My top three would also include Nebraska at Michigan on Nov. 9 and Wisconsin at Ohio State on Sept. 28. Those two games could decide the division championships and should have great atmospheres, with or without Chris, Lee, Kirk, Desmond and the gang.
Alex G. from Ames, Iowa, writes: All this 9-game B1G schedule talk has me nervous about the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry game. I know in Friday's mailbag with Adam there was talk of VT / other major conferences filling in every two years or so, but I don't see how that will go down with fans in Iowa. Maybe the Cyclones and Hawkeyes will always be "middle-tier" teams on each team's schedule, but that's not what matters. Unless you live in the state of Iowa, you truly don't know how important this game is (this is coming from a born Hawkeye fan attending Iowa State). Do you truly see the Hawkeyes booting the Cyclones in favor of a SOS booster?
Brian Bennett: I'm a huge proponent of in-state rivalries and would hate to see Iowa-Iowa State lose its annual status. I think that series is good for the entire state and both programs. In the end, I think it comes down to what type of program Iowa sees itself as. Do the Hawkeyes view themselves as a team that can make mid- to upper-tier bowls on an annual basis and compete for the Big Ten title in most years? Or does Iowa truly see itself as a national title contender? If it's the latter, then upgrading the schedule is truly a must, whether that means adding another marquee opponent besides Iowa State or replacing the Cyclones with a big-name opponent in certain years. If keeping seven home games and just getting to bowls is the objective, then playing Iowa State and two mediocre teams is fine. I'd love to see Iowa challenge itself with Iowa State and another brand-name opponent, but I also understand the difficulty of doing so with a nine-game Big Ten schedule.
Mark from Arizona writes: I am so disappointed. How can you not put Mark Weisman in your top 5 running backs to lead the conference? He was impressive when he was healthy. He's a beast. Iowa may have some questions with quarterbacks, receivers, and defensive lineman, but not with running backs and an experienced and healthy offensive line. You gotta be crazy not to consider Weisman and Iowa's rushing game top 3 in the conference.
Brian Bennett: Mark, in case you missed it, I recently ranked Weisman No. 4 on our list of guys who could become new members of the 1,000-yard club in 2013. But that was in addition to five returning players who ran for more than 1,000 last year. It's not that I don't think highly of Weisman; it's just that he has a lot of competition in a league filled with really good running backs and talented running quarterbacks. Weisman had some big games last year but finished with just 815 yards. Granted, he was banged up for parts of the year and wasn't given a full load of carries early on. Still, Iowa has other options at tailback, including Damon Bullock and Jordan Canzeri, so there's no guarantee he'll get the full bulk of rushing attempts. And his physical style could make it difficult for him to stay healthy an entire year. I like his chances of getting to 1,000 yards, but it's probably going to take at least 1,600 yards to lead the league. I don't see Weisman getting that high.
Matt from Midway, N.C., writes: Brian, why is it that Brady Hoke is given several years to have his roster in place to succeed in his system, when Urban Meyer seems to already have the pieces he desires? Both coaches have come in running a different scheme than their predecessor. Did Rich Rod destroy TTUN that much or is Urban Meyer just that good?
Brian Bennett: I guess you've already forgotten the 2011 season, when Hoke led Michigan to an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl title. So both guys had great first years at their schools. The big difference when it comes to implementing systems is that Meyer -- while he lacked the athletes he wanted at receiver -- had the perfect guy to run his spread in Braxton Miller, while Hoke inherited a running quarterback when he wanted to use a pro-style passing game. And Ohio State still had plenty of talent and future NFL draft picks on the roster, while Michigan's overall talent level had noticeably dipped under Rodriguez.
Jay from Arlington writes: I wouldn't but Penn State very far behind Alabama if I were you. The two games they played recently were far closer than most of the simpletons in the media believe them to be and on a neutral field, the 2012 Big Ten champion Nittany Lions (The only rightfully undefeated team in league play) would have taken Bama to the wire. Once they got going, they were easily the best team in the Big Ten last year despite playing against a stacked deck all year long. Penn State will challenge the likes of Alabama before any other Big Ten team will.
Brian Bennett: I admire your optimism.
A.J. from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: Hey Brian, this is a question regarding the B1G and the SEC. Could part of the reason it's been so hard for the B1G to stay competitive on a national level with the SEC be weather? For instance, it wouldn't be ridiculous to think that recruits would want to choose a school where you almost always play in sunny and warm conditions, and could prevent recruits from wanting to be in the Midwest. Even lower tier SEC schools like Tennessee or Ole Miss continue to get highly-ranked players. Wisconsin has just as much tradition as those schools, and has even been better in the past few years, yet they never get some of the top recruits. Frankly, we see a lot of crummy overcast in the Midwest, and could a national contender like OSU or Michigan be more likely to be upset when the weather is not helping motivate the team? This could be ridiculous, but could this be another reason the B1G may never catch up with the SEC?
Brian Bennett: It's naive to think that weather doesn't play some factor. Big Ten teams always have to worry that it's going to be freezing cold or snowing when recruits -- especially those from the South -- come to campus on official visits. Weather certainly has played some role in the shifting demographics in this country toward the Sun Belt. And players can more easily train year-round outside when it's warm. So it's definitely something the league has to overcome. I still believe the biggest obstacle is simple geography; there are more big-time recruits in the South, and they're more likely to play their college ball close to home. Weather definitely can be a negative for the Big Ten at times, but it's not the only reason the league has fallen a step behind the SEC.
Bratwurst from Milwaukee writes: Rank your top 3 games including at least one B1G team that could appear on College Gameday. Conference or non-conference matchups?
Brian Bennett: Mmm ... bratwurst. Sorry, lost my train of thought there for a moment. We ran a poll last week on the most important Big Ten game, and not surprisingly, Ohio State at Michigan won out. That's always going to be huge, and if the Buckeyes are undefeated and Michigan is having a great season, it could very well be a "GameDay" selection. My top three would also include Nebraska at Michigan on Nov. 9 and Wisconsin at Ohio State on Sept. 28. Those two games could decide the division championships and should have great atmospheres, with or without Chris, Lee, Kirk, Desmond and the gang.
Alex G. from Ames, Iowa, writes: All this 9-game B1G schedule talk has me nervous about the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry game. I know in Friday's mailbag with Adam there was talk of VT / other major conferences filling in every two years or so, but I don't see how that will go down with fans in Iowa. Maybe the Cyclones and Hawkeyes will always be "middle-tier" teams on each team's schedule, but that's not what matters. Unless you live in the state of Iowa, you truly don't know how important this game is (this is coming from a born Hawkeye fan attending Iowa State). Do you truly see the Hawkeyes booting the Cyclones in favor of a SOS booster?
Brian Bennett: I'm a huge proponent of in-state rivalries and would hate to see Iowa-Iowa State lose its annual status. I think that series is good for the entire state and both programs. In the end, I think it comes down to what type of program Iowa sees itself as. Do the Hawkeyes view themselves as a team that can make mid- to upper-tier bowls on an annual basis and compete for the Big Ten title in most years? Or does Iowa truly see itself as a national title contender? If it's the latter, then upgrading the schedule is truly a must, whether that means adding another marquee opponent besides Iowa State or replacing the Cyclones with a big-name opponent in certain years. If keeping seven home games and just getting to bowls is the objective, then playing Iowa State and two mediocre teams is fine. I'd love to see Iowa challenge itself with Iowa State and another brand-name opponent, but I also understand the difficulty of doing so with a nine-game Big Ten schedule.
Mark from Arizona writes: I am so disappointed. How can you not put Mark Weisman in your top 5 running backs to lead the conference? He was impressive when he was healthy. He's a beast. Iowa may have some questions with quarterbacks, receivers, and defensive lineman, but not with running backs and an experienced and healthy offensive line. You gotta be crazy not to consider Weisman and Iowa's rushing game top 3 in the conference.
Brian Bennett: Mark, in case you missed it, I recently ranked Weisman No. 4 on our list of guys who could become new members of the 1,000-yard club in 2013. But that was in addition to five returning players who ran for more than 1,000 last year. It's not that I don't think highly of Weisman; it's just that he has a lot of competition in a league filled with really good running backs and talented running quarterbacks. Weisman had some big games last year but finished with just 815 yards. Granted, he was banged up for parts of the year and wasn't given a full load of carries early on. Still, Iowa has other options at tailback, including Damon Bullock and Jordan Canzeri, so there's no guarantee he'll get the full bulk of rushing attempts. And his physical style could make it difficult for him to stay healthy an entire year. I like his chances of getting to 1,000 yards, but it's probably going to take at least 1,600 yards to lead the league. I don't see Weisman getting that high.
Matt from Midway, N.C., writes: Brian, why is it that Brady Hoke is given several years to have his roster in place to succeed in his system, when Urban Meyer seems to already have the pieces he desires? Both coaches have come in running a different scheme than their predecessor. Did Rich Rod destroy TTUN that much or is Urban Meyer just that good?
Brian Bennett: I guess you've already forgotten the 2011 season, when Hoke led Michigan to an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl title. So both guys had great first years at their schools. The big difference when it comes to implementing systems is that Meyer -- while he lacked the athletes he wanted at receiver -- had the perfect guy to run his spread in Braxton Miller, while Hoke inherited a running quarterback when he wanted to use a pro-style passing game. And Ohio State still had plenty of talent and future NFL draft picks on the roster, while Michigan's overall talent level had noticeably dipped under Rodriguez.
Jay from Arlington writes: I wouldn't but Penn State very far behind Alabama if I were you. The two games they played recently were far closer than most of the simpletons in the media believe them to be and on a neutral field, the 2012 Big Ten champion Nittany Lions (The only rightfully undefeated team in league play) would have taken Bama to the wire. Once they got going, they were easily the best team in the Big Ten last year despite playing against a stacked deck all year long. Penn State will challenge the likes of Alabama before any other Big Ten team will.
Brian Bennett: I admire your optimism.
Had a good weekend. Went bird hunting with Ken Cosgrove.
- Some reasons for optimism for Illinois, according to Howard Griffith.
- Indiana defensive line signee Darius Latham put his appetite on display (subscription required).
- Iowa's opener vs. Northern Illinois will set the tone for the season, Bryce Miller writes. A Texas safety became the Hawkeyes' sixth commitment. A walk-on linebacker was injured in a moped accident.
- Michigan no longer is looking for a transfer quarterback. The Wolverines' fate could depend on how quickly young players mature. Jake Ryan's recovery is going well.
- Damion Terry talks about his all-star game experience and getting ready for Michigan State. The Spartans got a commitment from an Ohio defensive back. Gerald Holmes' father is the rock in his life.
- Minnesota landed a tight end recruit. The heavy lifting remains for Gophers AD Norwood Teague.
- A motor that never stops helps set a Nebraska offensive line recruit apart. The Huskers saw strength where others didn't in a Texas cornerback.
- Studying the evolution of Northwestern's offense. The Wildcats' secondary is in pretty good shape.
- Urban Meyer must tweak his offense to stay ahead of defenses. Phil Steele ranks Ohio State No. 2, and here is his preview of the Buckeyes. An Ohio State all-decade team.
- Bill O'Brien is due for a raise in a couple of weeks. Fatherhood added perspective and drive for Penn State defensive back Malcolm Willis.
- Purdue added a Texas quarterback and an in-state lineman over the weekend.
- A preview of Wisconsin's passing game.
Wishing you a great weekend. Be sure to follow us on Twitter.
And away we go ...
Brutus from The Ninth Circle writes: Hey Adam, got a recruiting question for you. I've been watching Penn State's ability to recruit under sanctions and have been mildly impressed with what Bill O'Brien has been able to do. I think the caliber of recruit, while varying, has been good. I'd say in some cases it's been better than some previous years. The various pundits point to the sanctions as being a factor in affecting their ability to recruit. So my question is, how do you think the recruiting will change, if at all, once the sanctions have passed? Does the ability to compete in a bowl really have that much of an effect? Or are we going to see only a minor change in recruiting ability once the sanctions are gone? I'm intrigued by how much the recruiting is affected by the coaches, the facilities, the exposure, the bowl games, and the overall stability.
Adam Rittenberg: Brutus, I've been more than mildly impressed with Penn State's recruiting efforts under O'Brien, especially when you consider how selective they need to be. Time will tell how many recruits pan out, but O'Brien and his assistants have brought in a lot of high-ceiling guys at a time when they really can't miss on many or any. The chance to win championships and play in bowl games matters to recruits, and Penn State will have an easier time once the sanctions are finished or nearing their end. But O'Brien has effectively leveraged his NFL experience on the recruiting trail. Recruits with NFL aspirations, especially those who play offense, can see the path to the next level under O'Brien in State College.
Penn State still offers great facilities and great exposure, especially during Big Ten play. The program also is much friendlier to NFL scouts under O'Brien than it was under Joe Paterno. O'Brien also can sell the chance to play for championships as juniors and seniors, and the light at the end of the tunnel will get closer each year. I expect a recruiting upgrade post-sanctions, but perhaps not a dramatic one as long as O'Brien stays, Penn State keeps winning at a decent level and players move on to the NFL.
Stan from Chestnut Ridge, N.Y., writes: Your reply to "Unhappy Husker" today was a fail. You implied that Nebraska was equal with all Big 10 members w/your $25.7M comment. C'mon Adam: don't be untruthful. OK, you might be presidential material, but being misleading here is just wrong. Nebraska won't get an equal share for several more years. And U totally missed his larger point. Nebraska DOES have fabulous facilites/game-day experience, but recruits have to GET THERE before it matters. THAT is the point. Nebraska isn't close to that manyr top talent H.S. players, so many have to wait to see Nebraska until their Sr. season, based on NCAA rules, unless they pay for it on their own earlier. So when you said "regardless of the kickoff time" you should have thought instead. And you say NE will have "more night games in future seasons." How does that help THIS year's recruiting?
Adam Rittenberg: Stan, you're right about the revenue share error, as Nebraska didn't get a full Big Ten revenue share in 2012. But my larger point doesn't change: Nebraska will be a richer athletic program in the Big Ten than it would have been in the Big 12. You can't dispute that, and I think some Nebraska fans need to appreciate the financial benefits of the Big Ten rather than pining for the good ol' Big 12, which made their program less and less relevant with its Southern shift. I also understand the difficulty Nebraska has in getting some recruits to campus on game day, and the added importance of official visits for the Huskers. I wrote about this topic last month.
I understand that night games help recruiting, but I don't buy into the belief that an 11 a.m. kickoff against UCLA is going to ruin Nebraska's recruiting efforts for 2014. That's fan panic, not reality. There will be enough afternoon kickoffs this season -- in addition to home games against Wyoming and Southern Miss in prime time -- for recruits to attend. Some will take official visits to Nebraska on their bye weeks. Some will take Saturday morning flights to Omaha from other Midwest cities, and there are several. Is it ideal? No. Is it a reason for Nebraska to go back to the Big 12 or wish it was still there? No.
Matt K. from New York writes: I think this season one can make the argument that Penn State has the strongest receiving corps in the Big Ten with Robinson, Carter, and Jesse James (coolest name on the team) returning, plus the additions of Adam Breneman and Eugene Lewis coming up, but my question is who do you see throwing these receivers the ball? Hackenberg will surely need some time to learn BOB's system, but his ceiling definitely seems much higher than Tyler Ferguson's. Also, do you see Michael O'Connor getting a redshirt his first season to separate eligibility years between him and Hackenberg, or will he be kept without a redshirt for depth purposes?
Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I agree Penn State has an excellent group of pass-catchers coming back for 2013, especially at the tight end spot with Kyle Carter, James and Matt Lehman, to go along with Breneman. The quarterback competition comes down to whether Ferguson separates himself early in camp. He had the entire spring to work in the offense, while Hackenberg did not. If Hackenberg progresses quickly or Ferguson struggles early in camp, I can definitely see O'Brien playing for the future with Hackenberg. If the two are relatively equal, it usually makes sense to go with the younger, seemingly more talented player. I'm sure Penn State would like to redshirt O'Connor to create enough separation between its quarterbacks. If Hackenberg and Ferguson both prove to be solid options, I see Penn State going that route.
Mac from Cincinnati writes: Hey Adam, I saw the recent strength of schedules and Ohio State's is 105th. A lot of people are predicting them to go to the national title as you know. Do you think that they are picking them to go because their schedule is weak or because they are a really good team? Also I saw that Oregon has the 113th toughest schedule and they are also a title contender. Why aren't people talking about their weaker schedule as a reason why they might make it?
Adam Rittenberg: Mac, I've read a lot about Ohio State as a national title contender, and every story mentions the weak schedule, so it's definitely a topic of discussion. The schedule certainly plays into Ohio State being labeled a title contender. The Buckeyes went 12-0 last season but were far from a dominant team. Although they'll be better in certain areas this season and more comfortable with the Urban Meyer way, they have significant question marks with a young defense. So the schedule certainly is a factor in the title talk surrounding the Buckeyes, who face a few early challenges (Wisconsin, Northwestern) but should be a fairly sizable favorite every time they take the field. It's worth pointing out that Ohio State's schedule would have looked a bit better if Vanderbilt hadn't backed out of a season-opening game in Columbus. The Buckeyes ended up moving their game against Buffalo to the opener and replaced Vanderbilt with San Diego State. You bring up an interesting point about Oregon, which plays two major-conference teams (Virginia and Tennessee) in non-league play, plus nine conference games, including a trip to Stanford (but no USC). The Ducks' schedule doesn't appear as easy as Ohio State's, but it might be.
Aaron from Bettendorf, Iowa, writes: Adam,With the Big 10 going to 9 conference games I like the idea of one cupcake, one middle of the road, and one "upper echelon" team. One cupcake is not a problem for Iowa as they typically schedule one a year anyway. Middle of the road appears to be Iowa St - which should be played every other year now with the nine game schedule - due to neither Barta or Pollard wanting to look like a bad guy by backing out of the series. So my 3rd pick will go to...Virginia Tech. Iowa and Beamer ball are very similar. Iowa is starting to recruit the Virginia area more due to the hiring of coach Reid. That game puts you in the Virginia/Maryland/DC markets. Lastly, it will likely be a marquee game on ABC/ESPN in the primetime slots.
Adam Rittenberg: Aaron, I like your approach here and I'm guessing a lot of Iowa fans would, too. The problem: Iowa would need to organize its schedule to include at least seven home games in most if not every season. Virginia Tech certainly would want a home-and-home series unless the teams met at a neutral site. Would Iowa agree to play a neutral-site game against Virginia Tech at FedEx Field, where the Hokies played Boise State in 2010? It would be more of a Hokie home game, but it would get Iowa into that market. From talking with Gary Barta and Kirk Ferentz, it doesn't sound like there's much interest in scheduling a second major-conference team for home-and-homes. I think Iowa has three options after the Big Ten goes to nine league games in 2016: keep scheduling Iowa State and two guarantee games; take two-year breaks with Iowa State and replace the Cyclones with a team like Virginia Tech; or keep playing Iowa State and sprinkle in neutral-site games with teams like Virginia Tech. I prefer the second and third options to the first.
Max from Toronto writes: Adam, your response to Jon from Tumalo, Ore., about the NCAA refusal to punish SEC cheating in any sort of meaningful way, pretty much shows that you have to tow the ESPN company line. You sounded like nothing more than an SEC apologist. Major infractions are major infraction, I bet you bought the only Cam Newton's dad knew crap. I ask you this, since it's now reached to ridiculous extremities, do you know just how much your employers are paying the NCAA not to punish their cash cow?
Adam Rittenberg: You're right, Max, the NCAA giving Mississippi State a one-year bowl ban would ruin ESPN's investment in the SEC and send panic across the ESPN campus in Bristol. If you've followed recent NCAA cases, there are a lot of "major infractions" that aren't punished with postseason bans. I'm not apologizing for Mississippi State or the SEC, and it amazes me how Auburn escaped any penalties for the Cam Newton situation. My response to Jon was an attempt to explain why the Mississippi State and Ohio State cases were different in the NCAA's eyes and why Mississippi State escaped a postseason ban. I never said I agreed with the ruling, but there's a difference between an assistant providing benefits to a recruit and the head coach lying repeatedly to everyone, which happened at Ohio State.
Tony from Geneva, Neb., writes: Do you see any parallels between the 2013 Huskers and the '83 Scoring Explosion Huskers. Both defenses could be called a bend but dont break model. Now dont get me wrong. Gill, Rozier and Friar averaging 52 points a game is probably loftier than Martinez, Abdullah and Bell will accumulate due to the turnover bug that has yet to be remedied. But I believe 43-46 points a game isn't out of the question when you look at the roster. Bo shouldnt be afraid to run it up to get inside the opponents head a week in advance. Sportsmanship in Big Red country is a standard, but settling for 27 points against Wyoming could show weakness to a future conference foe.
Adam Rittenberg: An interesting comparison, Tony. I have little doubt Nebraska will put up mammoth points and yards totals in its first few games, which should help a talented offense build confidence. It might be unrealistic to expect Nebraska to average more than 40 points a game against Big Ten defenses, but the Huskers should be one of the league's most productive offenses this fall. My issue with Nebraska's offense remains the turnovers, which tend to catch up with a team even if it's racking up all those yards and points. Few defenses are good enough to overcome so many giveaways, and Nebraska's defense has some major question marks entering the fall. If the Husker offense builds on last year's production and cuts down on the turnovers, it could lead the team to a division title. But I also think Nebraska could have fewer yards, fewer points and fewer turnovers, and still get back to Indy. Remember, Nebraska's 1983 team had 21 turnovers (15 fumbles, six interceptions). Nebraska had 35 last season.
And away we go ...
Brutus from The Ninth Circle writes: Hey Adam, got a recruiting question for you. I've been watching Penn State's ability to recruit under sanctions and have been mildly impressed with what Bill O'Brien has been able to do. I think the caliber of recruit, while varying, has been good. I'd say in some cases it's been better than some previous years. The various pundits point to the sanctions as being a factor in affecting their ability to recruit. So my question is, how do you think the recruiting will change, if at all, once the sanctions have passed? Does the ability to compete in a bowl really have that much of an effect? Or are we going to see only a minor change in recruiting ability once the sanctions are gone? I'm intrigued by how much the recruiting is affected by the coaches, the facilities, the exposure, the bowl games, and the overall stability.
Adam Rittenberg: Brutus, I've been more than mildly impressed with Penn State's recruiting efforts under O'Brien, especially when you consider how selective they need to be. Time will tell how many recruits pan out, but O'Brien and his assistants have brought in a lot of high-ceiling guys at a time when they really can't miss on many or any. The chance to win championships and play in bowl games matters to recruits, and Penn State will have an easier time once the sanctions are finished or nearing their end. But O'Brien has effectively leveraged his NFL experience on the recruiting trail. Recruits with NFL aspirations, especially those who play offense, can see the path to the next level under O'Brien in State College.
Penn State still offers great facilities and great exposure, especially during Big Ten play. The program also is much friendlier to NFL scouts under O'Brien than it was under Joe Paterno. O'Brien also can sell the chance to play for championships as juniors and seniors, and the light at the end of the tunnel will get closer each year. I expect a recruiting upgrade post-sanctions, but perhaps not a dramatic one as long as O'Brien stays, Penn State keeps winning at a decent level and players move on to the NFL.
Stan from Chestnut Ridge, N.Y., writes: Your reply to "Unhappy Husker" today was a fail. You implied that Nebraska was equal with all Big 10 members w/your $25.7M comment. C'mon Adam: don't be untruthful. OK, you might be presidential material, but being misleading here is just wrong. Nebraska won't get an equal share for several more years. And U totally missed his larger point. Nebraska DOES have fabulous facilites/game-day experience, but recruits have to GET THERE before it matters. THAT is the point. Nebraska isn't close to that manyr top talent H.S. players, so many have to wait to see Nebraska until their Sr. season, based on NCAA rules, unless they pay for it on their own earlier. So when you said "regardless of the kickoff time" you should have thought instead. And you say NE will have "more night games in future seasons." How does that help THIS year's recruiting?
Adam Rittenberg: Stan, you're right about the revenue share error, as Nebraska didn't get a full Big Ten revenue share in 2012. But my larger point doesn't change: Nebraska will be a richer athletic program in the Big Ten than it would have been in the Big 12. You can't dispute that, and I think some Nebraska fans need to appreciate the financial benefits of the Big Ten rather than pining for the good ol' Big 12, which made their program less and less relevant with its Southern shift. I also understand the difficulty Nebraska has in getting some recruits to campus on game day, and the added importance of official visits for the Huskers. I wrote about this topic last month.
I understand that night games help recruiting, but I don't buy into the belief that an 11 a.m. kickoff against UCLA is going to ruin Nebraska's recruiting efforts for 2014. That's fan panic, not reality. There will be enough afternoon kickoffs this season -- in addition to home games against Wyoming and Southern Miss in prime time -- for recruits to attend. Some will take official visits to Nebraska on their bye weeks. Some will take Saturday morning flights to Omaha from other Midwest cities, and there are several. Is it ideal? No. Is it a reason for Nebraska to go back to the Big 12 or wish it was still there? No.
Matt K. from New York writes: I think this season one can make the argument that Penn State has the strongest receiving corps in the Big Ten with Robinson, Carter, and Jesse James (coolest name on the team) returning, plus the additions of Adam Breneman and Eugene Lewis coming up, but my question is who do you see throwing these receivers the ball? Hackenberg will surely need some time to learn BOB's system, but his ceiling definitely seems much higher than Tyler Ferguson's. Also, do you see Michael O'Connor getting a redshirt his first season to separate eligibility years between him and Hackenberg, or will he be kept without a redshirt for depth purposes?
Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I agree Penn State has an excellent group of pass-catchers coming back for 2013, especially at the tight end spot with Kyle Carter, James and Matt Lehman, to go along with Breneman. The quarterback competition comes down to whether Ferguson separates himself early in camp. He had the entire spring to work in the offense, while Hackenberg did not. If Hackenberg progresses quickly or Ferguson struggles early in camp, I can definitely see O'Brien playing for the future with Hackenberg. If the two are relatively equal, it usually makes sense to go with the younger, seemingly more talented player. I'm sure Penn State would like to redshirt O'Connor to create enough separation between its quarterbacks. If Hackenberg and Ferguson both prove to be solid options, I see Penn State going that route.
Mac from Cincinnati writes: Hey Adam, I saw the recent strength of schedules and Ohio State's is 105th. A lot of people are predicting them to go to the national title as you know. Do you think that they are picking them to go because their schedule is weak or because they are a really good team? Also I saw that Oregon has the 113th toughest schedule and they are also a title contender. Why aren't people talking about their weaker schedule as a reason why they might make it?
Adam Rittenberg: Mac, I've read a lot about Ohio State as a national title contender, and every story mentions the weak schedule, so it's definitely a topic of discussion. The schedule certainly plays into Ohio State being labeled a title contender. The Buckeyes went 12-0 last season but were far from a dominant team. Although they'll be better in certain areas this season and more comfortable with the Urban Meyer way, they have significant question marks with a young defense. So the schedule certainly is a factor in the title talk surrounding the Buckeyes, who face a few early challenges (Wisconsin, Northwestern) but should be a fairly sizable favorite every time they take the field. It's worth pointing out that Ohio State's schedule would have looked a bit better if Vanderbilt hadn't backed out of a season-opening game in Columbus. The Buckeyes ended up moving their game against Buffalo to the opener and replaced Vanderbilt with San Diego State. You bring up an interesting point about Oregon, which plays two major-conference teams (Virginia and Tennessee) in non-league play, plus nine conference games, including a trip to Stanford (but no USC). The Ducks' schedule doesn't appear as easy as Ohio State's, but it might be.
Aaron from Bettendorf, Iowa, writes: Adam,With the Big 10 going to 9 conference games I like the idea of one cupcake, one middle of the road, and one "upper echelon" team. One cupcake is not a problem for Iowa as they typically schedule one a year anyway. Middle of the road appears to be Iowa St - which should be played every other year now with the nine game schedule - due to neither Barta or Pollard wanting to look like a bad guy by backing out of the series. So my 3rd pick will go to...Virginia Tech. Iowa and Beamer ball are very similar. Iowa is starting to recruit the Virginia area more due to the hiring of coach Reid. That game puts you in the Virginia/Maryland/DC markets. Lastly, it will likely be a marquee game on ABC/ESPN in the primetime slots.
Adam Rittenberg: Aaron, I like your approach here and I'm guessing a lot of Iowa fans would, too. The problem: Iowa would need to organize its schedule to include at least seven home games in most if not every season. Virginia Tech certainly would want a home-and-home series unless the teams met at a neutral site. Would Iowa agree to play a neutral-site game against Virginia Tech at FedEx Field, where the Hokies played Boise State in 2010? It would be more of a Hokie home game, but it would get Iowa into that market. From talking with Gary Barta and Kirk Ferentz, it doesn't sound like there's much interest in scheduling a second major-conference team for home-and-homes. I think Iowa has three options after the Big Ten goes to nine league games in 2016: keep scheduling Iowa State and two guarantee games; take two-year breaks with Iowa State and replace the Cyclones with a team like Virginia Tech; or keep playing Iowa State and sprinkle in neutral-site games with teams like Virginia Tech. I prefer the second and third options to the first.
Max from Toronto writes: Adam, your response to Jon from Tumalo, Ore., about the NCAA refusal to punish SEC cheating in any sort of meaningful way, pretty much shows that you have to tow the ESPN company line. You sounded like nothing more than an SEC apologist. Major infractions are major infraction, I bet you bought the only Cam Newton's dad knew crap. I ask you this, since it's now reached to ridiculous extremities, do you know just how much your employers are paying the NCAA not to punish their cash cow?
Adam Rittenberg: You're right, Max, the NCAA giving Mississippi State a one-year bowl ban would ruin ESPN's investment in the SEC and send panic across the ESPN campus in Bristol. If you've followed recent NCAA cases, there are a lot of "major infractions" that aren't punished with postseason bans. I'm not apologizing for Mississippi State or the SEC, and it amazes me how Auburn escaped any penalties for the Cam Newton situation. My response to Jon was an attempt to explain why the Mississippi State and Ohio State cases were different in the NCAA's eyes and why Mississippi State escaped a postseason ban. I never said I agreed with the ruling, but there's a difference between an assistant providing benefits to a recruit and the head coach lying repeatedly to everyone, which happened at Ohio State.
Tony from Geneva, Neb., writes: Do you see any parallels between the 2013 Huskers and the '83 Scoring Explosion Huskers. Both defenses could be called a bend but dont break model. Now dont get me wrong. Gill, Rozier and Friar averaging 52 points a game is probably loftier than Martinez, Abdullah and Bell will accumulate due to the turnover bug that has yet to be remedied. But I believe 43-46 points a game isn't out of the question when you look at the roster. Bo shouldnt be afraid to run it up to get inside the opponents head a week in advance. Sportsmanship in Big Red country is a standard, but settling for 27 points against Wyoming could show weakness to a future conference foe.
Adam Rittenberg: An interesting comparison, Tony. I have little doubt Nebraska will put up mammoth points and yards totals in its first few games, which should help a talented offense build confidence. It might be unrealistic to expect Nebraska to average more than 40 points a game against Big Ten defenses, but the Huskers should be one of the league's most productive offenses this fall. My issue with Nebraska's offense remains the turnovers, which tend to catch up with a team even if it's racking up all those yards and points. Few defenses are good enough to overcome so many giveaways, and Nebraska's defense has some major question marks entering the fall. If the Husker offense builds on last year's production and cuts down on the turnovers, it could lead the team to a division title. But I also think Nebraska could have fewer yards, fewer points and fewer turnovers, and still get back to Indy. Remember, Nebraska's 1983 team had 21 turnovers (15 fumbles, six interceptions). Nebraska had 35 last season.
On this day, 224 years ago, the Rev. Elijah Craig did something wonderful.
- Denard Robinson says he used to coat himself with vaseline to stay warm at Michigan. Um, OK. Devin Gardner said the Jadevon Clowney hit will serve as inspiration for the Wolverines this year.
- Minnesota coach Jerry Kill hopes receiver Andre McDonald can return to the team by Aug. 1.
- Nebraska target Peyton Newell knows his way around the recruiting game. The Huskers buried a time capsule to commemorate their Memorial Stadium sellout streak. Speaking of Memorial Stadium, the place is about to get some new turf.
- A former Hawkeye who is now a WWE wrestler talks about his journey.
- Le'Veon Bell's path to starting for the Steelers revolves around pass protection. It's camp season at Michigan State.
- John Cooper is among the inductees for the Ohio State Hall of Fame. Grading the Buckeyes coaches for their recruiting efforts.
- Penn State's shakeup at safety is all about getting the best players on the field. Former Lions tight end Garry Gilliam is up to 305 pounds and now is No. 2 at left tackle. Bill O'Brien's "other" depth charts.
- USA Today ranks Purdue No. 89 in the country.
- Illinois got a commitment from a linebacker.
- Wisconsin's football team helped make a boy's wish come true.
- Receiver Jayme Taylor is on his way from Houston to Northwestern.
- Some long-term Big Ten predictions.
- A ranking of the Big Ten nonconference schedules.
- The BTN guys debate who will lead the league in sacks.
- Athlon ranks the Big Ten stadiums.
The Derecho is gone, and the Blackhawks are three games from the Cup. Good times.
- Purdue loses incoming cornerback recruit TyVel Jemison but could gain another defensive back in the 2014 class.
- A Q&A with Nebraska recruiting coordinator Ross Els heading into the Big Red Weekend. Nebraska has high expectations for its Big Red Weekend.
- Indiana picks up a commitment from QB recruit Alexander Diamont. A full transcript of Kevin Wilson's recent comments at Lucas Oil Stadium.
- Michigan spent more than $1.7 million for its Outback Bowl trip. The Wolverines are in the top 3 for top recruit Da'Shawn Hand. Mott Children's Hospital is near and dear to Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon.
- Michigan State LB recruit Jon Reschke is willing to put in the work. A top 2015 RB recruit played in a 7-on-7 tournament at Michigan State.
- A great look at Tom Herman's path to the Ohio State offensive coordinator position. Examining Ohio State's potential impact freshmen in 2013.
- Tom Dienhart previews Week 3 in the Big Ten this fall.
- A decorated QB recruit visits Iowa on Wednesday. More than half of Iowa's kickoff times are set for this season.
- Penn State benefited when Danny O'Brien picked Wisconsin rather than the Lions, Dustin Hockensmith writes. Black Shoe Diaries checks in with Penn State recruit Jared Wangler.
- More on safety Reggie Mitchell's departure from Wisconsin to Pitt.
- Debating who will lead the Big Ten in interceptions. A look at the league's wide receivers.
- Half of Illinois' kickoff times in 2013 are now set.
- The NCAA's enforcement division is a complete mess under Mark Emmert's watch.
Quarterback competitions took center stage around the Big Ten this spring and will continue to do so when preseason camps kick off in August. As camp approaches, we're examining each of the unsettled signal caller races in the league, where they stand and what needs to be done in the all important summer months.
Next up, Iowa.
The candidates: Jake Rudock, 6-3, 205, sophomore; Cody Sokol, 6-2, 215, junior; C.J. Beathard, 6-2, 195, redshirt freshman
Statistics: Rudock didn't see any game action in 2012 despite being the primary backup to Hawkeyes starter James Vandenberg. Sokol redshirted at Iowa last season after passing for 3,807 yards and 43 touchdowns as a sophomore, and 2,443 yards and 24 touchdowns as a freshman at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College. Beathard has yet to see action in a collegiate game.
Where things stand: Rudock emerged from the spring with a slight edge, and head coach Kirk Ferentz said last month that if the season started immediately, Rudock would be the starter. But the race remains fairly close, and while Rudock and Sokol have a bit more experience, Beathard can catch up with a strong summer. Rudock looked the best in the two open scrimmages Iowa held this spring, but Sokol wasn't far behind and Beathard also had his moments.
Summer buzz: Iowa lacks a quarterback who has taken a snap in an FBS game, so not surprisingly, Ferentz didn't expect to make any big decisions coming out of the spring.
Rudock and Sokol practiced with the second-team offense in 2012, while Beathard spent those workouts running the scout team. Spring practice provided a platform for all three to finally work with the team's top receivers, tight ends, backs and linemen. Ferentz achieved his goal of an equal and fair competition in the spring, but he expects all three quarterbacks to look different when the team reconvenes in August.
"It's fair to say that Jake and Cody were at a little different plane than C.J.," Ferentz recently told ESPN.com, "but the biggest thing now after going through 15 days of spring practice that this is where they have an opportunity to go back and look at that tape in a more sterile environment and see what they can pull from it. And, as they work with their teammates over the course of the summer, hopefully sharpen their skills a little bit.
"Ultimately, it's what they do in August that’s going to determine how this thing shakes out."
Ferentz is seeking proficiency, decision-making, accuracy, ball protection and the ability to move the offense in the quarterback who starts for Iowa in 2013. Although all three quarterbacks have what Ferentz called a "workable" knowledge of the offense, which sputtered under first-year coordinator Greg Davis last season, they all must make strides during the summer.
Inexperience is the common denominator, and all three candidates have the needed throwing ability and mobility, Ferentz said. But there are some differences with each, which is nothing new at Iowa.
"We’ve had all kinds of quarterbacks play here historically," Ferentz said. "Brad Banks is a very different quarterback from Nathan Chandler, and Drew Tate was a very different quarterback from those guys. And then [Ricky] Stanzi came along later and certainly was different than all three of those guys. We don't have the luxury of being locked in, because we don't always get the first choice. If you're able to draft in the first round every time, you can figure out, 'Hey, this is what we're looking for.'
"But we try to find the guy who we think is best in every recruiting class, and as they come along, we'll try to bend toward their skill set."
Rudock and Sokol have a slight leg up entering camp, but Beathard isn't "miles behind," Ferentz said.
"He's just not quite as knowledgeable right now, for obvious reasons," Ferentz said. "But I could also argue that he's got the best opportunity to gain ground and change more than the other guys, because this is a time where, if a summer is done right for a college player, they can improve at any position. The less experienced a guy is, the more opportunity there is to look more significantly different than a guy who has played three years."
Ferentz doesn't have a rigid timetable for determining the starter in camp, noting that if separation doesn't take place naturally, he'll need to make some decisions and divide the reps differently. At some point in August, "you’ve got to let a guy work with the first team and prepare to be the starter," he said.
What is done now, while the quarterbacks work with teammates away from the coaches, likely will shape who emerges.
"All three need to take what they learned in the spring," Ferentz said. "The challenge now is to push their game forward."
Next up, Iowa.
The candidates: Jake Rudock, 6-3, 205, sophomore; Cody Sokol, 6-2, 215, junior; C.J. Beathard, 6-2, 195, redshirt freshman
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Matt QuinnanJake Rudock emerged from the spring with a slight edge in Iowa's wide-open QB competition.
Where things stand: Rudock emerged from the spring with a slight edge, and head coach Kirk Ferentz said last month that if the season started immediately, Rudock would be the starter. But the race remains fairly close, and while Rudock and Sokol have a bit more experience, Beathard can catch up with a strong summer. Rudock looked the best in the two open scrimmages Iowa held this spring, but Sokol wasn't far behind and Beathard also had his moments.
Summer buzz: Iowa lacks a quarterback who has taken a snap in an FBS game, so not surprisingly, Ferentz didn't expect to make any big decisions coming out of the spring.
Rudock and Sokol practiced with the second-team offense in 2012, while Beathard spent those workouts running the scout team. Spring practice provided a platform for all three to finally work with the team's top receivers, tight ends, backs and linemen. Ferentz achieved his goal of an equal and fair competition in the spring, but he expects all three quarterbacks to look different when the team reconvenes in August.
"It's fair to say that Jake and Cody were at a little different plane than C.J.," Ferentz recently told ESPN.com, "but the biggest thing now after going through 15 days of spring practice that this is where they have an opportunity to go back and look at that tape in a more sterile environment and see what they can pull from it. And, as they work with their teammates over the course of the summer, hopefully sharpen their skills a little bit.
"Ultimately, it's what they do in August that’s going to determine how this thing shakes out."
Ferentz is seeking proficiency, decision-making, accuracy, ball protection and the ability to move the offense in the quarterback who starts for Iowa in 2013. Although all three quarterbacks have what Ferentz called a "workable" knowledge of the offense, which sputtered under first-year coordinator Greg Davis last season, they all must make strides during the summer.
Inexperience is the common denominator, and all three candidates have the needed throwing ability and mobility, Ferentz said. But there are some differences with each, which is nothing new at Iowa.
"We’ve had all kinds of quarterbacks play here historically," Ferentz said. "Brad Banks is a very different quarterback from Nathan Chandler, and Drew Tate was a very different quarterback from those guys. And then [Ricky] Stanzi came along later and certainly was different than all three of those guys. We don't have the luxury of being locked in, because we don't always get the first choice. If you're able to draft in the first round every time, you can figure out, 'Hey, this is what we're looking for.'
"But we try to find the guy who we think is best in every recruiting class, and as they come along, we'll try to bend toward their skill set."
Rudock and Sokol have a slight leg up entering camp, but Beathard isn't "miles behind," Ferentz said.
"He's just not quite as knowledgeable right now, for obvious reasons," Ferentz said. "But I could also argue that he's got the best opportunity to gain ground and change more than the other guys, because this is a time where, if a summer is done right for a college player, they can improve at any position. The less experienced a guy is, the more opportunity there is to look more significantly different than a guy who has played three years."
Ferentz doesn't have a rigid timetable for determining the starter in camp, noting that if separation doesn't take place naturally, he'll need to make some decisions and divide the reps differently. At some point in August, "you’ve got to let a guy work with the first team and prepare to be the starter," he said.
What is done now, while the quarterbacks work with teammates away from the coaches, likely will shape who emerges.
"All three need to take what they learned in the spring," Ferentz said. "The challenge now is to push their game forward."
Take Two: B1G's top rusher in 2013
June, 13, 2013
Jun 13
9:00
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg and
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
Big Ten bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett will occasionally give their takes on a burning question facing the league. We'll both have strong opinions, but not necessarily the same view. We'll let you decide which blogger is right.
In the coming days, we'll make our predictions on the Big Ten's statistical leaders in 2013. Today's Take Two topic is: Who will lead the Big Ten in rushing this season?
Take 1: Adam Rittenberg
The Big Ten loses its top three rushers from 2012 -- Montee Ball, Le'Veon Bell and Denard Robinson -- but returns the next seven best ground gainers. That group of seven includes two pairs of teammates in Ohio State's Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde and Nebraska's Taylor Martinez and Ameer Abdullah. Although any of the four could lead the league in rushing, it's possible that they'll cancel each other out and take away the carries needed to top the chart. Northwestern's Venric Mark also is in the mix, but like the others, he shares carries with a quarterback (Kain Colter) and should have a deeper group of running backs around him this fall. Penn State's Zach Zwinak hit the 1,000-yard mark in 2012, but he'll be pushed for carries by Bill Belton and dynamic redshirt freshman Akeel Lynch.
Wisconsin has a similar situation with its run game as James White and Melvin Gordon will enter the season as 1a and 1b. Of the two, Gordon projects a little bit better as a true featured back, but White is a talented senior who should be a big part of the mix as well. Iowa's Mark Weisman is part of the discussion, too, as he showed the ability to put up monster numbers when healthy in 2012, even for a bad offense. Michigan is on the lookout for a featured back, and while the Wolverines have some question marks along the offensive line, Fitzgerald Toussaint or Derrick Green could be a good wild-card pick.
Bottom line: this isn't an easy decision. Ultimately, I'm going with the guy running behind the league's best offensive line at Ohio State. Hyde will emerge as the Big Ten's leading rusher, edging out Mark, Gordon and Weisman for the title. Ohio State will rely less on Miller to carry the rushing load and use a more traditional power attack behind Hyde, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored 16 touchdowns in only 10 games last fall. Hyde has the power-size combination to thrive as a featured back, and he should get a bigger carries load as a senior, not just in the red zone but everywhere on the field.
Take 2: Brian Bennett
The race for the rushing title should shape up as the most exciting individual battle in the Big Ten this season. The league always produces great runners, and as Adam noted, many of the top ball carriers are back in 2013. In fact, some of the best competitions for rushing yards will happen in the same backfields, as several teams are capable of fielding two 1,000-yard rushers this season.
Hyde is a good choice, especially if he can replicate what he did down the stretch last year for a full season. But Braxton Miller will still run the ball a lot, too, and Ohio State also has the improving Rod Smith, youngsters Warren Ball and Bri'onte Dunn, plus Jordan Hall and possibly Dontre Wilson. That's a lot of studs who need to be fed.
I'm tempted to take one of the Wisconsin backs, because you can never really go wrong there. But I can envision a scenario where both White and Gordon both put up over 1,000 yards but neither leads the league. Instead, I'm going to go out on an ever-so-slight limb and predict that Nebraska's Abdullah finishes as the Big Ten rushing champ.
Abdullah ran for 1,137 yards last year, and he began the season as Rex Burkhead's backup. He also split carries when Burkhead returned from a knee injury late in the season. Abdullah improved greatly from his freshman to his sophomore year and should be even better as a junior. Though Martinez will take his share of carries, Abdullah really only has one other player -- Imani Cross -- to split time with. The Huskers' offense plays at a fast pace and should get lots of snaps, especially against a pretty soft early schedule. Defenses also can't key on Abdullah because of the presence of Martinez and a talented receiving corps.
Abdullah received 226 carries in 14 games last year, an average of just 16 per game. Assuming he's fully healed from a minor spring knee injury, I could easily see him averaging more like 20-to-22 carries per contest in 2013. If he can improve his five yards per carry average from 2012, Abdullah should make a run at over 1,500 yards and possibly bring the rushing title home to Lincoln.
In the coming days, we'll make our predictions on the Big Ten's statistical leaders in 2013. Today's Take Two topic is: Who will lead the Big Ten in rushing this season?
Take 1: Adam Rittenberg
The Big Ten loses its top three rushers from 2012 -- Montee Ball, Le'Veon Bell and Denard Robinson -- but returns the next seven best ground gainers. That group of seven includes two pairs of teammates in Ohio State's Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde and Nebraska's Taylor Martinez and Ameer Abdullah. Although any of the four could lead the league in rushing, it's possible that they'll cancel each other out and take away the carries needed to top the chart. Northwestern's Venric Mark also is in the mix, but like the others, he shares carries with a quarterback (Kain Colter) and should have a deeper group of running backs around him this fall. Penn State's Zach Zwinak hit the 1,000-yard mark in 2012, but he'll be pushed for carries by Bill Belton and dynamic redshirt freshman Akeel Lynch.
[+] Enlarge
Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesThe power of RB Carlos Hyde is expected to be put to the test often for Ohio State in 2013.
Bottom line: this isn't an easy decision. Ultimately, I'm going with the guy running behind the league's best offensive line at Ohio State. Hyde will emerge as the Big Ten's leading rusher, edging out Mark, Gordon and Weisman for the title. Ohio State will rely less on Miller to carry the rushing load and use a more traditional power attack behind Hyde, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored 16 touchdowns in only 10 games last fall. Hyde has the power-size combination to thrive as a featured back, and he should get a bigger carries load as a senior, not just in the red zone but everywhere on the field.
Take 2: Brian Bennett
The race for the rushing title should shape up as the most exciting individual battle in the Big Ten this season. The league always produces great runners, and as Adam noted, many of the top ball carriers are back in 2013. In fact, some of the best competitions for rushing yards will happen in the same backfields, as several teams are capable of fielding two 1,000-yard rushers this season.
Hyde is a good choice, especially if he can replicate what he did down the stretch last year for a full season. But Braxton Miller will still run the ball a lot, too, and Ohio State also has the improving Rod Smith, youngsters Warren Ball and Bri'onte Dunn, plus Jordan Hall and possibly Dontre Wilson. That's a lot of studs who need to be fed.
I'm tempted to take one of the Wisconsin backs, because you can never really go wrong there. But I can envision a scenario where both White and Gordon both put up over 1,000 yards but neither leads the league. Instead, I'm going to go out on an ever-so-slight limb and predict that Nebraska's Abdullah finishes as the Big Ten rushing champ.
Abdullah ran for 1,137 yards last year, and he began the season as Rex Burkhead's backup. He also split carries when Burkhead returned from a knee injury late in the season. Abdullah improved greatly from his freshman to his sophomore year and should be even better as a junior. Though Martinez will take his share of carries, Abdullah really only has one other player -- Imani Cross -- to split time with. The Huskers' offense plays at a fast pace and should get lots of snaps, especially against a pretty soft early schedule. Defenses also can't key on Abdullah because of the presence of Martinez and a talented receiving corps.
Abdullah received 226 carries in 14 games last year, an average of just 16 per game. Assuming he's fully healed from a minor spring knee injury, I could easily see him averaging more like 20-to-22 carries per contest in 2013. If he can improve his five yards per carry average from 2012, Abdullah should make a run at over 1,500 yards and possibly bring the rushing title home to Lincoln.
Recruiting is the lifeblood of every program in the country, and every conference has its own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to landing top prospects. In the start of a weeklong series, we'll examine the BCS conferences plus Notre Dame to find each's strength, the biggest obstacle each faces and the overall view of the conference. First up: the Big Ten.
Biggest obstacle: There are two problems: perception and a limited talent pool. The consensus top states in the nation for talent are Florida, Texas, California and Georgia, and unfortunately for the Big Ten, none of them is in the Midwest. Talent can be found within the states in the Big Ten's footprint, but a good deal of work on the recruiting trail within this conference needs to be done outside of its base. For the 2013 class, only roughly 57 percent of the players signed by Big Ten teams came from the states that house Big Ten programs, and many of those came out of Ohio. By comparison, roughly 71 percent of the prospects signed by Pac-12 schools for 2013 came from within its own states, and in the SEC, that number was closer to 85 percent. Granted, California supplied the majority of the talent signed by the Pac-12 teams -- and the Golden State is big enough to supply an entire conference -- but the Big Ten lacks any one particular state that can act as a key feeder for an entire conference, like California for the Pac-12 or Texas for the Big 12. It's a problem because the farther these Big Ten teams have to stray from their base for talent, the tougher it is for it to lure prospects from competing programs that might be closer to home.
Besides having to often cast a wider net for talent than most of its BCS counterparts, the conference has also battled some perception problems about its ability to compete at the elite level nationally. Only one program, Ohio State, has won or even been to a BCS title game, and its past two appearances saw the Buckeyes come out on the losing end. Beyond the national title game, the conference has struggled in recent years to come out on the winning end of bowl games, in particular New Year's Day bowls. Coming up short on the national stage against rival conferences have left a dent in the perception of the Big Ten, which can create an obstacle in the ever-competitive arena of recruiting when battling for top talent.
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Iowa's X factor in 2013: versatile running back Damon Bullock.
Hodor!
- A closer look at Illinois linebacker Mason Monheim.
- Incoming Indiana defensive lineman Darius Latham is making his presence known on the boys' state all-star basketball team (subscription required). The Hoosiers picked up a quarterback from Los Angeles.
- Iowa is keeping a steady course in APR scores. A look inside the Hawkeyes' Ladies Football Academy.
- A Northwestern summer camp preview.
- Brady Hoke has Michigan's APR scores on an upswing. The Wolverines are in on two more of the top recruits in the nation. Devin Gardner says the team is angry about the way 2012 finished.
- Gerald Holmes is getting ready to try to become the next Michigan State starting tailback. Max Bullough is on the NFL radar.
- Minnesota got some good news with the APR scores.
- Nebraska got a commitment from a strong offensive lineman. Summer camp could yield several prospects for the Huskers.
- A kicker who showed the ability to perform under pressure accepted a scholarship offer from Ohio State. The Buckeyes' APR scores continue to climb.
- Penn State and Bill O'Brien continue to draw top recruits. Chris Weinke says Michael O'Connor is a near mirror image to Christian Hackenberg. A PSU video shows off the team's top weight-room performers.
- Purdue's new assistants are using summer camps to get acclimated. The Boilers are pursuing Glenn Robinson's son as a recruit.
- Wisconsin has found the perfect fit in Gary Andersen.
- Checking in on the Big Ten quarterbacks.
- A Big Ten expansion Q&A. Andy Staples grades all the expansion moves from the past three years.
- The BTN guys debate who will lead the league in receiving touchdowns.
Badgers lead way in returning lettermen
June, 12, 2013
Jun 12
11:00
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
We talk a lot about returning starters when previewing the season, and we gave you the whole breakdown of returning starters and career starts in the Big Ten last month. But that doesn't tell the entire story of a team's experience level.
Phil Steele attempts to calculate that further by breaking down how many lettermen each FBS team returns in 2013. Steele uses percentages of returning lettermen since schools use different methods to determine how they give out letters. But for the most part, the number of lettermen who are back reflect how many players with some experience a team has.
Steele's numbers show that Wisconsin has the highest percentage of returning lettermen of any BCS AQ school, at 83.87 percent (Rice and Texas-San Antonio rank 1-2, respectively). The Badgers, who have 17 returning starters, lost only 10 lettermen off last year's Rose Bowl team. That experience should help Gary Andersen in his first year as coach.
Here's how the rest of the Big Ten looks in the national rankings:
9. Michigan State: 80 percent
30. Indiana: 74.65 percent
35. Minnesota: 74.32 percent
49. Northwestern: 71.05 percent
71. Ohio State: 68.92 percent
73. Purdue: 68.57 percent
88. Michigan: 66.67 percent
99. Iowa: 65 percent
122. Illinois: 57.89 percent
123. Nebraska: 57.33 percent
125. Penn State: 54.29 percent
Some of these numbers cast the returning starters figures in a new light. Penn State, for example, ties for sixth in the Big Ten in returning starters with 16 but has a lower percentage of returning lettermen than every FBS team except Louisiana Tech. Indiana has one of the highest returning starters numbers in the country (21) but lost more lettermen than you'd expect. Nebraska ranked 42nd nationally in career total starts returning but is among the lowest teams in the country in percentage of lettermen who are coming back.
Do these numbers mean much in the grand scheme of things? Consider that the three BCS AQ teams with the highest percentage of returning lettermen last year (Florida, Stanford and Oregon) all ended up in BCS games, while Orange Bowl champion Florida State ranked sixth among AQ teams and Sugar Bowl winner Louisville was eighth. On the flip side, Notre Dame ranked 121st out of 124 teams and played for the national title, while Alabama was 104th. Ohio State was 74th last year and ended up 12-0.
No number is perfect in predicting success, but this gives you another idea of which teams have the most experience.
Phil Steele attempts to calculate that further by breaking down how many lettermen each FBS team returns in 2013. Steele uses percentages of returning lettermen since schools use different methods to determine how they give out letters. But for the most part, the number of lettermen who are back reflect how many players with some experience a team has.
Steele's numbers show that Wisconsin has the highest percentage of returning lettermen of any BCS AQ school, at 83.87 percent (Rice and Texas-San Antonio rank 1-2, respectively). The Badgers, who have 17 returning starters, lost only 10 lettermen off last year's Rose Bowl team. That experience should help Gary Andersen in his first year as coach.
Here's how the rest of the Big Ten looks in the national rankings:
9. Michigan State: 80 percent
30. Indiana: 74.65 percent
35. Minnesota: 74.32 percent
49. Northwestern: 71.05 percent
71. Ohio State: 68.92 percent
73. Purdue: 68.57 percent
88. Michigan: 66.67 percent
99. Iowa: 65 percent
122. Illinois: 57.89 percent
123. Nebraska: 57.33 percent
125. Penn State: 54.29 percent
Some of these numbers cast the returning starters figures in a new light. Penn State, for example, ties for sixth in the Big Ten in returning starters with 16 but has a lower percentage of returning lettermen than every FBS team except Louisiana Tech. Indiana has one of the highest returning starters numbers in the country (21) but lost more lettermen than you'd expect. Nebraska ranked 42nd nationally in career total starts returning but is among the lowest teams in the country in percentage of lettermen who are coming back.
Do these numbers mean much in the grand scheme of things? Consider that the three BCS AQ teams with the highest percentage of returning lettermen last year (Florida, Stanford and Oregon) all ended up in BCS games, while Orange Bowl champion Florida State ranked sixth among AQ teams and Sugar Bowl winner Louisville was eighth. On the flip side, Notre Dame ranked 121st out of 124 teams and played for the national title, while Alabama was 104th. Ohio State was 74th last year and ended up 12-0.
No number is perfect in predicting success, but this gives you another idea of which teams have the most experience.
Happy Tuesday. Follow us on Twitter. To the inbox ...
Michael from Los Feliz, Calif., writes: Is it possible you guys are overvaluing Wisconsin this year? Yes, they have a big senior class returning, but last year's team wasn't very good, and most of the best players are gone from Wisconsin's 'real' Rose Bowl squads. More importantly, they have a whole new coaching staff, and due to assistant turnover, the Badgers have had what amounts to three new coaching staffs in three years. They are also switching to a three-four alignment, which is an adjustment schematically and requires different personnel. Usually teams with this much staff turnover/dramatic schematic shits struggle. Could I be right here?
Adam Rittenberg: Michael, you outline the reasons why many think Wisconsin won't contend for a Big Ten championship this season, especially with Ohio State once again eligible for a league title. It's certainly possible that all the transition will offset Wisconsin's experience, especially in the senior class. We can agree that the struggles in 2012, especially in the first half of the season, could be attributed in large part to the coaching/system changes that took place after the 2011 season. Gary Andersen and his staff bring more changes, including the 3-4 alignment on defense that you point out. I think the defense is more equipped to play a 3-4 than you might think, but we won't know for sure until the season begins.
Andersen's challenge is to make the changes he sees fit without overloading the players and corrupting what has been a pretty successful model. What I like about Andersen is he understands what makes Wisconsin successful and doesn't want to throw it all aside just to do things his way. He also understands the areas where Wisconsin needs help in recruiting, mainly the perimeter positions of wide receiver and cornerback. I think he'll have Wisconsin competing for division/league championships soon, but this season could bring some growing pains. We'll find out a lot about the Badgers early on as they make tough September trips to both Arizona State and Ohio State.
Kenneth from NY writes: Adam, Do you see this year as a potential make-or-break for Brady Hoke? I'm not talking about in terms of his job security, but in terms of his overall perception as a top coach. Obviously he has recruited extremely well and given Meyer a run for his money for the top guys. But is there a sense amongst the ESPN clan that unless he actually beats Meyer this year, he's going to have a hard time ever doing it, especially with all the love and hype they're getting down in Columbus right now? I think Hoke can absolutely beat Meyer, if for no other reason than the game is at home, where Hoke has yet to lose. Also, rivalry game = throw records out nearest window. But having gone through the horrific seven-year drought of losing to that school, it worries me that if Hoke can't beat Meyer this year, we could very well be in for another long drought. Thoughts?
Adam Rittenberg: Kenneth, this is a very interesting topic and a good one to bring up. Hoke certainly needs to beat Meyer soon to show that Michigan is on the same level with Ohio State, but I'm not sure this year's game is a make-or-break situation for him. Michigan still is in the process of getting its roster right after the Rich Rodriguez years, and the Wolverines are poised to sign a top-3 recruiting class in February (RecruitingNation currently has Michigan at No. 1). When I look at Michigan, I see a good, young team that doesn't quite have the numbers to win at an elite level. I think Michigan will be there in 2014 and 2015. It's not to say Michigan can't beat Ohio State this season, and I agree that the Wolverines will need to beat a genuinely good Ohio State team -- the historically mediocre 2011 squad doesn't qualify -- to legitimize themselves and, in a sense, their coach. In the big picture, Hoke has moved Michigan much closer to Ohio State's level and should continue to do so through recruiting. He needs to beat Meyer soon, but I don't think a loss this year would mean he'll never do it.
Unhappy Husker from Minneapolis writes: "Although Husker fans might prefer a later kickoff time, this should be an advantage for Bo Pelini's squad as UCLA will be playing at 9 a.m. California time." While that may be true, this was Nebraska's only opportunity to showcase a quality opponent in Lincoln until 2015 at the earliest and it's at 11 which is terribly disappointing. Lincoln isn't a direct flight for anyone outside the midwest. How is Nebraska supposed to get recruits to come to Lincoln and get excited when Nebraska's home schedule has burried them for the next couple years? A 10-team Big XII playing night games against Oklahoma & Texas every year looks more and more appealing every day.
Adam Rittenberg: I don't know, Husker, but I think $25.7 million is pretty appealing, plus what will be the sport's best television contract beginning in a few years. Listen, I get your frustration and the logistical challenges Nebraska faces, but I don't think the quality of the home schedule will impact recruits' decisions that much. Nebraska still has fabulous facilities to sell and a tremendous game-day experience, regardless of the kickoff time and the opponent. The Huskers had showcase night games the past two years against Ohio State and Wisconsin, and more will come in future seasons. Plus, if Nebraska handles its business like many think it will, the Huskers will enter November with a spotless record and home games against Northwestern and Michigan State that could be 2:30 p.m. CT kickoffs. Winning will get recruits' attention more than playing UCLA at night.
Jon from Tumalo, Ore., writes: SEC, six major violations since 2009 and not one team is dinged out of a bowl game. I am NOT vindictive but looking at the penalty delivered to Miss St., if I am a OSU fan I am not happy.
Adam Rittenberg: Jon, I guess they cheat better down South, too. Both Mississippi State and Ohio State complied with the NCAA during their respective violations cases, but there were a few differences. The big one: Mississippi State had an assistant coach in hot water, but Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen wasn't implicated in the NCAA's findings. Former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel, meanwhile, was the focal point in the Ohio State case for not coming forward with known violations. Ohio State also had a second wave of problems involving former booster Bobby DiGeronimo that pushed back the infractions committee hearing and, ultimately, the ruling that gave Ohio State a one-year bowl ban. Again, if Ohio State had only self-imposed the bowl ban after the second wave of infractions surfaced, it would have been eligible for a national title in 2012.
All that said, it's surprising that SEC teams continue to escape the NCAA's hammer. As they love to say in SEC country, if you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'.
Matt from Grinnell, Iowa, writes: What do u think the chances are that the Iowa Hawkeyes will play against the Missouri Tigers during the regular season. I think myself would think it would make for a really good game like it was a few years ago when they met in the Insight Bowl.
Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I think it could be a great series, whether it's a home-and-home or a neutral-site game in Chicago or St. Louis, where Iowa has had some recruiting success in the past. The dilemma for Iowa, as you probably know, is what to do with the Iowa State series. As the Big Ten moves to nine league games in 2016, Iowa has some decisions to make. Should the Hawkeyes keep playing Iowa State every single year? If so, it'll be tough to add another major-conference opponent to the schedule. Iowa says it needs at least seven home games per year to meet the budget. And as coach Kirk Ferentz recently told me, "I'm sure there will be teams that choose to play 11 or 12 BCS teams. I'm not sure we're in that group. I'm not sure that's in our best interest." Missouri would be that 11th "BCS" team if Iowa keeps Iowa State on the schedule. I'd be in favor of Iowa taking a two-year break with Iowa State now and then to get other major-conference teams on the schedule. Or, Iowa could have one year with both Iowa State (at home) and a neutral-site game against a team like Missouri. But there's no indication at this point of any future Iowa-Mizzou games.
Adam Rittenberg III from Bloomington, Ind., writes: I see Danny Etling as a guy who can really develop into a quality QB if Purdue starts him all four years. However, I don't see Hazell doing that. Who do you think would be the best fit as Purdue's starting QB to begin the year? I tried to ask Danny Hope the same question, but he's still a little bitter about the whole thing.
Adam Rittenberg: Is this my grandson writing from the future? Alrighty then. Purdue features one of the more interesting quarterback competitions entering the summer because of Etling and his emergence this spring as an early enrollee. Rob Henry is a great guy and a great leader who has worked his butt off to start at quarterback as a senior after enduring so much adversity earlier in his career. He'll easily win over the locker room. But Etling is Purdue's future, and there's a good argument to be made that the future is now for Purdue and Hazell should accelerate Etling's development as much as possible right away. Sure, there will be some mistakes, but Etling and Purdue could be better off in the long run. If Henry is clearly the better option in camp, Hazell's decision is easy. But what if they're equal? Hazell might be hesitant to start a true freshman, but he has to consider the long-term benefits for the program. I think it's really important for Henry to create some separation early in camp and look like the veteran out there.
Matt from Omaha writes: Why do we think that a nine game conference schedule would benefit the BIG? Since the general percention is that the BIG is weak, wouldn't it be better to keep the conference schedule at eight and then schedule nonconference games from others schools who are in other conferences that are BCS automatic qualifiers?
Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I'm glad you mentioned scheduling other major-conference schools, because the argument to stay at eight league games just to create an easier path to the college football playoff is a weak one. You're right that the Big Ten has to prove itself against other major conferences to improve its national profile, and more aggressive scheduling is the way to do it. The good news is Big Ten fans not only will get more conference games, but more attractive non-conference games in the future. It's a win-win. The Big Ten is getting bigger, and if the league stayed at eight league games, we'd see these long breaks between matchups, which wouldn't serve the players or the fans. Conference intimacy is important, and playing each other more, not less, is the best solution. Here's hoping the SEC eventually gets on board with the nine-game league schedule along with stronger non-league slates.
Michael from Los Feliz, Calif., writes: Is it possible you guys are overvaluing Wisconsin this year? Yes, they have a big senior class returning, but last year's team wasn't very good, and most of the best players are gone from Wisconsin's 'real' Rose Bowl squads. More importantly, they have a whole new coaching staff, and due to assistant turnover, the Badgers have had what amounts to three new coaching staffs in three years. They are also switching to a three-four alignment, which is an adjustment schematically and requires different personnel. Usually teams with this much staff turnover/dramatic schematic shits struggle. Could I be right here?
Adam Rittenberg: Michael, you outline the reasons why many think Wisconsin won't contend for a Big Ten championship this season, especially with Ohio State once again eligible for a league title. It's certainly possible that all the transition will offset Wisconsin's experience, especially in the senior class. We can agree that the struggles in 2012, especially in the first half of the season, could be attributed in large part to the coaching/system changes that took place after the 2011 season. Gary Andersen and his staff bring more changes, including the 3-4 alignment on defense that you point out. I think the defense is more equipped to play a 3-4 than you might think, but we won't know for sure until the season begins.
Andersen's challenge is to make the changes he sees fit without overloading the players and corrupting what has been a pretty successful model. What I like about Andersen is he understands what makes Wisconsin successful and doesn't want to throw it all aside just to do things his way. He also understands the areas where Wisconsin needs help in recruiting, mainly the perimeter positions of wide receiver and cornerback. I think he'll have Wisconsin competing for division/league championships soon, but this season could bring some growing pains. We'll find out a lot about the Badgers early on as they make tough September trips to both Arizona State and Ohio State.
Kenneth from NY writes: Adam, Do you see this year as a potential make-or-break for Brady Hoke? I'm not talking about in terms of his job security, but in terms of his overall perception as a top coach. Obviously he has recruited extremely well and given Meyer a run for his money for the top guys. But is there a sense amongst the ESPN clan that unless he actually beats Meyer this year, he's going to have a hard time ever doing it, especially with all the love and hype they're getting down in Columbus right now? I think Hoke can absolutely beat Meyer, if for no other reason than the game is at home, where Hoke has yet to lose. Also, rivalry game = throw records out nearest window. But having gone through the horrific seven-year drought of losing to that school, it worries me that if Hoke can't beat Meyer this year, we could very well be in for another long drought. Thoughts?
Adam Rittenberg: Kenneth, this is a very interesting topic and a good one to bring up. Hoke certainly needs to beat Meyer soon to show that Michigan is on the same level with Ohio State, but I'm not sure this year's game is a make-or-break situation for him. Michigan still is in the process of getting its roster right after the Rich Rodriguez years, and the Wolverines are poised to sign a top-3 recruiting class in February (RecruitingNation currently has Michigan at No. 1). When I look at Michigan, I see a good, young team that doesn't quite have the numbers to win at an elite level. I think Michigan will be there in 2014 and 2015. It's not to say Michigan can't beat Ohio State this season, and I agree that the Wolverines will need to beat a genuinely good Ohio State team -- the historically mediocre 2011 squad doesn't qualify -- to legitimize themselves and, in a sense, their coach. In the big picture, Hoke has moved Michigan much closer to Ohio State's level and should continue to do so through recruiting. He needs to beat Meyer soon, but I don't think a loss this year would mean he'll never do it.
Unhappy Husker from Minneapolis writes: "Although Husker fans might prefer a later kickoff time, this should be an advantage for Bo Pelini's squad as UCLA will be playing at 9 a.m. California time." While that may be true, this was Nebraska's only opportunity to showcase a quality opponent in Lincoln until 2015 at the earliest and it's at 11 which is terribly disappointing. Lincoln isn't a direct flight for anyone outside the midwest. How is Nebraska supposed to get recruits to come to Lincoln and get excited when Nebraska's home schedule has burried them for the next couple years? A 10-team Big XII playing night games against Oklahoma & Texas every year looks more and more appealing every day.
Adam Rittenberg: I don't know, Husker, but I think $25.7 million is pretty appealing, plus what will be the sport's best television contract beginning in a few years. Listen, I get your frustration and the logistical challenges Nebraska faces, but I don't think the quality of the home schedule will impact recruits' decisions that much. Nebraska still has fabulous facilities to sell and a tremendous game-day experience, regardless of the kickoff time and the opponent. The Huskers had showcase night games the past two years against Ohio State and Wisconsin, and more will come in future seasons. Plus, if Nebraska handles its business like many think it will, the Huskers will enter November with a spotless record and home games against Northwestern and Michigan State that could be 2:30 p.m. CT kickoffs. Winning will get recruits' attention more than playing UCLA at night.
Jon from Tumalo, Ore., writes: SEC, six major violations since 2009 and not one team is dinged out of a bowl game. I am NOT vindictive but looking at the penalty delivered to Miss St., if I am a OSU fan I am not happy.
Adam Rittenberg: Jon, I guess they cheat better down South, too. Both Mississippi State and Ohio State complied with the NCAA during their respective violations cases, but there were a few differences. The big one: Mississippi State had an assistant coach in hot water, but Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen wasn't implicated in the NCAA's findings. Former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel, meanwhile, was the focal point in the Ohio State case for not coming forward with known violations. Ohio State also had a second wave of problems involving former booster Bobby DiGeronimo that pushed back the infractions committee hearing and, ultimately, the ruling that gave Ohio State a one-year bowl ban. Again, if Ohio State had only self-imposed the bowl ban after the second wave of infractions surfaced, it would have been eligible for a national title in 2012.
All that said, it's surprising that SEC teams continue to escape the NCAA's hammer. As they love to say in SEC country, if you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'.
Matt from Grinnell, Iowa, writes: What do u think the chances are that the Iowa Hawkeyes will play against the Missouri Tigers during the regular season. I think myself would think it would make for a really good game like it was a few years ago when they met in the Insight Bowl.
Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I think it could be a great series, whether it's a home-and-home or a neutral-site game in Chicago or St. Louis, where Iowa has had some recruiting success in the past. The dilemma for Iowa, as you probably know, is what to do with the Iowa State series. As the Big Ten moves to nine league games in 2016, Iowa has some decisions to make. Should the Hawkeyes keep playing Iowa State every single year? If so, it'll be tough to add another major-conference opponent to the schedule. Iowa says it needs at least seven home games per year to meet the budget. And as coach Kirk Ferentz recently told me, "I'm sure there will be teams that choose to play 11 or 12 BCS teams. I'm not sure we're in that group. I'm not sure that's in our best interest." Missouri would be that 11th "BCS" team if Iowa keeps Iowa State on the schedule. I'd be in favor of Iowa taking a two-year break with Iowa State now and then to get other major-conference teams on the schedule. Or, Iowa could have one year with both Iowa State (at home) and a neutral-site game against a team like Missouri. But there's no indication at this point of any future Iowa-Mizzou games.
Adam Rittenberg III from Bloomington, Ind., writes: I see Danny Etling as a guy who can really develop into a quality QB if Purdue starts him all four years. However, I don't see Hazell doing that. Who do you think would be the best fit as Purdue's starting QB to begin the year? I tried to ask Danny Hope the same question, but he's still a little bitter about the whole thing.
Adam Rittenberg: Is this my grandson writing from the future? Alrighty then. Purdue features one of the more interesting quarterback competitions entering the summer because of Etling and his emergence this spring as an early enrollee. Rob Henry is a great guy and a great leader who has worked his butt off to start at quarterback as a senior after enduring so much adversity earlier in his career. He'll easily win over the locker room. But Etling is Purdue's future, and there's a good argument to be made that the future is now for Purdue and Hazell should accelerate Etling's development as much as possible right away. Sure, there will be some mistakes, but Etling and Purdue could be better off in the long run. If Henry is clearly the better option in camp, Hazell's decision is easy. But what if they're equal? Hazell might be hesitant to start a true freshman, but he has to consider the long-term benefits for the program. I think it's really important for Henry to create some separation early in camp and look like the veteran out there.
Matt from Omaha writes: Why do we think that a nine game conference schedule would benefit the BIG? Since the general percention is that the BIG is weak, wouldn't it be better to keep the conference schedule at eight and then schedule nonconference games from others schools who are in other conferences that are BCS automatic qualifiers?
Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I'm glad you mentioned scheduling other major-conference schools, because the argument to stay at eight league games just to create an easier path to the college football playoff is a weak one. You're right that the Big Ten has to prove itself against other major conferences to improve its national profile, and more aggressive scheduling is the way to do it. The good news is Big Ten fans not only will get more conference games, but more attractive non-conference games in the future. It's a win-win. The Big Ten is getting bigger, and if the league stayed at eight league games, we'd see these long breaks between matchups, which wouldn't serve the players or the fans. Conference intimacy is important, and playing each other more, not less, is the best solution. Here's hoping the SEC eventually gets on board with the nine-game league schedule along with stronger non-league slates.
Whatever you might think about the Big Ten's performance on the football field, you have to acknowledge this: the league is doing a great job in the classroom.
Or at least it is by the NCAA's main measuring stick. The NCAA released the latest Academic Progress Rate scores on Tuesday, and the Big Ten came out looking good. Every team beat the national average score for football (949) and is well out of range of any kind of penalties.
The APR measures eligibility, retention and graduation over a four-year period. The new scores go through the 2011-2012 school year. The NCAA gave out public recognition awards to three Big Ten schools last week, honoring Northwestern, Wisconsin and Ohio State for their APR scores. In fact, Northwestern ranked No. 1 among all FBS schools, while Wisconsin is No. 4 among BCS AQ schools and Ohio State is eighth. Future Big Ten member Rutgers is ninth.
Teams with scores below 925 can be hit with penalties such as scholarship losses and reduced practice time. Teams must achieve a 900 multi-year APR or a 930 average over the most recent two years to be eligible for postseason in the next academic year. To avoid a ban for the 2014-15 postseason, teams must post a multi-year score 930 or a two-year average of 940.
Minnesota was flirting with the danger line last year, as its four-year score was 932. But the Gophers have made good progress since, and so have Michigan and Michigan State. Here are the Big Ten's current four-year scores:
1. Northwestern: 996
2. Wisconsin: 985
3. Ohio State: 982
4. Nebraska: 972
5. Indiana: 963
T-6. Iowa: 961
T-6. Penn State: 961
8. Illinois: 960
T-9. Michigan State: 955
T-9. Minnesota: 955
11. Purdue: 953
12. Michigan: 951
Or at least it is by the NCAA's main measuring stick. The NCAA released the latest Academic Progress Rate scores on Tuesday, and the Big Ten came out looking good. Every team beat the national average score for football (949) and is well out of range of any kind of penalties.
The APR measures eligibility, retention and graduation over a four-year period. The new scores go through the 2011-2012 school year. The NCAA gave out public recognition awards to three Big Ten schools last week, honoring Northwestern, Wisconsin and Ohio State for their APR scores. In fact, Northwestern ranked No. 1 among all FBS schools, while Wisconsin is No. 4 among BCS AQ schools and Ohio State is eighth. Future Big Ten member Rutgers is ninth.
Teams with scores below 925 can be hit with penalties such as scholarship losses and reduced practice time. Teams must achieve a 900 multi-year APR or a 930 average over the most recent two years to be eligible for postseason in the next academic year. To avoid a ban for the 2014-15 postseason, teams must post a multi-year score 930 or a two-year average of 940.
Minnesota was flirting with the danger line last year, as its four-year score was 932. But the Gophers have made good progress since, and so have Michigan and Michigan State. Here are the Big Ten's current four-year scores:
1. Northwestern: 996
2. Wisconsin: 985
3. Ohio State: 982
4. Nebraska: 972
5. Indiana: 963
T-6. Iowa: 961
T-6. Penn State: 961
8. Illinois: 960
T-9. Michigan State: 955
T-9. Minnesota: 955
11. Purdue: 953
12. Michigan: 951
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rittenberg
Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
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