ESPN College Football

Indiana and Arizona essentially swapped offensive coordinators in recent weeks. Rod Smith, the Hoosiers' co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach left IU to rejoin new Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez in Tucson. Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson replaced Smith with Seth Littrell, who spent the 2011 season as Arizona's offensive coordinator but was let go following Mike Stoops' firing. Littrell did his part with the Wildcats' offense, which ranked 16th nationally in yards per game (465.3 ypg) and third in passing (370.8 ypg) this season. Before joining Arizona's staff in 2009, Littrell spent four seasons coaching running backs at Texas Tech.

The former Oklahoma running back, who won a national title in 2000, will serve as Indiana's sole offensive coordinator.

I recently caught up with Littrell, who arrived in Bloomington on New Year's Day, to get his thoughts on joining the Hoosiers' staff.

Why Indiana? Why did this make the most sense for you?

Seth Littrell: I've known Coach Wilson for a long time, and we've been talking back and forth for a while. We've always had somewhat of a relationship. I knew the unbelievable offenses he had at Oklahoma, and I thought it was a good opportunity for me to go into a great new conference and a prestigious school in Indiana, where they're doing great things right now. You look at the basketball program up and going again, and then with Coach Wilson here in his second year, I thought it was a good opportunity to be able to help him turn this and get back to competing and winning. Plus, it's a chance for me to be under a great offensive coach who can teach me some things.

You were working under a defensive coach at Arizona. How will that change for you now, working for a guy who had success on the offensive side?

SL: It'll be unbelievable. I've been very fortunate to work with a lot of people, [Mark] Mangino and Mike Leach and Mike Stoops, and playing under Bob Stoops. I've had a great opportunity to work for offensive and defensive guys. The biggest thing I always look for is relationships and guys you feel comfortable around. It's a great environment, people are pulling in the same direction. And the more I talked with Coach Wilson over the phone, I felt very comfortable with him.

How would you describe your offensive philosophy?

SL: I played under Mike Leach at Oklahoma in 1999, so a lot of it comes from that "Air Raid" background. But the biggest thing in coaching is you have to adjust. We've had to adjust. Sonny Dykes had to adjust when he first came to Arizona, and then I came in and we had Rob Gronkowski, so we used a little bit more tight end, play-action underneath. And then last year, we didn't have as many tight ends, so we were more spread. You have to be a teacher and you have to understand what your strengths and weaknesses are as an offense and each individual player, and hopefully build something great around them. People look at me, coming from a huge passing background, but you look at Dana Holgorsen, who's one of my best friends at West Virginia. He's tweaked it his way, I've kind of tweaked it my way. And the tweaks you see are based upon what we have as personnel, but at the same time getting those guys in the best situations to compete.

Have you had a chance to look at the personnel you'll be inheriting at Indiana?

SL: Obviously, I've looked at some film, just when I came down on an interview. And as I've come back, I have had some time to watch some games here and there. And I'm extremely excited. They played a lot players last year. Shoot, Tre [Roberson] started the last five games [at quarterback] as a true freshman. He definitely has some strengths. I'm excited about him, I'm excited about the offense in general. There's players here you can compete and win with.

As you go out recruiting the next few weeks, what are some of the things you're going to be looking for?

SL: The first thing you look at is character and determination to win. You want to get great people to surround this program, which is nothing new. Coach Wilson has been doing that since he got here. You look for people who want to come out and compete, and who want to be at Indiana. You can recruit all kinds of kids, but do they really want to be at Indiana? Do they really want to play in the Big Ten? Those are qualities you look for, and then you recruit from there. Obviously, we have different needs. We have a few more needs we need to fill up. But as a philosophy, the biggest thing you want to find are great athletes who have a will to compete and a will to win.

Kevin Johns has been there as a co-coordinator. How is that going to work with him, as far as play-calling and so forth?

SL: We've sat down and talked, but the last week has been so fast. We have met, he's a great guy, the staff on offense is unbelievable. We've all talked, and I'm really excited about those guys. They're unbelievable coaches. This isn't about me. This is about this program. This is about an offensive staff coming together and working together. It's not about one guy saying, 'Here, this is what we're going to do.' That's never how it's been with me. We have an offensive staff, we sit down, we talk, we put all our heads together and we figure out the best way to help us be successful and win. That's what it comes down to. It's a team thing.

There's been more spread in the Big Ten the last 10 years. How do you think the offense works in the league? Are there different challenges in the Big Ten versus the Pac-12 or the Big 12?

SL: I couldn't give a fair assessment on that because I've never been in this league. I haven't studied it a ton. Now we did play Iowa [in 2009 and 2010] while I was at Arizona, and they had some unbelievable defenses. They were big, strong, physical guys, and they were really good up front and really sound across the board. We have to sit down and watch and discuss as a staff, and we'll figure out the best thing for us to do offensively.

How big of a challenge is this?

SL: Everywhere is a challenge in college football. It's hard to win games. Each week, you can never take it for granted, because you step on the field, wins aren't easy. I don't care where you're at. You can be at Oklahoma, or you can be at a I-AA [program], they're all hard. The biggest thing you have to do is prepare yourself mentally and physically each and every week. And you've got to enjoy it. You've got to have fun in the process. Those are the people who are going to be successful.

It's time to look at three keys for the Iowa Hawkeyes before their Insight Bowl showdown Friday night against Oklahoma.

1. Establish some type of run game: Iowa must win the Insight Bowl without its top rusher for the second consecutive season, but this year brings an even bigger challenge. Suspended sophomore Marcus Coker basically has been Iowa's rushing attack this season, accounting for 67.4 percent of the carries and 80.7 percent of the yards. While Iowa boasts a strong passing attack and Oklahoma ranks 83rd nationally in pass defense, the Hawkeyes aren't built to win games with a one-dimensional offense. The onus is on the offensive line to create room for an inexperienced stable of backs. Jordan Canzeri could be a factor, while Brad Rogers, Damon Bullock and De'Andre Johnson also could get touches.

2. Rattle Landry Jones: The OU quarterback hasn't been the same since star receiver Ryan Broyles tore his ACL. Jones has thrown five interceptions and zero touchdowns in the past three games, barely completing half of his pass attempts against Iowa State and Oklahoma State. Iowa's defensive backs must make some impact plays in the game, and cornerback Micah Hyde is more than capable after recording the game-deciding pick-six against Missouri's Blaine Gabbert in last year's bowl to earn defensive MVP honors. Hyde and fellow corner Shaun Prater both need strong performances, and perhaps more important, the Iowa defensive line has to get in Jones' face. Iowa's line has been hot and cold, recording three or more sacks in six games and one or zero sacks in five other contests. The Hawkeyes need the good front four to show up.

3. Start off strong: Many are questioning Oklahoma's motivation for this game after a disappointing season. While it's hard to imagine a Bob Stoops not being ready for a winnable bowl, Iowa must capitalize on any Sooners letdown. The Hawkeyes have outscored their opponents 69-50 in the first quarter and 175-118 in the first half this season. Oklahoma stumbled out of the gate in all three of its losses (Texas Tech, Baylor and Oklahoma State). Iowa had a blistering start in the 2010 Insight Bowl, building a 17-3 lead against Missouri before having to rally late. A few quick scores could put the Sooners on their heels and have them start questioning whether they really want to be in Tempe.

After the big news about the Big Ten-Pac-12 partnership, the links will be split into two categories.

BIG TEN-PAC-12 PARTNERSHIP

• Check out all of ESPN.com's coverage here.
• Some good overall analysis of the merger here and here and here and here.
• Ohio State AD Gene Smith said the plan won't change the school's approach to non-league scheduling.
• Iowa AD Gary Barta expects the Cy-Hawk series won't be affected.
• Michigan AD Dave Brandon also weighs in on the impact.
• The partnership also won't impact the Purdue-Notre Dame series.

OTHER BIG TEN LINKS

• Michigan State junior defensive tackle Jerel Worthy is "50-50" on whether he'll return in 2012. Max Bullough and Denicos Allen have formed a new linebacker legacy in East Lansing.
• Ohio State's juniors gear up for what will be their final bowl game (bowl ban in 2012). The Buckeyes' offense hopes to build on its last performance.
• It has been 50 years since Minnesota last played in the Rose Bowl.
• Penn State quarterback Matthew McGloin (concussion) missed practice again Wednesday. Lions interim coach Tom Bradley has helped his players through a difficult time, David Jones writes.
• Nebraska coach Bo Pelini insists he's not looking around for other jobs. T-Magic is very much on South Carolina's radar.
• Wisconsin's departing assistants discuss what the program has meant to them. The Badgers will be sharp when the Rose Bowl kicks off, Tom Oates writes.
• It's time for Purdue to raise the bar in 2012. A nice wrap-up of Purdue's 2011 season.
• Iowa offensive lineman Riley Reiff will discuss his NFL future next week. Kirk Ferentz and Bob Stoops are big fans of one another.
• Illinois linebacker Trulon Henry, who should return to the field Saturday, feels like he has "nine lives." Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase wants to end the season on a high note. New Illinois coach Tim Beckman answers your questions.
• Northwestern is ready to get rid of the bowl monkey. Check out the chat wrap from Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald.
• Injuries on the defensive line force Michigan's veterans to pick up the slack.

Rob from Morristown, N.J., writes: Adam, two questions for you. The first I am sure you get every year, but can you give us your explanation as well as the explanation from the league (Delaney) as to why it is beneficial for the B1G to have 4 marquee teams playing at the same time on Jan. 2. Apart from tradition (this year these games are not even on New Year's Day), it doesn't make sense to me from an exposure standpoint to have all teams playing at the same time, and certainly not from the perspective of a fan of the B1G who wants to see all the teams WIN! I don't beleive ANY other conference has two teams or more playing at the same time. What ARE the benefits of this? Second question, why aren't Penn State's Assistant Coaches like LJ, Sr and Vanderlinden being considered for other open head coaching vacancies? These have been the top defensive coaches in the B1G, if not the nation over the past few years, are schools scared away from them due to the scandal?

Adam Rittenberg: Good questions, Rob. You're not the only Big Ten fan miffed by the league's Jan 1/2-heavy lineup. The league views it as a chance to "own the day," to have its product splashed on multiple TV networks during a day where college football has thrived historically. The counter-argument is that New Year's Day no longer is what it used to be, and that spreading out the Big Ten games over several days would create more overall exposure rather than flooding everything on one day. As to your second question, I think the Penn State scandal has hurt all of the current coaches as far as other jobs. I'd include Tom Bradley in that mix. It's too bad because those guys are all excellent coaches.

---

A.J. from Madison, Wis., writes: I was wondering if you could seed each division with how you think they'll rank next year. I think it's going to be a photo finish between Ohio State-Wisconsin and Michigan-Michigan State, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Adam Rittenberg: A.J., I completely agree the Leaders division will come down to Ohio State and Wisconsin. I'd give Ohio State the edge because the Buckeyes lose fewer key pieces than the Badgers, although Wisconsin has it going right now. I'd add Nebraska and Iowa to the Legends division race, which should once again be more competitive. Nebraska will host Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State, so if the Huskers hold serve at home, they'll be in good shape.

---

Ashley from Lincoln, Neb., writes: Adam, I'm a little confused as to why people keep saying that Nebraska will have so much trouble with South Carolina's defensive line. I have seen no evidence that this is an elite group. Yes, the defense is 4th in total yards allowed. But if you pin it down to stats that better represent the d-line it suddenly doesn't look so good. SC is 45th in rush defense, 42nd in tfls, 43rd in sacks and 83rd in red zone defense. And all of this against very few rush-based offenses. In fact, in their only games against top 40 rushing offenses, Navy and Auburn, SC gave up 274 and 246 yards on the ground, respectively. So why exactly should Nebraska be so afraid of this defense?

Adam Rittenberg: Ashley, you bring up a good point about South Carolina's rush defense, which isn't all that great. If Nebraska can move the ball on the ground, get into its tempo on offense and stay out of obvious passing situations, it should be in good shape against the Gamecocks. The concern is that Nebraska's offensive line remains pretty inexperienced, and South Carolina defensive ends Melvin Ingram and Jadeveon Clowney are two of the better defensive linemen the Huskers will face all season. Huskers offensive lineman Yoshi Hardrick told me he's really impressed with Ingram's and Clowney's speed. It would be a bigger concern if Nebraska were a pass-first offense. If the Huskers stay out of third-and-long, they should be fine.

---

John from Kalamazoo, Mich., writes: Call me a little bit biased, but i don't completely understand all of Michigan state fans rights to complain about how the season ended for them and the wolverines. Sure, state won the head to head matchup in a very well played game by both teams. However, it seems everyone is overlooking how much it sucks for wolverine fans that a team that lost by double digits to teams they beat, got to play in the in the inaugural BTC. I cannot be the only person to see things this way.

Adam Rittenberg: Brian recently brought up this question, asking users which team's situation is better. The vote was fairly close, as 52 percent of responders (more than 11,500 votes cast) preferred Michigan's situation to Michigan State's. Fans do care about bowl order and going to a BCS game vs. the Outback Bowl does make a difference. Then again, Michigan State was a play away from its first Rose Bowl appearance in 24 years. The Spartans had earned that right, and they now have a division championship that follows a co-Big Ten championship. It certainly means something, even if Michigan gets more love during the bowl season.

---

Steiny from Iowa writes: Adam, how is it that Iowa is in a lose lose situation. Everyone is saying that if Iowa wins its bowl game, Oklahoma just wasnt motivated to be there, and if they they lost well it was goin to happen anyways. Doesnt anyone want to give Iowa credit for anything if they win, and u honestly think bob stoops is goin to lay down for Iowa?

Adam Rittenberg: Steiny, I see what you're saying, and many would spin it that way if Iowa upsets Oklahoma. But it still would go down as a win in the record book, Iowa's fourth consecutive bowl victory. It would give the Hawkeyes their fourth consecutive season of eight or more victories and possibly serve as a springboard for the team heading into the 2012 campaign. But we've seen many examples of teams that don't look like they want to be in certain bowl games. It's fair to ask whether Oklahoma will be fired up because of where the Sooners began the season. But Stoops' teams rarely let up. OU should be ready.

---

Ryan from Geneva, Ohio, writes: Have you heard anything about whether Urban Meyer is keeping DC Jim Heacock on his staff for next year? Heacock and I share an alma mater, DIII Muskingum University, and I was curious where my fellow Fighting Muskie might end up.

Adam Rittenberg: Ryan, it doesn't look like it, although things could change if Luke Fickell gets a head-coaching job elsewhere. Fickell is planning to stay on in a coordinator capacity and make Ohio State's defensive play calls. North Carolina interim coach Everett Withers is also a likely addition, so a co-coordinator situation with Fickell and Withers could be how it pans out. Heacock is a terrific coach and should find a spot somewhere as a coordinator.

---

Shawn from Lansing, Mich., writes: Thank you for your articles on Arther Ray. We met him a couple of years ago when our son was also battling cancer. Our son passed away two years ago, Arthur was and has been still an inspiration for our family. Recently I was in intensive care and he tried to come by and visit but I was not feeling very well at the time. Arthur and the entire MSU family have been a blessing to us.

Adam Rittenberg: Shawn, thanks for your note. Arthur is one of the finest people I've covered in college football. It's great to see his story turning out so well. Good things happen to good people, and Arthur deserves everything he's getting right now.

Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (9-3)

Dec. 30, 1o p.m. ET (ESPN)

Iowa take by Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg: Iowa football hasn’t had much go its way in the past 11 months aside from a dramatic victory against Missouri in the 2010 Insight Bowl. The Hawkeyes will return to Tempe, Ariz., later this month looking for another boost after an up-and-down 2011 campaign.

Kirk Ferentz’s teams typically save their best for the postseason, as Iowa is 6-3 in bowls during his tenure as coach, including victories in each of the past three years (2010 Insight, 2010 Orange, 2009 Outback). But extending the win streak will be tough against Oklahoma, the preseason No. 1 team. Both teams struggled down the stretch, each dropping two of the final three games.

Iowa is led by its big three on offense: receiver Marvin McNutt, running back Marcus Coker and quarterback James Vandenberg. Coker burst on the scene as a freshman at the 2010 Insight Bowl, setting an Iowa bowl record with 219 rushing yards. McNutt also has been fabulous, while Vandenberg struggled away from Kinnick Stadium but can put up big numbers.

The Hawkeyes' defense was in rebuilding mode for most of the season, as the NFL losses along the defensive line and at safety stung. Oklahoma isn’t nearly as dangerous on offense without star receiver Ryan Broyles, who is out for the season with a knee injury. But Iowa can’t let Landry Jones settle into a rhythm and must pressure the Sooners junior quarterback.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops faces his alma mater in Iowa, which goes up against the Sooners for just the second time after dropping a 1979 game in Norman.

---

Oklahoma State take from Big 12 blogger David Ubben: The "Chase For Eight" quickly went awry for the Sooners, who lost a 41-38 game at home to five-win Texas Tech. The Red Raiders didn't win again the rest of the season. The Sooners' defense fell to powerful offenses late in the season, too. Baylor bested the Sooners on a last-second touchdown from Robert Griffin III, and Oklahoma State receivers ran free in a Cowboys blowout.

Injuries played a huge role. That's undeniable, but this season, with the expectations that came with it, is nothing but a disappointment. The Sooners suffered two losses after losing Broyles and Dominique Whaley. Blake Bell's Tebow-esque "BellDozer" formation was pretty effective late in the season, but Oklahoma is bested only by Texas A&M as the Big 12's most disappointing team.

After years as one of the nation's top assistants, Kevin Wilson will make his collegiate head-coaching debut Saturday night when Indiana faces Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium. But he's not getting wrapped up in the moment. Too much to do. Wilson has conducted his first preseason camp in Bloomington, evaluating positions and bringing his no-nonsense philosophy to a program that needs a jump-start.

Wilson took some time Tuesday to discuss camp and the outlook for IU in 2011.

How do you feel the players have adjusted to you and your staff so far?

Kevin Wilson: We're gaining on it every day. We've made a lot of strides, with not just our physical conditioning level but in our schemes, how to practice, how to be upbeat, how to have some energy. We've yet to play and go through a season, so can we maintain that in good times and bad times? But they've done better than I would have hoped or thought they could have done. I'm very proud of our guys.

Are there examples where you see them understanding what you want?

KW: Just on a consistent basis, our effort's greater, our physicalness in practice is greater, our enthusiasm, the tone of the guys when they're talking. Our total body language and team attitude, they're embracing the structure, the discipline, the toughness and the work ethic that we believe good teams have. Not that we didn't have it before, but I like the way they're relating to our staff.

What are your realistic expectations for Saturday?

KW: We want to take care of the ball. It's easy early in the season to be off your mark and allow an opponent to beat you because you're playing sloppy football, so ball security is something that's been strongly emphasized and encouraged. I'd like to make sure we're not sloppy with a bunch of penalties, getting us behind chains or helping the opponent. Really like to see if we can tackle well, whether it be in the kicking game or on defense, and let the scores be what the scores can be. Taking care of the ball, being smart, tackling well, being physical. I never put a score or a stat or a number or how many yards on either side of the ball. I'd like to see our play show the values we've been trying to preach to our team.

You said you're probably going to play multiple quarterbacks. How do you see that going? Will you play two? Three?

KW: I don't know if we have a guy who has clearly separated [himself]. There will be a guy that goes out first and we'll decide that. They've all done pretty well, they've all got different strengths. It's not going to be like after the second drive we're putting a [new] guy in or at the start of the second quarter. We'll see as the week finishes which one goes out first and that guy's going to go out and be the starter. And even if he has some glitches, we'll play through that.

We don't expect a guy to be perfect and hit every pass, but also you can tell when a guy can handle the arena, the environment, handle the emotions. So if a guy's doing well, we'll let it play out. If he looks to be struggling, out of whack, and we need a little jump-start, we'll go with someone else. We're not trying to be coy. They've all done well, but the quarterback needs to be the greatest extension of the coaching staff and a guy we feel needs to play smart and handle the ball properly so he's giving our team the best chance.

(Read full post)

Jim Tressel's resignation as Ohio State's coach means one of the most coveted jobs in college sports is now available.

To be fair, we don't know what type of program the next coach will inherit after the NCAA gets done with the Buckeyes. But even without Tressel, Ohio State has the pieces in place to compete for the national championship.

Assistant Luke Fickell will serve as Ohio State's interim coach throughout the 2011 season before a formal search of both external and internal candidates takes place.

Colleague Bruce Feldman has examined who might be on Ohio State's list when it looks for a long-term solution. He identifies seven candidates:

1. Urban Meyer: This would be the grand slam hire for Ohio State, given Meyer's pedigree, track record and age. Meyer grew up in Ohio, graduated from the University of Cincinnati and was a graduate assistant for the Buckeyes in 1986-87. He stepped down at Florida after the 2010 season and is now spending more time with his family and doing TV for ESPN. In the book Meyer wrote in 2008, he said that Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan were the only coaching jobs his wife had no power to veto.

2. Bo Pelini: The fiery former Buckeyes safety grew up in the football hotbed of Youngstown. He got his coaching start as a graduate assistant under Hayden Fry at Iowa and then spent a decade in the NFL. Pelini is one of the sharpest defensive minds in college football. Other defensive coaches are very impressed by the system he runs. In three seasons since taking over the Nebraska program, he has restored much of the power to the Huskers brand, leading them to a 30-12 mark that includes back-to-back 10-win seasons.

3. Gary Patterson: The 51-year-old Patterson has elevated TCU to a legit big-time program by winning an eye-catching 66 games in the past six years. No head man working in the college game is more driven than the Kansas native. He is very hands-on, running practice and developing his players into a tough, physical, disciplined team. His style would play well in Columbus.

4. Jon Gruden: I know this guy is a natural on TV talking football, but at some point you'd think he'd be tempted to try out all the scheme studying he's been doing at the college level. Gruden spent hundreds of hours going to school on Chip Kelly's system and several others. I suspect it would be quite a lab for him. My hunch is that Gruden, whose charisma is off the charts, would be the ultimate closer as a recruiter. In terms of fit, there aren't many college jobs that have the luster Ohio State does.

5. Mark Dantonio: Seeing as how Dantonio is a Tressel protégé, it's very possible that this might be too awkward of a move for either party. But you can't dismiss Dantonio's credentials. He was the Buckeyes' defensive coordinator when OSU won the BCS title. He did a nice job in his first shot as a head coach at Cincinnati and has Michigan State on the upswing. In 2010, he led the Spartans to an 11-2 season and a share of the Big Ten title.

6. Mark Stoops: If there's a Stoops that would fit at this point for Ohio State, I suspect it would be Mark, not Bob, whom I doubt would ever leave OU for another college job knowing the setup he has in Norman (elite program, history, great boss). Mark, the FSU defensive coordinator, is a product of Youngstown and played defensive back at Iowa in the late 1980s. He was a high school coach in Ohio and has gone on to coach in every time zone in the country. Stoops actually coached against and lost to the Buckeyes in the BCS title game while he was defensive backs coach at Miami.

7. Gary Pinkel: Like many guys on this list, Pinkel is an Ohio guy. He was born in Akron, played at Kent State (where he roomed with Steelers legend Jack Lambert) and spent a decade winning a lot of football games at Toledo. Since leaving the MAC, he has done a very nice job as head coach of the Missouri Tigers and has won 40 games in the past four seasons. Is there much more realistically he can do for Tigers football? Then again, does OSU -- which will be dealing with the fallout of the end of the Tressel era and NCAA sanctions for a while -- want to hand the keys to a coach who just turned 59?

It's an interesting list.

Meyer is an extremely intriguing choice, given his credentials, his Ohio roots and the fact that he isn't coaching a team right now. His health issues might be a concern, but Feldman is right: Meyer would be a home run hire.

Patterson is another interesting name. His defensive style certainly would resonate with Buckeye Nation. But would he leave a very comfortable situation at TCU for a new region and a job that brings incredible pressure?

Pelini and Dantonio also could draw interest from Ohio State because of their ties to the school and to the state. Both men still must prove they can win on a truly national level, but both are defensive-minded coaches who could thrive in Columbus.

I would add Bob Stoops to my list of candidates. Sure, he's got a great gig at Oklahoma, but Ohio State would be foolish not to at least gauge interest from one of the game's most successful coaches, not to mention a guy with local ties.

Although Fickell certainly could help his cause for the permanent job by steadying the ship this season, Ohio State must conduct a true national search. Anything less would be a disservice to the Buckeyes football brand. If Fickell emerges as the best choice, fine, but Ohio State has to conduct a thorough search process.

Jim Tressel's resignation from Ohio State on Monday ends one of the most successful runs in Big Ten coaching history.

Tressel spent 10 seasons in Columbus, compiling a 106-22 record (66-14 Big Ten).

Many thanks to ESPN's Stats & Information crew for the following nuggets on Tressel's time at Ohio State (note: there's a possibility these numbers could change depending on NCAA penalties against Tressel/Ohio State):

• Tressel is tied with Oklahoma's Bob Stoops for the most appearances by a coach in BCS bowls (8). He boasts a 5-3 record that includes a 1-2 mark in games that decided the national championship.
• Tressel has guided Ohio State to 10 or more wins in six consecutive seasons, the fifth-longest such streak in FBS history and the longest in Big Ten history.
• Tressel is the only coach in NCAA history to win more than 100 games at two separate schools (Youngstown State and Ohio State).
• Tressel's 106 wins are the third most by an Ohio State coach, behind Woody Hayes (205) and John Cooper (111). His winning percentage of .827, meanwhile, is significantly higher than both Hayes (.761) and Cooper (.715).
• Tressel last year became the third-fastest coach in Big Ten history to reach 100 victories, doing so in his 121st game. Michigan's Bo Schembechler and Fielding Yost both reached the 100-win mark in 119 games.
• Under Tressel, the Buckeyes spent 14 weeks as the No. 1-ranked team.

Several more nuggets from yours truly ...

• Tressel's Big Ten winning percentage ranks second in league history behind only Schembechler (.850).
• He coached 21 first-team All-Americans at Ohio State and 47 first-team All-Big Ten selections.
• Tressel boasts a 9-1 record against archrival Michigan and is the only Ohio State coach to defeat the Wolverines in seven consecutive games.

In a perfect world, if fans controlled nonconference scheduling rather than cost-conscious athletic directors, college football would have more intersectional rivalries than it currently does.

Colleague Bruce Feldman recently took a look at 'should-be' rivalries -- series that would be great if they regularly took place, or, in some cases, resumed.

Three games involving Big Ten teams made his list: Ohio State vs. Oklahoma, Michigan vs. LSU and Penn State vs. Pitt.

Here are Feldman's thoughts on each 'should-be' rivalry:

Ohio State-Oklahoma:

Both programs have deep ties to Youngstown, through their coaches Jim Tressel (former coach at Youngstown State) and Bob Stoops (a Youngstown native). These are two programs that have been great for over a half-century and whose fan bases are about as big as they come. It's a shame these two powerhouses have only played twice, once in 1977 and the other time in 1983.

LSU-Michigan:

After years of rumors that LSU coach Les Miles, a former Wolverines lineman and Bo Schembechler disciple, would return to Ann Arbor to rescue his alma mater, we now know that he's not leaving Tiger Stadium for the Maize and Blue. Of course, it would be fun if he and his program visited Michigan every other year. Any time one of Jim Delany's prized programs takes on one of Mike Slive's, you're going to end up with a lot of compelling drama.

Penn State-Pitt:

One of the great rivalries in the sport -- which was first played in the 1890s -- has been put on ice since 2000. The break occurred not that long after the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten and left their nemesis behind in the process. The two are still fierce rivals on the recruiting trail, but it would be fun to see them square off on the field every year again.

Count me among those who would love to see these three series, among others.

Ohio State-Oklahoma especially intrigues me. Both programs have been consistently elite under their respective coaches, and both also have fallen short on the biggest stage. I've always felt Ohio State gets trashed more than the Sooners, even though the teams' big-game struggles are similar.

I wonder if Nebraska-Iowa would have made Feldman's list before the Huskers joined the Big Ten. Don't have to worry about that any more.

Some other series I'd like to see start or resume:

• Iowa-Missouri
• Indiana-Kentucky
• Northwestern-Stanford (four-game series starts in 2019)
• Penn State-Alabama (I'll miss it after this year's game; tremendous respect between the fan bases)
• Ohio State-SEC power (Florida/Alabama/LSU/Georgia)

What series would you like to see?

Here's the second half of my interview with new Indiana coach Kevin Wilson. Check out Part I as well.

What do you think it's going to take to turn around the defense at IU?

Kevin Wilson: Well, we'll start with our coordinator and structure, and I'm going to take some time to research and get the right person there, myself being much more offensive-oriented. So we'll take a little time and get the right one there and start with the structure standpoint. From there, I don't know because I've not really had the opportunity with our defense to know if there's physical limitations or concerns with certain position groups that aren't as talented, as strong, as big, as fast as we need.

So we'll start here with our defensive leadership, we'll start with our defensive structure. I've got a couple thoughts, but I'm going to wait until we get our defensive guy on staff and not square-peg or pigeonhole him and give him a chance to get it going. We're going to buy some time from the coaching and scheme standpoint, and I don't know a great deal about our actual personnel as we speak.

Is it a concern for you that the defense has been a problem for more than a decade? Indiana has had the offensive players -- Antwaan Randle El, Ben Chappell and those guys -- but the defense hasn't really caught up.

KW: I don't have a clue what their defensive stats have been. I just know for nine years, 15 spring practices, all preseason, every Tuesday and Wednesday going against coach [Bob] Stoops, with the attitude and the mind-set, I might be known as an offensive guy, but having come from the environment that I just came from, I have a great feel for what it looks like and how to structure, practice, recruit, coordinate, prepare, put a defense in great position.

Because I'm coming from one of the greatest defensive places there is with the coaching and the way that thing has been run with Bob, with Mike [Stoops], with Bo Pelini, with Brent Venables, that's been a pretty strong defensive place. Trust me, the hardest thing at Oklahoma isn't game day. The hardest thing at Oklahoma is Tuesday and Wednesday in practice.

There's a perception that Indiana is a basketball school. How do you deal with that? Was it a concern for you when you started talking about the job?


KW: It really wasn't. Coach [Tom] Crean is a great coach and we do have phenomenal tradition in basketball. He's going to be an extremely positive and avid supporter because this school is such a strong school, I don't think it should take a backseat or not be strong in any department. I don't think our school, the way president [Michael] McRobbie has it set up, he doesn't want to be average in anything.

From an athletic perspective, with our new administration with [athletic director] Fred Glass, with resources and dollars and Big Ten revenue and things we're generating and raising, I don't think we want to be just a member of a conference in any sport. We're pushing ourselves to get ourselves in position to play at an extremely high level, to play at a consistent winning level and start putting our teams in position to play for championships in all sports. It's great we're a basketball school, but what we really are at Indiana is we're a great school. We should be great at all things. We're looking forward to the challenge, and we're looking forward to the opportunity to build this thing and make it into a strong program.

I know you haven't been there too long, but from talking to the players or seeing any tape from last year, how close is Indiana to getting over that hump?

KW: I haven't really studied it. I know we're not playing horseshoes, so I don't want to be close. From what I've gathered, there is a strong nucleus of some talent coming back, sounds like a great recruiting class. I know we've done a very nice job in our scheduling and what we've got nonconference. I know the Big Ten league, I know it's going to be competitive. But I also feel we're going to put a plan in place, a process in place, to win.

We're not trying to win three, five years down the road. In fairness to our seniors, our alumni and our fans, we need to win right now. That's not trying to be arrogant or boastful or making statements that can't come true, but we're going to try and build something. It's a process, it's going to take time, but in fairness to our seniors, we're going to do everything we can to be as good as we can as fast as we can.

When you look at scores and you look at the talent, yeah, they're not far off. But being close is not winning. Being close doesn't excite me. But it does make me feel like there are the resources here where we feel like we have a chance. We tried to start [Tuesday] with a change of mind-set, a change of body language, a change of how we act and carry ourselves to see if we can get this thing going in a positive direction and build something that's going to be special here for our school and these players and for the fans and for the state of Indiana.

The wait is over for Kevin Wilson.

After climbing up the ranks to become one of the nation's top assistant coaches, Wilson finally landed a head-coaching position Tuesday at Indiana. He received a seven-year, $8.4 million contract to make Indiana relevant in an improving Big Ten Conference, and the work begins right away.

I caught up with Wilson on Wednesday.

Here's the first half of my interview with the new head Hoosier.

Why Indiana?

Kevin Wilson: Well, I get an opportunity to be a head coach. I've had some opportunities before, but when you're an assistant coach, how many times do you get an opportunity to be a head coach in the Big Ten? Great league to be a part of, a place I think has got a lot of untapped potential, has a lot of upside. A place where we can build on what's going on and maybe have a huge positive effect on our state, on our community, on our school.

I had 12 years at Northwestern, Miami of Ohio, my wife's from Cincinnati. I'm a Carolina guy, Miami of Ohio guy, Oklahoma guy. For 25 years, I've been in a college-town environment. I'm coming to one of the premier college towns in the country, Big Ten football, a chance to build a program, a chance to do something special.

I know you had other options in the past. Was coming back to the Big Ten something that was always on your radar?

KW: I don't know if anything was technically on the radar. When you're an assistant, it's very difficult to get those head-coaching opportunities, so I didn't really have anything on or off the radar. I really felt working for coach [Bob] Stoops, working at Oklahoma, it's a great place to be, great people to be with. It's a great program, it's difficult to leave. And in some ways, as a coordinator, especially economically the way they're doing things at upper-level programs now, those jobs maybe are even better than certain schools where you could have been the head coach. So there really weren't a lot of options that were better than the job that I had.

Again, a chance to have a Big Ten opportunity, a chance to be a coach at the state institution. When you go around the country and when you say, 'The University of,' there's not a lot of those. So it's a very unique opportunity. I'm very fortunate that Mr. [Fred] Glass and president [Michael] McRobbie have given me this opportunity, and I'm also very appreciative they've given us seven years in a contract so we've got a chance to have some continuity and build something strong and start putting together our process of how to win on a daily basis and build this into a strong program.

What's the most challenging part of this job?

KW: The initial challenge is to make sure that we have the right mind-set, enthusiasm and energy within our building. We can't control on the outside what other people may think or believe are our inherent problems. Our problems are we have a great opportunity to play Big Ten football, which is some of the best in the country, and we have a chance to compete with what looks to be a lot of good players returning. There was a lot of contact with good recruits, and it looks like we can put together a strong class.

But for this to work, the first thing that needs to happen is our mind-set, our energy, our enthusiasm that's generated from me, our staff, our building, through our players. With that energy and that strength of purpose, we can then maybe start generating a change of thought with other people's perceptions. Perception vs. reality: how are we perceived vs. the reality of what we are and how we can be.

You're not the first coach with an offensive background to come to Indiana. Why do you think you'll be different from the guys who didn't have the success Indiana wanted?

KW: I think my background with coach [Randy] Walker and Bob Stoops, those are the premier guys. Twelve years working under Randy, nine years with coach Stoops, and every other coach I've been a part of as a player, my high school background, college background, I've been fortunate to always be in great programs with great coaches. Guys that were winners.

What Randy was able to do at Northwestern was build some consistency. Coach [Pat] Fitzgerald's been able to keep that thing going. I don't know, going a long time back, where Iowa and Wisconsin were, but there were coaches that came through that changed internally the culture of the players, the culture of the staff, started building some consistency. And with that change in their school and the state, they became strong Big Ten football powers and teams. We're looking forward to doing that here.

I think we've got the resources, the league, the region. We'll put together a strong staff, we're going to take some time to do that. But I don't think there's any doubt that there's untapped potential here for this to be a great, strong program. What's happened in the past, I don't know because I wasn't a part of it and I was focused on where I was. We're concentrating on where we are today and moving forward and building this thing in a strong fashion.

Kevin Wilson is a great offensive mind.

I first saw this in 2000 as a student reporter at Northwestern, where Wilson transformed the Wildcats' attack, trading in a going-nowhere, traditional scheme for the spread system. Under Wilson's leadership, Northwestern ranked third nationally in total offense, eighth in rushing and ninth in scoring en route to a co-Big Ten championship in 2000.

Wilson moved on to Oklahoma, where he has coordinated offenses that ranked in the top 25 nationally in six out of the last eight seasons. Wilson's offense in 2008 led the nation in scoring (51.1 ppg) and ranked third in passing and 20th in rushing. He can run the spread with the best of them and twice was a finalist for the Frank Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant, winning it in 2008.

It's clear that Wilson is ready to be a head coach, and Indiana has provided him with the opportunity. I think he's a good hire, and I have no doubt Wilson will help the Hoosiers score a lot of points in the coming years.

Here's my concern: Can Wilson fix Indiana's chronic problems on defense?

If he can't, he'll meet the same fate as Bill Lynch, Gerry DiNardo and Cam Cameron, offensive-minded coaches who were fired because they couldn't make Indiana's defense respectable. Cameron had star quarterback Antwaan Randle El for four years and still couldn't make a bowl.

Indiana fans are tired of seeing these numbers, but they bear repeating. There isn't a unit in the Big Ten that has struggled as much for as long as Indiana's defense.

Here's where Indiana's defense has ranked nationally in the 11 years:

2010: 89th (410.2 ypg)
2009: 88th (401 ypg)
2008: 107th (432.2 ypg)
2007: 71st (403.4 ypg)
2006: 109th (402.3 ypg)
2005: 93rd (417.7 ypg)
2004: 110th (453.2 ypg)
2003: 94th (429.7 ypg)
2002: 101st (428.4 ypg)
2001: 72nd (393.8 ypg)
2000: 112th (457.3 ypg)

Again, I'm not hating on the Wilson hire at all. I've known Wilson for a long time. He's a straight shooter who Indiana fans will really like, if they don't already after the coach's strong performance at Tuesday's introductory news conference.

He has a very strong résumé and Indiana landed him for a fair price ($1.2 million a year).

Wilson also will have time to fix the program, receiving a seven-year contract.

"Indiana needs to give continuity a try in its football program," athletic director Fred Glass said.

But for Wilson to last in Bloomington, he has to get the defense on track. The good news is Wilson knows firsthand that you can't win in a major conference without a defensive focus.

"I'm an offensive guy, but nine years going against coach [Bob] Stoops every day [in practice], you learn how to play great defense," Wilson said. "We're going to play some great defense here."

Wilson isn't sure if he'll continue to call the offensive plays from the field or hire a playcaller to IU. It's an important decision, and I think Wilson would be better served to be a CEO-type and leave the play calling to someone he can trust.

The bigger hire, and arguably the biggest hire he'll make at Indiana, is defensive coordinator. Indiana lacks the talent on defense to consistently stop Big Ten offenses, and it really needs someone who can provide a schematic advantage.

"I'm going to take some time because I do have time and I need to get it right," Wilson said. "I need to get the right guy. It's a huge hire.

"We're going to get someone good."

Indiana got someone good in Wilson.

While he lacks head-coaching experience, he's no stranger to the big stage after nine years at Oklahoma and has several indirect ties to the Indiana program and to the region. He'll bring energy to a program that has been unable to get over the hump in Big Ten play.

If this offensive guy can fix Indiana's defense, the Hoosiers will finally get over that hump.

I've got a great weekend coming up. Hope you do, too.

James from Chicago writes: If Ohio St, Penn St, (or dare I say Michigan) were to go undefeated in regular season, they would be ranked higher than undefeated Boise St without any doubt. However, if one of the middle tier Big Ten teams (Northwestern, MSU, etc) were to pull off an unthinkable and go undefeated, then will they be ranked higher than undefeated Boise St and/or one-loss SEC winner?

Adam Rittenberg: Great question, James. Preseason rankings really matter. I wish they didn't, but they shape the national title race way more than they should. It would be a lot tougher for a Big Ten team unranked in the preseason to leapfrog a Boise State or a one-loss SEC team even after running the table. You might need a team like Minnesota or Michigan that at least faces some decent nonconference opponents -- USC, Connecticut, Notre Dame -- in order to make such a big surge. Then again, shouldn't Boise State deserve a top ranking by handling all the preseason hype, beating a very good Virginia Tech team in the opener and then running the table, as many people expect? It makes for a good debate.

---

Anthony from Chicago writes: Adam, I disagree with your key stretch in Illinois scheduel. To me, it's the first three games of the season at Missouri, Southern Illinois, and Northern Illinois. Let's say they go 1-2 in those games, then lose at home to OSU and at PSU. Illinois will be 1-4. Zook has had problems dealing with negative attitudes resulting from losing. Illinois will be in for a long season and could end up 3-9 again. If Illinois can come out of the first 3 games 3-0 and then lose to OSU and PSU, they'll be 3-2 with 6 games left vs teams in the bottom 7 of the Big Ten from the previous year. They would have a real shot at a 7 or 8 win season. I think starting the season strong is key for the Illini

Adam Rittenberg: Anthony, you make some great points and I seriously considered going with the first three games as Illinois' key stretch. You're right that starting strong is huge for such a young team. But ultimately, Illinois needs to win Big Ten games, regardless of what happens in the first three contests. What if Illinois starts 3-0 but can't win a Big Ten game and tumbles through my key stretch? The team likely doesn't recover to reach bowl eligibility. Conversely, even if Illinois starts 1-5, a sweep of my key stretch puts the team back in bowl contention with some renewed confidence and a realistic shot of getting there. The ultimate answer is that both stretches will be huge for Ron Zook and the Illini. But I definitely see your point, especially after Illinois never truly recovered from the Missouri opener in 2009.

---

Dono C. from Tulsa writes: Adam, are you as crazy as your picture looks? Do you think Mr. Stoops cares about an athletic budget? Or do you think that OU's athletic budget is lacking? And who are you to suggest that OU was led around by Texas - and not think that OSU wouldn't do the same to stay with their natural rival Michigan? I am sure you were in all of the Big 12 meetings when this was going on. I am sure you have first-hand knowledge, do you not? It's amazing - someone makes a comparison to OSU that you don't like and you rip them like you've just been insulted. You really did show your panties yesterday. Great job.

Adam Rittenberg: Definitely as crazy as my picture, Dono. And why the fascination with my underwear? Is there something you want to share with us? Here's the deal. Oklahoma is a great job, and so is Ohio State. Bob Stoops is well paid and has the resources to succeed at OU, where he has done great things. But when you're talking about the true bigfoot programs in college football, both from a tradition standpoint and a financial standpoint, Ohio State is in a class right at the top with Texas and Florida. Oklahoma is just below the top group. Now would Ohio State attach itself to Michigan like Oklahoma did with Texas? I'm sure the Buckeyes wouldn't want to see anything happen to the Michigan rivalry, but Ohio State wouldn't let Michigan call the shots and totally defer to Ann Arbor. Oklahoma once functioned in a league independent of Texas -- remember when the OU-Nebraska rivalry mattered? -- but it certainly seemed like Texas held all the power during the recent Big 12/Pac-10 situation.

---

Erik from State College, Pa., writes: Adam, love the blog and am generally quick to agree with most you say here, however I can't let your "trap game" prediction about PSU go. I think Al Golden has done a great job at Temple and I was rooting for him in the Eagle Bank Bowl, however Temple hasn't beaten PSU since 1941 and I don't see things changing in the near future. Temple had a great season last year however Penn State still handled them easily. Temple also lost to I-AA Villanova (sure they won the I-AA championship but still...). I think your afterthought about PSU vs. NU being a trap game has a lot of merit and should have taken one of the top 5 spots on the list. Around that time we'll be celebrating Joe Pa's 400th win and the NU game is sandwiched between an "under the lights" game with Michigan (a white out I'm sure) and an away game @ Ohio State, creating a good trap scenario.

Adam Rittenberg: Some good points here, Erik. I would point out that Temple turned out to be a lot better team than the one Penn State faced in Week 2. The long winning streak against Temple is a reason why this could be a trap game. Did you think Notre Dame players ever thought they'd lose to Navy? Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying Penn State will struggle as much as Notre Dame did in 2007. But this Temple program is no longer a joke, and while a win against Penn State would qualify as a pretty huge upset, Penn State can't overlook the Owls. The Northwestern game might be more of a trap, though, for the reasons you mention.

---

Michael from Lake Mary, Fla., writes: I'm curious if you think that the recent departures of Lloyd Carr and Brad Labadie from the Michigan Athletic department may be a result of new AD Dave Brandon's attempt to bring some unity to the department?

Adam Rittenberg: There are a lot of theories out there, but in regards to Carr, I don't think Brandon had much to do with his decision. Carr earned enough currency at Michigan to make his own decisions. Labadie's situation was a little different. Labadie and assistant athletic director for football Scott Draper took the most heat in Michigan's response to the NCAA's allegations. Although Brandon said Labadie's decision wasn't prompted by him being named in the NCAA investigation, Labadie had to see the writing on the wall. It was in his best interest to look elsewhere, and I doubt Brandon or the other Michigan brass would stand in his way. This outcome was probably best for all parties involved.

Last week's NFL draft rekindled a hot topic on this blog -- the 2009 Big Ten Coach of the Year race between Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Ohio State's Jim Tressel.

As we all know, Ferentz won the award, his third after claiming the honor in both 2002 and 2004. Tressel amazingly has never won the award despite leading Ohio State to six Big Ten titles, a national title, seven BCS bowl appearances and a 59-13 mark in conference games since he took over as head coach in 2001.

Let the record show that I endorsed Ferentz for the 2009 award, though I wouldn't have made a fuss if it had gone to Tressel. I cited Iowa's ability to overcome a brutal road schedule and several key injuries as primary reasons why the award should go to Ferentz. Plus, Ferentz and his assistants regularly take average recruits and turn them into All-Big Ten performers.

"Ferentz had so many things working against him this season, namely a brutal road schedule and several unfortunate injuries. ... Ferentz readily admits Iowa isn't the most talented or deepest team in the Big Ten, but he and his assistants got the most out of the Hawkeyes this fall. ... Tressel deserves to win this award one of these seasons, and he did a great job turning things around after Purdue and worked his November magic yet again. I'd be happy for Tressel if he got the nod tonight, but the honor should go to Ferentz."

So how does the NFL draft change this, if at all?

Well, Iowa had six players drafted, including a first-round pick in left tackle Bryan Bulaga, a second-round pick in linebacker Pat Angerer, two third-round picks in cornerback Amari Spievey and tight end Tony Moeaki, and a fourth-round pick in linebacker A.J. Edds.

Ohio State, meanwhile, had its weakest draft in recent memory. The Buckeyes had no players drafted in the first three rounds and only one, outside linebacker Thaddeus Gibson, drafted before the seventh round.

The draft also mirrored the 2009 All-Big Ten selections, which included only two first-team selections from Ohio State (safety Kurt Coleman and guard Justin Boren) and five first-team selections from Iowa (Bulaga, Spievey, Angerer, defensive end Adrian Clayborn and safety Tyler Sash).

Despite having a weak senior class, at least according to NFL potential, and one of his least decorated teams at Ohio State, Tressel won another Big Ten title, not to mention a Rose Bowl championship.

Did he deserve the Coach of the Year Award over Ferentz?

I've heard plenty from both fan bases on this topic, and I'll attempt to summarize the viewpoints.

Ohio State fan argument: It's ridiculous Tressel has never won the award despite dominating the Big Ten since his arrival. Why should he get penalized for Ohio State recruiting well and being the preseason favorite all the time? Look at the 2009 season. Iowa had more than twice as many first-team All-Big Ten selections, and a much stronger NFL draft class. And Ohio State still beat the Hawkeyes head-to-head to win the Big Ten championship and then the Rose Bowl. This was one of Tressel's best coaching jobs, and if he can't win the award in a year like this one, he'll never get it. O-H!

Iowa fan argument: It's ridiculous that Tressel has never won Big Ten Coach of the Year, but Ferentz deserved the award in 2009, just like he did in 2002 and 2004. Look at where Iowa's recruiting classes rank next to Ohio State's year after year. Ferentz consistently does more with less talent, while Tressel wins the league because he has the most gifted recruits. It goes back to recruiting and player development, and a coach should be judged by what he does with players after they come under his watch.

Both sides bring up great points, and both coaches certainly did enough to deserve the award last fall.

I took a look at who was winning Coach of the Year in other conferences. Specifically, I wanted to see how often the award went to the coach from the dominant team, or the team that recruited the best.

• Pete Carroll won Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors three times during his dominant USC tenure. He claimed the award outright in 2006 and shared it with Washington State's Bill Doba in 2003 and UCLA's Karl Dorrell in 2005.
• Oklahoma's Bob Stoops has won Big 12 Coach of the Year four times, while Texas' Mack Brown won his second award last season. The Sooners and Longhorns have dominated the league in the last decade.
• Florida's Urban Meyer has never won SEC Coach of the Year, making him the closest parallel to Tressel. Nick Saban has won or shared the award three times, once with LSU and twice with Alabama.
• Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer won back-to-back ACC Coach of the Year awards in 2004 and 2005. Beamer and the Hokies have been the league's dominant team since moving over from the Big East.

This shows that dominant head coaches can win Coach of the Year awards in their leagues, although Tressel and Meyer both have been passed over.

Pretty much everyone agrees that Tressel deserves this award, but unless Ohio State takes a nosedive on the field or in recruiting, his drought likely will continue.

What are we supposed to call the new decade? The twenty-teens? Anyway, the Big Ten will be playing football in the next 10 years -- unless I didn't get the memo -- and we can expect some changes and new developments in the league.

Here are 10 things to look out for in the Big Ten during the upcoming decade, in no particular order.

1. The Big Ten will expand: There's a good chance the league's most recent expansion push, announced in December, will result in a new member or members. And even if it doesn't, expect some type of expansion to take place before 2020. A Big Ten championship game in football will be a huge success for the league.

2. A new coach at Penn State: No one thought Joe Paterno would still be coaching at age 83, and who's to say he won't be roaming the sidelines at Beaver Stadium in 2020. But the odds are the Lead Lion will step down at some point this decade, taking the all-time coaching victories record with him. Needless to say, it'll be an extremely tough act to follow.

3. A new Big Ten commissioner: Jim Delany's current contract runs through June 2013, and it's likely he'll step down at that point. Last summer, Delany told me, "I'll be here for the next five years or so. That's my horizon." Expect the Big Ten to be looking for a new lead administrator for the first time since 1989.

4. Two national titles: It hasn't happened since the 1970s, but the SEC's reign has to end sometime, and the Big Ten remains in a strong position to reach the national title game on a consistent basis. Jim Tressel wins another title before retirement, and another Big Ten team, possibly Michigan, sits atop the college football world.

5. An intraleague head-coaching change: It happens in other leagues (SEC, ACC, Pac-10) and has taken place before in the Big Ten, though not for a while. This will be the decade we'll see a Big Ten head coach jump to another post within the league. Regional recruiting knowledge is so vital in this day and age, and schools will look within the league to fill vacancies.

6. Jim Tressel will be named Big Ten Coach of the Year: The Vest has done everything else at Ohio State but win a Big Ten Coach of the Year award. He'll get one this decade before leaving his post sometime before 2020. It might take a mini drop-off for the Buckeyes followed by a surprise title run, but Tressel will finally be recognized.

7. Michigan State will improve: Despite a rough year on and off the field in 2009, Michigan State is still positioned well to boost its standing in the Big Ten. Improved local recruiting and an excellent new facility will help the Spartans finally reach their potential and compete for a few Big Ten titles.

8. Iowa will win a Rose Bowl: It hasn't happened since 1959, but the Hawkeyes will go to Pasadena and win a game before 2020. Hanging onto head coach Kirk Ferentz will continue to be a challenge, but before he leaves for the NFL, Iowa will win a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl championship.

9. Bob Stoops will return to the Big Ten: Stoops has a few more years left at Oklahoma, but he'll eventually return to his native Midwest. If Tressel retires at Ohio State, Stoops will be one of the leading candidates there, and he also might go back to his alma mater, Iowa, should Ferentz bolt to the NFL.

10. The Big Ten will play a Thursday conference game: The Big Ten has resisted weekday games more than any other leagues, but things will change in the 2010s. The potential for national exposure will be too great to pass up, and the Big Ten will schedule a league game or two on Thursdays.