Big Ten: Devin Gardner
Spring (practice) has sprung in the Big Ten. So let's look back and review the highlights:
Best debut by a player: Ohio State true freshman Michael Thomas introduced himself to Buckeyes fans with 12 catches for 131 yards in the spring game. No Buckeyes player had more than 14 catches all season in 2011. Don't expect Thomas to replicate that performance every week in the fall, and Ohio State was throwing the ball all over the place in its spring game. Still, for an offense that was desperately seeking playmakers to surround Braxton Miller, Thomas's performance was very encouraging.
Best debut by a coach: (Tie) Urban Meyer and Bill O'Brien. The new coaches at Ohio State and Penn State didn't take long to endear themselves to their constituents. Already wildly popular among Buckeyes fans, Meyer brought the team and the student body a little closer by inviting students to watch a practice, even allowing them on the field during a kicking drill. O'Brien made Penn State's practices more open to public scrutiny, and then went around the state and area to meet and greet fans on a caravan tour. No wonder that the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions ranked first and third nationally in spring game attendance.
Best debut by a mascot: Mark Dantonio livened up Michigan State's spring game by putting Sparty -- the school mascot -- in for a running play. Sparty hardly looked like a warrior, getting stuffed immediately on the play and then fumbling, but Dantonio bailed him out by ruling that the defense was offside. There was no more entertaining sequence in any spring game in the country than that one.
Best fill-in for a Heisman finalist: Wisconsin, like a lot of teams, saw no reason to put its star players at risk in the spring game. So 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball watched from the sidelines as redshirt freshman Melvin Gordon ran 30 times for 159 yards and a touchdown. Gordon is stuck behind Ball and James White, but head coach Bret Bielema told ESPN.com that Gordon "might have the most talent of any kid ever I've signed at that position."
Best overhyped position move: A massive fan base and closed spring practices combined to have Michigan fans rampantly speculating about backup quarterback Devin Gardner moving to receiver. A Facebook update supposedly confirmed the move -- until it was later revealed as a fake. Bottom line: Gardner spent some time working at wideout, but is a long way from being an impact player there. And he's still the backup quarterback.
Best spring break: It's hard to question Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez's desire to get better. When the Huskers let their players loose for spring break in the middle of their practice session, Martinez eschewed the beach or the ski slopes. Instead, he went to California to work on his footwork with quarterback instructor Steve Calhoun. The word around Lincoln this spring was that Martinez's fundamentals and passing were much improved. If that's the case this fall, Nebraska's offense should be awfully dangerous.
Best big score: Thanks to a modified scoring system, Northwestern defensive tackle Chance Carter earned 17 points for his team when he returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown. "It should be a pick-17 every time -- especially for a defensive tackle," Carter later joked. The play by the defense and the front four in particular (four sacks, plus that pick) provided some optimism for a team that struggled to stop anybody last season.
Best Food Network Challenge: New Illinois coach Tim Beckman knows the way to his players' hearts is through their stomachs. Illini team members who missed team meetings were forced to eat porridge for breakfast this offseason, while those who met their requirements received steak and eggs. The same was true at the spring game, with the losing Orange squad getting a postgame meal of beans and weenies instead of the steaks for the victorious Blue squad. We'll see if this motivational technique makes Illinois hungry enough to contend for a Big Ten title this fall.
Best hair: Spring is a time for experimenting, and that includes hairdos. Purdue defensive end Ryan Russell dyed his hair bright red and cut it into a mohawk. He also tested out some other colors during the Boilermakers' spring practice. "It's just a spring thing," he said. "I might change it up and do something different for the season."
Best quote: Dantonio didn't mince words when ESPN.com asked him about the challenges Michigan might present in the future with the Wolverines' strong recruiting efforts. "We're laying in the weeds," he said. "We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?" Michigan State fans loved the quote, while Michigan fans despised it. But the Spartans have earned bragging rights. They'll try to keep them when they visit the Big House on Oct. 20
Best debut by a player: Ohio State true freshman Michael Thomas introduced himself to Buckeyes fans with 12 catches for 131 yards in the spring game. No Buckeyes player had more than 14 catches all season in 2011. Don't expect Thomas to replicate that performance every week in the fall, and Ohio State was throwing the ball all over the place in its spring game. Still, for an offense that was desperately seeking playmakers to surround Braxton Miller, Thomas's performance was very encouraging.
Best debut by a coach: (Tie) Urban Meyer and Bill O'Brien. The new coaches at Ohio State and Penn State didn't take long to endear themselves to their constituents. Already wildly popular among Buckeyes fans, Meyer brought the team and the student body a little closer by inviting students to watch a practice, even allowing them on the field during a kicking drill. O'Brien made Penn State's practices more open to public scrutiny, and then went around the state and area to meet and greet fans on a caravan tour. No wonder that the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions ranked first and third nationally in spring game attendance.
Best debut by a mascot: Mark Dantonio livened up Michigan State's spring game by putting Sparty -- the school mascot -- in for a running play. Sparty hardly looked like a warrior, getting stuffed immediately on the play and then fumbling, but Dantonio bailed him out by ruling that the defense was offside. There was no more entertaining sequence in any spring game in the country than that one.
Best fill-in for a Heisman finalist: Wisconsin, like a lot of teams, saw no reason to put its star players at risk in the spring game. So 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball watched from the sidelines as redshirt freshman Melvin Gordon ran 30 times for 159 yards and a touchdown. Gordon is stuck behind Ball and James White, but head coach Bret Bielema told ESPN.com that Gordon "might have the most talent of any kid ever I've signed at that position."
Best overhyped position move: A massive fan base and closed spring practices combined to have Michigan fans rampantly speculating about backup quarterback Devin Gardner moving to receiver. A Facebook update supposedly confirmed the move -- until it was later revealed as a fake. Bottom line: Gardner spent some time working at wideout, but is a long way from being an impact player there. And he's still the backup quarterback.
Best spring break: It's hard to question Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez's desire to get better. When the Huskers let their players loose for spring break in the middle of their practice session, Martinez eschewed the beach or the ski slopes. Instead, he went to California to work on his footwork with quarterback instructor Steve Calhoun. The word around Lincoln this spring was that Martinez's fundamentals and passing were much improved. If that's the case this fall, Nebraska's offense should be awfully dangerous.
Best big score: Thanks to a modified scoring system, Northwestern defensive tackle Chance Carter earned 17 points for his team when he returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown. "It should be a pick-17 every time -- especially for a defensive tackle," Carter later joked. The play by the defense and the front four in particular (four sacks, plus that pick) provided some optimism for a team that struggled to stop anybody last season.
Best Food Network Challenge: New Illinois coach Tim Beckman knows the way to his players' hearts is through their stomachs. Illini team members who missed team meetings were forced to eat porridge for breakfast this offseason, while those who met their requirements received steak and eggs. The same was true at the spring game, with the losing Orange squad getting a postgame meal of beans and weenies instead of the steaks for the victorious Blue squad. We'll see if this motivational technique makes Illinois hungry enough to contend for a Big Ten title this fall.
Best hair: Spring is a time for experimenting, and that includes hairdos. Purdue defensive end Ryan Russell dyed his hair bright red and cut it into a mohawk. He also tested out some other colors during the Boilermakers' spring practice. "It's just a spring thing," he said. "I might change it up and do something different for the season."
Best quote: Dantonio didn't mince words when ESPN.com asked him about the challenges Michigan might present in the future with the Wolverines' strong recruiting efforts. "We're laying in the weeds," he said. "We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?" Michigan State fans loved the quote, while Michigan fans despised it. But the Spartans have earned bragging rights. They'll try to keep them when they visit the Big House on Oct. 20
Time to jump back into our series looking at the most indispensable players on each Big Ten team. Once again, this is not necessarily a listing of the best players on each team, but ones whose absence would be toughest to absorb because of their particular value or a lack of depth behind them.
We're selecting two players from each Big Ten squad, usually one on offense and one on defense, but not always. Today we turn our attention to the Michigan Wolverines:
OT Taylor Lewan, Jr.
That's right -- gasp, we're not picking Denard Robinson here. While it's true that Robinson is a special talent, one who can win games that seem lost, we think Michigan's offense could still operate at a decently high level without him, whether that means plugging in Devin Gardner or going with backup Russell Bellomy. Yes, maybe both lack the je nais se quoi of Shoelace, but the Wolverines would still have Fitz Toussaint to carry the ball. Replacing left tackle Lewan, however, is another story entirely. Not only is he potentially one of the best offensive linemen in the country, but Michigan doesn't have much depth on the offensive line. Losing their blind-side protector would not only hurt at that spot but also cause some discomfort from shifting others into unfamiliar positions. That's why we judge him the most indispensable player on Al Borges' offense this season.
Jordan Kovacs, S, Sr.
Here's another instance where maybe some other players on his side of the ball are bigger stars -- guys like Craig Roh, for instance, or possibly Blake Countess and J.T. Floyd in the same secondary. But Kovacs is the quarterback of the defense and a guy who has a knack for making big plays last year. He's the team's second-leading returning tackler, with 75 stops last season. And maybe most importantly, he brings senior leadership to a group looking to replace some very valuable leaders off last year's team. Add it all up, and that makes Kovacs indispensable.
We're selecting two players from each Big Ten squad, usually one on offense and one on defense, but not always. Today we turn our attention to the Michigan Wolverines:
OT Taylor Lewan, Jr.
That's right -- gasp, we're not picking Denard Robinson here. While it's true that Robinson is a special talent, one who can win games that seem lost, we think Michigan's offense could still operate at a decently high level without him, whether that means plugging in Devin Gardner or going with backup Russell Bellomy. Yes, maybe both lack the je nais se quoi of Shoelace, but the Wolverines would still have Fitz Toussaint to carry the ball. Replacing left tackle Lewan, however, is another story entirely. Not only is he potentially one of the best offensive linemen in the country, but Michigan doesn't have much depth on the offensive line. Losing their blind-side protector would not only hurt at that spot but also cause some discomfort from shifting others into unfamiliar positions. That's why we judge him the most indispensable player on Al Borges' offense this season.
Jordan Kovacs, S, Sr.
Here's another instance where maybe some other players on his side of the ball are bigger stars -- guys like Craig Roh, for instance, or possibly Blake Countess and J.T. Floyd in the same secondary. But Kovacs is the quarterback of the defense and a guy who has a knack for making big plays last year. He's the team's second-leading returning tackler, with 75 stops last season. And maybe most importantly, he brings senior leadership to a group looking to replace some very valuable leaders off last year's team. Add it all up, and that makes Kovacs indispensable.
Michael Rothstein writes 
: About the Michigan Wolverines' offensive depth chart after the spring.
Chantel Jennings writes: Michigan's offensive line haul in this cycle borders on ridiculous already, as all five OL commits are in the initial ESPN 150.
Jennings writes: Detroit offensive lineman David Dawson initially flew under the radar after moving from Texas, but at No. 92 in the ESPN 150, he can't do that anymore.
Rothstein writes: Answering reader questions on Mike Martin's bear-fighting ability, Devin Gardner and preseason all-Big Ten basketball picks.
: About the Michigan Wolverines' offensive depth chart after the spring.
Chantel Jennings writes
: Michigan's offensive line haul in this cycle borders on ridiculous already, as all five OL commits are in the initial ESPN 150.
Jennings writes
: Detroit offensive lineman David Dawson initially flew under the radar after moving from Texas, but at No. 92 in the ESPN 150, he can't do that anymore.
Rothstein writes
: Answering reader questions on Mike Martin's bear-fighting ability, Devin Gardner and preseason all-Big Ten basketball picks.
We're recapping all of the Big Ten spring games from over the weekend. Let's check in on how the Michigan Wolverines fared.
You can read coverage of Michigan's spring game here, here, here and here.
Star of the game: Linebacker Brandin Hawthorne, who had five tackles and an interception.
How it went down: This wasn't a full fledged spring game because of depth issues, and instead Michigan held a 60-play controlled scrimmage. The offense technically won 17-0, but the defense still claimed victory.
The first- and second-team offenses scored a total of only two touchdowns, both on runs by backup tailback Thomas Rawls. In addition to Hawthorne's interception, Blake Countess picked off backup quarterback Devin Gardner.
Of course, all defensive praise must be tempered with the realization that quarterback Denard Robinson played only the first series Saturday, as the staff wanted to get a look at his backups. There wasn't much need to see Robinson in a spring game setting, but we all know he can put a ton of pressure on a defense all by himself.
Third-string quarterback Russell Bellomy was 6-for-9 for 40 yards. Fitz Toussaint had 39 yards on five carries, while Rawls added 42 yards on 10 attempts. Defensive tackle Jibreel Black had the game's lone sack.
Hard to read much into this very basic scrimmage, but it was nice to see the defense have a good day considering some of the issues the team has up front in replacing three starters.
"In the body of work, there were some awfully good things in the course of the spring," head coach Brady Hoke told reporters. "We're tougher as a team than we were a year ago."
You can read coverage of Michigan's spring game here, here, here and here.
Star of the game: Linebacker Brandin Hawthorne, who had five tackles and an interception.
How it went down: This wasn't a full fledged spring game because of depth issues, and instead Michigan held a 60-play controlled scrimmage. The offense technically won 17-0, but the defense still claimed victory.
The first- and second-team offenses scored a total of only two touchdowns, both on runs by backup tailback Thomas Rawls. In addition to Hawthorne's interception, Blake Countess picked off backup quarterback Devin Gardner.
Of course, all defensive praise must be tempered with the realization that quarterback Denard Robinson played only the first series Saturday, as the staff wanted to get a look at his backups. There wasn't much need to see Robinson in a spring game setting, but we all know he can put a ton of pressure on a defense all by himself.
Third-string quarterback Russell Bellomy was 6-for-9 for 40 yards. Fitz Toussaint had 39 yards on five carries, while Rawls added 42 yards on 10 attempts. Defensive tackle Jibreel Black had the game's lone sack.
Hard to read much into this very basic scrimmage, but it was nice to see the defense have a good day considering some of the issues the team has up front in replacing three starters.
"In the body of work, there were some awfully good things in the course of the spring," head coach Brady Hoke told reporters. "We're tougher as a team than we were a year ago."
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Greetings from Maize and Blue country.
I'm on the ground here in Ann Arbor, catching up with Michigan as the Wolverines wind down spring practice in Year Two of the Brady Hoke era. I'll be talking to several players and coaches in the next couple of days and will have frequent updates and videos on the blog.
A few questions loom large over this team this spring. How will Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison rebuild the defensive front after losing three starters, including tackle Mike Martin? How will the offensive line take shape without Rimington Trophy winner David Molk at center? Does the offense have enough depth and playmakers at receiver? And will anyone spill the beans on what's going with the Devin Gardner receiver experiment this spring?
Hopefully I'll get some solid answers to these questions and more. Stay tuned.
I'm on the ground here in Ann Arbor, catching up with Michigan as the Wolverines wind down spring practice in Year Two of the Brady Hoke era. I'll be talking to several players and coaches in the next couple of days and will have frequent updates and videos on the blog.
A few questions loom large over this team this spring. How will Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison rebuild the defensive front after losing three starters, including tackle Mike Martin? How will the offensive line take shape without Rimington Trophy winner David Molk at center? Does the offense have enough depth and playmakers at receiver? And will anyone spill the beans on what's going with the Devin Gardner receiver experiment this spring?
Hopefully I'll get some solid answers to these questions and more. Stay tuned.
You're still here! You didn't go to the store for milk and heroin and then never come back.
- Thanks to Bobby Petrino's troubles, former Ohio State assistant Taver Johnson is now serving as Arkansas' head coach.
- Penn State's Silas Redd has looked impressive at spring practice. Lions center Matt Stankiewitch discusses the new strength program and other topics in this Q&A.
- Michigan is experimenting with Devin Gardner at receiver, but Gardner remains primarily the team's backup quarterback. Former Michigan star LaMarr Woodley thinks Denard Robinson will be a good NFL wide receiver.
- Minnesota's walking wounded are excited to get back on the field for spring ball. Gophers quarterback MarQueis Gray, part of the search committee for a new athletic director, wants the new AD to be accessible to athletes.
- Ohio State receiver Chris Fields denies rumors he quit the team. After being suspended for the Gator Bowl, Buckeyes receiver T.Y. Williams has looked good in spring practice.
- The NCAA should do the right thing and grant Michigan State's DeAnthony Arnett his waiver. Spartans running back Le'Veon Bell needed some extra motivation this spring.
- The middle Watt brother (Derek) is making his own impression at Wisconsin.
- Nebraska's Rex Burkhead is fine-tuning his game. Eric Martin could give the Huskers' defensive line a big boost.
- Northwestern's secondary goes by a new nickname: the Sky Team.
- Purdue quarterback Rob Henry stays busy off of the field.
- Indiana's strength coach has started the rebuilding process (subscription required).
- New Illinois coach Tim Beckman is on the lookout for playmakers. Illini quarterbacks Nathan Scheelhaase and Reilly O'Toole are splitting reps with the top offense.
- Iowa picks up its first recruit for the 2013 class. Despite recent attrition, Iowa's RBs aren't shying away from contact this spring.
Been a while. Great questions today. As always, thanks for the responses.
Ed from Minneapolis writes: What do you think of Jerry Kill's first full recruiting class? Most rate it at the bottom of the B1G, but if Kill is to follow the Alvarez model of building a program, isn't his unprecedented success with in-state recruiting noteworthy? If not, perhaps this question is wishful thinking
Adam Rittenberg: Ed, I definitely agree with you about the significance of Kill doing well within the state. It's vital Minnesota brings in the state's top recruits, even if they're not nationally elite prospects. Programs like Notre Dame and USC have raided Minnesota for national top prospects in recent years (Michael Floyd and Seantrel Henderson, to name two), and Minnesota needs to put itself in position to compete for the best players in every recruiting cycle. Although the overall class didn't receive high marks nationally, I know our recruiting guys liked some of the additions, such as wide receivers Andre McDonald and Jamel Harbison and quarterback Philip Nelson. McDonald and Nelson hail from the state.
Some guy from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: There have been rumors that Al Borges may be giving Deving Gardner some reps as a wide receiver. With our lack of depth at the position and DG's athleticism, would that be a good option?
Adam Rittenberg: I'm in favor of getting your best players on the field, and Gardner is a guy who can help Michigan even if he's not taking snaps. There's some risk involved as an injury would leave the Wolverines thin at quarterback and with a starter (Denard Robinson) who has been banged up for much of his career. A lot depends on how the other wide receivers develop this spring and in the start of fall camp. If Roy Roundtree recaptures his 2010 form, Jeremy Gallon builds off a solid 2011 season and some young players emerge, Michigan might not need to experiment with Gardner. But at this point, the receiver position looks thin.
Ryan from Chicago writes: If Danny O'Brien picks PSU and becomes the starter for the next 2 seasons, what is likely to happen (redshirt or transfer wise) with McGloin, Bolden, Jones, Bench and Hackenberg?
Adam Rittenberg: Good question, Ryan. I was thinking about the same thing earlier today, and also in relation to Wisconsin's quarterbacks, especially heralded incoming freshman Bart Houston. I don't think McGloin is going anywhere. He loves Penn State and would compete like heck with O'Brien. It would be a surprise to see Bolden and/or Jones transfer if O'Brien came in and won the starting job. Bench would almost certainly redshirt this season if O'Brien came in -- quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher loves Bench, by the way -- and Hackenburg doesn't arrive until next fall, so they wouldn't be overly impacted if O'Brien starts the next two seasons.
Matthew from Dallas writes: Guys,Being a Husker fan I could care less about Mich St, but after reading your blog about the best week 1 game this week, don't you think Mich St is in a no win situation by playing Boise St?I mean if Mich St wins, everyone will just say its not the same Boise St team as the past few years so it doesn't matter. If they lose then they will look bad for getting beat by a Boise St team that is having to rebuild. What do you think?
Adam Rittenberg: Interesting points, Matthew. Some folks will spin it that way if Michigan State wins, but I would hope that after seeing so many Boise State teams beat major-conference programs on the road, especially in the season opener, people would give Michigan State credit for beating the Broncos. Boise State went 50-3 during the Kellen Moore era, but the Broncos also won 10 games or more seven times between 1999-2007. Bottom line: Boise State doesn't lose many games. Any win against the Broncos should resonate nationally, especially for a Michigan State team that loses its own starting quarterback (Kirk Cousins) and several other key players.
Drew from Milwaukee writes: Hey Adam - Hope you enjoyed Istanbul. Absolutely one of my favorite cities in the world. You've said repeatedly that the key for the Big 10 to return to the elite in football is depth. The Big 10 is unquestionably the deepest conference in men's basketball this year. Wondering if there is anything Big 10 football programs can learn from the success of their basketball counterparts, especially in the areas of recruiting or coaching. Thanks!
Adam Rittenberg: Drew, it's a fabulous city, a unique mix of East and West. Also a fun sports town -- they love their hoops and futbol. As to your question, football depth and basketball depth are a little different because of the roster sizes. A recruiting class of three top-level prospects can get you over the hump in basketball, while football teams need more top-level prospects to compete at the national level.
One thing that sets Big Ten basketball apart from football is the number of programs that are either traditional powers, emerging powers and consistent winners. You have a traditional hoops power in Indiana that hasn't enjoyed much success in football. Illinois fits into this category as well, and in recent years, so does Purdue. You also have an Ohio State basketball program that has become nationally elite under Thad Matta. Tom Izzo has brought the type of consistent elite success to Michigan State basketball that we're only now seeing with the Spartans football program. You also have a consistent winner in Wisconsin under Bo Ryan. While the Badgers football program also has made strides in recent years, the hoops team has been a bit more consistent during the past decade. Big Ten football is no longer the Big Two and everyone else, but we haven't seen as many teams compete at the national level on the gridiron than on the hardcourt.
There are some factors that affect both football and basketball, such as Big Ten Network revenue and a school's investment in both programs (facilities, coaches' salaries, etc.). But I don't know if league-wide success in hoops can translate to football. Too many different variables.
Brandon P. from Lincoln, Neb., writes: I have always been more of a Cam Meredith fan over Crick and i was wondering if you think he will be more of a staple for the Blackshirts defense than Crick was supposed to be? If not him, then who?
Adam Rittenberg: They play different positions and Crick could have had a nice year in 2011 if not for the injury, but I think Meredith is a key player to watch this fall. From talking with him a few weeks ago, he's excited about new D-line coach Rick Kaczenski and new coordinator John Papuchis. He also realizes the need to be more of a leader for a unit that admittedly underperformed in 2011. He'll enter his third year as the starter and has some natural pass-rushing skills, as he showed in 2011 with five sacks and nine quarterback hurries. Nebraska didn't generate nearly enough pressure in 2011 -- the team ranked 84th nationally in sacks and 112th in tackles for loss -- so Meredith will need to trigger the rush this coming season.
Dave from Toledo, Ohio, writes: How hard will it be to implement a new offense at Ohio State? How well does the current personnel on the team fit? RichRod's new offense did terrible at michigan his first few years until he had the right players, though I feel like he didn't try to adapt his offense to the players he had, which I'm hoping Meyer and Herman don't make the same mistake. I'm most concerned about our offensive line adapting, as well as having some wide receivers emerge as play makers.Thanks
Adam Rittenberg: Dave, Rodriguez's offense had one bad year in 2008 and then got progressively better, setting some records in 2010. Offense wasn't the problem for Rodriguez at Michigan, and he did have some players recruited by the previous coaching staff who did well. One advantage Meyer has is he inherits a quarterback much more suited to his system (Braxton Miller) than the QBs Rodriguez inherited at Michigan (Steven Threet, Nick Sheridan). Miller likely will have an even higher ceiling under Meyer and Herman than he would have under the previous offensive staff, which drew a lot of criticism. How the offensive line develops will be an interesting subplot of the spring for sure, as Meyer has made some comments about the need for better conditioning, etc. Meyer also has been candid about the need for more difference-makers at wide receiver, a position that was a virtual nonfactor in 2011. I do think a more imaginative offensive game plan will help players blossom at several positions. It's not as if Ohio State lit it up on offense last year. While there could be some growing pains this fall, I think you'll like what you see from the Buckeyes offense.
Ahmet from Rochester, N.Y., writes: Adam, I saw you traveled to Turkey, that is very nice. I would like you to to write soemthing about Turkish soccer since you saw Turkish soccer match
Adam Rittenberg: It was pretty wild, Ahmet. I dragged my wife to the match, and let's just say she was one of the few females in the crowd. We had heard the fans of the home team, Kar_1yaka, were known for being pretty rowdy. There were a ton of police around the stadium, and we had to be patted down by security as we entered. There also were high fences surrounding the pitch so no one could enter from the stands. Everyone stood for the entire game, and there were some designated cheering sections surrounded by security. The chanting during the game was pretty cool even though I had no idea what they were saying. Fans were very demonstrative about bad calls, and some of them went a little too far, like the guy in our row who broke three stadium seats with his foot and almost got in a fight with a guy in the next section over. There were several near-fights among fans and the security didn't do much to step in. It was definitely an experience, and the match we went to was second division, not Süper Lig. I'd definitely go again, though.
Ed from Minneapolis writes: What do you think of Jerry Kill's first full recruiting class? Most rate it at the bottom of the B1G, but if Kill is to follow the Alvarez model of building a program, isn't his unprecedented success with in-state recruiting noteworthy? If not, perhaps this question is wishful thinking
Adam Rittenberg: Ed, I definitely agree with you about the significance of Kill doing well within the state. It's vital Minnesota brings in the state's top recruits, even if they're not nationally elite prospects. Programs like Notre Dame and USC have raided Minnesota for national top prospects in recent years (Michael Floyd and Seantrel Henderson, to name two), and Minnesota needs to put itself in position to compete for the best players in every recruiting cycle. Although the overall class didn't receive high marks nationally, I know our recruiting guys liked some of the additions, such as wide receivers Andre McDonald and Jamel Harbison and quarterback Philip Nelson. McDonald and Nelson hail from the state.
Some guy from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: There have been rumors that Al Borges may be giving Deving Gardner some reps as a wide receiver. With our lack of depth at the position and DG's athleticism, would that be a good option?
Adam Rittenberg: I'm in favor of getting your best players on the field, and Gardner is a guy who can help Michigan even if he's not taking snaps. There's some risk involved as an injury would leave the Wolverines thin at quarterback and with a starter (Denard Robinson) who has been banged up for much of his career. A lot depends on how the other wide receivers develop this spring and in the start of fall camp. If Roy Roundtree recaptures his 2010 form, Jeremy Gallon builds off a solid 2011 season and some young players emerge, Michigan might not need to experiment with Gardner. But at this point, the receiver position looks thin.
Ryan from Chicago writes: If Danny O'Brien picks PSU and becomes the starter for the next 2 seasons, what is likely to happen (redshirt or transfer wise) with McGloin, Bolden, Jones, Bench and Hackenberg?
Adam Rittenberg: Good question, Ryan. I was thinking about the same thing earlier today, and also in relation to Wisconsin's quarterbacks, especially heralded incoming freshman Bart Houston. I don't think McGloin is going anywhere. He loves Penn State and would compete like heck with O'Brien. It would be a surprise to see Bolden and/or Jones transfer if O'Brien came in and won the starting job. Bench would almost certainly redshirt this season if O'Brien came in -- quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher loves Bench, by the way -- and Hackenburg doesn't arrive until next fall, so they wouldn't be overly impacted if O'Brien starts the next two seasons.
Matthew from Dallas writes: Guys,Being a Husker fan I could care less about Mich St, but after reading your blog about the best week 1 game this week, don't you think Mich St is in a no win situation by playing Boise St?I mean if Mich St wins, everyone will just say its not the same Boise St team as the past few years so it doesn't matter. If they lose then they will look bad for getting beat by a Boise St team that is having to rebuild. What do you think?
Adam Rittenberg: Interesting points, Matthew. Some folks will spin it that way if Michigan State wins, but I would hope that after seeing so many Boise State teams beat major-conference programs on the road, especially in the season opener, people would give Michigan State credit for beating the Broncos. Boise State went 50-3 during the Kellen Moore era, but the Broncos also won 10 games or more seven times between 1999-2007. Bottom line: Boise State doesn't lose many games. Any win against the Broncos should resonate nationally, especially for a Michigan State team that loses its own starting quarterback (Kirk Cousins) and several other key players.
Drew from Milwaukee writes: Hey Adam - Hope you enjoyed Istanbul. Absolutely one of my favorite cities in the world. You've said repeatedly that the key for the Big 10 to return to the elite in football is depth. The Big 10 is unquestionably the deepest conference in men's basketball this year. Wondering if there is anything Big 10 football programs can learn from the success of their basketball counterparts, especially in the areas of recruiting or coaching. Thanks!
Adam Rittenberg: Drew, it's a fabulous city, a unique mix of East and West. Also a fun sports town -- they love their hoops and futbol. As to your question, football depth and basketball depth are a little different because of the roster sizes. A recruiting class of three top-level prospects can get you over the hump in basketball, while football teams need more top-level prospects to compete at the national level.
One thing that sets Big Ten basketball apart from football is the number of programs that are either traditional powers, emerging powers and consistent winners. You have a traditional hoops power in Indiana that hasn't enjoyed much success in football. Illinois fits into this category as well, and in recent years, so does Purdue. You also have an Ohio State basketball program that has become nationally elite under Thad Matta. Tom Izzo has brought the type of consistent elite success to Michigan State basketball that we're only now seeing with the Spartans football program. You also have a consistent winner in Wisconsin under Bo Ryan. While the Badgers football program also has made strides in recent years, the hoops team has been a bit more consistent during the past decade. Big Ten football is no longer the Big Two and everyone else, but we haven't seen as many teams compete at the national level on the gridiron than on the hardcourt.
There are some factors that affect both football and basketball, such as Big Ten Network revenue and a school's investment in both programs (facilities, coaches' salaries, etc.). But I don't know if league-wide success in hoops can translate to football. Too many different variables.
Brandon P. from Lincoln, Neb., writes: I have always been more of a Cam Meredith fan over Crick and i was wondering if you think he will be more of a staple for the Blackshirts defense than Crick was supposed to be? If not him, then who?
Adam Rittenberg: They play different positions and Crick could have had a nice year in 2011 if not for the injury, but I think Meredith is a key player to watch this fall. From talking with him a few weeks ago, he's excited about new D-line coach Rick Kaczenski and new coordinator John Papuchis. He also realizes the need to be more of a leader for a unit that admittedly underperformed in 2011. He'll enter his third year as the starter and has some natural pass-rushing skills, as he showed in 2011 with five sacks and nine quarterback hurries. Nebraska didn't generate nearly enough pressure in 2011 -- the team ranked 84th nationally in sacks and 112th in tackles for loss -- so Meredith will need to trigger the rush this coming season.
Dave from Toledo, Ohio, writes: How hard will it be to implement a new offense at Ohio State? How well does the current personnel on the team fit? RichRod's new offense did terrible at michigan his first few years until he had the right players, though I feel like he didn't try to adapt his offense to the players he had, which I'm hoping Meyer and Herman don't make the same mistake. I'm most concerned about our offensive line adapting, as well as having some wide receivers emerge as play makers.Thanks
Adam Rittenberg: Dave, Rodriguez's offense had one bad year in 2008 and then got progressively better, setting some records in 2010. Offense wasn't the problem for Rodriguez at Michigan, and he did have some players recruited by the previous coaching staff who did well. One advantage Meyer has is he inherits a quarterback much more suited to his system (Braxton Miller) than the QBs Rodriguez inherited at Michigan (Steven Threet, Nick Sheridan). Miller likely will have an even higher ceiling under Meyer and Herman than he would have under the previous offensive staff, which drew a lot of criticism. How the offensive line develops will be an interesting subplot of the spring for sure, as Meyer has made some comments about the need for better conditioning, etc. Meyer also has been candid about the need for more difference-makers at wide receiver, a position that was a virtual nonfactor in 2011. I do think a more imaginative offensive game plan will help players blossom at several positions. It's not as if Ohio State lit it up on offense last year. While there could be some growing pains this fall, I think you'll like what you see from the Buckeyes offense.
Ahmet from Rochester, N.Y., writes: Adam, I saw you traveled to Turkey, that is very nice. I would like you to to write soemthing about Turkish soccer since you saw Turkish soccer match
Adam Rittenberg: It was pretty wild, Ahmet. I dragged my wife to the match, and let's just say she was one of the few females in the crowd. We had heard the fans of the home team, Kar_1yaka, were known for being pretty rowdy. There were a ton of police around the stadium, and we had to be patted down by security as we entered. There also were high fences surrounding the pitch so no one could enter from the stands. Everyone stood for the entire game, and there were some designated cheering sections surrounded by security. The chanting during the game was pretty cool even though I had no idea what they were saying. Fans were very demonstrative about bad calls, and some of them went a little too far, like the guy in our row who broke three stadium seats with his foot and almost got in a fight with a guy in the next section over. There were several near-fights among fans and the security didn't do much to step in. It was definitely an experience, and the match we went to was second division, not Süper Lig. I'd definitely go again, though.
This is normally Adam's mailbag space, but since he is gallivanting overseas you're stuck with me. Remember to shoot your e-mails to my mailbag link if you want your questions to be answered in the next two weeks while Adam's on vacation.
OK, Tuesday's children. Let's see what's on your mind:
Tony from Eagan, MN, writes: It's March, far-fetched thoughts help pass the time 'til Spring. I'm wondering, hypothetically, what 'trades' could benefit both teams in the B1G. -- i.e. who has depth where the other has need, and vice versa.
Brian Bennett: The problem with this exercise, while fun, is that some of the biggest areas of need are the same for many teams. For example, several teams could really use a proven big-play receiver, but the ones that have the most depth are mostly young and inexperienced themselves.
One interesting trade partner for someone would be Purdue because of its quarterback depth. With Rob Henry, Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve all back, the Boilermakers could afford to flip one of those signalcallers to someone in need, like Penn State or Wisconsin. Purdue could use some help at linebacker, so perhaps the two teams could pull off a Marve-for-Khairi Fortt deal. How about Wisconsin dealing from its depth at offensive line, sending Travis Frederick to Michigan in exchange for Devin Gardner? Frederick could step in for David Molk, while Gardner could give the Badgers another athletic quarterback.
Got any other suggestions for trades? Send 'em in and maybe we'll do a longer look at them in a future segment.
Wayne from Queen Creek, AZ., writes: Along with all the discussion on future 4-team/8-team playoffs, there was some tagalong talk about requiring bowl teams to have a minimum of 7 wins. Have you heard anything further about this topic? I am fine with the six win minimum; it certainly helps the Big 10 bowl scenario and teams. Plus, I am worried about what would happen to minor but decent bowls like the Little Caesars Bowl that would prefer a 6-6 Big Ten team over some 7-5 team from Memphis or Middle Tennessee.
Brian Bennett: That idea has been discussed, and mostly it relates to sagging attendance at those bowls and the costs that schools incur to play in them. I like the idea of going back to a seven-win minimum to make it seem like more of an achievement, but I am dubious that will actually occur. The NCAA sanctioned these bowls, which are businesses, and those bowls could sue to keep their licenses alive. Don't forget that those bowl games make for good TV programming during a slow month of sports, and many smaller conference and even underachieving big conference teams like being able to say they made a bowl after a 6-6 season.
My hunch is we'll see a four-team playoff but not a change to the six-win requirement. The question will be whether interest is still there for minor bowls once a true playoff system, albeit a small one, finally arrives.
Dan from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, writes: I think I have a solution to the problem of trying to keep the importance of the Rose Bowl when there is a playoff created. The Big Ten and Pac 12 form a partnership where the conference champions play in the Rose Bowl for the right to be included in the 4 team playoff. You could also have an SEC/ACC, Big 12/Big East, then some kind of At-large teams play for the other spots in the playoffs. This keeps the importance of the BCS bowls and keeps a playoff.
Brian Bennett: I like where you're coming from, but your idea has some major practical problems. The first is the timing. The Rose Bowl is not going to want to move off its traditional Jan. 1 slot, and the college football power brokers are trying to keep this four-team playoff from extending too far into January. In your plan, there would be no way to hold the finals before the third week of January.
It also adds a difficult hurdle for both the Big Ten and Pac-12 champs, who would have to play an extra game just to get into the four-team playoff. That would be a major disadvantage and would also be tough on fans to follow their teams. Neither league would want to do that. And what if the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions are ranked No. 1 and 2 at the end of the season (settle down, SEC fans, this is just a hypothetical)? Then the real national championship game would come before the four-team playoff ever began.
Mike from Columbia, MD, writes: It seems Bill O'Brien is wasting no time getting into the recruiting scene, getting verbal commits from three four-star recruits already. How do you feel that this influx will spur an influx in Penn State's average recruiting game, but also, do you believe that this would have an effect on the current players by getting them to buy into what O'Brien is doing in Happy Valley? I feel like while the recruits are great to be getting verbals from, having the team buy into the system will be what pushed Penn State through this changing of the guard and keep them in competition with Wisconsin and Ohio State atop the division.
Brian Bennett: Mike, I don't know that recruiting has much effect on the current players. However, success in recruiting starts to build a buzz around a program, and that can put a little pep in everyone's step. The most important thing about this, in my view, is that Penn State finally has some positive news. There was real concern on how the Sandusky scandal would affect recruiting and the program in general going forward, but O'Brien has shown he can still get highly-rated players to come to State College. Whether these players turn out to be stars or busts is almost less important than the symbolism of their commitments.
George G. from Palmyra, Va., writes: Buckeye Nation is always on the big defensive when their toughness outside the B1G is questioned. Yet look at their 2012 schedule outside the B1G ... 3 little guys and a mediocre Cal team ... all home games at Columbus by the way. Why can't OSU get stronger competition outside the B1G, or overcome obstacles/schedulers in fixing this?
Brian Bennett: You can criticize some Big Ten teams' nonconference schedules (cough, Wisconsin, cough), but Ohio State should get a pass here. The Buckeyes have traditionally played one of the strongest non-league slates, or at least have faced at least one outstanding cross-sectional opponent. Remember those games against Texas, USC and Miami? Cal has slipped but was a pretty strong program when the series was scheduled. The Buckeyes will start a home-and-home series with Virginia Tech in 2014 and are scheduled to play Oklahoma in 2016 and 2017.
Ed from Dallas, TX writes: Hi Brian: Saw Adam was going on a long vacation ... my first thought is you guys live a vacation. You know what I do on my vacation? I go to BIG games ... but I don't get the luxury of hob-nobbing with the players/coaches and I have to pay for my travel/tickets. Anyway, here's my question: what are the Top 10 coaches by victories while at a Big 10 institution and part of the Big 10? (i.e. Paterno's wins don't count until Penn St. joined the conference) I tried to do my research but I just couldn't find a quick answer without going back season by season. If possible it would be cool if you could list all wins and conference wins.
Brian Bennett: Ed, no doubt we have one of the best jobs in the world, although after some of those 18-hour Saturdays in the fall, it doesn't feel quite like a vacation. Anyway, I can definitely answer your question. Here is the list of top 10 wins by a coach while his school was a member of the Big Ten:
1. Woody Hayes, Ohio State: 205
2. Amos Alonzo Stagg, Chicago: 199
3. Bo Schembechler, Michigan: 194
4. Fielding Yost, Michigan: 165
5. Joe Paterno, Penn State: 162
6. Hayden Fry, Iowa: 143
7. Henry Williams, Minnesota: 136
8. Robert Zuppke, Illinois: 131
9. Lloyd Carr, Michigan: 122
10. Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin: 118
Yost is the all-time leader in winning percentage (.888) among coaches who have spent at least 10 years in the league, while Schembechler has the highest conference winning percentage (.850) among those who have spent at least a decade in the conference. The active wins leader among coaches is Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, who has 96.
Herky from Iowa City writes: Hey Brian ! Is it an honor to be less nerdy of the two B1G bloggers ? Who is the best pocket passer in the B1G? Vandy? The B1G has great dual threats that are heavy on the run but who can pass.
Brian Bennett: Being the less nerdy blogger is kind of like being the best Flamenco dancer in Saskatchewan. But I definitely have my nerdy features, as you can tell by my Simpsons and Star Wars figures in the background of my videos. Anyway, it is fascinating to me how the Big Ten has evolved into a league full of mobile quarterbacks. By my count, eight teams have either dual-threat guys or at least not what you'd consider classic dropback quarterbacks -- Nebraska, Minnesota, Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern and Purdue.
That only leaves Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State and Wisconsin, and the Hawkeyes are the only team with a solid, proven starter there. So James Vandenberg takes the title for now. I am interested to see how Michigan State's Andrew Maxwell fares in his first year.
OK, Tuesday's children. Let's see what's on your mind:
Tony from Eagan, MN, writes: It's March, far-fetched thoughts help pass the time 'til Spring. I'm wondering, hypothetically, what 'trades' could benefit both teams in the B1G. -- i.e. who has depth where the other has need, and vice versa.
Brian Bennett: The problem with this exercise, while fun, is that some of the biggest areas of need are the same for many teams. For example, several teams could really use a proven big-play receiver, but the ones that have the most depth are mostly young and inexperienced themselves.
One interesting trade partner for someone would be Purdue because of its quarterback depth. With Rob Henry, Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve all back, the Boilermakers could afford to flip one of those signalcallers to someone in need, like Penn State or Wisconsin. Purdue could use some help at linebacker, so perhaps the two teams could pull off a Marve-for-Khairi Fortt deal. How about Wisconsin dealing from its depth at offensive line, sending Travis Frederick to Michigan in exchange for Devin Gardner? Frederick could step in for David Molk, while Gardner could give the Badgers another athletic quarterback.
Got any other suggestions for trades? Send 'em in and maybe we'll do a longer look at them in a future segment.
Wayne from Queen Creek, AZ., writes: Along with all the discussion on future 4-team/8-team playoffs, there was some tagalong talk about requiring bowl teams to have a minimum of 7 wins. Have you heard anything further about this topic? I am fine with the six win minimum; it certainly helps the Big 10 bowl scenario and teams. Plus, I am worried about what would happen to minor but decent bowls like the Little Caesars Bowl that would prefer a 6-6 Big Ten team over some 7-5 team from Memphis or Middle Tennessee.
Brian Bennett: That idea has been discussed, and mostly it relates to sagging attendance at those bowls and the costs that schools incur to play in them. I like the idea of going back to a seven-win minimum to make it seem like more of an achievement, but I am dubious that will actually occur. The NCAA sanctioned these bowls, which are businesses, and those bowls could sue to keep their licenses alive. Don't forget that those bowl games make for good TV programming during a slow month of sports, and many smaller conference and even underachieving big conference teams like being able to say they made a bowl after a 6-6 season.
My hunch is we'll see a four-team playoff but not a change to the six-win requirement. The question will be whether interest is still there for minor bowls once a true playoff system, albeit a small one, finally arrives.
Dan from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, writes: I think I have a solution to the problem of trying to keep the importance of the Rose Bowl when there is a playoff created. The Big Ten and Pac 12 form a partnership where the conference champions play in the Rose Bowl for the right to be included in the 4 team playoff. You could also have an SEC/ACC, Big 12/Big East, then some kind of At-large teams play for the other spots in the playoffs. This keeps the importance of the BCS bowls and keeps a playoff.
Brian Bennett: I like where you're coming from, but your idea has some major practical problems. The first is the timing. The Rose Bowl is not going to want to move off its traditional Jan. 1 slot, and the college football power brokers are trying to keep this four-team playoff from extending too far into January. In your plan, there would be no way to hold the finals before the third week of January.
It also adds a difficult hurdle for both the Big Ten and Pac-12 champs, who would have to play an extra game just to get into the four-team playoff. That would be a major disadvantage and would also be tough on fans to follow their teams. Neither league would want to do that. And what if the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions are ranked No. 1 and 2 at the end of the season (settle down, SEC fans, this is just a hypothetical)? Then the real national championship game would come before the four-team playoff ever began.
Mike from Columbia, MD, writes: It seems Bill O'Brien is wasting no time getting into the recruiting scene, getting verbal commits from three four-star recruits already. How do you feel that this influx will spur an influx in Penn State's average recruiting game, but also, do you believe that this would have an effect on the current players by getting them to buy into what O'Brien is doing in Happy Valley? I feel like while the recruits are great to be getting verbals from, having the team buy into the system will be what pushed Penn State through this changing of the guard and keep them in competition with Wisconsin and Ohio State atop the division.
Brian Bennett: Mike, I don't know that recruiting has much effect on the current players. However, success in recruiting starts to build a buzz around a program, and that can put a little pep in everyone's step. The most important thing about this, in my view, is that Penn State finally has some positive news. There was real concern on how the Sandusky scandal would affect recruiting and the program in general going forward, but O'Brien has shown he can still get highly-rated players to come to State College. Whether these players turn out to be stars or busts is almost less important than the symbolism of their commitments.
George G. from Palmyra, Va., writes: Buckeye Nation is always on the big defensive when their toughness outside the B1G is questioned. Yet look at their 2012 schedule outside the B1G ... 3 little guys and a mediocre Cal team ... all home games at Columbus by the way. Why can't OSU get stronger competition outside the B1G, or overcome obstacles/schedulers in fixing this?
Brian Bennett: You can criticize some Big Ten teams' nonconference schedules (cough, Wisconsin, cough), but Ohio State should get a pass here. The Buckeyes have traditionally played one of the strongest non-league slates, or at least have faced at least one outstanding cross-sectional opponent. Remember those games against Texas, USC and Miami? Cal has slipped but was a pretty strong program when the series was scheduled. The Buckeyes will start a home-and-home series with Virginia Tech in 2014 and are scheduled to play Oklahoma in 2016 and 2017.
Ed from Dallas, TX writes: Hi Brian: Saw Adam was going on a long vacation ... my first thought is you guys live a vacation. You know what I do on my vacation? I go to BIG games ... but I don't get the luxury of hob-nobbing with the players/coaches and I have to pay for my travel/tickets. Anyway, here's my question: what are the Top 10 coaches by victories while at a Big 10 institution and part of the Big 10? (i.e. Paterno's wins don't count until Penn St. joined the conference) I tried to do my research but I just couldn't find a quick answer without going back season by season. If possible it would be cool if you could list all wins and conference wins.
Brian Bennett: Ed, no doubt we have one of the best jobs in the world, although after some of those 18-hour Saturdays in the fall, it doesn't feel quite like a vacation. Anyway, I can definitely answer your question. Here is the list of top 10 wins by a coach while his school was a member of the Big Ten:
1. Woody Hayes, Ohio State: 205
2. Amos Alonzo Stagg, Chicago: 199
3. Bo Schembechler, Michigan: 194
4. Fielding Yost, Michigan: 165
5. Joe Paterno, Penn State: 162
6. Hayden Fry, Iowa: 143
7. Henry Williams, Minnesota: 136
8. Robert Zuppke, Illinois: 131
9. Lloyd Carr, Michigan: 122
10. Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin: 118
Yost is the all-time leader in winning percentage (.888) among coaches who have spent at least 10 years in the league, while Schembechler has the highest conference winning percentage (.850) among those who have spent at least a decade in the conference. The active wins leader among coaches is Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, who has 96.
Herky from Iowa City writes: Hey Brian ! Is it an honor to be less nerdy of the two B1G bloggers ? Who is the best pocket passer in the B1G? Vandy? The B1G has great dual threats that are heavy on the run but who can pass.
Brian Bennett: Being the less nerdy blogger is kind of like being the best Flamenco dancer in Saskatchewan. But I definitely have my nerdy features, as you can tell by my Simpsons and Star Wars figures in the background of my videos. Anyway, it is fascinating to me how the Big Ten has evolved into a league full of mobile quarterbacks. By my count, eight teams have either dual-threat guys or at least not what you'd consider classic dropback quarterbacks -- Nebraska, Minnesota, Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern and Purdue.
That only leaves Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State and Wisconsin, and the Hawkeyes are the only team with a solid, proven starter there. So James Vandenberg takes the title for now. I am interested to see how Michigan State's Andrew Maxwell fares in his first year.
Michigan-Virginia Tech pregame notes
January, 3, 2012
Jan 3
8:00
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
NEW ORLEANS -- A few pregame notes from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, where the teams have been on the field going through warmups.
- As expected, Will Campbell worked as the first-team defensive tackle alongside Mike Martin. Thomas Gordon worked as the starting free safety.
- It's definitely looking like Michigan will have more fans tonight. A lot of Maize in the crowd, and they're very loud.
- Michigan quarterbacks Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner both threw the ball well in warmups and then chest-bumped one another before trotting off the field. Wolverines look loose.
- A Pac-12 officiating crew will work tonight's game. Jay Stricherz is the referee.
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Record: 10-2 (6-2 Big Ten)
It's hard to imagine the Brady Hoke era getting off to any better start than it did.
Mired in mediocrity -- at best -- during Rich Rodriguez's three years, the Wolverines made one of the biggest leaps in the country this year, getting to double-digit wins and back to a BCS game for the first time since the 2006 season. And it wasn't just that Michigan won more games or made it to the Allstate Sugar Bowl, because you could argue the home-friendly schedule helped and the at-large BCS bid should have gone elsewhere. It was how Hoke did it.
Along with defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, Hoke taught these Wolverines to actually play some defense. Michigan ranked 110th in total defense and 108th in points allowed in 2010. Using mostly the same players, the defense ranks 18th and seventh, respectively, in those categories this season.
That stunning defensive improvement came without reeling in the explosive offense Rodriguez had built. Though Denard Robinson had his ups and downs while adjusting to new offensive coordinator Al Borges' style, he finished the year strong and still had more than 1,100 yards rushing. Borges eased the burden on Robinson by finding another weapon in running back Fitz Toussaint, who went over 1,000 yards rushing himself.
Eight of Michigan's victories came by double digits, and the other two were instant classics against Notre Dame and Ohio State. Hoke fulfilled a promise by beating the team he calls "Ohio," snapping a seven-game losing streak to the Wolverines' most bitter rival. That was the icing on a near-perfect regular season, and a helping of Sugar awaits in the new year.
Offensive MVP: Denard Robinson. "Shoelace" struggled mightily with his passing at times this year, and he split reps at quarterback in many games with Devin Gardner. Fans were calling for Gardner to take over full time until the end of the season, when Robinson bounced back with terrific performances in the final two games. No one in the country had a better pair of games than he turned in against Notre Dame (446 total yards, five touchdowns) and Ohio State (337 and five). But the real story of the season was that Robinson didn't have to do it all alone.
Defensive MVP: Defensive tackle Mike Martin. In a fortunate convergence, Hoke and Mattison -- two defensive line coaches at heart -- inherited a defense that was strongest up front. The Wolverines proved tough to run against, especially in short-yardage situations, and Martin was a main reason for that. His numbers (54 tackles, 5.5 for loss) don't tell the full story of how much he meant to the defense, on and off the field. Defensive end Ryan Van Bergen and cornerback J.T. Floyd were among many others who flourished under the new staff's tutelage.
Turning point: Following a 24-16 loss at Iowa on Nov. 5 in which Michigan came up empty on four cracks near the goal line at the end, the Wolverines could have gone into another November tailspin. Instead, they finished with a bang, beating Illinois by 17 on the road, blowing the doors off Nebraska in a 45-17 win at home and then finally getting past Ohio State in a 40-34 shootout. That put the team in position for an at-large BCS bid.
What's next: The Big Easy could turn into Big House South as Michigan heads to the French Quarter to take on Virginia Tech in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Despite ranking behind the Hokes, the Wolverines likely will be favored against a team that played a very soft schedule. Hoke must find replacements for Martin, Van Bergen and Rimington Trophy finalist David Molk, but he's got Robinson for another year and some blue-chip talent on the way in recruiting.
Record: 10-2 (6-2 Big Ten)
It's hard to imagine the Brady Hoke era getting off to any better start than it did.
Mired in mediocrity -- at best -- during Rich Rodriguez's three years, the Wolverines made one of the biggest leaps in the country this year, getting to double-digit wins and back to a BCS game for the first time since the 2006 season. And it wasn't just that Michigan won more games or made it to the Allstate Sugar Bowl, because you could argue the home-friendly schedule helped and the at-large BCS bid should have gone elsewhere. It was how Hoke did it.
Along with defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, Hoke taught these Wolverines to actually play some defense. Michigan ranked 110th in total defense and 108th in points allowed in 2010. Using mostly the same players, the defense ranks 18th and seventh, respectively, in those categories this season.
That stunning defensive improvement came without reeling in the explosive offense Rodriguez had built. Though Denard Robinson had his ups and downs while adjusting to new offensive coordinator Al Borges' style, he finished the year strong and still had more than 1,100 yards rushing. Borges eased the burden on Robinson by finding another weapon in running back Fitz Toussaint, who went over 1,000 yards rushing himself.
Eight of Michigan's victories came by double digits, and the other two were instant classics against Notre Dame and Ohio State. Hoke fulfilled a promise by beating the team he calls "Ohio," snapping a seven-game losing streak to the Wolverines' most bitter rival. That was the icing on a near-perfect regular season, and a helping of Sugar awaits in the new year.
Offensive MVP: Denard Robinson. "Shoelace" struggled mightily with his passing at times this year, and he split reps at quarterback in many games with Devin Gardner. Fans were calling for Gardner to take over full time until the end of the season, when Robinson bounced back with terrific performances in the final two games. No one in the country had a better pair of games than he turned in against Notre Dame (446 total yards, five touchdowns) and Ohio State (337 and five). But the real story of the season was that Robinson didn't have to do it all alone.
Defensive MVP: Defensive tackle Mike Martin. In a fortunate convergence, Hoke and Mattison -- two defensive line coaches at heart -- inherited a defense that was strongest up front. The Wolverines proved tough to run against, especially in short-yardage situations, and Martin was a main reason for that. His numbers (54 tackles, 5.5 for loss) don't tell the full story of how much he meant to the defense, on and off the field. Defensive end Ryan Van Bergen and cornerback J.T. Floyd were among many others who flourished under the new staff's tutelage.
Turning point: Following a 24-16 loss at Iowa on Nov. 5 in which Michigan came up empty on four cracks near the goal line at the end, the Wolverines could have gone into another November tailspin. Instead, they finished with a bang, beating Illinois by 17 on the road, blowing the doors off Nebraska in a 45-17 win at home and then finally getting past Ohio State in a 40-34 shootout. That put the team in position for an at-large BCS bid.
What's next: The Big Easy could turn into Big House South as Michigan heads to the French Quarter to take on Virginia Tech in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Despite ranking behind the Hokes, the Wolverines likely will be favored against a team that played a very soft schedule. Hoke must find replacements for Martin, Van Bergen and Rimington Trophy finalist David Molk, but he's got Robinson for another year and some blue-chip talent on the way in recruiting.
What we learned in the Big Ten: Week 11
November, 13, 2011
11/13/11
10:00
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg and
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
Five lessons from the week that was in Big Ten football.
1. Wisconsin and Michigan State are on a collision course: Saturday cleared up the Big Ten division races considerably, as Michigan State took a huge step closer to Indianapolis and Wisconsin received a major boost. The Spartans won in Iowa City for the first time since 1989, snapping a seven-game slide, and becomes the only team in the Legends division to control its own fate. Michigan State can get to Indianapolis with two wins or a win and a Nebraska loss. Wisconsin, meanwhile, benefited from losses by both Penn State and Ohio State on Saturday. The Badgers once again control their own fate in the Leaders division heading into the final two weeks. Although Penn State holds the same distinction, the Lions must visit Ohio State and Wisconsin in their final two games.
2. Nebraska is still alive for a BCS bid: One of the main reasons Nebraska's loss to Northwestern was so painful for Big Red fans -- besides the fact that it knocked the team out of first place in the Legends -- was because tough road games at Penn State and Michigan were up next. But the Huskers pulled off a 17-14 victory in State College under difficult circumstances, to set up a big showdown in Ann Arbor next week. Even if Michigan State goes on to Indianapolis, Nebraska would be in good shape for an at-large BCS bid if it won out and finished 10-2. In fact, that might be a better outcome than if the Huskers were to win the division but lose in the Big Ten title game. The losses by Boise State and Stanford on Saturday may have greatly enhanced the Big Ten's chances of getting an at-large BCS bid, and Nebraska's fan base will make it attractive to big bowls. If the Blackshirts defense can keep playing more like they did against Penn State than they did against Northwestern and Rex Burkhead continues leading the offensive charge, Bo Pelini's team could make its first BCS appearance in a decade.
3. Luke Fickell is back on the hot seat: Perhaps Fickell never left the hot seat, but he had helped his cause with three consecutive wins, highlighted by the Wisconsin triumph on Oct. 29. But Ohio State's loss Saturday at Purdue -- its second consecutive stumble in West Lafayette -- puts Fickell back in the crosshairs. The Buckeyes fell to 3-3 in Big Ten play and will have a tough time getting back in the Leaders division race with two weeks to play. Ohio State came out flat for the second consecutive week, falling behind 10-0 and 17-7. QB Braxton Miller nearly rescued the team again in the fourth quarter, but Purdue DT Bruce Gaston blocked a potential game-winning PAT try. It was a brutal way to lose, but Ohio State shouldn't have put itself in such a shaky position. After a brief reprieve, Fickell will be feeling the heat again this week.
4. Michigan's defense is carrying the team: Who would have thought this would be possible after watching the past three seasons in Ann Arbor? Michigan is leaning heavily on its defense right now and has for a good portion of the season. Mike Martin and the Wolverines held Illinois to minus-12 rush yards in the first half and just 37 for the game on 33 carries. The Michigan offense, meanwhile, is searching for greater consistency, especially from the quarterback position. The defense continued to bail out the offense at Illinois and bought enough time for the offense to get going. While Brady Hoke and his staff have to figure out what to do with Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner, the coaches have undoubtedly make improvements on defense that should help Michigan reach a good bowl.
5. The bottom of the Big Ten's bowl picture is fuzzy: The race for the final few Big Ten bowl tie-ins got a lot more interesting Saturday. Purdue's upset of Ohio State moves Danny Hope's crew one win closer to becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007. The Boilers could win out as they finish with Iowa and Indiana. Iowa, meanwhile, needs to avoid another late-season slide even though it already has reached the six-win plateau. The Hawkeyes, winless in Big Ten road games, finish at Purdue and at Nebraska. Northwestern won its third straight to return to the .500 mark. The Wildcats need only one more win to become bowl-eligible and finish with two home games (Minnesota, Michigan State). Illinois looked like a lock for a good bowl in early October after a 6-0 start, its best since 1951. But Ron Zook's crew continued its free-fall against Michigan and has dropped four straight.
1. Wisconsin and Michigan State are on a collision course: Saturday cleared up the Big Ten division races considerably, as Michigan State took a huge step closer to Indianapolis and Wisconsin received a major boost. The Spartans won in Iowa City for the first time since 1989, snapping a seven-game slide, and becomes the only team in the Legends division to control its own fate. Michigan State can get to Indianapolis with two wins or a win and a Nebraska loss. Wisconsin, meanwhile, benefited from losses by both Penn State and Ohio State on Saturday. The Badgers once again control their own fate in the Leaders division heading into the final two weeks. Although Penn State holds the same distinction, the Lions must visit Ohio State and Wisconsin in their final two games.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Gene J. PuskarWith Rex Burkhead leading the way, Nebraska could make its first BCS appearance in a decade.
AP Photo/Gene J. PuskarWith Rex Burkhead leading the way, Nebraska could make its first BCS appearance in a decade.3. Luke Fickell is back on the hot seat: Perhaps Fickell never left the hot seat, but he had helped his cause with three consecutive wins, highlighted by the Wisconsin triumph on Oct. 29. But Ohio State's loss Saturday at Purdue -- its second consecutive stumble in West Lafayette -- puts Fickell back in the crosshairs. The Buckeyes fell to 3-3 in Big Ten play and will have a tough time getting back in the Leaders division race with two weeks to play. Ohio State came out flat for the second consecutive week, falling behind 10-0 and 17-7. QB Braxton Miller nearly rescued the team again in the fourth quarter, but Purdue DT Bruce Gaston blocked a potential game-winning PAT try. It was a brutal way to lose, but Ohio State shouldn't have put itself in such a shaky position. After a brief reprieve, Fickell will be feeling the heat again this week.
4. Michigan's defense is carrying the team: Who would have thought this would be possible after watching the past three seasons in Ann Arbor? Michigan is leaning heavily on its defense right now and has for a good portion of the season. Mike Martin and the Wolverines held Illinois to minus-12 rush yards in the first half and just 37 for the game on 33 carries. The Michigan offense, meanwhile, is searching for greater consistency, especially from the quarterback position. The defense continued to bail out the offense at Illinois and bought enough time for the offense to get going. While Brady Hoke and his staff have to figure out what to do with Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner, the coaches have undoubtedly make improvements on defense that should help Michigan reach a good bowl.
5. The bottom of the Big Ten's bowl picture is fuzzy: The race for the final few Big Ten bowl tie-ins got a lot more interesting Saturday. Purdue's upset of Ohio State moves Danny Hope's crew one win closer to becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007. The Boilers could win out as they finish with Iowa and Indiana. Iowa, meanwhile, needs to avoid another late-season slide even though it already has reached the six-win plateau. The Hawkeyes, winless in Big Ten road games, finish at Purdue and at Nebraska. Northwestern won its third straight to return to the .500 mark. The Wildcats need only one more win to become bowl-eligible and finish with two home games (Minnesota, Michigan State). Illinois looked like a lock for a good bowl in early October after a 6-0 start, its best since 1951. But Ron Zook's crew continued its free-fall against Michigan and has dropped four straight.
Final: Michigan 31, Illinois 14
November, 12, 2011
11/12/11
7:14
PM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Most expected Michigan's defense to improve this season, but few believed the unit would carry the team.
That's exactly what has happened as Michigan trudges through the second half of its season. Greg Mattison's defense continues to make significant strides, cover up the offense's mistakes and give the offense enough time to get things on track.
Michigan thumped hapless Illinois 31-14 on Saturday, and the margin should have been much bigger. The Wolverines outgained Illinois 249-30 in the opening half but led by only 14 points because of repeated mistakes by the offense. Denard Robinson fumbled twice in the half and Michigan couldn't fully take advantage of 134 first-half rush yards from Fitz Toussaint.
But all the Wolverines' errors didn't matter because their defense stifled Illinois, which has something seriously wrong on offense. The Illini failed to score in the first half for the FOURTH consecutive game, a recipe for disaster against a Michigan team that improves as games go on. Michigan held Illinois to 37 rush yards on 33 carries.
Wolverines senior defensive tackle Mike Martin continued to wreak havoc, helping to stuff Illinois' rushing attack. Michigan also received a huge interception from J.T. Floyd early in the fourth quarter.
The concern for Michigan going forward is the offense and specifically the quarterback position. Robinson looks a bit lost right now and completed just 6 of 10 passes before leaving the game in the fourth quarter. He appeared to get banged up late in the game. Devin Gardner led Michigan's final two scoring drives and fired a 27-yard touchdown pass to Martavious Odoms.
Offensive coordinator Al Borges has some decisions to make before next week's game against Nebraska, both with personnel and with his scheme. Although Toussaint was fabulous with 192 rush yards and a touchdown, the Wolverines can't expect to keep making so many mistakes and win.
Illinois has much bigger problems to worry about. Ron Zook's squad dropped its fourth consecutive game and seemed to backslide on both sides of the ball. The run game simply isn't there and Jason Ford, one of few offensive bright spots the past three contests, had just 26 rush yards and a lost fumble. I really expected more from Illinois' offensive line, and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has backslid after a blistering start.
The Illini defense is doing what it can, but the unit clearly needs more help. Illinois also suffered yet another mishap on a punt return.
After recording its best start since 1951 (6-0), Illinois finds itself in serious trouble entering the final two weeks. The calls for Zook's job likely will intensify, particularly if the Illini lose out to finish a once-unfathomable 6-6.
Instant Analysis: Michigan 31, Illinois 14
November, 12, 2011
11/12/11
7:13
PM ET
By
Michael Rothstein | ESPN.com
Turning point: Michigan cornerback J.T. Floyd read a Nathan Scheelhaase pass perfectly, jumping to pick off the play and return it 65 yards into Illinois territory with 10:50 left in the game. The Wolverines then scored on the following drive with a Devin Gardner 27-yard touchdown pass to Martavious Odoms for a 24-7 Michigan lead.
Player of the game: Michigan defensive tackle Mike Martin. The senior nose tackle was in the Illinois backfield all day, making a team-high nine tackles and having a half-sack. The nine tackles are one off his career high of 10, set against Wisconsin in 2009. He disrupted everything Illinois tried to do on offense in the first half.
Unsung hero of the game: Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint. The Michigan running back started the game hot, gaining 134 of his career-high 192 yards in the first half, but his play led to two early Wolverines touchdowns and forced Illinois to shift its defensive plan and focus on the running back.
What Michigan learned, What Illinois learned: Michigan -- The Wolverines learned two things Saturday. First, that it can win with defense. Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison called the best game of his first season in his second stint with the Wolverines against Illinois. Michigan held Illinois to negative-12 yards rushing in the first half and pressured Scheelhaase all game long. It also learned it might have a good quarterback in backup Gardner. As he received more snaps, he looked more comfortable and his touchdown pass to Odoms was one of the better throws of the season. Illinois -- That the offensive line needs some work. Illinois couldn't block much of what Michigan ran at the Illini on Saturday, barely being able to run the ball and not giving Scheelhaase time to stay in the pocket. It seemed to throw Illinois' entire offense out of rhythm.
What it means: For Michigan, it gives the Wolverines the most wins they've had since 2007, when Michigan went 9-4 in the final season for former coach Lloyd Carr. It also showed Michigan it could win on the road in a hostile atmosphere. For Illinois, it is four straight losses and what looked like a special season in Champaign, Ill. is now in freefall as the Illini have to face Wisconsin next Saturday.
Record performance: It may not seem like a big record, but Odoms had a season-high two catches for 46 yards, including his first touchdown catch of the season. The 46 yards, though, pushed Odoms over 1,000 yards receiving for his career.
In case you missed it, here's a full wrap-up of today's Big Ten chat.
A lot of testy questions, which is fine. It was a testy week in the Big Ten.
Some highlights:
Thanks again for the question.
A lot of testy questions, which is fine. It was a testy week in the Big Ten.
Some highlights:
GBK from Lincoln Park: Adam, as a senior I watched Michigan play two QBs (Brady/Henson), and it led to more conservative playcalling in the first three quarters before opening up in the 4th. It seems like I'm seeing the same stuff this year. Are we going to see the Denard/Devin split going into next year? Right now it seems like it doesn't really help the offense all that much.
Adam Rittenberg: It's hard to project what Michigan will do next year at quarterback. We'll find out a lot more in these final four games. Denard has regressed as a passer and still makes too many mistakes to win consistently in the Big Ten. Devin is a tremendous athlete but still must make strides in his development. I agree Al Borges is shuffling the two a bit too much, but he's trying to make something happen.
Nick from Chicago: Of course you would rather cover the games. That way Poynter won't have to scold you for writing about how the Penn State scandal affects recruiting.
Adam Rittenberg: I'll address this once and that's it. Yes, the recruiting post probably was a bit too soon, and I regret the timing. But to pull one post out of a blog is also questionable. Read the entirety of the Big Ten blog this week and tell me we didn't address every part of this story, through video, links, statements and commentary.
Rob from KC: Considering the media circus surrounding the NE/Penn State game tomorrow, some are saying it should have been canceled or postponed for player and fan safety. Your thoughts?
Adam Rittenberg: Rob, I've given this some thought, and I actually don't think the players are in danger. I understand the concerns from Nebraska folks, but this is a Penn State issue, not a Nebraska issue. I completely agreed with Penn State's decision not to have assistant coach Mike McQueary at the game. He had a legitimate safety concern to worry about. But other than that, I don't see things getting too out of hand.
Ryan from Chicago: If the Penn State brass intend to clean house with regards to football personnel, what is the most logical way to do that in order to both finish up the current season and prepare for future seasons? Do they start their head coach search now so that the transition once the bowl game is over is quick and allows the new coach time to salvage recruiting?
Adam Rittenberg: Ryan, this is a really interesting question. I don't know whether you conduct a search with an interim AD and an acting president. On the other hand, you don't want to wait too long without having a permanent coach. There are some very important decisions to be made in the coming weeks. I would think Penn State would have an idea of what it wants to do by early December.
Thanks again for the question.
What to watch in the Big Ten: Week 10
November, 3, 2011
11/03/11
10:15
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Ten items to track in Week 10 of Big Ten action.
1. Holding serve: If things go as expected, the division races won't look much different on Saturday night than they do right now. But as we see every week, things rarely go as expected in this conference. Four Big Ten contenders are heavy favorites on their home fields Saturday afternoon: Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan State and Nebraska. A loss by any could mean the end of their Big Ten title quest. So this is no time for a let-up.
2. Michigan's QB rotation: Wolverines coach Brady Hoke continues to back Denard Robinson as his starting qurterback, but backup Devin Gardner has been used in recent weeks and should see time again Saturday at Iowa. For the most part, Michigan has overcome Robinson's erratic passing and interceptions, but the team can't live on the edge forever. Robinson will look for a more polished performance against an Iowa defense ranked last in the Big Ten against the pass (238.6 ypg allowed). But it will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Al Borges uses his quarterbacks at Kinnick Stadium.
3. Scarlet fever in November: Ohio State might be the Big Ten's hottest team -- and the league's most dangerous team -- as it enters a month it has dominated in recent years. The Buckeyes are 14-1 in November games since 2005 and haven't lost a game during the month since 2007. They'll likely need to sweep their four November games to have a chance to reach the Big Ten championship game, an accomplishment that could mean big things for coach Luke Fickell.
4. The Hangover Part II: No team in America has endured a more heartbreaking two-week stretch than the Wisconsin Badgers. After losing to Michigan State on a Hail Mary as time expired, the Badgers had a mix-up on defense that led to Braxton Miller's game-winning 40-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds left last Saturday in Columbus. Despite the disappointment, Wisconsin still has a very real chance to reach Indianapolis for the title game. But it can't avoid a hangover as it returns home Saturday to face Purdue.
5. Speeding through Lincoln: Two of the nation's most uptempo offenses take the field Saturday at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium. Northwestern and Nebraska both employ no-huddle offenses designed to keep defenders off balance and eventually wear them down. Dan Persa and the Wildcats come off of a 59-point, 616-yard performance against Indiana in a game that they easily could have eclipsed the 70-point barrier. Nebraska's offense has been terrific in the second halves of games and will challenge a Northwestern defense that has allowed a league-worst 21 rushing touchdowns.
6. Hawkeyes aim for historic three-peat: How can Iowa raise the spirits of its downtrodden fans Saturday? Beating Michigan for the third consecutive year might do the trick. Iowa never has defeated the Wolverines three consecutive times and has a chance to do so. Kirk Ferentz's crew hasn't lost at home this season and averages 39.2 points at Kinnick Stadium. Running back Marcus Coker comes off of a career performance (252 rush yards), and along with QB James Vandenberg and receiver Marvin McNutt, Iowa's offense should give Michigan all it can handle.
7. Rush week at MSU: Michigan State recorded its lowest points total (3) in eight years last week at Nebraska, and offensive coordinator Dan Roushar came under fire for what many considered an odd game plan. The Spartans tried to attack Nebraska downfield rather than truly commit to the run game. "The last three weeks prior to [Saturday], we made some explosive plays on the outside," Roushar said. "We thought we could still do that. And in hindsight, maybe you continue to run the ball a little bit more." Expect Roushar to return to the "Pound Green Pound" philosophy Saturday against Minnesota, which surrendered 269 rush yards in last week's win against Iowa.
8. Boilers' run game looks to recharge: Purdue averaged 206.5 rushing yards through the first six games, mixing ball-carriers and getting production from several different sources. But after a strong first half Oct. 22 against Illinois, Purdue hasn't done much offensively, especially on the ground. The Boilers had just 42 second-half rush yards against the Illini and gained only 89 yards on 29 carries last week at Michigan. To have any chance to upset Wisconsin, Purdue must control the clock and effectively rush the football against a Badgers defense that allowed 268 rush yards last Saturday at Ohio State.
9. Young guns at The Shoe: Two of the Big Ten's dynamic young quarterbacks will display their skills Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State's Miller tries to build on his heroic performance against Wisconsin, where he rushed for 99 yards and completed 7 of 12 passes. Fellow freshman Tre Roberson looks like the answer at quarterback for Indiana, racking up 571 yards of total offense (366 pass, 205 rush) in the past two games. Miller tries to capitalize on a struggling Indiana defense playing a ton of young players, while Roberson faces a much tougher task against an Ohio State defense playing at an extremely high level.
10. Blackshirts building momentum: Nebraska's defense is finally looking like the unit most of us thought it would be entering the season. So much so that coach Bo Pelini awarded Blackshirts to the Huskers' top defenders after Monday's practice. The Blackshirts symbolize progress, and the unit has made strides in the past nine and a half quarters of play. A strong effort Saturday against a Northwestern offense that averages 431.8 yards per game would be big for Nebraska before road tests against Penn State and Michigan.
1. Holding serve: If things go as expected, the division races won't look much different on Saturday night than they do right now. But as we see every week, things rarely go as expected in this conference. Four Big Ten contenders are heavy favorites on their home fields Saturday afternoon: Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan State and Nebraska. A loss by any could mean the end of their Big Ten title quest. So this is no time for a let-up.
[+] Enlarge
Rick Osentoski/US PRESSWIREWhile Denard Robinson is Michigan's clear No. 1 quarterback, Devin Gardner has seen increased playing time in special packages in recent weeks.
Rick Osentoski/US PRESSWIREWhile Denard Robinson is Michigan's clear No. 1 quarterback, Devin Gardner has seen increased playing time in special packages in recent weeks.3. Scarlet fever in November: Ohio State might be the Big Ten's hottest team -- and the league's most dangerous team -- as it enters a month it has dominated in recent years. The Buckeyes are 14-1 in November games since 2005 and haven't lost a game during the month since 2007. They'll likely need to sweep their four November games to have a chance to reach the Big Ten championship game, an accomplishment that could mean big things for coach Luke Fickell.
4. The Hangover Part II: No team in America has endured a more heartbreaking two-week stretch than the Wisconsin Badgers. After losing to Michigan State on a Hail Mary as time expired, the Badgers had a mix-up on defense that led to Braxton Miller's game-winning 40-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds left last Saturday in Columbus. Despite the disappointment, Wisconsin still has a very real chance to reach Indianapolis for the title game. But it can't avoid a hangover as it returns home Saturday to face Purdue.
5. Speeding through Lincoln: Two of the nation's most uptempo offenses take the field Saturday at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium. Northwestern and Nebraska both employ no-huddle offenses designed to keep defenders off balance and eventually wear them down. Dan Persa and the Wildcats come off of a 59-point, 616-yard performance against Indiana in a game that they easily could have eclipsed the 70-point barrier. Nebraska's offense has been terrific in the second halves of games and will challenge a Northwestern defense that has allowed a league-worst 21 rushing touchdowns.
6. Hawkeyes aim for historic three-peat: How can Iowa raise the spirits of its downtrodden fans Saturday? Beating Michigan for the third consecutive year might do the trick. Iowa never has defeated the Wolverines three consecutive times and has a chance to do so. Kirk Ferentz's crew hasn't lost at home this season and averages 39.2 points at Kinnick Stadium. Running back Marcus Coker comes off of a career performance (252 rush yards), and along with QB James Vandenberg and receiver Marvin McNutt, Iowa's offense should give Michigan all it can handle.
7. Rush week at MSU: Michigan State recorded its lowest points total (3) in eight years last week at Nebraska, and offensive coordinator Dan Roushar came under fire for what many considered an odd game plan. The Spartans tried to attack Nebraska downfield rather than truly commit to the run game. "The last three weeks prior to [Saturday], we made some explosive plays on the outside," Roushar said. "We thought we could still do that. And in hindsight, maybe you continue to run the ball a little bit more." Expect Roushar to return to the "Pound Green Pound" philosophy Saturday against Minnesota, which surrendered 269 rush yards in last week's win against Iowa.
8. Boilers' run game looks to recharge: Purdue averaged 206.5 rushing yards through the first six games, mixing ball-carriers and getting production from several different sources. But after a strong first half Oct. 22 against Illinois, Purdue hasn't done much offensively, especially on the ground. The Boilers had just 42 second-half rush yards against the Illini and gained only 89 yards on 29 carries last week at Michigan. To have any chance to upset Wisconsin, Purdue must control the clock and effectively rush the football against a Badgers defense that allowed 268 rush yards last Saturday at Ohio State.
9. Young guns at The Shoe: Two of the Big Ten's dynamic young quarterbacks will display their skills Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State's Miller tries to build on his heroic performance against Wisconsin, where he rushed for 99 yards and completed 7 of 12 passes. Fellow freshman Tre Roberson looks like the answer at quarterback for Indiana, racking up 571 yards of total offense (366 pass, 205 rush) in the past two games. Miller tries to capitalize on a struggling Indiana defense playing a ton of young players, while Roberson faces a much tougher task against an Ohio State defense playing at an extremely high level.
10. Blackshirts building momentum: Nebraska's defense is finally looking like the unit most of us thought it would be entering the season. So much so that coach Bo Pelini awarded Blackshirts to the Huskers' top defenders after Monday's practice. The Blackshirts symbolize progress, and the unit has made strides in the past nine and a half quarters of play. A strong effort Saturday against a Northwestern offense that averages 431.8 yards per game would be big for Nebraska before road tests against Penn State and Michigan.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rittenberg
Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
BIG TEN TEAM COVERAGE
RECRUITING NATION
Michigan: WolverineNation
Follow everything Michigan at WolverineNation: Michigan Wolverines football, basketball, news, recruiting and more.
