ESPN College Football

Minnesota is getting with the Big Ten's scheduling program. Hallelujah.

After buying its way out of a series against North Carolina and revealing a wholly uninspiring slate of future non-conference games last fall, Minnesota took a big step in the right direction Tuesday by announcing a home-and-home series against TCU for 2014 and 2015. The Gophers will visit TCU on Sept. 13, 2014, and play host to the Horned Frogs on Sept. 3, 2015.

The 2014 game fills a vacancy on Minnesota's schedule, and the 2015 game replaces FCS opponent South Dakota State on the Gophers' slate. As you know, the Big Ten wants to remove all games with FCS opponents by the 2016 season or shortly thereafter, and Minnesota had been one of the worst at piling up games against lower-division foes.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told ESPN.com that he wants every team playing one marquee non-league game per season against a team from another major conference. TCU makes perfect sense for Minnesota, which recruits a lot in Texas. Gophers coach Jerry Kill and Frogs coach Gary Patterson are very close friends.

The teams have met just once previously, in 1974, when Minnesota beat TCU in a 9-7 thriller (cough, cough).

Kudos to Minnesota athletic director Norwood Teague for getting this done, and to Kill for understanding the need to beef up the schedule and give fans an appealing series to watch.

Minnesota's 2014 and 2015 non-league schedules are complete. The Gophers play TCU (road), Eastern Illinois (home), Middle Tennessee (home), and San Jose State (home) in 2014; and TCU (home), Colorado State (road), Kent State (home), and Ohio (home) in 2015.

The Big Ten moves to a nine-game conference schedule in 2016.

Here's hoping Minnesota makes similar schedule upgrades for 2016 and beyond.

Pretty much everybody thought the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl would be a low-scoring game, given the two outstanding defenses and the, uh, challenges facing the offenses. TCU and Michigan State lived up -- or down, depending on your point of view -- to expectations. But the finish was exciting.

The Spartans looked completely lost on offense for the first three and a half quarters, punting on each of their first eight drives. But they rode their workhorse, tailback Le'Veon Bell, and caught a big special-teams break in rallying for two late touchdowns and a 14-13 lead in the fourth quarter. The Horned Frogs answered on Jaden Oberkrom's 53-yard field goal with 2:42 left. But Michigan State won it 17-16 on a 47-yard field goal from Dan Conroy with 1:01 left.

Here's a quick review of how it all went down:

It was over when: TCU's Trevone Boykin threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-18 in the final minute, extinguishing the Horned Frogs' chances. After scoring 13 points on its first four possessions, TCU had just a field goal in its final nine drives. Michigan State's defense limited the Horned Frogs to just 74 yards in the second half.

Game ball goes to: Michigan State's Bell. After a slow start, he carried the ball 32 times for 145 yards and a touchdown. He also threw a 29-yard pass out of the Wildcat formation to convert a key third down on the team's first scoring drive. He accounted for 174 of the Spartans' 227 total yards, which is nothing new. Bell finished the season with a nation-leading 382 carries.

Stat of the game: Michigan State had as many punts (11) as pass completions and yet won the game. Bell had one more passing yard than starting quarterback Andrew Maxwell.

Unsung hero: Speaking of punts, the Spartans' Mike Sadler was a busy man, and he did a great job. Sadler averaged 43.7 yards on his 11 punts and pinned three inside the TCU 20. He boomed a 52-yarder while backed into his own end zone in the second half. And his driving 55-yard punt inside the Horned Frogs' 5 sent returner Skye Dawson backpedaling. Dawson fumbled the punt, Michigan State recovered on the 4-yard line and Bell ran in for a go-ahead score.

What Michigan State learned: After losing five games by 13 points this season, the Spartans looked like they were headed for another heartbreak when Oberkrom hit that 53-yarder. Instead, unlike so many previous games this season, Michigan State found a way to make big plays in all three phases in the final two minutes. The bowl win doesn't erase the disappointment of a 6-6 regular season, and the offense still looked cringe-worthy most of the night. But Mark Dantonio's team has something to build on with a positive closing note. The spring storyline is already set, as there's a quarterback controversy brewing. Freshman Connor Cook, who hadn't thrown a pass since Week 2, gave the team more of a spark than Maxwell. With two minutes left and his team needing a score to win, Dantonio turned to Cook, not the junior he'd started in all 12 games this season.

What TCU learned: This was a rare off-year for Gary Patterson, whose team lost five of its final seven games. The good news is that the Horned Frogs are still extremely young and bring back just about everyone next year. Though facing Michigan State's offense probably seemed like a vacation compared to Big 12 play, TCU still showed that it has an elite-level defense. Improving on offense will be the key for next season. Quarterback Boykin made some big plays early but overthrew several receivers and was limping around late. He completed only 13 of 29 passes and threw an interception. He'll need to make great strides to compete with Casey Pachall next year, assuming a successful return for Pachall.

Only one Big Ten game took place since the last edition of the power rankings, but the surprising result left quite a conundrum.

How should we rank teams 2 through 6 after Wisconsin smashed Nebraska by 39 points in the Big Ten championship game? Wisconsin had a truly great night in Indy and looked like a different team than we've seen all season, but the Badgers still have more losses than Nebraska, Northwestern, Michigan and Penn State.

Oh, the decisions. In the end, this version of the power rankings takes into account the totality of the season. It's a little different from the weekly ones in that sense. Plus, we want to remain consistent with how we voted in the ESPN.com power rankings. As a result, Wisconsin stays at 6 (commence hate mail).

Let's get to it ...

1. Ohio State (12-0, last week: 1): Get used to the Buckeyes occupying the top spot under coach Urban Meyer, who guided Ohio State to its sixth unbeaten and untied season in team history. The big keys entering the offseason are addressing depth issues on the defensive side, finding more consistent playmakers to surround quarterback Braxton Miller and maintaining the standard set this season on the offensive line.

2. Michigan (8-4, last week: 3): Jadeveon Clowney and the South Carolina Gamecocks await Michigan at the Outback Bowl, giving the Wolverines one final chance at a signature victory. Clowney and Wolverines tackle Taylor Lewan face off in a battle of future NFLers. Michigan should benefit from bowl practices as it continues to adjust to having both Devin Gardner and Denard Robinson in the backfield.

3. Penn State (8-4, last week: 4): Penn State won't soon forget the 2012 season or the 2012 senior class, but it's now time to look ahead to an uncertain future. Bill O'Brien and his assistants must be extremely selective with the 2013 recruiting class and future classes, as they can ill afford to miss on more than a few prospects. Penn State loses a lot of star power on defense but has a nice piece to build around at defensive end in Big Ten Freshman of the Year Deion Barnes.

4. Nebraska (10-3, last week: 2): On the cusp of its first league title since 1999, Nebraska tumbled down the mountain yet again. Saturday's loss was an all-time stinker, the worst in team history, according to veteran columnist Tom Shatel. The defense allowed more rushing yards (539) than it ever has, and the offense turned over the ball and didn't find a rhythm until it was far too late. Nebraska will try to rebound against Georgia in the Capital One Bowl.

5. Northwestern (9-3, last week: 5): Will Northwestern finally get the bowl monkey off of its back this year? Pat Fitzgerald's crew has a potentially favorable matchup against slumping Mississippi State in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. A young Wildcats squad should benefit from bowl practices, as players such as cornerback Nick VanHoose can fully heal. Northwestern's formidable rushing attack faces a Bulldogs defense ranked 70th nationally against the run.

6. Wisconsin (8-5, last week: 6): Yes, we saw what you saw Saturday night. The Badgers were brilliant. And if they follow it up against Stanford in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio, they'll make a serious move up the power rankings. Still, this has been an inconsistent team that now must deal with the stunning departure of coach Bret Bielema to Arkansas. After dealing with so much adversity this season, can the Badgers rally again?

7. Michigan State (6-6, last week: 7): The good news for both the Spartans and their Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl opponent, TCU, is that their upcoming matchup is at a neutral site. Both squads failed to win a conference home game this season. Both squads are also very good on defense and inconsistent on offense. It'll be interesting to see Mark Dantonio and Gary Patterson match wits, and how Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell performs against a stout Frogs defense.

8. Purdue (6-6, last week: 8): The Boilers have a new head coach in Darrell Hazell, but his impact won't be felt until 2013. An extremely tough matchup against Oklahoma State awaits Purdue in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Cornerbacks Josh Johnson and Ricardo Allen will be tested early and often, and quarterback Robert Marve and the offense will need to put up big numbers for the Boilers to have a chance against the heavily favored Pokes.

9. Minnesota (6-6, last week: 9): Like Purdue, Minnesota heads to Texas for a bowl matchup in which it is a sizable underdog. And like the Boilers, Minnesota needs its cornerbacks (Michael Carter and Troy Stoudermire) to step up against a very good passing offense in Texas Tech (second nationally). The Red Raiders allowed 111 points in their final two games, but Minnesota's offense has been banged up and struggling and must get healthy this month.

10. Indiana (4-8, last week: 10): It's all about improving the defense in Bloomington, and Indiana has upgraded its recruiting, most recently adding a commitment from defensive tackle Darius Latham, an ESPN 300 prospect who had originally pledged to Wisconsin. The Hoosiers need more depth and more talent on defense to complement what will be a very explosive offense in 2013.

11. Iowa (4-8, last week: 11): Offensive coordinator Greg Davis is staying, and he'll be tasked to upgrade an offense that took a significant step back in his first season. Jake Rudock is expected to step in at quarterback, and Iowa should have good depth at running back (famous last words, I know). The defense returns most of its key pieces and showed the ability to take the ball away this season (23).

12. Illinois (2-10, last week: 12): As expected, coach Tim Beckman will get at least another season to get things right after a miserable first go-round. Staff changes probably are coming as Illinois tries to get back on its feet before spring practice. The Illini lose several NFL-caliber defensive players, but the bigger concerns are with an offense that finished 119th nationally this season.

Last week, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith told the Associated Press that the Buckeyes planned to scale back their games against MAC opponents and beef up nonconference schedules to get ready for the four-team playoff.

The first possible evidence of that arrived today, as the Ohio State announced it would play a home-and-home series with TCU in 2018 and 2019. While we can't know how good the Horned Frogs will be in six years, Gary Patterson has turned them into a program with staying power, as TCU ranks fifth among FBS teams with 97 wins the past 10 years. TCU's recent climb paved the way for the school to be accepted into the Big 12.

Relations between the Buckeyes and Horned Frogs have come a long way in a short time, too. The schools had tentative plans to open the 2009 season in Columbus, but Ohio State refused to give TCU a return game. In 2010, Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee lumped then-undefeated TCU and Boise State into his infamous "Little Sisters of the Poor" comment, saying they didn't play a hard enough schedule to deserve a shot at the title.

Now, Ohio State will go to TCU first in this home-and-home deal and views the Horned Frogs as a way to upgrade its schedule. In this week's Associated Press Top 25, the No. 12 Buckeyes are ranked three spots ahead of TCU.

Ohio State is also scheduled to play Cincinnati in 2018 in what has the makings of a pretty good nonconference slate, especially if another major-conference opponent is added. TCU is the only opponent booked so far for the 2019 nonconference schedule. Remember that Ohio State, like other Big Ten schools, was told to reserve some space for the Big Ten/Pac-12 series that fell apart this summer.

Going to Texas for a game also can't hurt Urban Meyer's future recruiting efforts, as he has made it known that he will hunt nationally for players. The Dallas/Fort Worth area is full of big-time prospects every year, and Meyer will be able to promise Texas prospects a game in their home state.

We'll wait to see how the rest of Ohio State's future schedules shape up. But this looks like a good start, and an improvement on the very bland nonconference slate the Buckeyes played last month.

Anyone who stepped into Wisconsin's locker room after the Rose Bowl knew the Badgers' loss to TCU would sting for some time.

Running back John Clay and others had tears in their eyes. Defensive end J.J. Watt, who normally makes eye contact with his countless interviewers, spoke with his eyes locked on the floor, trying to hold it together.

The 21-19 setback also hit the coaching staff hard. Wisconsin's game plan drew some criticism following the game, particularly on offense, where the Badgers drifted away from their between-the-tackles rushing attack at times.

Head coach Bret Bielema took a brief vacation after the bowl, only to be reminded of what had happened.

"I saw a guy in a TCU shirt," Bielema recalled Monday at his pre-spring football news conference, "so that took me back."

Bielema also has had several conversations with TCU coach Gary Patterson since the game. Every time the two colleagues talk, Bielema thinks back to Jan. 1.

The Badgers coach didn't watch the game film until after national signing day "because you know you're going to watch it over and over and over again," he said. Bielema won't review the game with the players until after the spring, but they will watch it together.

"It's something we had to take and learn," Bielema said. "It'll be a game that I know I personally will take a lot from. ... The easy thing is take the negative. But there's a lot of positives to learn from that experience."

First and foremost, it's about fixing the product on the field. Anyone who watched Michigan knows there's a lot to repair between the lines.

But Michigan's new coach also must get to work on uniting a massive fan base through what could be several more lean years in terms of wins and losses. Michigan fans were divided when Rich Rodriguez arrived as coach, stayed divided during his rocky three-year tenure and remain divided after the school fired Rodriguez on Wednesday.

"We have been divided to a large extent and we continue to be divided based on all of the various opinions and inputs that I get," Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said in announcing Rodriguez's termination. "If we want to be successful -- if we want to be successful as a football program, as an athletic department and we want our university to really represent what we are all about -- we need to rally around our new coach. Don't find fault, don't make hasty judgments before they arrive on campus.

"What we need to do is rally around our coach, support him and do everything we can do to help him be successful. I hope that's what our fans and alums and all of the folks who are connected with Michigan are prepared to do."

Brandon knows there's no way to earn consensus approval with Rodriguez's replacement.

But is there a coach who can bring together much of Michigan's fan base?

Yes. His name his Jim Harbaugh. And he seems a lot more interested in going to the NFL than returning to his alma mater, although the situation could change quickly.

Harbaugh has the charisma, the Michigan ties and the recent track record of success to earn fans' confidence even if the team takes a step back or two before going forward. But he's probably not coming to Ann Arbor.

What about the others? Les Miles? Brady Hoke? Gary Patterson?

I can't see Michigan's entire fan base getting behind any of these guys from the start, but Hoke might get the most support. Although Miles is more accomplished at the highest level, he's somewhat of a lightning rod and spawns a lot of different opinions. I think a guy like Patterson would be fantastic at Michigan, but like Rodriguez, he's an outsider who does most of his recruiting in Texas.

Hoke's drawback is he hasn't won at the highest level, but a lot of coaches can make the jump and have success. Brandon even identified Ohio State's Jim Tressel as a perfect example.

"Is Tressel a bad coach?" Brandon said of the former longtime Youngstown State coach. "I think he seems to be doing pretty well down there, at least against us."

Smart Michigan fans would research how Hoke turned around two downtrodden programs at Ball State and San Diego State. He certainly understands the Michigan culture as a former Wolverines assistant. And he would embrace the task of trying to restore Michigan to elite status.

I know a lot of Michigan fans read the blog, so what do you think? Besides Harbaugh, is there a candidate who can repair a (big) house divided?

There's so much Rich Rodriguez reaction, so I've split the links into two groups.

RICHROD REACTION

• Michigan still desires a Michigan man, and Rodriguez wasn't one, colleague Ivan Maisel writes.
• Here's why Rodriguez failed at Michigan, Michael Rosenberg writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• John U. Bacon offers an insider's look at Rodriguez's turbulent tenure at Michigan.
• LSU's Les Miles and TCU's Gary Patterson haven't been contacted by Michigan. San Diego State's Brady Hoke would be a good fit at U-M, Lynn Henning writes in The Detroit News.
• Denard Robinson's high school coach wants the quarterback to be patient in deciding his future, Jo-Ann Barnas writes in the Free Press.
• More Michigan-Rodriguez reaction what's next here and here and here and here.

OTHER BIG TEN LINKS

• T-Magic is staying at Nebraska, colleague David Ubben writes.
• The Cam Newton and Terrelle Pryor rulings are totally different, Tony Barnhart writes in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ohio State's senior class made the right types of headlines in their careers, Rob Oller writes in The Columbus Dispatch. The Buckeyes add a big-time recruit, colleague Corey Long writes.
• Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure will discuss his NFL decision with Ron Zook today, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
• Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley seems to be closing in on the Pitt job, Paul Zeise writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Lions bolstered their offensive line with their latest recruit.
• The Big Ten's bowl spin would be a lot more effective had Wisconsin won the Rose Bowl, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• A look at 10 memorable moments from Michigan State's 20101 season.
• Former Northwestern assistant Kevin Johns is excited to work with Indiana's receivers, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times.
• It looks like former Minnesota coach Tim Brewster is out of the Texas State derby, Jerry Briggs writes in the San Antonio Express-News.

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon wrapped up a news conference where he announced the firing of head football coach Rich Rodriguez after three seasons.

A lot of interesting comments from Brandon today in Ann Arbor.

Some notes and observations:

• Brandon spent a lot of time talking about Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, an interesting strategy after the past few days. Brandon several times mentioned his close relationship with Harbaugh and all of their mutual friends and associates. Although Michigan has had conversations in the past about Harbaugh returning to Michigan, Brandon says no contract offer has been extended.
• The AD made it pretty clear what he thinks ultimately will happen with the former Wolverines quarterback. "My personal belief is Jim Harbaugh is going to end up with a really, really challenging opportunity in the NFL," Brandon said. "That’s what I think, we’ll see." By saying this, Brandon is telling Michigan fans to remain realistic about their expectations. It certainly doesn't mean U-M won't try to lure Harbaugh, but Brandon is setting the odds as a long shot. "I have talked to Jim Harbaugh, I will continue to talk to Jim Harbaugh," Brandon said. "He’s a Michigan man."
• Brandon on why Rodriguez didn't succeed: "I don't think Rich Rodriguez has had a peaceful night's sleep since he arrived in Ann Arbor. His three years here can somewhat be defined as three years of turmoil. It seems like it was one thing after another. It clearly impacted recruited, it clearly impacted the positive energy that a team needs to be successful. It created a lot of hardships and a lot of distractions. Clearly, we need to put ourselves in a position where that is all history." Hard to argue with Brandon here.
• Rodriguez's lack of success on the field ultimately sealed his fate as coach. "Our win-loss record overall over the last three years is the worst in our 131-season history. ... Michigan is not used to this. Michigan fans expect more than this, so do Michigan athletic directors. We need to put ourselves in a position where we get competitive again, both within the Big Ten, which is critically important, as well as nationally." Brandon also identified Rodriguez's struggles in "red-letter games," contests against Ohio State, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Iowa, Penn State, Wisconsin and any both opponents. "If you want to be successful at Michigan, you better win more than your share of those 'red-letter games,'" Brandon said. "Those red-letter games, over the last three seasons, we've been 3-15."
• Brandon stopped short of saying Michigan needs a "Michigan Man" as its next head coach, but he wants someone who understands the school's culture and the unique challenges at Michigan. He wants someone with previous head-coaching experience, but not necessarily in an automatic qualifying conference. "Is [Jim] Tressel a bad coach?" Brandon said, referring to the Ohio State boss who came to Columbus from FCS Youngstown State. "He seems to be doing pretty well down there, especially against us." It's time for Michigan to call TCU's Gary Patterson.
• Michigan is willing to pay big bucks for its next coach. Brandon said the school has previously been "in the middle of the pack" in paying its coaches. "I don't necessarily believe that's appropriate," he added. Cha-ching!
• Brandon met with Rodriguez for 3.5 hours Tuesday afternoon and evaluated the following factors: performance and competition, recruiting and retention, academic performance, leadership, university image as it relates to players, university image as it relates to coaches. Brandon said the meeting wasn't designed to end with a decision on Rodriguez's future. The AD decided Tuesday to fire Rodriguez and informed the coach Wednesday morning.
• Brandon seemed to downplay the effect the wait to fire Rodriguez will have on recruiting. He didn't want to make the decision in December because he felt the players deserved the best chance to compete in their bowl game, and Rodriguez and his staff provided that opportunity. Official recruiting visits scheduled for this weekend will be delayed. I certainly don't have high expectations for Michigan's 2011 class, but we'll see what happens. Brandon wants to move as quickly as he possibly can for a new coach, but he wants to find the right guy.
• Brandon expects some attrition on the roster, which is standard with coaching changes, but he provided this nugget about the current players and the future coach. "One of the things that I look for is a coach who can modify their approach and their attack based on the personnel that they have."
• Michigan won't use a search committee to find its next coach, although Brandon will be seeking advice from those he trusts.
• On the need for a defensive-minded coach: "There’s a thought of getting a defensive-minded everything. I want the ball boys to be defensive-minded."

There you have it from Brandon. Start digesting.

The Rich Rodriguez era is over at Michigan.

So where does the program go from here?

First-year athletic director Dave Brandon put himself in a bit of a bind by waiting so long to dismiss Rodriguez. Most head-coaching changes happen in early December, not after Jan. 1. Michigan now could be competing with several NFL teams for top candidates.

All along, I've felt that Michigan should only dump RichRod if it can land Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh as his replacement. Harbaugh's stock might never be higher, and he's the kind of coach who can inspire the fan base and recruit well despite what could be a very rough time on the field. But the reports Tuesday that Harbaugh is unlikely to return to his alma mater certainly change the scope of Michigan's coaching search.

The two candidates you'll hear a lot about are LSU coach Les Miles and San Diego State coach Brady Hoke. Miles played for Bo Schembechler at Michigan, and both he and Hoke served as Michigan assistants. Miles had strong interest in the Michigan job before Rodriguez was hired, and Hoke has made it pretty clear that Michigan is his dream job.

Both Miles and Hoke have the Michigan ties that Rodriguez lacked, but I'm not crazy about either one as the next Wolverines coach. Miles has too many red flags with clock management and other areas, and while Hoke has done masterful work in turning around both Ball State and San Diego State, he's unproven at the highest level. Miles certainly can recruit and his defenses have been strong, which would be a plus for the Wolverines.

If Brandon looks outside the family, he'll have to do a good job of selling the Michigan brand, which he has worked to build and enhance during his brief tenure as AD. Hot coaching prospects like TCU's Gary Patterson and Boise State's Chris Petersen would need to be lured away from comfortable situations with the prospect that Michigan isn't far away from competing at the national level.

Brandon's personal involvement with the football program also is a factor. He watched tape with Rodriguez and his staff Sunday mornings after games. Not sure many coaches want their boss to be such a part of the inner workings.

Michigan needs to get this hire right, but it would be a good idea to act quickly. National signing day is less than a month away, and Michigan can't let its 2011 recruiting class totally fall apart.

There's also the matter of the current players. Some undoubtedly will leave the program. Happens with every coaching change.

The big question: Will Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Denard Robinson be one of those heading elsewhere? Unless the next Michigan coach runs some version of a spread offense, I wouldn't blame Robinson for transferring. No Michigan player is impacted more by Rodriguez's firing than Robinson, whose success was so closely tied to Rodriguez's system.

It's hard not to see the team backsliding in 2011, and the 2012 schedule is absolutely brutal. Michigan could be waiting a while longer to rejoin the nation's elite.

Brandon has been impressive in his first year as AD, especially in his handling of the NCAA investigation into the football program. But his delayed decision on Rodriguez hasn't gone over well, especially with the Harbaugh news.

Most ADs don't get to hire two football coaches, so Brandon's legacy will be largely shaped in the coming days.

Stay tuned.

We're going to find out a lot about Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon in the coming hours and days.

Brandon's seemingly obvious move with Michigan football -- to fire coach Rich Rodriguez and hire Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh -- appears to be off the board. Colleague Chris Mortensen reports that Harbaugh is more likely to remain at Stanford or take an NFL job than return to his alma mater.

One theory behind Brandon's decision to wait until after Michigan's bowl game to determine Rodriguez's future was he'd be able to pursue Harbaugh after Stanford's appearance in the Discover Orange Bowl on Monday night. The AD appears to be losing the waiting game, as Rodriguez and Michigan's recruits deal with uncertainty and Michigan is now competing with several NFL teams for top coaches.

My belief all along is Michigan should only fire Rodriguez if it could land Harbaugh. The program likely will backslide after a coaching change, and it needs someone to keep fans' spirits high about the future. Harbaugh is that man.

Michigan's horrific bowl performance makes it much more difficult to bring back Rodriguez, a gifted coach but one who hasn't shown the necessary improvement in Ann Arbor. While I still think Michigan can retain Rodriguez and clean house on the defensive staff, most fans wouldn't be pleased.

If Michigan fires Rodriguez, where should it turn? Les Miles? Brady Hoke? Gary Patterson? After watching Patterson last week at the Rose Bowl, I think he'd be a tremendous hire for Michigan, but we'll see what happens.

Stay tuned.

LOS ANGELES -- The news conferences the day before bowl games are typically boring. The coaches are all talked out, and most of the big questions already have been asked and answered.

But Bret Bielema and Gary Patterson brought their A-games Friday.

Both coaches participating in the Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO had some interesting things to say. Bielema was especially entertaining, telling a bunch of stories and showing a lot of emotion -- especially when talking about star defensive end J.J. Watt -- as he gets ready to coach the biggest game of his life.

Here's the best of Bielema from Friday's news conference:

On giving his dad a new present: "I bought him a Rose Bowl watch; they came in on the 29th. I left a little note in his room for him, and I said some things to him. But on the p.s. I said, 'Sorry it took me 20 years to get you a new watch.' I gave him the 1991 Rose Bowl watch I got, and he's worn it every day since then. To give him one 20 years later was pretty special."

On Tommy Lasorda's speech to the team this week: "Coach Lasorda told a story about a sailor that was 1,000 yards out from shore and it was foggy out and his boat capsized and he knew the only thing he needed to do was start swimming. So he swam 997 yards. At that point it was still foggy and he couldn't see shore, he gave up and drowned. He was three yards from shore. Why did you swim the 997 yards? This is the cap to the season. It is an opportunity for us. We did what we needed to do to get here."

On broadcaster Keith Jackson and the Rose Bowl: "I flew out here last year and watched [Barry] Alvarez get inducted into the [Rose Bowl] Hall of Fame. I walked in and had no idea Keith Jackson was going to be the master of ceremonies. Keith Jackson is the first guy that ever said my name on national TV. And I remember my buddies saying, 'Keith Jackson said your name on TV.' I was a freshman. I missed a sack, but to hear him ..."

On whether Jackson pronounced his name correctly: "Absolutely. That's what I was impressed with. I've been bulimia, byelema, every eating disorder known to man, so he nailed it."

On what these players mean to him: "This is my first class of fifth-year seniors. To see guys like Culmer St. Jean, and from Culmer to Niles [Brinkley], to Gabe Carimi, Scott Tolzien, Lance Kendricks, and Jay Valai, and [Blake] Sorensen, and [David] Gilreath. I sat in every one of those homes. I remember the first time I met them when they were 17 and 16, in some cases, they have never shaved in their lives. Just nappy heads. I've been pissed at a lot of them, too. You get mad at them along the way. To see the smiles and rewards of giving them a Big Ten championship is pretty cool."

On getting Watt to return for another year: "[Thursday] all those people, 30, 40,000 people after he got introduced [at a pep rally], everybody started yelling, 'One more year.' I couldn't see where he was at. I walked down and saw his mom in the front row. I said to J.J., 'Did you see your mom?' He said, yeah. I said, 'Did you see her chanting one more year?'"

On embracing the moment and enjoying it: "One of the first things I say when I come into the locker room before the game a lot of times -- everybody will tell you -- 'Let's have some fun today.' First time they played the game ... it wasn't because there were 90,000 people or on national TV. It was because your dad, your uncle, your brother, your mother, your sister rolled the ball on the field and said, 'Hey, let's play.' I think we've kind of kept that going forward.

"Growing up as a kid, my brothers and I had these two neighbors down the road, and we had a big yard. When we got bigger, it wasn't big enough, so we started playing football on our knees in the grass. In the middle of our big lawn there was a 20-yard patch that was dirt. There wasn't any grass because we had worn it out on our knees playing football. I go back to those days quite a bit."

Great stuff from Bielema.

LOS ANGELES -- The Grandaddy of Them All has something to entertain the whole family this year. The matchup between No. 3 TCU and No. 5 Wisconsin features many fascinating subplots, intriguing individual matchups and -- to take the macro view -- two really, really good teams. Bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett are ready for their close-up in this Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO debate:

Brian Bennett: OK, Adam. Time for you to take a break from getting starlets' phone numbers and shopping on Rodeo Drive. Let's talk about a very interesting Rose Bowl. Wisconsin has won the eyeball test this week and may have cracked the foundation of the Los Angeles Downtown Marriott on Media Day with all that bulk in one place. But TCU has seemed focused and has a ton of athletes. Of all the contrasts and matchups in this game, which one do you think is most important to the outcome?

Adam Rittenberg: Easy, Bennett, don't tell my wife. Actually, I was planning to meet up with Suge Knight later. You know how I roll. I think this game comes down to the line of scrimmage, an area where there might be more similarities than differences. Both teams have outstanding left tackles (Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi, TCU's Marcus Cannon) and outstanding defensive ends (Wisconsin's J.J. Watt, TCU's Wayne Daniels). TCU's size along its offensive line is overlooked next to Wisconsin's, and Wisconsin's speed along its defensive line is overlooked next to TCU's. The team that controls the line of scrimmage wins the game. Can TCU's defense endure Wisconsin's power game? Can Wisconsin's defense find a way to get to Horned Frogs veteran quarterback Andy Dalton?

BB: The line of scrimmage will be critical, but I think TCU's defensive linemen are good enough to hold their own. I wonder about the safeties who will need to help out against the run. They're going to be physically outmatched by linemen, tight ends and John Clay. They had better tackle well and be extremely sound in their technique, though the Horned Frogs excel at that. And then of course you worry about play-action if you're Gary Patterson and Dick Bumpas.

On the other side, TCU's offensive line has given up just nine sacks all year. Watt versus Cannon is going to be fun to watch, but I think Dalton will stay pretty clean. I wouldn't expect Wisconsin to come after him too hard because of the threat of the zone-read and the Horned Frogs' tendency to throw those underneath routes. I would think Dave Doeren would want to keep his linebackers covering those areas against speedsters like Jeremy Kerley and Jimmy Young.

Another question I have is how the layoff will affect these teams. We've seen some spread teams struggle with timing in bowls. That might bother TCU, which never found its rhythm last year in the Fiesta Bowl, more than a ground-based attack like Wisconsin. Agree?

AR: It could, Brian, but Wisconsin was so hot at the end of the regular season, scoring 201 points in its final three games. It might take some time to re-establish the confidence and the rhythm, which could prove costly against a defense like TCU's. The Badgers really tried to maintain the intensity in bowl practice, having the first-team offense and first-team defense practice a lot against one another. But I would expect a little lull on game day. Wisconsin will benefit from having running back John Clay at near 100 percent for the game. Tackling Clay isn't a lot of fun, and he might be able to wear down TCU's defense and create lanes for James White and Montee Ball.

One area that really intrigues me about this game is special teams. Both teams have strong returners, especially TCU with Kerley. How big of a factor will the kicking game be for the Frogs?

BB: Well, Frogs fans surely understand the importance of special teams after last year's Fiesta Bowl loss, in which a Boise State fake punt made the difference. Kerley is electrifying and could single-handedly change the game; Wisconsin did surrender a punt return touchdown in its only loss, against Michigan State. TCU's punting is mediocre, and kicker Ross Evans has made only one field goal longer than 40 yards this season.

Another hidden area could be red-zone efficiency. Both teams were great at punching it in during the year, and in a potentially close game between two high-scoring teams, a red-zone stop could be huge. Any other under-the-radar factors jump out at you?

AR: Great call on the red-zone effectiveness. Wisconsin is tied for fifth nationally in red-zone offense, while TCU is tied for 16th. TCU is much better than the Badgers in red-zone defense, though (51st nationally vs. 95th). One area I've thought a lot about is the play-action game for both teams. TCU is an extremely disciplined defense, but Scott Tolzien runs the play-action very well and usually has tight end Lance Kendricks or a wide receiver open for a pass. Kendricks is a future NFL prospect, and receiver Nick Toon might be as well. Wisconsin needs its linebackers to tackle well in this game, but the Badgers can't lose sight of Dalton, who has underrated mobility and can attack down the field.

OK, Bennett, prediction time. You first.

BB: Wisconsin is awfully good, and I fear that TCU will eventually succumb to all that size. But these Horned Frogs know how to win, and I get the feeling they're very motivated to prove something on this stage. The TCU defense comes up with some key turnovers, speed trumps strength and the Horned Frogs make the Rose Bowl a non-AQ house, 30-27.

AR: This should be a great game, and it could go either way. I just don't think TCU has seen anything like Wisconsin this season. The Badgers' power and style of play is unique in college football, and ultimately, Wisconsin will wear down the frogs. Dalton keeps TCU in the game and makes several big plays with both his arm and his feet, but Wisconsin uses a big fourth quarter to secure the win. Badgers 30, Frogs 27.

Wisconsin Badgers (11-1) vs. TCU Horned Frogs (12-0)

Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Wisconsin take by Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg: Wisconsin evolved into one of the nation’s most dominating teams down the stretch, and the Badgers were rewarded with their first trip to Pasadena in 11 seasons as they face TCU in the Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO.

Bret Bielema’s team won its final seven regular-season games and destroyed everything in its path, averaging 48.3 points during the streak and combining for 201 points in its final three games. A veteran and talented offensive line led the way, creating room for backs James White, Montee Ball and John Clay and buying time for quarterback Scott Tolzien to attack downfield with the play-action game. Arguably the only downside for red-hot Wisconsin is the five-week layoff between the end of the regular season and the Rose Bowl.

The Badgers’ offense likely faces its toughest test of the season in a TCU defense that leads the nation in fewest points allowed and ranks third against the run. If TCU can contain Wisconsin on first and second downs and force Tolzien into some obvious passing situations, the Badgers could be in trouble. As good as Tolzien has been, he hasn’t faced the type of pressure TCU might provide on Jan. 1.

Wisconsin’s defense isn’t dominant like TCU’s, but the Badgers are opportunistic, recording 23 takeaways. TCU hasn’t faced a defensive end as disruptive as Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt, who made more impact plays than any Big Ten defender and needs to heat up Horned Frogs star quarterback Andy Dalton.

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TCU take by nation blogger Andrea Adelson: Well, the Horned Frogs really, really wanted to be that first non-AQ to get into a BCS national championship game, but hey, playing in the Rose Bowl is not exactly settling. They are making their second straight BCS appearance after a second straight undefeated regular season, a tremendous accomplishment under coach Gary Patterson. A big reason TCU is back on the big stage: experience. TCU returned a majority of their starters, including Andy Dalton, selected Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year. But if TCU has any shot to win, he is going to have to have a better game than the one he had last year against Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Dalton threw three interceptions in that game, including one that was returned for a touchdown, and the offense could manage little in the way of production.

They are better at running back this season with the tandem of Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker, and Jeremy Kerley is one of the best all-purpose players in the country. TCU has the No. 1 ranked defense in the country for the third straight season, and that is impressive considering the Horned Frogs lost their two best players in Jerry Hughes and Daryl Washington. The heart of the defense is with linebackers Tank Carder and Tanner Brock, but the leader is safety Tejay Johnson. Runners beware against this defensive front.