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Notre Dame and Michigan meet under the lights for the first night game in the history of Michigan Stadium on Saturday. It will be a terrific atmosphere, though the Irish's opening loss to South Florida took a little luster off the game itself. This is the first of three Notre Dame versus Big Ten matchups, so to preview this week's game and the other two contests, Big Ten blogger Brian Bennett and new Notre Dame blogger Matt Fortuna square off:

Brian Bennett: Matt, it was nice of Notre Dame to save us time by going ahead and failing to live up to expectations early this year. At least in the past two years, the Irish had a little head of steam going into Michigan week before falling to the Wolverines. Now that they're already 0-1, how desperate a Notre Dame team will we see in Ann Arbor?

Matt Fortuna: Brian Kelly and Tommy Rees have said they are approaching this like any other game, but I'm not buying it. A loss to the Maize and Blue would put the Irish at 0-2 going into a tough Week 3 matchup against an experienced Michigan State team, not to mention virtually kill any BCS dreams this team had left. With a new quarterback at the helm while senior Dayne Crist watches from the sideline, the stakes are certainly raised from Notre Dame's end.

I'm curious about Michigan, Brian. Momentum from two big wins against the Irish the past two years did not exactly carry over for the Wolverines in 2009 and 2010. Are things different with Brady Hoke at the helm?

BB: Matt, Brady Hoke just proved he could coach his team to victory in (almost) three quarters of a game. Other than that, the jury is mostly still out. The Wolverines' defense looked better in the opener, but Notre Dame should offer more of a challenge than Western Michigan, provided of course the Irish don't turn the ball over in the red zone as much as they did against South Florida. I'm most curious to see how Denard Robinson fares in this game; he didn't do much and wasn't asked to do a whole lot in the opener, but of course he nearly single-handedly won the game in South Bend a year ago (as Tate Forcier did two years ago in Ann Arbor).

Notre Dame faced a mobile quarterback last week in South Florida's B.J. Daniels. Are the Irish more equipped to handle Robinson this time around?

MF: Brian, facing Daniels certainly couldn't have hurt, but he is a different kind of runner. Daniels will run you over, whereas Robinson is gone after the first sign of daylight. The Irish actually did a decent job on Robinson last year for much of the second half, though it obviously wasn't enough. The coaching staff has spent all week raving about Robinson and is aware that no matter how disciplined the defense is, Shoelace will still put up big numbers.

Switching to the other side of the ball, why should anyone believe Michigan's defense has turned the corner? Sure, the unit had a couple of big plays against Western Michigan, but it also let Alex Carder go 8-for-8 on the game's opening drive.

BB: It's way too early to say Michigan has turned a corner on defense, but there were some signs of improvement as the game went on last week. You've also got to like how the Wolverines came up with turnovers, thanks to linebacker Brandon Herron's two-touchdown day (giving him the same amount of scores as Michael Floyd in 2011).

The Irish should still have plenty of opportunities to make big plays, both in the running game and with Floyd down the field. But can Notre Dame stay out of its own way? I think they've got the right quarterback now in Tommy Rees, but the offense has yet to really click in a big way like I thought it would by now under Brian Kelly. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison certainly saved some schemes for the Domers that he didn't show in Week 1.

We also can't ignore the atmosphere in this one. First night game in the Big House, a record crowd of more than 110,000 expected. That's got to play in Michigan's favor. Notre Dame is used to big-time environments, but how do you think this factors in?

MF: Brian, every player and coach I've talked to this week insists it won't matter. Given the fact this is the first of a school-record five night games this season, they had better be right. The players have spent more time talking about their new uniforms for this game than they have about the prime-time atmosphere.

Though I was surprised by the early pulling of Dayne Crist, I do think Tommy Rees is the right guy, especially for a game like this. Every single person says the exact same thing about him -- he doesn't get fazed by anything. Growing up in a football family, the guy just knows how to step right in and play the same way in front of 100,000 fans as he does in practice. And his ability to bounce back from mistakes -- as he has shown time and time again -- will also be a big plus for the Irish.

The atmosphere can only play so much of a factor, as in the end the game is won between the stripes. Which makes me think next weekend's game against Michigan State will actually provide a stiffer test for the Irish. What do you feel about Sparty as they relate to their in-state brethren, Brian?

BB: Michigan State should be a more complete team than Michigan, assuming the Spartans clean up some of their sloppy mistakes from last week's opener. The Spartans have some issues on the offensive line they will need to address before facing what has become a pretty good front seven for Notre Dame, and they won't have faced nearly the competition level the Irish have faced in the first two weeks. That game has come down to the last play each of the past two years and is probably another toss-up. If Notre Dame is 0-2 coming into it, Irish Nation will be at DEFCON-1 level of panic.

Notre Dame also faces Purdue on Oct. 1. The Boilers have an inexperienced quarterback and barely escaped Middle Tennessee in Week 1, but they will have a bye week to game plan for the Irish, who must come to West Lafayette. If Caleb TerBush continues to mature, Purdue could be in position to pull that one off.

OK, Matt, it's prediction time. What happens this weekend, and what's Notre Dame's final record against the Big Ten in 2011?

MF: Call me crazy, but I saw enough good out of this team Saturday to make me believe it can still take off. I just can't see another five-turnover game riddled with dumb penalties, at least not in the immediate aftermath of Week 1. I expect Tommy Rees to deliver in the pocket and the defense to do just enough to keep Denard Robinson from running wild. I've got Notre Dame coming out on the winning end of another high-scoring affair between these two teams, and, at least right now, I think the Irish take two out of three against the Big Ten this season. How about you?

BB: Fine, Matt. You're crazy. Just kidding. I do believe Notre Dame is a better team than what it showed last week, but I also think Michigan wins this weekend. The Wolverines will be jacked up in that atmosphere, and I think Notre Dame's confidence has to be a little shaken right now. I also see the Irish rallying together and upsetting Michigan State, because they will be incredibly desperate to avoid an 0-3 start. They'll also take care of Purdue to finish 2-1 against the Big Ten, just not the same way you see it.

Notre Dame officially reinstated star receiver Michael Floyd from indefinite suspension on Wednesday. That was not welcome news for three Big Ten teams, but it does set up some potentially tantalizing individual matchups.

The Irish, of course, will play at Michigan in Week 2 (under the lights, no less), host Michigan State in Week 3 and travel to Purdue in Week 5. Here's a look at how the All-American receiver has fared in his first three years against each team:

vs. Michigan

2010: Five catches for 66 yards.

2009: Seven catches for 131 yards and 1 touchdown

2008: Two catches for 10 yards

vs. Michigan State

2010: Six catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns

2009: Two catches for 38 yards and one touchdown (Note: Floyd broke his clavicle during the game)

2008: Seven catches for 86 yards and one touchdown

vs. Purdue:

2010: Five catches for 82 yards

2009: Did not play (injured)

2008: Six catches for 100 yards

As the Wolverines and Spartans can especially attest, Floyd can be a major difference-maker. How will each team defend him? Here's a look at those potentially juicy battles:

Michigan: Troy Woolfolk is back after missing the 2010 season with a foot injury, and the fifth-year senior is expected to be the Wolverines' top cornerback. He'll be put right to the test in Week 2.

Michigan State: An All-Big Ten second-teamer last year, Johnny Adams had a big spring and looks like a rising star for the Spartans. When Michigan State held its player draft for the spring game, Adams was the first guy selected. Floyd has had a lot of success versus Sparty when he has been healthy, so this will be a real challenge for Adams and the secondary in South Bend.

Purdue: Ricardo Allen just appeared in our Big Ten player rankings at No. 19. He had three interceptions and two pick-sixes last year, and Purdue has never given up a touchdown to Floyd. The problem for Allen is that he will be giving up about six inches to the 6-foot-3 Floyd.

Floyd's return makes Notre Dame a whole lot better and makes the Irish a tougher opponent for Big Ten teams. It also makes those games more fun to watch.

Michigan defensive end Ryan Van Bergen enjoyed the Denard Robinson Show as much as anyone.

Watching Robinson and the Wolverines offense go up and down the field last week against Connecticut also served as motivation for Van Bergen and the defense.

"Definitely feel like we're strides behind the offense in getting everything down," Van Bergen told ESPN.com this week. "We had some glimpses Saturday, and I think we'll be able to seal some things up and hopefully keep improving.

"We'll get to that level eventually."

Led by Robinson's record-setting performance, the Michigan offense overshadowed a pretty solid defensive effort against Connecticut.

The Wolverines allowed only one touchdown and held UConn scoreless in the second half. Take away a juggling 47-yard reception by Michael Smith, and Connecticut had only 296 yards in the game.

To be fair, the Huskies missed several opportunities to attack Michigan's young secondary, particularly in the first half. Connecticut had its moments, but so did Michigan's defense, none bigger than J.T. Floyd's forced fumble and Obi Ezeh's recovery near the Wolverines' goal line late in the third quarter.

"We're certainly still a work in progress, but I was really pleased to be able to limit UConn to 10 points," coach Rich Rodriguez said. "We played pretty well assignment-wise, we tackled pretty solidly. We gave up a couple big plays, but we also made a couple big plays defensively."

And the defense could have made more.

"We had two interceptions hit guys right in the hands," Van Bergen said. "There were some plays Saturday that if we sealed up, our numbers on defense would have spoken even bigger."

The challenge for Michigan's defense should get tougher Saturday at Notre Dame (NBC, 3:30 p.m. ET). Although Michigan beat the Irish last year 38-34, the defense had little to do with it.

Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd and Armando Allen pretty much had their way with Michigan, piling up 490 yards and 27 first downs.

Clausen and Tate are gone to the NFL, but Floyd and Allen are back, along with tight end Kyle Rudolph, one of the frontrunners for the Mackey Award. They're operating in a new spread offense under first-year coach Brian Kelly, and a new quarterback, Dayne Crist, will be calling the signals.

"I would call this team significantly different," Van Bergen said. "Notre Dame did a lot more drop-back, seven-man protection for Clausen with two guys in routes. This is a bit more of a spread attack, using more receivers.

"They have a developed quick game, and it’s something we’ll have to prepare for."

Both Van Bergen and Rodriguez identified tackling as an area Michigan must improve after Week 1. With so many young players, especially in the secondary, Michigan allowed "some leaky yardage," Van Bergen said.

That can't happen against Notre Dame, which operates at a rapid pace and makes it tough to reach Crist.

"They like to up-tempo you," Rodriguez said. "They’re going to put it out in space, whether it's to their tight end or their backs or their receivers, and we've got to get them on the ground quickly. Because if not, they'll go up and down the field on you.

"We had a hard time stopping them last year, and even though it's a different scheme, this scheme may be even more difficult to stop."

One way to do it is control the line of scrimmage. Michigan failed to record a sack last week, but end-linebacker Craig Roh and others applied pressure to quarterback Zach Frazer.

Notre Dame's offensive line is supposedly better, but Michigan boasts more experience up front with Van Bergen, Mike Martin and others.

"Having our experience won't hurt us," Van Bergen said, "and their youth, they might be more inclined to get frustrated if things start not going their way. It'll be interesting to see how that develops."

Two of college football's storied programs meet Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium, but the only thing historic about these teams are their helmets. Two spread offenses and two coaches known for their offensive creativity match wits. Both Michigan and Notre Dame recorded critical wins in their season openers, and bloggers Brian Bennett and Adam Rittenberg take a closer look at this week's matchup.

Adam Rittenberg: So, Bennett, we meet again. Good starts for both the Irish and the Wolverines on Saturday, and it should be a great one in South Bend. Let's talk offense. What do you think Knute Rockne and Fielding Yost would say about these two systems matching up?

Brian Bennett: I think both coaches would have spit in a leather helmet in disgust. What's the over/under on total number of snaps under center on Saturday? Five?

Yet, for all the talk of the spread offense, Notre Dame stuck to an old staple to beat Purdue: the running game. Running backs Armando Allen and Cierre Wood together averaged better than six yards per carry, and the Irish were happy to hand off and stick to the short passing game as the Boilermakers defense played Cover 2 and protected against the deep ball. I don't think Michigan will attack Notre Dame the same way, and the bubble wrap will have to come off quarterback Dayne Crist in Week 2.

As for the Wolverines, Denard Robinson was incredible. But I didn't see a whole lot out of the backs and receivers, and now it looks like Roy Roundtree won't play. Is Michigan a one-man offense, and can it win on Saturday that way?

AR: Good point about the Irish run game, and I think the matchup between Michigan's defensive line and Notre Dame's offensive front could decide the game. Despite the loss of Brandon Graham, Michigan boasts good experience and talent up front with Mike Martin, Greg Banks, Ryan Van Bergan and dynamic sophomore Craig Roh. They'll try to take advantage of a young Notre Dame line that, despite all the talk about weight room progress, remains unproven in my eyes.

Robinson was ridiculous against Connecticut, and you can't expect him to duplicate the performance in South Bend. Then again, the guy only needs about a foot of daylight to break through the line, and then, good luck trying to bring him down. Vincent Smith and Michael Shaw both scored touchdowns in the opener, but they'll need to be more effective out of the backfield against the Irish. Roundtree would be a big loss, but wideouts Darryl Stonum and Kelvin Grady, and tight end Kevin Koger all are good targets for Robinson, who also hooked up with Terrence Robinson for a 43-yard gain.

In many ways, Michigan won the UConn game at the line of scrimmage. How do you see the two groups matching up on Saturday?

BB: The Irish played well in the trenches against Purdue, but Michigan presents a tougher challenge. With the way Brian Kelly runs the spread, the ball is out of the quarterback's hand quickly, so that neutralizes the pass rush to some degree. The key in my mind is whether the Notre Dame line can open running lanes when the Wolverines drop men into coverage.

Defensively, the front three for Notre Dame proved stout against Purdue, and surprisingly the backups gave them a solid rotation. Ian Williams looks like a perfect fit as nose tackle in a 3-4, and Kapron Lewis-Moore and Ethan Johnson can make plays off the edge. I think the pressure is on the Irish linebackers to make plays in this game. Manti Te'o should be a stud and the perfect antidote to Robinson, but he missed a lot of tackles in Week 1. Darius Fleming is their hybrid guy, and he was stuck on the sidelines with cramps for most of the Purdue game. Once Robinson gets through the first line of defense, can the Irish contain him in the open field?

How about the Michigan pass defense? Connecticut missed some opportunities there, but the Huskies don't have guys like Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph at their disposal.

AR: Totally agree about Connecticut missing some major opportunities to attack downfield, especially in the first two and a half quarters. Michigan is extremely young in the secondary and likely will be down another starter, as linebacker-safety Carvin Johnson sprained his knee in the opener. Michael Floyd absolutely shredded this defense a year ago, so you can bet Notre Dame will try to get him the ball a lot on Saturday. We'll likely see a lot of Floyd vs. Floyd, as Michigan's J.T. Floyd as emerged as the team's top cornerback and forced a big fumble against UConn. Cue the Pink Floyd music.

I'm interested to see how Michigan approaches Rudolph, a matchup problem for pretty much any team he faces. Linebackers Jonas Mouton and Obi Ezeh played well in the opener, but they'll certainly be tested by No. 9. Roh brought a ton of heat against UConn, but he might have to drop back more in this game.

OK, Bennett, you're on the spot. Your Michigan-UConn pick didn't work out so great, and some of my new friends in Ann Arbor were calling you nasty names Friday night. Who wins Saturday and what's the biggest key to the game?

BB: Well, I'm happy to play the villain in Ann Arbor as long as they still let me in the bars there. I have little doubt this will be a close game, possibly as exciting as last year's shootout. Notre Dame will have its hands full with Robinson, but I think the Irish have a more well-rounded offensive attack. And they will take advantage of that young secondary while making just enough plays of their own defensively. A special-teams play might be the difference. Brian Kelly gets his first big win as the Irish squeak by.

Now tell me why I'm wrong.

AR: You're always welcome in Ann Arbor. Just tell them you know me.

It'll definitely be a close game, and like last year, we should have a dramatic finish. Michigan's young secondary concerns me, and Crist will make plays downfield to both Floyd and Rudolph. But I also have my doubts about Notre Dame's line play and the overall toughness of that team. Robinson is certainly the X-factor here, and while Michigan can't run him 29 times again, he'll make some big plays. If special teams makes the difference, Michigan could be in trouble. Notre Dame jumps ahead, but D-Rob leads the Wolverines back in the fourth quarter for a narrow win and continues to grow his legend in Ann Arbor.

Hope you enjoyed Week 1 as much as I did.

Regarding game-day coverage, I've received quite a few e-mails complaining about all the Michigan posts on Saturday. I'm assuming these are folks new to the blog because we've been doing it this way for two seasons. Here's the deal: when I'm at a campus site for a game, the game and those teams will be featured more than the others. I'll always weigh in on the other Big Ten games, but the focus will be on what's in front of me. Don't like it? Tough tacos. The alternative is for me not to go to games, which neither of us want.

OK, link time ...

• Michigan and Notre Dame are taking different paths to what both teams hope is more success, Dave Curtis writes in The Sporting News. Fans will get a better feel for both Michigan and Michigan State in the next two weeks against Notre Dame, Michael Rosenberg writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Big Ten power rankings from the Big Ten Network's Brent Yarina.
• The 2003 Fiesta Bowl was more than The Call, as former Ohio State players remember their national title win, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. The two players involved in arguably the Fiesta Bowl's biggest play both endured adversity in the years following the game, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• Penn State's Rob Bolden and Michigan's Denard Robinson will have breakout seasons if they stay healthy, David Jones writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News. Penn State's Week 1 grades and stock watch from The Patriot-News' Bob Flounders. The Lions finally can focus on Bama, Joe Juliano writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
• There are no innocent comments when it comes to the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. After a scary moment Saturday, Hawkeyes quarterback Ricky Stanzi says everything's OK, Sean Keeler writes in the Des Moines Register.
• Wisconsin's Week 1 grades from the Wisconsin State Journal's Tom Oates and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. More nuggets on Wisconsin-UNLV from the Wisconsin State Journal's Tom Mulhern.
• Purdue's soft upcoming schedule affords the opportunity to correct mistakes, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• Despite some new faces, Michigan State's offensive line looked very good Saturday, Matt Charboneau writes in The Detroit News.
• Ohio State fans should root for Michigan to improve and make The Game what it once was, Bob Hunter writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Michigan took a step Saturday thanks to Robinson and Rich Rodriguez, Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel writes.
• Despite a rough start, Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase still has the right people believing in him, Lindsey Willhite writes in the Daily Herald. ESPNChicago.com's Scott Powers has some quick hits from Illinois-Mizzou.
• Minnesota's defense remains a work in progress, Marcus Fuller writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press.
• Five lessons from Northwestern's opener from the Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein. Dan Persa will have a tough time topping his record-setting debut as Northwestern's new starting quarterback, Willhite writes.

As always, you can contact me here and follow me on Twitter.

Adam from Detroit writes: With the new divisions in the Big Ten, how do you foresee the breakout affecting recruiting success in the coming up years for teams like Michigan State?

Adam Rittenberg: It was interesting to see how much Michigan State AD Mark Hollis valued having Northwestern in the same division, which puts the Spartans in the Chicago market as much as possible. Michigan State, like many Big Ten schools, has a ton of alumni in the Chicago area, and there also are recruiting benefits by having your team visit a major market every other year. On the flip side, you could say Michigan State is hurt by not being with Ohio State and Penn State, given the talent in those states. But I don't think it helps or hurts Michigan State's recruiting too much.

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Tony from Minneapolis writes: Hey Adam, being a Gopher fan (yeah it's difficult) they didn't look all that bad against MTSU... Adam Weber needs to come around more, but their O-line gave him some time, and the run game didn't look too bad against legit competition. What record does T-Brew have to have to keep his job, and what are you thoughts about us upsetting Iowa or Wisconsin this year?

Adam Rittenberg: Minnesota fans should be encouraged by the offensive line, a major weakness the last two seasons, and the play of junior running back Duane Bennett, who looked great against Middle Tennessee. Most important, this is the identity the Gophers have wanted on offense. They want to be like Wisconsin and Iowa. Heck, they want to be like Minnesota of the early 2000s. As for Tim Brewster, it's hard to put a number on it because the schedule is so hard. His team needs to improve rather than regress as the season goes on. I'd say he needs to win at least one of the following games: Iowa, Wisconsin, USC, Penn State, Ohio State. Getting a trophy would be huge, but he needs a signature victory.

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Travis from St. Louis writes: Adam- you're dead on about Ferentz and his salary/contract through 2020. I've heard some of your ESPN contemporaries compare Ferentz's salary to Urban Meyer, Nick Saban etc and compare the lack of championships to the Tier 1 programs. When in actuality, if a school like Iowa wants to have remote shot of success, it has to pay more to lure or retain better coaching talent.

Adam Rittenberg: Travis, you're spot on here. Will Kirk Ferentz win a national championship at Iowa? Could happen, but it's not as likely as schools like Ohio State and Florida winning the crown. Iowa might never be a true big-time program, but it pays Ferentz like he's a big-time coach. That's a great commitment from the school's donors, who actually pay his salary. When programs like Iowa don't pay great coaches, they lose them to bigger college programs or to the NFL, and they run the risk of becoming irrelevant. Again, a smart move by Iowa, even with the high salary.

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Steve from St. Louis writes: Not sure if this was by design, but I think there's more to the Iowa/Purdue protected crossover than just being the leftovers. If (when) Notre Dame makes the jump, they'd fit in well in the North (Michigan, Mich. St) with Purdue as a crossover (though they might still be too scared of my Wildcats to make the move). Where to turn for team 14? How about Missouri? Illinois is in the South and Iowa would be a protected crossover. Sure, it's not the NY market, but it would work.

Adam Rittenberg: Interesting take, Steve. The Big Ten obviously wants Notre Dame, but I really think it's more likely the league looks East with any further expansion. Missouri doesn't do much for growing the Big Ten Network, while schools located in big East Coast markets have the potential to help more. Certainly a Purdue-Notre Dame crossover makes more sense because of the rivalry there. Iowa-Missouri would be great, too, but I don't see Mizzou being added any time soon.

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Steve from Madison, Wis., writes: How did Wisconsin manage to get so royally screwed in the division alignments? The only way the Big Ten could have taken more from us is if they had completely gotten rid of the MN/WI game. I understand there's some give and take here, but this seems like an awful lot of giving for not a lot in return.P.S. If OSU/Mich can be on the final weekend of the regular season, why can't MN/WI?

Adam Rittenberg: As I wrote Thursday night, Wisconsin ended up becoming a victim of its own success. The Big Ten wasn't going to go strictly by geography, and it had to split the top four (Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Nebraska). After doing that, the league saw Iowa and Wisconsin in the next tier and had to split 'em. The good news for the Badgers is they can enhance their national reputation by beating Ohio State and Penn State every year. I also wish the Wisconsin-Minnesota game could be played on the final regular-season Saturday, as it was for years and years. It's one of my favorite Big Ten rivalries, and it would be a great way for both programs to finish the year.

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Drew from New York writes: Adam, I usually agree with almost everything you say, but to say that division 1 is better then division 2 is not correct. If you match up 1 and 2 every year(Think ACC/Big Ten challenge) then how on earth do you see 1 as being better? Division 2 wins half of the games every year and 4, maybe 5 games every other year. Also, we need to get some names for these divisions, too many numbers.Thanks

Adam Rittenberg: Top to bottom, Division 1 (Mich/Iowa/Neb/MSU/Northwestern/Min) is better. At the top, you certainly can argue Division 2 has the edge. But to think Michigan won't get back to elite status in the next few years is silly. Division 1 also has Nebraska and Iowa, two programs near the upper crust of college football. It also has two programs in Michigan State and Northwestern that are becoming consistent bowl teams, and Minnesota goes to its share of bowls, too. Division 2 is great up top with Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin, but Indiana and Illinois have been pretty awful for the last 10 years. The key to that division is Purdue. If the Boilers get back to where they were in the first half of Joe Tiller's tenure, I might change my mind on which division is stronger.

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Erik from Waco, Texas, writes: Adam, as a Penn State fan reading up on all the division rumors before the actual announcement I was really excited, but now after the dust settles I think Penn State really got the short end of the stick. I do like that we keep our annual game vs. Ohio State and will have a cross over rivalry with Nebraksa, but we lose Iowa, a team that we've had some really good games with lately. I also can't believe that Wisconsin is our rivalry week match-up. As Nebraska is going to be the newest member, I was hoping that Penn State - Nebraska could be our new rivalry week match-up and I certainly think it should take precedent over Iowa - Nebraska. On the scheduling side of things, Penn State fans were supposed to be able to enjoy a home schedule with games vs. Alabama, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Iowa after this years tough away schedule. Now we lose our Ohio State at home match-up and Wisconsin is on the road as well.

Adam Rittenberg: Erik, you're not the only Penn State fan who feels this way, but I don't think Penn State got a raw deal. Could be worse; look at Wisconsin. Penn State gets the Nebraska game protected, which will be an outstanding series. It also gets to keep Ohio State every year, and it doesn't get "sent out West," as many fans feared. I personally think the Penn State-Iowa series is great for the league, but I've heard from a ton of Penn State fans who don't consider it a real rivalry. The other thing is I wouldn't get too caught up with the final-regular season game against Wisconsin, although there's potential for it to be great. Other than Michigan-Ohio State, I think the games on the final Saturday are flexible and will be evaluated during the coming years. So it's not permanent by any means.

According to Danny Hope, Notre Dame already has been the perfect Week 1 opponent for Purdue.

You might ask: How is that possible? Hope's Boilermakers and the Fighting Irish don't even play until Saturday afternoon in South Bend.

What if Purdue gets pummeled? It wouldn't be the first time, as Notre Dame leads the all-time series 53-26-2 and has won 15 of the teams' last 16 meetings at Notre Dame Stadium.

But leading up to Saturday, Notre Dame has served its purpose for Purdue. The Irish have helped the Boilers practice harder. They have motivated the Boilers to show up for summer workouts. They have motivated Purdue's many young players to listen to the veterans.

"It was a blessing in disguise for this football team," Hope told ESPN.com earlier this week. "This is a developmental football team in a lot of ways, and the faster you can develop before you kick it off in the opener, the better chance you have of winning, but also the further along you get for the rest of the season.

"A very tough opener, but one that's created a heck of a sense of urgency for us to prepare."

The spotlight Saturday undoubtedly will be fixed on the Notre Dame sideline, as Brian Kelly makes his coaching debut. National media members will be on hand to watch Kelly, quarterback Dayne Crist, receiver Michael Floyd, linebacker Manti Te'o and others as a new chapter begins for the Irish.

Purdue will be an afterthought. Sure, there's some buzz about Miami transfer Robert Marve and his debut as Purdue's starting quarterback. Say the name Ryan Kerrigan and knowledgeable college football fans should know who you're talking about.

But for the most part, the Boilers are anonymous.

"You're going in there as an underdog, and you're going in there for the coming-out party for a new head coach at a storied program," Hope said. "Our guys see it, too. There will be millions and millions of eyes watching the Boilermakers and the Irish. What a great opportunity for us. We've got to go down there wide open and having fun.

"We certainly can't go down there motivated by fear or failure."

That part shouldn't be a problem, not after last season.

Purdue snapped a 19-game slide against ranked opponents by stunning No. 7 Ohio State, snapping the Buckeyes' 16-game Big Ten road win streak in the process. Three weeks later, the Boilers went to Ann Arbor and won at Michigan Stadium for the first time since 1966. Hope's players won't care that only one Notre Dame coach has lost his debut since 1934 (Lou Holtz in 1986).

"We've been jinx killers as of late," Hope said. "To me, [Notre Dame's success in the series] is just more numbers. It sounds like just the right formula for us, and that's exciting."

Hope acknowledges Notre Dame's talent and Kelly's sparkling coaching record, but he likes the matchup for the Boilers. Kerrigan and fellow defensive end Gerald Gooden could be a handful for a young Notre Dame offensive line.

Purdue's new-look secondary will be tested by Floyd, Theo Riddick and tight end Kyle Rudolph, but Hope points out that the Boilers' defensive backs practice daily against All-Big Ten senior Keith Smith and several other good receivers. Hope said ball security and quarterback performance will be major keys for both teams, as Marve and Crist take center stage.

"A win at Notre Dame would be a signature win for the program," Hope said. "It would be a historic win, a great springboard opportunity for this team and this program. There's a million things to gain from it. But win or lose, I don't see how we can go wrong playing Notre Dame in the opener.

"All around, it's been the best thing for our football team."

Adam Rittenberg makes his pick for the Notre Dame-Purdue game.

Couldn't get to this Tuesday, but I didn't forget you guys.

As always, contact me here and follow me here.

Jesse from Little Rock, Ark., writes: Adam, I cannot disagree with your ranking of the defensive lines until the season begins but I believe by the end of the year Michigan's line will be among the best in the conference. Craig Roh was outstanding as a freshman last year. Mike Martin and RVB will continue to improve and if Will Campbell can turn in a solid year this line could be scary. Just something to keep an eye on this season.

Adam Rittenberg: That's a fair take, Jesse. Brandon Graham really carried the line in 2009, and his production will be next to impossible to replace. But there's some potential up front. Mike Martin needs to have a big year at nose tackle, and he clearly has the ability to take things up a notch. Ryan Van Bergen also has a chance to be very good, and we'll see if William Campbell becomes the star many thought he'd be. Roh is a lineman-linebacker hybrid and likely will spend more time outside a three-point stance this fall. Again, there are too many question marks to put this unit in the top five, but I wouldn't be surprised if the line performs well this fall.

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Everett from Philadelphia writes: I thought you might want to reference the new USNews academic rankings that just came out. While not directly football related, the academics did play a part in the decision to admit Nebraska to the conference, so it does seem relevant to follow the release of the most respected rankings. By the way, Northwestern went up to 12.

Adam Rittenberg: Here are the US News rankings, if you haven't seen them. Northwestern leads the Big Ten contingent at No. 12, followed by Michigan (29th), Wisconsin (T-45th), Penn State (T-47th), Illinois (T-47th), Ohio State (T-56th), Purdue (T-56th), Minnesota (T-64th), Iowa (T-72nd), Indiana (T-75th) and Michigan State (T-79th). Nebraska's ranking at No. 104 (tie) has surprised people, although it shouldn't. It's not a huge drop from last year's ranking (tied for 96th). We all knew Nebraska would be at the bottom of this particular gauge for universities. But is the Big Ten seriously compromising its academic standards? I don't think so. Notre Dame, by the way, comes in at No. 19.

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Matt from Grand Rapids, Mich., writes: Hey Adam, with the addition of Nebraska, the Big Ten is obviously going to get a little shook up, including potential rivalries lost. Please tell me that none of the Notre Dame rivalries in the Big Ten will be affected, they're my favorite team to hate. On the other hand, how many potential or developing rivalries do you see having the opportunity to become legitimate rivalry games? And can MSU please leave the Old Brass Spittoon and Land Grant Trophy behind? Neither of those games seem to be particularly anticipated by either side. I would much rather see the Spartans have a rivalry with Northwestern or Wisconsin.

Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I don't think you need to worry about any of the Notre Dame rivalries going away. Purdue AD Morgan Burke has said multiple times that as long as he's in his current position, the Boilers will play the Irish every year. Michigan State AD Mark Hollis feels the same way, and Michigan and Notre Dame have a long-term deal in place. Although nine conference games will change how some folks schedule, playing Notre Dame still has a ton of value for those teams, especially Purdue and MSU. I agree with you that Michigan State is in an interesting position when it comes to forming new rivalries. Northwestern and Wisconsin certainly could become bigger rivals for the Spartans, depending on division alignment. Michigan State and Northwestern have played some memorable games in the last 20 years (2007, 2006, 2001, 1997, 1993, 1992).

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Brian from Richmond, Va., writes: Adam, just read your article on Robert Marve and how he is progressing at Purdue. I dont think you did enough research on this academic matter. You just took one side of the story from a kid that was very immature while at Univ. of Miami. But the one quote I have issue with is quote, "Marve didn't have those worries at Miami. That was part of the problem." Have you seen Miami's graduation rate and where they stand academically among other D-1 college football programs? The penalty for missing a class is a 1 game suspension under Coach Shannon. Maybe you didnt mean to imply that Miami doesnt care about its players academics but that could be farther from the truth. Thanks, Brian

Adam Rittenberg: Brian, thanks for writing, but I think you misunderstood what I wrote. That line had everything to do with Marve and nothing to do with Miami's program, Randy Shannon or the academic standards there. Marve has admitted that he didn't put enough into his studies while at the U., and being near South Beach as an 18-year-old certainly didn't help matters. But my intent had to do with Marve's mindset at Miami, not the Miami program.

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Ben from State College, Pa., writes: Hey Adam, great blog.. keeps me goin through the boring offseason that is college football (with an exception to this year) So I've been hearing a lot about Bolden and Redd having fantastic summers. Do you think they are the real deal and this is a sign of good things to come for PSU? Maybe a 10-2 season or dare i say 11-1 or 12-0?!?! How high should PSU fans get their hopes on these guys?

Adam Rittenberg: Ben, I wouldn't pin my hopes for an 11-1 or 12-0 season based on the preseason performances of two true freshmen. While it's certainly encouraging to hear how Robert Bolden and Silas Redd are progressing, particularly, Bolden, given the situation at quarterback, let's see how they do when things really count. The beauty of Penn State's schedule is that we'll find out pretty soon what these young guys can do. The Lions are at Alabama in Week 2 and at Iowa in Week 5. If Bolden and Redd perform against those defenses, you can start getting excited.

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Joe from East Lansing, Mich., writes: Now I may be biased, but you're seriously putting Ohio States linebackers ahead of Michigan State? Excuse me? Returning big ten defensive POY, ranked the number one linebacking core by sporting news, incredible amounts of experience and depth, the big tens freshman to watch. All that and you still choose Ohio State? Michigan State's defense doesnt have much to be proud of, but the linebacking core is one thing we can be proud of... and subsequently one thing I'm a little upset about being considered number two in.

Adam Rittenberg: Greg Jones is the best linebacker in the Big Ten, if not the country. Eric Gordon also is a fine player. But I think the combination of Ross Homan and Brian Rolle, combined with the good players behind them and the fact Ohio State's defense is always rock solid, and the Buckeyes have a slight edge. One other factor is big plays. Homan led Big Ten linebackers with five interceptions last fall. Interceptions is the only knock against Jones, who doesn't have one in his outstanding career. I'm a huge Greg Jones fan, but I want to see him make some game-changing plays this fall. The order certainly could change by the end of the season, especially if Michigan State's incoming freshmen (William Gholston and Max Bullough) perform as expected. But I'm comfortable with Ohio State at No. 1 and Michigan State just behind.

The Big Ten decided in June that it could expand without Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish came out of realignment roulette with their coveted football independence still intact.

Will Notre Dame ever become a member of the Big Ten? It's anyone's guess, but Notre Dame's schedule always will have a Big Ten flavor to it. The Brian Kelly era begins this fall with three consecutive games against Big Ten opponents, as Notre Dame hosts Purdue (Sept. 4) and Michigan (Sept. 11) before heading to Michigan State (Sept. 18).

To help preview the Notre Dame-Big Ten matchups, I sought the wisdom of colleague Brian Bennett, who blogs about Notre Dame for ESPN.com.

Brian Bennett: Hello, Adam. These aren't exactly colossal tilts, since none of these four teams finished with a winning record in 2009. But interest always perks up when Notre Dame is involved. Out of the troika of Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State, which of those teams do you think will be the best -- and therefore the toughest game for the Irish to win?

Adam Rittenberg: Wassup, BB. How'd South Beach treat you? You're right about Notre Dame always moving the needle. The Irish could play Savannah State and still dominate "SportsCenter." The road game at Michigan State jumps out to me as Notre Dame's toughest test. Despite Charlie Weis' promises about never losing to the Spartans again after the 2005 game, Michigan State has won two of the teams' past three meetings and had a great chance to win last year. Quarterback Kirk Cousins won't make the same mistakes again -- Kyle McCarthy is finally gone, isn't he? -- and the Spartans have the weapons to test the Notre Dame defense. Michigan State's defense also should be much improved as All-American linebacker Greg Jones returns to the fold. But the more I look at things, all three games could be really competitive.

Before getting to Michigan, let's talk about the Purdue game. I'm really intrigued by this opener for both teams, as the Brian Kelly era kicks off and Robert Marve makes his debut at quarterback for the Boilers. What's your take on the Purdue-Notre Dame matchup?

BB: Well, I know that Kelly had better not lose that game in his home opener unless he wants to start seeing his face on some unflattering billboards in South Bend. Both teams should be able to score some points, and there will be two quarterbacks in new systems, which could be interesting. But I think if you give Kelly all summer to prepare for a game, you're asking for trouble, and the Irish usually have Purdue's number at home. What's your take on that game?

AR: Really excited for that one. Purdue should be pretty dynamic on offense with Marve, Keith Smith and others, but this just feels like the type of game Notre Dame wins. The Notre Dame mystique might be fading, but only one Notre Dame coach (Dr. Lou in 1986) has lost his first game with the Irish since Elmer Layden back in 1934. I even think back to openers like 2003 against Washington State, where Notre Dame rallied from a 19-3 halftime deficit to win in overtime. I agree with your shootout theory, as neither defense really impresses me. Expect big numbers from both Marve and Dayne Crist. While the game certainly could go either way, I'm leaning toward the Irish.

Let's move on to Week 2. We all thought last year's thriller in Ann Arbor meant big things ahead for both teams. Instead, it just showed that neither Michigan nor Notre Dame could play a lick of defense. In case you haven't heard, Rich Rodriguez needs this one. Badly.

What's your take on that matchup?

BB: As a Big East guy, I'm excited to see Kelly vs. Rodriguez, the two best Big East coaches of the past decade. I was at the game in Ann Arbor last year, and it was one of those who-gets-the-ball-last contest. It could be more of the same this year, since neither defense looks to be all that much improved. I see this as a huge swing game for both teams; if Notre Dame wins, there's a real chance the Irish get off on a roll to start the year. But Michigan -- and Rodriguez -- probably need it more given the pressure the Wolverines are under to win this year.

I hope the old-school Irish fans are ready to see two new-age spread offenses give Touchdown Jesus a workout. I think it will all come down to whether Bob Diaco's defense can hold the fort against Tate Forcier or Denard Robinson or whoever is lining up under center for Michigan. Manti Te'o might have to make 30 tackles. I give the Wolverines a slight edge in this game given their experience in their system, but this is almost too close to call. What do you think?

AR: Totally agree on the swing game here, and that it means more for Rodriguez and Michigan than Kelly and Notre Dame. It'll be a lot easier to examine this matchup after Week 1. Michigan goes up against a very good Connecticut team and will need to show improvement on defense and more discipline on offense to win. As stated earlier, Notre Dame's defense needs to show up against Purdue or pay a heavy price. But even if both defenses are better, we're going to see a very unconventional type of Michigan-Notre Dame game with these two head coaches. There's nothing old-school about this game, and it might come down to which defenses forces a few stops or creates takeaways. Michigan doesn't know its starting quarterback, but I really think Rodriguez's offense will do damage whether Forcier or Robinson is calling signals. While Kelly has proven himself as an offensive genius at every level, I like Michigan's offense more in this game. On the flip side, until seeing the Wolverines play, there's not much to like about their defense. Another close contest here, but like you, I'm leaning toward the Maize and Blue.

OK, Week 3, Notre Dame at Michigan State. Both teams underachieved in 2009, and both have higher hopes for this fall. What's your take?

BB: Ah, yes, the Cincinnati Bowl. Mark Dantonio vs. the man who succeeded him with the Bearcats. Well, this will be the first real test to see if Kelly's team can line up and play a true, smash-mouth Big Ten style. This is the type of game Notre Dame will have to win if it wants to get back to the elite level it so desperately seeks.

The Spartans have a good core returning, including an experienced quarterback in Cousins and the best defensive player on the field in Jones. It's also a road game for the Irish, and this series is almost always close. I just get the feeling that Notre Dame will have a little too much offensive firepower against a more plodding style. Tell me if I'm wrong about this.

AR: I was going to call it the Brian Bennett Classic, but the Cincinnati Bowl works, too. And what's this you're saying about plodding? Let me remind you, sir, that Michigan State led the Big Ten in passing touchdowns and ranked second in the league in pass offense (269.4 ypg). Although Dantonio is a Jim Tressel disciple and will try to run the ball more this fall, arguably Michigan State's biggest strength is its depth at wide receiver/tight end. Cousins will throw the ball and try to attack a Notre Dame secondary that has been suspect in recent years. You promise me McCarthy's gone, right?

I'm really interested to see if Michigan State's defense improves, especially in the secondary. The Spartans had only six interceptions last season and got burned far too often. If they can hold Crist and my man-crush Michael Floyd in check, they might really make some noise this year. But Floyd is the type of play that could drive Michigan State nuts. This is another game that could go either way, but I like Michigan State.

OK, final predictions: Notre Dame vs. the Big Ten in 2010?

BB: I like the Irish to go 2-1, beating Purdue and splitting against the Michigan schools. All as a buildup to an appearance in the 2011 Big Ten title game against Nebraska. Just kidding. Your final record for the Big Ten?

AR: I'm going to match your pick, but with the Big Ten going 2-1 against Notre Dame. As much as I like Purdue this season, Notre Dame wins the opener before falling to the Michigan schools. All three games will be decided by 10 points or fewer. Should be great. Can't wait.

What ya got for me today?

Brian from Minneapolis writes: Love the blog and I have to say you do a great job of spreading the wealth to all the teams in the conference. I wanted to gauge your opinion on the chances that Tim Brewster finishes out his current contract at Minnesota. What record will he need this year to keep his job? What names come to mind as replacements if he does get fired?

Adam Rittenberg: Brian, it's no secret that 2010 is huge for Tim Brewster and the Minnesota program. Despite a contract extension in January, Brewster needs to show tangible progress this fall. What does that mean exactly? Minnesota has to start beating its rivals, Wisconsin and Iowa, and playing better in the month of November rather than regressing as the season goes on. The Big Ten's best coaches, namely Ohio State's Jim Tressel, have excellent records in November, while Brewster has yet to win a Big Ten game after Nov. 1. Minnesota's schedule is no picnic, and I could see the Gophers being a better team with a similar record to the last two seasons (7-6 and 6-7). The key for Brewster is quality wins, beating Wisconsin or Iowa or Penn State or USC. Those are the wins that tell the athletic director and the fans that progress is being made. If things don't work out, Minnesota should look for a guy with Midwest ties who can also recruit elsewhere. Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin, an Indianapolis native and a Purdue alum, would be a potential candidate. I don't know if Temple's Al Golden would be interested, but he has done a great job with the Owls.

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Matt from NYC writes: Adam, I am surprised they are completely disregarding the Michigan game as a whitehouse. There is a good chance that game could be JoePa's 400th win, if psu loses to 'bama and Iowa before hand, something that as a Penn State fan is saddening, but in reality a highly likely scenario. You think feelings around Happy Valley would change if this game has the potential to be number 400?

Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I was thinking the exact same thing when I saw the news about no White House for 2010. It would be nice if Penn State could reassess the situation in early October, but it sounds like this is an event that must be scheduled way in advance. Paterno certainly could be going for No. 400 against Michigan, but he also might reach the milestone by that point. I also think Penn State doesn't need anything extra, like a White House, to celebrate Paterno and win No. 400. Even without the White House, the Michigan game has the potential to have a great atmosphere.

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Greg from Chicago writes: I believe that the Purdue football team may be better than many people think. Most people write off the 1st game as a loss against the new Notre Dame team with Kelly at the helm. Do you think that there is a good chance that the boilermakers could leave South Bend with a win?

Adam Rittenberg: I do, Greg. The thing that concerns me is that Notre Dame tends to find ways to win games like this, when it's the start of a new era and the fans and players are all fired up. The Irish have lost their opener under a new head coach just once since 1934 (Lou Holtz dropped his first game to Michigan in 1986). I could see this turning into a shootout, and Purdue has to be prepared to score a ton of points against Brian Kelly's team. Quarterback Robert Marve needs a big performance, especially with questions about the run game. Defensive end Ryan Kerrigan also will play a big role as he pursues Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist. This should be a good one, and Purdue certainly could come away with the W.

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Travis from St. Louis writes: Adam- I love the column and reading it is my lunch time ritual. What coaches do you believe are the hot seat? Zook? Brewster? RichRod? Any others?

Adam Rittenberg: Those three for sure, Travis. I'd include Indiana's Bill Lynch in that mix, but his situation doesn't seem as dire as Rodriguez's or Zook's. Lynch clearly has helped stabilize Indiana's program, and his work on the recruiting trail can't be overlooked. I really get the sense that Indiana wants to give Lynch a real chance to get the program on track in all facets rather than rushing to make yet another change. The Hoosiers weren't far away from being a good team last fall. Then again, can Lynch get the program over the hump? Rodriguez and Zook have to win this year, and Brewster needs to show progress in Big Ten play and against Minnesota's rivals.

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Robert from Philadelphia writes: Adam, Even though Nebraska isn't yet in the Big 10, why not start including a little about them in your blog and add the link to their team page over on the right of your blog. I'm interested (and I'm sure a lot of other people are too) in keeping track of their doings this year as we anticipate them joining the Big 10 in 2011. Their Junior and Sophomore players will be the key players we'll face next year and it's interesting to keep an eye on them for the future. Thanks!

Adam Rittenberg: Robert, I'll hit on Nebraska quite a bit and certainly post some updates on the Huskers' recruiting efforts, as any player Bo Pelini recruits right now will be competing in the Big Ten. I would also tell you that Nebraska remains part of the Big 12 for 2010, and colleague David Ubben has all the info you need at the Big 12 blog. I promise I won't forget the Huskers, but I have to cover 11 teams as equally as I can, so most of my attention will be on those programs.

Ready ... link.

• Penn State football player Curtis Drake has been cited for fighting with Nittany Lions basketball recruit Taran Buie outside McDonald's, the Centre Daily Times reports.
• Dr. Lou thinks Notre Dame should finally join a conference, but the Fighting Irish likely won't follow his advice, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News.
• Penn State defensive end Jack Crawford has followed a similar path to that of former Lions star Tamba Hali, Jared Shanker writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News. The Philadelphia Daily News' Phil Jasner reports that Temple has discussed facing Penn State at a neutral site, although the momentum seems to have slowed a bit.
• Former Ohio State star Chris Spielman reflects on football and the challenges in his life as he prepares to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
• Former Illinois defensive tackle Josh Brent gets another chance in football as the Cowboys select him in the NFL supplemental draft, Marcus Jackson writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
• Bill Lynch and Indiana have benefited greatly from offering scholarships early in recruiting, but he doesn't strongly oppose an NCAA proposal that would ban super-early offers, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).
• Former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr and new Michigan AD Dave Brandon are heading into the Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• A quick preview of Michigan State in 2010 from The Sporting News' Michael Bradley.
• Minnesota linebacker Gary Tinsley appeared in court Thursday to face two counts stemming from his moped incident in April, Vince Tuss writes in the Star Tribune.
• What's the top game of the Kirk Ferentz era at Iowa? The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Mike Hlas picks Iowa-Penn State in 2008, while the paper's readers go with the dramatic 2005 Capital One Bowl win against LSU.

So, did you miss me?

From the looks of your e-mails, the answer is yes. How did some of you function before our little blog network kicked off? Anyway, I'm back from Mexico, revived and refreshed as we're less than a month away from the start of preseason camps in the Big Ten.

The league didn't follow my advice and expand again during my vacation, but there was some news during the last 10 days or so. Here's a quick recap:

• Heralded offensive line recruit Seantrel Henderson was released from his letter of intent from USC, but ended up signing with Miami instead of Ohio State, Minnesota or another school. It seems like these days, every drama king shirks the state of Ohio and ends up in Miami. Buckeyes fans certainly wanted Henderson, despite his father's less-than flattering comments about head coach Jim Tressel, and there are some disappointed folks out there. But remember that Ohio State has had its share of five-star offensive line recruits who didn't pan out. The 2011 recruiting class looks stellar, and the offensive line likely will return three starters next year. My take on Henderson heading to the U? No big deal.
• Iowa starting defensive end Broderick Binns faces some type of a suspension after his arrest early Friday on suspicion of drunken driving. Binns' arrest comes about a month after running back Jewel Hampton and cornerback Jordan Bernstine were charged with public intoxication. These incidents are common around college campuses, but Iowa should have a heightened sense of awareness and concern after enduring a swell of player arrests in 2007 and 2008. Iowa had minimal issues between the spring of 2009 and early this summer, but it can't afford another string of conduct problems. These things tend to happen in waves.
• Joe Paterno seems to be out of the woods after health issues sidelined the 83-year-old for much of May and June. Although Paterno's recent illness never posed a major threat to him coaching the team this fall, any health problems can't be taken lightly at his age. There also were some updates on Penn State's quarterback competition from the Lift for Life charity event, which raised more than $98,000 for the Kidney Cancer Association (congrats to Scott Shirley and his staff for another great event).
• Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick thinks the realignment issue isn't going anywhere, and while nothing is imminent, he'll continue to monitor what happens around the golden dome. Swarbrick told the South Bend Tribune: "I had a lot of people shouting across the street to me to stay independent and it was interesting, but correspondences ran both ways. I think there's an assumption that there's a universal view among our fans and alumni on this, and there isn't. It's always great to hear what people think, but there are so many of the pieces of information they didn't know, they couldn't know, that there's limited value to that input in this case." I like this perspective from Swarbrick. He recognizes the pressure to stay independent, but he also doesn't put too much stock in the opinions of the less informed. My take: Notre Dame won't make a move unless Texas does.
• A few coaching nuggets, as tight ends coach Greg Nord left Illinois for Kentucky before spending a single game on the Illini sideline. Also, Purdue head coach Danny Hope named a full-time recruiting coordinator in Don Coller, while promoting Casey Nuss to supervisor of football operations.

My colleague Heather Dinich over the ACC blog is feeling a little disrespected these days.

Everyone is hatin' on the ACC. When it comes to ranking conferences heading into the 2010 season, the ACC is struggling to stay in the top 5.

Well, HD, welcome to my world between January 2007 and January 2010.

The Big Ten feels the ACC's pain after being the national piñata for the better part of three seasons. And while the Big Ten didn't do much to help the ACC's rep this bowl season -- Iowa and Wisconsin outclassed Georgia Tech and Miami -- the league knows what it's like to be dissed nationally.

The Big Ten's rep has been restored a bit, thanks to a strong bowl performance highlighted by two BCS wins and four victories against top-15 opponents. But until the Big Ten ends its national title drought, it likely won't fully regain respect around the college football world.

Leagues get two chances to improve their national perception: the nonconference and the postseason. While I won't predict Big Ten bowl matchups just yet, here are five opportunities for the league to help itself in the eyes of the nation.

1. Penn State at Alabama, Sept. 11: What better way to boost the league's image than to shock the reigning national champs in their house? The fact that Penn State is rebuilding a bit after losing six first-team All-Big Ten performers, including quarterback Daryll Clark, would only make it sweeter.

2. Miami at Ohio State, Sept. 11: Sorry, Dinich, but I look at this as a hold-serve matchup for Ohio State (think Isner-Mahut at Wimbledon). Miami should be very good, but the Buckeyes will be expected to defend their home turf against Jacory Harris & Co. A loss by the Big Ten favorites could really hurt the league's national reputation.

3. USC at Minnesota, Sept. 18: USC might have no bowl future and an untested head coach in Lane Kiffin, but it's still USC, the program that has tormented the Big Ten like none other during the last decade. Minnesota can make a major statement for itself and the league by upsetting the Trojans at TCF Bank Stadium. A Big Ten team hasn't beaten USC since Aug. 25, 1996, when Penn State knocked off the Trojans in the Kickoff Classic.

4. Iowa at Arizona, Sept. 18: This game means more for Iowa's reputation than it does the Big Ten's, but a league never wants one of its best teams to stumble early. Arizona is a good but not great team, but Iowa must travel two time zones away and play a night game. It's a classic trap game that the Hawkeyes need to survive, for their sake and the Big Ten's.

5. Purdue/Michigan/Michigan State against Notre Dame: Beating Notre Dame certainly doesn't mean what it used to, but people around the country still pay attention every time the Fighting Irish take the field. The Big Ten might not gain a ton of respect by beating Notre Dame, but the league certainly can't hurt its national perception by taking care of the Irish.

Big Ten history buff? Go check out the picture on the ESPN.com college football front page.

It'll take you back to a different time, 44 years to be exact. Back in 1966, Michigan State was a national powerhouse and games that were tied after 60 minutes of play ended right there. So when the second-ranked Spartans and No. 1 Notre Dame finished regulation deadlocked at 10-10, that was it. No overtime. A tie was a tie.

Most of us can't stand tie games, but they were a big part of Big Ten football history. And love 'em or hate 'em, they created plenty of controversy. The Big Ten still seems to have an affinity for the tie, still awarding the title of co-champion even though it drives everyone crazy. Thankfully, the practice should end in 2011.

Colleague Ivan Maisel takes a look back at the tie in college football, and the Big Ten is featured prominently in his story.

A few notes:

• The Michigan State-Notre Dame game in 1966 ranks as the biggest tie in college football history. The game ended in a 10-10 stalemate. Maisel writes: "With the national championship on the line, the Irish accepted the outcome, choosing to run out the clock instead of attempting to score in the final two minutes. Notre Dame won the national championship, all right, but certain precincts around East Lansing and Tuscaloosa consider it tainted."
• Another 10-10 tie, this one between Ohio State and Michigan in 1973, ranks as college football's No. 3 tie of all time. Maisel writes: "Despite the "upset," the Big Ten voted to send the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl. [Bo] Schembechler raised such a stink that the league voted to allow more than one team to play in a bowl game, the first step down the road to the 35 bowls we have today."
• A 14-14 tie between Iowa and Notre Dame in 1953 ranks as the No. 10 tie of all time. Maisel writes: "The Hawkeyes dominated this game, yet the Irish scored the tying touchdown in the waning seconds. Notre Dame had those waning seconds because a few Irish players feigned injury to stop the clock."

Hmmm, interesting how many of these famous ties included Notre Dame. Perhaps the Fighting Irish should petition the NCAA to dump overtime and bring back the tie. It might make Notre Dame a top-20 team again.

One final nugget regarding Big Ten ties: the last tie in the FBS took place between two Big Ten teams, as Wisconsin and Illinois played to a 3-3 tie on Nov. 25, 1995. Overtime arrived for the 1996 season.