ESPN College Football

Now that spring practice is over, we're examining the most indispensable players on each Big Ten team for the 2013 season.

By indispensable, we don't necessarily mean best. We mean the players who would be hardest to replace between now and the start of the season if they got hurt or suspended or vaporized. That could be because of their value to the team, or because of a lack of depth at their position.

We'll pick two players from each team, usually offense and defense, but not always. The series wraps up with the Northwestern Wildcats.

Venric Mark, RB, Sr.

There is little doubt Mark finished the 2012 season as Northwestern's most valuable player, and he'll enter the 2013 campaign as the team's most indispensable piece. Although you can make a good case for multitalented quarterback Kain Colter or even center Brandon Vitabile, one of just two returning starters on a new-look offensive line, no player fundamentally changes games like Mark. Last fall, he became Northwestern's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2006 and averaged 6.2 yards a carry with 13 touchdowns as the team's featured back. He also earned All-America honors as a return man, scoring two punt return touchdowns and averaging 18.7 yards per runback. Mark finished with 2,166 all-purpose yards, just 29 yards shy of Damien Anderson's team record, and he helped make the kicking game, once a weakness for Northwestern, into a significant strength. Colter would be a big loss, too, but Northwestern has another capable, albeit different option, in Trevor Siemian. Although the team's depth at running back isn't bad, no one has Mark's breakaway ability on carries and returns. He'd be missed.

Ibraheim Campbell, S, Jr.

It's a tough call here as cornerback Nick VanHoose certainly seemed indispensable last season, when his absence because of injury potentially cost Northwestern games against Nebraska and Michigan. Veteran linebacker Damien Proby also would be a good pick given the team's inexperience at the position, and defensive end Tyler Scott has revived the pass rush. But Campbell has been the Wildcats' most productive defender the past two seasons, racking up 189 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He's an integral part of Northwestern's run defense, which rose from 84th nationally in 2011 to 21st last season. Safeties are often called the quarterbacks of a defense, and Campbell certainly fills that role as he has grown into a strong leader. Northwestern is building better depth at both secondary spots, but cornerback isn't the vacuum it once was in Evanston. The Wildcats should be better equipped to play without VanHoose if he goes down this season. They would have a tougher time replacing all that Campbell brings to the defense.

More indispensable:

Michigan
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Nebraska
Indiana
Michigan State
Ohio State
Iowa
Penn State
Illinois
Purdue

Northwestern's offense has been rooted in the same philosophy -- players, formations, plays -- since coordinator Mick McCall arrived in 2008. McCall shapes his scheme around the players first before choosing formations and plays that maximize their skills.

In the first four seasons under McCall, most of the players ended up being wide receivers and quarterbacks. Most of Northwestern's formations highlighted the wideouts and most of the plays were passes. Northwestern's offense had a clear passing lean, especially in 2009, when the Wildcats ranked 13th nationally in pass offense. The Wildcats didn't neglect the ground game, but when it came time to identify the best players, the running backs didn't make the cut.

"There's been some times in the past at Northwestern in the running back room where there was one guy, and that was it," Matt MacPherson, the team's running backs coach since 2006, told ESPN.com.

MacPherson clearly has his one guy in senior Venric Mark, who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2012 after rushing for 1,366 yards and 12 touchdowns. Mark, who earned All-America honors as a return man, was Northwestern's first 1,000-yard rusher since Tyrell Sutton in 2006.

But MacPherson thinks Northwestern's options in the backfield go beyond Mark.

"I feel like we have four or five guys in my room right now that we can go win Big Ten football games with," MacPherson said. "That gives you a lot of flexibility, and it allows you to do a lot of different things. I came out of spring very pleased with the way they performed."

Mark remains the undisputed starter and will get the lion's share of the carries in the fall. He sat out most live-tackling drills this spring as a precaution, which allowed the other backs -- Mike Trumpy, Treyvon Green, Stephen Buckley and Malin Jones -- to get more reps.

Trumpy racked up 349 yards and three touchdowns on 76 carries as Mark's primary backup in 2012. Green endured a tough season with injuries and personal issues but bounced back and "had a great spring," MacPherson said. Both Buckley and Jones redshirted in 2012 but likely worked their way into the carries rotation with good springs.

"Our running back room has gotten deeper," McCall said. "We've got some guys that can play in a lot of different situations there. We've continually gotten better in that room."

Northwestern made a noticeable shift toward the run last fall behind Mark and dual-threat quarterback Kain Colter. After finishing no better than 45th nationally in rushing in McCall's first four seasons as coordinator, Northwestern surged to 19th nationally last year (225.4 ypg).

The rushing focus should continue as long as more running backs meet the first principle of McCall's philosophy. MacPherson thinks they will, and Northwestern might go with a two-back formation, which it used for 10-12 plays per game in 2012, more often this season.

"In my room, those eyes light up when they know we're going to start running the ball a bunch," MacPherson said, "and we're going to have two running backs on the field at the same time. That's something for them to get excited about. That just gives another aspect of competition, knowing that, OK, Venric may be the guy, but when we get into the two-back set, who's going to be the other guy?"

It's a question MacPherson is glad to be asking.

Last spring, new coaches dominated the spotlight around the Big Ten. This spring, quarterback competitions took center stage.

The contrast between teams with stability at the position -- Nebraska, Ohio State, Northwestern, and even Michigan -- and those without stood out during spring ball.

Nebraska saw continued progress from Taylor Martinez, who enters his senior season as one of the nation's most experienced quarterbacks and now must act like it by limiting turnovers. Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller briefly became a blonde this spring, but he also answered coach Urban Meyer's challenge to improve his passing accuracy and scrambling skills.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald began the spring by stating his team could win a Big Ten championship with either Kain Colter or Trevor Siemian at the helm -- and he still feels that way. After providing a sneak preview of Michigan's future on offense late last season, Devin Gardner continued to evolve, gaining greater knowledge of the offense and greater responsibility as a leader.

"The Michigan quarterback is one of the largest figures in sports, honestly, and I have to be able to handle it," Gardner said. "A lot of people after practice say the guys really love me. That's really refreshing, that people can see it from the outside."

The Huskers, Buckeyes, Wildcats and Wolverines all should contend for a Big Ten championship this fall. If others intend to join them, they'll have to find solutions under center.

Eight teams enter the summer with some type of competition at quarterback, and while there aren't many definitive answers coming out of the spring, the session provided a few hints.

Wisconsin's quarterback pool is down to two as senior Curt Phillips and sophomore Joel Stave, both of whom started games last season, separated themselves this spring. Junior college transfer Tanner McEvoy will have a chance to compete in camp, but he'll need to make up ground to catch Stave, who shined in the spring game, and Phillips, the well-respected veteran who told ESPN.com, "I didn't come back for a sixth year and from all these surgeries to sit on the bench."

The Badgers have some nice options, as does Indiana, which welcomes Tre Roberson back from injury. Roberson admittedly was rusty this spring and will continue to compete with Cameron Coffman and Nate Sudfeld, the two who replaced him last season.

Several starters from 2012 are trying to keep their jobs, including Michigan State's Andrew Maxwell, who had some good moments this spring but looked a little shaky in the Green-White Game. Connor Cook will continue to push Maxwell in fall camp. Minnesota's Philip Nelson remains the team's No. 1 quarterback and helped his cause this spring, but he welcomes the competition from the versatile Mitch Leidner. Illinois' Nathan Scheelhaase, a three-year starter, also has the inside track to remain No. 1, but he's learning another new offense under coordinator Bill Cubit and continues to be paced by Reilly O'Toole.

If you enjoy mystery and drama, keep an eye on Penn State, Purdue and Iowa. Penn State provided a surprising twist last week when Steven Bench, who competed for the starting job throughout the spring, opted to transfer after being told he wouldn't be in the mix for the top job. Junior college transfer Tyler Ferguson enters the summer as the man to beat, although Christian Hackenberg, the nation's No. 1 quarterback recruit, arrives for camp with a very real chance to win the job.

At Purdue, veteran Rob Henry, who saw limited action last season after suffering an ACL tear days before the 2011 season, must outduel talented true freshman Danny Etling, and perhaps Austin Appleby in preseason camp. Iowa's Jake Rudock exited the spring with the lead in the quarterback competitions, but Cody Sokol will continue to push him when camp rolls around.

"Eventually, we'll have to make a decision," Penn State coach Bill O'Brien said after the Blue-White game. "But I'm not ready to make that right now."

A lot of Big Ten coaches feel the same way.

2012 record: 10-3
2012 conference record: 5-3 (third in Legends division)
Returning starters: Offense: 8; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

RB Venric Mark, QB Kain Colter, QB Trevor Siemian, C Brandon Vitabile, WR Christian Jones, TE Dan Vitale, S Ibraheim Campbell, CB Nick VanHoose, DE Tyler Scott, LB Chi Chi Ariguzo, K Jeff Budzien

Key losses

G Brian Mulroe, T Patrick Ward, DT Brian Arnfelt, LB David Nwabuisi, DE Quentin Williams

2012 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Venric Mark* (1,371 yards)
Passing: Trevor Siemian* (1,317 yards)
Receiving: Christian Jones* (417 yards)
Tackles: Damien Proby* (112)
Sacks: Tyler Scott* (9)
Interceptions: David Nwabuisi and Nick VanHoose* (3)

Spring answers

1. Secondary options: Northwestern has had major issues in the secondary during the past 15 years or so, but the group took a step forward in 2012 and should take another one this fall. Improved recruiting efforts throughout the defense are starting to pay off, and it showed up at both the cornerback and safety spots this spring. Young players such as safety Traveon Henry and cornerback Dwight White had strong springs, and the Wildcats are able to go at least four deep at both spots. "Our secondary runs as well as it has at all four positions," coach Pat Fitzgerald said.

2. Depth emerging at WR, RB: The Wildcats bring back almost every offensive skill player from 2012, but they saw depth at both wide receiver and running back improve this spring. Fitzgerald and his offensive staff were pleased with the spring performances of veteran receivers Christian Jones and Rashad Lawrence. Jones and sophomore tight end Dan Vitale should boost the passing game in the middle of the field. The Wildcats also have plenty of insurance behind All-Big Ten running back Venric Mark. They can go four deep at the position as redshirt freshmen Stephen Buckley and Malin Jones both showed flashes this spring.

3. Living on the edge: Like the secondary, Northwestern's defensive line made progress last season, especially with the pass rush. There's a chance to make more this season, especially at the defensive end spot. Tyler Scott returns after tying for the Big Ten sacks lead, and the Wildcats boast three young speed rushers -- Dean Lowry, Deonte Gibson and Ifeadi Odenigbo -- who had some impressive moments this spring. Lowry is the furthest along in his development, but both Gibson and the ultra-athletic Odenigbo will be part of the rotation.

Fall questions

1. Walk that line: Offensive line is undoubtedly the biggest question mark for Northwestern entering the season. Several projected starters missed spring practice following postseason surgeries, which allowed younger players like tackle Shane Mertz and guard Adam DePietro to get a bunch of reps in practice. The Wildcats are set at left tackle (Jack Konopka) and center (Brandon Vitabile), but there will be plenty of competition at the other three spots in preseason camp. Northwestern needs to set its starting rotation fairly early and then build that all important chemistry before the season kicks off.

2. Filling gaps on defense: There's more overall depth on defense entering 2013, but Northwestern has to fill gaps in all three areas of the unit. Henry likely locked up a starting safety spot this spring, but the cornerback spot opposite Nick VanHoose will feature plenty of competition in camp between White, C.J. Bryant and Daniel Jones. Northwestern also needs a third starting linebacker, where Drew Smith and Collin Ellis will compete. And defensive tackle might be the team's thinnest spot on defense. It'll be important to see some progress there in camp.

3. Shaping the offensive identity: Northwestern seemed to run two or three different offenses in 2012 and endured a midseason identity crisis that, in my view, cost it at least one game and maybe two. That's the danger of using a two-quarterback system, which will remain for the 2013 campaign. Northwestern is looking for a bit better run-pass balance as it has enough weapons at receiver and tight end to attack defenses more through the air. Fitzgerald thinks he can win a Big Ten title with both Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian at quarterback, but figuring out exactly what the offense will be remains a challenge that continues in preseason camp.

Monday got you down? The Monday mailbag is here to lift you up.

Andrew from Omaha, Neb., writes: After listening to all of the local media (and more than a few here on the blog) freak out about the new divisional alignments, it's made me do a little thinking. There isn't much parity in the East/West alignments in the SEC. Yes, Georgia and South Carolina are good, but I don't hear many suggesting there is top-to-bottom evenness between the two. And yet, if say, Tennessee were to win the SEC out, I'm sure we would hear the same kind of chatter about them being the team to beat in the country. So, shouldn't we concern ourselves more with being the best teams possible rather than worry about who else is in division?

Brian Bennett: It's funny. It wasn't that long ago that the SEC East was considered to be a vastly stronger division than the West when Florida and Tennessee were dominating the conference. Now the West is clearly better. But that tells you these things are often cyclical. I've said repeatedly that the new Big Ten division alignment puts too much power in the East, and that Michigan State should be going to the West. Yes, it looks to me like Nebraska and Wisconsin are the big winners in re-alignment. But there are no guarantees. Who's to say Northwestern won't be the best team in the West in 2014, or that Iowa bounces back in a big way?

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K. from Iowa writes: With its lack of depth at quarterback (a true freshman and two walk-ons behind Devin Gardner), Michigan appears to be an injury away from being a mediocre offense. Brady Hoke recently indicated Michigan might pursue a JUCO or grad student QB yet this year. How feasible is that at this point? I don't see those kind of guys growing on trees in April. It would seem to me that all the decent JUCO QBs have been signed and if a guy is looking to transfer as a grad student with probably only one year to play ala Russell Wilson, he'd want to go to a school where he has a shot at starting, not wasting it backing up a redshirt junior like Devin Gardner.

Brian Bennett: The good news for Michigan is it doesn't have to find a guy like Russell Wilson. In fact, someone like Danny O'Brien fits the Wolverines' plans better. By that I mean Hoke isn't looking for someone to come in and start, because he's got Gardner. He's really looking for an insurance policy, a player who can add depth and serve as a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency backup who can allow Shane Morris to redshirt in 2013. Florida State transfer Clint Trickett has been mentioned as a possibility, though I'm not sure why he'd leave one place where he couldn't win the starting job for another similar situation. Then again, spending a year on scholarship at Michigan -- even if you never play a snap -- is not too bad of a deal.

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Samir from San Francisco writes: In your note about the NFL draft, it seems you missed out Denard Robinson in the list. I don't believe that he was not even on the list because he is surely a good value and worth the risk for some NFL team.

Brian Bennett: That post contained the mock first rounds from Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay and McShay's list of talent tiers. Robinson wasn't included because neither of our top draft analysts mentioned him at all. I understand why that was the case in the first-round mocks, but it was curious not to see him even listed as a solid third-round pick by McShay. Teams are worried about Robinson's arm injury, and picking Robinson will require some projection and creativity to get the most value out of him. But he has speed that teams can't often find, and I wouldn't be surprised if a team took a chance on him in the first few rounds.

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PhilosopherJoe from SpartanNation, USA writes: With the new media rights agreement being implemented in the ACC and no such agreement existing for the SEC, doesn't it remain at least a SLIGHT possibility that the B1G picks off one of the SEC's teams? If this were to happen, who would be the most likely to make a move? That is, who would be the most likely to WANT to move even risking membership to the most successful on-field conference and who would be appealing to the B1G as far as academics (AAU membership), geography, and new media markets? Maybe Vandy?

Brian Bennett: How strange is it that of the five major conferences, the SEC is the only one that seems vulnerable to getting poached because it lacks a grant of rights agreement? Of course, "seems" is the key word here. In reality, the SEC doesn't need to reach such a deal, because none of its teams are interested in leaving. For argument's sake, the only AAU members in the SEC are Vanderbilt and Missouri. If any school were inclined to leave, it might be Missouri, which I believe still fits better culturally in the Big Ten than the SEC. The Tigers found out last season that they might just be in over their heads when it comes to SEC football. Maybe they have buyer's remorse, and maybe the Big Ten tries to capitalize on that. But the Big Ten showed no interest in Missouri a couple years ago when Mizzou desperately wanted in, and adding that school would mean the Big Ten would need another member to get to the round number 16. And candidates are hard to find right now. Plus, there's just no real monetary incentive for anyone to leave the SEC -- unless Nick Saban and Alabama decide to try the NFL.

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Doak Walker hopefuls from Rochester, Minn., writes: As a fan, I'm well aware of the 1-2 punch residing in the Badgers' backfield. Can you enlighten me on any other B1G programs with similar RB combos?

Brian Bennett: Wisconsin has senior James White, a proven player with more than 2,500 career rushing yards, and rising superstar Melvin Gordon. Can any other Big Ten teams compare? Well, I like the possibilities at Nebraska, where Ameer Abdullah is coming off a 1,000-yard season and sophomore Imani Cross looks ready to emerge as a major contributor. I'm intrigued by the possibilities at Iowa (Damon Bullock and Mark Weisman) and Penn State (Zach Zwinak plus either Akeel Lynch or Bill Belton), and Minnesota could have a nice power combo with Donnell Kirkwood and Rodrick Williams. If Jordan Hall, Rod Smith or Warren Ball takes a big step forward, Ohio State could have a great 1-2 punch at running back with Carlos Hyde. But I don't see any teams with two ready-made Doak Walker preseason candidates like Wisconsin, which of course has a proud history of star tailbacks. The other top running combos in the league are actually quarterback-running back duos (Hyde-Braxton Miller, Abdullah-Taylor Martinez and Kain Colter-Venric Mark at Northwestern).

We're taking a page from our friends at the ACC blog and starting a series that examines whether certain Big Ten teams will be contenders or pretenders in the 2013 season. The series won't include Ohio State, Michigan or Nebraska, three teams that, in our view, have earned the "contender" label entering the fall. For each team, we'll make a case for why they're contenders and pretenders and provide our final verdict (a final verdict in late April, mind you). We invite you to vote on whether a team is a contender or a pretender or send us your thoughts for mailbags here and here.

First up, the Northwestern Wildcats.

Why they're contenders: Not only did Northwestern win 10 games last season, including its first bowl in 64 years, but the Wildcats return the core pieces from the 2012 squad on both sides of the ball. Fifteen starters return, including the dynamic offensive backfield of quarterback Kain Colter and Venric Mark, an All-Big Ten running back and an All-America all-purpose player. Quarterback Trevor Siemian, who shared time with Colter and improved as the season progressed, also comes back. The key receivers are back and could see enhanced roles in a more balanced offense, and tight end Dan Vitale, a weapon down the stretch last season, is just a true sophomore. Northwestern's speed-based recruiting efforts on defense are starting to pay off, especially in the secondary, where the team returns standouts Ibraheim Campbell and Nick VanHoose and boasts good depth at both cornerback and safety. Defensive end Tyler Scott, the Big Ten's leading returning sacks leader, is back, along with several exciting young edge rushers. Special teams once again should be a strength with Mark and Jeff Budzien, the 2012 Big Ten co-kicker of the year, back in the fold.

Why they're pretenders: It all starts up front, and Northwestern has question marks on both of its lines entering the fall. The Wildcats must replace three starting offensive linemen, including All-Big Ten guard Brian Mulroe. Several potential starters sat out spring practice, and while that gave young players increased reps, the first-team line will have limited time to bond before the season kicks off. Northwestern also is a little thin at defensive tackle after losing Brian Arnfelt. The biggest potential drawback is a schedule that definitely gets tougher and could be significantly more challenging than the 2012 slate. Northwestern faces Ohio State for the first time since 2008, and Wisconsin returns to the slate as well after a two-year break. The Wildcats open Big Ten play with the Buckeyes (home) and the Badgers (road). And while Northwestern has established itself as a solid Big Ten program under Pat Fitzgerald, it hasn't handled high expectations well, like in 2001 (preseason Big Ten favorites) and 2011.

Final verdict: The schedule is definitely a factor, but if Northwestern can split its first two Big Ten contests, it should be right in the mix for the Legends Division title. The Wildcats host the Michigan schools, and although they visit Nebraska, they won in Lincoln with an inferior team in 2011. Some still don't take Northwestern seriously because they can't shed the perception created in the program's dark days. Those days are over, the talent is much better and most of it returns. Northwestern is a contender.

Wishing you a great weekend. We'll recap all the spring games on Monday, so be sure to check in early and often.

To the emails ...

Michael from South Sioux City, Neb., writes: If Taylor Martinez puts up HUGE passing numbers, say 65% pass completion, 3,000+ yards passing and lowers his INT's, what would his heisman chances be? And will he ever be given a shot to play QB in the NFL?

Adam Rittenberg: Michael, Martinez certainly could be on the Heisman radar if he improves upon his already strong 2012 numbers and, as you mention, cuts down on his turnovers (not just interceptions but fumbles, too). He has national name recognition, which is critically important for the Heisman, and leads an offense that could be one of the nation's best. Martinez will have to separate himself as the Big Ten's best quarterback -- Ohio State's Braxton Miller obviously is in the mix, too -- and perform big in Nebraska's biggest games, which come mostly in November. I think Martinez has an NFL future, but I'd be very surprised if it's at quarterback. Although his mechanics are a lot better than they were two years ago, they're nowhere near as polished as they need to be for a league that wants quarterbacks with no glitches in their throwing motion.

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Ryan from Surprise, Ariz., writes: With the expanding conference there is a need for more conference games. I've read the B1G is considering going to 9 or even 10 conference games with the goal that each team will play all of the other teams at least twice every 6 years or something like that. I'm wondering if they are considering rotating between 9 conference games two out of every 4 years and 10 conference games the other two out of every 4 years as an option at all. That way, with the 14 teams next year, each team would be able to play all of the other teams at least twice every 4 years. If the conference ever expands to 16 then it would require 10 conference games every year to maintain the same rotation. Thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: Ryan, you present an interesting schedule model, but I haven't heard anything about the Big Ten rotating between a 9- and 10-game conference schedules in the future. From talking with multiple athletic directors and other league sources, the 9-game league schedule is all but finalized and will begin in the 2016 season (8-game schedule will remain in 2014 and 2015). Although there's some support for a 10-game league slate, it's just too ambitious at the moment, especially with the unknowns about the college football playoff. If and when the Big Ten expands to 16, the 10-game league schedule once again will get serious consideration.

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Anthony from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: So with the draft coming up in 2 weeks, normally I'm looking forward to seeing which Hawkeyes are going to the next level. However looking over this group of guys on the block, I don't see a single one hitting an NFL practice field. question 1: your take on when and where they might go and question 2: when was the last time Iowa didn't send a single player to the NFL

Adam Rittenberg: Anthony, while Iowa doesn't have its typical stable of NFL prospects this year, I think you're being a little pessimistic. Cornerback Micah Hyde and quarterback James Vandenberg were the only Hawkeyes players at the NFL combine, and while neither is a high-level prospect, I expect both to find their way into camps this summer. Hyde could be a late-round selection in the draft. Although Vandenberg had a lousy senior season, it had a lot to do with the system change. Could wideout Keenan Davis make a team? He'd have to really impress folks in individual workouts, but NFL scouts love Iowa players. The Hawkeyes have had at least five players selected in each of the past three drafts (2010, 2011, 2012). The last NFL draft not to include an Iowa player? 1977. Could we see that streak end this year? It's possible, but I think Hyde's name will be called.

(Read full post)

At the end of Monday's mailbag, I asked if non-Michigan fans would be rooting for the Wolverines in the NCAA tournament final out of conference pride. The answer, at least according to those who wrote in, was a big fat no:

Michael from Saginaw, Mich., writes: In response to your question as to if we would pull for UofM... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPE. I hope they lose at everything including checkers. Much like the previous mailbag statement about UofM fans treating MSU fans (media included) with disrespect and contempt that is what I have dealt with all my life living here. My day started great knowing Louisville won last night. Jud said it best: "nothing good can ever come of a Michigan win."

Andrew from Fremont, Ind., writes: As a Purdue fan, I would love nothing more for Indiana to loose every possible game, I was pulling for Indiana State to upset the Losers last season and I am still waiting for the day an FCS team knocks IU down (its coming too). That being said I have little desire to listen to Ohio State fans crow on and on about how they should have been in the BCS Title Game last year. I would rather see the SEC win seven more rings than watch Ohio State win one, and then we have Illinois and Iowa, ugh.

Robert S. from Perrysburg, Ohio, writes: You asked in your mailblog if OSU/MSU fans would root for Michigan in the basketball championship game. For this OSU fan, no. Part of me thinks, "Come on, it's the Big Ten and you should root for them even though you always normally want them to lose 'every game in every sport in perpetuity (well-said, Rich from Des Moines).'" But the other part of me says, "Forget it, who cares if it's the Big Ten, always root against Michigan unless they are playing against Nazis or Al-Qaeda." I have friends who are UM fans and I respect the university, but I just can't root for them. There was one exception -- Lloyd Carr's swan song beating Florida the year after we got decimated by Florida. I didn't really want either team to win but I found myself slightly preferring a Michigan win, mainly because it seemed right for Lloyd Carr and it was great watching Florida lose so many games that year.

Brian Bennett: OK, then. I guess we know now why we don't hear fans chanting "Big Ten" at games like the SEC does.

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A.J. from Madison, Wis., writes: I know Gary Andersen has pretty much ruled it out, but do you think the Badgers could benefit from having a 2 QB system? Both Curt Phillips and Tanner McEvoy have mobility, and they both have limited arm strength (at least that's what it seemed like with McEvoy's film). On the other hand, Joel Stave and Bart Houston have really strong arms that would help stretch the field a lot more. Thoughts?

Brian Bennett: You bring up an interesting question, and one that doesn't just pertain to Wisconsin. Michigan State has a similar dilemma, as it could conceivably use a two-quarterback system to get athletic incoming recruit Damion Terry or redshirt freshman Tyler O'Connor on the field along with whoever wins the starting job for a different look. Indiana has three quarterbacks with starting experience who each do different things, with Tre Roberson being the best runner. Purdue has a guy who can really run it in Rob Henry along with Danny Etling and Austin Appleby, who might be better throwers. Minnesota also has some options for different looks under center. Most teams don't like using two quarterbacks, however, because it can disrupt the flow of the offense and sometimes lead to quarterback controversies. Northwestern has successfully managed the two-quarterback system with Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian, but the Wildcats look like the exception rather than the rule.

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Andrew J. from Harrisonville, Mo., writes: This is all hypothetical. But Nebraska has a top-tier offense with a shaky defense. Michigan State on the other hand has a top-tier defense with a shaky offense. So if the Nebraska offense combined forces with the Michigan State defense, do they compete for a national title? Also this is gonna be a fun game when Michigan State and Nebraska play this fall.

Brian Bennett: Put those two units together, and you'd have a monster team. I've said all offseason that Nebraska doesn't need to field a great defense this year to win the Big Ten. It merely needs to be competent and avoid huge meltdowns because its offense will do the rest. Same goes for Michigan State in reverse. Remember that as bad as the Spartans were on offense last year, they lost five of their six games by a total of 13 points. Think of how differently the season would have gone if they had even a league-average offense.

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Cody from Lincoln writes: So with all the recent press Nebraska has been getting, how much do you think this could help in terms of recruiting over the next couple of years? Not only for football, but for all sports.

Brian Bennett: The Jack Hoffman touchdown was a special and inspiring moment, and it seems a little too cynical to me to speculate how that will affect recruiting. But I will say this: I think that play showed a different side of Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, who had a large hand in making sure that came about. People love to play up the image of Pelini screaming on the sidelines (the company I work for included), but I think the Hoffman story and the Harlem Shake video at the start of spring show that there's a whole lot more to him than that.

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Nick from Omaha writes: Brian, with the Cards winning in basketball last night, is that a sign that our St. Louis Cards are going to win it all this year?

Brian Bennett: I don't see any correlation, as that did not help us in 1980 or 1986. But I know the birds on the bat will be there in October with a chance.

Prepare to Phil the agony of Dun-feat!

• Roster management remains a big challenge for Penn State's Bill O'Brien. The Lions' quarterback competition is even so far this spring. Penn State TE Kyle Carter is on the mend.
• Iowa's new running backs coach likes the idea of using Mark Weisman and Damon Bullock on the field together. The Hawkeyes hope to shift their special-teams play into high gear this fall. Two new Iowa assistants will earn more than the men they replaced.
• Keep an eye on Cincinnati native Adolphus Washington at Ohio State's spring game. The Buckeyes' right tackle spot is unsettled, Urban Meyer says. A closer look at Ohio State this spring.
• Michigan AD Dave Brandon tells The Detroit News that the new Big Ten divisions are coming soon.
• Quotes from the Legends Division coaches on Tuesday's teleconference. Some more notes from around the division.
• Typically a position of strength, running back could be a major concern for Michigan State this fall. Spartans coach Mark Dantonio praises QB Andrew Maxwell for an "outstanding" spring.
• Minnesota's Devin Crawford-Tufts effectively juggles two sports (football and track). Competition ramps up at Gophers' spring practice. Speaking of competition, David Cobb is making a run for Minnesota's top running back spot.
• Northwestern could be poised for a run at the Legends Division title. Kevin Trahan breaks down Northwestern's situational use of quarterbacks Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian.
• Purdue drafts teams for Saturday's spring game.
• Illinois' early enrollees are making contributions this spring. The Illini need to mold some linemen for the 2013 season. Look who stopped by Illinois this week.
• Michigan DE Frank Clark has impressed star offensive lineman Taylor Lewan and others this spring. Lewan sees the O-line playing with more nastiness in a pro-set scheme.
• Wisconsin QB Joel Stave is making strides this spring. Badgers freshman CB Sojourn Shelton, an early enrollee, is on the fast track for field time. The Badgers sing and dance.
• Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez expects to throw the ball more in 2013. Coach Bo Pelini expects big things from young LB Jared Afalava. Former Huskers star Alfonzo Dennard receives probation and 30 days of jail time for assaulting a cop.
• The teams have been selected for Indiana's spring game on Saturday.

If this were an April Fool's post, we'd tell you about how we have an unlimited travel budget and the ability to pick whatever game we want to cover during the season. But it isn't, and we don't.

Instead, we're imagining which 2013 Big Ten games we'd attend each week during the fall in a perfect world. We're each picking one game per week and accounting whenever possible for a mixture of teams and assignments.

Let's take a look at the options for Week 12 (Nov. 16):

Indiana at Wisconsin
Michigan at Northwestern
Michigan State at Nebraska
Ohio State at Illinois
Purdue at Penn State

Bye weeks: Iowa, Minnesota

Brian Bennett's pick: Michigan State at Nebraska

Some interesting options this week, but I'd like to see what should be one of the top defenses in the country taking on potentially one of the best offenses in the land.

Michigan State and Nebraska played a thriller last year in East Lansing, with Taylor Martinez leading a miraculous fourth-quarter comeback in a game full of controversial calls. There's reason to believe this year's game could be just as entertaining, and it should have a major impact on the Legends Division race.

I fully expect the Huskers, who averaged nearly 35 points per game last year and return just about everybody on offense, to score points in bunches. Martinez is a senior now, Ameer Abdullah is a proven 1,00-yard back and the receiving corps is one of the best in the Big Ten. Add all that up, and Tim Beck's crew should hang 40 points or more on several teams this year, especially when they're playing in the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium.

That Nebraska offense will be tough for anyone to handle, but Pat Narduzzi's Michigan State defense might be up to the task. The Spartans have fielded a Top 10 defense in each of the past two seasons, and even with Johnny Adams and William Gholston departing, Narduzzi has plenty of stars to build around, including linebacker Max Bullough and cornerback Darqueze Dennard. Throw in some promising young players like defensive end Shilique Calhoun, and Michigan State should again have a formidable defense.

This game likely will come down to the "other" side of the ball for both teams. Nebraska is breaking in as many as nine new starters on defense, and those young players should be settled in by this point in the season. The Spartans will have a hard time being much worse on offense in 2013 than they were in 2012, but whoever plays quarterback must get something going in the passing game. Bo Pelini's defense thoroughly confused and confounded Kirk Cousins and a veteran Michigan State attack two years ago in Nebraska's win in Lincoln.

At least one of these two teams should be in the thick of the Legends race by the time this game rolls around. That, plus the offense-defense showdown, makes my Week 12 pick an easy one.

Adam Rittenberg's pick: Michigan at Northwestern

By this point in the season, I've seen the teams I need to see at least once. The division races will be heating up in mid-November, and two games certainly jump out on the slate: MSU-Nebraska and Michigan-Northwestern. While I'm tempted to make a trip to Lincoln, one of my favorite spots to see a game, I'll instead make the short drive North to Ryan Field for Wolverines-Wildcats.

Michigan and Northwestern gave us one of the most exciting games of the 2012 season last November in Ann Arbor. The teams combined for 79 points, 48 first downs and 850 yards. There were five lead changes as the momentum swung back and forth. Michigan appeared finished at the end of regulation before delivering arguably the most exciting play of the Big Ten season, a 53-yard pass to Roy Roundtree after a deflection that set up the tying field goal. The Wolverines went on to win 38-31 in overtime. If this year's game is anything like its predecessor, I won't regret my choice.

Both teams should be improved this season, and it will be interesting to see how both offenses look entering the game. Devin Gardner will have a full season under his belt as Michigan's top quarterback, and the Wolverines will use a more traditional offense after several years of the spread. Northwestern struggled with Michigan's vertical passing game last year but didn't have top cornerback Nick VanHoose on the field. VanHoose is back and the Wildcats have upgraded their speed and athleticism on defense, a unit that could take another step in 2013.

Northwestern returns all of its key offensive weapons -- Kain Colter, Trevor Siemian, Venric Mark -- but needs to bolster its line after losing three starters. Michigan's defensive line also is a bit of a mystery, so it will be interesting to see which squad has the edge in the trenches. Michigan struggled to stop Northwestern's option attack of Colter and Mark, and Siemian was very effective throwing the ball against the Wolverines. Will Michigan star linebacker Jake Ryan be back from an ACL tear? He could make a big difference in this one.

Michigan's overall schedule is favorable, but the Wolverines will be tested away from home in league play, traveling to State College, East Lansing, Evanston and Iowa City. Brady Hoke's team hasn't been nearly as dangerous away from Ann Arbor, while Northwestern has a tougher overall slate but gets several critical games at home. Both teams certainly will be watching what happens in Lincoln, but the winner in Evanston should be in the division title mix.

Previous Trippin’

Week 1: Adam at Northwestern-Cal, Brian at Purdue-Cincinnati
Week 2: Brian and Adam at Notre Dame-Michigan
Week 3: Brian at UCLA-Nebraska, Adam at Wisconsin-Arizona State
Week 4: Adam at Michigan State-Notre Dame, Brian at Purdue-Wisconsin
Week 5: Adam at Wisconsin-Ohio State, Brian at Wisconsin-Ohio State
Week 6: Adam at Ohio State-Northwestern, Brian at Penn State-Indiana
Week 7: Adam at Penn State-Michigan, Brian at Northwestern-Wisconsin
Week 8: Brian at Iowa-Ohio State, Adam at Indiana-Michigan
Week 9: Adam at Nebraska-Minnesota, Brian at Penn State-Ohio State
Week 10: Brian at Michigan-Michigan State, Adam at Wisconsin-Iowa
Week 11: Adam at Nebraska-Michigan, Brian at Penn State-Minnesota

To your emails ...

Mr. Pozzum from Arcadia, Calif., writes: Hi Adam. The new alignment in the B1G puts Michigan and OSU in the same divison? Is this true? It looks like a move to keep OSU and Michigan from playing in "The Game" then again in the B1G title game. Both teams will be back on top again and this looks like a move to keep other teams alive to play in the conference title game to me. Your thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: While nothing is official and discussions are ongoing, I'd be absolutely stunned if Ohio State and Michigan aren't in the same division beginning in 2014. Avoiding a rematch in the championship game is one reason, and you can make a case that the Big Ten would like to see more teams in the league title game. But I also don't buy the argument that Ohio State and Michigan would make it every year if placed in opposite divisions. It hasn't worked out that way in the ACC with Florida State and Miami, and while the gap could be widening between the Buckeyes/Wolverines and the rest of the league, teams like Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan State and Northwestern aren't going to simply fade away. A bigger reason for bunching Ohio State and Michigan is the emphasis on geography with the divisions and the Big Ten's desire to brand itself more in new markets. By putting Michigan and Ohio State in the same division with Rutgers and Maryland, the Big Ten ensures that its biggest brands will be playing in those new markets every other year (most likely alternating).

Mike from Centennial, Colo., writes: Adam, if we split into west and east divisions do see the conference returning to rival games at the end of the season? I would love to see my Gophers playing Wisconsin to close the season. It would be great to see Nebraska vs Iowa, Northwestern vs Illinois, Indiana vs Purdue, etc.

Adam Rittenberg: Good question, Mike. The proposed divisions would make it much easier to have a true rivalry weekend at the end of the season. I think it's imperative that Big Ten teams play division games on the final regular-season Saturday rather than the division crossovers we see too often in November with the current model. With an East-West split, the schedule for the final Saturday should/could be: Michigan-Ohio State, Iowa-Nebraska, Wisconsin-Minnesota, Northwestern-Illinois, Penn State-Michigan State, Indiana-Purdue and Rutgers-Maryland. This slate would feature six division games and only one cross-division contest in Purdue-Indiana, which absolutely should remain on its traditional date. I also would like to see Wisconsin-Minnesota as the regular-season finale, and a Maryland-Rutgers game makes sense since they're the two new additions. Best of all, it means the revered Land Grant Trophy would be at stake as Penn State and Michigan State do battle.

Jim from Omaha writes: Adam, Nebraska fans need to chill out and respect the tradition they have just joined. Sorry, but we won't be viewed as full fledged members of the B1G until: 1) we win the conference championship, at least 3 times, and 2) we win a BCS bowl game or two. We can moan all we want, but we are not top tier until we compete well with top tier. I don't begrudge OSU-Mich their hubris. They've earned it. We joined their conference, they didn't join us (like Texas). I look forward to the future in the B1G. We can and will compete well, East or West, Leaders or Legends. I just want to play PSU every year. That is our best hope for a rivalry of merit like we had with OU. Any word PSU-NU will be protected?

Adam Rittenberg: Jim, you definitely raise fair points about Nebraska needing to legitimize itself in the Big Ten before complaining about the division alignment and claiming to be the only real threat in the future "West" division. I also think people are selling short programs like Wisconsin, Northwestern and Iowa. Wisconsin has been a more consistent Big Ten power since 1993 than every squad other than Michigan and Ohio State. Iowa won a BCS bowl game after the 2009 season -- not that long ago -- and has been a force at times during Kirk Ferentz's tenure. Northwestern's recent rise under Pat Fitzgerald largely mirrors that of Michigan State's under Mark Dantonio.

Although I agree that the proposed divisions appear imbalanced, these things often change over time, and we'll see another round of alignment if and when the Big Ten expands beyond 14. As for the Nebraska-Penn State series, I don't expect it to be protected. The athletic directors want as broad a schedule rotation as possible beginning in 2014, and the protected crossover games hurt the rotation. Indiana-Purdue is the only crossover game expected to remain. Although it would be nice to see Nebraska and Penn State play every year, I think there's great potential in the Nebraska-Wisconsin series.

Matt from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: Adam, it has been brought up a few times that the SEC only played one game north of Missouri last season and that was Vandy at Northwestern. This is not a new development and needs to change. I understand the SEC not wanting to travel to a bowl game in a northern state during the middle of winter, but an early September game in the Midwest should not be a problem. I love that Michigan and Arkansas have the home and home scheduled but please tell me there will be more of that to come!

Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I wish I could say there are a bunch of Big Ten-SEC matchups around the corner, but it's simply not the case. We likely will see more neutral-site meetings between the leagues like Michigan-Alabama last year and Wisconsin-Alabama in 2015 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Of all the SEC schools, Alabama really deserves credit for being willing to play Big Ten teams (the Tide also had a home-and-home against Penn State in 2010 and 2011). But most SEC teams, like many Big Ten teams, hate giving up home games, and if they have to travel, they don't want to come North. Nebraska has a home-and-home series set with Tennessee in 2016 and 2017, Indiana plays Missouri this season and next, and you mention the Michigan-Arkansas series in 2018 and 2019, but I wouldn't hold my breath for many more of these series. It's much more likely we see one-time neutral-site meetings so teams don't lose as much money as they would with pure road games.

John from Skippack, Pa., writes: Hello Adam...ok, so I am going to,disagree with your recent disagreement: "I also disagree with you that Penn State can "match" Ohio State. The Ohio State program is at a higher level." So, Ohio State is not at a higher level. At the moment, they have more talent, and likely will during the sanction period. But when it comes to the two "programs", Penn State is very much on par with Ohio State's. from the coaching staff to the facilities, to their fan base and their success in graduating their players, thee is no doubt whatsoever that Penn State is equal, if not ahead of Ohio State. Bill O'Brien can and will recruit an extremely competitive team. And they will get their share of Big10 titles. Just wait and watch.

Adam Rittenberg: John, I don't deny there are plenty of comparable traits between Penn State and Ohio State, many of which you outline here (great fans, great facilities, great football tradition, strong graduation rates, good coaches). Bill O'Brien is an excellent coach with a strong staff. But Ohio State is in a better recruiting position than Penn State. There's more talent in the state of Ohio, Ohio State has more national recruiting reach, Ohio State is more easily accessible than Penn State, and Urban Meyer is one of the nation's truly elite recruiters. That's not a knock on O'Brien or his coaches, but Meyer is recruiting at a higher level. Also, let's look at the two programs since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993 (for these purposes, no wins/titles are vacated). Ohio State has won or shared 10 Big Ten titles, while Penn State has won or shared three. Ohio State has reached 10 BCS bowls (National Championship, Rose, Fiesta, Orange, Sugar). Penn State has reached four. Could things change in the next 5-10 years? Sure. Again, O'Brien has the Penn State program on the right track. But Penn State hasn't been the world beater many thought it would be when it entered the Big Ten. Ohio State, meanwhile, has been the league's dominant program.

Kevin from Evanston, Ill., writes: Adam I think one of the biggest things you missed in your 2 qb system article was when Colter told McCall to let Siemian finish the game against Syracuse. That truly shows that they are both out there to win regardless of ego. I just thought that was a huge part of this qb system and actually surprised you didnt mention it.

Adam Rittenberg: Kevin, that's a good point, and one I should have included in the post. Kain Colter was a bit banged up at the time, but he showed his unselfish nature by pushing for Trevor Siemian to lead the game-winning drive against Syracuse. In many ways, it set the tone for a functional rotation that helped Northwestern win 10 games last season.

Kyle from State College, Pa., writes: Hey Adam, have you guys heard about former PSU DT Anthony Adams' retirement video at White Castle?

Adam Rittenberg: That is OUTSTANDING! Thanks for passing along. As someone who has spent the past four Valentine's Days dining at White Castle -- and my wife still hasn't divorced me -- I can appreciate this. Adams was a great Bear here in Chicago. The best part is when he asks his sleeping baby daughter if she has any questions for him. I also couldn't stop staring at the poster with the new sweet potato fries. Yum. Thank goodness there's a White Caste five blocks away.

Many college football coaches, moonlighting as expert mathematicians, subscribe to the equation that two quarterbacks actually equals zero quarterbacks.

Others who attempt to use quarterback rotations end up with stagnant offenses. Quarterback competitions can be beneficial, but they also often divide locker rooms and lead to transfers. There are rare cases when a two-quarterback system works, and Northwestern appears to have found the formula.

The Wildcats won 10 games last season while rotating Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian at quarterback. Although Colter started 12 of the 13 games and finished second on the team in both carries (170) and rushing yards (894), Siemian had more completions (128), pass attempts (218) and pass yards (1,312).

The offense wasn't a juggernaut -- 42nd nationally in scoring, 64th in yards -- and the rotation caused a midseason identity crisis, but Northwestern worked through it to have its most successful season under coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Both Colter and Siemian return for the 2013 campaign, and the bar has been raised.

"I believe we have two quarterbacks who can lead us to a Big Ten championship," Fitzgerald told ESPN.com before spring practice.

Why does Northwestern's two-quarterback system seem to work when many others fail?

It starts with acceptance.

As recent history shows, playing two quarterbacks is more of a necessity than a luxury in Northwestern's offense. The team has used multiple starting quarterbacks in each of the past three seasons and four times in the past five.

The nature of Northwestern's spread offense, which requires the quarterback to run and exposes him to injury, makes it essential to have multiple options.

"We'll always have to play our No. 2 quarterback no matter what because [the starter] is going to get dinged up," offensive coordinator Mick McCall said. "It's going to happen."

No player understands this more than Colter, who burned his redshirt late in the 2010 season because star quarterback Dan Persa ruptured his Achilles' tendon. Colter opened 2011 as the starter because of Persa's injury and shared time with Persa before rotating with Siemian last fall.

Colter's unique skill set -- he recorded 43 receptions in 2011 and might be the team's top receiver and best overall athlete -- increases McCall's flexibility at the quarterback spot. Siemian, meanwhile, has the stronger throwing arm of the two.

"It’d be stupid to say he’s not going to play," Colter said, referring to Siemian. "I think we both showed that we’re both going to play this year. It’s been a two-quarterback system ever since I’ve been here. Do I want the opportunity? Yeah. And I’ve had the opportunity in games where I’ve been the only quarterback, but I also feel at some point, I'm one of the best receivers we have on the field and one of the best running backs, so we have to get me in different areas."

Another key to the rotation is the strong friendship between Colter and Siemian. They both arrived at Northwestern in 2010 and studied the playbook together. Both were on track to redshirt before Persa's injury, which thrust Colter into the fire.

Siemian backed up Colter at times during the 2011 season before moving into more of a co-starter role last fall.

"We're two pretty unselfish guys," Siemian said. "A lot of times at places, I’ve heard you get a quarterback competition or you get two guys buying time, and that kind of divides the team in two. We're all in this together. That's just part of the culture here as a program. It's not like Kain and I are that special, but we're all going for a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl."

Added Colter: "We've been through this whole thing together, all the offensive changes, all the quarterback changes. He's always helped me out and I try to help him out in any way that I can."

Colter's and Siemian's skills seemed to complement each other well for much of 2012.

As Northwestern transitioned to more of a run-based offense, Colter and running back Venric Mark shined in the zone-read game, and Colter's scrambling skills converted numerous third downs. Siemian showed off his arm on downfield throws and threaded the ball into tight windows. And while Colter didn't play nearly as much receiver because of the injury risk, he and Siemian connected nine times for 131 yards in a win against Indiana (Colter also had 161 rush yards and four touchdowns as a quarterback in the game).

"He’s one of our better receivers when he lines up out there, so for me, selfishly, I like it," Siemian said. "But then again, he's so dangerous when he lines up at quarterback."

Colter is working strictly as a quarterback in spring practice, but the door hasn't been closed to him playing other positions in the fall.

"We need him to get better at playing quarterback," McCall said. "As time goes on, there's always going to be a possibility of he and Trevor playing together on the same snap. That puts pressure on defenses. We can change some things up, they don't know actually what’s going on, it simplifies what they do. There's always going to be that opportunity as we go forward."

Colter's flexibility can keep defenses off balance, which Northwestern struggled to do with its rotation midway through the 2012 season. Offensive production dropped off in early October as Colter handled most run plays while Siemian was brought in for obvious third-and-long passing situations.

In late October, Colter questioned the unit's identity in an interview with ESPN.com, saying Northwestern had to fully commit to an option-based attack. Several days later, Colter and Mark combined for 328 rush yards in a win against Iowa.

"We know exactly who we are," Fitzgerald said. "The bottom line is we want to win, and we're going to do what’s best for the team first. Fans want to say, 'Why don't we throw it better with Kain, and why don't we run it better when Trevor’s in there?' Keep talking all you want, but the bottom line is we won the game. It's one of those situations where you want to play to guys' strengths, but you also don't want to be predictable.

"That's where the balancing act is."

There's also a balance with leadership that Colter and Siemian intend to reach in 2013. Colter, a co-captain in 2012, almost certainly will retain the title as a senior this fall.

He made his desire clear in a recent interview, saying, "No matter where I’m at [on the field], I'm going to be the leader on this team."

It's not an affront to Siemian, who doesn't take it that way.

"I'm a quarterback, so it'd be foolish for me to say I'm not a leader," Siemian said. "But Kain's a tremendous leader. He's done well leading our offense, but I have a leadership role on this team, too."

The Big Ten hasn't had a team with a true quarterback rotation win a league title in recent years. Northwestern hopes to change that this fall.

We're nearing the halfway point of our journey through the Big Ten. In a perfect world, there would be no budgetary restrictions or editors (whoops, did we just type that?), and we could simply pick the games we'll attend each week during the season. Alas, it's not to be, but we can pretend.

In this series, we're picking one Big Ten game per week to attend. Although we'd rather not share the same press box, some matchups are too good to pass up.

Let's check out our options for Week 7. Once again, it's a light week in the league.

Northwestern at Wisconsin
Michigan at Penn State
Nebraska at Purdue
Indiana at Michigan State

Bye weeks: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State

Adam Rittenberg's pick: Michigan at Penn State

Penn State once again will be one of the more intriguing teams in the Big Ten, and I don't want to go much longer without dropping in on Bill O'Brien's Nittany Lions. These two traditional powers haven't played since the 2010 season, and there's a good chance this game takes place under the lights at Beaver Stadium. A Whiteout could be on tap, giving me even more reason to head to Happy Valley.

Penn State should have a decent handle on its quarterback situation by Week 7, whether the signal-caller is Steven Bench, Tyler Ferguson or heralded incoming freshman Christian Hackenberg. The Lions return multiple weapons at running back, wide receiver and particularly tight end, and their offensive line comes off of a good season. But Michigan should provide by far the toughest test for the new Lions quarterback, as the Wolverines figure to once again be among the Big Ten's best defenses.

We'll also learn a lot about Michigan as the Wolverines play their first league game away from Michigan Stadium. Although Michigan will have a Week 4 trip under its belt, Connecticut's Rentschler Field isn't exactly Beaver Stadium at night. Junior quarterback Devin Gardner will need a smart, effective performance against a Penn State defense that loses star power from 2012 but could be deeper at certain spots. Who will be carrying the ball for Michigan at this point? Fitz Toussaint? Incoming freshman Derrick Green? Although this is a crossover game, it could loom large for Michigan in its quest to reach Indianapolis.

Brian Bennett's pick: Northwestern at Wisconsin

I have yet to see Pat Fitzgerald's crew on this fantasy road trip, and that's a wrong that needs to be righted here. Northwestern has the talent and experience to seriously challenge for the Legends Division title in 2013, and we should have a pretty good idea whether the Wildcats live up to preseason hype by Week 7. They will have already played at Cal and versus Syracuse in the nonconference slate and squared off against Ohio State in Week 6 at Ryan Field. The trip to Madison is another tough test in a daunting schedule that includes later games at Nebraska and versus Michigan and Michigan State.

Wisconsin will have also shown us something by this game after opening conference action on the road at Ohio State in Week 5. The Badgers will own the benefit of a bye week before Northwestern comes into Camp Randall, so Gary Andersen's team should be well prepared to take on Kain Colter, Venric Mark & Co. On the flip side, the Wildcats' biggest problems defensively in recent years have been against the passing game, and Wisconsin's passing attack may still be developing at this point in the season. Outside of Jared Abbrederis, the Badgers don't have any downfield threats -- at least none that we've identified as of late March.

The same could be said of Northwestern's own passing game going into the season. We're more likely to see two of the leagues top rushing offenses go head to head, with Colter and Mark leading the Wildcats and Wisconsin countering with James White and Melvin Gordon. Watching Chris Borland try to blow up Northwestern's option attack would alone be worth the price of admission.

This figures to be a physical game, and though it is a crossover matchup, neither side can afford to lose this one given the competition in its own division. See you on State Street.

Previous Trippin’

Week 1: Adam at Northwestern-Cal, Brian at Purdue-Cincinnati
Week 2: Brian and Adam at Notre Dame-Michigan
Week 3: Brian at UCLA-Nebraska, Adam at Wisconsin-Arizona State
Week 4: Adam at Michigan State-Notre Dame, Brian at Purdue-Wisconsin
Week 5: Adam at Wisconsin-Ohio State, Brian at Wisconsin-Ohio State
Week 6: Adam at Ohio State-Northwestern, Brian at Penn State-Indiana

Northwestern quarterback Trevor Siemian talks about his work this spring, splitting snaps with Kain Colter and the team's outlook for 2013.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern running back Venric Mark stands just 5-foot-8 and weighs only 171 pounds, but he has a nose tackle-sized chip on his shoulder.

It's why his favorite run play is the inside zone. It's why he often gets in the face of defenders half a foot taller after between-the-tackles runs. It's why he runs to contact rather than away from it, like many backs his size.

"There's no question on Venric's toughness," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "He's a tough, tough guy."

But is he a durable Big Ten running back? Mark suffered some minor injuries during the second half of the 2012 season, in which he rushed for 1,366 yards and 12 touchdowns and led the Big Ten with 2,171 all-purpose yards.

Although Mark started all 13 games at running back for the Wildcats, he got banged up against Boston College, Nebraska, Michigan and Michigan State and eclipsed 18 carries just once in the final six games. Some question whether Mark -- with his size and style of play -- is built to last, even though he tied for fourth in the Big Ten in carries (226) last fall.

Mark greets the durability doubts much like he does those bigger, seemingly badder defenders -- head on.

"They're always talking about, 'Is he durable? Is he durable?'" Mark told ESPN.com. "That was my first year playing running back. People see that I played my freshman and sophomore year. Yeah, but I wasn't an every-down back. So this year, I know what to expect from myself, being my last year, and everybody's going to say, 'Can he last? Can he last?'

"I'm going to let them do their job and talk. I'm just going to play."

He also won't forget what has been said or written.

"It gets on my nerves," he said.

Mark also isn't naïve about the wear and tear his body will take this coming season. Just because he has been through a season as a No. 1 back doesn't mean he'll last through another. And he can't do a whole lot about his size. This winter, he has gained seven pounds to check in at 171 after losing some weight because of injury during the season. He hopes to play this season around 175 pounds.

To prepare himself for the pounding, Mark has been running and cutting with a 20-pound weight vest. Mark wants to emulate how Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter uses his vision to scan the field while still keeping his shoulders square when running between the tackles.

"For instance, if Kain and I, we're running 2-Knife, and I'm running inside zone, and a defender sticks his arm to turn me, [the vest] will help me keep my shoulders square," said Mark, a second-team All-Big Ten selection at running back and an All-American at punt returner. "That way, if a linebacker comes to my right or left, I can plant and still cut instead of running like this [shows his shoulders turning] where I can't make that move."

Mark also talks about the need to play smarter.

"Instead of trying to always run over people, at my size, I need to dip and drive, I need to sometimes cut back, juke," Mark said. "That will help me last longer, of course."

Mark averaged 17.4 carries per game in 2012 and had 20 carries or more just four times. He said 16 carries is the "minimum, minimum" amount he'd like to have in 2013 and would "prefer to get close to 20."

Wildcats offensive coordinator Mick McCall puts a greater value on overall touches than carries. This especially applies to a player like Mark, who averaged 18.7 yards on punt returns with two touchdowns, also serves as Northwestern's primary kick returner and had 20 receptions last season. And McCall doesn't just look at total touches, but what types of plays are being run.

"If it's inside zone 16 or 17 times, that might be a little high for Venric," McCall said. "If it's 20-25 touches but half of those are out in space, that's not bad. So we've got to manage him, how many touches he gets but more so, where he touches the ball.

"Some of it's got to be inside, there's no doubt. He does a great job in there. And as much as you want to manage it, he's still going to get dinged up. If he was a 225-pound back, look at the big backs from a year ago in our conference, they still get dinged up. That's part of that position."

McCall fully expects to play multiple running backs and multiple quarterbacks every year. And he has been pleased with the emerging depth this spring at running back with senior Mike Trumpy, junior Treyvon Green, and redshirt freshmen Malin Jones and Stephen Buckley.

But Northwestern's coaches have no doubts about their No. 1 back. And Mark expects to prove he's built to last this fall.

"He took some hits last year that he didn't need to take," Fitzgerald said. "It was similar to a quarterback going through his first year. V learned a lot on how he's got to take care of his body. The next step is just being smarter.

"He doesn't need to prove his toughness to anybody. That's always been his trademark."