What's on your mind today?
Brandon from Des Moines, Iowa, and Balad, Iraq, writes: Looking at the BCS rankings, PSU has a computer ranking of 18, and the numbers look pretty bad. What are the chances that Miami, Va. Tech, LSU or Oregon State, who all have tough games against strong opponents in the next 2 weeks, could get boost from the human polls and the computer polls and jump PSU? Technically Iowa could get dropped by the voters and lose ground as well, but what is more likely to happen? A PSU drop or an Iowa drop by the final BCS poll?
Adam Rittenberg: Brandon, first off, thanks for everything you're doing over there. Stay safe and have a Happy Thanksgiving. I doubt LSU will jump ahead of Penn State or Iowa even if it thumps Arkansas. And if Oregon State moves up, Oregon almost certainly moves out of the top 14. Virginia Tech has more losses than both Penn State and Iowa, and the Hokies play lowly Virginia on Saturday, hardly a chance to move up. Miami is the one team I'd worry about, as a win against South Florida could provide a boost. I would root for Oklahoma to beat Oklahoma State and Cincinnati to beat Pitt. Both the Cowboys and Panthers would definitely fall behind Iowa and Penn State with losses. I think you'll see Iowa and Penn State remain more or less around the same spots (Nos. 10-15 the rest of the way).
Joe from Richmond, K.Y., writes: Adam, I agree 100% with you about the DPOY! Call me biased as a Michigan fan, but how can coaches and the media pass him up as POY on the defensive side? 25 TFL and I think what 9.5 sacks or 10 sacks? I think 2 or 3 forced fumbles one of which went for that touchdown against Wisky and 2 blocked punts. The guy is an animal and should be an All-American First Team and maybe even Defensive Player of the Year for the nation. I was just lost about the coachs and media selection for the award. I had never heard of the guy until they announced the awards. I haven't mentioned his name because I still don't know who he is. Well, keep up the good work with the blog!
Adam Rittenberg: Joe, I obviously endorsed Michigan State's Greg Jones for Defensive POY, but I really thought the coaches would at least pick Graham as Defensive Lineman of the Year (media don't vote on that one). Graham clearly was victimized by Michigan's weak defense, but I don't know how you can ignore a guy who had 25 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and numerous other game-changing plays. He was one of the nation's most dominant defensive players, and he deserved more recognition.
Mike from Greensboro, N.C., writes: Adam, Am I missing something here? How did OSU linebacker and playmaker Brian Rolle not on any of these all Big Ten teams? He didn't even get honorable mention. He was all over the field in the biggest games of the year (USC, Penn State, Iowa, and Michigan).These all conference teams are a joke. Also, Tressel has never won the coach of the year award. If he didn't deserve it this year then he definitely deserved it in 2002 when he took the Buckeyes to the National Title game (and won).Your thoughts?Mike
Adam Rittenberg: Totally agree with you on Rolle, Mike. He should have been a second-team All-Big Ten pick. He doesn't have the numbers to beat out Jones, Pat Angerer or Navorro Bowman for first team, but Rolle certainly proved himself as an elite Big Ten linebacker. Definitely an oversight there by the voters. As for Tressel, it was a tough call between him and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, whom I endorsed for the award. Tressel certainly deserves to be Big Ten Coach of the Decade, even if he's never named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Matt Salazar from Mamaroneck, N.Y., writes: I'll bet you a deep dish pizza that Penn State gets the BCS nod. Either a pizza, or I'll name my son Brian Christian Salazar....BCS.....
Adam Rittenberg: Mmmm, pizza. I like the BCS initials, but not enough people will understand it. You've got to go with something a little more exotic. What about Miami Salazar? Or Tostitos Salazar? Or Joseph Vincent Salazar? Get back to me and we'll talk.
Steve from Indiana writes: Hey Adam, I don't understand how you have Minnesota higher than Purdue in your power rankings. I know Minnesota beat Purdue, but Purdue actually outgained Minnesota in that game, and was still in their losing streak. Purdue has played very well the second half of the season. Minnesota on the other hand, has looked awful in shutouts against Iowa and PSU, and snuck by FCS South Dakota State.
Adam Rittenberg: I struggled with that one, Steve, and you can certainly make a case that Purdue is playing better than the Gophers. Then again, Purdue lost to Michigan State, which lost to Minnesota, which beat Purdue. And the Boilers didn't show up against Wisconsin, a team Minnesota nearly beat. The Boilers deserve a lot of credit for their second-half performance. It's a shame we won't see them in a bowl game.
Chris from Chicago writes: Hey Adam, As a Northwestern fan I am struggling to come to terms with this season. Should it be viewed as a success because the Wildcats won eight games, or should we be kicking ourselves because we were two or three wins away from a return to the Rose Bowl?
Adam Rittenberg: Celebrate the success, Chris. Think about how you felt when Northwestern trailed Indiana 28-3 back on Oct. 24. There's no way you thought the Wildcats would finish 8-4, but they did. Though 8-4 seemed like a realistic record before the season, few envisioned NU reaching it in this way. For a program that rarely strings together winning seasons and bowl appearances, you should appreciate what this team did down the stretch. The Wildcats could easily be 5-7 or 4-8, so take the 8-4 and be happy.
Brandon from Des Moines, Iowa, and Balad, Iraq, writes: Looking at the BCS rankings, PSU has a computer ranking of 18, and the numbers look pretty bad. What are the chances that Miami, Va. Tech, LSU or Oregon State, who all have tough games against strong opponents in the next 2 weeks, could get boost from the human polls and the computer polls and jump PSU? Technically Iowa could get dropped by the voters and lose ground as well, but what is more likely to happen? A PSU drop or an Iowa drop by the final BCS poll?
Adam Rittenberg: Brandon, first off, thanks for everything you're doing over there. Stay safe and have a Happy Thanksgiving. I doubt LSU will jump ahead of Penn State or Iowa even if it thumps Arkansas. And if Oregon State moves up, Oregon almost certainly moves out of the top 14. Virginia Tech has more losses than both Penn State and Iowa, and the Hokies play lowly Virginia on Saturday, hardly a chance to move up. Miami is the one team I'd worry about, as a win against South Florida could provide a boost. I would root for Oklahoma to beat Oklahoma State and Cincinnati to beat Pitt. Both the Cowboys and Panthers would definitely fall behind Iowa and Penn State with losses. I think you'll see Iowa and Penn State remain more or less around the same spots (Nos. 10-15 the rest of the way).
Joe from Richmond, K.Y., writes: Adam, I agree 100% with you about the DPOY! Call me biased as a Michigan fan, but how can coaches and the media pass him up as POY on the defensive side? 25 TFL and I think what 9.5 sacks or 10 sacks? I think 2 or 3 forced fumbles one of which went for that touchdown against Wisky and 2 blocked punts. The guy is an animal and should be an All-American First Team and maybe even Defensive Player of the Year for the nation. I was just lost about the coachs and media selection for the award. I had never heard of the guy until they announced the awards. I haven't mentioned his name because I still don't know who he is. Well, keep up the good work with the blog!
Adam Rittenberg: Joe, I obviously endorsed Michigan State's Greg Jones for Defensive POY, but I really thought the coaches would at least pick Graham as Defensive Lineman of the Year (media don't vote on that one). Graham clearly was victimized by Michigan's weak defense, but I don't know how you can ignore a guy who had 25 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and numerous other game-changing plays. He was one of the nation's most dominant defensive players, and he deserved more recognition.
Mike from Greensboro, N.C., writes: Adam, Am I missing something here? How did OSU linebacker and playmaker Brian Rolle not on any of these all Big Ten teams? He didn't even get honorable mention. He was all over the field in the biggest games of the year (USC, Penn State, Iowa, and Michigan).These all conference teams are a joke. Also, Tressel has never won the coach of the year award. If he didn't deserve it this year then he definitely deserved it in 2002 when he took the Buckeyes to the National Title game (and won).Your thoughts?Mike
Adam Rittenberg: Totally agree with you on Rolle, Mike. He should have been a second-team All-Big Ten pick. He doesn't have the numbers to beat out Jones, Pat Angerer or Navorro Bowman for first team, but Rolle certainly proved himself as an elite Big Ten linebacker. Definitely an oversight there by the voters. As for Tressel, it was a tough call between him and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, whom I endorsed for the award. Tressel certainly deserves to be Big Ten Coach of the Decade, even if he's never named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Matt Salazar from Mamaroneck, N.Y., writes: I'll bet you a deep dish pizza that Penn State gets the BCS nod. Either a pizza, or I'll name my son Brian Christian Salazar....BCS.....
Adam Rittenberg: Mmmm, pizza. I like the BCS initials, but not enough people will understand it. You've got to go with something a little more exotic. What about Miami Salazar? Or Tostitos Salazar? Or Joseph Vincent Salazar? Get back to me and we'll talk.
Steve from Indiana writes: Hey Adam, I don't understand how you have Minnesota higher than Purdue in your power rankings. I know Minnesota beat Purdue, but Purdue actually outgained Minnesota in that game, and was still in their losing streak. Purdue has played very well the second half of the season. Minnesota on the other hand, has looked awful in shutouts against Iowa and PSU, and snuck by FCS South Dakota State.
Adam Rittenberg: I struggled with that one, Steve, and you can certainly make a case that Purdue is playing better than the Gophers. Then again, Purdue lost to Michigan State, which lost to Minnesota, which beat Purdue. And the Boilers didn't show up against Wisconsin, a team Minnesota nearly beat. The Boilers deserve a lot of credit for their second-half performance. It's a shame we won't see them in a bowl game.
Chris from Chicago writes: Hey Adam, As a Northwestern fan I am struggling to come to terms with this season. Should it be viewed as a success because the Wildcats won eight games, or should we be kicking ourselves because we were two or three wins away from a return to the Rose Bowl?
Adam Rittenberg: Celebrate the success, Chris. Think about how you felt when Northwestern trailed Indiana 28-3 back on Oct. 24. There's no way you thought the Wildcats would finish 8-4, but they did. Though 8-4 seemed like a realistic record before the season, few envisioned NU reaching it in this way. For a program that rarely strings together winning seasons and bowl appearances, you should appreciate what this team did down the stretch. The Wildcats could easily be 5-7 or 4-8, so take the 8-4 and be happy.
Adam Rittenberg | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big Ten blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008
- Wrote for Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rittenberg
Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
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