ESPN College Football

What's on your mind today?

Luke from Cincinnati writes: Ohio State always pays its debts. No conference team has beaten Ohio State twice in a row since Wisconsin in 2003-2004. Revenge played a big factor in the Buckeye's win against Wisconsin last year, even though the team went 6-7 for the year. Do you think this is the year the Ohio State loses to the same conference team to back? How much of a factor does revenge normally play into most games? The Buckeyes seem to thrive on it.

Adam Rittenberg: Very interesting topic, Luke. There's a better chance Ohio State's run without consecutive losses to the same Big Ten squad ends this year, simply because the Buckeyes had five league losses in 2011. Remember, they lost a total of five Big Ten contests between 2005-2010, so there weren't many opportunities for the streak to end. Of the five league games Ohio State lost last fall, the Buckeyes must travel to both Michigan State and Penn State. The Michigan State game will be very tough, and you'd have to think the Spartans have the best chance to end Ohio State's run. Penn State could be tricky as well, as the game falls in November. Michigan should be Ohio State's toughest home test, followed by Nebraska. Purdue has given the Buckeyes fits in West Lafayette, but the Boilers will have a tough time winning in C-Bus. As far as revenge, it plays a role, particularly in rivalry games like Michigan. Ohio State certainly wants to avenge the Nebraska loss after blowing such a big lead in Lincoln last season.

---

Alden from Chicago writes: Adam, as a Spartan who attended both Michigan State-Wisconsin meetings in 2011 I am very disappointed with the schedule announcement in that the schools have a 4-year break from 2013-16. Living in Chicago around many Wisconsin fans I've felt a great rivalry budding here. The October and the B1G Championship games were absolutely two of the best football games I've seen and I've developed a genuine distaste for the Badgers. With both teams on top of their divisions there's still a good chance of meeting in the Championship game at least couple times during the break, which would continue adding ill will between the schools. I?m afraid though that without a regular season meeting the rivalry could sputter in the coming years and that would be a shame. What are your thoughts on this?

Adam Rittenberg: I agree it's a shame, Alden. Same goes for a four-year break with Ohio State and Nebraska, and Wisconsin and Iowa not playing yet again in 2015 and 2016. These are some of the downsides of having division play, 12 teams and protected crossover games. Each team is going to have a four-year gap with another squad -- just the way it is. Wisconsin's situation is a bit unique in that it loses geographical rivals by being in the Leaders division. The Wisconsin-Iowa series doesn't take place every year. Wisconsin doesn't play Michigan State or Michigan every year. The only protected game is Minnesota, which is a historic rivalry but one that lacks the significance of recent Wisconsin games with both Michigan State and Iowa.

---

Whit from the Czech Republic writes: This is probably a very naive hope, but is there any chance the Big Ten divisions will eventually be realigned into an East/West geographical split? I saw your posting of the schedules, and I was very disappointed to see that MSU will not play Wisconsin for four years, and same with Nebraska and OSU. In my view, if the divisions went to geography, the "protected crossovers" could be scrapped (since all traditional rivalries, I think, would be intact) and teams from opposite divisions could play each other at least five times out of every ten years. While that wouldn't assure yearly matchups between MSU/Wisconsin and OSU/Nebraska, it would at least assure that every four-year football player would get two chances against each opponent from the other division.

Adam Rittenberg: Whit, you're definitely not alone in this belief. The Big Ten split the divisions based on competitive balance and had branding very much in mind when it assigned Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska and Penn State. The protected crossover component was included because you can't have Ohio State and Michigan in opposite divisions without having them play each year. If Ohio State and Michigan were in the same division, could the Big Ten get rid of protected crossovers entirely? It's very possible. And that would reduce the gaps when teams play one another. It's something the league certainly could reassess down the road, but I don't see any changes on the horizon.

---

Touchdown! Davis from Lincoln, Neb., writes: Adam, cool ditty you wrote looking at future schedules and crossover games. So, good sir, what's your over/under on Nebraska winning 9.5 regular season games in 2012? As a fan, I'm assuming Nebraska will run the table and win the National Championship vs. Oklahoma in the most amazing National Title game ever (can you imagine a Nebraska v. Oklahoma title game, with all the past tradition and story lines?). Objectively, I'm hoping we go 10-2 in the regular season. Quick schedule breakdown... Non Conference: I think Southern Miss is a decent/good team but we win by 20+. The UCLA game might be a crap shoot, although I think we ultimately win regardless (and I'm excited to watch a game played in the Rose Bowl). Conference: Vs. Wisconsin, @ Ohio State, Vs. Michigan, @ Michigan State. I think if Nebraska loses two games, it's among these teams. I don't believe we'll lose to Northwestern again, even though it's a road game and I respect their team. Nebraska Vs. Michigan is my game of the year. It maybe has been said before, but I believe the ultimate conference champion this year is coming from the Legends division, and it's between Michigan, Michigan State, and Nebraska. I'm really interested to watch Ohio State this year with Meyer, etc. Your thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: I agree with you that the Big Ten champ comes out of the Legends division. Michigan State, Michigan and Nebraska are obviously the top contenders there. Nebraska has to defend its home turf to reach 10 wins this season, and I agree that the Michigan game is huge. But if Nebraska really wants to make a statement in the Big Ten, it absolutely has to record a signature road win. The two big opportunities are at Ohio State and at Michigan State. Nebraska needs to win one of those games for this season to be deemed a success. If Nebraska goes 10-2 with losses in East Lansing and Columbus, is the season a step forward? Maybe a little step, but Nebraska will only announce itself as a potential Big Ten power when it wins a huge game on the road. The Penn State win was nice, but Penn State had an inflated record, and obviously there were unique circumstances surrounding that game.

---

Alex from Shanghai writes: Hey Adam, greetings from China! Kind of disappointed that I can't get my lunch links until the middle of the night over here, but what can you do? For Michigan fans, it traditionally goes without saying that the OSU game is the most important game on the schedule, no exceptions. But do you see a different situation this coming year? It can, and perhaps even should be argued that the Michigan State game is more important. Michigan fans such as myself would love nothing more than to shut Mark Dantonio up and get that 4-year losing streak off our backs. This is also coupled with the fact that this game could very well determine the Legends Division title, and that its Michigan's only home game of any national relevance as of today. As much as it pains me to say, I think the MSU game, at least for the 2012 season, is more important than the OSU game. What are your thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: Alex, thanks for the note! We'll see about posting a midnight edition of lunch links, so you could get them at the right time (I'll make Bennett do it). In terms of reaching the Big Ten title, the Michigan State game certainly could be more significant for Michigan. It's a division game, which is critical, and it's also a division home game. Both division champions in 2011 -- Wisconsin and Michigan State -- were undefeated at home and obviously won their division home contests. I think this pattern will continue in the coming seasons. The Ohio State game always will be huge for Michigan. While it was great for the Wolverines to end the losing streak, they'll get more mileage from a win in Columbus against what will be a better Ohio State team, not to mention a squad playing its last game of the season because of the bowl ban. But Michigan could be in the position Michigan State was last year, having locked up the division title before the final Saturday of regular-season play. The bottom line is both games should matter a lot for Michigan, but in terms of reaching Indianapolis, the MSU game is absolutely critical.

---

Hunter from Jackson, Mich., writes: I noticed your comment about November night games, and i couldnt agree more. Do you think it would ever be possible for the Big Ten to allow November games under the lights? And to push a non-conference game to the end of the season? I would personally love to see SEC teams like Alabama or LSU that are used to playing in that heat to march into Camp Randall, Spartan Stadium, Happy Valley etc. in below freezing temps. It would have a huge impact on the game.

Adam Rittenberg: Hunter, I think the Big Ten eventually will change its policy when there's significant turnover in the athletic director ranks. Most of the old guard seems to be lukewarm on night games, and Purdue's Morgan Burke actually turned down a night game against Michigan this year. But the popularity of night football around the country, coupled with the fact it looks so good on TV, should eventually lead to a change in policy. Sure, the weather is a concern, but they play November night games in every other conference, including the MAC and the Big East. The Big Ten's view is archaic, and it should change. As far as moving up a league game to September, the momentum for this seems to have slowed significantly following the Pac-12 scheduling agreement. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema and former Illinois coach Ron Zook seemed to favor a schedule that more closely resembled those in the SEC, but the Big Ten schedules between now and 2016 have only four league contests -- two in 2013, two in 2014 -- played during the month of September.

---

Matt from Minnesota writes: Adam -- When I heard the anouncement of the Big12 SEC bowl, my first thought was the playoff was dead. Doesn't this really setup the plus one model. The winner or the Pac12/B1G will play the Big12/SEC winner for the NC. It makes since. I pushes out the Big East, ACC and the independents. It keeps the Rose Bowl. It allow the four main conference to Bid out the NC Game and split the revenue. Don't you think this would work?

Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I guess it's possible, and The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Scott Dochterman wrote about this very topic today. I still don't know if pushing out Notre Dame or the ACC ends up happening, as there would be some significant pushback from those squads. As Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman recently told me, he and others in his position still favor the plus-one over a four-team playoff within the bowls. But it seems like the presidents could be swayed to accept a true four-team playoff. I also don't know if a league like the SEC, which has had so many top-5 teams, would advocate for a plus-one instead of a four-team playoff where it could have multiple entries. The SEC and Big 12 definitely made a power move with this bowl game, but I don't see it translating directly to a plus-one.

---

John from Charlotte, N.C., writes: Adam, While definitely not important to on field performance, I love a good pre-game field entrance. It gets the crowd fired up for the game and seemingly the home team ready for the kickoff. How would you rank the B1G's teams field entrance or pregame routines? Thanks, and keep up the good work.

Adam Rittenberg: Big fan of pregame entrances, too, John. I always love Iowa's entrance to "Back in Black," followed by "The Swarm." In my mind, former Hawkeyes D-lineman Adrian Clayborn will always be at the front of the line. I've only seen Nebraska's "Tunnel Walk" take place once in person, but it's quickly becoming one of my favorites. Michigan's entrance with the banner touching is classic college football.

I always enjoy my visits with Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke. As the Big Ten's longest-tenured AD -- he took over in 1993 -- Burke has an interesting perspective on how the league has changed and evolved over the years.

But I have to wonder whether he's stuck in the past regarding night football.

Purdue, as some are well aware, is the only Big Ten team not playing a true night game this season. The Boilers had one night contest -- a home game against Notre Dame -- in 2011, and they likely could have hosted another marquee opponent at night this season.

From The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier:

"I probably could've had a night game with Michigan, but I lobbied them for late afternoon so it wouldn't be late for our people to get home," Burke said.

He later added:

"I realize there are some people out there that feel that's a real benefit. They have to stand back, as do I, and look at it from every possible angle. I know there's a vocal group who feel that's the right thing to do, but they don't have any logic other than it would be nice to have a night game."

Purdue's Oct. 4 game against Michigan will kick off at 4 p.m. ET. Had it been a true prime-time game, kickoff would have been at 8 p.m. ET or 7 p.m. ET, meaning the game would finish somewhere between 10:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.

I understand Burke has to look at the bigger picture, and it's nice to prevent older fans from driving long distances late at night. But one night game a year, on a Saturday night, particularly against an opponent like Michigan, isn't asking too much. For a Purdue team trying to increase attendance and generate more buzz, having the Michigan game at 7 or 8 p.m. makes total sense. Fans attending Purdue basketball games that tip off at 8 or 9 p.m. don't seem to mind the late-night drives home.

The logic here is simple: night football is more exciting. Night games are great showcase opportunities for programs, and they're great for television. Most fans love them. Students who don't normally attend day games will show up for night games. It's why you're seeing more and more night games around the country every year.

Other Big Ten teams in similar positions to Purdue -- looking to boost attendance and attract more attention -- have been receptive to night games. Indiana has been especially open to them since the Big Ten Network launched. The Hoosiers have three home games at night this season (Indiana State, Ball State and Ohio State). Minnesota and Northwestern also have been open to home night games. Both teams have one home game at night this year after having two each in 2011.

The subplot to Purdue's issue is a resistance to install permanent lights at Ross-Ade Stadium. Burke told me last week at the Big Ten spring meetings, "They [fans] want me to put lights in, and I keep fighting them and say, 'Why do I want to put lights in if ABC and ESPN will pay for it?'"

Indiana's Memorial Stadium, as Purdue fans know, has permanent lights. So does Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium.

It's unlikely Purdue goes without a true night game in 2013, as Notre Dame returns to West Lafayette. The Boilers-Irish games at Ross-Ade almost always take place at night. But for the most part, Purdue home games kick off at noon ET.

Michigan still can get away with such an approach in today's college football environment. But Purdue should be doing all it can to showcase its program, and this seems like a missed opportunity.

CHICAGO -- Here's one possible reason the Big Ten decided not to push harder for playoff games at campus sites.

"We're trying to not be the barrier," Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke told ESPN.com. "We have strong values and strong opinions. We've said that throughout. You go back to 2008, and we wanted the BCS to remain intact. And we've have a 60-plus-year relationship with the Rose Bowl. We've never hid that fact.

"But it's pretty clear that some level of compromise is necessary. So instead of putting stakes in the ground and making it hard for the various constituencies around the country to get ideas up on the table, we're trying to be part of the process."

It's an important shift from the past, when the Big Ten, and specifically longtime league commissioner Jim Delany, have been portrayed as the primary barrier to a playoff in college football. Although the Big Ten/Delany wasn't the only party to oppose the four-team playoff proposed by SEC commissioner Mike Slive and ACC commissioner John Swofford four years ago, the other opponents weren't placed in the obstructionist role nearly as much.

These days, the Big Ten couldn't stop a playoff even if it wanted to, but the league could live up to its reputation by refusing to budge on the campus-sites issue. See, there's little to no support for campus sites elsewhere in college football. It almost certainly would be a losing battle for the Big Ten.

Is it worth fighting? Many folks think it is. But the Big Ten/Delany would be viewed mostly in a negative -- and familiar -- light.

The league's push for playoff games at bowl sites, which keeps the Rose Bowl as relevant as possible, isn't nearly as confrontational nationally as a campus-sites push would be. Why would leagues like the SEC and Pac-12 oppose bowl sites, which are located so close to their campuses?

"I'd like to be able to play more on my campus," Burke said. "But I recognize the chances of that occurring given the climate are probably [low]. ... You listen to the national debate, and it's not there. So that's where, to me, it leads you back and you try to figure out how the bowls can be integrated."

Asked if the Big Ten fought hard enough for campus sites, Burke replied, "We have, but there's also got to be give and take. Jim has tried to step back. He has been around the longest of all the commissioners. So you've got to be a little bit careful now. You've got to let others get into the debate at the table, so that they feel like you're not just trying to shove something down their throat.

"He has put some stakes in the ground on the field that are important. If it's an issue that is not absolutely core to our values, the values of our ADs and our presidents, we're going to try to help create a consensus."

Jim Delany, consensus builder? The label might never catch on, but there's definitely a push from the Big Ten to no longer stand in the way any more.

"There's a lot here that's happening that doesn't necessarily favor a conference," Delany said. "Basically, you try and do what's right for college football. That's part of our task."

CHICAGO -- Despite a few speed bumps, the Big Ten/Pac-12 scheduling partnership is "a go," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told his league's athletic directors this week.

The details are still being worked out, which isn't a surprise when you have 24 major-conference programs with unique interests, scheduling philosophies and scheduling agreements. But Delany hopes to have a more specific idea of the scheduling models in the next few months.

"We do want it all fit in," Delany said Wednesday. "Whether that means you have 12 games or 11 games or 10 games in the first cycle ... we're going to want 12 games ASAP. A lot of scheduling has been done in other nonconference areas that's reliant on this."

The original goal was to have a full round-robin schedule by 2017, but it could be wishful thinking. Ohio State, for example, has games scheduled with both Oklahoma and North Carolina, and athletic director Gene Smith told ESPN.com last month that he wouldn't add a Pac-12 opponent to the slate in 2017. Pac-12 teams have their own issues, namely a nine-game conference schedule -- as opposed to eight in the Big Ten -- and long-term agreements with teams like Notre Dame (USC, Stanford).

The partnership eventually will feature six home-and-home series, but it might not be complete until after 2017.

The scheduling process will be a "hybrid" effort between the schools and the two league offices. Big Ten and Pac-12 teams are facing one another with more frequency in the coming years -- three matchups take place this fall -- and some series are already set for 2017 and beyond. Northwestern and Stanford, for example, have a four-game series set for 2019-22.

Big Ten senior associate commissioner for television administration Mark Rudner and Pac-12 deputy commissioner Kevin Weiberg, are overseeing the scheduling elements.

"We may have to do less," Delany said, referring to the league. "In other words, if there are three or four games [set] in '17, '18, '19 and '20, maybe the conference will only have to come in and pick seven or eight other games."

Before announcing the Pac-12 partnership, the Big Ten had approved a nine-game conference schedule, supporting Delany's frequent statement that league teams should play one another more, not less. But the Big Ten decided to stay at eight league games because of the Pac-12 agreement.

"On balance, it's a close call," Delany said. "But in the nine-game conference schedule, who you don't play was one factor, but the other fact was five home games, four away. If you can create a situation where you improve your schedules, you improve the fan experience, you improve the games that are going on television without affecting the home/away segment inside of the conference, [it] was the preferred method. If we hadn't done the collaboration, we'd do nine [league games]. If we do the collaboration, we'll do eight.

"We're able to attract a higher-quality of game."

One potential concern is how the scheduling partnership will impact teams' other nonconference agreements. Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke has made it clear he wants to keep the annual Notre Dame series going as long as possible, and added that the Boilers have played Notre Dame and a Pac-12 team (Oregon, Arizona) in the same season before.

"It adds some name recognition to your schedules in September," Burke said. "Working together, we can try to get the programs in comparable stages of development, to compete against one another so we don't have an imbalance. It's not easy to do that, but that's something to work toward."

CHICAGO -- The Big Ten favors having a college football playoff within the existing bowls, which essentially pushes those games to warmer climates in the south and west.

As Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said, "Let's say it is 5 degrees. Is that right for the game?"

Apparently it's OK for lower-tier bowls. League commissioner Jim Delany said Wednesday that the Big Ten will have discussions with the Pinstripe Bowl, played outside in late December at New York's Yankee Stadium, about a potential future tie-in.

The Big Ten's current bowl lineup expires after the 2013 season. The lineup is heavy on Florida and Texas games and features only one contest (Little Caesars Pizza Bowl) in the Big Ten footprint, which is played indoors at Detroit's Ford Field.

The Pinstripe Bowl, which launched in 2010 and pits the Big 12 against the Big East, would put Big Ten teams in a familiar climate in late December.

"New York City is the financial sports capital of the world," Delany said Wednesday. "It's a global city like Chicago. We'll have conversations with them."

Delany on Tuesday hinted the Big Ten will diversify its bowl lineup after 2013, which could mean less games in Florida or Texas. While many Big Ten fans would love to see the Detroit game go, I think it's more beneficial to get out of the Gator Bowl and maybe the TicketCity Bowl. Those bowls don't seem to add much for the Big Ten.

Most Big Ten schools have huge alumni/fan bases in New York, and the Pinstripe Bowl would feel less like a road game than some of the annual contests the Big Ten plays.

"We've been in 11 bowl games in the last 15 years," Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke told ESPN.com, "and every time, I feel it's a road game, except when I go to Detroit."

Adding the Pinstripe Bowl and another game in California against the Pac-12 -- Holiday or Kraft Fight Hunger -- makes a lot of sense. The Rose Bowl can't be the only potential Big Ten/Pac-12 postseason matchup, especially with the impending playoff and the possibility of the traditional Rose pairing not taking place each year.

What are your thoughts?

Here are your lunchtime -- wait for it -- links.

• Playoffs are on the minds of Big Ten leaders as they gather in Chicago today.
• Penn State coach Bill O'Brien says he'd like to play Pitt on an annual basis, but the schedule may not allow it to happen. A decision on the Lions' starting quarterback should be coming soon. Penn State has gone to great lengths to help restore its reputation.
• Michigan receiver Jerald Robinson had his hearing on a misdemeanor charge postponed. A one-time Wolverines recruiting target says Michigan doesn't pressure prospects into committing. Tate Forcier signed with a CFL team.
• Le'Veon Bell is earning some high praise at Michigan State.
• Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke wants to preserve the Rose Bowl tradition.
• Concussions caused Ohio State's Andrew Sweat to walk away from football. Tom Dienhart analyzes the Buckeyes' schedule.
• Indiana's Kevin Wilson won't follow Tom Crean's lead and start recruiting eight- or ninth-graders.
• Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was asked about the debate over compensating players in a talk with students.
• Versatility will be key as former Gopher fullback Jon Hoese tries to make the Green Bay Packers.
• An Ohio linebacker has taken notice of Illinois and Tim Beckman.
• The married life suits Bret Bielema just fine.
• Kirk Ferentz went on the road to talk about what's happening with Iowa football.
• Nebraska's nutritionist talks about how to feed a bunch of hungry Huskers. The Lincoln Journal Star's countdown of the Cornhuskers' top 100 most memorable touchdowns takes a look at the beginning of the Triplets.

Coming at you a day later than normal, but better than never.

Ryan from Grand Rapids, Mich., writes: Hey Adam, How much of a true telling of Michigan's season is the Alabama game going to be? The more that I think about it, the more I begin to sense there are too many unknown factors on both teams for people to make automatic judgments for both Michigan and Alabama teams. That being said, do you feel that a Michigan victory would be a solid sign for another 11 or 12 win season?

Adam Rittenberg: Ryan, I agree that the first game doesn't answer every question about a particular team, and both squads undoubtedly will be improved later in the season. But teams can make national statements in Week 1, like LSU did last season against Oregon in the opener. A Michigan win would be absolutely huge for the program and for the Big Ten, which has struggled to beat the SEC's elite. I haven't hid my feelings about Alabama. In my view, it's the best college program in America and boasts the best college coach in Nick Saban. Any victory against the Tide, no matter what year or how many starters they've lost or where the game is played, resonates in my book. While Alabama certainly won't be Michigan's last major test in 2012, a Wolverines victory would be extremely significant.

---

Michael from Happy Valley, Pa., writes: hi Adam, you may have already answered this but after your visit to PSU these past two days I have a new and refreshing question about none other than the QB race. What do you think the chances are that Paul Jones, with no game-time experience, is named the starter come september 1st? It sounds like a longshot, but from what I've been hearing around campus and other websites, PJ has been on fire in practice and seems like the real deal when it comes to quarterback. Did he stand out to you at the practice you attended moreso than McGloin (bolden's name shouldn't even be thought of in the QB face ever again or I lose faith in humanity)

Adam Rittenberg: Michael, while Jones remains very much in the mix for the starting job, I think Penn State fans should pump the brakes a bit on all the hype surrounding him. From what I saw this week, he still has some strides to make in a very complex offense, although he clearly has some excellent skills. Granted, I only saw one practice, but he didn't stand out above the others. I realize most PSU fans are sick of Bolden, but it would surprise me if he's not in the final two for the starting job after spring ball. He's a confounding player in many respects, as I saw him make some tremendous, NFL-type throws, but also some head-scratching mistakes. Consistency remains the big key, but I wouldn't write him off despite his struggles in games.

---

Sam from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: Adam, you quoted KF: "Bottom line is we're 4-4 the last two years in conference play," he said. "If that's the best we can do, then that's fine. But we felt like we've left something out there."If thats the best they can do, thats fine? Two questions for you regarding that. First, is than an opinion that permeates the program (from the AD to the players) as far as you can tell from your time in Iowa City. And second, as a professional sports writer, do you think that is a fair of Iowa as a program, with or without KF?

Adam Rittenberg: Sam, I think Kirk's point is that sometimes, a team maxes out at 4-4. Some teams simply aren't better than 5-7. But Iowa has been better than that, in his mind, the past few seasons and has fallen short. When Ferentz first came to Iowa, the team's maximum output was lower than it has been in recent years. Ferentz has built his program on maximizing talent. In some years, the max is 10 or 11 wins. In other years, it's seven or eight wins. I don't think Iowa will have a team, talent wise, that would call a six-win season satisfactory. I also don't think Ferentz's quote means that the team has an attitude that 4-4 is OK. Players and coaches have bigger goals, like reaching the Rose Bowl and winning a Big Ten title. Ferentz's point is that Iowa must max out its ability, which means better than 4-4 in most years.

---

Chris from Chicago writes: Every year we hear a lot of complimentary things about teams in spring/summer practice -- improved competition, "swagger," guys playing/looking hungry. And then the season starts, and many times this hunger/improvement/swagger is nowhere to be seen. When Adam/Brian visit a spring/summer practice, what do you look for to see if a team is actually looking better than it did the previous year?

Adam Rittenberg: Chris, good point about the optimistic nature of spring ball. I've yet to visit a spring practice where the team lacks confidence or expects to lose nine or 10 games. But I do look at body language, and when I'm allowed to see practices, I look for players who look different and play different than they did the previous season. At Penn State, for example, I wasn't closely studying players like Silas Redd and Gerald Hodges (both of whom looked great, by the way). I know they can play at an All-Big Ten level. I was looking for the up-and-comers, and also which position groups are showing greater depth. I also look to see how fluid a practice is, whether there are big plays on both sides of the ball and how many breakdowns occur. But you can tell a lot from meeting with players and coaches, listening to how they say things and how confident they sound about their team.

---

Brian from Indianapolis writes: Call me ignorant, but what does "Silverstone the links" mean? Is it an inside joke, or something?

Adam Rittenberg: Wish it were, Brian. No, it refers to how Alicia Silverstone feeds her son. Click the link at your own risk.

---

Tom from Lakeland, Fla., writes: Going into 2012 it appears that Danny Hope is the only coach on the hot seat. Any thought that Bobby Petrino could end up at Purdue?

Adam Rittenberg: Wow, that didn't take long, did it? I'll say this: Bobby Petrino will have opportunities in 2013. He's too good of a football coach, and there will be those willing to overlook his lying and transgressions because he can win football games. I don't get the sense Purdue would go that route, and AD Morgan Burke remains supportive of Hope, who he tabbed to succeed Joe Tiller. I also don't know if Purdue could pay Petrino what he'd likely demand.

---

Jake M. from Chicago writes: Hi Adam. What makes you and Brian so sure that Urban Meyer will succeed with Ohio St.? While he was highly successful at Florida, he also had the opportunity to win with arguably one of the best college players ever (Tebow). It just seems as if OSU has already won a national championship with Meyer before he has even coached a game.

Adam Rittenberg: Jake, there's certainly a group that wonders how Meyer's Florida tenure would have gone had Tebow not been there. And it's fair to wonder whether he's receiving too much praise too early in his Ohio State tenure. My feeling about Ohio State is the program is set up to compete at the highest level and did for most of Jim Tressel's tenure. The damage from the NCAA investigation appears minimal, in part because of what Meyer did on the recruiting trail following his hiring in late December. There's almost a sense that Ohio State is too big to fail. That doesn't mean Meyer and his staff will have it easy this year. They have work to do, particularly with an offense that has underperformed in recent years and needs playmakers to emerge at the wide receiver spot. I like the young defenders returning, and Ohio State should make strides on that side of the ball. It's not as if Ohio State has been far away from winning another national title. Meyer's presence as an elite recruiter, and the more innovative offense he'll bring could be what puts the Buckeyes over the top. But they'll still have to earn it and win what is becoming a deeper Big Ten.

Mail time.

Dave from Marshfield, Wis., writes: Adam, as a PSU alum living in Wisconsin, I have been waiting to see what PSU's move is and according to the blogs and other sites I go to the reports are that PSU will name coach Jan 3, Mike Munchak. DC will be Norwood or Darren Perry and OC Tom Clements from GB Pack staff. OL coach Bruce Mathews. What are you hearing?Thanks

Adam Rittenberg: Dave, are you sure you're not just taking all the candidates mentioned for the head-coaching position and combining them into one super coaching staff? While I could see Clements or maybe Munchak taking the top job, I'd be really surprised if both men end up on Penn State's coaching staff in 2012. The interesting thing will be if any of the current assistants are retained. There are a lot of really good coaches on that staff, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

---

Bucky from New York writes: Hey Adam! Love the blog! Been reading some disappointing news re the Badgers coaches leaving the program. It looks like Bostad (O-Line and RBs coach) is jumping ship with Chryst to Pitt. Doesn't bode well for the badgers for many reasons but it's college football and it happens. How do you think Bielema responds? Do you think he needs to hire a big name to hopefully not lose any oral recruiting commits? Any potential coaches out there you know of that would be a good fit at UW?

Adam Rittenberg: Wisconsin's recruiting should be OK even with both Chryst and reportedly Bostad departing. The Badgers aren't going to change an offense that has been extremely effective the past three seasons, so recruits don't have to worry about a new system. And from a purely recruiting standpoint, both Chryst and Bostad aren't huge losses. Tight ends coach Joe Rudolph, expected to stay on Wisconsin's staff, would have been the bigger loss there. Rudolph is one of the Big Ten's top recruiters. It will be interesting to see where Bielema looks for position coaches (he said he'll promote from within to fill Chryst's coordinator role). I don't know how many position coaches are "big names," but Bielema made a really good hire last year with linebackers coach Dave Huxtable. Wouldn't surprise me if the new coaches have ties to recruiting-friendly regions like Florida.

---

Jason from Dallas writes: Purdue fans everywhere feel like we just got a lump of coal in our stockings for Christmas. Hope needed to go, but turns out he gets and extension. Giving the extension right before the holiday and while students are on break, coincidence? I think not. Burke knows we're not happy, that's why he's trying to sneak this by. I understand the whole recruiting aspect, but what will the impact of this extension be next year when Purdue goes 5-7 and finally decides there is no hope in Hope?

Adam Rittenberg: Jason, while I agree the timing of the announcement was a bit curious — Friday afternoon before the Christmas weekend — the extension didn't surprise me because of the recruiting factor. Hope certainly has to prove he can take Purdue to the next level, but three years isn't very much time, especially with all the injuries. Purdue has a golden opportunity in front of it in 2012 with a wide-open Leaders Division. If things fall right, the Boilers could make a run in what looks like a very winnable division. The big question is whether Hope would actually be on the hot seat if Purdue struggles next season. Burke doesn't like to eat contract money, but he's dealing with a program and a fan base that needs a jolt. Despite the extension, 2012 still should be a pivotal season for Hope.

---

Jackson from Des Moines, Iowa, writes: First of all love the blog, is a daily lunchtime ritual. Being a Hawkeye fan it is a sad time with Norm Parker retiring. Anyone that knows anything about Norm already knows that he is a class act, a defensive genius and and a life coach for these young men that is undeniably irreplaceable. My question: Since Nebraska has hired our d-line coach away, what would you think about Iowa bringing onboard Tom Bradley from Penn St? If he does not get a head coaching job at this point. I wouldn't think he would stay on board if not hired as the PSU head coach. He knows the league and already is versed in the style of defense that Ferentz want to use. Also, could not hurt any recruiting efforts that could be capitalized on due to the issues at PSU. Ferentz made a genius in-league move by hiring UM ex-receivers coach when Rich Rod came in.

Adam Rittenberg: Jackson, terrific thoughts on Norm. He's a class act and will be missed. Glad you brought up the Tom Bradley idea. It makes a lot of sense, as Kirk Ferentz has a lot of respect for the Penn State program and its coaches. Bradley runs a similar defense to Iowa, so there wouldn't be massive adjustments. The main concern for Ferentz would be how long Bradley would want to stay in a coordinator role — he wants to be a head coach after serving in an assistant role for decades. Iowa hasn't had much turnover on its staff, and Ferentz doesn't want to hire a coordinator who will leave after a year. There's also the stigma attached to Joe Paterno assistants, although I would hope schools still would have the guts to hire guys like Bradley and Larry Johnson. They're great coaches and would help a program like Iowa.

---

Ben from South Jersey writes: A new (still unnamed and this is getting annoying) coach with a fresh look, a lot coming back on defense with quite some depth, a dark horse Heisman candidate in Silas Redd, and a team motivated to prove the whole world wrong about Penn State Football. With the Ohio State bowl ban, and Wisconsin player-coach exit am I completely out of my mind to think my Nittany Lions have a shot at the Leaders Division title and maybe even a shot at a BCS game? Ohio State and Wisconsin at home, and they avoid Michigan and Michigan State.. Tell me I'm crazy.

Adam Rittenberg: You're not crazy, Ben. Penn State undoubtedly will deal with some issues of its own, but as stated earlier, I don't think it will take a great team to win the Leaders division in 2012. Ohio State's situation and Wisconsin's personnel losses make the division race wide open, and there are definitely opportunities for teams like Penn State, Purdue and Illinois. Penn State's schedule certainly works in its favor, as getting both Ohio State and Wisconsin in Happy Valley favors the Lions. The big key will be maintaining the level on defense we've seen this year. But Penn State in no way should be counted out.

---

Justin from Zanesville, Ohio, writes: Hey Adam love your blogs on the BIG. I am an Ohio State fan and I recently overheard a rumor in regards to Ohio State and their bowl ban for next season. According to a couple of sources including the Cleveland Plain Dealer; Ohio State may pursue traveling to Hawaii after the Michigan game and close to bowl week to play a game. I was wondering is this feasible according to NCAA rules which allows a team to add an extra game to their schedule as long as it is against Hawaii in Hawaii. Also how would this help out with recruits knowing that despite missing a bowl they will get to have a trip to Honolulu late in the year.

Adam Rittenberg: It's a nice idea, Justin, but several issues must be cleared up for it to happen. The biggest one is Hawaii has an open date on the 2012 schedule, but it's in early November, not on the final weekend of the regular season, when South Alabama is scheduled to visit Honolulu. Games always can be moved around, so we'll see. There has been precedent with Alabama in 2002 and 2003. I don't think a Hawaii game would have much of an effect on recruiting. A one-year bowl ban wouldn't hurt Ohio State nearly as much as a two-year ban on the recruiting trail. One question for Buckeyes fans: Would you rather have the coaches on the practice field for the final week or out recruiting for the 2013 season?

It's never a popular move to award a contract extension to a coach with a losing record.

But sometimes it's a necessary move. Successful recruiting requires coaches to give the impression -- real or imagined -- that their jobs are safe. Recruits know how long coaches' contracts last. If not, other schools certainly will inform them.

It brings us to Purdue coach Danny Hope, who on Friday received a two-year contract extension that runs through the 2016 season. Details are still being finalized, but Hope's new deal takes him through Dec. 31, 2016.

The extension will help Hope on the recruiting trail, where he has devoted much of his energy, particularly in the state of Florida. Hope's approach is to upgrade Purdue with speed, and it's still too soon to judge how successful he'll be.

Many Purdue fans I hear from have seen enough of Hope, who is 15-21 in three seasons in West Lafayette. Although his teams have only one losing season in Big Ten play, the Boilers have been inconsistent and mistake-prone. They've also had zero luck on the injury front, as key players have repeatedly gone down, particularly on offense.

Purdue increased its wins total by two this season, earning its first bowl berth since 2007. Despite the bump in overall record, many are wondering which direction the program is headed.

Athletic director Morgan Burke thinks Hope can take Purdue where it needs to go.

"Purdue football has taken many important steps in pursuit of developing champions, scholars and citizens in Danny Hope’s first three years as head coach," Burke said in a statement announcing the extension.

Burke also addressed the concern about football attendance. Purdue averaged only 45,225 fans this season and ranked 79th in the FBS in attendance sorted by stadium capacity.

There's a decided lack of buzz around Purdue football, although ticket sales for the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl have been decent.

Burke will work with several athletic department staffers to examine how Purdue can enhance the fan experience. The plan will include enhanced ticketing technology.

"These efforts will have a focus on taking customer service to new levels and to employing a sales force that will allow us to reach out to all our fans and to ensure our offerings meet their needs," Burke's statement reads. "We also will continue to have a specific focus on our students. We were pleased with the first year of the Ross-Ade Brigade. Next semester, a team of Purdue professionals, led by Chris Clopton, director of the Varsity P Club and a former Boilermaker football player, will be tapping into our student body to help us tailor a plan to better meet the needs of our undergraduate and graduate student population of 40,000.

"In addition, we will build off the Boiler Bridge Walk to deepen ties with the Lafayette-West Lafayette community to ensure the Boilermakers are the team of choice in this area. So there is lots of work for all of us and lots of opportunity to reinvigorate our fan base."

This step is a good sign and also long overdue. Programs like Northwestern have revamped their marketing strategy in order to generate more buzz about the program. Winning is the best tool, but Purdue needs a more assertive approach.

Burke had repeatedly affirmed his support for Hope, and the contract extension is the latest move. Still, the 2012 season will be a big one for Hope to show whether the program is trending upward or running in place.

The Leaders Division is wide open, and it wouldn't shock me if Purdue made a run next season if certain things fall into place.

Have a great holiday weekend! Big Ten bowl season is just around the corner.

AK from Monroe Township, N.J., writes: Hi Adam. OSU fan here. I don't think the bowl ban next year is all that bad. First, I don't see OSU contending for the national title yet. Second, if there are no practices for the bowl game, that means Urban Meyer will be fully hitting the recruiting trails like this year. If he can do an incredible job this year in limited time and scholarship, imagine what he can do next year?

Adam Rittenberg: AK, you're definitely putting a positive spin on things. I see the situation a bit differently. Ohio State would have been the favorite in the Leaders division as the Buckeyes return most of their key players. The bowl ban prevents the Buckeyes from reaching the Big Ten championship game with a chance to go to Pasadena. So it's definitely a blow for next year as things were set up well for the Scarlet and Gray. Also, coaches can still be effective recruiters while preparing their teams for bowl games. Ohio State's team undoubtedly would have benefited from the extra practices next December. Long term, the ban shouldn't sting too much, but it definitely has some drawbacks for the Buckeyes. We do agree on this: Ohio State is more likely to compete for a national title in 2013.

---

Dave from Pasadena, Calif., writes: Hey Adam! Upon reading all the news re Wisconsin football the last couple days, it stinks to lose Coach Chryst to Pitt (though it's very deserving and expected), lose out on the battle of Dayne Crist (though maybe it's better to groom the current QBs on the roster), and most likely losing Ball to the NFL (again, deserving and understandable). I know last year, everyone on the team is alluding the Rose Bowl loss to distractions. How do you suppose the Badgers will block out these distractions now??

Adam Rittenberg: Dave, this is a really good question. Brian and I talked with Montee Ball for next week's podcast and he brought up the distractions last year and the need for better focus heading into this year's Rose Bowl. Several factors should help the Badgers. It's not their first trip to Los Angeles, and they shouldn't get as caught up in the glitz and glamor this year. Wisconsin had a similar coaching situation last year with defensive coordinator Dave Doeren, who had accepted the top job at Northern Illinois but still coached the bowl game. Doeren's situation didn't seem to negatively affect the Badgers, and Paul Chryst is the type of guy who will do all he can to keep the focus on the team and on the task at hand. Chryst cares a great deal about his players and wants to get this win. I also think it's good that a guy like Ball, who has a big decision to make, understands the potential distractions and has taken a proactive approach toward keeping the team locked in on the game.

---

Daniel from Lincoln, Neb., writes: I need some understanding behind the move of Rick Kaczenski leaving Iowa to go to Nebraska for the same job. Essentially, he is going to be doing the same thing but just different school. Usually coaches that do this move up, i.e. bigger school, conference, division, ect, but I see this as a lateral move. What do you think is the motivation behind this move? It's obviously not for the better scenery, however, we do have better looking women.

Adam Rittenberg: Ha, no comment on your last point. It's interesting that Kaczenski would take the same position on Nebraska's staff. He's not really closer to a coordinator job as John Papuchis, 33, was promoted to the role on Thursday. Sometimes, you just need a change, and Kaczenski had been at Iowa for a while. We'll see about Kaczenski's salary at Nebraska, but he almost certainly received some sort of bump. The Hawkeyes are changing defensive coordinators when Norm Parker retires following the Insight Bowl, and Kaczenski wasn't going to get the job. He's now working for a defensive-minded head coach in Bo Pelini, and at a program where it might be easier to springboard to other things. I hope to visit with Kaczenski soon and see why he made the move.

---

Hal from East Meadow, N.Y., writes: Adam, regarding Penn State's next coach there has been a lot of talk, including on this blog, about how it is very likely that Penn State hires from outside of the Penn State community. The main implication of this is that Tom Bradley has virtually no shot of remaining head coach because he is a JoePa disciple. From a PR standpoint this makes total sense, but how much is the school willing to sacrifice quality coaching in favor of what looks good? Bradley was going to be a top candidate to replace JoePa before the scandal, and that was with top flight national candidates competing for the job (presumably). But now, with most of the best head coaching candidates of this offseason either taking jobs elsewhere or denying that they have any interest in coaching at Penn State, it's looking more and more like Bradley is by far the best coach available (from a purely football standpoint) who actually wants the job. With that in mind, how much of a drop off from Bradley is the school willing to take for the sake of appearances?

Adam Rittenberg: Hal, while it appears as though elite coaches don't want the Penn State job, the school could still end up making a really good hire. I don't think we can definitively say Bradley is "by far" the best available coach who wants the job until we see how this saga plays out. There's a good number of good coaches out there, and it only takes one willing to take on the unique challenge at Penn State. No one questions Bradley's coaching ability, and the entire situation is really unfortunate for a guy who has a lot of respect in the Penn State locker room. But I'd be stunned if Bradley gets the job, as he was close to the key figures -- Jerry Sandusky, Mike McQueary, Joe Paterno -- involved in the sex-abuse scandal.

---

Joe from Chicago writes: Adam,In your budding rivalry take two commentary that compared Iowa-Nebraska and Michigan State-Wisconsin, you characterized Iowa and Nebraska as being in bordering states (implicitly drawing a distinction to Michigan State and Wisconsin). Michigan and Wisconsin do in fact border one another (remember the Upper Peninsula of Michigan), and the two states do in fact hate each other.

Adam Rittenberg: Aaargh! You're right, Joe. And to think I actually did well in geography. I'll have to turn in my card as an honorary Midwesterner for failing to point out that Michigan and Wisconsin also share a border. Beautiful part of the country, too.

---

Dave from Fredricton, New Brunswick, Canada, writes: Hi Adam, love the blog and the job you both do.A Dec 21 blog entry referenced Denard Robinson's paperwork submission to the NFL draft advisory board. Can you elaborate and explain this process for the uninitiated like myself? Thanks in advance!

Adam Rittenberg: No problem, Dave. It's a fairly common practice for draft-eligible juniors like Robinson to submit paperwork to the NFL draft advisory board, which then gives the players an evaluation of where they'd most likely be selected in the draft. The projections come from a panel of professional scouting experts and provide a good picture of whether the players will be first-, second- or third-round picks or fall to the later rounds or out of the draft entirely. The evaluations help players make their decisions on whether to stay in school or go to the draft by Jan. 15.

---

Steve from West Des Moines, Iowa, writes: If you'll indulge me, I have two memos with regard to today's lunch links:Memo 1 to Bobby Bowden - spare us what you would have done. Shame on your public posturing of a hypothetical when you were the captain of Free Shoes University.Memo 2 to Kirk Ferentz - you can stop reassuring your fans that you are happy at Iowa. Penn State was never interested, nor was the NFL. The more you issue statements the more you sound like Kristen Wiig's SNL character "Lillia" (don't make me say I'm happy at Iowa again).

Adam Rittenberg: Steve, I agree with you on the Bowden thing. He's entitled to his opinion, but he wasn't placed in the same situation with the same circumstances. It's always easy to say what you would have done. And as you say, Bowden didn't exactly run a controversy-free program at Florida State. Wonder if Joe Paterno would ever talk about Florida State's sparkling academic reputation under Bowden. As to the Ferentz thing, it was a bit surprising he chose to come out with the statement, but the Kansas City Chiefs job seemed a bit different from the positions he's been mentioned for in the past. Also, with the way recruiting goes, coaches don't want prospects thinking they're on their way out. While I don't think it was totally necessary, I don't have an issue with the statement, either.

It's time to play the music, it's time to link the links ...

• Jerry Kill is patching some holes at Minnesota with junior-college transfers. A look at where the Gophers' recruiting stands right now.
• Big Ten teams don't need to be scared of Urban Meyer, Jamie Samuelsen writes. Meyer could wind up with a top-10 recruiting class in his first signing day at Ohio State.
• David Molk has kept alive the tradition of Michigan All-America centers. Greg Mattison is proud of the Wolverines' defense.
• Vic Koenning won't be easy for Illinois to replace, Loren Tate writes.
• Morgan Burke and Danny Hope will talk about a new contract for the Purdue coach soon, and Burke gave some thoughts about the state of the Boilers program.
• Tim Beck reflects on his year as Nebraska offensive coordinator. Beck and Taylor Martinez are still working on the quarterback's throwing mechanics.
• Dan Persa, who apparently is a very good dancer, is looking to end his Northwestern career on a high note.
• Penn State players have endured some hard times in the past month. The Nittany Lions' recruiting class has taken quite a few hits.
• Wisconsin has three All-Americans and two first-teamers on offense. Montee Ball and Peter Konz are weighing their draft options.
• "Win Today" might not have been the most appropriate motto for Indiana football in 2011, but athletic director Fred Glass doesn't regret it.
• Iowa picked up a Texas safety on the recruiting trail. The Hawkeyes did some lobbying with the Insight Bowl before being selected.
• Mark Hollis is Michigan State's bold visionary as athletic director. Five things the Spartans need for their Outback Bowl matchup against Georgia.

I sleep clown.

• Police say they have no record of former Penn State assistant Mike McQueary reporting an alleged sexual assault by Jerry Sandusky. McQueary has become one of the main figures in the scandal, Sara Ganim writes.
• A lawyer representing an alleged Sandusky victim says his client will testify about the abuse he endured.
• A posting on an Internet forum helped investigators in the Sandusky case, Jo Becker writes.
• Penn State's trustees won't escape scrutiny in the school's internal review of the sex-abuse scandal .
• Doug Lesmerises examines the complicated return of WR DeVier Posey to Ohio State. Ohio State president Gordon Gee called AD Gene Smith a "role model" in a recent performance evaluation.
• Better communication has helped Michigan's defense make strides this year. Former Wolverines recruit Demar Dorsey tries to capitalize on a second chance.
• Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio isn't rooting for Michigan because he doesn't have to, Jamie Samuelsen writes. Safety Trenton Robinson has evolved into a team leader for the Spartans.
• The Big Ten Network's Dave Revsine goes inside the numbers for Week 12.
• Purdue AD Morgan Burke admits there's no rhyme or reason for the Purdue-Iowa crossover series other than every team needed one.
• Bob Flounders looks back at another strange week for Penn State's football team.
• Rick Morrissey writes that Ron Zook's track record at Illinois indicates it's time for a change. Illinois has been up and down, but does it mean the end for Zook?
• Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson deserves to be back in the Heisman Trophy mix, Tom Mulhern writes. Badgers DE David Gilbert likely will seek a medical hardship waiver, Jeff Potrykus writes.
• Nebraska's banged-up offensive line knows this is no time to complain about pain. Brett Maher's success as the Huskers' do-it-all specialist is no surprise to his mentor.
• Saturday marks a reunion of sorts for Northwestern and Minnesota players from Chicago, Tina Akouris writes.
• Barry Alvarez sees hope for Minnesota. Patrick Reusse wonders which Minnesota football team becomes competitive again first: Vikings or Gophers?
• Rivals.com's David Fox previews Week 12 in the Big Ten.
• Some good news for Iowa on the recruiting trail. RB Mika'il McCall's medical hardship case with the Hawkeyes is a bit complicated.
• Indiana adds a juco cornerback. Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson has some connections on the opposite sideline Saturday.
• The Big Ten will have a bunch of bowl teams, but it doesn't mean the league is strong, Nick Baumgardner writes.

On the same day NCAA president Mark Emmert advocated greater grants given to student-athletes, a group of football and men's basketball players sent a petition to the NCAA asking for a cut of the ever-growing TV revenue pie.

Players from five institutions, including Purdue, are asking the NCAA to "realize its mission to educate and protect us with integrity." The players want the NCAA and university presidents to set aside a certain amount of money from the skyrocketing TV revenues and increase grants to a mandatory $3,200 per athlete (the NCAA's proposal for the grant increase would be optional).

Players could tap those funds to help cover educational costs if they exhaust their athletic eligibility before they graduate. And they could receive what's left of the money allocated to them with no strings attached upon graduating -- a step that would undoubtedly be seen by some as professionalizing college sports.

Boilermakers QB Rob Henry spearheaded the effort at Purdue, getting 72 of his teammates to sign the petition.

"Without the athletes, there are no Division I sports," Henry said. "There are no TV contracts, there are no coaches' contracts. Athletes should be the number one priority."

Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke also weighed in, expressing concern that some schools that struggle to turn a profit in athletics would have a hard time increasing grants to student-athletes or setting aside money from TV revenue.

"Without identifying a funding mechanism, it is hard to see how many of these schools would be able to pay this added amount, which -- depending upon the number of student-athletes -- could approximate $1 million a year," Burke said.

The TV money is insane these days in college sports, and the players' case for a larger cut of the pie makes sense. One of the problems, as Burke mentions, is that each institution is in a different position financially and how it uses TV revenue.

What are your thoughts?

USA Today has collected all the available salaries and contracts for FBS athletic directors, and a few Big Ten figures rank among the nation's best-compensated leaders.

Ohio State's Gene Smith ranks No. 5 among the highest-paid athletic directors nationally with a salary of more than $1.05 million annually. Whatever you might think of Smith's handling of all the football-related scandals of the past year, there's no doubt he oversees one of the largest and most profitable athletic departments in the country.

Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez checks in right behind Smith at No. 6 at about $1.04 million a year. I doubt too many Badgers fans are complaining about that right now.

Michigan's Dave Brandon is 13th nationally with a salary of more than $700,000 a year. That can buy a whole lot of Domino's pizzas.

Here is how the Big Ten athletic directors whose salaries are known stack up against one another (Note: Since Northwestern is a private school and Penn State isn't subject to the same open-records rules, those two schools are not available). The chart included each athletic director's total pay plus the maximum amount they could earn in bonus clauses, if applicable:

1. Gene Smith, Ohio State: $1,058,546 ($250,000 in potential bonuses)

2. Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin: $1,040,800

3. Dave Brandon, Michigan: $700,454 ($165,000)

4. Mike Thomas, Illinois: $575,000 ($200,000)

5. Morgan Burke, Purdue: $505,918 ($120,000)

6. Fred Glass, Indiana: $495,746

7. Gary Barta, Iowa: $456,992 ($140,000)

8. Joel Maturi, Minnesota: $451,900 ($170,000)

9. Mark Hollis, Michigan State: $395,000 ($62,000)

10. Tom Osborne, Nebraska: $321,538

You've got questions, I've got answers.

And if you've got more questions, send 'em here.

Russ from Lincoln writes: Hey Adam, nice HIMYM reference today. I'm a longtime B1G fan that's lived in Lincoln for the past 8 years. I've been thinking about this weekend's game between Nebraska and Ohio State and I think it's the biggest game of the year for the B1G. Both teams were favorites by many to win the B1G title and their respected divisions. Given last week's performance I can't see Wisky losing 2 conference games this year. Thus, a 2nd OSU loss would mean they are out of contention. And if Nebraska loses again, 2 overall losses might get a tie in the Legends....but I don't see Nebraska going undefeated especially with so many difficult games remaining. What's your take on this?

Adam Rittenberg: Russ, you bring up some good points about why it's a big game for both Ohio State and Nebraska, but as I wrote earlier today, it's no longer a huge game for the Big Ten. If Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor were coming back, and if both teams were 5-0, it would be huge. But instead, it's a game filled with what-ifs. I totally agree that both Nebraska and Ohio State need a win, but the hype around this game has faded outside these two states. Who knows, maybe we'll feel differently on Saturday night.

---

John from New Jersey writes: Here's my prediction for Saturday's in Happy Valley.Iowa 6 Penn State 4. What do you think?

Adam Rittenberg: Darn it, John, you beat me to it. What do you think outsiders would think of the Big Ten if we got a 6-4 repeat, especially after last week's 10-7 offensive showcase at The Shoe? Not good, my friend. While I think both the Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions put up a few more points Saturday afternoon, it could be a defensive struggle. Penn State probably needs it to be low scoring.

---

Greg from Norristown, Pa., writes: Adam, while watching College Football Live yesterday, one of the analysts said he still isn't impressed by Wisconsin. His arguement was basically this: since they blew out Nebraska, Nebraska must not be any good and therefore, Wisconsin still hasn't played anyone. But I bet if they had won on a last second field goal he would've said "if they were any good they would've blown them out." I'm not even a Wisconsin fan (go Lions!) but you have to give them credit this year. Any idea why the media isn't as in love with the Badgers as they are teams like Bama, LSU, Oklahoma, etc? Can't a B1G team get the benefit of the doubt?

Adam Rittenberg: Greg, you bring up an excellent point. Wisconsin likely would have benefited from a closer game because Nebraska would be seen as a higher-quality victory for the Badgers. So, in a way, the Badgers hurt themselves by putting such a hurtin' on the Huskers. It's hard for a Big Ten team to gain respect after the conference's start to the season -- embarrassing non-league losses, a flagship program like Ohio State struggling -- but Wisconsin will benefit from recording some road wins against ranked opponents. The Badgers should be rooting hard for both Michigan State and Illinois, two teams they play on the road, as well as Nebraska.

---

Tins from New York writes: Adam, you're losing in both fantasy AND picks. I bet Bennett gets all the ladies too. Serious question though, as we get into the B1G season what players do you think will start to see their stats (and their fantasy value) fade due to increased competition?For instance, I'm a Michigan fan but I worry DRob will have a downturn as the competition gets tougher. Conversely, are there some hidden gems in the B1G that will show up in conference play?

Adam Rittenberg: Tins, regarding your first point, there's a reason why they call Bennett the Louisville Slugger. Denard Robinson likely will see a drop-off as it's hard to maintain his rushing pace against improved defenses in the Big Ten. He might go nuts this week at Northwestern, but Michigan State won't allow him to run wild. For my fantasy team's sake, I need Robinson and Taylor Martinez to start slowing down. Russell Wilson and James Vandenberg also might see a drop-off as the competition improves and they start playing more on the road. There are always a few players who emerge in conference play. Northwestern WR Jeremy Ebert saw his numbers spike last week after Dan Persa returned at quarterback. As poorly as Penn State's offense has played, the Lions had several offensive players emerge as last season went on, so look out for guys like Derek Moye and Silas Redd.

---

James from Tampa writes: Instead of ripping down Ohio State maybe you should concentrate on suggesting ways they can fix things. I dont enjoy reading or watching what's going on to my hometown team, but instead of acting all high and mighty and judgemental, like 99.9 percent of you non-athletic band nerds who call themselves sportswriters, maybe once one of you can come up with an article that suggests what OSU should do about this problem. Not writing biting remarks. Did you ever play sports? Looking at your photo I seriously doubt it. I am guessing you have unresolved issues with being the nerd getting stuffed in his locker by the jocks. Can't imagine a geek like you ever played sports. Keep up the great work, Waldo!

Adam Rittenberg: Yes, James, if in doubt, always resort to the nerd line and wonder if I'm getting revenge on those mean jocks who stuffed me in lockers throughout my poor, pathetic, unathletic childhood. You got me good, man. Now if you'd like to tell me how playing football has anything to do with commenting on a school's handling of off-field NCAA violations, have at it. You want suggestions for Ohio State? For starters, clean house in the compliance department. Whether or not the NCAA believes there's a failure to monitor, Ohio State can acknowledge it needs to do a better job of monitoring its athletes. The memorabilia issue surrounding the football program isn't new. It has been there for years and has not been reined in.

Second, Gene Smith should stop talking about a series of individual cases and acknowledge there is something wrong with the system. No one is buying this rationale any more. Third, while I don't like the idea of booting players from a team, Ohio State should consider how to handle DeVier Posey and Dan Herron, who have committed two NCAA violations. Rather than scrambling to get them reinstated as soon as possible, Ohio State should consider what type of additional penalties are warranted.

Sincerely, Waldo.

---

Jed from Purdue writes: What is the deal with Danny Hope? He is obviously a masterful recruiter (he currently has Purdue as the #30 ranked class for 2012) but seems to lack skills in preparing his team and making the necessary adjustments in game to either find success or continue success against an opponent. I am all for giving Hope more time because this is the second year in which his starting QB has gone down. Henry could have been an outside threat at becoming an All Big Ten player due to his improvement in the passing game. However, when a team that has two weeks to prepare comes out that awful against Notre Dame and the coach then says that they didn't prepare correctly, it begins to send up lots of red flags. Is the seat getting hotter or is it at a full boil already?

Adam Rittenberg: Jed, some really good thoughts here. A lot of Purdue fans have seen enough of Hope, but as you point out, it's hard to judge a coach who has had absolutely no luck on the injury front. I agree with you about Rob Henry -- he could have been special this season. On the other hand, Purdue makes an inordinate amount of major mistakes, and has throughout Hope's tenure as coach. Purdue should have had a much more polished performance following a bye week than what we saw against Notre Dame. AD Morgan Burke has publicly supported Hope and likely will give him more time to get things on track, but the buzz around this program is on a steady decline. Remember how Purdue used to be a big football story in the Big Ten? Now the Boilers seem invisible. And that's a problem.

---

Eric M. from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: It's time to quit beating yourself up over your atrocious record for the game predictions. 39-13 isn't too bad when you compare it to how you've been doing against the spread: 25-27 after week 5. If you ever decide to become a betting man (which I hope you aren't already), ask "29-23 Bennett" for some advice!

Adam Rittenberg: Ha, great research, Eric! If I had any notions of placing a wager or two, you've convinced me otherwise. That's a really brutal ATS record. My wife thanks you.

---

James from Key Largo, Fla., writes: re: Ohio State. I am almost speechless with indignation and awe at ESPN, SI, the NCAA and now you, Adam, for the overt and un-clever, anti-cunning war on Ohio State. I've been teaching at universities and colleges from the Ivy League through many other Div One leagues, since the 70s, and the compliance violations are astounding. Was anything that hapened on the field, court or rinks affected? Yes. Often. But OSU gained NO advantage from the tiny PROVED volations. None. Unlike Miami, for only one example.What happened at OSU is an attack by hack journalists, a corrupt incompetent, illiterate AD, who caved like a mud wall to pressure, and the virulent petulant revenge of a media sick of OSU's gathering power and obnoxious fan base. Shame on all of you.

Adam Rittenberg: Thanks for your thoughts, James. Were you an ethics professor? Just curious.