ESPN College Football

Ten items to track in a jam-packed Week 2 in the Big Ten.

1. Pryor vs. Harris: Two Heisman Trophy contenders will share the field in Columbus as Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor goes up against his Miami counterpart Jacory Harris. Both Pryor and Harris looked good in their debuts a week ago, but the heat will be turned up at Ohio Stadium (ESPN, 3:40 p.m. ET). Pryor likely will have to mix in the run more against an athletic Miami defense while still spreading the ball to multiple targets as he has in his last two games. Harris really struggled against a Big Ten defense (Wisconsin) in the Champs Sports Bowl. He'll need a much better performance against an opportunistic Buckeyes defense that recorded a pick-six last week.

2. Bolden vs. rising Tide: Rob Bolden made history last week when he became the first true freshman quarterback to start the season opener for Penn State in a century. Bolden now tries to shock the world and lead No. 18 Penn State to an upset road win against top-ranked Alabama (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET). His presence adds a fresh twist (pun intended) to a matchup pairing two traditional powerhouses. The 6-4, 208-pound Bolden showed good poise and made strong decisions at Youngstown State, but he'll likely fall victim to some mistakes in Tuscaloosa. How he responds could determine Penn State's chances against the Tide.

3. Shoelace fits in South Bend: Denard Robinson delivered in a big way in his first career start, rushing for 197 yards and adding 186 pass yards against Connecticut. The Michigan sophomore quarterback aims for an encore Saturday against a Notre Dame defense that did a nice job holding Purdue in check. Robinson's speed will test Manti Te'o and the Irish linebackers, but his ability to make accurate throws and good decisions in the passing game could be the difference. The two teams combined for 72 points last year, and Tate Forcier ended up as the hero for Michigan. If the man nicknamed "Shoelace" unties the Irish defense, Michigan will be 2-0 and likely ranked in next week's polls.

4. Cyclone warning: Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn didn't mean to dis Iowa State with his "only team in the state" comment this summer, but the Cyclones certainly are using his words as motivation as they head to Kinnick Stadium on Saturday (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET). Clayborn has his own motivation after Iowa's D-line looked "like a bunch of tired dogs" last year against the Cyclones. Iowa State has made strides since the 2009 meeting, and Alexander Robinson is the first of several outstanding running backs the Hawkeyes will face this fall. Iowa should prevail Saturday, but this series hasn't been easy for Kirk Ferentz's crew. Should be interesting to watch.

5. Backs in action: Michigan State and Iowa had no trouble running the ball in Week 1, and both teams get a boost Saturday. Jewel Hampton returns to the Hawkeyes backfield for the first time since 2008 after missing all of last season with a knee injury and then serving a suspension last week. Adam Robinson made a good case to be the starter in the opener (109 rush yards, 3 TDs), but Hampton will push him for carries after an excellent preseason. Projected starter Larry Caper is back for the Spartans after missing the opener with a hand injury. He'll share time with sophomore Edwin Baker and freshman Le'Veon Bell, who combined for 258 rush yards and four touchdowns last week.

6. Must-win for Illini: Sure, it's only Week 2, but Illinois can't afford an 0-2 start with upcoming games against Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State, not to mention a Sept. 18 date with a Northern Illinois team picked to win the MAC West. Vic Koenning's defense is down another starter -- suspended end/linebacker Michael Buchanan -- and faces a Southern Illinois team that put up 70 points last week. The bigger story is on offense, where quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase tries to rebound from a four-turnover performance in his collegiate debut. Illinois is 11-0 all-time against other public schools in the state, although SIU typically is one of the stronger FCS programs.

7. Cleaning up at Camp Randall: Wisconsin had a pretty convincing win in its opener against UNLV, but the Badgers are looking for a much cleaner performance Saturday against San Jose State at Camp Randall Stadium (ESPN, noon ET). Two Wisconsin turnovers last week led two UNLV touchdowns, and both miscues came from veteran players (quarterback Scott Tolzien and receiver Nick Toon). Wisconsin should win this game easily, but it faces a pretty stout defense next week in Arizona State and needs to work out the kinks on offense.

8. Big Ten feel in Evanston: Northwestern will see quite a few familiar faces Saturday against Illinois State. The Redbirds are coached by former longtime Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack, and their roster features eight former Big Ten players, including former Michigan State running back Ashton Leggett. Spack knows how to defend Northwestern's offense, which had its ups and downs in the opener. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald says the run game isn't far away from catching fire, but he might be tempted to air it out with quarterback Dan Persa, who completed 19 of 21 attempts for 222 yards and three touchdowns last week.

9. Marve, Weber take aim: Quarterbacks Robert Marve (Purdue) and Adam Weber (Minnesota) both did some good things in Week 1, but they're looking for more on Saturday. Marve completed 31 of 42 passes against Notre Dame but struggled to stretch the field. Expect him to take some shots against Western Illinois. Weber came up big in the fourth quarter at Middle Tennessee, but he's still looking for a go-to receiver. He takes on a South Dakota team that allowed 241 pass yards and two touchdowns last week against Central Florida.

10. JoePa and The Bear: If you love college football history, tune into the Penn State-Alabama game. Joe Paterno heads to Tuscaloosa for the first time since setting the all-time coaching wins record previously held by former Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Paterno declined to discuss his relationship with Bryant this week, preferring to focus on the game, but their past is well documented. Alabama and Penn State have had several unforgettable games, like the 1979 Sugar Bowl, which decided the national title. Alabama won the game following a goal-line stand and a touchdown-saving tackle by All-America cornerback Don McNeal on Penn State's Scott Fitzkee. Turns out, McNeal is the great uncle to Rob Bolden. Small world.

Let's put a bow on Week 1 before looking ahead to a more challenging slate of games in Week 2.

Team of the Week: Michigan. Many picked the Wolverines to lose its opener against UConn, and almost no one thought the Wolverines would win convincingly. Behind do-it-all quarterback Denard Robinson, a powerful offensive line and an opportunistic defense, Michigan stormed out of the gate and never looked back, beating Connecticut 30-10. The Wolverines still have some issues on defense, but if Robinson stays healthy and keeps this up, the Maize and Blue will be tough to beat.

Best game: Minnesota-Middle Tennessee. Considering nine of the 11 games were decided by more than one score, there were not many choices here. At least the Gophers brought some drama in Murfreesboro, rallying from a 17-14 second-half deficit to win 24-17. Minnesota also provided the most touching story of the weekend, as fullback Jon Hoese rushed for three touchdowns and recovered a fumble just days after his father suffered a severe stroke. Hoese nearly didn't make the trip.

Biggest play: After a somewhat sloppy first 30 minutes by Penn State, Chaz Powell created some distance on the scoreboard with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the third quarter. Powell, back at wide receiver after being moved to cornerback this spring, had Penn State's longest kick return since Rich Mauti's 100-yard runback in 1975. Honorable mention goes to Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt, whose forced fumble led to a touchdown early in the third quarter against UNLV after the Badgers led by only three points at halftime.

Best call: Joe Paterno and his staff made a historic call by starting true freshman quarterback Rob Bolden in the opener, and it paid off. Bolden showed impressive skills and poise, completing 20 of 29 passes for 239 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Rich Rodriguez's decision to go with Robinson at quarterback for Michigan also looked good.

Game balls (given to players not selected for helmet stickers)

• Ohio State S/LB Tyler Moeller: Moeller's return to the field following a year away was memorable enough, but he also played an outstanding game for the Buckeyes' defense. The senior recorded a team-high six tackles, including two for loss with a sack and a forced fumble against Marshall.
• Iowa RB Adam Robinson: A-Rob made a good case to be Iowa's starting running back, rushing for 109 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries. He'll need to hold off Jewel Hampton, who plays his first game since 2008 on Saturday against Iowa State.
• Penn State WR Brett Brackett: People seemed to forget about Brackett during the preseason, but he clearly formed a bond with his new starting quarterback. Bolden and Brackett connected eight times for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
• Indiana RB Darius Willis: Willis made the most of his limited action against Towson, rushing 14 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns. If he stays healthy, Indiana should finally have a consistent run game.
• Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan and Illinois DT Corey Liuget: Their teams both lost Saturday, but Kerrigan and Liuget did all they could to prevent it. Kerrigan recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, assisting on a safety, and had a sack and a forced fumble. Liuget recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, assisted on a sack, broke up a pass and recorded a quarterback hurry.
• Minnesota RB Duane Bennett: The Gophers dominated possession time against Middle Tennessee, and Bennett was the reason why. He did everything but score touchdowns, racking up 187 rush yards on 30 carries.

How bizarre: Northwestern's victory at Vanderbilt was sealed on a very questionable penalty call by Big Ten officials. Quarterback Dan Persa appeared to be stopped just short of a first down with less than two minutes left, bringing up fourth-and-1 and a likely punt. But officials called Vandy's Jay Fullam for a helmet-to-helmet hit -- replays showed he led with his shoulder -- and the penalty allowed Northwestern to run out the clock and escape with a 23-21 victory.

Now, let's take a quick look at the Week 2 slate ...

Miami (1-0) at Ohio State (1-0): The nation's top matchup pits Jacory Harris and the Canes against Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes (ESPN, 3:40 p.m. ET). Miami and Ohio State meet for the first time since the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, which gave the Scarlet and Gray their last national title. Buckle up.

Penn State (1-0) at Alabama (1-0): Joe Paterno heads to the home of the Bear, although this time he'll face Nick Saban and the defending national champs (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET). Bolden surprised a lot of folks with his play in the opener. Now he'll try to shock the world against the Tide.

Michigan (1-0) at Notre Dame (1-0): Who ever thought this matchup of tradition-rich powerhouses would feature two spread offenses? If Michigan's Robinson pulls off a repeat performance against Manti Te'o and the Irish defense, the Wolverines should be 2-0.

Iowa State (1-0) at Iowa (1-0): Adrian Clayborn didn't mean to tick off Iowa State with his "only team in the state" comment, but you can bet the Cyclones will use it as motivation Saturday (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET). Iowa's Hampton plays his first game since 2008.

Michigan State (1-0) vs. Florida Atlantic (1-0) at Detroit: How weird will it be to see the Spartans wearing their road unis for a game in nearby Detroit? Florida Atlantic is the home team Saturday (ESPNU, noon ET).

San Jose State (0-1) at Wisconsin (1-0): After a few hiccups in the opener, Wisconsin aims for a cleaner performance at home (ESPN, noon ET) against a San Jose State team that lost by 45 to Alabama in Week 1.

Illinois State (1-0) at Northwestern (1-0): The Wildcats try to revive their anemic run game against an Illinois State team filled with Big Ten connections, from head coach Brock Spack, the former Purdue defensive coordinator, to former Michigan State running back Ashton Leggett.

Southern Illinois (1-0) at Illinois (0-1): Can you say must-win? SIU is typically one of the nation's top FCS programs, and the Salukis would love to score an upset against the state's top public school. Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase tries to bounce back from a rough opener in front of the home crowd.

Western Illinois (1-0) at Purdue (0-1): Something tells me Robert Marve and the Boilers offense figure things out in a big way this week, although Western Illinois blanked Valpo 45-0 in its opener.

South Dakota (0-1) at Minnesota (1-0): The Gophers barely escaped last year against South Dakota State, winning 16-13. They'll shoot for a more convincing win against South Dakota, which got pummeled by Central Florida in its opener.

Bye: Indiana

Spending the weekend in the Big Easy, so don't bother me unless it's really, really important.

Adam from Cabot, Ark., writes: Adam,First off, nice name. Secondly I'd like to ask about Ohio States secondary. I'm a life long Buckeye fan, but I see holes throughout the secondary. Who begins to fill those holes and who gives Ohio State the biggest challenge for the BigTen Championship (minus the championship game)? Thanks!!

Adam Rittenberg: Likewise, Adam. If there's a big hole in Ohio State's two-deep, safety would have to be it. The Buckeyes lose two players with significant starting experience in Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell, and Coleman earned first-team All-Big Ten honors last fall. Jermale Hines certainly will take on a greater role, but Ohio State needs to identify that No. 2 and No. 3 safety. Keep an eye on Orhian Johnson, a guy I heard a lot of good things about last spring. If Johnson can't nail down a starting job, look for guys like C.J. Barnett, Aaron Gant and Nate Oliver to be in the mix. Cornerback Chimdi Chekwa is another guy who, like Hines, needs to lift his game to All-Big Ten levels.

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Kelly from Manassas, Va., writes: While what happens on the field this year will certainly play into Rodriguez's future, the decision has very likely already been made. Make no mistake, his conduct off the field and two very bad seasons have already sealed his fate as he needs an completely unrealistic number of wins for UM to even consider extending him beyond this year. In all likelihood, he needs ten wins to keep his job, so in essence, given that no rational person expects this team to sniff .500 much less a winning record, the decision to fire him with cause has already been made.

Adam Rittenberg: Kelly, gotta say I love getting your e-mails every week. Always a good time. When did you start working in Michigan's athletic department? I thought they didn't let Penn State fans in there. While Rich Rodriguez obviously needs to show significant improvement in Year 3, by no means is his fate sealed. I highly doubt he'd be fired if the team wins nine games this fall. Eight games probably keeps him safe, too. Michigan would have to weigh the desire to make a change versus the potential cost of staying irrelevant for even longer, or getting worse. Keep in mind that Rodriguez has now spent a few years recruiting a specific brand of player for his system, and these players might not translate well to a new scheme, especially a dramatically different one. I'm not saying Rodriguez can breathe easy, but we still have a long way to go.

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Brian from Aledo, Ill., writes: I'm sure it's been talked about before but I guess I never heard it. With all this talk about expanding to more teams my biggest question is why not just play all the teams currently in the conference?

Adam Rittenberg: You can't play 10 conference games from a financial standpoint and expect to survive or grow your revenue pool. That's one more guaranteed road game for every Big Ten team, which means one fewer chance to fill up a massive stadium and generate $$$. Teams would be so afraid to leave home for the two nonconference games, and it would create some major headaches with nonleague rivalries, etc. Fans would love it, but it doesn't make any sense financially, given the need to make money.

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Chad from Montpellier, France, writes: Hey Adam,Love the blog still haven't missed a day of reading in the 2 months that I've been over here. Firstly, I noticed that you seemed to allude to the ability to post blogs even when you weren't at a computer during your trip to Purdue I believe. Any chance we could get blogs posted throughout the night so us in Europe don't have to wait until the afternoon to get our B10 fill? Secondly, I was thinking that it might be interesting to take a look back at the decade's best and worst rivalries in the B10. Which rivalries had many exciting balanced games, and which rivalries were pretty much one-sided and didn't live up to their usual hype during the past decade (OSU/MICH comes to mind). Thanks and keep up the good work!

Adam Rittenberg: First off, I'm thrilled to hear the Big Ten blog is being read across the pond. I've even been to Montpellier myself, a long, long time ago. While I'd love to have 25 posts a day so that my global audience is satisfied, it just ain't happening. Unless you can double my salary, of course. And even then, my wife would kill me. As to your second point, I like the idea about rivalries. Things are getting a bit busier now with spring ball, but that sounds like a fun post for May or June.

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Chase from Pittsburgh writes: Adam, Isn't it a little convenient that the only 4 MSU players reinstated in the group that were charged in the Rather Hall incident (Mark Dell, BJ Cunningham, Chris L. Rucker, and J'Michael Deane) were all starters or major contributors? And the other charged players (Ashton Leggett, Jamihr Williams, Myles White, and Oren Wilson) that were not major contributors are all transferring? They all received the same sentence. Dantonio seems to have history of selective justice. When he needed Winston in the Fall, he reinstated him immediately after he stepped out of jail. Now, with Baker and Caper filling the hole at RB, Winston is no longer essential to the team. In the middle of last season, RBs Caulton Ray and Andre Anderson were dismissed from the team after Caper and Baker had established themselves. Dell and Cunningham are the two leading receivers returning to the team with the loss of Blair White. Deane is a projected starter on the OL, and Rucker is the starting corner. Only Wilson was a contributor to last year's team. but highly rated prospect Blake Treadwell has taken his position. Why has no one taken Dantonio to task on this?

Adam Rittenberg: Chase, you make some pretty compelling points here. I wouldn't underrate the loss of Wilson, who almost certainly would have started on a very young defensive line. And to play devil's advocate, I don't know how much Michigan State really needed Glenn Winston last year. Yes, I know he ascended to a key role before his injury, but the Spartans entered preseason camp in 2009 with plenty of running backs who they liked. I remember thinking at the time, why not just arrange a transfer to cover your bases with a player who assaulted another student-athlete? And to be fair to the four players who were reinstated, none had any previous off-field problems. A lot of college players are convicted of misdemeanors, serve no jail time and return to the playing field. It has happened all around the Big Ten. I would have had a bigger gripe had Wilson be allowed back on the team, as his involvement in the resident hall assault wasn't known until after the Alamo Bowl, a game in which he played. But since Wilson is transferring, it's a moot point.

Spring practice is about to get under way at Michigan State, and four players convicted in last year's residence hall assault have been reinstated to the team.

Head coach Mark Dantonio said Tuesday that cornerback Chris L. Rucker, offensive linemen J'Michael Deane and wide receivers Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham, all of whom received probation and community service after pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault, are back on the team. Wide receivers Donald Spencer and Chris D. Rucker, suspended for being present at the Nov. 22 incident but never charged, also are back for the spring.

Dantonio confirmed that wide receiver Myles White and nose tackle Oren Wilson will transfer. White was sentenced Monday to probation and community service, and Wilson faces sentencing March 31. The status of wide receiver Fred Smith, sentenced Friday to five days in jail plus probation and community service, will be determined when his legal issues are over. Eleven current or former players pleaded guilty in the incident, and six -- White, Wilson, Ashton Leggett, Jamiihr Williams, Glenn Winston and Roderick Jenrette -- are no longer with the program.

I fully expected reinstatement for Cunningham, Dell, Deane and Chris L. Rucker, who had no prior indiscretions. White and Wilson deserved heavier punishment, potentially dismissal from the team, because their involvement in the assault didn't come to light until January. Wilson even played in the Alamo Bowl, a privilege he didn't deserve. But it's all moot now as both players will be transferring.

I spoke with Dantonio moments ago, and while I'll have a two-part Q&A with the coach this afternoon and Wednesday, a few notes and quotes for now.

• Dantonio, on the off-field problems Michigan State has faced: "You’re going to fall down at times. We have the same problems that society has in a lot of ways, and because we live in a fishbowl a little bit, there's going to be higher consequences, more public scrutiny and things of that nature. But you do always have to believe in your young people. That helps them grow, and that’s what we’ll do."
• During the winter, Dantonio put a greater emphasis on the team's Unity Council and held 90-minute weekly seminars for players that featured guest speakers, including former players and a criminal justice professor. "We talked about the law, talked about our players’ rights, talked about consequences," Dantonio said. "When you make a decision, it’s not a quick fix judiciously. Our players need to understand that. It’s not over and done with when you do make a mistake. We're just trying to educate and be proactive, and I think it draws our team together."
• The big personnel news of the day is Keith Nichol's move from quarterback to wide receiver. Nichol remains an option at quarterback, but with greater depth behind Kirk Cousins this spring, he has a better chance to make big contributions at receiver. Nichol played some wideout during the Alamo Bowl but will spend much more time there this spring. Dantonio said Cousins has earned the starter's tag entering the spring after a solid sophomore season. Nichol is listed as both a first-team wide receiver and a second-string quarterback on the team's spring depth chart. "Keith is an outstanding athlete," Dantonio said. "He's played quarterback for us and he should continue to be thought of in that light somewhat. He would always be able to move back in there. ... But I also think that he can be an outstanding wide receiver, as proven in bowl practice. ... He needs to get on the football field for us."
• Dantonio identified offensive line and kicker as the two most critical areas to develop in spring ball. The Spartans lose three starters on the offensive line, including standout center Joel Nitchman, as well as first-team All-Big Ten kicker Brett Swenson.
• Some wonderful news about Spartans offensive lineman Arthur Ray Jr., who has kept his dream of playing football alive after battling bone cancer. Ray is finally off crutches and able to run and do individual drills. "His bone is healing," Dantonio said. "He hopes to play in the near future, within maybe a year. We'll have to petition for that. We would have room for [Ray on the roster]. That's something the doctors have to decide on. Me, personally, and our entire football staff, are thrilled to have Arthur out there every single day. ... I can look at him now and say there is a possibility [of him playing]." There are plenty of folks rooting for Ray, myself included.
• Defensive end David Rolf is transferring to be closer to his family. Defensive tackle Cameron Jude's status is unclear as he works through academic and personal issues.
• Defensive tackle Jerel Worthy doesn't appear on the spring depth chart because he underwent offseason shoulder surgery and will be limited in practice

Five current or former Michigan State players involved in the November residence hall fight learned their fates Friday, and two received jail time.

Former Spartans safety Roderick Jenrette was sentenced to 90 days in jail, while current MSU wide receiver Fred Smith was sentenced to five days behind bars. Smith also received 18 months probation and 150 hours of community service.

Two other current players, cornerback Chris L. Rucker and offensive linemen J'Michael Deane, received 12 months probation and 150 hours of community service. Former Spartans defensive end Jamiihr Williams received 18 months probation and 15o hours of community service. Rucker, Deane and Williams all had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery.

Eight of the eleven players who pleaded guilty in the Nov. 22 assault at Rather Hall now have been sentenced, with Jenrette and Smith the first to receive jail time. Former running back Glenn Winston, dismissed from the team with Jenrette on Nov. 24 and reportedly at the center of the incident, will be sentenced Monday and faces up to a year in jail.

Current MSU receiver Myles White also will be sentenced Monday, and current nose tackle Oren Wilson will be sentenced March 31. Seven players involved in the fight remain with the team but indefinitely suspended.

Michigan State starts spring practice Tuesday, and it will be interesting to see how head coach Mark Dantonio handles the suspended players. Team spokesman John Lewandowski released a statement last week saying Dantonio wouldn't make a final ruling until all the court cases are concluded. Wilson's is the last one to wrap up.

I still expect the majority of the seven suspended players to be back with the team. Wilson and White could face the toughest penalties from the team because of the delay in the coaching staff learning of their involvement.

Here's a rundown of the 11 current or former players involved in the Rather Hall fight:

• WRs B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell: Still on the team but suspended; pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery; had conspiracy charge dropped; sentenced to 18 months probation and 150 hours of community service last week.
• RB Ashton Leggett: Transferred to Illinois State; pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery; had conspiracy charge dropped; sentenced to 18 months probation and 150 hours of community service last week.
• S Roderick Jenrette: Dismissed from the team Nov. 24; pleaded guilty to misdemeanor aggravated assault and misdemeanor assault; sentenced Friday to 90 days in jail; will begin serving sentence in April.
• WR Fred Smith: Remains with the team but indefinitely suspended; pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit assault; had misdemeanor assault charge dropped; sentenced Friday to five days in jail, 18 months probation and 150 hours of community service.
• CB Chris L. Rucker and OL J'Michael Deane: Both remain with the team but indefinitely suspended; pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault; had conspiracy charge dropped; sentenced Friday to 12 months probation and 150 hours of community service.
• DE Jamiihr Williams: Left the team; pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault; had conspiracy charge dropped; sentenced Friday to 18 months probation and 150 hours of community service.
• RB Glenn Winston: Dismissed from team Nov. 24; pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor assault and violating his probation; will be sentenced Monday.
• WR Myles White: Remains with the team; pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault but had conspiracy charge dropped; will be sentenced Monday.
• NT Oren Wilson: Remains with the team; pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor assault; had conspiracy charge dropped; will be sentenced March 31.

Reporting to you live from Purdue's tight ends meeting room at the Mollenkopf Center. Feeling very Boiler-y today.

• Former Michigan State running back Ashton Leggett receives probation and community service after pleading guilty to assault, Dan Kilbridge writes in the Lansing State Journal.
• Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald and several assistants and players will lose their locks today for a great cause, colleague Bruce Feldman writes.
• Offensive line is Michigan's top priority for 2011 recruiting, and the Wolverines are looking to Arizona for prospects, Josh Helmholdt writes in the Detroit Free Press. New Michigan AD David Brandon isn't afraid to go all Donald Trump on you.
• Our pal Frank The Tank breaks down the possibility of Notre Dame joining the Big Ten. Notre Dame needs to speak up before the Big Ten moves forward, CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd writes.
• The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Marc Morehouse breaks down Iowa's crowded running back room.
• A good look at Purdue's 2011 recruiting efforts from Mike Carmin of The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• Indiana's NFL hopefuls stand out at the combine, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).

The first two sentences have been handed down in the assault involving Michigan State players, as wide receivers Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham both received 18 months probation and 150 hours of community service on Monday.

In January, Dell and Cunningham pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery for their roles in a Nov. 22 incident at a campus residence hall. The pleas came as part of an agreement where more serious charges of conspiracy were dropped against the players.

Eleven current or former MSU players have entered guilty pleas, and the next sentence comes down Wednesday (former running back Ashton Leggett).

Cunningham and Dell, who ranked second and third on the team in receiving last fall, respectively, both admitted to assaulting members of the Iota Phi Theta fraternity following a fraternity potluck function at Rather Hall.

Dell and Cunningham are among the seven players facing charges who remain at Michigan State. All seven players have been suspended from team activities, although head coach Mark Dantonio still must decide the players' long-term status. Michigan State opens spring ball March 23.

It's unlikely Dell or Cunningham will be dismissed from the program. Of the seven suspended players, nose tackle Oren Wilson and wide receiver Myles White could be in the most trouble with the coaches because their involvement in the incident wasn't known until January. Wilson even participated in the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2, a privilege that would have been revoked had the coaches known of his involvement.

Mark Dantonio attributes much of his success at both Cincinnati and Michigan State to staff continuity, as he has been able to keep his assistants together. But for the first time in his Michigan State tenure, Dantonio had to replace an assistant after running backs coach Dan Enos left in January for the top job at Central Michigan. Dantonio settled on Brad Salem, a former MSU graduate assistant who spent the last five years as head coach at Division II Augustana College in South Dakota. Salem will oversee a running back group led by talented sophomores Larry Caper and Edwin Baker, but a group that loses several players from 2009.

I had the chance to catch up with Salem on Wednesday as he settled into his new job.

I know you had some ties to coach Dantonio. Are there a lot of familiar faces at Michigan State from your first stint there?

Brad Salem: Yeah, absolutely. That's the neat part. A lot of the support staff were here when I was here before, so there's obviously comfort in that, the people that take care of you.

What's the biggest adjustment from being a head coach in D-II to a position coach at this level?

Salem: It's the dynamics of being in charge of 100 guys [at Augustana] to a position coach, where there's anywhere from eight to 12, depending on what you recruit. I'm excited about the change, from the aspect of you get to focus on those guys. You almost get back a little bit more into the coaching role, the technique and the fundamentals of coaching a position.

Was it your goal to get back to the FBS level?

Salem: As an opportunity, it's something you can't pass up. I was very fortunate to be a head coach at a young age and follow in the footsteps of my dad. My father was a coach for 22 years. One of the things in coaching is you can't control the dynamics of where you go and when. That's what you understand. That process is out of your hands, so when opportunities like this present themselves, you get very excited to come back to a place you were 15 years ago. Knowing coach Dantonio and what he stands for, it's great to be a part of that, to be a part of something special.

How much did you work with the running game and specifically the running backs at Augustana?

Salem: As a head coach, I jumped around to different positions. I was on the offensive side, calling plays, so wherever there was a need, whether it was running backs, QBs or receivers, I was piecing it all together and coaching young coaches and teaching them those positions. You're familiar with [running back], absolutely, as one of the skill positions on offense.

How familiar are you with the running backs at Michigan State? Have you had a chance to look at tape or talk to them?

Salem: Yeah, I had the chance to meet them and watch them in workouts, doing the offseason stuff, and just seeing the cutups and seeing what their ability is. You've got two real special kids [Caper and Baker], and to get experience in the Big Ten as a freshman, there's a lot of value in it. They're going to just continue to grow as you go through spring ball and jump into the fall.

What are your early impressions of those two, Caper and Baker?

Salem: They can definitely be special backs. They both have unique styles, a little bit different from one another. But the great thing is, just getting to know them a little bit, is there's really a unique relationship. Very competitive, but they're even going to room [together] next year, and they're guys who understand being part of a team and part of a family. By size, Larry is a bigger guy, powerful, very good hands coming out of the backfield. There's maybe a little more quickness with Edwin, but you've got to watch a little bit more and study them. I'll find out more about that as we go through the spring.

Are numbers at all a concern for you because you'll be down a few guys from 2009 [Caulton Ray, Andre Anderson, Ashton Leggett, Glenn Winston]?

Salem: For spring, we're sitting pretty good. We've got some real solid guys at the fullback position, and then we've got the two early entry kids, Nick Hill and Leveon Bell. So those two incoming freshmen are here right now, so it gives us at least four tailbacks. Numbers are not the issue at my position, which is nice.

From a recruiting standpoint, you're replacing Dan, who was a great recruiter and really helped Michigan State. How has it been with recruiting and reconnecting in that area?

Salem: As a head coach, you're closing the deal and overseeing the whole process, recruiting the Midwest in that respect. Recruiting is the No. 1 issue with any program, and you've got to be able to do that and be successful because it's the kids that you get in your program. The approach here is it's very much a team-oriented recruiting process with the regional coach and then the position coach and then obviously the head coach to close the deal. So you fit in as we divide up areas. But I'm really excited to get going in the recruiting aspect of this job.

Have you talked about which regions you'll recruit?

Salem: We're just dividing up now. Each of us will get a piece of Michigan and then a secondary area. We're still trying to figure out where that'll be in the Midwest. You've just got to capture these kids in the region first. That's the priority. And you go from there. I'm touching base, e-mailing, calling the local guys right now, just so they see who I am.

My apologies for posting this a bit late, but Michigan State on Friday filled its lone staff vacancy by naming Brad Salem as running backs coach.

Salem, a former graduate assistant for the Spartans, spent the past five seasons as head coach of Division II Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. He replaces Dan Enos, who left in January to become Central Michigan's new head coach.

"The fact that Brad has a Spartan background is extremely important to us," head coach Mark Dantonio said in a statement. "He spent two years on the Michigan State campus as a graduate assistant under outstanding head coaches George Perles and Nick Saban and had the opportunity to work directly with some excellent offensive minds in Morris Watts and Gary Tranquill. ... He's an innovative offensive coach, outstanding teacher and communicator."

Salem, who went 31-26 at Augustana, served as a grad assistant at Michigan State from 1994-96, working alongside Dantonio his last two years. He has been at multiple high schools and also did a stint in the European Professional League. Most of his experience has been in South Dakota, both at Augustana and the University of South Dakota.

“I’m thrilled to be headed back to Michigan State, especially to work with Mark Dantonio, who has been a positive influence in my life," Salem said in a statement. "I’m also excited about the opportunity to work with a great coaching staff along with a talented football team. Coach Dantonio and his staff have put together outstanding recruiting classes back-to-back.

"After spending three years as a graduate assistant at Michigan State, I have great passion for the school, and this institution will sell itself to prospects throughout the Midwest. Michigan State has it all: a great coaching staff, remarkable football facilities, a beautiful campus and outstanding academic programs. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work."

This is an interesting choice for Michigan State and Dantonio, who hasn't had to replace an assistant in a while. Enos was one of the Big Ten's top recruiters and helped Michigan State improve its presence in the Detroit area. Salem will have huge shoes to fill from a recruiting standpoint, and he hasn't been in the area for a while. But his background as a former high school coach could be beneficial as he tries to build relationships in the state.

Salem takes over a running back group led by promising sophomores Larry Caper and Edwin Baker. The Spartans lost two running backs -- Glenn Winston and Ashton Leggett -- after the residence hall mess, so Caper and Baker seemingly will be carrying the load for the foreseeable future.

Two more Michigan State players have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery in connection with the Nov. 22 residence hall incident that has cast a dark cloud over the program.

Wide receivers B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell, both of whom started games this season, entered the guilty pleas as part of an agreement where the more serious charges of conspiracy to commit assault were dropped against them. Both players are scheduled to be sentenced March 8 and face up to 90 days in jail, though it's unlikely they'll receive jail time.

Former Spartans running back Ashton Leggett reached a similar plea agreement Jan. 14, and his lawyer told the Lansing State Journal that the prosecutor is not seeking jail time.

Dell admitted to punching Michigan State student Brent Mitchell after a potluck function held by the Iota Phi Theta fraternity at the residence hall. Mitchell was briefly hospitalized after the incident. Cunningham admitted to kicking someone during the assault.

Both Dell and Cunningham were suspended in December and missed the Alamo Bowl, though they were allowed to attend a team meeting earlier this month. Cunningham ranked second on the team in both receptions (48) and receiving yards (641) in 2009, while Dell ranked third in both categories (26 receptions, 449 yards).

Iota Phi Theta national president Karl Price told me that the potluck event was over by the time the football players arrived. The fraternity's internal investigation identified three victims -- one Iota Phi Theta member and two other MSU students -- as well as five or six eyewitnesses at the residence hall.

"Apparently, this group came in with the specific purpose of looking for Iotas," Price said. "The only reason they knew Mitchell was an Iota was because he was wearing a [fraternity] shirt. From what I understand, at least four of them jumped on him."

Price said there have been previous incidents between the Michigan State football team and Iota Phi Theta members in the past, but nothing in recent months or involving these players in particular.

According to a Michigan State team official, there has been no status change for both Dell and Cunningham. Five other current players and one player planning to transfer from MSU have pretrial hearings in February. If more guilty pleas are coming, it'll be interesting to see how head coach Mark Dantonio handles things.

Several of the players involved in the assault aren't coming back to the Spartans, and Dantonio has dismissed Glenn Winston and Roderick Jennrette, the two players reportedly at the center of the incident. But Dantonio likely will face some heat if he reinstates everyone.

The problems at Michigan State continue as two more football players have been charged with misdemeanor assault and conspiracy in connection with a Nov. 22 incident at an on-campus residence hall.

Junior defensive tackle Oren Wilson and redshirt freshman wide receiver Myles White both face assault and conspiracy charges. Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio on Tuesday indefinitely suspended both players from all football-related activities. Both Wilson and White must turn themselves in for arraignment.

"As with the previously suspended players, their status with the team will be re-evaluated on a case-by-case basis as their legal issues are resolved," Dantonio said in a statement issued through the school's sports information department.

Eleven players now have been charged in the incident, which took place during a fraternity potluck function held the same night of Michigan State's team banquet. Four other players were suspended from the team for being present at the residence hall, though none faces charges.

Wilson started for Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2, while White was suspended for the game for an unrelated incident. Dantonio, through a spokesman, said he didn't know Wilson and White were present at the residence hall until being notified of the forthcoming charges late last week. Though the suspensions were announced Tuesday, the punishments went into effect last week.

Dantonio handed down suspensions or dismissals for all the other players identified as being at the residence hall before the Alamo Bowl. Players were given opportunities to come forward about their involvement in the incident, but both Wilson and White declined to do so. MSU police in early December identified 10 suspects in the assault and were hoping to identify five more. Now we know that all 15 suspects were football players.

Still, it's troubling that more than two months have passed before Spartans coaches knew Wilson and White were involved.

Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings told the Lansing State Journal: "MSU Police has wonderful investigators and to me, it was never a question of if these two individuals were going to be identified, just a question of when."

Here's the breakdown of what's happening with the 15 players:

• Running back Glenn Winston and safety Roderick Jenrette, who face charges and had previous legal issues, have been dismissed from the team.
• Running back Ashton Leggett pleaded guilty Jan. 14 to two counts of misdemeanor assault as part of a plea agreement in which a more serious conspiracy charge against him was dropped. Leggett since has transferred to Illinois State. Defensive end Jamiihr Williams, who also faces charges, will transfer as well.
• Brynden Trawick and Ishmyl Johnson, who were suspended for being at the residence hall but not charged, are transferring.
• Five players who face charges -- cornerback Chris L. Rucker, offensive lineman J'Michael Deane and wide receivers, Mark Dell, B.J. Cunningham and Fred Smith -- had their pretrial hearings postponed earlier this month. Dantonio allowed them to attend a team meeting several weeks ago, but their ultimate status will be determined after the legal process concludes. Wilson and White both are now in the same boat as these players.
• Donald Spencer and Chris D. Rucker were suspended but not charged and attended a team meeting earlier this month.

Obviously, this remains a messy situation for Dantonio and Michigan State, which could be without a sizable chunk of the roster when spring practice begins.

Yum.

• ESPN.com's All-America team is finally here (!!!), and Michigan's Brandon Graham and Michigan State's Greg Jones made the squad.
• Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman discusses the ongoing NCAA investigation and new AD David Brandon, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press. Denard "Shoelace" Robinson is one of three Wolverines freshmen who will also run track for U-M.
• The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Marc Morehouse breaks down Iowa's most popular, exciting and maddening player -- quarterback Ricky Stanzi.
• Minnesota offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch continues to be mentioned in NFL rumors, this time as an addition to Pete Carroll's staff with the Seahawks, Danny O'Neil writes in The Seattle Times.
• Ashton Leggett pleads guilty, while the fates of the other former and current Michigan State players facing assault charges will be determined later, Shannon Shelton writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Ohio State's Thursday night opener is a sign of the times, Rob Oller writes in The Columbus Dispatch.

Former Michigan State running back Ashton Leggett pleaded guilty earlier today to two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery, while a more serious charge of conspiracy to commit assault was dropped against him as part of a plea agreement.

The pretrial hearings for the eight other current or former Michigan State players facing assault and conspiracy charges were postponed today. Leggett, who appeared in six games for the Spartans in 2009, since has transferred to Illinois State.

He apologized for punching two students during a Nov. 22 altercation at a campus residence hall and told a judge that the players "didn't fully know we'd jeopardize our future like this."

An attorney for Spartans cornerback Chris L. Rucker told reporters that his client will plead not guilty to the charges. The attorney for former Michigan State safety Roderick Jenrette, one of two players dismissed from the team after the incident, told reporters that prosecutors have offered his client a plea deal.

Don't be surprised if several players agree to the same terms as Leggett, who could face up to 93 days in jail and $1,000 in fines but also might avoid jail time.

It will be interesting to see how Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio reacts after the legal process has concluded. The suspended players still on the MSU roster attended a recent team meeting, and the coaches "will make decisions based on what happens at a later date."

As the Detroit Free Press' Drew Sharp writes today, Dantonio can't afford more mistakes from these players. The coach got totally burned by reinstating Glenn Winston last summer -- a very questionable decision at the time -- and needs these players to stay out of trouble.

Mark Dantonio wanted to put a positive spin on today's season wrap-up news conference, but the Michigan State coach couldn't avoid the elephant in the room.

The recent wave of player suspensions and dismissals remains the top story around Michigan State, though linebacker Greg Jones' return to school is significant as well. Dantonio has reinstated seven players suspended following a Nov. 22 assault at a campus residence hall, five of whom are facing misdemeanor assault and conspiracy charges.

The suspended players who remain at Michigan State were allowed to attend a recent team meeting when the squad assembled following winter break.

"They have been outside of the football facility and everything to do with football for the last six or seven weeks," Dantonio said. "And at this point in time, we are going to welcome them back into that environment for clarity purposes. They are on our football team."

Four suspended players, including two who face charges stemming from the residence hall incident, have transferred from Michigan State. A total of nine players were charged Dec. 10 with misdemeanor conspiracy to commit an assault and battery as well as misdemeanor assault and battery. Two of those players, running back Glenn Winston and safety Roderick Jenrette, have been dismissed from the team.

"We are not doing anything as a team right now," Dantonio said, "but at least to sit in a team meeting room for our initial meeting back, they were welcomed to be in there, and then we will make decisions based on what happens at a later date."

Here's a look at where everyone stands:

• The following players who face assault and conspiracy charges have been reinstated: cornerback Chris L. Rucker, offensive lineman J’Michael Deane, wide receiver Mark Dell, wide receiver B.J. Cunningham, wide receiver Fred Smith.
• Wide receivers Chris D. Rucker and Donald Spencer, who were suspended for being at the residence hall but never charged, also are back with the team.
• Running back Ashton Leggett, who was suspended and charged, has transferred to Illinois State. Defensive end Jamiihr Williams, who was suspended and charged, has transferred to Northeast Mississippi Community College.
• Linebacker Brynden Trawick and nose tackle Ishmyl Johnson, who were present at the residence hall but never charged, also have transferred from Michigan State.
• Wide receiver Myles White, who was suspended for a situation unrelated to the residence hall assault, also is back with the team.

The players facing charges are scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning for pre-trial hearings. Ingham County prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III told the Detroit Free Press that no plea agreement is in place at this time, though that could change.

You don't know any stories? OK, I'll tell you a story.

• Money is the biggest reason driving the Big Ten's new push to expand, Teddy Greenstein writes in the Chicago Tribune.
• After several bowl defeats, Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel knows there's no magic formula for postseason prep, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Ohio State once again shielded Terrelle Pryor from the media Monday, but the sophomore quarterback could be unleashed in Pasadena, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• The (Champaign) News-Gazette's Bob Asmussen breaks down Illinois' hiring of Paul Petrino, who didn't come cheap. Petrino brings some excitement to an offense that needs a jolt, Mark Tupper writes in The (Decatur) Herald & Review.
• Penn State defenders Navorro Bowman and Jerome Hayes will consider their young families when deciding whether to return to the team in 2010, Cory Giger writes in The Altoona Mirror.
• Some Iowans might be facing an Orange Bowl blackout, Ryan Suchomel writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
• Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo lends his support to Mark Dantonio and the embattled football program, Eric Lacy writes in The Detroit News. Running back Ashton Leggett is the only Spartans player facing charges who has turned himself into authorities.
• Northwestern expects a tough challenge from Auburn's offense, but nothing the Wildcats haven't seen before, Greenstein writes.
• Former Michigan running back Brandon Minor recently underwent rotator cuff surgery, annarbor.com's Dave Birkett writes.
• The Sporting News' Dave Curtis ranks the bowl games.