ESPN College Football

Let's all go to the mail:

Mike from Chicago writes: I can't begin to explain how utterly confused I am as to your stance on Big Ten expansion. My question is why can't the Big Ten just sit on their hands while every other conference expands to 16 teams. According to Adam, "Leagues would completely lack intimacy and commonality, teams would play even less often and there would be filler teams everywhere." As a fan of the B1G and Wisky, I would be livid if going to 16 teams meant Wisconsin would play Iowa even less than we do now and instead we had to play a Maryland team. Even if the league did get a bigger TV contract, it would still have to split the money evenly with an additional 4 members. And how in the world would the national image of your conference improve if you added teams like Rutgers or Maryland? And Notre Dame? Seriously?!?! The only thing Notre Dame is the Holy Grail of is being consistently nationally irrelevant for as long as I can remember.

Brian Bennett: You make good points, Mike, and as we wrote, the Big Ten isn't really interested in expanding beyond 12 at this time. Unfortunately, there could be some more major changes in alignment, and "sitting on your hands" is usually not the wisest business strategy in a changing marketplace. What superconferences could mean is even more massive TV deals, and the Big Ten doesn't want to be left behind. I totally agree that there are not many attractive candidates for expansion, but the options could turn out to be really poor if the league isn't ready to pounce. For now, the Big Ten simply needs to monitor the situation and have contingency plans in mind, as I'm sure it does.

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Victor from Dayton, Ohio, writes: I was reading your and Adam's article on possible B1G expansion and I had a thought. Adam mentioned the idea of trying to get NC. My question is, while they may not add much to the football side of the conference (similar to Rutgers and Maryland that you mentioned) wouldn't it nice to see a Spartan-Tarheel shoot out multiple times a year in basketball? I think it has the possibility to turn into the basketball version of football's U of M-OSU rivalry. It would also make the B1G probably the best basketball conference out there. Thoughts?

Brian Bennett: It would no doubt be great for basketball, but basketball hasn't mattered one iota in this entire expansion circus. If so, Syracuse would never have left the Big East. That's why I think a team like Virginia Tech, which is a little worse fit academically and isn't great in basketball, is much more attractive. It's all about football.

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Jeremy from Transplanted Cornfield in West Virginia writes: Much has been made of the scheduling hiatus, and let's be realistic the only concern is for the marquee teams in the League. I realize that scheduling is done years in advance, but why not schedule League games 2 years out and use a Premier League inspired method? During a given year note the standings of the member teams and for the schedule two years hence match the top teams against each other. The biggest problem I see is in maintaining home-away locations evenly amongst the B1G, but I am sure that there a lot of smarter people than I who could work it out. Basically, we as fans get to see more "move the needle" games, and the League perception just may increase nationally. ... I think that if the B1G were to commit to the top 4-6 teams consistently playing each other, the quality of the teams would increase through being more battle tested. Your take?

Brian Bennett: It's an interesting idea, and while football schedules are often made years and years in advance, this is actually fairly workable given that teams already have dates for conference games booked. I do see a couple of problems with your scenario.

First of all, even two years out, it's not always possible to identify who the top teams will be. For example, if you were doing the schedule for 2011 back in 2009, there's no doubt at all you would have pegged Ohio State as one of the top teams. And yet the Buckeyes went 6-6. The same could be said for Iowa. Secondly, by putting so-called marquee teams together, you end up with the same potential problem of huge gaps between games for some teams. Your plan would avoid situations like Michigan State-Wisconsin missing each other for four years but not necessarily help, say, Illinois and Iowa play. There really is no perfect solution for an eight-game schedule in a 12-team league.

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Dan from Tempe, Ariz., writes: Love blog! I find it interesting (and sad) that it seems inevitable that we will have four 16-team super conferences. If this is case, what do you think about the idea of doing away with non-conference games all together and play an entire regular season (12-game) against conference opponents, with the division winners playing in a conference championship, and the four conference champions playing in a playoff for the national championship? While I think this situation is far from ideal, it creates a de facto 8-team playoff (i.e. winners of each division play each other) and it would be hard to complain that a national champion is undeserving.

Brian Bennett: I really like the idea of full round-robin conference play. However, I think you lose something with no nonconference opponents. Games like Michigan-Alabama are what get us pumped up for the season. And if everyone played in their own conference until the playoffs, the sport would be in danger of becoming too regionalized. I'd much rather watch Ohio State play USC than make sure it faces Northwestern and Minnesota, for instance.

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Rob NitLion from Morristown, N.J., writes: Brian, I'm very interested to hear your rebuttal to this theory. You recently wrote about the reasons that Urban Meyer is the most "hated" coach in the B1G (based on reader voting) without ever coaching a game. As a devoted B1G Blog reader, my theory, based on other mailblog and weekly chat questions, I think there has been an overwhelming feeling that Urban Meyer AND the Buckeyes have been hyped up "more than a tad" by you and Adam, based on Urban's track record and Ohio State's past dominance of the B1G, which has angered a lot of readers and thus led to this "hatred" of Urban Meyer. As a Penn State fan, I have no issue with Meyer as a coach, albeit I think he was lucky to have a few great players in his short time there, but I really think that a fair share of this reader sentiment has been produced through the many blog articles written by you and Adam that have made the Buckeyes instant favorites, somewhat rightfully so, but I do think that a majority of your readers have based their "hatred" on the overflow of Pro-Buckeye "propaganda". Brian, your witness...

Brian Bennett: If I may approach the bench ... Well, first of all, I certainly haven't made the Buckeyes "instant favorites." I have them ranked No. 25 in my preseason poll, behind four other Big Ten teams. (As for Adam's ranking, well, you'll have to talk to him.) I get that there has been a lot of hype about Meyer, not just from this corner but from all over the place. Which I think is justified, given Meyer's track record -- two national titles and an undefeated season at Utah cannot solely be attributed to luck and "a few great players" -- and Ohio State's vast resources. I would also argue, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that fans of other teams wouldn't be bothered by the hype nearly as much if they didn't believe most of it themselves, deep down. And the defense rests.

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Eli from New York writes: "There's little doubt that Meyer is going to win at Ohio State, just as there's little doubt many won't like him because of it."How about a little wager: $5000 that he doesn't win the B1G in 2013? I'd wager for having the best record this year, but we all know you don't have to have the best record to win the league.

Brian Bennett: I wouldn't bet large sums on any one team to win the conference in 2013, both because there's still enormous parity in the league and a lot can happen -- injuries, suspensions, etc. -- between now and then. If you offered me a bet that Ohio State would win the league at least once before 2015, I'd definitely take it. I also believe the Buckeyes will be playing for a national title by then. What kind of odds can I get on that?

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Trotter from Des Moines, Iowa, writes: Phil Steele doesn't have JVB on any of his 4 B1G teams ... OK? He has Keenan Davis as one of his top receivers. ... Hmm, QB's throw Receivers the ball still right? 3000+years last year is pretty good right? Unproven on the road, but c'mon! Out of all B1G QB's from last year coming back, JVB is the obvious first choice, no? Which QB would you take first in you and Adam's "fantasy" CFB teams?

Brian Bennett: I have a lot of respect for Phil Steele, and his preseason magazine is a must-have resource for any serious college football fan. But simply put, he blew this one. No way James Vandenberg shouldn't at least be on one of the top three teams. He's the best pure pocket passer in the league, hands down, and I think Iowa will lean on him heavily in lieu of a proven running game. Now, as far as fantasy goes, I'd still take Denard Robinson. Big running stats from a quarterback are immensely valuable in fantasy. Of course, given Adam's fantasy acumen, he'd probably draft an offensive lineman first.

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Matt from Minneapolis writes: Minnesota came really close to pulling off some pretty big upsets last year against USC and Michigan State. With a team that looks to be improved from last year, do you see any scenario in which the Gophers pull off an upset against a team eyeing a conference championship? If so, what game would it be?

Brian Bennett: I would expect the Gophers to at least scare the bejeezus out of a league contender. How about the Nov. 3 home game against Michigan? Minnesota wasn't remotely competitive against the Wolverines last year and will be looking to atone for such a poor performance at the Big House. Michigan will be coming off two straight tough games against Michigan State and then at Nebraska and could be physically beat up. Not saying Minnesota will pull that upset, but I could see a close game.

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Shawn J. from Scranton, Pa., writes: You questioned whether Rob Bolden made the right career move by staying at Penn State. It's doubtful that Bolden will ever play in the NFL. So any career move should prioritize his post-football plans. With that in mind, what's his best move? Keeping his full ride at a premier research university.

Brian Bennett: Sure, that's a totally understandable option, and being a backup at Penn State might be preferable to starting for an FCS school. We have no idea of what Bolden's priorities and personal goals are. But it has been my experience that most players want playing time, first and foremost. I'm not sure how much he's going to get with the Nittany Lions going forward unless he shows radical improvement.

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Malcolm from Del Mar, Calif., writes: If Michigan's coaching staff does what they do best and get the two sides of the line playing close to last year's squads, would that make them the favorite in the B1G Legends Division?

Brian Bennett: It would make them at least the co-favorites. The lines are definitely the biggest worry spot. But don't forget that last year's team played great and still didn't win the division. And that was with a favorable schedule. This year's schedule is much more difficult, with road games at Nebraska and Ohio State, plus the always difficult Michigan State game.

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Jim from Winchester, Va., writes: Which game, and what kinds of things will you see in the nonconference schedule that will make you think to yourself..."Nebraska's defense looks like it may sneak up on the BIG, and is actually pretty good."

Brian Bennett: I see what you did there, Jim. Making me agree with your point and only asking me when I will agree with it. Crafty move. Anyway, I'll be optimistic about Nebraska's defense if it shuts down its first two opponents. Southern Miss finished 14th in the nation last year in scoring more than 36 points per game, and even though the Golden Eagles will have a new quarterback and a more defensive-minded head coach, they still have plenty of weapons. Then Nebraska goes to UCLA, which resembles an offensive juggernaut the way I look like Brad Pitt. But the game is still on the road, and new coach Jim Mora will likely have some tricks up his sleeve. Strong performances in both those games will signal good things for the Huskers. Still, I'm way more interested in how they are going to handle Wisconsin and Ohio State to start Big Ten play.

Hump day linkage:

• Michigan AD Dave Brandon not only doesn't favor using campus sites for semifinal games, he doesn't think they should be played in the Midwest anywhere, not even indoors. Huh?
• Pat Harty argues that the Big Ten should go to geographical divisions to avoid some of the gaps between rivals on the schedule. Dallas Clark might be the best story of the Kirk Ferentz era.
• Bruce Feldman has an excellent story about how two dirty plays don't define Michigan State's William Gholston.
• Steven M. Sipple looks at some of the candidates to eventually replace Tom Osborne, including recent hire (and former Huskers player) Jamie Williams. Nebraska picked up its first offensive lineman in the Class of 2013.
• Joe Paterno earned a state pension of more than $13 million during his 61 years at Penn State. A look at four big recruiting targets for the Nittany Lions this summer. Rob Bolden is staying put.
• Purdue got a $2 million donation that could go toward some improvements at Ross-Ade Stadium (but not lights).
• Tom Dienhart breaks down the best of Week 2 in the 2012 Big Ten season.
• Minnesota's Jerry Kill shared some optimism at a Rotary Club event.
• A planned SEC Network could eclipse the revenues of the Big Ten's similar venture.
• Gene Smith says Ohio State's athletic department is in its "glory years."
• Stewart Mandel talks realignment and playoff possibilities in his SI.com mailbag.

The rumor mill had been churning in high gear for the past several days that Penn State junior quarterback Rob Bolden would transfer.

But the Centre Daily Times reports that Bolden is staying with the Nittany Lions, quoting his high school position coach. Penn State officials also confirmed that Bolden was back on campus.

This, of course, is not the first time transfer rumors have swirled around Bolden. He seriously considered leaving after his freshman season, when he lost the starting job to Matt McGloin. Bolden started most of last season but rarely finished games and played less than McGloin, who took over the full-time starting job when Tom Bradley became interim head coach. Bolden did start the TicketCity Bowl for an injured McGloin but had a miserable day, completing just 7 of 26 passes and throwing three interceptions. For the season, he completed only 39.3 percent of his passes, tossing just two touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Bolden competed with McGloin and Paul Jones for the No. 1 job this spring with new coach Bill O'Brien giving everyone a clean slate. But by most accounts, Bolden appeared to have finished behind the other two guys. He did himself no favors by throwing three interceptions in the Penn State spring game.

It looks like Bolden is willing to tough it out and try to fight for playing time. While admiring his perseverance, you have to wonder if that's the best move for his career. Bolden simply hasn't shown the ability to be a top-flight quarterback the past two years, and he may find himself buried on the depth chart when freshman Steven Bench arrives. Penn State also has a commitment from Class of 2013 star quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Bolden may well be better off transferring to an FCS school where he could play right away, or even considering changing positions.

But maybe, just maybe, the light will go on for Bolden and he'll turn things around. Having him around certainly helps Penn State's depth at the position. And by staying put, Bolden is betting on himself.

Links are schedule-heavy today, as everyone is weighing in on the 2015/2016 slates.

• One downside of the future schedules is a four-year break for Ohio State and Nebraska.
• Wisconsin finally returns to Michigan's schedule in 2015. Wolverines coach Brady Hoke has restored pride among former players.
• After two unforgettable games in 2011, Michigan State and Wisconsin won't meet from 2013-16. Pat Caputo writes that Michigan State and Michigan should play at night.
• With Rob Bolden's status up in the air, Penn State recruit Steven Bench is ready to be the team's No. 3 quarterback. Polish off the Land Grant Trophy -- it's coming back in 2015.
• Illinois should have no trouble marketing its 2015 home schedule. Illini coach Tim Beckman, aware of the sacrifices his family makes for his career, lets his kids choose which high school they attend.
• Iowa fans can weigh in on who their team's protected rival should be. Iowa's 2014 schedule is just plain weird, Mike Hlas writes.
• A closer look at Week 1 in the Big Ten this fall. Tom Dienhart also ranks the Big Ten's top defensive linemen.
• New Nebraska associate AD Jamie Williams understands the speculation about him taking over for Tom Osborne.
• Wisconsin's end-of-season game with Penn State helps offset the sting of not seeing Iowa nearly enough. The man behind the Bucky Badger mascot design passes away.
• Northwestern lucked out with the schedules for 2015 and 2016.
• Ohio State returns to Minnesota's schedule in 2015.
• Indiana will finally face new Big Ten member Nebraska in 2015.
• Mike Carmin details 10 things to know about Purdue's future schedules.
• Maybe the plus-one model isn't dead, Scott Dochterman writes.

Adam Rittenberg talks about the quarterback competition at Penn State.

Here is your linked-in invitation:

• Illinois is trying to increase its home attendance, and it's offering some very affordable season tickets.
• Kevin Wilson says this is a "fight year" for Indiana and that if the Hoosiers don't improve, "it’s just a vicious cycle that can go right down the toilet." (subscription required).
• Iowa athletic director Gary Barta is not a playoff proponent, and he says there currently is no Phase III for football facilities improvements.
• Brady Hoke wants to solve Michigan's road woes. Wolverines coaches are trying to control the hype surrounding the opener against Alabama.
• Hoke can't ignore his team's losing streak against Michigan State. A quarterback who is committed to the Spartans is starting to make a name for himself.
• Minnesota is outsourcing its ticket sales.
• Dave Butterfield's 87-yard punt return is remembered in the countdown of Nebraska touchdowns by distance. Incoming freshman linebacker Michael Rose is ready to get going after an injury setback. Nebraska is still a rookie when it comes to the Big Ten.
• The pressure is on Ohio State players to get better on their own this summer.
• The Penn State careers of Rob Bolden and Curtis Drake appear to be in doubt. Colleen O'Brien talks about being a coach's wife.
• Purdue welcomed back a pair of key players.
• Bret Bielema enjoyed a homecoming and talked about his journey.
• Mike Slive got the upper hand on Jim Delany again with the SEC/Big 12 bowl alliance, Kevin Scarbinsky says.

May is a time when many coaches take a little breather, decompressing after spring practice and maybe enjoy some time off.

Not so for new Penn State coach Bill O'Brien. When ESPN.com caught up to O'Brien on Wednesday for a phone interview, he was on a bus en route to Buffalo, N.Y., for the 18th and final stop on the Nittany Lions' coaches caravan. O'Brien went to every event, a three-week whirlwind that saw him visit seven different states, including stops in Cleveland, Washington, D.C., New York City, Richmond, Va., and Hartford, Conn.

O'Brien really hasn't had much down time in a while, as he headed straight to State College after coaching the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl in February. But he didn't sound much worse for the wear.

"I've got a lot of energy," he said. "I've been traveling with a great group of people, and the turnouts energize us."

O'Brien and other Penn State coaches were greeted by some large crowds, including more than 900 who came out to the event in Scranton, Pa. There has been a lot of curiosity about the man who's taking over for Joe Paterno, and that's a major reason why O'Brien decided to embark on the journey.

"Since I was hired, I felt like something I had to do after spring practice was get out there, meet people and talk about our vision for the program," he said. "Every stop, there have been 400-to-500 people, at least. So there's no question that it's a far-reaching program, and that's good because we're going to recruit in the six-to-seven hour driving distance area. So it's good to be able to get out into our recruiting areas, too."

The caravan, of course, had another purpose. After the ugly Jerry Sandusky scandal and controversy over Paterno's ouster, Penn State needed a goodwill tour to help the healing process along.

"I think it definitely helps," O'Brien said. "Like I've said, I wasn't here in November. My staff wasn't here. But we're well aware of what happened in November. So I definitely think it helps to get out and meet people and make sure people understand where we're headed."

Even with the controversy as a backdrop, most Penn State fans just wanted to talk about football. O'Brien was peppered with questions about the Nittany Lions' quarterback competition, whether he'll maintain the program's traditions and uniforms and scheduling.

"People can't wait to get going and for the season to start," O'Brien said. "I definitely sense a lot of excitement."

But O'Brien and his staff have a lot of work to do before Sept. 1. One of the first orders of business is selecting a starting quarterback from the trio of Matt McGloin, Rob Bolden and Paul Jones. O'Brien said he plans to name a starter in early June.

"One of the things I try to make clear to people is that the day after the Blue-White Game, the coaches left for recruiting," he said. "We haven't even had a chance as a staff to sit down and talk about spring practice, about depth charts at any position. So I want to have a chance to sit down with the staff when they get back at the end of May, and then we'll have something soon after that."

A report from the Cleveland caravan quoted quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher as saying McGloin was the leader in the race. Asked about that, O'Brien joked, "I'll have to talk to Charlie about that one," before emphasizing again that the staff has to meet to discuss the quarterback situation.

O'Brien and his coaches have begun their preparations for their first few opponents of 2012. He said the team "got a lot done" in the spring but still needs to have a big summer and training camp.

"I think our kids know the tempo we want to practice with," he said. "We have a better feel for the football team, that's for sure. Our kids have started to grasp the terminology and other things."

O'Brien got a grasp on the Penn State fan base during the caravan tour, and vice versa. It might not have been as relaxing as some time off, but he saw it as a very valuable experience worth repeating in the future.

"We'll do something like this again," he said. "But I don't know if it will be 18 stops."

Three new head coaches. Fourteen new coordinators. Quarterback competitions. New faces everywhere. The Big Ten had it all during spring football.

Here are five lessons we learned about the league this spring:

1. Big Ten offenses are speeding up: Tempo was a huge theme for offensive coordinators we spoke with around the league this spring. Defenses are catching up to the spread in college football, so offenses are speeding up to stay a step ahead. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer talked about mimicking Oregon with a no-huddle spread attack, and even conventional offenses like Iowa's and Penn State's will have no-huddle elements and an emphasis on maximizing snaps. It's a myth that the spread offense is new to the league -- teams like Purdue and Northwestern have run it for more than a decade -- but most Big Ten teams have spread elements and want to keep the pedal down as much as possible.

2. Bill O'Brien is building momentum but still needs a quarterback: First-year head coach Bill O'Brien has taken the necessary steps to win over Penn State's fan base. Now he needs to do what he does best: identify a quarterback and develop the signal caller for the 2012 season. The spring didn't provide much separation as Matthew McGloin, Rob Bolden and Paul Jones adjusted to O'Brien's complex, NFL-style offense. Bolden's struggles in the Blue-White Game might have closed the window on his chances, although no decisions have been announced. O'Brien told ESPN.com he wanted to reduce the candidate pool from three to two before fall camp. Penn State needs a significant upgrade at quarterback after the past two seasons, and the O'Brien effect must pay off for the Lions this fall.

3. Fresh faces bring greater accessibility: The Big Ten has a reputation of being a buttoned-up, closed-doors league when it comes to accessibility. And in some respects, the label holds true to this day. But new faces and new approaches have created a more open feel around the conference. Penn State opened up some spring practices to media for the first time in recent memory. Ohio State hosted thousands of students at an practice, creating very cool scenes like this. Open practices at Iowa seems like a pipe dream, but one of the nation's least accessible programs had more interaction with the media this spring than in recent memory. Hawkeyes coaches are taking to the Twitterverse, and there's even talk that Kirk Ferentz might start tweeting soon. While I'm sure mentioning this will jinx us, the increased accessibility is a welcome change.

4. Nebraska isn't lacking confidence: The Huskers didn't steamroll through the Big Ten in their first go-round, as some expected, but a somewhat bumpy ride didn't damage their confidence, either. Led by junior quarterback Taylor Martinez, Nebraska players are openly discussing the national championship as a goal for 2012. The Huskers last played for the title after the 2001 season, which marks their most recent BCS bowl appearance. Coach Bo Pelini is comfortable with the title talk, and Nebraska points to an offense that returns mostly intact, a defense with potentially more depth and arguably the Big Ten's best special teams units as reasons to believe. As wide receiver Kenny Bell told me, "It's a big jump to go from a 9-4 to a 13-1 or a 14-0 season. But if you don't believe wholeheartedly in a goal, there's no point in trying to chase it."

5. Spartans look loaded on the lines: Most football games are won at the line of scrimmage, and Michigan State is positioned to win plenty of them this fall. The Spartans' defense could be the Big Ten's best unit in 2012, and it starts up front with freakish end William Gholston, veterans Tyler Hoover and Anthony Rashad White, newcomer James Kittredge and others. Perhaps more important, Michigan State's offensive line is taking shape after a choppy 2011 season that brought injuries and personnel shuffling. This could be the deepest offensive line in coach Mark Dantonio's tenure, and the Spartans will try to re-establish themselves as a power running team with top ball-carrier Le'Veon Bell back in the fold.

2011 overall record: 9-4
2011 conference record: 6-2 (T-first, Leaders division)
Returning starters: Offense: 5; defense: 4; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

LB Gerald Hodges, DT Jordan Hill, LB Michael Mauti, S Malcolm Willis, CB Stephon Morris, RB Silas Redd, WR Justin Brown, C Matt Stankiewitch

Key losses

DT Devon Still, DE Jack Crawford, S Nick Sukay, CB Chaz Powell, LB Nathan Stupar, T Quinn Barham, G Johnnie Troutman, WR Derek Moye, T Chima Okoli

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Silas Redd* (1,241 yards)
Passing: Matthew McGloin* (1,571 yards)
Receiving: Derek Moye (654 yards)
Tackles: Gerald Hodges* (106)
Sacks: Jack Crawford (6.5)
Interceptions: Nick Sukay (3)

Spring answers

1. Offensive line taking shape: Penn State's offensive line has underachieved to varying degrees since 2008, and with only one starter back (Stankiewitch), there were concerns entering the spring. But after a strong winter in the new strength program -- no group benefited more than the offensive linemen -- the front five performed well during the spring session. Junior Adam Gress emerged as the answer at left tackle, and John Urschel locked up a starting spot at right guard.

2. Hodges primed for huge season: After earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2011, linebacker Gerald Hodges made more strides this spring. He moved to the strongside position -- one he notes previous Lions stars have played as seniors -- and consistently looked like the best player on the field during practices. Penn State could have the Big Ten's top linebacking corps in 2012, and Hodges will be leading the charge.

3. Redd alert: While Hodges and defensive tackle Jordan Hill are the defensive stars, junior running back Silas Redd will be the team's primary offensive weapon for the second consecutive season. Redd already has reinvented himself at Penn State, going from a small, shifty back to a bigger, workhorse type. His next step: "Combine those together -- when I need to stiff-arm a guy, when I need to make a guy miss, when I need to run through an arm tackle -- and become a more complete back," Redd told ESPN.com. He certainly looked like an All-Big Ten back this spring.

Fall questions

1. Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback: Penn State entered the spring with a three-man race at quarterback and left the spring with very little resolved under center. New coach Bill O'Brien wants to reduce the candidate pool from three to two, but the competition will continue into the first part of camp. O'Brien is dealing with quarterbacks who are either unproven (Paul Jones) or needing improvement (Matthew McGloin, Rob Bolden). Add in the fact the quarterback are still absorbing O'Brien's complex offense and it means a lot of work must be done in August.

2. The Patriot Act: Speaking of O'Brien's offense, it remains very much a work in progress as Penn State's players learn a system used by the New England Patriots in 2011. O'Brien's approach this spring was to throw a very dense playbook at his new team and see what sticks. It'll be important for Penn State to identify what it can run effectively during preseason camp and fine-tune those plays as much as possible before Sept. 1.

3. Filling out the secondary: Penn State's defensive front seven will be the strength of the team in 2012, but the Lions lose all four starters in the secondary and need to build depth there. Some nice pieces return in safety Malcolm Willis and cornerback Stephon Morris, but Penn State will be looking for more from guys like Adrian Amos, Stephen Obeng-Agyapong and Curtis Drake, who moved from wide receiver to cornerback this spring. If the secondary can hold its own, Penn State's defense could be scary good this fall.

There were three spring games in the Big Ten over the weekend, and we're going to break down all of them over the course of the day. First up is Penn State.

You can find coverage of the Nittany Lions' spring game here, here, here and here.

Star of the game: Freshman defensive end Brad Bars had four tackles for loss, including two sacks. Bill Belton rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown for the offense.

How it went down: Fans got their first glimpse of the new era of Penn State football as the defense beat the offense 77-65 in the Beaver Stadium debut of head coach Bill O'Brien. A crowd estimated at 60,000 turned out for the game, which used a modified scoring system.

No doubt most people were curious to see how the quarterback competition was going and how those guys looked in the new offense. The results were, predictably, mixed. Matt McGloin completed 6 of 13 passes for 105 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Rob Bolden went 7-of-14 but had three interceptions. Paul Jones was 6-of-15 for 113 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

"We've asked them to learn a system that's totally different than anything they've ever learned, and that takes time," O'Brien said. "And different guys learn at different rates. Some guys get it right away, other guys get it the next day, other guys get it two days from now. So we have to let it soak a little bit, let it soak for ourselves as a staff, and then we'll make a decision headed into training camp on who we're going with or who the top two are."

O'Brien said that fans saw 10 percent of his offensive playbook on Saturday.

"I understand the offense they've given us so far," McGloin said. "[O'Brien] has thrown the whole playbook at us, and we've run a million things in practice and we understand it very well. It's an exciting offense and it's going to take the whole summer to learn, but once we get it down it's going to be very fun to watch us play."

Not surprisingly, the Nittany Lions' defense looked ahead of the offense. It forced five total interceptions and had eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Defensive end C.J. Olaniyan had three of those sacks, while Ben Kline, Adrian Amos, Devin Pryor, Jordan Hill and Jesse Della Valle each grabbed interceptions.

Allen Robinson led the team with 87 receiving yards, while Matt Lehman and Christian Kuntz each caught touchdown passes. Star tailback Silas Redd did not play.

Cornerback Stephon Morris and center Matt Stankiewitch were named the team's most improved defensive and offensive players of the spring.

"I felt it was pretty good, and I think it was exciting for the fans at times," O'Brien said of the spring game. "I'm not saying it was the most exciting game in the world, but I said it wasn't going to be the most exciting game in the world. But again, it was great to see all the fans out there, and I think it was a good day for Penn State football."

Three spring games are on tap Saturday around the Big Ten, and we're taking a look at each one.

Let's examine the Blue-White Game presented by AAA at Penn State, the team's first under new head coach Bill O'Brien.

When: 2 p.m. ET, Saturday

Where: Beaver Stadium

Admission: Free. Game day parking is free in lots around the stadium, and lots open at 8 a.m. ET. Stadium gates A and B open at 11:30 a.m. for pregame autograph session.

TV: The game will be streamed live on both BTN2Go and the Big Ten Digital Network. The Big Ten Network will broadcast the game on tape-delay at 8 p.m. ET Saturday.

Weather forecast: Cloudy with showers likely, temperatures between 53-59 degrees, 50 percent chance of rain, winds at 9-12 mph.

What to watch for: Penn State will send its offense against its defense and use a modified scoring system detailed here. The defense will wear blue jerseys, while the offense, aside from the quarterbacks, will wear white.

Saturday marks the first chance for Penn State fans to see their team since O'Brien and his staff arrived on campus. It's one of many historic firsts for O'Brien, who takes over for the late Joe Paterno. O'Brien has made it clear he won't show too much, telling ESPN.com last week, "I wouldn't say it's going to be a dazzling show." Still, it's a chance for Nittany Nation to get a glimpse of the new offense, which will operate at a much faster pace and mix formations and personnel in new ways. O'Brien's philosophy this spring has been to throw everything at his players and see what sticks. The game should provide some clues about what the players can handle.

All eyes will be on the three quarterbacks -- Rob Bolden, Matthew McGloin and Paul Jones -- competing for the starting job. O'Brien wants to reduce the candidate pool from three to two at the end of spring ball, but has repeatedly said there's no separation right now. After watching Bolden and McGloin struggle the past few seasons, most fans seem to be partial to Jones, a gifted sophomore who has yet to play a game because of academic problems. The offensive line is another interesting position to watch, as O'Brien has been pleasantly surprised by the group this spring. O'Brien also will feature the tight ends in bigger roles, so it will be worth tracking Garry Gilliam.

The changes on defense shouldn't be overlooked, as new coordinator Ted Roof installs a new system. The front seven could be very strong, particularly defensive tackle Jordan Hill and linebacker Gerald Hodges, but there are some question marks in the secondary as Penn State needs to build depth there.

Enjoy the spring game festivities this weekend in Ann Arbor, Lincoln, Iowa City, Evanston, West Lafayette, Champaign and Bloomington. We'll be recapping all the games Monday.

David from Lancaster, Pa., writes: Hey Adam,Love it when you guys go visiting campus and we get more in-depth coverage of each team. I heard you were on a local radio show in Nebraska and said you came away from your Penn State visit thinking Bolden is a slight favorite for the QB job. Care to provide further details on why you feel this way? I think many PSU fans are surprised to hear this.

Adam Rittenberg: David, I only saw one practice, but after reading about and hearing all the Paul Jones hype this spring, I somewhat expected to see Jones separating himself from Rob Bolden and Matthew McGloin. That hasn't happened. Bill O'Brien isn't giving you a line when he says, "Right now, there's no separation." From what I saw, Jones, like the others, still has a way to go in picking up the new offense. Bolden had the best day when I was there, and delivered some terrific passes into tight coverage. But he also had some brain-cramps, like we've seen in games. I get that Penn State fans want to see something different, and Jones fits into that category. He hasn't played in a game and boasts some nice natural skills. And he could emerge as the guy in 2012. But I think folks should pump the brakes a bit on him, and be at least open to the idea that Bolden wins the job. Because it could happen. I'd be somewhat surprised if Bolden isn't in the final two after spring.

Mike from Witchita writes: This blog seems to love pointing out that Nebraska hasn't won a conference title since 1999 but when comparing NU to Big Ten teams, but just something to think about: if you look back at Nebraska and use Big Ten rules to determine conference champions, Nebraska would have raised conference title banners in 2001, 2006 & 2010. Having a single conference champion makes titles scarcer even for powerhouses like the Big Ten's 2nd winningest program. The last decade was obviously Nebraska's worst since the 1950s but just think how many Big Ten programs would kill to have 3 conference championships

Adam Rittenberg: There's no joy in pointing it out, Mike, but when players are openly discussing the national championship, it's important to mention Nebraska would be skipping a step or two. I think Nebraska has a lot of respect within the Big Ten, despite some struggles during the Bill Callahan years. I agree that leagues with championship games are harder to win, and I'm delighted we don't have to deal with co-champions any more. To be fair, though, if we used the old Big Ten rules between 1995-2011, you'd have eight Big Ten squads with two or more "titles": Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Northwestern, Michigan State and Penn State.

Sam from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: Thank you for answering my question about KF and your time in IC, Adam. I see your point. But I'm still not convinced KF places a high enough priority on the BIG picture to suit my hopes for Iowa. Sure, KF would like to see the team win it all. But I don't get the sense "lets go to the Rose Bowl!" is a rallying cry in KF's locker room. The "Beat the Rock" mentality is great for individual excellence and when it comes together, Iowa can have magical seasons. But I believe it really limits the program as a whole.

Adam Rittenberg: Ferentz is a realist, which can be tough for fans to hear. Fans are, with few exceptions, always going to think their team has a higher ceiling than it actually does. Ferentz always has been very honest about the limits Iowa has, but I also don't think he tells his players not to dream big. They have to work at it, perhaps more so than teams that recruit better and have nicer facilities and have a more storied tradition, but Iowa has shown in seasons like 2002 and 2009 that it can compete at an elite level. It also doesn't necessarily help a coach to set the bar ridiculously high and then fall short of it. That's how a lot of coaches get fired. And Ferentz has been masterful in securing his position in Iowa City.

AJ from Madison, Wis., writes: Do you see the arrival of Urban Meyer and Bill O'Brien, as well as the recent surge of Michigan State's pass-oriented offense, changing the way the B1G plays defense in the next few years? On the whole, we've always played an extremely run-oriented game, and I gotta believe that the number of running backs, linebackers, and O and D-linemen the conference sends to the draft dwarfs the amount of QB's, wide receivers, and DB's that go. But Meyer's putting in the spread, and we all know what Bill O'Brien did with the Patriots. Throw in a strong passing game from MSU, and I think this will be a very different league in 5-7 years.

Adam Rittenberg: AJ, that's an interesting question. The Big Ten's recent draft output has been extremely defense-heavy. But we could very well see more offensive skill players selected in the coming years. Penn State hasn't had a quarterback drafted since 1997 -- that should change under O'Brien. Michigan State will have a quarterback (Kirk Cousins) drafted fairly high in April, and two Spartans receivers (B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin) also should be selected. I don't think defensive back is as glaring as quarterback or wide receiver, but it will be a position to watch. I'm really interested to see what impact Meyer will have on Ohio State's draft hopefuls. You can also add in Michigan, which will play more of a pro-style offense beginning in 2013.

Back to your original question about the style of defense in the Big Ten. I don't know how dramatically it will change, although the types of players recruited to play defense in the league could change. We won't see as many boxy linebackers, and teams are certainly looking for speed wherever they can find it. Some people say the Big Ten isn't athletic enough along the defensive line, but the league has produced more than its share of pro linemen in recent years.

Charlie from Chicago writes: Hey Adam, I have seen you write several times lately that you believe Nick Saban is the best college coach in the country. I do not disagree with you, but I was wondering if you could elaborate on your reasoning.

Adam Rittenberg: He's very complete and thorough in his approach. Alabama recruits at an extremely high level, as do several other programs in the SEC and in other conferences. But the Tide also develops players extremely well, and that's what resonates with me. There are some great recruiters who are a little short in the talent development. In the Big Ten, there are a lot of great talent developers who fall a little short in the recruiting arena. Saban excels in both. He takes players with obvious talent and has them play the right way, particularly on defense. And his teams are always prepared for big games. You have to earn everything you get against Saban's teams, particularly against the defense.

Jason from Spartan Country writes: Adam, thinking torward this upcoming season, I am excited about Michigan State's first game against Boise State. Both teams lost veteran quarterbacks in Kirk Cousins, and Kellen Moore. Should we expect this to be a defensive battle. Given that this will be the first starts for both teams' quarterbacks, who do you believe has the edge in this game?

Adam Rittenberg: Jason, it could be a low-scoring affair in East Lansing as Andrew Maxwell and whoever starts for Boise State (Nick Patti? Joe Southwick?) step into the spotlight at quarterback. Michigan State has the edge playing at home, and the Spartans have the type of athletic, aggressive defense that could rattle a quarterback making his first career start on the road. A big key for Michigan State, not just in this game but the whole season, will be establishing a more reliable running attack with Le'Veon Bell. The Spartans are more seasoned along the offensive line, and Bell has played a lot of football. They'll need to lean on the run game a lot more to take pressure off of Maxwell. The other key is handling Boise's speed. This will be a tough test for MSU against a team that has built its rep on winning games like these, but I like the Spartans' chances.

John from Austin, Texas, writes: Adam, just wanted to write and say I like your approach "Yeah, Chris, I got your email. It's our trip and our decisions."You didn't pick the games I would have, but who cares, it was your pick. With election season coming it's refreshing to see people that stick to the point (e.g. it was YOUR choice) and not just pander to everyone.Don't run for office, though. You need to learn to be a lot more slimy

Adam Rittenberg: Good advice, John. Don't think you'll see me on the ticket any time soon. Big Ten blog readers are passionate, and they love telling me where I should go, what I should write, which teams I should pick, etc. And sometimes they're right. But in this case, these are my picks and my road trip. We'll soon open up this topic to the floor and see where you, the Big Ten fan, would want to go this fall if you had unlimited resources. Should be fun.

Mike from Chicago writes: This will sound like an odd question if the answer is no (or perhaps stalkerish if its yes), but were you at Southport Lanes in Chicago last weekend? I saw someone that looked just like you, but couldn't be sure because the mugshot at the bottom of your stories is so tiny. Regardless, I'm a big fan of the Big 10 Blog (go Huskers). Here's hoping you're right about Martinez figuring things out for next season!

Adam Rittenberg: Indeed that was me, Mike. My apologies that you had to see my poor bowling form, but it was a great time at a great place. Very old school. Manual pin setters, no electronic scoreboards, tips stuffed into the bowling ball when you're done playing. Taylor Martinez's progress should be a major story line throughout the season. If he steps up his game, Nebraska very well could take that next step in 2012.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quarterbacks Rob Bolden (1), Matthew McGloin (11) and Paul Jones (7) work during Monday's practice.

Penn State quarterback Rob Bolden works with the offense during Monday's practice.