ESPN College Football

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.

You know the season is getting closer and closer as more publications come out with their official previews and preseason all-conference teams.

Phil Steele offered his All-Big Ten selections earlier this month, and now Athlon has come out with its picks for all-conference performers. You can view the publication's first-, second- and third-team choices here.

Some notes on the picks:

Athlon differs with Steele on a few key choices, including Penn State's Kyle Carter over Wisconsin's Jacob Pedersen as first-team tight end. I heartily endorse Athlon's call there. Athlon also has Ohio State's Corey Linsley as the first team center instead of Steele's pick of Northwestern's Brandon Vitabile.

On defense, Athlon shows love to the youngsters, picking Ohio State sophomore Noah Spence and Penn State sophomore Deion Barnes on its first-team defensive line. I agree with the Barnes pick and think Spence can get there, though teammate Adolphus Washington might beat him out for the honors. Wisconsin's Beau Allen also makes the first team at defensive tackle, along with Minnesota's Ra'Shede Hageman -- the one D-lineman that Steele and Athlon agree upon for the first team.

There are no surprises at linebacker or cornerback, but Athlon picks Northwestern's Ibraheim Campbell at safety instead of Steele's choice of Ohio State's Christian Bryant. Tough call between the two there.

Athlon is also high on Wisconsin sophomore running back Melvin Gordon, who makes the second team just as he did for Steele, while Nebraska's Kenny Bell is a second-team wide receiver (Steele had three receivers on the first team, compared to just two for Athlon).

Ohio State led the way with 13 selections on Athlon's three teams, including a whopping seven on the first team. The Buckeyes were followed by Wisconsin with 10 overall selections (three on the first team) and Michigan State with nine (four on the first team). Illinois and Minnesota tied for the fewest picks with two apiece.

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.

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.

As Kanye West says, all I want is dopeness. Bring it.

Denard R. from Columbus, Ohio: Brian, what do you think the chances are two BIG teams make it to a BCS game, and should they win one or both how much would that improve the perception of the conference?

Brian Bennett: Denard, what the heck are you doing in Columbus? I would say the chances of getting two teams into a BCS game are actually quite good. Remember, that was a regular occurrence until last season; the Big Ten had received an at-large BCS bid for seven consecutive seasons before 2012, and that was an odd year where both Ohio State and Penn State were ineligible and teams like Wisconsin and Michigan underperformed. Getting the Buckeyes eligible again helps a great deal. The second BCS bid could go to a team that does not make the Big Ten championship game, a la Michigan in 2011, because losing in the title game often hurts a team's cause. Wisconsin, if it finishes second to Ohio State but manages to run roughshod over the rest of its manageable schedule, is a strong possibility, along with whoever finishes second in the Legends Division.

As for perception, winning two BCS games would obviously be big for the Big Ten, which needs all the help it can generate for itself in that department. The league needs to get back to winning Rose Bowls. In theory, perception shouldn't matter as much with the four-team playoff beginning next year since a committee should only look at that year's body of work. But in reality, perception likely still will play a role as selectors try to determine strength-of-schedule and conference power factors.

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Bryan from Chicago writes: I saw your article on the B1G APR scores this week. This was great to see coming off of the article I read about Alabama's APR score last week. I was curious if you could do a comparison of B1G to the SEC APR scores. The leagues are so often compared on the field where SEC has left the B1G in the dust, it would be interesting to see how the fair against each other in the classroom.

Brian Bennett: Sure thing. You can find the Big Ten scores in that post from Tuesday. Here are those from the SEC (Note: Missouri and Texas A&M are not included because they weren't part of the league during the scoring period):

Alabama: 978
Vanderbilt: 973
Florida: 968
Georgia: 968
Mississippi State: 967
South Carolina: 966
Auburn: 950
LSU: 944
Mississippi: 944
Kentucky: 943
Arkansas: 938
Tennessee: 924

The SEC's league average was 955.3, compared to 966.2 for the Big Ten, which was the highest among the power conferences. Six SEC teams ranked below the Big Ten's lowest team (Michigan, at 951), and Tennessee scored under the 925 cutoff. The Big Ten's top three teams -- Northwestern, Wisconsin and Ohio State -- were all better than Alabama.

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Brian from Portland, Ore., writes: In regards to your post about APR scores, wondering what Penn State's score would've been had it not been for the transfers directly tied to the NCAA sanctions? Just another "unintended" outcome from the sanctions that fly directly in the face of the "culture change" that the NCAA was supposedly trying to facilitate through these sanctions.

Brian Bennett: Brian (great name and proper spelling), the most recent APR scores are four-year averages that go through the 2011-12 school year, so the transfers from last summer were not counted in Penn State's stats. They will start to be reflected in next year's APR. That will be another thing the Nittany Lions have to worry about, although the NCAA does take into account transfers who leave in good academic standing. You would have to think the great minds in Indianapolis will grant exemptions for Penn State on the transfer issue, because that would be like double jeopardy if the school was penalized in the APR for that.

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They call themselves Ohio from Michigan writes: You didn't really answer the question in your mailbag from Farmington Hills about OSU beating UMich twice. What do you really believe the odds are for OSU to beat Michigan twice in consecutive weeks; once in Ann Arbor (where Hoke has not lost) and the other at a neutral site? In my least biased, most purely historical-and-mathematical-fact-based mind, I give them no better than 1 chance in 4. Too many factors stacking against them. Meyer's got a capable team with a remarkable guy at the helm, but you can't ignore history, and historically the loser of game one has won the majority of rematches (at least through 2012, haven't checked last season).

Brian Bennett: It's awfully tough to predict what's going to happen in Game 12 and Game 13 when we're in June. Who knows how the season plays out? I agree that it would be very difficult for Ohio State to pull off those back-to-back wins, but if the Buckeyes are good enough to win in Ann Arbor, I would think their chances of winning the following week at a neutral site would improve. I did some research on rematches when Michigan State and Wisconsin played in the 2011 Big Ten title game. At that time, the team that won the regular-season meeting was 14-8 in the title game rematch. Of course, Wisconsin reversed the trend that year and again last year by beating Nebraska, though those weren't consecutive-week games. The most analogous example was last year's Pac-12 title game between Stanford and UCLA, in which the Cardinal beat the Bruins twice in seven days to claim the championship. So it can be done.

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@jearly76 from Twitter writes: Jerry Kill's teams have always made big jumps in year 3. Any chance of that happening with Minnesota or is there not enough talent?

Brian Bennett: I think it's very possible this year. I like the vibe coming out of Minneapolis this year. The Gophers sound pretty confident that they will make a major leap forward. Last year's team made a bowl game but really wasn't very good in the second half of the regular season, thanks mostly to injuries. The bowl game performance against Texas Tech was a revelation. I think Minnesota will definitely be a better team this year and will prove a tough out most weeks in the Big Ten, with the potential to pull off a few upsets. The problem is that the Legends Division is loaded, so it's going to be hard to move up too far.

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Andy Gress via Twitter writes: The Huskers have a good shot at being undefeated going into November, what do you think their record will be coming out of it?

Brian Bennett: Unless Minnesota is able to really jump up and pull off the upset at home on Oct. 26, the only game I can see Nebraska losing before the Nov. 2 showdown against Northwestern is in Week 3 versus UCLA. And that game is at Memorial Stadium, with some nice revenge motivation going for the Huskers. I think Nebraska will be 7-0 and 6-1 at worst. Then the real fun begins.

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Chris from Chicago writes: We talk a lot about the "best WRs/TEs" in terms of catching the ball or "best RBs" in terms of running, but never look at the other roles of those positions. For example, who are the best run-blocking wide receivers/TEs in the B1G? Who are the best receiving/pass blocking RBs in the B1G? What O-lines are best built to run-block vs. pass block? I'd love to see you break down units by the "secondary" yet important things they're required to do....

Brian Bennett: Some great points, Chris. It's much easier to look at the receiving/rushing numbers because those are simpler to quantify through statistics. Judging who is really a great blocker requires a lot more film study and intricate knowledge of what a team is trying to do. I do know that Nebraska's receivers deserve a ton of credit for their blocking in the run game; that has been an underrated aspect of how good the Huskers' running game has been. Same could be said of Wisconsin's tight ends and Northwestern's receivers. As good as Montee Ball was in 2011, he missed a few key blocks in pass protection before he shored that part of his game up. That's something we'll keep in mind while evaluating those positions down the road.

Minnesota's X factor in 2013: the influx of new players at linebacker.

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.

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.

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

Three years ago, this happened.

• More on Danny O'Brien's departure from Wisconsin here and here and here.
• Zayd Issah's status with Penn State is up in the air as he'll likely play for a prep school this fall. Lineman Andrew Nelson looks forward to his future in Happy Valley. Hockey at Beaver Stadium? Yes, please.
• Joe Tiller returns to Purdue to talk Boiler football. Head coach Darrell Hazell settles in at Purdue.
• Michigan AD Dave Brandon says the Big Ten is moving forward.
• Ohio State players have bought in to strength coach Mickey Marotti and the Urban Meyer way, Bruce Feldman writes. Former Ohio State RB Maurice Clarett will speak to NFL rookies about his story of wasted opportunities.
• Former Michigan State star Julian Peterson says Mark Dantonio and Nick Saban were like Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde when they coached together in East Lansing. Spartans recruit Delton Williams will play safety one final time in the Big 33 game before moving to running back.
• Las Vegas might like Northwestern in 2013, but the gamblers don't.
• Renderings of Minnesota's proposed indoor practice facility have surfaced.
• A summer preview of Nebraska in 2013. Nebraska's new recruits have arrived on campus.
• Eleven Warriors ranks the Big Ten recruiting classes to date.
• The BTN.com guys debate who will lead the Big Ten in receiving yards this fall.
• Crimson Quarry breaks down Illinois heading into 2013.
• The future is bright for Indiana football.
• So much for the Big Ten going D-III if pay-for-play comes to pass.

The 2013 season is less than three months away, and few things generate more excitement among fans than the first chance to see certain players compete in games. Every year, the Big Ten produces a handful of first-year stars, whether they're true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or transfers.

Who are the first-year Big Ten players to watch in 2013? Here are five of them.

Purdue QB Danny Etling, freshman: It didn't take long for Etling to impress Darrell Hazell, John Shoop and the rest of Purdue's new coaching staff. A decorated recruit and an Elite 11 finalist, Etling enrolled early and went through spring practice. He made a strong push late in the session and leapfrogged Austin Appleby to join senior Rob Henry in the top group entering fall camp. Although Henry is an excellent leader who has waited a long time to be the starter, don't be surprised if Hazell and the staff decide that the future is now and go with Etling, despite his youth. "Danny's work ethic puts him in a position," Hazell told ESPN.com. "He's a smart guy, gets himself out of trouble and is accurate when he's moving around in the pocket."

Michigan RB Derrick Green, freshman: Until Jabrill Peppers' commitment last month, no Michigan recruit in the Brady Hoke era has generated more excitement than Green, a late pickup in the 2013 class. The Wolverines are looking for a feature running back in their pro-set offense and struggled to find one last season, when quarterback Denard Robinson had more than twice as many rush yards (1,266) as any other player. Green plays a position where true freshmen can make an immediate impact, and he has a sturdy frame at 6-foot, 215 pounds. Michigan has been waiting for a power back like Green, and if he can grasp the protection schemes and outperform Fitzgerald Toussaint in camp, he'll likely play a lot this season.

Nebraska DE Randy Gregory, junior: It's no secret Nebraska needs help on defense, especially up front, where the Huskers lose three starters from 2012 and need a difference-maker to emerge. Gregory comes in from the junior-college ranks with an excellent chance to start or at least log significant playing time. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound junior from Arizona Western Community College missed last season with a broken leg but recorded 21 tackles for loss, including nine sacks, in 2011 as he helped Arizona Western to the NJCAA title game. The one-time Purdue recruit could fill the pass-rushing void left by Eric Martin.

Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg, freshman: Although Hackenberg didn't enroll early like Purdue's Etling, he also enters preseason camp with an excellent chance to become a Big Ten starting quarterback as a true freshman. After Steven Bench's transfer, Penn State's quarterback race is down to Hackenberg and junior-college transfer Tyler Ferguson, who went through the spring and slightly outperformed Bench. RecruitingNation rated Hackenberg as the No. 1 quarterback in the 2013 recruiting class, and he has all the mental and physical skills to play early in his career. He'll be challenged to grasp O'Brien's complex, NFL-style offense in several weeks this summer, but unless Ferguson creates significant separation, expect to see plenty of Hackenberg during the season.

Minnesota LB Damien Wilson, junior: The Gophers need immediate help at linebacker after losing Mike Rallis and Keanon Cooper, and they expect to get it from Wilson, a junior-college transfer from Mississippi. Head coach Jerry Kill was excited about Wilson's addition on signing day, and Wilson showed some promising signs during his first spring session with the Gophers. The 6-foot-2, 254-pound Wilson ranked fourth nationally in the juco ranks with 122 tackles last season and recorded six tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups. Barring a preseason surprise, he'll play a significant role for Minnesota's defense this fall.

Poor Sally Draper. So much therapy awaits you in the '70s.

• New Wisconsin strength coach Evan Simon has big goals for the Badgers this summer. Bret Bielema said he was jealous of the SEC and always wanted to coach there.
• Jim Tressel spoke to Purdue's coaches.
• Penn State landed a prototypical pocket passer in Michael O'Connor. Some common themes in the commencement addresses of Bill O'Brien and Joe Paterno, some 40 years apart. C.J. Olaniyan could flourish this year with teams focusing on Deion Barnes.
• Pay for assistants has skyrocketed, and Ohio State leads the way on that front in the Big Ten. Former Buckeyes receiver Ray Small was indicted on drug and weapons charges.
• What is Northwestern's biggest game in 2013?
• This is a big week for Nebraska recruiting. Taylor Martinez continues to receive instruction from QB guru Steve Calhoun.
• Minnesota's loss was Nebraska's gain when Russell Gary became a star for the Huskers. The Gophers are gearing up for a better apparel contract when their Nike deal runs out. A short Q&A with Jerry Kill.
• Mark Hollis wants Michigan State students to attend -- and stay at -- home football games. Punter Mike Sadler could be a Rhodes Scholar. Incoming Spartans kicker Michael Geiger is ready to compete.
• Leaders, including Thomas Gordon and Jeremy Gallon, emerged during Michigan's senior trip to California. Freshman running back Derrick Green credits Bikram yoga for helping make him a top prospect.
• Iowa's cheapest ticket isn't much of a bargain.
• Indiana got a commitment from a junior college offensive lineman (subscription required).
• Illinois signee Michael Hermosillo will instead pursue a baseball career after he was drafted by the Angels. Will the Illini draw a big crowd for their Soldier Field game?
• Bold Big Ten predictions from Off Tackle Empire.

Wishing you a great weekend. Be sure to follow us on Twitter.

Dan from Omaha writes: As a Husker fan who watched us get torched by the Wisconsin offense in the B1G title game, I'm a little surprised to not see Wisconsin on your list of triple threat teams. You've got experienced players returning at all key skills positions, unlike PSU who will be starting a brand new QB. And while Wiscy's QB position may be in question, either have big game experience under their belt. [Melvin] Gordon and [James] White are both very viable and dangerous backfield options. Several times Abbrederis has been talked up as one of, if not the best, returning receiver in the B1G, and both he and Pedersen (quadruple threat??) are on Steele's AA teams. Stave/Phillips, Gordon/White, and Abbrederis provide a very potent triple threat, at least in my book. Why the snub?

Adam Rittenberg: Dan, some fair points here. I disagree Wisconsin was snubbed from the list, as we can only include five teams in the poll and I felt the other five were more deserving than the Badgers, who finished 111th nationally in passing in 2012 (156.9 ypg). Sure, Penn State has some major quarterback questions, but the Lions also have better depth at both wide receiver and tight end than Wisconsin, not to mention a pass-oriented, talented play-caller in head coach Bill O'Brien. Wisconsin's quarterbacks have more experience, but I have a hard time seeing one come close to 3,000 pass yards this season. Jared Abbrederis is the team's only real threat at wide receiver, and while Jacob Pedersen is a solid tight end, I like Penn State's overall group more. It came down to Penn State vs. Wisconsin for that fifth spot, and the combination of O'Brien's play calls and Penn State's returning receivers and tight ends trumped what Wisconsin brings back for 2013. Penn State's offense always will have a passing lean under O'Brien, while Wisconsin will remain run-based (as it should be) under new coordinator Andy Ludwig.

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FredCoxRocks from Chilly Minnesota writes: Will you be posting the APR scores of the B1G teams? I heard Minnesota took a big jump up, as Jerry Kill promised he would work on. I know in the last few years they were near the line (I believe they even lost some scholarships in the Brewster era).

Adam Rittenberg: Yes, we'll be posting the specific scores for all the teams on Tuesday afternoon (release comes out at 2:30 p.m. ET). Some of the scores already have trickled out, but you'll get a complete list then. You're right about Minnesota taking a big jump up under Jerry Kill, who spoke earlier this week about it. "We were in big time trouble two years ago," Kill said during a Minnesota barnstorming tour event. "I can tell you, we've had four back-to-back semesters of 3.0 [cumulative GPA] or better. We've gotten ourselves out of a hole. And a big reason that’s happened is people working together to help us get out of that hole. We have over half our football team that’s over a 3.0. That's a miracle in where we were at before."

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Neil from Lincoln, Neb., writes: Hey Adam, do you think the Big Ten will consider adopting the Pac-12's championship game model? Rewarding the qualifying team with the best record with an essential home game both rewards them for their conference regular season play and postitions a Big Ten team to have a better opportunity to qualify for the College Football Playoff. What are your thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: Neil, you certainly aren't the only Big Ten fan who likes the Pac-12's title game model, but I don't see the Big Ten going down this road. For starters, there's concern from several Big Ten power brokers (league officials, ADs) about playing the championship game outdoors. No Big Ten team has an indoor home venue. The bigger thing is the Big Ten views the championship game as a major branding opportunity. It wants to bring in all fan bases, showcase the league and hold several events around the game. Many Big Ten cities couldn't accommodate these types of events. Like the SEC, the Big Ten can afford to have its championship game at a neutral site because its fans are willing to travel. The Pac-12 simply doesn't have that luxury. Its fans don't travel well to bowls, and asking two fan bases to make a trip to a neutral site -- even a great venue like the Rose Bowl -- might be too much to ask. Unless the Big Ten continues to see disappointing attendance in Indianapolis or another neutral-site venue like Chicago, I don't see the league going with campus sites for the game.

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Bill from Portales, N.M., writes: Dear Adam, Can we let the Gee issue go? Surely there is something you can report on about Ohio State's football team that doesn't center around an eccentric, loose-lipped University President. Yes, I agree that he has been an embarrassment to the University and the State (and all of us Buckeye fans) however he is not a member of the football team. Those of us who live outside of Ohio and count on your coverage of Buckeye football want to read about the coaches and players. We rely on you to quench our thirst for information on our beloved football team. Thanks for listening.

Adam Rittenberg: Bill, I think the Gee story is pretty much over. That there was so much sports coverage about the retirement of a university president underscores how much Gee has injected himself into the Ohio State football/athletics story during his run as president. And it's impossible to deny the fact his retirement announcement comes days after his comments related to football became public. NBC Nightly News wouldn't have mentioned the story if Gee had retired quietly, with no preceding controversy. We have and will continue to have plenty of Ohio State team coverage, and I agree that's what the blog is mainly about. But Gee wasn't a typical university president when it came to football and public comments, and that's why the situation generated so much media attention, not just from ESPN but from everyone.

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Missed New Rivalries from Buckeye Nation writes: Hey Adam, I know the Indiana-Purdue rivalry will be the only protected rivalry starting in 2014, but would the Big Ten have any interest in having protected rivalries for all Big Ten teams even if it could not start until the Big Ten begins a 9-game conference schedule in 2016? Here's a possibility for protected-rivalries:Indiana-Purdue: It's obvious this rivalry must remain since it is an in-state rivalry that has significant meaning to everyone in the state of Indiana. Maryland-Iowa: Of course, this will not will the greatest rivalry but at least it won't be as one-sided as Virginia Tech and Boston College and it gives Maryland another conference rival.Michigan-Minnesota: Yes, this is more of a one-sided rivalry but it's a trophy rivalry game for the Little Brown Jug and it still has meaning. Michigan State-Wisconsin: This is a new rivalry on the rise with 2 powerhouse teams and it should remain that way. Ohio State-Illinois: It preserves the Illbuck, provides a decent rivalry game and gives Illinois another rivalry that would be played annually. Penn State-Nebraska: It keeps an older rivalry alive and it would provide 2 competitive teams. Rutgers-Northwestern: How about a NYC-Chicago rivalry in the Big Ten? And it would provide 2 decent football teams on an annual basis in the big cities. Most of these protected rivalries keeps traditional rivalries which is important to the Big Ten while creating new traditional rivalries for the Big Ten and should be considered for future Big Ten conference scheduling, what's your opinion on this Adam?

Adam Rittenberg: I've never been a fan of protected crossover games, especially when the league gets larger. Protected games across the board hurt the overall schedule rotations for teams and create long gaps in matchups like the one we currently have between Iowa and Illinois (haven't played since 2008). Purdue and Indiana definitely have to play each year, but the other crossovers you propose, while nice rivalries, aren't essential, in my mind. Sure, it's nice to have the Jug game and the Illibuck game every year, but not at the expense of those teams going years and years without playing cross-division foes. The Big Ten feels the same way: it's more important for every league matchup to take place at least once every four years. You won't get that if every team has a protected crossover.

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Scott from North Liberty, Iowa, writes: Hi Adam. We hear a lot about the top teams and players in the Big Ten for the upcoming season as voted for the pre-season accolades. Can you name some teams that you think could surprise everyone as well as some players who are waiting eagerly behind an incumbent that could light up the stats if given the chance?

Adam Rittenberg: Starting in the Leaders Division, Indiana could be a surprise team. The Hoosiers certainly improved in Year 2 under Kevin Wilson, and with eight games at home, they should have a good chance to go bowling. The defense always will be a major question mark, but IU has upgraded the talent there and should be very explosive on offense. I'm not sure Penn State will be a surprise team, but those thinking the Lions will crumble under the weight of the NCAA sanctions might be waiting a while. Jerry Kill has a history of producing good teams in Year 3, and while Minnesota plays in the deeper Legends division, it could make some noise if it can build off of a decent bowl performance. As far as players, Melvin Gordon isn't an unknown, but he'll step into a bigger role for Wisconsin this fall. Many in Madison think Gordon has a higher ceiling than any recent Wisconsin running back, including Montee Ball. Purdue's Akeem Hunt is another running back poised for success after an excellent spring. Also keep an eye on Penn State LB Mike Hull. He finally moves into a full-time starting role and could have an excellent year. Also keep an eye on three defensive ends: Michigan's Frank Clark, Ohio State's Noah Spence and Michigan State's Shilique Calhoun.

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Max from Toronto writes: Adam, tell Ivan that PA, MI, IL all have fantastic beaches, he should get out more. I've been to Destin, it's a dump!

Adam Rittenberg: Will do, Max, and Ivan can get to those beaches a lot easier from his home in Connecticut. But you can never take the South out of a Southerner, and I think he'll always be partial to Destin. Wonder if the Big Ten ever moves its spring meetings to a beach resort on Lake Michigan?

Happy National Doughnut Day. Mmm ... doughnuts. Is there anything they can't do?

Check out College Football Live today, when Andre Ware ranks the top 5 quarterbacks in the Big Ten (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m. ET).

• Recruits having to pay their own way for official visits in the summer is becoming a problem for schools like Nebraska, and recruiting coordinator Ross Els would like to see some changes.
• An Ohio running back picked Iowa over Indiana. Phil Parker says he's pleased with the Hawkeyes defense.
• Indiana's flashy new helmet designs have succeeded in drawing attention to the program (subscription required).
• Michigan State released a 2013 promo video, touting the program's recent achievements. The Spartans are making recruiting inroads in New Jersey.
• More bad news for former Illinois defensive tackle Josh Brent.
• Kyle Meinke sees tight end Devin Funchess as Michigan's offensive breakout player. Laura Hoke is the leader of a close-knit group of Wolverines coaches' wives.
• Veteran defensive lineman Nate Cadogan is leaving Penn State. Opponents of the Penn State sanctions vow to push on despite the dismissal of Gov. Tom Corbett's lawsuit. Bill O'Brien is the commencement speaker at his niece's high school.
• Michigan has put a dent in Ohio State's recruiting, Bob Hunter writes. The Buckeyes' "must-get" prospects in the 2014 class.
• Taking a look back at the 1973 Minnesota Golden Gophers.
• It's camp season at Purdue.
• Northwestern was always where freshman offensive lineman Blake King wanted to be.
• Purdue won't really notice the addition of Maryland and Rutgers right away.
• Wisconsin is installing its new video board.
• Who'll lead the Big Ten in rushing this year?