ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Week 6 didn't feature many surprises on the field or with the picks. I redeemed myself a bit with a 6-1 mark, but the one miss was a very bad one.

Let's take a look back.

Purdue at Minnesota

• The pick: Minnesota 28, Purdue 24
• Actual score: Minnesota 35, Purdue 20
• 20-20 hindsight: I was right about DeLeon Eskridge rushing for two touchdowns, but Gophers wideout Eric Decker had a quiet day as Minnesota attempted only nine passes. Purdue blew another early lead and couldn't overcome a series of major mistakes as the Boilers dropped their fifth straight.

Miami (Ohio) at Northwestern

• The pick: Northwestern 31, Miami (Ohio) 17
• Actual score: Northwestern 16, Miami (Ohio) 6
• 20-20 hindsight: As expected, Miami gave the ball away quite a bit. I correctly predicted Wildcats cornerback Sherrick McManis would make plays, but Northwestern couldn't get its run game going despite 41 attempts and several combinations on the offensive line.

Eastern Illinois at Penn State

• The pick: Penn State 41, Eastern Illinois 10
• Actual score: Penn State 52, Eastern Illinois 3
• 20-20 hindsight: Lions defensive tackle Jared Odrick answered my call with a dominant performance (3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks). Stephfon Green contributed 58 rush yards and a touchdown in limited action, but Jake Christensen didn't throw a touchdown for EIU.

Michigan State at Illinois

• The pick: Michigan State 31, Illinois 23
• Actual score: Michigan State 24, Illinois 14
• 20-20 hindsight: I expected more fight from the Illini, who fell behind 24-0 on their home field. Spartans running back Larry Caper ran for only one touchdown, not two, and quarterback Eddie McGee really struggled for Illinois.

Wisconsin at Ohio State

• The pick: Ohio State 24, Wisconsin 17
• Actual score: Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 13
• 20-20 hindsight: My score prediction could have been right on the money had Wisconsin limited its major mistakes in the game. Running backs John Clay (Wisconsin) and Brandon Saine (Ohio State) both ended up with quiet performances, and it was Ohio State's defense, not Wisconsin's, which turned out to be the opportunistic unit.

Indiana at Virginia

• The pick: Indiana 20, Virginia 17
• Actual score: Virginia 47, Indiana 7
• 20-20 hindsight: Can we forget this pick even happened? Indiana certainly would like to forget the game. The Hoosiers' senior defensive ends couldn't get to Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell, who passed for 308 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score as the Cavaliers rolled.

Michigan at Iowa

• The pick: Iowa 26, Michigan 21
• Actual score: Iowa 30, Michigan 28
• 20-20 hindsight: I was right about Michigan ending Iowa's streak of no rushing touchdowns allowed. The Wolverines recorded three rushing scores in the game. As predicted, Iowa's Ricky Stanzi turned in a strong second half as Iowa held on at home.

Week 6 record: 6-1

Season record: 37-14 (.725)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

We won't know for at least another week whether Penn State's soft nonconference schedule adequately prepared the Nittany Lions for the season. But Penn State is doing what top 15 teams are supposed to do to inferior opponents, crushing Eastern Illinois 38-0.

Quarterback Daryll Clark is building off an encouraging performance at Illinois with three first-half touchdown passes, including a 51-yarder to Chaz Powell. Junior running back Evan Royster also is having a productive afternoon with 94 rushing yards on only eight carries.

It's been another rough day at Beaver Stadium for former Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen, completing 9 of 19 passes with an interception. Penn State has outgained the Panthers 343-134.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Send in your Iowa City recommendations now.

Jon from Irvine, Calif., writes: Is it me or is Michigan getting a lot of hype for their 4-1 record? Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Notre Dame and Indiana hardly constitute quality wins (perhaps Notre Dame but they aren't nearly as good as Lou Holtz thought they would be). Yes, Michigan is much better than last year, but give me a break! Shouldn't we wait for them to win a big game before giving them this much attention?We'll see what Michigan is made of this weekend in Kinnick ...

Adam Rittenberg: Definitely agree on your last statement, Jon. Here's the deal with Michigan. It's good for the game when Michigan is doing well. It's good for the Big Ten when Michigan is doing well. As a result, the Wolverines will get hyped more than other teams despite an average résumé to this point in the season. Michigan gets a ton of attention, win or lose, and especially since the Wolverines were so bad last year, they're going to get some love when obvious improvements are made. It also helps to have a young quarterback (Tate Forcier) consistently coming up big in the clutch.

---

Frank from Chicago writes: Adam, first off, I love the blog and it keeps me very well occupied during classes, Thanks. More importantly, it seems as though Iowa's national profile has diminished from its close win over Arkansas State this past weekend. However, in light of Penn State's thorough victory over preseason sleeper Illinois, doesn't the Hawkeyes win in Happy Valley look more impressive?

Adam Rittenberg: Thanks, Frank. Not sure exactly what you mean, since Iowa actually moved up a spot in this week's AP Poll to No. 12. I thought the Hawkeyes would pay a steeper price for struggling to put away a Sun Belt team on their home field. As for Penn State's win over "preseason sleeper" Illinois, that gave me a good laugh. Beating Illinois doesn't mean a whole lot right now. Iowa's win in Happy Valley still carries a ton of weight in my book, but not for what Penn State did to the hapless Illini.

---

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

A 4-2 record last week with some in-the-ballpark score predictions. As the coaches say, let's try to get one week better.

Minnesota 28, Purdue 24 -- The Gophers know what happens when they let emotions linger after dropping their last five games in 2008. The Big Ten's most experienced team bounces back and limits mistakes on its home turf. Eric Decker goes for 120 receiving yards and DeLeon Eskridge rushes for a pair of touchdowns against Purdue, which drops another close one.

Northwestern 31, Miami (Ohio) 17 -- After generating six takeaways last week, Northwestern faces a Miami team that leads the nation in giveaways with 18. RedHawks freshman quarterback Zac Dysert makes plays early on, but NU cornerback Sherrick McManis and safety Brad Phillips force some mistakes. The Wildcats also get their running game on track.

Penn State 41, Eastern Illinois 10 -- Last week's win at Illinois gave Penn State some much-needed confidence in the run game, and the Lions will continue their momentum against Eastern Illinois. Running back Stephfon Green turns in another big performance, and defensive tackle Jared Odrick steps up for the line. Former Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen connects on a touchdown pass, but Penn State rolls.

Michigan State 31, Illinois 23 -- Eddie McGee gives a desperate Illini team an early spark, but Illinois reverts to form in the second half. Kirk Cousins tosses two touchdown passes and Larry Caper adds two more on the ground as the Spartans continue their momentum and avoid a letdown in Champaign.

Ohio State 24, Wisconsin 17 -- John Clay and an opportunistic Badgers defense gives Wisconsin a chance at The Shoe. Clay starts to produce in the second half, but Ohio State gets a big game from its own running back, Brandon Saine, while safety Kurt Coleman forces at least one turnover in his return as the Buckeyes hold on.

Indiana 20, Virginia 17 -- Tough one to call, but I like Indiana's chances because defensive ends Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton face a Virginia team that ranks last nationally in sacks allowed. The Hoosiers rack up five sacks and Kirlew forces a key fourth-quarter fumble that leads to the game-winning field goal.

Iowa 26, Michigan 21 -- Something tells me Iowa's streak of 33 consecutive quarters without a rushing touchdown allowed ends against the Wolverines, but the Hawkeyes' defense still stands strong in the end. Tate Forcier makes some plays for Michigan, but his counterpart Ricky Stanzi turns in a big second half as Iowa stays unbeaten at home.

Week 5 record: 4-2

Season record: 31-13 (.705)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Ten things you don't want to miss Saturday in the Big Ten.

1. Iowa defense goes streaking -- The Hawkeyes try to continue one of the more remarkable streaks in college football on Saturday night against Michigan (ABC, 8 p.m. ET). Iowa hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown for 33 consecutive quarters, stretching back to last year's game against Penn State on Nov. 8. Sturdy defensive line play has been the hallmark of this team in 2009, but Iowa will be tested by Michigan's rushing attack, which ranks second in the Big Ten in rushing (197.8 ypg).

2. Clay heads to Columbus -- Wisconsin sophomore running back John Clay looks ready to be a star, and his team needs a huge performance against an Ohio State defense that ranks 10th nationally against the run (83.4 ypg). Despite losing his starting job in preseason camp, Clay leads the Big Ten in rushing average (116.4 ypg) and comes off a career-best performance against Minnesota. Wisconsin's offensive line is starting to get healthy, and the Badgers likely will go right at Ohio State's strength.

3. Desperation time for Zook, Illini -- They're calling for Ron Zook's head in Champaign, and the embattled fifth-year coach can't afford another lopsided loss against Michigan State (Big Ten Network, noon ET). Zook made a quarterback change Monday, benching four-year starter Juice Williams in favor of junior Eddie McGee, who makes his first career start. We'll soon find out if the problem is the quarterback or the scheme. The Illini need to start using all of their offensive weapons -- particularly star wideout Arrelious Benn -- against a Spartans defense that gained a lot of confidence in last week's win against Michigan.

4. Forcier looks for road rebound -- Michigan freshman quarterback Tate Forcier took the blame for last week's loss to Michigan State, even though his gutsy play was the only reason the Wolverines even had a chance. Forcier has been brilliant in the clutch, but he'll face his toughest test of the season against Iowa's defense in a night game at Kinnick Stadium. It could be the perfect stage for another fourth-quarter masterpiece, but Forcier likely will need more help from his running backs against the Hawkeyes. Expect to see a few tricks from Wolverines head coach Rich Rodriguez.

5. Gophers need home cookin' -- The importance of Minnesota's home game against Purdue can't be understated for the Gophers. With upcoming trips to Penn State and Ohio State, Minnesota can't afford to lose to the Boilers and maintain its hopes for a strong postseason push. The Gophers need a more disciplined performance after being flagged nine times against Wisconsin, and Saturday's game provides them a chance to get an inconsistent rushing attack going against a Boilers defense that ranks ninth in the Big Ten against the run (174.6 ypg).

6. Valai vs. Pryor -- Wisconsin safety Jay Valai isn't a very big guy, but he always brings it with big hits. It should be interesting to see how the 5-9, 201-pound Valai approaches Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who checks in at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds. Pryor has turned in three solid performances since his struggles against USC and seems more open to running the ball. When he takes off, Valai and an opportunistic Badgers defense will be looking to make big plays.

7. Indiana's defense looks to bowl over Cavs -- Indiana has dropped consecutive games and faces a tough upcoming stretch beginning Oct. 24 with a road game against Northwestern. Bill Lynch's team can feel a lot better about its bowl hopes with a victory Saturday at Virginia (ESPN360.com, 3:30 p.m. ET). As I've written for month, Indiana's fate will be determined by a veteran-laden defense, which faces a Cavaliers team that ranks 99th nationally or lower in the four major offensive categories. Virginia ranks dead last nationally in sacks allowed, so Indiana defensive ends Greg Middleton and Jammie Kirlew should be licking their chops.

8. Christensen returns to Happy Valley -- There's not a whole lot of intrigue about the Penn State-Eastern Illinois game, but the Nittany Lions will be facing a player associated with their recent nemesis Iowa. Former Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen will start for EIU and hopes to continue a season for the FCS Panthers. Christensen already has passed for 1,090 yards with 11 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He faces a Penn State defense that shut down Illinois last week. Penn State sacked Christensen five times in a 27-7 win against Iowa in 2007 at Beaver Stadium.

9. Simmons ready to run -- Northwestern's rushing attack hasn't been the same since junior Stephen Simmons went down with an ankle injury in Week 2. Simmons is set to return Saturday against Miami (Ohio) and looks to spark a ground game that ranks 10th in the Big Ten (121.8 ypg). After rotating Arby Fields and Jacob Schmidt for the last two weeks, the Wildcats can go back to their featured back in a game that should build some momentum for the offense before Big Ten play resumes next week against Michigan State.

10. Purdue's ball security -- After a six-turnover disaster on its home field last week, Purdue now ranks 119th out of 120 FBS teams in giveaways with 18. If the Boilers can just manage to hang onto the ball at Minnesota, they could have a chance. Minnesota's defense struggled to contain Clay last week, and Purdue will want Ralph Bolden to get going after several quiet weeks. After putting up 88 points in its first two games, the Boilers have been stuck on 21 in each of their last three contests. Better ball security is a critical step to snapping the trend.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

A few of you have mentioned several Big Ten quarterback transfers I didn't include in an earlier post about former Iowa signal-caller Jake Christensen, now starring for Eastern Illinois. I focused my research on quarterbacks who played in the Big Ten last year before transferring, but it's still worth noting how two of the others are doing.

• Ryan Mallett (Michigan), Arkansas -- 67 of 123 for 1,148 pass yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs, 287 yards per game, 159.1 rating, 2-2 record
• Nick Foles (Michigan State), Arizona -- 37 of 53 for 353 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs, 117 ypg, 156.9 rating, 1-0 record as the starter

Anyone know what James Stallons (Wisconsin) or Justin Siller (Purdue) are up to these days?

Two quick tidbits:

• Iowa athletic director Gary Barta writes a guest editorial to the student newspaper expressing his disappointment with drunk tailgaters at Hawkeyes home games.
• Michigan running back Brandon Minor is getting close to 100 percent healthy, while another back, Carlos Brown, sat out practice Wednesday with an undisclosed injury. Also, Michigan might be moving safety Troy Woolfolk to cornerback.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

One of the things Jake Christensen likes about playing football at Eastern Illinois is the appreciation Panthers players have toward the game.

"The guys care more about football at this level, honestly," Christensen said Monday on a conference call with reporters. "It’s easy to care about football when you’re playing in front of 100,000 people every weekend and you’re a superstar in town."

	Stephen Mally/Icon SMI
	Jake Christensen returns to Penn State Saturday, this time as Eastern Illinois' quarterback.

EIU players will get a taste of the limelight Saturday (ESPN Classic, noon ET) when they face Penn State at Beaver Stadium (capacity: 107,282). The atmosphere will be unlike any the Panthers experience in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Christensen expects many of his teammates to be "awestruck at first," but he won't be. The former Iowa quarterback will be making his second trip to Happy Valley as a player after facing Penn State in 2007. Christensen endured a rough day in a rough season, as Iowa lost 27-7 and he was sacked five teams as the Hawkeyes recorded only eight first downs.

His lasting impression from Beaver Stadium?

"Real loud," he said. "They're going to be bigger than we are and probably faster than we are at every position, but it’s been done before and there’s no reason why we can’t do it. We’re not scared, we're not intimidated. We're ready to play football."

Christensen, who transferred to EIU this summer, would rather not look back at his time in Iowa City, but his connection to the Hawkeyes does work in his favor Saturday. After all, Iowa has won seven of its last eight games against Penn State, including a 21-10 triumph on Sept. 26.

"I don’t know, man," he said when asked to explain Iowa's success in the series. "They get some breaks against that team that I’ve never seen before in my life."

That wasn't the only playful jab he took at his former team. When asked if left-handers get picked on by their coaches, Christensen, a southpaw, said with a laugh, "Well, apparently Iowa's coaches didn't like me very much."

Christensen has done well at Eastern Illinois, completing 65.4 percent of his passes for 1,090 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions in five games.

Here's a look at how several quarterback transfers from the Big Ten are faring with their new teams.

• Jake Christensen (Iowa), Eastern Illinois: 89 of 136 passing for 1,090 yards, 11 TDs, 3 INTs, 218 ypg, 155.04 rating, 4-1 record
• Kellen Lewis (Indiana), Valdosta State: 93 of 142 passing for 934 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs, 123.5 rating, 233.5 ypg, 4 rush TDs, 2-2 record
• Pat Devlin (Penn State), Delaware: 100 of 155 passing for 1,252 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs, 144.7 rating, 4 rush TDs, 3-2 record
• Clint Brewster (Minnesota), Tennessee Tech: No pass attempts this season.
• Steven Threet (Michigan): sitting out the season at Arizona State, per NCAA transfer rules.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Good news for former Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen, who had his waiver granted by the NCAA and is now cleared to play games for Eastern Illinois. Christensen's transfer was a bit more complicated than most because he already graduated from Iowa.

He has been competing for the starting job at Eastern Illinois in practice and feels better about his passing mechanics after struggling at Iowa.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As a highly touted quarterback coming out of high school, Jake Christensen never thought he'd be attempting to salvage his football career at Eastern Illinois.

	Ned Dishman/Getty Images
	QB Jake Christensen has focused on refining his mechanics since transferring to Eastern Illinois.

But after some trying times in Iowa City that led to his transfer from the Hawkeyes in January, Christensen knows there's no place he'd rather be.

"Even if I was the starter there, I can't say that I'd want to be there as opposed to here," Christensen recently told ESPN.com. "I love the coaches here, I love the guys and I'm happy."

Christensen, who started 13 consecutive games at Iowa in 2007 and 2008 before losing his job to Ricky Stanzi, is enrolled at Eastern Illinois as a graduate student and has been practicing with the team. The school is still waiting on the NCAA to clear Christensen for competition.

EIU team spokesman Rich Moser said the school's compliance office has been checking daily on Christensen's waiver with the NCAA, but there's no timetable for when an answer will come through.

If and when Christensen gets the go-ahead, he's confident he'll be a different player than the one fans saw at Iowa. In 2007, he passed for 2,269 yards with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions but completed just 53.5 percent of his throws and drew criticism for taking too many sacks.

Last fall Christensen split snaps with Stanzi before losing the top job following a 21-20 loss at Pitt.

"I feel I'm back, mechanically wise, to where I was when I left high school," he said. "That's a good place for me. For whatever reason, I got a little bulky at Iowa, a little stronger than I should have been, and my mechanics got a little out of whack. I got more like a linebacker than a quarterback and it kind of obstructed my throwing motion a little bit and threw things off.

"But it's not an excuse. It was just something I realized this summer with not lifting weights so hard that my motion was a little more fluid."

Christensen said Iowa never asked him to gain weight but it "just kind of happened." He made his mechanics a bigger focal point after leaving the program, and spent the summer working with his father, Jeff, a former NFL quarterback, as well as former NFL signal-caller Steve DeBerg.

"The coaches [at Iowa] focused more on the X's and O's than mechanics," Christensen said. "I don't think [offensive coordinator Ken] O'Keefe had much to do with mechanics. If you watch me now compared to last year, it'd be completely different throwing the ball, in a good way."

Though the transfer process as a graduate student is tricky, Christensen explored several options at both the FBS and FCS levels. He talked extensively with Colorado State and also considered Utah and Miami (Ohio).

But Eastern Illinois soon emerged as the front-runner. Jeff Christensen played at the school, and Jake had been recruited by EIU offensive coordinator Roy Wittke when Wittke served as Arkansas' offensive coordinator. The Tony Romo factor also helped (Romo starred at Eastern Illinois).

"With the whole Romo deal, he opened the doorway for smaller schools," Christensen said. "Now you've got guys like [former Delaware star Joe Flacco] in the NFL playing, not just making it but starting and playing well. I think it's a good place to me if you want to try and go further with your career."

Christensen doesn't downplay the difficulties he had at Iowa, but he's looking ahead.

"As far as having a fair shot, in my heart I can't really say that I believe that," he said. "But that being said, I don't have any negative energy toward them. They did what they did and it worked out for them. They are where they want to be.

"At the end of the day, I'm glad I went through it."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Sorry these are coming a little late. I had to drive through a typhoon to get to Iowa City, but I'm here, safe and sound. I'll be heading over to Kinnick Stadium in a bit.

For now, chew on these links. 

• Looks like a false alarm on star recruit William Gholston, who remains committed to Michigan State, the Lansing State Journal's Joe Rexrode writes in his blog.
  
• The numbers don't lie in a bleak Big Ten landscape, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News. 
• Illinois defensive tackle Josh Brent has been to rock bottom and back, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
  
• Former Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen has transferred to Eastern Illinois.
  
• Michigan has a good problem to deal with on its offensive line, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press. 
• Northwestern picks up a key commitment from the state of Michigan, Mark Spezia writes in The Flint Journal.
  
• Ohio State's preseason Coaches' Poll ranking looks a bit high to The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises. Former Buckeyes star quarterback Troy Smith is among the great No. 10s of this decade, CBSsports.com's Dennis Dodd writes. 
• Penn State looks very strong at several positions, but the development at the less-experienced spots will determine the outcome this fall, Cory Giger writes in The Altoona Mirror.  
• The Capital Times' Jim Polzin breaks down the numbers from Wisconsin's 2008 season. 
• Since there will be no drinking inside TCF Bank Stadiums, the bars surrounding Minnesota's new facility hope to take advantage.
  

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Kirk Ferentz calls them Ricky Stanzi's Kodak moments, and Stanzi had an album full of them last season for Iowa. 

	Stephen Mally/Icon SMI
	Consistency and limiting mistakes will be key for quarterback Ricky Stanzi this season.

Stanzi made his share of mistakes in his first year as the Hawkeyes' starting quarterback, but he also showed impressive poise to bounce back virtually every time.

After committing a total of five turnovers (two interceptions, three fumbles) in consecutive losses to Northwestern and Michigan State, Stanzi steadied himself in wins against Indiana and Wisconsin. The sophomore endured a miserable performance at Illinois (2 INTs, lost fumble returned for a touchdown), only to lead Iowa to a season-defining win against then-No. 3 Penn State the following week.

The Penn State game brought out both the worst and the best of Stanzi. He had an interception and a lost fumble turn into 10 points for the Nittany Lions, but responded to lead three Hawkeyes scoring drives in the final 25 minutes. 

"The interception against Penn State was about as ugly as you can throw," Ferentz said. "I guess you could kind of see one of our guys in there, but it was through three or four of their guys. And then the Illinois thing, I've seen those situations just implode negatively for you. But both those instances, he just came right back and played and did a good job.

"That's something that's hard to teach anybody or give anybody. He really has that gene, that trait. That's a good starting point."  

Iowa knows Stanzi can bounce back when things go south, but whether he can avoid difficult situations in the first place will largely shape how the team performs this season. Stanzi no longer has Shonn Greene in the backfield, and with wideout Andy Brodell and tight end Brandon Myers gone, the junior quarterback will face increased pressure to make plays.

Though Stanzi must limit turnovers and become more consistent in the red zone -- Iowa came up empty nine times last year, the second-highest total in the league -- he has no plans to overhaul his approach.

"It's just being conscious of what you're doing out there," he said. "I know there's been times when I've turned the ball over too much. That's obvious. You can write that down as a stat. At the same time, it's not going to change my style of play because if I start doing that, you're pulling back from something that helps you make some plays."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

A team is often only as good as its backup quarterback, a fact that held true throughout the Big Ten in 2008.

Pat Devlin scored arguably the biggest touchdown of Penn State's season at Ohio State as the Nittany Lions rallied for a 13-6 win. Mike Kafka's record-setting rushing performance against Minnesota helped Northwestern to a huge win after injuries had hit several important positions. Several Big Ten squads also had backups emerge into starters, such as Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor and Iowa's Ricky Stanzi.

Several Big Ten backups haven't played a down in a college game, so it's tough to pass judgment on them. But here's my stab at ranking the league's backup signal callers coming out of spring ball.

1. Michigan State -- The competition for the starting job between Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol remains too close to call, and that's not a bad thing. Both players performed very well during spring ball and particularly during the spring game. Whoever doesn't win the top job provides head coach Mark Dantonio with a solid No. 2 option. Cousins already held the role last fall and performed well.

2. Minnesota -- Head coach Tim Brewster reiterated throughout the spring that Adam Weber is his starter, but he also acknowledged that talented freshman MarQueis Gray will get on the field a lot this fall. Gray lived up to the hype in spring ball, and the Gophers likely will use a special package of plays to feature him in games. Should Weber go down, Minnesota should be fine with Gray.

3. Illinois -- The Illini boast the Big Ten's most experienced signal caller in Juice Williams, and they also have the league's most seasoned backup in Eddie McGee. McGee appeared in 12 games in 2007 and came up big against Missouri, Wisconsin and Penn State. The coaches have even used McGee on a series or two when Williams gets into trouble. Redshirt freshman Jacob Charest provides another solid option.

4. Ohio State -- Overall depth at quarterback is the only reason the Buckeyes aren't higher on the list. The coaches have confidence that Joe Bauserman can step in if Terrelle Pryor goes down with an injury. Bauserman boasts a strong arm and good knowledge of the scheme. It remains to be seen what Ohio State gets out of third-stringer Kenny Guiton, a late signee in February.

5. Wisconsin -- The starting job is not set in stone, though senior Dustin Sherer remains the frontrunner heading into the summer. Curt Phillips' push toward the end of spring should ease offensive coordinator Paul Chryst's concerns about the position. Phillips brings speed and athleticism to the backfield, and junior Scott Tolzien is a smart player who has been in the system for some time.

6. Michigan -- True freshman Tate Forcier emerged from a solid spring as the frontrunner at quarterback, though he'll still be pushed by Nick Sheridan and Denard Robinson in August. Sheridan has been in the fire and showed some good signs during spring ball before breaking his leg. But he might not be as strong of a fit as Robinson, who boasts track-star speed and, like Forcier, provides the improvisation skills needed to run this offense.

7. Northwestern -- Pat Fitzgerald and his staff are fully prepared to play a second quarterback at times this season. The nature of Northwestern's spread offense elevates the injury risk for quarterbacks, and Dan Persa likely will see the field, much like Kafka did in 2008. Persa's size (6-1, 200) is a bit of a concern, though he brings above-average mobility to the pocket. Incoming freshman Evan Watkins likely will redshirt this fall, but he's considered the team's quarterback of the future.

8. Purdue -- The Boilers would have been much better off with Justin Siller still in the fold, but the coaches liked what they saw from redshirt freshman Caleb TerBush this spring. Career backup Joey Elliott will get the first shot under center this fall, but TerBush is a big kid (6-5, 222) who can step in if things go south. The problem here is depth, as Purdue can't play Robert Marve until 2010.

9. Penn State -- Devlin's decision to transfer really stings Penn State, which can't afford to lose Daryll Clark and keep its Big Ten title hopes afloat. True freshman Kevin Newsome did some nice things this spring, but he's got a long way to go before leading the Spread HD offense in a Big Ten game. Matt McGloin provides the Nittany Lions with another option under center, but Penn State should take every precaution to keep Clark healthy.

10. Indiana -- The coaches' decision to move Kellen Lewis to wide receiver not only reaffirmed their faith in starter Ben Chappell, but also the men behind him. Teddy Schell came to Indiana as a decorated high school quarterback in Illinois and should finally get a chance to showcase himself. But Schell is unproven on the college level, and the same goes for promising redshirt freshman Adam Follett.

11. Iowa -- Nothing against James Vandenberg or John Wienke, but the college canvas is pretty blank on both redshirt freshmen right now. Despite all the Jake Christensen hatred, many level-headed Hawkeyes fans wouldn't mind having him around this season to back up Ricky Stanzi. An injury to Stanzi could derail Iowa's Big Ten title hopes, particularly with four very difficult conference road games (Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ohio State).

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

I spoke briefly this morning with Jeff Christensen, the father of former Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen, who announced in January he would transfer from the school.

The younger Christensen is finishing final exams this week at Iowa before hitting the road this weekend to tour possible transfer destinations. Jeff Christensen said they plan to visit eight schools and hope to make a decision in the next few weeks.

"He's excited," Jeff Christensen said. "He's ready to move on with his life."

Iowa placed no restrictions on Jake Christensen, and the quarterback, who has one year of eligibility left, is still considering both FBS and FCS schools, his father said. Jeff Christensen declined to name the teams Jake is considering but said Illinois State is not one of them.

Jake Christensen started every game in 2007 for Iowa before losing his job to Ricky Stanzi midway through last season. He has passed for 2,950 yards with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his career.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As promised, your non-expansion-related questions.

Chad from Ames, Iowa, writes: Any news on the status of former-Hawkeye QB Jake Christensen? His father claimed that Jake had fifteen-plus suitors for his services, but I have yet to hear where he landed.

Adam Rittenberg: Things are pretty quiet on the Christensen front, Chad. Illinois State looked like a possibility for a while, but nothing has materialized yet. I'll post something as soon as I hear.

---

Mike from Detroit writes: How much of the hype surrounding Terrelle Pryor do you think comes from his recruiting ranking vs performance as a QB? It seems extreme to me when Ohio State ranked 105th in passing offense and couldn't even score an offensive TD against Purdue, USC and Penn State. Wouldn't it make more sense for the pundits to save some of their slobbering until Pryor shows he can do more than just hand off to Beanie or run himself?

Adam Rittenberg: The recruiting buzz around Pryor certainly fuels his hype, and he definitely has a lot more to prove as a college quarterback, starting this season. I don't have Pryor among my top 5 Big Ten players at this point because his potential hasn't translated on the field -- yet. Keep in mind he has played only one season, and there's a ton of room to grow. What can't be denied is Pryor's physical gifts and running ability. Aside from Robert Griffin at Baylor, there might not be a more dangerous college quarterback on the move than Pryor. But he's got to show more as a passer, no doubt.

---

Dan from Iowa City writes: Hey Adam, looking foward to your blog for the upcoming season! Expectations seem to be high here for the Hawkeyes. What do you think they have to do to compete for the Big Ten Title? I have been watching Big Ten Network and College Football Live and Iowa seems to be a pretty popular pick as the dark horse to win the league. What do they have to do to make that a reality?

Adam Rittenberg: Iowa got a lot of love from Shaun King on College Footbal Live the other day, and King really likes what he has seen from Ricky Stanzi. It all comes down to how the Hawkeyes perform on the road. I don't see them losing at Kinnick this fall, but with a Big Ten road slate of Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State and Wisconsin, a 2-2 split doesn't look bad. That Penn State game is huge. Win it, and you're right in the mix for the league title. I really like the leadership Iowa has this year. A little concerned about the depth in some spots (D-line), but overall the Hawkeyes look like a very solid team.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The conference room outside Kirk Ferentz's office serves as a shrine to what Iowa football has accomplished in the last decade.

A case holding watches and rings from each of the seven bowl games Iowa has made during Ferentz's tenure as head coach rests on a table. The 2004 Big Ten championship trophy sits in a corner, and pictures from bowl games and Kinnick Stadium line the four walls.

It's an easy place for a coach to nod his head and take stock of what his program has accomplished since 1999.

Ferentz does none of that, and neither do his players.

"Nobody's going to mistake us with Southern Cal," Ferentz said. "So we better have an edge and we better be trying to maximize what we have."

What Ferentz has is a team that returns 16 starters, eight on a defense that finished fifth nationally in scoring (13 points per game), ninth in rushing (94 yards per game) and 10th in takeaways (32) last season. Iowa was the lone Big Ten team to win its bowl game, capturing six of its final seven games overall, and should enter the fall ranked in the top 20.

But there are question marks, and Ferentz recognizes them. Iowa remains young, with only 15 seniors and five three-year lettermen on the 98-man roster. The Hawkeyes lose Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene at running back and defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul, both four-year starters.

"You don't take nothing for granted," cornerback Amari Spievey said.

"Absolutely nothing," added linebacker Pat Angerer.

Ferentz likes the attitude he's seen so far this spring.

"So far, so good," he said. "This team has a chance to be a good football team. We've got a lot of work to do in a lot of areas, mentally and physically, but we have a good feel about it thus far."

Other notes from my coversation with Ferentz and several players:

• Ferentz sounds pleased with the development of junior quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who beat out Jake Christensen for the starting job last year and led Iowa to its strong finish. Ball security will be the primary challenge for Stanzi, who bounced back from mistakes well last year but can't afford to play with fire too much. Ferentz and tight end Tony Moeaki both recognized Stanzi's obvious development as a leader during the offseason.
  

"Last year, he was just a guy," Ferentz said. "He's just on a natural track of progression. Rick was just trying to play last year. Not that he wasn't a leader, but we've seen that expand, too. We're optimistic that he'll continue on. ... You hope from an experienced quarterback that he's going to be making better decisions with each opportunity, and I think we've seen that."

• The competition to replace Shonn Greene is under way, and Ferentz doesn't want to place unreasonable expectations on the team's next running back. Jewel Hampton, Greene's primary backup last season, missed the first third of spring ball with a mild hamstring strain but is back at practice and taking contact. Redshirt freshman Jeff Brinson missed the second third of the spring with the flu and is now back. Junior Paki O'Meara has participated throughout the spring.
• As for the void at defensive tackle, junior Karl Klug has stepped in well. Ferentz praised the spring performance of Mike Daniels and said Travis Meade has moved from offensive line to defensive tackle. Freshman Steve Bigach also is getting work this spring. Ferentz said starting ends Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard have taken on the leadership load with the line.
• Ferentz said Iowa will be playing three night games during Big Ten play: at Penn State (Sept. 26), vs. Michigan (Oct. 10) and at Michigan State (Oct. 24). 
• Six players are out for the spring following surgeries: Tight end Tony Moeaki, safeties Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood, linebacker A.J. Edds, defensive tackle Cody Hundertmark, and right guard Andy Kuempel. Ferentz said there have been no major injuries this spring aside from players missing a few practices here and there. Moeaki was on crutches when we talked but expects to be back soon.
  
• There's some buzz around the program that wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos has fallen out of favor a bit after a strong finish last fall. Asked about the wideouts, Ferentz named four players Marvin McNutt, Colin Sandeman, Paul Chaney and Trey Stross -- before getting to Johnson-Koulianos, who led the team in both receptions (44) and receiving yards (639) last fall.
  

"He's got to improve just like everybody else," Ferentz said of the man known as DJK. "There's a lot of little things that he can do better. With receivers, when they make plays, it's pretty obvious, but there are a lot of things that go on during the game that go unnoticed by the average person watching. That's a challenge for all the guys."

• McNutt, who switched to wide receiver from quarterback, has "been intriguing," Ferentz said. He also praised Chaney and Stross for their performances this spring.
  
• Ferentz discussed the team's recent off-field problems, which included the arrest of his son, James, a sophomore center. Angerer, who admits he partied too much early in his career, also weighed in on the trend.

"We've all been there," Angerer said. "There's a lot of guys on the team that probably should have gotten in trouble, and I'm one of them. I've done some stupid stuff, I've had my fair share of fun, but it's never been as fun as playing in front of 70,000 people."

• Until this week the offseason has been very positive for Ferentz, who agreed to a new contract in February through the 2015 season. The NFL rumors likely will never go away for Ferentz, but the Big Ten's second-longest tenured coach sounds pretty comfortable in his surroundings.
  

"I'm 53, so I don't know how many more years I've got," he said with a laugh. "I don't think that far out, I really don't. We'll worry about this year, and then we'll go from there. But my plan is to coach for a long time, and my plan is to be here for a long time."