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Iowa has little trouble producing quality running backs. Keeping them on the team is an entirely different story.

Marcus Coker on Tuesday became the latest promising Iowa ball-carrier to depart the program. The team announced Coker asked for a release from his scholarship, which was granted. The sophomore also didn't enroll for the spring semester at Iowa.

Of all the Hawkeyes' running back departures -- Adam Robinson, Brandon Wegher, Jewel Hampton, Mika'il McCall -- Coker's is the most mysterious and potentially the most damaging. Head coach Kirk Ferentz still hasn't specified why Coker was suspended for the Insight Bowl -- the team called it a violation of university policy and the student-athlete code of conduct. While McCall seemed likely to return after his suspension, Coker's situation seemed different. Athletic director Gary Barta said last month that Coker had an invitation to return to the team.

But it didn't pan out and Iowa once again will be scrambling at running back heading into the 2012 season.

Coker isn't just good -- he finished second in the Big Ten and 15th nationally in rushing average (115.3 ypg) -- but he's also durable and productive, logging 23.4 carries per game, tops among Big Ten backs. As a big back with two more years to mature, Coker could have been a special player at Iowa.

The Hawkeyes will tun to Jordan Canzeri, who provided a nice spark at times in the Insight Bowl, and others at running back in the 2012 season. But Ferentz and his staff need to address what has become a revolving-door position. Why are so many promising running backs on the field struggling so much off of it? The team now has had five running backs depart in the past year and a half.

Not good at all.

"I wish I could explain it," Ferentz told me last month. "There's no conspiracy theory or anything like that. We've just had some situations. You have to evaluate each one on an individual basis. We have had our share of transactions and transition. We'll get it settled down again."

They had better.

Iowa is no stranger to facing adversity in a bowl game.

In the 2001 Alamo Bowl, the Hawkeyes' first postseason appearance under head coach Kirk Ferentz, running back Ladell Betts couldn't play with a hamstring injury, leaving Iowa without a four-year starter. Iowa turned to Aaron Greving, who racked up 115 rush yards and earned offensive MVP honors in a win against Texas Tech.

The Betts-Greving situation hardly compared to the crisis Iowa faced before the 2010 Insight Bowl. Top running back Adam Robinson had been suspended and subsequently arrested. Top receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos had been arrested on drug charges, leading to an odd news conference where Iowa admitted to finding problems with its drug-testing program for student-athletes. The team also announced that two reserve running backs, Jewel Hampton and Brandon Wegher, were transferring.

And yet Iowa still won the game, rallying to upset Missouri 27-24.

Another Insight Bowl matchup is on tap Friday night against Oklahoma, and Iowa once again is dealing with some adversity. Sophomore running back Marcus Coker, the team's most productive offensive weapon, is suspended for an undisclosed violation of team policy. There are other potential personnel issues, which Ferentz deflected Tuesday, but replacing Coker's 281 carries and 1,354 rush yards is the big one.

"It's football," Ferentz told ESPN.com on Tuesday. "If our running back had sprained his ankle, he wouldn't play then, either. So you don't surrender and forfeit the game. You keep playing. It happens all year long. Players are in and out. Somebody has to be ready to step in, and everybody else has to help those guys out."

Coker was that guy for Iowa last December, rushing for a team-bowl record 219 yards and two touchdowns against Missouri. But his loss leaves the Hawkeyes with a stable of unproven backs.

Ferentz said Jason White, who he describes as "steady" and "dependable," and Brad Rogers, who has mostly played fullback for Iowa, likely will be the team's top two ball-carrying options Friday against Oklahoma. Freshmen Jordan Canzeri and Damon Bullock are the next two in line.

"We'll basically use everybody we have," Ferentz said. "I don't know if I foresee us getting 200 yards like a year ago, and if we did, it will probably be three, four, five guys contributing to that yardage, not one. We'll do it by committee and just see how it goes."

Iowa's passing attack has been very effective at times, especially early in the season when the Hawkeyes employed some no-huddle. Oklahoma ranks just 83rd nationally against the pass.

But the Hawkeyes won't abandon their run game Friday night. Because they can't.

"We have to at least attempt it," Ferentz said. "We're not built to throw it 70 times a game. It's just not our mode of operation. If we get in a situation like that, it's not good. But the group's capable. They've been practicing well and they'll step up and do a good job."

The suspensions of both Coker and freshman Mika'il McCall have once again placed the spotlight on Iowa's running back position, which has seen an extraordinary amount of turmoil since the departure of Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene after the 2008 season. Five promising backs have dealt with off-field issues since Greene's departure.

"I wish I could explain it," Ferentz said. "There's no conspiracy theory or anything like that. We've just had some situations. You have to evaluate each one on an individual basis. We have had our share of transactions and transition. We'll get it settled down again."

When bowl games kick off, Iowa usually finds a way.

In 2008, Iowa caught a big break at the running back position when Shonn Greene went from furniture warehouse employee to Doak Walker Award winner.

Since then, the Hawkeyes haven't had much good fortune with their running backs. Whether it's injuries or off-field problems, Iowa's running back depth has taken hit after hit since Greene's magical season.

The latest blow came Tuesday as the team announced starting running back Marcus Coker has been suspended for the Insight Bowl for disciplinary reasons. Iowa didn't elaborate on the suspension, saying only that Coker violated the school's student-athlete code of conduct. The sophomore will not travel with the team to Arizona later this week.

It marks the second consecutive year Iowa will play the Insight Bowl without its top back. Adam Robinson was suspended for the game last year for failing to comply with team policies. Iowa announced Robinson's suspension on the same day it confirmed running back Jewel Hampton, the team's second-leading rusher in 2008, would be transferring. Hampton dealt with injuries and off-field issues. Another promising running back, Brandon Wegher, announced late last season that he would also be transferring (he took a leave of absence from the team in August 2010). Weeks after Iowa announced Robinson's suspension, Robinson was arrested for marijuana possession.

Coker ended up rescuing Iowa in the 2010 Insight Bowl, rushing for a team bowl record 219 yards and two touchdowns in a win against Missouri.

He has been a huge part of Iowa's offense this season, accounting for 80.7 percent of the team's rushing yards (1,384), 15 of the team's 18 rush touchdowns and 281 of the team's 417 carries. Coker leads the Big Ten in carries and ranks second in rushing average (115.3 ypg).

Who will Iowa turn to at running back? Promising freshman Mika'il McCall was suspended for the regular-season finale against Nebraska, and his status for the bowl game is very much in doubt.

Iowa likely will turn to DeAndre Johnson, Jordan Canzeri, Damon Bullock and Jason White at running back. Johnson leads the crew with just 18 carries this season.

Gulp.

It's hard not to see Iowa becoming pretty one-dimensional against Oklahoma. The good news is the Sooners struggle against the pass, ranking 83rd nationally.

The bigger issue is why Iowa can't keep running backs on the field. The Hawkeyes seem to have little trouble developing running backs, but the lack of depth has become a major problem.

Marcus Coker envisioned following in Shonn Greene's footsteps when he signed on to play running back at Iowa. Another type of star system also led him to the Hawkeyes.

Since his mother bought him a telescope at age 7, Coker has been fascinated by the stars in the sky. One of the reasons he chose Iowa out of DeMatha Catholic High School in Maryland, he said, was the school's department of physics and astronomy. Coker is pursuing a double major in both fields and says his dream is to some day work for NASA.

A Hawkeye in space?

"Nah," he says. "I want to stay on the ground."

That looks like a pretty good plan for Iowa this season as well, thanks to the promising sophomore tailback. Coker might have been eclipsed at the beginning of last season, but by the end he looked like a supernova.

His jaw-dropping Insight Bowl performance has fans salivating at his future potential. Stepping in for the suspended Adam Robinson, Coker shattered school bowl records with 219 rushing yards on 33 attempts in the 27-24 win over Missouri.

Coker didn't even figure to crack the depth chart initially as a freshman, with fellow backs Robinson, Jewel Hampton and Brandon Wegher all ahead of him. Coker was further set back by a broken collarbone in preseason camp.

"There was no way to get physical reps after that, so I just tried to get mental reps and more than anything learn the offense," he said. "I really didn't think I would play much. That was my goal, but I didn't have any expectations."

But then Hampton and Wegher transferred, and Robinson was sidelined by both academic and legal issues. Coker was playing a big role by the end of the season, rushing for 129 yards against Indiana and scoring his first touchdown versus Ohio State. With Robinson gone and little experience behind him, Coker is the unquestioned leader in the backfield now. He's trying to keep the same attitude he had last summer.

"I look at myself as if I'm last on the depth chart, and I want to be first," he said. "[The bowl] game just brings a lot of expectations, so I'm trying to push myself hard and live up to all those expectations."

Expectations may be unreasonably high after a 219-yard bowl performance, but Coker says, "All I know is I'm going to go out and try to rush for more than that every game. If it happens, it happens."

He's not unfamiliar with huge games. In high school, he gained national attention by rushing for a school record 392 yards and five touchdowns to lead DeMatha to a victory over rival Gilman.

Coker is a load at 6-foot, 230 pounds. He said he's been working this offseason on improving his quickness and agility, but he knows the most important thing is to keep his pads low.

"When you have that much weight behind you, it's kind of hard not to run over some corners and safeties," he said.

There's a softer side to him too, though. Coker was recognized in high school for performing more than 1,000 community-service hours, donating his time to working with the mentally challenged and volunteering at animal shelters.

"I get that from my mom," he said. "She has worked with mentally challenged people since I was born. She's always giving to other people, and I want to give back."

That's the kind of attitude that could make Marcus Coker a true star.

If running back depth isn't Iowa's biggest concern entering the season, it has to be pretty high on the list.

Thursday's news doesn't help matters.

Rivals.com reports that running back recruit Rodney Coe is headed to Iowa Western Community College, where he hopes to improve his grades so he can join the Hawkeyes at some point in the future. Iowa Western coach Scott Strohmeier confirmed Coe will be joining his squad.

"I think initially he was a little shocked and disappointed, but he's come to realize now he's got a second chance," Strohmeier said. "He's still got to prove some things in the classroom when he gets to the junior college ranks, but he has a chance to start over now and get back to Iowa, which he seems pretty excited about."

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Coe is a U.S. Army All-America selection and one of Iowa's top-rated recruits in the 2011 class. ESPN Recruiting rated Coe as the nation's No. 37 athlete.

The good news is Iowa's class includes three other running backs (Mika'il McCall, Jordan Canzeri and Damon Bullock). The Hawkeyes certainly would benefit if one or more emerged this season.

Marcus Coker very well could be the real deal, but most teams need two to three backs to win in the Big Ten. Iowa has done a great job of developing young backs in recent years, as players like Coker, Adam Robinson, Jewel Hampton and Brandon Wegher all made contributions early in their careers. And if things had worked out for Robinson, Hampton and Wegher, Iowa wouldn't be in this position.

Coe could have been the next young back to contribute, but Iowa fans must wait for his arrival.

As Black Heart Gold Pants points out, Iowa has had several juco success stories, former Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene among them. The Hawkeyes have to hope Coe follows the trend.

It's been a while since we did one of these. You know how to reach me.

Let's get started.

Saul from Westerville, Ohio, writes: Ok, someone please explain to me why Jim Harbaugh would rather stay at Stanford/go to he NFL over Michigan. Its his alma mater, one of the greatest football programs there is, can pay quite a bit of cash, and more. He'd be embraced by the fans, and wouldn't have to worry about getting kicked out for one poor season like in the NFL. I mean, years ago he was begging for a job in the Big Ten, and now its less appealing than Stanford? Sounds like a bad joke made to depress us even more.

Adam Rittenberg: You make a strong case, Saul, but I don't know if Harbaugh's attachment to his alma mater was ever strong enough to eclipse other factors involved. Most ultra competitive people want to compete at the highest level, and the NFL affords Harbaugh the opportunity to do so. The situation with the 49ers would allow he and his family to remain in the same location, which is a big factor. I totally agree that there's less stability in the NFL, but those who succeed at the highest level are always sought after even after they struggle. I also wonder about the task of restoring Michigan to elite status. Some people are motivated by it, but others might be concerned about where the program is headed.

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Vince from San Diego writes: Adam, I watched Oklahoma beat UConn the other day and couldn't stop thinking, "This actually counts as a BCS win?" My beloved Buckeyes are HATED by minions of college fans for losing to the eventual champion twice and to Texas in the last seconds of the Fiesta Bowl. Meanwhile OU is 3-5 including the 2011 win, Florida State is 1-5 and VT 1-4. So why hate the Buckeyes? Is it the vest?

Adam Rittenberg: I've always wondered about this same topic, Vince. Why does Ohio State get ripped while Oklahoma seemingly gets the pass in the media? Credit the Sooners for handling their business against Connecticut, but their BCS bowl struggles aren't too different from Ohio State's, and it seems like the Buckeyes didn't get a ton of credit for beating Oregon in the 2010 Rose Bowl. Then again, people tend to get tired of seeing the same team in big games year after year, and Ohio State has made more BCS bowl appearances than any other squad. The national title game performances still sting, but Ohio State has played better in its past two BCS games. Tonight's contest will be huge.

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Travis from Des Moines, Iowa, writes: Adam, I'll be very interested to see your conference Power Rankings after the Ohio State game is played. Should make for some interesting reading. Where does MSU finish? Only 2 losses but 2 very, very bad beatdown by Iowa and Alabama. Iowa beats a very solid Missouri team ranked 12th in the country, but finds ways to lose to teams like Minny etc...

Adam Rittenberg: Check the blog early next week for post-bowl power rankings, Travis. It'll be hard to leave Michigan State out of the top three, but the Spartans' performance was both shocking and sobering. Alabama is an outstanding team that finally put things together for the bowls, but Michigan State should have been able to compete a lot better. The Spartans fell apart against Iowa largely because of their own mistakes, but they just seemed completely overmatched against Alabama from the get-go. Very disappointing result for that program and for the Big Ten. Iowa deserves credit for winning its bowl game, but the Hawkeyes clearly weren't the team most of us thought heading into the season.

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Cayley from Jefferson City, Mo., writes: "Rob Bolden's departure a blow for PSU" Really Adam? And here I thought you were a Big Ten follower! Everybody who is knows that the best QB at Penn State's Blue-White game last spring was Paul Jones, and anybody at all familiar with Paterno-speak knows Joe is higher on Jones than any other QB on the roster. Isn't this JoePa's dream scenario? McGloin takes his place as the serviceable backup he is, and nobody else is taking serious reps away from Jones. Isn't that what you would want?

Adam Rittenberg: Well, Cayley, it sounds like you have it all figured out. Let's start driving the Paul Jones bandwagon based on a performance in the spring game against backup defenders on a unit that didn't turn out to be all that good in the season. C'mon. Jones certainly has some talent and likely will push Matt McGloin for the starting job in spring ball, but Penn State clearly would have benefited from Bolden staying. At least Bolden has taken snaps in games and experienced tough road environments in Alabama and Iowa. While I could see Jones winning the job with a strong spring and summer, Penn State wanted more than one QB with game experience entering the fall.

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Thomas from Gadsden, Ala., writes: Am I the only person on the planet who noticed that the Badgers kept their work horse in the stable until the last drive? Was he hurt? Was he being punished? My God, He hits the field, get approx 65 yards in 5 carries with 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter. What would have happened had he got 30 carries instead of 11? But more perplexing is that none of the talking heads have mentioned his glaring absence from the line-up!What say you? Please respond, but more importantly, get me an answer. Why wasn't Clay being played?

Adam Rittenberg: Thomas, while I feel Wisconsin should have been more committed to running between the tackles, Montee Ball was doing just fine as Wisconsin's featured back. The Badgers could have used John Clay a bit more, but Clay's conditioning is a factor you must consider. He hadn't received a full carries load since Oct. 23 against Iowa and has been recovering from a knee sprain. So his ability to stay on the field for long stretches was limited. The bigger issue is why Wisconsin didn't run more between the tackles with Ball or even James White. But regarding Clay, I really think you can point to conditioning/layoff.

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Jeffrey from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Hey Adam. Right now the Big Ten is getting slammed for bad OOC scheduling. So I decided to take a look into it:Ohio State: Miami was the best of the best when scheduled in '03.Michigan: UConn won Big East. (Which isn't much of a prize.)Iowa: Arizona had high hopes for this season, didn't do much.Minnesota: USC dominated the world when scheduled. Got hit with sanctions.Illinois: Almost beat Mizzou, and Mizzou was dang good this year, and when they were scheduled.Penn State: Alabama was supposed to win a title, still pretty good though.Do you notice a pattern? Almost all the big names would have been good or decent when they were scheduled, but this season most weren't very good. It seems as though everything the Big Ten schedules turns to crap. Is this a Big Ten curse?Also, everyone says how the Pac-10 had 6 teams scheduled that are currently in the top 25; if these teams had been decent, so would the Big Ten!

Adam Rittenberg: Jeffrey, this is some good research, and your point here is very valid. The tricky part of nonconference scheduling is that these contracts are finalized so far in advance. Some games that look tough aren't, while others that look like cupcakes could become much tougher. I'd prefer to see schedules hammered out closer to the dates of games, but this is the system we live with right now. I would say that in talking with commissioner Jim Delany on Sunday, he didn't seem thrilled with the Big Ten's nonconference slate this year. We are seeing teams "upgrade" their future schedules -- Michigan State and Michigan both facing Alabama, etc. -- but as you point out, we won't know how good those games are until they roll around.

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Justin from NE Iowa writes: Adam,With the Dismissal of Adam Robinson, I was wondering if you or anyone had looked at the Running Back Turnover at Iowa in the last 2-3 years. What is causing all of this? Is it just bad luck, coaches not doing homework, the climate in Iowa City? Who would have thought that what was thought would be Iowa's strength coming in this year would turn out to be such a problem...?

Adam Rittenberg: Hard to say, Justin. The injuries to Jewel Hampton were simply bad luck, as Hampton showed his value as a freshman in 2008. I think it's a string of unfortunate events, but it's amazing to think that Hampton, Brandon Wegher and now Adam Robinson all are gone from the program. Robinson's case is the most unfortunate because he really performed well on the field and showed impressive toughness and fortitude. I really liked watching Robinson, and Iowa will miss his presence in 2011. Marcus Coker's breakthrough performance in the bowls certainly makes Robinson's departure a little easier for fans to handle, but the Hawkeyes really need some other young players to step up and solidify the depth.

Adam Robinson left Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz with very little choice.

After a period where Iowa's off-field problems were placed in the national spotlight, Robinson's arrest last week for marijuana possession essentially sealed his fate with the program.

Ferentz made it official Monday, dismissing Robinson from the team.

Although the incredible performance by freshman running back Marcus Coker in Iowa's Insight Bowl victory against Missouri softens the blow, Robinson's departure still stings the program. You could argue he was the team's offensive MVP for much of the season, taking the bulk of the carries as the team's only healthy proven running back.

This is a very unfortunate ending for Robinson, an Iowa native who surprised a lot of folks with his skill and toughness in two seasons as the team's featured back. He rushed for a team-high 941 yards and 10 touchdowns this season despite missing two games because of concussions.

Ferentz suspended Robinson for the Insight Bowl in early December for unspecified reasons but sounded confident that the sophomore would rejoin the team this month.

Robinson's arrest changed matters. What a shame.

Running back depth once again will be a concern for Iowa entering the 2011 season. It's amazing to think that Iowa entered this fall with three proven backs -- Robinson, Jewel Hampton and Brandon Wegher -- and all three are no longer part of the program.

Coker will enter the fall as the team's only back with much game experience. Although Coker has all the ingredients to be a star, Iowa really needs others to step up.

I guess this is what they mean by getting out in front of the story.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and athletic director Gary Barta held a news conference Tuesday morning where they revealed very little actual news. Despite rampant rumors about a wave of drug-related suspensions, Iowa announced no additional personnel updates other than what was released Monday night.

To recap: Top running back Adam Robinson has been suspended until January at the earliest for unspecified reasons, while running backs Jewel Hampton and Brandon Wegher are transferring. Wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos won't play for Iowa again after his arrest last week on several drug charges.

That's it.

"We don't anticipate any more announcements on our roster," Ferentz said.

You can breathe a little easier now, Iowa fans. The roster won't be depleted for the Insight Bowl matchup against Missouri on Dec. 28.

The only real news from Iowa City today is that the school reviewed its drug-testing program following the DJK mess last week and found "some flaws and inconsistencies," Barta said. The school didn't find any specific acts of cheating or any cover-up attempts by those performing the tests, but Barta has "strong evidence" to believe that student-athletes likely have found ways to get around the testing program.

He didn't go into specifics.

"We have not caught anybody getting around the system,” Barta said. “Unfortunately, there’s enough evidence in our protocol to say we have to tighten up. It’s pretty likely that someone -- I don’t know if it’s 1 or 21 -- someone has gotten around this process.

"And if it’s only one, it makes you doubt all testing.”

All Iowa student-athletes are randomly tested at least once a year by the school, including all 92 football players this year, coach Kirk Ferentz said. The Big Ten and the NCAA also conduct separate drug testing. An Iowa student-athlete automatically misses athletic competition with a first positive drug test. Those who refuse testing count as having tested positive.

A few nuggets:

• Robinson remains eligible and Ferentz hinted that his suspension is for academic reasons, stretching back to Robinson sitting out the start of the Ohio State game on Nov. 20. "It's my anticipation that he'll be back in January," Ferentz said. Hampton's decision to transfer was mutual, Ferentz said.
• The coach didn't want Robinson and Hampton to be grouped in with Johnson-Koulianos, the only Iowa player facing legal action at this time. Unfortunately, holding a news conference like this allows folks to draw those conclusions.
• Asked if other players knew about DJK's problems, Ferentz said: "My guess is some did, and if that’s the case, it’s unfortunate that nobody came forward."
• Iowa City police gave Ferentz a head's up about the DJK situation last Tuesday while the arrest was taking place.
• Ferentz on player conduct: "My guess is the behaviors of this year's team off the field aren't much different [from last season]. We had a lot of the same parties on the team last year. When you win 11 games, everything's fine, and when you win seven, it's a little different."
• Ferentz on DJK: "Shock's a strong word. I think I got over that about 20 years ago. Disappointment is obviously a big part of the equation."
• Drug testing for Iowa student-athletes continued last week, although it wasn't out of the ordinary, Barta said.
• Barta on the state of the program: "The state of the program is in great hands. We're dealing with some important and challenging issues, but I have great confidence in Kirk's handling of them."

Anyway, an odd day in Iowa City, but not a catastrophic one for the program as it prepares for the Insight Bowl.

Remember Oct. 30? Everything seemed to be going right for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Since Iowa crushed Michigan State 37-6 that day, things have gone downhill for the Black and Gold both on and off the field.

The latest blow came late Monday afternoon, as the team announced the suspension of starting running back Adam Robinson and the transfer of another running back, redshirt sophomore Jewel Hampton. The announcements came days after the official departure of Brandon Wegher, a running back who contributed as a freshman but left the team early in preseason camp.

Robinson, who dealt with concussions late in the season, won't be with the team for its upcoming appearance against Missouri in the Insight Bowl.

"Jewel Hampton has decided to leave the team and plans to transfer to another school to complete his degree and finish his career," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said in a prepared statement. "We wish him the best of success in the future. While Adam has been cleared medically, he will not be participating in the upcoming Insight Bowl game as a result of failing to comply with team expectations and policies. Adam will have the option to rejoin the team when classes resume in January."

The big question for Iowa is whether Robinson will be the only key player suspended for the bowl. Iowa's news release didn't mention any players but Robinson and Hampton.

Still, Ferentz and athletic director Gary Barta will appear at a news conference scheduled for 11 a.m. ET Tuesday. Typically, a coach and a AD don't hold joint news conferences because of one player, although they also likely will address the situation surrounding receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, arrested last week on several drug charges. DJK's playing career at Iowa is over.

So, is this the tip of the iceberg? We'll find out soon enough. After a string of conduct problems from 2007-08, Iowa had been pretty incident-free until the DJK mess.

The immediate concern is Iowa's running back depth, which has really been an issue since Shonn Greene moved on after the 2009 Outback Bowl.

Hampton's chronic injuries limited him the last two seasons, and Robinson was the team's only healthy proven back for much of this season. I would argue A-Rob was Iowa's most valuable player for much of the fall. His suspension thrusts true freshman Marcus Coker into the spotlight for the Insight Bowl.

To recap, Iowa endured a three-game losing streak to end the regular season. Then, the DJK situation surfaced last week. Now Hampton is transferring and Robinson is suspended.

If the Hawkeyes can turn this thing around and beat Missouri on Dec. 28, it will be truly impressive.

Tough times right now in Iowa City.

The Big Ten divisions need names. They'll get 'em today.

• Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren will become Northern Illinois' head coach. One of his star pupils, defensive end J.J. Watt, has won the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Badgers AD Barry Alvarez asks Wisconsin's athletic board for raises for the football coaches, Andy Baggot writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• An interesting take on how the BCS didn't help the Big Ten this season from The Columbus Dispatch's Michael Arace.
• Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany is No. 25 on Sports Business Journal's list of the 50 most influential people in sports business.
• A recent Facebook message from Iowa running back Jewel Hampton has folks concerned that he's gone, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Running back Brandon Wegher is officially transferring, Randy Peterson writes in the Des Moines Register.
• San Diego State's president knows coach Brady Hoke views Michigan as his dream job, Brent Schrotenboer writes in The San Diego Union-Tribune. An extensive Q&A with Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon from The Detroit News' Angelique Chengelis.
• Ohio State has gone to six consecutive BCS postseason games, but Buckeyes players wouldn't mind a playoff in college football, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• New Indiana coach Kevin Wilson doesn't sound concerned with the program's losing history, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).
• Two Penn State assistants are in the mix for head-coaching positions, Brendan Monahan writes in The Daily Collegian. Joe Paterno wants Lions quarterback Kevin Newsome to wait a little longer before deciding his future plans, Jeff Rice writes in the Centre Daily Times.
• Illinois receiver Jack Ramsey hasn't been practicing with the team as he mulls his future, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette. The Illini expect a hostile environment in Houston for the Texas Bowl against Baylor, Shannon Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune.
• New Minnesota coach Jerry Kill says recruiting is recruiting regardless of the level, Marcus Fuller writes in The (St. Paul) Pioneer Press.
• Purdue's athletic director sees great potential with the football team despite another bowl-less season, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.

Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 4-1 (1-0 Big Ten)

Aside from a shaky 30 minutes of football in the desert, Iowa has looked like the team most thought it would be entering the season. Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, college football demands perfection, and a loss to Arizona essentially cropped Iowa from the national-title picture. The good news is Iowa looks very much like a team that can push Ohio State and others for the Big Ten championship and make its first trip to Pasadena since Jan. 1, 1991. Iowa's defense has been suffocating in its four victories, allowing just 17 points total. Adrian Clayborn looked like an All-American against Penn State, and one of the nation's best defensive lines is getting production from Mike Daniels, Karl Klug and others. Perhaps more importantly, senior quarterback Ricky Stanzi has cut down on mistakes and improved his efficiency, completing 67.8 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back depth once again is a concern after Brandon Wegher's preseason departure and Jewel Hampton's season-ending knee injury, but Adam Robinson has held up so far. You can still argue that the road to the Big Ten title goes through Iowa City, as the Hawkeyes host Wisconsin (Oct. 23), Michigan State (Oct. 30) and Ohio State (Nov. 20) in the second half.

Offensive MVP, QB Ricky Stanzi: Stanzi's offseason points of emphasis -- limiting mistakes, making better decisions -- have paid off throughout the first half of the fall. His only pick-six wasn't his fault -- receiver Marvin McNutt should have made the play -- and Stanzi has delivered several near flawless performances. The senior has completed 82 of 121 attempts (67.8 percent) for 1,226 yards with 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

Defensive MVP, DE Adrian Clayborn: It took until the Penn State game for Clayborn to put up Clayborn-like numbers (team-high 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack), but his presence has been huge throughout the first half. The senior constantly draws double teams, freeing up other linemen like Daniels and Klug to make plays. An honorable mention goes to Daniels, who is third in the league in sacks (3) and tied for second in tackles for loss (8).

Four story lines in the Big Ten heading into Week 4: Michigan State without Mark Dantonio, a season-ending injury to Iowa running back Jewel Hampton, Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland is out for the season and Evan Royster's struggles at Penn State.

The Big Ten slate is a major snoozer this week, but there always are some intriguing story lines when league teams take the field.

Here are 10 of them.

1. Running back roulette: The Evan Royster situation at Penn State will continue to be a major issue until No. 22 starts looking like the running back we saw in each of the last two seasons. Stephfon Green seems to be gaining on Royster, although Penn State guard Stefen Wisniewski tells me Royster doesn't have to worry about his starting job. It'll be interesting to see how the run game fares against unbeaten Temple.

2. Missing their Mark: Michigan State will play its first game without head coach Mark Dantonio, who has returned home from the hospital after suffering a minor heart attack and undergoing surgery Sunday. Offensive coordinator Don Treadwell handles the head-coaching duties Saturday against Northern Colorado. Treadwell still will call the offensive plays, but he'll be on the field rather than in the coaches' booth. It'll be interesting to see how the Spartans handle the emotions and unfamiliarity of not having Dantonio leading them.

3. Must win for Minnesota: It's still September, but Minnesota can't come out of the month 1-3 and have a realistic expectation to reach a third consecutive bowl game. In fact, most of Minnesota's recent bowl appearances have been fueled by strong nonconference performances. The Gophers made some strides last week against USC but couldn't finish. They have to put it all together against a Northern Illinois team that will test the defense with quarterback Chandler Harnish.

4. Wolverines on the defensive: After letting UMass pile up 37 points and 439 yards last week, Michigan's defense had better buckle down Saturday against Bowling Green. The Wolverines are struggling to sack the quarterback (two sacks in three games) or stop the run (169.7 ypg allowed). Bowling Green will be without starting quarterback Matt Schilz (shoulder), so Michigan should have an opportunity to improve before Big Ten play begins.

5. Men down: Both Iowa and Wisconsin received some bad news this week, as the teams announced that Hawkeyes running back Jewel Hampton (knee) and Badgers linebacker Chris Borland (shoulder) both will miss the rest of the season with injuries. Iowa has only one healthy proven running back in Adam Robinson, and it'll be interesting to see how the offense changes, if at all, Saturday against Ball State. The Badgers shouldn't struggle too much with Austin Peay, but the game provides the opportunity to evaluate linebackers like Blake Sorensen, Kevin Claxton, Kevin Rouse, A.J. Fenton and others as they likely take on enhanced roles.

6. Wildcats aim for rare sweep: Between 1964-2007, Northwestern suffered at least one nonconference loss in every season. The Wildcats can sweep through non-league play for the second time in the last three years if they beat Central Michigan on Saturday. Despite road trips to Vanderbilt and Rice, Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald calls the Chippewas "our stiffest test of the year, no question." Northwestern has been solid in Big Ten play for the last decade, but it needs to get over it annual hiccups in non-league play.

7. Et tu, Brute?: There should be plenty of Ohio State highlights Saturday against Eastern Michigan, though it shouldn't be very competitive on the field. The real intrigue lies with Brutus Buckeye, who returns to the field after being ambushed by Ohio University's mascot last week. Eastern Michigan's mascot, Swoop the Eagle, looks friendly enough, but Brutus had better beware.

8. MAC attack: Eight Big Ten schools take on opponents from the Mid-American Conference on Saturday. Although most Big Ten fan bases aren't too worried about this, the MAC recorded four wins against its big brother league in 2008 and two in 2009. Temple, Toledo and Central Michigan all bring winning records into Big Ten stadiums Saturday. Don't be shocked if the MAC secures at least one win Saturday.

9. Show some ID, please: Several Big Ten offenses are still searching for their identities as league play beckons. Purdue is trying to overcome a rash of injuries and figure out what works best in the Robert Marve era before a bye week. Penn State boasts tremendous talent at wide receiver but has lacked consistency in the run game. Minnesota and Michigan State have been run-first teams so far this season, but both squads also boast some weapons in the passing game, as they showed last week. We should get a better idea of what these units are all about after Saturday.

10. Hoosiers on the ground: Indiana needs to improve both its rushing offense and rushing defense before Big Ten play kicks off next week against Michigan. The Hoosiers rank last in the league in both categories, making Saturday's game against winless Akron all the more critical. As good as Ben Chappell can be this season, he needs some help from Darius Willis and the running backs. And IU's defense has to lock it down better against the run before Denard Robinson comes to town.

For the second consecutive season, Iowa is scrambling to find enough capable players to carry the football.

The Hawkeyes announced Tuesday that redshirt sophomore Jewel Hampton needs season-ending knee surgery after tearing his left ACL in Saturday's loss to No. 18 Arizona. This is a very tough blow for both the Hawkeyes and for Hampton, who missed all of the 2009 season after tearing his right ACL in the preseason.

I had really been looking forward to watching Hampton, who did a great job as Shonn Greene's backup in 2008 and had an impressive preseason.

Making matters worse, running back Paki O'Meara sustained a concussion at Arizona and will miss this week's game against Ball State, if not more time. O'Meara already has been a factor on special teams this year, blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown against Eastern Illinois.

Entering camp in August, Iowa appeared to have three solid options at running back with sophomores Hampton, Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher. But Wegher left the team days into camp and has shown no indication that he'll return this year. With Hampton now sidelined, it's critical for Robinson to stay healthy and continue to produce.

"We've got Adam, and anyone else that wants to volunteer," coach Kirk Ferentz said.

The one bit of good news is that freshman Marcus Coker should be back soon after dealing with a shoulder injury since the early part of preseason camp.

Iowa also loses backup middle linebacker and special-teams standout Bruce Davis to a torn ACL suffered on the same play O'Meara sustained the concussion.

I'm a big fan of Robinson's, but the lack of depth at running back likely will cause Iowa to go more to its strengths, the wide receivers and tight ends. The Hawkeyes also need their offensive line to grow up even faster now.

A few updates on player health from around the league ...

• Iowa might have lost more than a game Saturday night, as running back Jewel Hampton went down with a left knee injury in the second half. Hampton, who missed the entire 2009 season with a knee injury, will undergo an MRI today. Neither Hampton nor coach Kirk Ferentz knew the extent of the injury after the game.
• Good news on Illinois offensive lineman Hugh Thornton, who was taken from the field to the hospital after suffering a scary injury Saturday against Northern Illinois. All tests on Thornton were negative, and he has been released from the hospital with a muscle strain in his neck. According to Illinois, no timetable has been set for Thornton's return, but "the bye week will give him a chance to heal and to be further evaluated."
• Michigan State senior linebacker Eric Gordon left the Notre Dame game in the first quarter and did not return. Teammate Greg Jones told the Lansing State Journal that Gordon was dinged up and will be OK.
• Ohio State had four players -- Devon Torrence, Travis Howard, Donnie Evege and Dorian Bell -- go down with some ailment Saturday. Howard appeared the most serious as he suffered a shoulder injury late in the first half.
• Michigan defensive lineman Greg Banks left the UMass game with an injury that does not appear to be serious, according to coach Rich Rodriguez.