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The Kirk Ferentz-to-NFL rumors are as common to December as holiday shopping and frost on your windshield.

They had died down for a year or two, but now they're back.

The Kansas City Chiefs' firing of coach Todd Haley earlier Monday once again will pose the question of whether Ferentz would leave Iowa for an NFL job. When the Kansas City Star published its list of candidates to replace Haley, from "the realistic to semi-realistic, to just-plain-crazy," guess whose name appears at the top? Colleague Bill Williamson also lists Ferentz as one of the Chiefs' top candidates.

Ferentz has been mentioned for NFL coaching vacancies before and has always opted to remain at Iowa, where he makes incredibly good coin and doesn't need to win 10 games each year to keep his job. His connection to the Chiefs job is general manager Scott Pioli. Ferentz and Pioli have known each other for more than 20 years and worked together in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens organization, Ferentz as an assistant coach and Pioli in scouting. Both men have ties to New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Pioli has drafted several Iowa players for the Chiefs, including quarterback Ricky Stanzi and tight end Tony Moeaki.

"The thing about Kirk is he's one of the finest human beings I've met in my 25-plus years in this business, in this game," Pioli told The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette in August. "He's a great family man. He' got an incredible wife and his five kids, I've known them all since they were young. His ability to prepare people is the fact that he cares about his kids, how he cares about his players. He understands things in the big picture of football and the big picture of life. I think he does a great job of preparing kids and getting kids to trust him because he's so genuine. He's one of those people when you look at football and you see how he does things and how he does his job, it makes you proud to be in the same industry because he's a first-class act."

Bottom line: Pioli has a lot of respect for Ferentz, and few would be shocked if he inquired about the coach's interest in the Chiefs job.

The bigger question: Would Ferentz leave?

He has plenty of reasons to stay in Iowa (more than 3.8 million, actually). He makes top 10 money without having to finish in the top 10 every year, a currency most coaches would cherish. He has tremendous influence at Iowa, which prides itself on coaching continuity (Ferentz is the Big Ten's longest-tenured coach, in his 13th year with the Hawkeyes). His son, James, a Hawkeyes center, will be a senior next year. His youngest son, Steven, is a high school senior.

Ferentz, 56, easily could finish his coaching career in Iowa City, where he's held in high regard by the administration despite some disappointment both on and off the field since the 2010 Orange Bowl. Fan criticism seems to be increasing, but it doesn't seem strong enough to discourage Ferentz from staying.

It comes down to his NFL curiosity. If he's curious about how he'd fare coaching at the highest level, this might be the job and the time to make the jump. Coaches want control, and Ferentz would be working with a general manager he knows and trusts. It's also fair to ask how many opportunities Ferentz will have to coach in the pros.

"Scott typically comes through at some point in the season like a lot of GMs do," Ferentz told The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. "... I'm always amazed at what he sees about everything and everybody that he'll share with me at some point. I don't know that our conversations were that much more extensive. He values what we say, but he likes to do a lot of work on his own. He and his staff are very thorough, very professional."

Will Ferentz become part of Pioli's staff in the near future? I tend to think he won't, as his situation in Iowa remains very comfortable and advantageous. But if the NFL pull is still there, this might be the time to move.

Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 3-2 (0-1 Big Ten)

After losing six players to the NFL draft and several other standouts to graduation, Iowa entered the season with a young but talented team. The Hawkeyes have looked the part in the first half, flashing their potential but also enduring growing pains on both sides of the ball. A Week 2 loss to in-state rival Iowa State showed that Iowa no longer had the stout defense of 2008-10. On the ropes a week later against Pittsburgh, the Hawkeyes mounted the largest comeback in team history as junior quarterback James Vandenberg and his receivers came of age during a wild second half. Vandenberg turned in a brilliant five-quarter stretch against Pitt and Louisiana-Monroe, and Iowa's no-huddle, pass-heavy offense delighted fans tired of watching the same movie each fall. But Vandenberg and the offense flatlined Saturday in Happy Valley, as Iowa failed to record a touchdown for the first time since 2007 and scored its fewest points since 2005. The loss reinforced that it's a process for this team and young players like Vandenberg, RB Marcus Coker, and LBs James Morris and Christian Kirksey. Iowa can't win games exactly like it did the past two and a half seasons. The Hawkeyes still have a fairly favorable schedule, but could be in for a roller-coaster ride.

Offensive MVP: Quarterback James Vandenberg. Despite a rough day at Beaver Stadium, Vandenberg turned in a solid first half in his first meaningful game action since he relieved the injured Ricky Stanzi late in the 2009 campaign. The junior ranks second in the Big Ten in passing (252.8 ypg), tied for second in touchdown passes (10) and fifth in passer rating (141.8). He led the furious comeback against Pitt and recorded 432 pass yards and six touchdowns during a five-quarter span. Vandenberg still has room for improvement, but he can be a special pocket passer for the Hawkeyes. WR Marvin McNutt merits a mention here.

Defensive MVP: Linebacker Christian Kirksey. No obvious choices here, but Kirksey has emerged alongside Morris and made plays for an up-and-down Hawkeyes defense. He has recorded 49 tackles, including a team-high 30 solo stops, as well as two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and a sack. Defensive backs Shaun Prater and Micah Hyde also merit mentions.

When Iowa wrapped up preseason camp, coach Kirk Ferentz left the field despondent about a particular position group.

A defensive line replacing three multiyear starters selected in the NFL draft? Nope.

A secondary that lost two multiyear starters at safety? Guess again.

What about the quarterback spot? Ricky Stanzi, after all, had taken his bionic arm and infectious patriotism to Kansas City.

But Ferentz wasn't fretting about the men throwing passes. He had little faith, however, in the men charged with catching them.

Other than senior Marvin McNutt, an All-Big Ten candidate and a bona fide NFL prospect, Iowa's wide receiving corps left Ferentz feeling empty.

"I was really in the tank about that position," he said. "We really weren't doing very well."

McNutt, who racked up 87 catches for 1,535 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in the past two seasons, shared his coach's concern.

"We thought things were moving a little slow," McNutt told ESPN.com. "And you could see in the first couple games, we didn't click the way we wanted to. I knew we had the talent. Things just needed to happen. When people get a little more game experience, they start playing a little bit better."

Or a lot better.

What looked like a weakness for Iowa has become potentially a major strength as the team opens Big Ten play this week at Penn State. The emergence of junior Keenan Davis and redshirt freshman Kevonte Martin-Manley alongside McNutt, who continues to roll, gives Iowa a formidable receiving corps.

Iowa's big three has combined for 58 catches, 880 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns through the first four games. After McNutt carried the corps in the season opener (140 receiving yards, 2 TDs), both Davis and Martin-Manley have come on strong, particularly during a historic second-half rally against Pitt, when Iowa went to an effective no-huddle pass attack that left its fans drunk with the possibilities for the rest of the season.

The Hawkeyes aren't going to "go 100 percent no-huddle," as Ferentz joked last week, but the receiving corps, along with blossoming junior quarterback James Vandenberg, gives coordinator Ken O'Keefe new ways to stretch the field.

"These guys, if you give them a chance, they need to be making plays," O'Keefe told ESPN.com. "The most fun in football is that receiver position."

Iowa's receivers are having plenty of fun these days.

Davis' emergence is more of a relief than a surprise for the Hawkeyes. The departure of record-setting wideout Derrell Johnson-Koulianos left a void, and most expected Davis to fill it, especially after he made strides this spring and turned heads at the spring scrimmage.

But Davis' progress slowed in August, and he recorded only two catches in the opener. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Davis had a key drop in overtime the next week in Iowa's loss to Iowa State but still finished with five receptions for 95 yards and a touchdowns. He followed it up with a career-best performance in the Pitt comeback (10 catches, 129 yards, TD).

"Keenan Davis is finally realizing his potential a little bit," Ferentz said. "I wouldn't have objected if it happened last year with him. We certainly had plenty of need. ... That's the neat thing about football, especially college and high school football. All players progress at different times. The key thing is that they do progress, and we're starting to see that."

Martin-Manley, a smaller receiver at 6-feet and 205 pounds, plays more in the slot and has benefited from some mismatches in coverage.

"The biggest thing for him was learning where he's going to line up," O'Keefe said. "The second thing is get off the line of scrimmage and run your route, get yourself open. And then once you get all that down, you've got to be able to do it full speed. That's what's happened. He's starting to do some things full speed."

The turning point for the receivers, not surprisingly, came in the Pitt game as Iowa fell behind 24-3 late in the third quarter.

"We all looked at each other and said, 'It's time to make plays, men. We know the ball is going to start flying to us,'" McNutt recalled.

Two passes to Davis and one to Martin-Manley put Iowa at the Pitt 5-yard line, where Vandenberg scored two plays later. Iowa's fourth quarter began with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Davis. Martin-Manley then hauled in touchdowns on consecutive possessions, including the game-winner, a 22-yarder with 2:51 left.

"When that happens," McNutt explained, "it builds a lot of confidence for each other as well as us as a receiving corps."

Iowa will need its receivers to be confident and effective as they face by far their toughest defensive test in Penn State.

"We've been making great strides," McNutt said, "but I wouldn't say we think we’re accomplished yet."

Send in your questions here for Friday's mailblog.

Let's get to 'em ...

Scott from Lafayette, Ind., writes: What are the chances of taking away Notre Dame's share of the BCS pool and have them compete for the money as all the other "Independent" and "Small" market schools? I have a feeling if you take away the ND clause in the BCS, ND would be in the Big Ten.

Adam Rittenberg: Scott, I agree that BCS access is the biggest component to Notre Dame eventually joining a conference, along with having a good, stable home for all of its other sports programs. If Notre Dame's BCS access changes in a negative way, Notre Dame absolutely has to join a conference, whether it's the Big Ten, ACC or somewhere else. While some have made good points about the ACC being a good locational fit for Notre Dame, the Big Ten would make sense for Notre Dame and really help the other Irish sports programs because of the Big Ten Network. The ACC simply can't offer the same.

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Markus from Boca Raton, Fla., writes: Adam, is it me or does it seem as though the Big Ten is being left in the expansion dust? First the best two eastern candidates join the ACC. Now we have talk of Texas and Oklahoma along with Texas Tech and OK State possibly moving to the PAC-12. Also a possible Big 12/Big East merger of those remaining. Will we end up as the lesser of the Power Conferences?

Adam Rittenberg: Markus, a patient approach isn't necessarily a bad one. The ACC hasn't added any teams that move the needle nationally. Syracuse and Pitt don't wow me. The Pac-12 certainly could with Oklahoma and Texas, but let's see if the Longhorns actually go West. I know it's hard for Big Ten fans to sit and wait, but the league is very strong with 12 teams and shouldn't add teams just for the sake of adding. And as former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said, the Big Ten could end up being the big winner by waiting until the dust settles and Notre Dame and/or Texas have to make a move.

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David from Mauston, Wis., writes: Hey Adam, is Iowa's 2011 football season even just a little reminiscient of Ricky Stanzi's first full season at qb? inconsistency dominated stretches of that season as well. after the comeback saturday, it reminded of that season too. all of the comebacks that season too, Michigan State especially. Plus the unknowns for the defense coming into that season as well.Granted they didnt give up as much as this defense has but they had some of the same questions then too. Vandenberg could be looked at the same way a few starts but nothing outside of Ohio State to really go off of. Do you think they could come close to that season if they can become even close to consistent?

Adam Rittenberg: David, while the comeback against Pitt might have looked like 2009, I think this Iowa season more resembles 2008. Let's remember in 2009 Iowa had a record-setting start and, despite all those close victories, boasted a very solid football team. The 2009 Hawkeyes had far fewer holes than the current squad, which is replacing very productive players on both sides of the ball. Like the '08 squad, Iowa has the potential to get things together and be a very tough team down the stretch in Big Ten play. But I also think these Hawkeyes will encounter some bumps in the road along the way, much like the '08 team did.

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Brian from Yankton, S.D., writes: Do you really think the B1G will have to expand? I do not get it. More teams does not mean more money. The teams you would add would have to be better than your average team, hopefully by a lot. Also, won't these 'super-conferences' just cannibalize each other and make it that much tougher to get to a BCS game and especially a championship game? (This remains true for a playoff scenario). Think about the PAC 16 with Texas, Oklahoma, OK State, and TTU; how could any team survive without at least two loses? Why not sit back with a solid 12 team conference, share the money fewer ways, and allow for a fair competitive balance and some parity? It seems like the B1G would have a huge advantage sticking with 12 teams and allowing everyone else go to 16.

Adam Rittenberg: Brian, I'm glad there's at least one Big Ten fan out there who feels this way. There's certainly a lot of pressure to keep up with other leagues, but as I've said all along, the Big Ten is very strong at 12 and doesn't have to expand to ensure its survival. Time will tell what superconferences mean to a playoff push, but I completely agree that the Big Ten shouldn't share its money with programs who aren't bringing something to the table. Also, you bring up a good point about the cannibalizing. The Big Ten for years benefited from not having a championship game and having its best teams have fewer losses and better chances for BCS at-large berths. Staying at 12 with everyone going to 16 could be an advantage in this way. The other element you maintain by staying at 12 is intimacy -- playing your league brethren more often. You simply don't have that in a 16-team conference.

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Brian from Hudsonville, Mich., writes: You have been reiterating along with many other media outlets the point of "how is this U-M team different from last year and 09's team". One major thing that sticks out as reason to view this as different is this team's (coaches') ability to adjust and adapt and get better as the game goes on; especially on defense. I was half tempted to shut the TV off vs ND after the 2nd easy drive for a score ND had anticipating a blowout, but then Mattison adjusted his D and really shut down ND. Also, I'd argue that Denard is the ONLY weapon U-M has. As evidenced in the ND game, the WR group made some huge plays, going up and getting jump balls, downfield blocking, etc. So whats different? The D not sticking to a bad gameplan and adapting to get stops on 3rd down and the O also adapting to take what the D will give them. Is U-M the team they want to be? Not yet, but the simple in-game strategy of adapting is what makes this 3-0 start different than those of 09-10. Wouldn't you agree?

Adam Rittenberg: Brian, you bring up some good points here. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison is an excellent in-game coach, and his adjustments should help Michigan's defense overcome some inherent problems this season. I still worry about what happens to that secondary, however, when it faces some of the Big Ten's better passing offenses like Michigan State and Northwestern (Dan Persa should be back). You can do a lot with blitzes and formations, but eventually you're going to get exposed. As for the offense, I credit Al Borges for sticking to what Denard Robinson does best, even if it's not the way Michigan will play in the long term. I just watch Michigan and see some issues that will show up when the competition gets better. This will be an interesting week against a good San Diego State team.

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Adam from East Lansing, Mich., writes: Regarding your topic on Missouri as the best expansion option for the Big Ten I will have to respectfully disagree. Obviously Notre Dame is choice one, two, and three, but if we are going to go to 14 I will look to the east coast rather then going west. I think Virginia would be a great addition to the Big Ten as they fulfill many obligations. They have outstanding academics and adding ND and UVA would give us two more top twenty schools making us far and away the best academic conference in the school. Also, they open the Baltimore and D.C. markets not to mention the population of Virginia. This is much better then what Missouri would add. Now athletically Virginia might be lacking but they are not terrible and could be competitive. Just a thought Adam, keep up the good work!

Adam Rittenberg: Adam, I agree there's a lot to like about Virginia, but would the Cavaliers be willing to pay the increased exit fee ($20 million) to leave the ACC for the Big Ten? I'm not sure they would. Same goes for Maryland, which would be an even better addition for the Big Ten because of its proximity to Washington D.C. From an academics standpoint, Virginia is a home run. But from an athletics standpoint, Missouri is a much better add. Virginia football is beyond irrelevant in a mediocre league, while Missouri has built a very solid program under Gary Pinkel. Plus, Missouri already has some built-in rivalries with Big Ten teams like Illinois and Nebraska. I'm not opposed to Virginia at all, but Missouri has the edge in my mind.

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Casey from Kansas City, Mo., writes: Doesn't it make most sense for the Big 10, if it were to expand to add Kansas, Mizzou, ND, and a team from the East to be named later?

Adam Rittenberg: Bingo! Again, this would be a reluctant move, but if the Big Ten had to go to 16, and Texas was off the table, the league should add Notre Dame, Missouri, Kansas and Rutgers unless an ACC school like Maryland or Virginia is willing to pay the higher exit fee. Those four additions provide a variety of different benefits, including a national basketball power in Kansas.

Every college football season brings new faces and new storylines, but the Big Ten hasn't had a makeover like this before.

The conference will feature a new member (Nebraska), new divisions (Legends and Leaders) and a new championship game, the first in its history. Five new coaches join the league, and at least six teams will start new quarterbacks. Not surprisingly, the league race appears wide open.

As the Big Ten season kicks off Thursday night in Madison, let's take a look at all the newness around the conference.

NEW TEAM

Nearly 15 months after being admitted to the Big Ten, Nebraska will play its first game as a member of the league. The Huskers have enjoyed a honeymoon of sorts as the rest of the league familiarizes itself with the program's history, the school and a talented team projected to be in the mix for the Big Ten championship.

There will be much more hype surrounding Nebraska's first Big Ten game -- Oct. 1 at Wisconsin -- and rightfully so, and Saturday's opener against FCS Chattanooga won't be the best barometer for Bo Pelini's squad. The game will, however, provide a look at Nebraska's new offense under coordinator Tim Beck. Quarterback Taylor Martinez is healthy and supposedly more mature, while running back Rex Burkhead has received high marks throughout the offseason. Who steps up among Nebraska's talented young offensive skill players?

Those of us who haven't watched Big Red regularly also will get a sense of the defense and the complex scheme defensive tackle Jared Crick, coordinator Carl Pelini and others have cited. Don't expect Nebraska to reveal too much against Chattanooga, but after discussing the Huskers ad nauseum, it'll be nice to see them on the field.

NEW COACHES

Four Big Ten coaches will make their debuts with new teams Saturday, while Nebraska's Pelini works his first game as a Big Ten member.

Luke Fickell's job interview at Ohio State begins Saturday against Akron, as the former Buckeyes defensive lineman and longtime assistant makes his head-coaching debut for his alma mater. Fickell's in-game decisions, sideline demeanor and perhaps even his game-day attire (vest? no vest?) will be closely examined. Ohio State shouldn't have trouble with Akron, and anything less than a strong opening statement after a tough offseason will elicit some grumbling.

Another highly anticipated debut takes place in Ann Arbor as Brady Hoke leads Michigan out of the tunnel. Hoke has made few missteps since his hiring in January, and his approval rating among Michigan fans has soared. But things can change on game day, and a team going through quite a bit of transition must deliver a strong performance against Western Michigan.

Jerry Kill also has energized a fan base in Minnesota, and he begins another turnaround project with the Gophers after successfully rehabilitating programs at lower levels. Kill has been realistic about his team's prospects this season, and an opener at USC provides a huge challenge for Minnesota.

After years as one of the nation's top assistants, Kevin Wilson begins his head-coaching career Saturday as Indiana takes on Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium, site of the Big Ten championship game. Wilson's personality and coaching style differ sharply from his predecessor, Bill Lynch, and Indiana fans hope the on-field results do, too. A new attitude certainly is taking root in Bloomington.

NEW QUARTERBACKS

At least half the Big Ten will be starting new quarterbacks in Week 1: Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin. Penn State could play two quarterbacks with previous starting experience (Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin), while Northwestern might have to play multiple signal-callers because of Dan Persa's lingering injury issues.

Terrelle Pryor's departure from Ohio State in June leaves the Buckeyes with virtually no proven experience under center. Senior Joe Bauserman and freshman Braxton Miller emerged in camp, and both men could see significant time against Akron.

The Big Ten's most anticipated player debut takes place Thursday in Madison as Russell Wilson leads the Wisconsin offense against UNLV. Wilson, who started the past three season at NC State, has seamlessly transitioned to a new team and performed well in preseason practices.

Familiar names step into leading roles at Minnesota and Iowa. MarQueis Gray, the Gophers' No. 2 wide receiver in 2010, will start at quarterback, while James Vandenberg, who nearly led Iowa to a Big Ten championship in 2009 after Ricky Stanzi went down, leads the Hawkeyes offense against Tennessee Tech.

Purdue didn't expect to be in this category again, but Rob Henry's knee injury last week marked the latest blow for a star-crossed team. With Robert Marve still hobbled, Caleb TerBush will start the opener, making his first appearance since 2009.

Indiana's quarterback competition has been wide open throughout camp, as Dusty Kiel, Ed Wright-Baker and Tre Roberson try to separate themselves.

The season also brings some new challenges for returning quarterbacks. Michigan's Denard Robinson will have to adjust to a new offense after flourishing in the spread, while Northwestern's Persa might have to reinvent himself as a pocket passer because of limited mobility. Nebraska's Martinez aims for greater consistency in Beck's offense after mixed results in 2010.

As you can see, new is the norm for the Big Ten in 2011. Enjoy the ride.

One thing is for certain when it comes to James Vandenberg taking over as Iowa's starting quarterback this year: he won't be afraid of any situation.

Vandenberg proved that early on in his career, when as a skinny redshirt freshman he kept challenging senior linebacker Pat Angerer to wrestling matches. The results were fairly predictable.

"He has no mercy," Vandenberg said. "It's not like I could ever tap out -- he'd put me to sleep. He taught me a thing or two about toughness."

Vandenberg also likes to talk trash to teammate and wide receiver Marvin McNutt, insisting he can beat McNutt at basketball. Problem is, McNutt was a star basketball player in high school who could have played in college, and Vandenberg admits "it doesn't work out well" when the two play.

"James is crazy," McNutt says. "But I guess you have to be kind of crazy to play quarterback when you know 300-pounders are going to hit you."

It's not that Vandenberg is some kind of fearless hero. He's just a guy who loves to compete at anything, even when the odds are stacked against him.

Blame that on his upbringing. He grew up the oldest of five children and says all his other siblings brought everything they had at the eldest.

"They're way more fearless than I am," he said. "I'm talking blood, teeth, nails and broken arms whenever we played sports. There were some tough battles. My sister was a year younger than me, but she could kick my butt in just about everything."

The Hawkeyes hope all that competition has forged Vandenberg into the kind of leader they need. They've already seen him in a pressurized situation, as he had to replace an injured Ricky Stanzi two years ago during the heat of a Big Ten race. Virtually nobody gave him a shot to succeed as a first-time starter at Ohio State, but Vandenberg managed to keep his team in the game before an eventual loss in overtime.

He earned praise for his guts in that performance, but it didn't earn him a lot more playing time. Vandenberg sat behind Stanzi all of last season, throwing only eight passes in garbage time. So he's still largely an unknown as a starter.

"We felt if James had been called upon last year, he would have played very, very well based on what we saw at the end of the '09 season," head coach Kirk Ferentz said. "He's a year better as a football player in my mind right now than he was a year ago at this time, and we all felt good a year ago.

"So we expect him to play well. That being said, it's going to be new to him. He's going to have ups and downs early. As it goes on, it's going to get better."

Vandenberg has dreamed of this chance for years. He was born in Columbia, Mo., and moved around a lot as a kid as his father used military service to pay for medical school. When he reached fifth grade, the family settled into Keokuk, Iowa, where Toby Vandenberg is the head of the emergency rooms for two hospitals. Though the family's house was in the far southeast corner of Iowa -- "three minutes from Missouri and five minutes from Illinois," Vandenberg said -- their son's loyalty lay firmly with the Hawkeyes, whose games his father would take him to attend. Vandenberg idolized Tim Dwight and Drew Tate.

In his senior year of high school, Vandenberg led Keokuk to a Class 3A state title and set state records for passing yards and touchdown passes in a season. Once he got to Iowa, he spent three years learning under Stanzi, a noted film-room rat who went 26-9 as a starter.

"His whole work ethic kind of rubbed off on me," Vandenberg said. "I've never sat down and watched like five hours of film, but I watch some every day."

The two quarterbacks have similar height and arm strength, but the 6-foot-3 Vandenberg is about 20 pounds lighter.

"James reminds me a lot of Rick," McNutt said. "The only real difference between the two is experience."

It's time now for Vandenberg to get that experience, and how he plays will have a big influence on how the Hawkeyes fare in the Legends Division this year. One thing's for certain: He won't back down from the moment.

Enjoy one of the last non-football weekends.

Derek from Syracuse, N.Y., writes: Adam,I appreciate your Anti-Penn State antics, just makes the trend of '05 and '08 all the more likely to be fulfilled based on their history of non favoritism. I understand your unrest with some units of Penn State but to say another 7 win season is in the works is extremely brazen. Many of the the points made in your "Over/under" were offense related but you don't give the defense any credit when it is chop full of returning experience and we all know that especially in the Big Ten defense makes games. Even if there initially are some hiccups in the Offense the D should hold out until they can build momentum, i need to ask where is the love??

Adam Rittenberg: Derek, I really like what Penn State has coming back in the secondary and at linebacker. The defensive line, though, concerns me as Penn State has little proven depth at end. Larry Johnson typically produces excellent D-lines, but the group took a step back last year and Pete Massaro's injury this spring really stings. Devon Still should have a huge season inside, but Penn State must generate a pass rush from somewhere. They always say it starts up front, and if Penn State doesn't shore up that group, the linebackers and defensive backs will be taxed.

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Phil from Winchester, Va., writes: With Tressel gone, who will be calling the plays on offense for the Buckeyes and will we see much difference in the playcalling? Tressel was not the most inovative playcaller. I expect the offense to rely on the running game, but the versatility of players like Jordan Hall and Jake Stoneburner could allow the offense to not be so vanilla.Thanks in advance for the respons

Adam Rittenberg: Phil, offensive coordinator Jim Bollman will be the primary playcaller, although I would think he'll get input from the other offensive assistants. Luke Fickell has made it clear he'll stay out of the way, unlike Tressel did. I definitely agree this will be a run-based offense, and I'm very interested to see how Ohio State will utilize its different running backs, especially a guy like Jordan Hall who can catch the ball out of the backfield. Jake Stoneburner is another good name to bring up. He looks like he could be a difference-maker, but will Ohio State truly feature a tight end in the offense? Need to see it to believe it.

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Josh from Springdale, Ark., writes: How come so many so called experts aren't talking about Persa and Northwestern? Persa is like a Stanzi when he plays they win. I think they are a very underated team.

Adam Rittenberg: Josh, I think Dan Persa is getting a decent amount of national hype, especially after Northwestern launched the PersaStrong Heisman Trophy campaign for him. But few people are talking about Northwestern as a division title contender because of its defensive woes late last season and the questions about Persa's health following a long rehab from Achilles surgery. The Wildcats certainly can make some noise in the Legends division if their defense tightens up and Persa utilizes his many weapons to attack the opposition. While Ricky Stanzi and Persa are very different players, they both inspire a ton of confidence in their teammates.

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Dave S. from Pittsburgh writes: I highly disagree with you about Pryor. He did agree to come back to Ohio Sate, this is true. When Tressel resigned, Pryor withdrew. He was in good status academically and was eligible to play after his suspension ended. Generally, players enter the supplemental draft because of academics, dismissal from the team or early graduation. Pryor left Ohio State because he, "didn't want to be a distraction." Him withdrawing from Ohio State did not make him eligible for the supplemental draft.His lawyers pursued Ohio State to effectively ban him from Ohio State athletics and recruits. They did not ban him from the university, itself. This in turn made him eligible for the draft. The NFL has to approve his eligibility, also. I think a dangerous path to the NFL has been created. I have issues with players being able to create there own ineligibility and be rewarded for it. The rules for this draft were not meant for the path he took.

Adam Rittenberg: Dave, thanks for the note, but you're leaving out an important point. The NCAA launched a separate investigation into Pryor, his use of cars while at Ohio State and other issues late this spring. That investigation eventually led to two things: Pryor reportedly mentioning cash he received from Ted Sarniak (a claim Ohio State has denied) and Pryor eventually not cooperating with NCAA investigators. That's what led to his status change with the football team. While he could have returned to school, he would have been ineligible for the entire 2011 season. It's certainly a unique case, but when the NFL talks about a status change for players entering the supplemental draft, Pryor seemed to meet the requirement.

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Brian from Waterloo, Iowa, writes: Why didn't you press the AD's harder about the 9 game schedule eliminating the better non-conference match-ups? Assuming that playing another BCS team requires a home and away, and ignoring neutral site games, it's mathematically impossible to play multiple non-con BCS teams and have 7 home games every year. Having a protected game means you would need to pay 2 others to visit your stadium EVERY year. Seems like the same system we have now. You and many others have pointed this out. It's about time someone got straight answer from these guys.

Adam Rittenberg: Brian, I did ask the ADs about this topic, and their response was that the games against FCS schools or lower-level FBS schools were more likely to go away than games against other major-conference programs. You're absolutely right about it being much like the system we have now, as teams will play one marquee non-league game and several fairly cushy home games. So if the system isn't going to change with nine league games, I don't know what you're expecting the ADs to say. Even if the Big Ten kept eight league games, you wouldn't see many teams playing multiple premier nonconference games in the same season. There's too much risk, even though we'd all love to see more of these contests.

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Jason from State College, Pa., writes: You're darn right Penn State fans are going to kill because you don't know what you are talking about. The line issues you speak of are imaginary. The D-line will be top three. The O-line is top two. Without Green, they merely tie with Sparty for the best collection of backs in the Big Ten. They have the best receivers in the league to with the top Linebacking corps and secondary. No Adam, the correct choice is the over. A realistic worse case scenario is 9 and 3 and they are the only Big Ten capable of running the table though they will like drop two games. Simply put, when Penn State is good, and they will be, Wisconsin cannot beat them home or away. They are schematically disadvantaged and far too slow.

Adam Rittenberg: Jason, please pass the Kool-Aid, my friend. Defensive line top 3? Have you looked around the conference? While the offensive line certainly could improve, most impartial fans would take Wisconsin's line, Iowa's line or Ohio State's line in a nanosecond. We'll see about the running backs, although I like the combination of Silas Redd (speed, moves) and Brandon Beachum (power). The thing you're totally ignoring is the schedule. Penn State has four games -- Alabama, Nebraska, at Ohio State, at Wisconsin -- where it likely will be an underdog. Along with several other toss-up games, including Lion killer Iowa, a 7-5 record isn't out of the question. While eight or nine wins wouldn't shock me, and Penn State will be a better team, a broader perspective is needed here.

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Kurt from Traverse City, Mich., writes: Hi Adam, with 19 returning starters at Michigan, league MVP in Denard, and a defense that brings back a healthy Woolfolk, JT Floyd, Mike Martin, and more depth, experience and much better defensive oriented coaching in Hoke and Mattison, isn't Michigan capable of wiinning the Big Ten this year?

Adam Rittenberg: Kurt, if things fall right, Michigan could win a crowded Legends division. But a lot of issues would have to be resolved. I'm not sold on Michigan's defensive depth and worry about what happens to that line if Mike Martin misses any extended time. Just having defensive-oriented coaches doesn't mean you're automatically going to have a much better defense, especially in Year 1. The back seven on defense still has a ton to prove. But if Michigan builds some early confidence, Denard Robinson settles into the offense and the defense gets some good health and some good fortune, the Wolverines could surprise people.

Hoping everyone has a great weekend.

Erik from Illinois writes: adam i was reading your blog and came upon an article over upcoming struggles for returning qbs and then you went on to say that denard robinson and dan persa were the best qbs of 2010??? really? what a joke ricky stanzi and kirk cousins were both easily better than these two, denard shined when he played as a rb and persa is in a system offense where he can throw short dump off passes that pad his stats. i understand the hype that robinson produced but he was a run first qb who was very shaky throwing, i think he'll be much better this year, but last year? not so much. come on i know stanzi was underated but can he at last get the acknowledgement he deserves?

Adam Rittenberg: Erik, we can agree on the fact that Stanzi didn't get enough credit for what was mostly an excellent senior season. He got credit on the blog as I kept him in the Heisman mix longer than anyone, but we also can't discount the fact he struggled late in games and toward the end of the season. After surviving numerous major mistakes with late-game heroics in 2009, Stanzi had a better overall season last year but didn't deliver in the clutch nearly as much. And let's face it: quarterbacks are judged largely on clutch play. Cousins also had a solid season and showed guts playing through injuries, but you're really underrating Persa and, to a lesser extent, Robinson. Persa carried Northwestern and put up insane numbers. You can talk about the system all you want, but to complete 73.5 percent of your passes and throw just four interceptions on 302 attempts in an offense with a weak run game is pretty spectacular. Robinson had his struggles against better Big Ten teams, but he made a ton of plays and, contrary to what Big Ten coaches think, should have been categorized as a quarterback on the all-conference team. Stanzi and Cousins aren't far behind, but Robinson and Persa are my top two QBs from 2010.

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Ahmad from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: How do you rate the Michigan defensive line in the Big 10 this year? I feel like they are going to surprise many with how dominant they will be. Hoke and Mattison have been focusing their efforts on a veteran d line. I'm calling it now. Michigan will have one of the strongest run defenses in the country this year. Feel free to take shots at me while you can.

Adam Rittenberg: My pistol remains holstered, Ahman, because I agree that Michigan's defensive line will be much improved this season. Greg Mattison inherits a bona fide NFL prospect in tackle Mike Martin, along with a veteran end in Ryan Van Bergen who should fit better with the 4-3 scheme. Also, end Craig Roh has gained valuable experience and could be an impact player if he makes the adjustments to a bigger frame and a new defense. A big key is Will Campbell. Can he finally reach his potential? Michigan also must build depth with Jibreel Black and others. But if there's one area of the defense that doesn't concern me, it's the line.

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Jake from Madison, Wis., writes: What are the chances we'll see Jon Budmayr and Russell Wilson switching off snaps in September?

Adam Rittenberg: Highly unlikely, Jake. Wisconsin likes to play one quarterback and if Russell Wilson shows he can handle the system and carry over the skills he displayed at NC State, he should be the guy handling most if not all of the snaps. Budmayr remains in the mix, but I'd be surprised if the Badgers went with a QB rotation.

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Brett from Arlington, Va., writes: With all the speculation of TAMU bolting the B12 over the Longhorn network, is there any possibility of the B1G cherry-picking? As a Husker fan, I would love to see OU again...

Adam Rittenberg: You can bet the Big Ten is closely monitoring the Texas A&M-SEC situation. Major conferences simply don't have the luxury to sit on their hands when another round of expansion seems likely if not imminent. Oklahoma would be a very intriguing possibility for the Big Ten. I'm really not that excited about what remains of the old Big 12 North, but OU would move the needle. I also could see the Big Ten looking East toward the bigger markets and teams in the Big East or ACC.

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Kevin from DC writes: Hey Adam - Who will be calling plays for the buckeye offense this coming season? I know Jim Bollman is back from last season as Offensive Coordinator, but (correct me if I'm wrong) in years past it was Jim Tressel that called the plays. So who takes play calling responsibility now, Fickell or Bollman? Either way, I'm expecting to see a run-first, conservative game plan, considering our personnel. How do you see things?

Adam Rittenberg: Luke Fickell won't be calling the offensive plays, Kevin. It'll be Jim Bollman working in conjunction with the offensive staff, but Bollman will be the primary play-caller for the Buckeyes. We will get a greater sense of how he calls games this year and how it differs from how the offense ran with Tressel as head coach. I'd agree Ohio State will be a heavy run team because of the depth at running back and the lack of depth and experience at both quarterback and receiver. The Buckeyes also should strongly consider featuring tight ends Jake Stoneburner and Reid Fragel more in the offense. Stoneburner especially could be a difference maker.

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Jon from Hudsonville, Mich., writes: Perhaps this is the time I finally have a question answered and maybe not. I was wonderign what your thoughts about Worthy being a Heisman hopeful for this upcoming season. The award is about the best player, not the best qb rating, or most td's scored, but the best all around player in college football. My point is this. Look at Suh and his accomplishments, and he was a dt for nebraska right? Worthy has many positives going for him and all the hype for the upcoming season I think warrents his name thrown in the mix.

Adam Rittenberg: Jon, any defensive player faces a nearly impossible climb to get serious Heisman Trophy consideration. While Jerel Worthy will be helped by his NFL draft hype, he'd have to not only put up some ridiculous numbers this fall but play on a team contending for a Big Ten championship. Both of those things could happen, but Worthy hasn't approached Suh numbers, or even Jared Crick numbers, the past two seasons. The potential is there and he could have a very nice season, but at this point it's unrealistic to put him or many defenders on the Heisman radar. I wish things worked differently, but they don't.

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Ray from Chicago writes: Hey Adam,Saw your post on impact freshman to watch. I think we need to keep an eye on NU WR Christian Jones. He was a ESPNU top150 recruit and he's got the size, 6-3 225. We've seen much smaller receivers from NU put up big numbers (Peterman, Markshausen, Ebert) and pairing Jones with Persa could be impressive to watch. What is your take on Jones from the few practices held so far

Adam Rittenberg: Ray, it's a little too soon to get a great gauge on Jones as Northwestern hasn't held a full-pads practice. But I've heard good things. Jones' size definitely sets him apart from many Northwestern receivers. The big question is whether he can work his way into a very crowded mix at receiver. Barring a wave of injuries, Northwestern really doesn't need to play Jones this year. So he'll have to show he's too good to keep on the sideline. Wide receiver is one of few spots where Northwestern seems willing to play true freshmen, but it's also the deepest position on the team.

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Enrique from Grand Rapids, Mich., writes: Adam, I hope you saw Ubben's recent Big 12 All-Name team. I hope you also recall that I politely suggested you do something similar last week. You're always promoting innovation within the B1G and your hesitation has cost us that right to call ourselves leading innovaters in college football. I love your blog, but this has greatly disappointed me. I'd still love to see your version--as would many other B1G blog patrons--and I hope you will take heed of our requests more seriously in the future. It is posts like All-Name teams that will take the B1G to new heights. Thank you for your time, sir.

Adam Rittenberg: Patience, my friend. We'll get around to this. It's been a very busy week, but I promise we'll get to the All-Name team before the season rolls around. You can hold me to it. I'm guessing your email isn't entirely serious, but I do like to keep things fresh and fun, and an All-Name team certainly is a fun preseason post.

We're all about the quarterbacks today on the Big Ten blog, so let's have some fun with superlatives about the league's signal-callers in 2011.

Best dual threat: Michigan's Denard Robinson. You could make a case for Northwestern's Dan Persa and Illinois' Nathan Scheelhaase, but Robinson in 2010 became the first player in NCAA history to eclipse 2,500 pass yards and 1,500 rush yards in a season. Whether he can maintain the same production in a new system remains to be seen.

Best drop-back passer: Michigan State's Kirk Cousins. He fits the traditional Big Ten quarterback mold better than most, and he has put up good numbers in two years as the starter. Cousins completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 2,825 yards with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2010, despite playing hurt for the second half of the season. He always has a lot of weapons and spreads the ball around well. Iowa's James Vandenberg could fit this description by season's end.

Fastest: I'd love to see a footrace between Robinson and Nebraska's Taylor Martinez. Both men displayed incredible speed in 2010, particularly in the first half of the season. Both men had highlight reel runs such as Robinson's 87-yard score at Notre Dame Stadium and Martinez's pair of 80-yard touchdown dashes against Washington and Kansas State, respectively.

Most accurate: Northwestern's Dan Persa. He set a Big Ten record for completion percentage in 2010, connecting on 73.5 percent of his passes. Persa completed more than 70 percent of his attempts in seven of 10 games, hit on 19 of 21 passes in the opener at Vanderbilt and threw only four interceptions in 302 pass attempts.

Best all-around athlete: There are several nominees here, but I'm going with Minnesota's MarQueis Gray. The guy started at wide receiver in 2010 and finished second on the team in receptions (42), receiving yards (587) and receiving touchdowns (5). He now transitions to quarterback, his natural position, and showed promising signs this spring. At 6-4 and 229 pounds, Gray is a specimen.

Best play extender: Wisconsin's Russell Wilson. Those who watched Wilson at NC State know what I'm talking about. Although he doesn't run for a ton of yards, he does an excellent job of extending plays in the pocket. Wilson can buy time for his receivers to get open and alleviate the pressure on his offensive linemen to keep pass-rushers away.

Most fearless: Iowa's James Vandenberg. The situation was set up for a young quarterback to crumble. Iowa traveled to Ohio State in November 2009 to play for a trip to the Rose Bowl. Ricky Stanzi's injury forced Vandenberg, a redshirt freshman, to make his first career start. But Vandenberg responded by passing for 233 yards and two touchdowns (with three interceptions) as Iowa nearly upset Ohio State in overtime. Vandenberg earned respect in Columbus that should help him as he becomes Iowa's new field general. Penn State's Matt McGloin deserves a mention here, too.

Most improved: Illinois' Scheelhaase. You could see Scheelhaase make strides during the 2010 season and particularly before the Texas Bowl, where he completed his first 13 pass attempts and finished the game 18-for-23 passing for a career-high 242 yards in a rout of Baylor. The sophomore continued to develop as a passer during spring ball. Purdue's Rob Henry deserves a mention as coach Danny Hope called him the Boilers' most improved player this spring.

Biggest mystery man: Penn State's Rob Bolden. We haven't seen much of Bolden since he suffered a concussion against Minnesota in Week 8 last season. Since then, he has tried to leave the program, gone through a spring that earned him high marks, kept the door open for a possible departure and then recommitted himself to Penn State last month. Bolden must beat out Matt McGloin for the starting job in camp, and if he does, it will be interesting to see how much he has improved when the games begin. Purdue's Robert Marve fits in here, too. He comes off of his second ACL tear and has played in just three plus games since 2008.

Most talked-about freshman: It's a close call between Ohio State's Braxton Miller and Nebraska's Bubba Starling. Miller is competing for the starting job in camp following the June departure of three-year starter Terrelle Pryor. Starling, a No. 1 draft pick of the Kansas City Royals, must decide whether to sign a lucrative contract to play pro baseball or help provide depth at quarterback behind Martinez.

Before turning our focus solely to the 2011 season, we're taking one look back at Big Ten preseason media days. It was an eventful two days in Chicago, as we heard from coaches, players and league officials, and set an unofficial record for video interviews recorded (you'll keep enjoying them in the coming weeks).

Media day highlights included the Nebraska crew's debut, the four new Big Ten head coaches, Kirk Cousins' speech, commissioner Jim Delany's annual preseason address and, of course, JoePa.

Let's take one final look back at the media sessions.

WHAT WE LEARNED

1. Red carpet for Big Red: The Big Ten welcomed Nebraska with open arms at media days. Opposing coaches and players all praised the addition of Nebraska and seemed excited about the new division structure and championship game. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, in turn, gushed about the Big Ten as a "model" conference. We'll see how long the Husker love lasts when the games begin.

2. Wolverines a confident bunch: After several humbling seasons, Michigan is hoping to regain its swagger under new coach Brady Hoke this fall. Hoke didn't lack confidence at media days, saying at one point, "I don't think we're rebuilding, period. I mean, we're Michigan." The "we're Michigan" tactic should resonate well with Wolverines fans, and needle supporters of rival teams.

3. Kirk Cousins' star is rising: The Michigan State quarterback was a huge hit in Chicago, both in his interactions with reporters and with his speech at the kickoff luncheon, which drew a standing ovation. None of this surprises us, as Cousins is one of the sharpest and classiest players in college football. If he excels on the field this season, he'll be a nationally known name.

4. JoePa looking good, feeling good: After a shaky media days appearance in 2010, Penn State coach Joe Paterno looked and sounded much better this year. The 84-year-old made a Socrates reference, played dumb about his contract situation, expressed an interest in calling plays this season and talked about coaching 4-5 more years. Other than not knowing the taunting rule, Paterno had an excellent showing in Chicago.

5. Delany lays down the law: Delany met with the coaches Thursday and addressed the recent swell of NCAA infractions cases with high-profile programs such as Ohio State and Michigan. "It not only has reflected poorly on them," Delany said, "it's reflected poorly on us. I explained to each of those coaches that going forward we do not want two more such cases." Sounds like the coaches have been put on notice.

QUESTIONS ENTERING THE FALL

1. What direction for Ohio State?: As expected, the Buckeyes' media-day contingent faced several questions about how they've dealt with the offseason turmoil in Columbus. And as expected, Fickell and the players preferred to talk about moving forward and focusing on the field. Bottom line: we won't know how Ohio State will respond to a new head coach, the off-field distractions and the suspension of key players until the team hits the field for a meaningful game in September. But you would be silly to count out the team that has won or shared six straight Big Ten titles.

2. Quarterback queries: Other than Michigan State and Illinois, just about every Big Ten team has at least some question marks surrounding its quarterback situation. Can Denard Robinson thrive in a pro-style system at Michigan that will ask him to spend more time under center? Is Northwestern star Dan Persa, who looked and sounded ready to go in Chicago, fully healed from his ruptured Achilles' tendon? How will Russell Wilson fit in with new teammates and a new scheme at Wisconsin? Who will win the starting jobs at Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Indiana? Can Taylor Martinez mature into a leader and stay consistent all season at Nebraska? Can MarQueis Gray make the successful transition from receiver to quarterback at Minnesota? Is James Vandenberg a worthy heir to Ricky Stanzi at Iowa? How these questions are answered should go a long way in determining the 2011 outlook in the Big Ten.

3. The adjustment by and to Nebraska: The Cornhuskers waltzed into Chicago as a self-assured group, talking about how their defensive style of play would give Big Ten teams fits. The truth is, no one knows how Nebraska will fare against a more physical style of play than it became used to in the Big 12, or whether its offense can run the ball successfully against stronger defenses. Advance scouting can only go so far. Nebraska's initial run through the Big Ten will be fascinating to follow.

Iowa turned to James Vandenberg in desperation to save its special run through the 2009 season. That had mixed results. But the dividends from that move might start to become apparent soon.

Vandenberg memorably was thrust into the spotlight as a redshirt freshman quarterback when Ricky Stanzi went down with an ankle injury late in the season against Northwestern. The Hawkeyes were undefeated at the time, and Vandenberg had only appeared in one game that year. He couldn't lead his team on a comeback, and Northwestern handed Iowa its first loss.

A week later, Vandenberg made his first career start -- at Ohio State, with the Big Ten title on the line. Iowa lost in overtime, but Vandenberg impressed a lot of people with the poise he showed in that pressurized situation, throwing for 233 yards and two scores.

"I still threw three picks, which stinks," he said. "But the experience I got in that game, you can't really put a price on it. I know I can do it."

Vandenberg made one more start, mostly staying out of the way in a 12-0 win over Minnesota that cemented Iowa's BCS bid. And that was pretty much the last anyone saw of him on the field in important moments, as his three appearances last year came in mop-up duty behind Stanzi.

Now that Stanzi is bound for the Kansas City Chiefs, the quarterback job belongs to Vandenberg. He's no longer the fresh-faced rookie. He's the man.

"As soon as Rick graduated, things became a little different," he said. "It's something I've been looking forward to for a long time. Like I've been telling people, if I'm not ready now, I'm never going to be ready."

All signs point to him being ready. He has the physical tools at 6-foot-3, 212 pounds. He's got the brains, as a former academic All-Big Ten selection who will finish his degree requirements this fall before focusing on credits that will allow him to either study physical therapy or go to chiropractic school.

"He is respected by his teammates and is a good leader," head coach Kirk Ferentz said after the spring game. "Everyone respects him. Now, he has to go out there this fall and have some success in game conditions and I think he will. He will have some ups and downs, too, like any young player does."

Vandenberg got a pretty good internship in learning behind the rock-solid Stanzi each of the past two seasons.

"Two things come to mind about Rick," Vandenberg said. "One was how much he prepared. He prepared as much as anybody did on our team and as much as probably any quarterback in the country. The second thing was just his cool-headedness. He had his ups and downs throughout his three years, but the way he was always able to bounce back and move onto the next play is kind of an attitude that rubbed off on me. Because it doesn't always go your way."

Vandenberg has tried to step up his leadership this preseason. A couple of times a week he organizes the other quarterbacks, the receivers and tight ends for extra throwing sessions on their own. He developed great chemistry with star receiver Marvin McNutt, as the two arrived on campus together as quarterbacks and "hit it off immediately." He says he also has a tight bond with wideout Keenan Davis, because the two played together with the second unit each of the past two years.

"Even though I was the No. 2 quarterback, I feel like I had just as good a relationship with the receivers as Rick did, if not more," he said. "I try to go out of my way to talk to those guys every day lifting and get them out there throwing with me.

He's no longer talking to them as the desperation, late-year fill-in. They know he's the guy who will lead them into the season.

Mitchell: You do love pink.
Cam: No, pink loves me.

Just a reminder: Big Ten chat Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET. Be there.

And contact me here as I'll have another one of these Friday.

Scott from Phoenix writes: Adam, why is this whole AAU thing such a big deal? Is it just because of Perlman's comments about it being a reason that NU was invited to join the Big10? Seems this has little affect on the University or football program, but gives meaningless fodder for the blog trolls.

Adam Rittenberg: The AAU means a lot to the Big Ten, especially the university presidents around the league. You can make a case that if Nebraska wasn't in the AAU last year, it might not have received an invitation to join the conference. Seriously. While the presidents recognize the value the Huskers football program brings, they also place a premium on academic accolades like AAU membership. That said, Nebraska's July 1 entrance into the Big Ten won't be impacted by the AAU ouster, but it certainly is notable if you followed the Big Ten's expansion push last year.

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Rog from Waupaca, Wis., writes: I have noticed a correlation between the quality of Basketball and Football teams (OSU, MSU, and WISC) in at least the Big Ten. Do the quality programs help each other or is it coincidence? Also where do you see Nebraska fitting in for Basketball? Much has been to do about the football program, but not much attention has been spent on Basketball and the other sports. Also how will the expansion of hockey in the Big Ten affect the landscape of college sports?

Adam Rittenberg: Rog, while successful revenue sports bring in money and, in turn, help other programs at a given school, these teams mainly function independently of one another. The coaches want each other to succeed, and there are ways they can help each other (example: Michigan State bringing football recruits to the electric Breslin Center for a big-time national hoops game). But there are too many examples of schools that excel in one major sport but struggle in another (looking at you, Duke). Nebraska basketball seems to be on the upswing under Doc Sadler, but the Huskers weren't brought into the Big Ten because of hoops. I love the idea of a Big Ten hockey league, which should increase the league's overall exposure and attractiveness.

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John from Newark, Ohio, writes: Adam, Thank you for declaring your disbelief that Dane Sanzenbacher was not drafted. Seems to me that the best reciever at OSU has taken second seat to a less productive, but higher profile wide out the last few generations. Every game the media highlights the wide out and then the slot guy goes out and performs like a machine. I can't believe any GM could watch the OSU-WI game last year and not believe in Dane. His body of work is outstanding. Why does the media focus on the guy catching one or two bombs every few games and ignore the uber dependable workhorse? It can be argued that Sanzenbacher is as good or better than Hartline (who was the best OSU reciever in his class) and has the highest ethic of teamwork. At least Hartline got a chance to prove himself. Is this a problem with OSU's offensive scheme or simply media bias?

Adam Rittenberg: John, I agree with most of your points here and echo your sentiment that Sanzenbacher should have been drafted. The media bias argument doesn't hold water with me because NFL teams devote too much money and time to evaluating these players to be swayed by what we in the media have to say. They make their own assessments. Sanzenbacher wasn't drafted primarily because of his size, which isn't ideal, and possibly because of his concussion history. But I'm with you. Watch the games and tell me why that guy can't succeed in the NFL. He's a stud.

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Jason from Chicago writes: Adam love the blog. Since we all know about Ricky Stanzi's patriotism, can we get his take on the killing of Osama bin Laden? Thanks!

dam Rittenberg: Haha, I'll see what I can do, Jason. I'm more interested to see if the hippies in Kansas City -- apparently there are a bunch nearby in Lawrence, Kan. -- are bracing for Stanzi's arrival.

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Ben from London writes: Adam, I'm not sure when you last did a Big Ten recruiting update, but have you noticed how well Michigan is doing on the recruiting trail lately? How impressed with Brady Hoke are you since he took over? It seems like he's doing everything right.

Adam Rittenberg: Ben, I'll likely write more on this later in the week, but Michigan's start to the 2012 class has been impressive. Hoke and his staff have focused on linebackers who they believe will fit what Greg Mattison wants to do with the defense. The approach makes sense after the recent struggles on that side of the ball. The question going forward is whether Hoke can elevate Michigan's overall recruiting and compete for some of the national recruits the Wolverines used to pursue.

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Chris from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: Hey Adam, I'm a Wolverine fan and I love the blog. Being that Tressel knowingly violated NCAA rules and it led to victories, shouldn't their punishment be something more likely to cost them future wins? Suspensions of Tressel that only keep him off of the sideline or the forfeiting of former wins don't seem to be a very serious punishment, do they? After all, it's not as if the NCAA is going back in time and not letting the Ohio play in the Sugar Bowl. We all know they won that game, whether or not the NCAA denies it happening. In my opinion Ohio should be hit with serious recruiting violations and potentially a couple year bowl ban. Something like that would put a recruiting handicap on Ohio equivalent to the recruiting advantage they have been enjoying for a while now. Even firing Tressel is something no real Michigan fan should want, not until we've broken the streak, at least. What are your thoughts on the possibility of a punishment that actually fits the crime?

Adam Rittenberg: You sure Michigan fans don't want Jim Tressel gone? He sure has caused a lot of heartache in Ann Arbor. ... I agree that vacating wins is more of a symbolic penalty than one that actually damages a program. If the NCAA wants to hit Tressel/Ohio State, it should restrict the coach's involvement from all activities, particularly recruiting. Like you said, not having him on the sidelines for games, while damaging, isn't nearly as bad as prohibiting him from the game-planning process. Penalties that relate to recruiting, scholarship losses and future bowls certainly seem to be the most harmful to a program.

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Justin from Broehm, Iowa, writes: I think you overlooked a sack master, Adam. Check Broderick Binns 2009 stats. Last year he was rotated out of the starting lineup - whether because he just got beat out or because an offseason dui put him in ferentz' doghouse - and he should come in hungry to prove this year. He should at least get a mention.

Adam Rittenberg: Didn't overlook Binns, Justin. "Rotated out of the starting lineup" is a nice way to say Binns had a disappointing season in 2010. He'll need to prove himself again this fall before I include him among the league's top defensive linemen. Not saying he can't do it, because he showed a lot of good things in 2009 and seems hungry for a big season, but last fall was a setback. I need to see more.

The 2011 NFL draft is in the books, and it's time to take a look back at how the Big Ten fared in the selections. In case you missed it, check out my breakdown of the six Big Ten players who heard their names called in the first round.

All in all, 29 Big Ten players were drafted this year. New Big Ten member Nebraska had seven selections.

Let's start off with a rundown of the picks. I'll have some quick thoughts after each round.

First round

• Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt, Houston, No. 11 overall
• Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan, Washington, No. 16 overall
• Illinois DT Corey Liuget, San Diego, No. 18 overall
• Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn, Tampa Bay, No. 20 overall
• Wisconsin LT Gabe Carimi, Chicago, No. 29 overall
• Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh, No. 31

Quick thoughts: The Big Ten had its largest first-round output since 2007, and several players look like good fits for their teams. Chicago had to be thrilled Carimi was still available, and San Diego felt the same about Liuget, projected by many as a top-15 pick. Kerrigan likely needs to contribute immediately for the Redskins, while Clayborn and Heyward enter situations where they can ease into the transition.

Second round

• Wisconsin TE Lance Kendricks, St. Louis, No. 47 overall
• Penn State G Stefen Wisniewski, Oakland, No. 48 overall
• Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure, Detroit, No. 57 overall
• Michigan LB Jonas Mouton, San Diego, No. 61 overall

Quick thoughts: Mouton's selection was a surprise for many folks, but it's a testament to a good player who impressed the scouts despite playing for a lousy defense in 2010. Wisniewski enters a good fit in Oakland, where his uncle, Steve, is an assistant offensive line coach. I really like Leshoure in Detroit, where he'll enter a competitive situation at running back.

Third round

• Illinois LB Martez Wilson, New Orleans, No. 72 overall
• Wisconsin G John Moffitt, Seattle, No. 75 overall

Quick thoughts: Wilson, who entered the draft after his junior season, might have been a bit disappointed to fall to the third round. But he enters a good situation in New Orleans and should have some time to develop.

Fourth round

• Iowa DL Christian Ballard, Minnesota, No. 106 overall
• Ohio State CB Chimdi Chekwa, Oakland, No. 113 overall
• Indiana LT James Brewer, New York Giants, No. 117 overall
• Indiana WR Tandon Doss, Baltimore, No. 123 overall

Quick thoughts: Ballard reportedly tested positive for marijuana use and likely paid a price as he dropped down at least a round. Still, the Iowa standout should help the Vikings early in his career. I really like the Doss fit in Baltimore, which can use more playmakers at receiver. It'll be interesting to see how quickly Chekwa sees the field in Oakland.

Fifth round

• Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi, Kansas City, No. 135 overall
• Iowa DE Karl Klug, Tennessee, No. 142 overall
• Ohio State S Jermale Hines, St. Louis, No. 158 overall
• Iowa G Julian Vandervelde, Philadelphia, No. 161 overall

Quick thoughts: What a round for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Although Stanzi waited a little longer than expected, he joins a team in Kansas City that has a lot of connections to the New England Patriots, the squad many thought would draft the Iowa quarterback. Klug is a solid player who can play either line position. I'll be interested to see how he fares with the Titans.

Sixth round

• Penn State RB Evan Royster, Washington, No. 177 overall
• Michigan State LB Greg Jones, New York Giants, No. 185 overall
• Michigan State CB Chris L. Rucker, Indianapolis, No. 188 overall
• Ohio State LB Brian Rolle, Philadelphia, No. 193 overall
• Iowa S Tyler Sash, New York Giants, No. 198 overall
• Ohio State LB Ross Homan, Minnesota, No. 200 overall
• Michigan G Stephen Schilling, San Diego, No. 201 overall

Quick thoughts: This marked the Big Ten's biggest round as seven players heard their names called. Jones, the former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, went a little later than expected, and Sash also dropped down a bit after entering the draft after his junior season. Homan, who missed some time last season with a foot injury, could end up being an excellent addition for the Vikings. Really like that pick.

Seventh round

• Illinois LB Nate Bussey, New Orleans, No. 243 overall
• Wisconsin G/C Bill Nagy, Dallas, No. 252 overall

Quick thoughts: While I was surprised several other Big Ten players didn't get drafted, both Bussey and Nagy are deserving. Both players played integral roles in their teams' success last fall, and both were overshadowed by other draftees (Liuget and Wilson for Bussey, Carimi and Moffitt for Nagy).

NEBRASKA'S DRAFTEES

Husker fans, I didn't forget you or your team. Nebraska actually had more draft picks (7) than any Big Ten team, and here they are.

• CB Prince Amukamara, New York Giants, No. 19 overall (first round)
• RB Roy Helu Jr., Washington, No. 104 overall (fourth round)
• K Alex Henery, Philadelphia, No. 120 overall (fourth round)
• DB Dejon Gomes, Washington, No. 146 overall (fifth round)
• WR Niles Paul, Washington, No. 155 overall (fifth round)
• OT Keith Williams, Pittsburgh, No. 196 overall (sixth round)
• DB Eric Hagg, Cleveland, No. 248 overall (seventh round)

Quick thoughts: Think there might be a few "Husker Power!" chants at Redskins games this season? The Mike Shanahan-Bo Pelini connection likely played a role in the three Nebraska players heading to the nation's capital. Henery soon will succeed David Akers in Philadelphia, and the Giants had to thrilled that Amukamara still was on the board at No. 19.

Big Ten picks by team

• Nebraska: 7 (players competed in the Big 12)
• Iowa: 6
• Ohio State: 5
• Wisconsin: 5 (four picks in first three rounds)
• Illinois: 4
• Michigan State: 2
• Indiana: 2
• Michigan: 2
• Penn State: 2
• Purdue: 1
• Northwestern: 0
• Minnesota: 0

By position (excluding Nebraska)

• DL: 7
• OL: 7
• LB: 6
• DB: 4
• RB: 2
• WR: 1
• TE: 1
• QB: 1

Nebraska had three defensive backs, a running back, an offensive lineman, a wide receiver and a kicker drafted.

Draft snubs

Quite a few Big Ten players didn't hear their names called during the weekend, and they'll enter the shaky world of free agency. I was absolutely stunned no one drafted Ohio State's Dane Sanzenbacher. He was the Big Ten's top receiver last fall and brings a combination of football IQ and toughness that should appeal to football people not overly obsessed with measurables.

Wisconsin running back John Clay was the Big Ten's only non-senior who entered the draft but didn't get selected. Clay struggles with weight and his ankle problems might have contributed to him slipping through the draft.

Other Big Ten draft snubs include: Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien, Ohio State guard Justin Boren, Iowa tight end Allen Reisner and Purdue receiver Keith Smith. Nebraska's Pierre Allen and Ricky Henry also will go the free-agent route.

It's draft night! Should be a big one for the Big Ten.

• Urban Meyer says the Big Ten and SEC aren't too far part, Sam McKewon writes in the Omaha World-Herald. The Big Ten might be lacking in top 10 draft picks, but NFL teams still look to the league for smash-mouth players, annarbor.com's Pete Bigelow writes.
• Kristi Dosh has an interesting look at student fees and student ticket prices in the Big Ten.
• Ricky Stanzi is poised to end Iowa's long draft drought with quarterbacks, Andy Hamilton writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Which Hawkeye will follow Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard in this year's draft?
• Rivals.com's Tom Dienhart writes about Michigan State offensive lineman Arthur Ray's courageous comeback from cancer. Cornerback Johnny Adams and cornerback/receiver Tony Lippett highlight Michigan State's spring game draft, George Sipple writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Ohio State receiver Dane Sanzenbacher plays the draft waiting game, Matt Markey writes in The Toledo Blade. Ohio State shares a kinship with future league rival Nebraska, Rob Oller writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Jim Tressel needs to go, Dienhart writes.
• A post-spring snapshot of Northwestern from The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Marc Morehouse.
• Former Nebraska star Barrett Ruud says Bo knows, Steven M. Sipple writes in the Lincoln Journal Star. The Huskers' 2007 recruiting class might have a bigger draft impact than the heralded 2005 crop, Rich Kaipust writes in the Omaha World-Herald.
• Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson tells colleague Scott Powers he's "confident" about a first-round draft selection. The Zooker will show off his arm at Wrigley Field next month.
• The Brady Hoke love continues, this time from Charles Woodson, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News. Lloyd Carr nearly joined Michigan State's staff twice, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal.
• A look at all of Wisconsin's NFL draft prospects, Jim Polzin writes in The Capital Times. Former Badger Eric Vanden Heuvel takes the long road to the NFL, Mike Lucas writes.
• Indiana assistant Rod Smith says his quarterbacks want to win, Pete DiPrimio writes in The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel.
• The wait should end tonight for Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• Penn State players gear up for the NFL draft, Jake Kaplan writes in The Daily Collegian.