Big Ten: Ohio State Buckeyes
Be sure to follow us on Twitter.
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.
Last week, we asked you to pick the nonconference opponent you'd most like to see your favorite team play in the near future. You could pick a team already on the upcoming schedule or one that inexplicably hasn't been added.
The response, not surprisingly, has been strong. If you haven't done so already, please send us your picks here and here, and be sure to identify your Big Ten allegiance and why you're picking a certain nonconference foe.
Ohio State fans responded en masse, and here's a sampling of their non-league picks.
Matt from Columbus, Ohio: Adam, you indicated the correct Ohio State non-conference pick in your original post -- it's most definitely Texas. The last home and home was a split, where the winning team of each game went on to play for the National Championship and its quarterback to New York for the Heisman Ceremony. Couple those actual results with the ancillary factors that Ohio State and Texas are two of the largest universities in the country, have the most comprehensively powerful athletic departments, and are the flagship schools in two of the most talent-laden states, and there's no doubt that Buckeyes, Longhorns, and everyone else should be rooting for as many match-ups between these two as possible.
Dale from Santa Cruz, Bolivia: Buckeye fan for life here. Let's get right to it. Three blockbuster games. I wanna see my Buckeyes take on the Crimson Tide. To be the best (Whoooooo), you gotta beat the best. Everyone is speculating on the greatness of these Urban Meyer Buckeyes ... I want them to earn it! A neutral-field at night; who could resist that? Up next; Notre Dame. In the mid 90's we swept a home and home with the Irish and haven't seen hide nor hair of them since. Now that they seem to be back in the race; bring 'em on again! Third ... The U baby! Once considered the greatest championship game of all time. Let's do it again and keep the penalty flags stuffed deep down in those pockets.
Dan from Scottsdale, Ariz.: Regarding nonconference for the Buckeyes, it's got to be USC. Last series was awful. Wells was out in the LA blowout and Tressel got outcoached (which was rare) by Carroll a year later in C-bus. Like USC, it's gotta be about recruiting. I think OSU has to play big games either in CA, TX, FLA or Georgia every other year ...
Junky from Cincinnati: I would love to see Ohio State take on Florida, Georgia, Stanford and Arkansas. (Wouldn't mind another set of games with Texas). (I was angry the Buckeyes backed out of games against Georgia and Tennessee). To pick one, I would say I want an Ohio State/Florida rematch where Ohio State is at its best. (The Gator Bowl when OSU went 6-6 wasn't much of a matchup against an 8-4 Florida team)I think Urban Meyer at Ohio State coaching against his former team would be absolutely amazing!
Steve from Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State alum and fan here. 3 words. 1 acronym. I want the SEC. I want Bama, I want Florida, I want Georgia, I want SoCar, I want LSU...any of them. Let's go.OSU vs. SEC. So tired of hearing about the bowl record and those two NCGs... Bring them on.
Jon from Augusta, Ga.: OSU alum here. I would love to see a home-and-away series between OSU and Clemson. Both have great programs and gameday traditions, and there is some... history...that could be resolved.
Kevin from Iowa: Since Oregon, Texas and Oklahoma are already on the books, here are my OOC dream match-ups for Ohio State: Alabama, LSU, SCar, Georgia, and TAMU. They're the lead dogs on the sled. I'll take Tennessee, too--I think Butch Jones will be a big success and the Vols have a great stadium. The Florida/old Urban/new Urban connection is just too obvious for me. That storyline quickly became a trite cliche during the 2011 Gator Bowl. While you're at it, wake up the echoes and give me Notre Dame, too.
Zach from Cincinnati: Hey Adam - in response to your question on who fans would like to see their teams play in non-conference, I'd love to see Ohio State take on Florida State or Clemson. I'd really prefer to see any of the top tier Big Ten teams take on those guys just to put the unjustified hype both schools get every year to rest early on. Also looking forward to the Ohio State/Oklahoma and Ohio State/Oregon matchups coming up.
TraschMan from Columbus, Ohio: I'd love to see the Buckeyes in a rotating series with Oklahoma State and Oregon State because who wouldn't love to see the battle to be known as the real OSU? If you remember the 2004 Alamo Bowl, the Pokes made a big deal about being OSU and Ohio State made a big deal about beating them into the ground. Add Oregon State to that fun and how could you go wrong? It could be a rotating, 3-year series where each school plays each other once for all the marbles, tie goes to Ohio State because I said so.
Scott K. from Bridgeport, Ohio: Being a huge Buckeye fan i would love to meet up with the Gators again, especially since we lost to them in the Gator Bowl and now have their extremely successful ex-head coach calling the shots for us. (also some payback for the national championship game is in order). Needless to say, I think the outcome would be a little different if we met up with them at the end of this upcoming season.
So many good choices here for the Buckeyes. I agree with Steve from Columbus and would welcome almost any Ohio State-SEC matchup, although Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and now Arkansas -- with Buckeye fave Bret Bielema on the sideline -- would be especially delicious. Dale brings up a good point: these games might need to take place at a neutral site because neither side likes giving up home games. We saw Ohio State and Miami renew their series in 2010 and 2011, but I wouldn't mind seeing more of those games in the future. Jon from August brings up an interesting suggestion in Clemson, a nod to the 1978 Gator Bowl and Woody Hayes' final game as Buckeyes coach. The two teams haven't met since.
Notre Dame is an intriguing matchup because of Meyer's connection to the school and the fact the two national brands have played only five times before. It seems like Notre Dame is going in a different direction with its scheduling, but both fan bases would welcome a series. USC doesn't excite me as much because of the Trojans' recent downturn, but I love the fact Ohio State added Oregon and would be thrilled with a Stanford series.
More fan non-league picks
Nebraska
Michigan
Penn State
Michigan State
The response, not surprisingly, has been strong. If you haven't done so already, please send us your picks here and here, and be sure to identify your Big Ten allegiance and why you're picking a certain nonconference foe.
Ohio State fans responded en masse, and here's a sampling of their non-league picks.
Matt from Columbus, Ohio: Adam, you indicated the correct Ohio State non-conference pick in your original post -- it's most definitely Texas. The last home and home was a split, where the winning team of each game went on to play for the National Championship and its quarterback to New York for the Heisman Ceremony. Couple those actual results with the ancillary factors that Ohio State and Texas are two of the largest universities in the country, have the most comprehensively powerful athletic departments, and are the flagship schools in two of the most talent-laden states, and there's no doubt that Buckeyes, Longhorns, and everyone else should be rooting for as many match-ups between these two as possible.
Dale from Santa Cruz, Bolivia: Buckeye fan for life here. Let's get right to it. Three blockbuster games. I wanna see my Buckeyes take on the Crimson Tide. To be the best (Whoooooo), you gotta beat the best. Everyone is speculating on the greatness of these Urban Meyer Buckeyes ... I want them to earn it! A neutral-field at night; who could resist that? Up next; Notre Dame. In the mid 90's we swept a home and home with the Irish and haven't seen hide nor hair of them since. Now that they seem to be back in the race; bring 'em on again! Third ... The U baby! Once considered the greatest championship game of all time. Let's do it again and keep the penalty flags stuffed deep down in those pockets.
Dan from Scottsdale, Ariz.: Regarding nonconference for the Buckeyes, it's got to be USC. Last series was awful. Wells was out in the LA blowout and Tressel got outcoached (which was rare) by Carroll a year later in C-bus. Like USC, it's gotta be about recruiting. I think OSU has to play big games either in CA, TX, FLA or Georgia every other year ...
Junky from Cincinnati: I would love to see Ohio State take on Florida, Georgia, Stanford and Arkansas. (Wouldn't mind another set of games with Texas). (I was angry the Buckeyes backed out of games against Georgia and Tennessee). To pick one, I would say I want an Ohio State/Florida rematch where Ohio State is at its best. (The Gator Bowl when OSU went 6-6 wasn't much of a matchup against an 8-4 Florida team)I think Urban Meyer at Ohio State coaching against his former team would be absolutely amazing!
Steve from Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State alum and fan here. 3 words. 1 acronym. I want the SEC. I want Bama, I want Florida, I want Georgia, I want SoCar, I want LSU...any of them. Let's go.OSU vs. SEC. So tired of hearing about the bowl record and those two NCGs... Bring them on.
Jon from Augusta, Ga.: OSU alum here. I would love to see a home-and-away series between OSU and Clemson. Both have great programs and gameday traditions, and there is some... history...that could be resolved.
Kevin from Iowa: Since Oregon, Texas and Oklahoma are already on the books, here are my OOC dream match-ups for Ohio State: Alabama, LSU, SCar, Georgia, and TAMU. They're the lead dogs on the sled. I'll take Tennessee, too--I think Butch Jones will be a big success and the Vols have a great stadium. The Florida/old Urban/new Urban connection is just too obvious for me. That storyline quickly became a trite cliche during the 2011 Gator Bowl. While you're at it, wake up the echoes and give me Notre Dame, too.
Zach from Cincinnati: Hey Adam - in response to your question on who fans would like to see their teams play in non-conference, I'd love to see Ohio State take on Florida State or Clemson. I'd really prefer to see any of the top tier Big Ten teams take on those guys just to put the unjustified hype both schools get every year to rest early on. Also looking forward to the Ohio State/Oklahoma and Ohio State/Oregon matchups coming up.
TraschMan from Columbus, Ohio: I'd love to see the Buckeyes in a rotating series with Oklahoma State and Oregon State because who wouldn't love to see the battle to be known as the real OSU? If you remember the 2004 Alamo Bowl, the Pokes made a big deal about being OSU and Ohio State made a big deal about beating them into the ground. Add Oregon State to that fun and how could you go wrong? It could be a rotating, 3-year series where each school plays each other once for all the marbles, tie goes to Ohio State because I said so.
Scott K. from Bridgeport, Ohio: Being a huge Buckeye fan i would love to meet up with the Gators again, especially since we lost to them in the Gator Bowl and now have their extremely successful ex-head coach calling the shots for us. (also some payback for the national championship game is in order). Needless to say, I think the outcome would be a little different if we met up with them at the end of this upcoming season.
So many good choices here for the Buckeyes. I agree with Steve from Columbus and would welcome almost any Ohio State-SEC matchup, although Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and now Arkansas -- with Buckeye fave Bret Bielema on the sideline -- would be especially delicious. Dale brings up a good point: these games might need to take place at a neutral site because neither side likes giving up home games. We saw Ohio State and Miami renew their series in 2010 and 2011, but I wouldn't mind seeing more of those games in the future. Jon from August brings up an interesting suggestion in Clemson, a nod to the 1978 Gator Bowl and Woody Hayes' final game as Buckeyes coach. The two teams haven't met since.
Notre Dame is an intriguing matchup because of Meyer's connection to the school and the fact the two national brands have played only five times before. It seems like Notre Dame is going in a different direction with its scheduling, but both fan bases would welcome a series. USC doesn't excite me as much because of the Trojans' recent downturn, but I love the fact Ohio State added Oregon and would be thrilled with a Stanford series.
More fan non-league picks
Nebraska
Michigan
Penn State
Michigan State
Take Two: Big Ten's top receiver in 2013
June, 18, 2013
Jun 18
9:00
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett and
Adam Rittenberg | 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.
We're in the process of projecting the Big Ten's statistical leaders for the 2013 season. We've already offered our choices for the league's top rusher and top passer. So naturally, today's Take Two topic is: Who will lead the Big Ten in receiving yards this year?
Take 1: Brian Bennett
Perhaps a better question might be, who will finish second in receiving yards to Penn State's Allen Robinson? The Nittany Lions junior was clearly the best wide receiver in a league that lacked stars at the position in 2013. Robinson's 1,013 yards were more than 200 yards better than the next closest competitor, and his 77 catches were nine more than any other Big Ten player. He should only improve in his second year as a full-time starter.
The only reasons to believe Robinson won't repeat as the receiving yards leader would include the inexperience at quarterback for Penn State this season, increased defensive attention after his breakout year and/or a major improvement by a fellow league wideout. Let's examine that last factor for some possibilities. There are several players who I think could make a leap up this year and post big numbers. Start with Wisconsin's Jared Abbrederis, who could easily surpass 1,000 yards receiving if he stays healthy and the Badgers' passing game shows more competency than a year ago. Nebraska's Kenny Bell has the talent and opportunity to become the Huskers' first 1,000-yard receiver ever. Ohio State's Corey Brown should thrive as Braxton Miller's No. 1 target, and Michigan's Jeremy Gallon will love being the go-to guy for Devin Gardner over a full season.
My choice to dethrone Robinson, though, is Indiana's Cody Latimer. He caught 51 passes for 805 yards a year ago and should benefit from working with more experienced quarterbacks in 2013. While he has competition for catches on his own team with Shane Wynn, Kofi Hughes and others, Latimer is the team's top big-play threat and has a great set of hands. If the pass-happy Hoosiers can get to a 13th game, he has a chance to finish with some eye-popping numbers.
I'm still picking Robinson as the receiving yards king. But should he falter, I say Latimer is the guy who picks up the crown.
Take 2: Adam Rittenberg
If this was about naming the Big Ten's best wide receiver, Robinson would get my vote. He also could repeat as receiving yards leader, but I'm hesitant to make that prediction without seeing Penn State quarterbacks Tyler Ferguson and Christian Hackenberg compete against FBS defenses. Robinson and Matt McGloin fed off of one another extremely well last season, particularly in the red zone, and Bill O'Brien's NFL-style offense provided the platform for both to flourish. O'Brien is still there and either Ferguson or Hackenberg could follow McGloin's path in Year 1 of running the system, but neither man has been in the fire like McGloin was before last season.
Latimer is a good pick as I love his size and big-play ability. Indiana isn't afraid to throw the football so Latimer should have plenty of chances to rack up yards. The thing working against him, as you outline, is the Hoosiers' overall depth at receiver, plus tight end Ted Bolser. Abbrederis likely would be my pick if Wisconsin's passing game hadn't struggled so much in 2012. He'll enter his senior season as Wisconsin's only legitimate threat at wide receiver, which might help his numbers (more opportunities) or limit him (more attention from opposing defensive backs). Ultimately, Wisconsin's run-first approach will prevent Abbrederis from leading the league in receiving yards.
I had Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez as the Big Ten's leading passer, and I'm sticking with Big Red for this pick and going with Kenny Bell. His production dropped off a bit toward the end of last season, but I really liked what I saw during the first seven games. Another offseason in the program should help Bell, who brings explosiveness to an offense that loves to stretch the field in the passing game. Although Nebraska has other weapons at wideout in Jamal Turner and Quincy Enunwa, the Huskers lose their top tight ends and should feature a guy like Bell more this fall as Martinez continues his evolution as a passer.
Several names could appear atop the Big Ten's receiving yards chart this fall and not surprise me. Let's also remember that no one pegged Robinson to lead the league in 2012, so a player could come out of relative obscurity to finish No. 1. But right now, Bell gets my vote.
We're in the process of projecting the Big Ten's statistical leaders for the 2013 season. We've already offered our choices for the league's top rusher and top passer. So naturally, today's Take Two topic is: Who will lead the Big Ten in receiving yards this year?
Take 1: Brian Bennett
Perhaps a better question might be, who will finish second in receiving yards to Penn State's Allen Robinson? The Nittany Lions junior was clearly the best wide receiver in a league that lacked stars at the position in 2013. Robinson's 1,013 yards were more than 200 yards better than the next closest competitor, and his 77 catches were nine more than any other Big Ten player. He should only improve in his second year as a full-time starter.
[+] Enlarge
Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY SportsReceiver Cody Latimer should have a productive season in Indiana's pass-oriented system.
My choice to dethrone Robinson, though, is Indiana's Cody Latimer. He caught 51 passes for 805 yards a year ago and should benefit from working with more experienced quarterbacks in 2013. While he has competition for catches on his own team with Shane Wynn, Kofi Hughes and others, Latimer is the team's top big-play threat and has a great set of hands. If the pass-happy Hoosiers can get to a 13th game, he has a chance to finish with some eye-popping numbers.
I'm still picking Robinson as the receiving yards king. But should he falter, I say Latimer is the guy who picks up the crown.
Take 2: Adam Rittenberg
If this was about naming the Big Ten's best wide receiver, Robinson would get my vote. He also could repeat as receiving yards leader, but I'm hesitant to make that prediction without seeing Penn State quarterbacks Tyler Ferguson and Christian Hackenberg compete against FBS defenses. Robinson and Matt McGloin fed off of one another extremely well last season, particularly in the red zone, and Bill O'Brien's NFL-style offense provided the platform for both to flourish. O'Brien is still there and either Ferguson or Hackenberg could follow McGloin's path in Year 1 of running the system, but neither man has been in the fire like McGloin was before last season.
Latimer is a good pick as I love his size and big-play ability. Indiana isn't afraid to throw the football so Latimer should have plenty of chances to rack up yards. The thing working against him, as you outline, is the Hoosiers' overall depth at receiver, plus tight end Ted Bolser. Abbrederis likely would be my pick if Wisconsin's passing game hadn't struggled so much in 2012. He'll enter his senior season as Wisconsin's only legitimate threat at wide receiver, which might help his numbers (more opportunities) or limit him (more attention from opposing defensive backs). Ultimately, Wisconsin's run-first approach will prevent Abbrederis from leading the league in receiving yards.
I had Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez as the Big Ten's leading passer, and I'm sticking with Big Red for this pick and going with Kenny Bell. His production dropped off a bit toward the end of last season, but I really liked what I saw during the first seven games. Another offseason in the program should help Bell, who brings explosiveness to an offense that loves to stretch the field in the passing game. Although Nebraska has other weapons at wideout in Jamal Turner and Quincy Enunwa, the Huskers lose their top tight ends and should feature a guy like Bell more this fall as Martinez continues his evolution as a passer.
Several names could appear atop the Big Ten's receiving yards chart this fall and not surprise me. Let's also remember that no one pegged Robinson to lead the league in 2012, so a player could come out of relative obscurity to finish No. 1. But right now, Bell gets my vote.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Earlier today, Adam and I debated who would lead the league in passing yards in 2013. Now, it's your turn to decide.
Here are five candidates to win the passing title:
Who's your pick to lead the Big Ten in passing? Vote now in our poll.
- Taylor Martinez, Nebraska: Adam's choice to lead the league in passing yards, Martinez has improved greatly as a thrower and finished second in the Big Ten last season in total passing yards with 2,871. He's also got a deep group of receivers to work with in the Huskers' explosive offense.
- Devin Gardner, Michigan: My pick as the passing champion, Gardner averaged more than 240 yards passing per game last year after taking over for Denard Robinson. That projects to more than 3,000 yards over a 13-game season. Plus, the Wolverines should throw more as they move to a full-fledged pro-style attack.
- Braxton Miller, Ohio State: Miller threw for just 2,039 yards last year but has worked hard on his mechanics this offseason, and the Buckeyes want to throw the ball downfield more this season. The receiving corps is still a bit thin, but don't bet against Miller's talent.
- Indiana's starter: Cameron Coffman passed for 248.5 yards per game last year, tops among all returning Big Ten quarterbacks. And the Hoosiers led the league in passing yards. The complication is that there's a three-man QB race between Coffman, Nate Sudfeld and Tre Roberson. If one emerges as the clear-cut front-runner, he could put up some prolific numbers.
- Penn State's starter: If Bill O'Brien can turn Matt McGloin into a 3,000-yard passer, what can he do with Tyler Ferguson and Christian Hackenberg? If only we knew which one of those guys would take the majority of the snaps. One thing is for sure: Whoever starts will benefit greatly from throwing to the league's best receiver (Allen Robinson) and a deep and talented group of tight ends.
Who's your pick to lead the Big Ten in passing? Vote now in our poll.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@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.
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.
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.
Earlier today, Adam and I debated who would lead the league in rushing yards in 2013. Now, it's your turn to decide.
Here are five candidates to win the rushing title:
Which guy do you see leading the league in rushing yards? Vote now in our poll.
Here are five candidates to win the rushing title:
- Carlos Hyde, Ohio State: Adam's choice to lead the league in rushing yards, Hyde finished with 970 yards in 10 games last year. He was actually second in rushing on his own team behind quarterback Braxton Miller, but Adam thinks the Buckeyes will lean more heavily on Hyde in the running game this season.
- Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska: My pick for the rushing champion, Abdullah ran for 1,137 yards in 14 games last year despite splitting time at the beginning and end of the season with Rex Burkhead. This year, the tailback job is all his, though quarterback Taylor Martinez will take his fair share of carries.
- Venric Mark, Northwestern: Mark broke out in a big way last year with 1,371 rushing yards, becoming the Wildcats' first 1,000-yard rusher since 2006. Like Hyde and Abdullah, though, he does have a running quarterback in his own backfield in Kain Colter.
- James White, Wisconsin: White ran for 1,052 yards in 2010 before playing second fiddle to Montee Ball the past two seasons. This year, he could be the Badgers' main tailback, and Wisconsin running backs usually put up huge numbers because of that offensive line.
- Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin: If it's not White, then perhaps Gordon will be the Wisconsin tailback who picks up the mantle from Ball. He might be the most athletically gifted back to come through Madison in years, and if he can beat out White for the most touches, the sky is the limit on his potential numbers.
Which guy do you see leading the league in rushing yards? Vote now in our poll.
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.
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.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
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.
BIG TEN TEAM COVERAGE
RECRUITING NATION
Michigan: WolverineNation
Follow everything Michigan at WolverineNation: Michigan Wolverines football, basketball, news, recruiting and more.
RECRUITING NATION
Ohio State: BuckeyeNation
Follow everything Ohio State at BuckeyeNation: Ohio State Buckeyes football, basketball, news, recruiting and more.
