ESPN College Football

John L. Smith might not have given his introductory press conference as Arkansas’ interim coach Tuesday without stern advice from his wife, Diana.

“She said, ‘Here’s the deal. You’re going back to people that love you and back to a team that is a good football team and you have a chance to fight for a national championship,’" Smith said. “She said, ‘You’ve done this your entire life and this might be the only chance you have left.’ So she said, ‘You’re going back!’ And here I am.”

The man known for his offseason skydiving endeavors and running with the bulls in Pamplona actually needed a little extra push.

So after struggling with the decision to leave Weber State, his alma mater, just four months after accepting the head-coaching job, Smith, 63, decided to get in touch with Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long shortly after Long fired Bobby Petrino on April 10. From there, it was a match made in 10-month heaven.

“Today, I firmly believe we’ve hired a coach that will serve in the best interest of our student-athletes and the university, both in the upcoming season and in helping us shape the long-term future of our program,” Long said just before he introduced Smith. “There’s no question it’s the best decision for this team, for the 2012 season.”

And that’s exactly what Smith is in Fayetteville for -- this team.

Long made it clear that this hire was made on an interim basis because it will create a better time frame for “attracting candidates we would expect for one of the nation’s premier college football head-coaching positions.”

Arkansas brought in Smith, who coached special teams for the Razorbacks for the past three years and has worked with eight Arkansas assistants, in order to keep this team together. This was a very comfortable hire for Long, and it showed with just how comfortable Smith was when he referred to stud running back Knile Davis as “Ka-Nile” at his presser.

You don’t intentionally botch a star’s name without having some clout.

This hire was made to keep from losing this team if an outsider arrived. This hire was made to bring a familiar face to a team that didn’t want change to interfere with all the talent it had.

This hire was made to win now and worry about the future along the way.

“Our expectations here are still the same,” Smith said. “Nothing’s going to slow down. In fact, we’re going to speed up. Our expectations are that were going to go ahead and we’re going to battle and we’re going to fight for a national title.

“Let’s make it a special year.”

Smith will look to make it a special year by avoiding much change. He isn’t looking to completely take over Arkansas’ program. He’ll have veto power, but as he put it, he’ll let his “coordinators coordinate.”

He’ll work with the defense and special teams, but he’ll let offensive coordinator Paul Petrino and the other offensive coaches do their jobs without much interference.

No need to get in the way of a team filled with offensive fun and Heisman Trophy candidates like Davis and quarterback Tyler Wilson.

Smith sees himself as “a mentor,” “an adviser,” and “a minor decision-maker.

“I have all the confidence in the world in what’s going to take place and I know these coaches,” he said. “… We have good coaches and I’m not going to goof them up.”

Smith’s 40 years of coaching experience, including 18 as a head coach, were certainly factors in Long’s decision, but the fact that Smith is familiar and knows what will be expected in such a short amount of time was exactly what Long wanted and felt his program needed.

However, there is uncertainty. Most of lies in what will happen in 2013. It doesn’t sound like Long is looking at Smith as a long-term option, but Smith didn’t rule out that he might throw his hat in the ring if he succeeds this fall. But recruits will likely be a little stumped as well.

What exactly will coaches tell recruits? Will any of the coaches on this current staff be there next year? What will change if/when another coach comes in?

There isn’t much Smith or any of his coaches can say, but Smith assures he’ll sell the school, the program and the coaches, all in that order.

“We’re going to do everything that we can do to sell every guy that we think can play -- every player out there -- to come out, take a look at this institution,” Smith said. “… This is a top-10 program. Program, not individual. So that’s the way that we’re going to approach it.”

And a winning season should definitely help. There’s no question about it, but the first sign of danger could turn recruits off, making things rather awkward. Things could also get awkward if this experiment doesn’t work. Not getting to 10 wins could reek of failure because Smith was brought in to win now -- not in 11 months.

There certainly is risk in this hire, but players and administrators are convinced this was the right decision, so they hope those around them will jump on board. Smith made it clear that this program can't proceed further without its fans, like the record 45,250 who showed up for the spring game.

“We just have to continue on,” he said. “Let’s get more excited. Let’s lock it up together and trudge on. We have to make it a special season. We have to embrace the adversity -- I said we’re going to be better because of it -- and we’re moving on.

“Fans, come on out.”

Oh, they will … ready for wins.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, who was involved in a motorcycle accident on Sunday night.

According to Arkansas state police, it was a single-vehicle crash that occurred when the motorcycle Petrino was driving left the road. Petrino was taken to a hospital for treatment and kept overnight.

Arkansas officials are working on a statement. The crash occurred about 23 miles southeast of Fayetteville.

In talking to several in and around the Arkansas program, the good news is that it doesn't sound like Petrino's injuries were life-threatening. Still, there's going to be some recovery time involved, although Petrino's the type that he's not going to stay away for too long.

The other thing that helps is that Petrino's younger brother, Paul, is back on the staff as offensive coordinator and knows exactly what Bobby wants. There shouldn't be any confusion there.

Gene Chizik couldn’t wait to leave Atlanta.

Shortly after speaking with the media at the Chick-fil-A Bowl news conference inside the fast food chain’s headquarters, Chizik went straight into overdrive getting back to Auburn for meetings and practice.

He wasn’t necessarily having a bad time being surrounded by the aroma of chicken sandwiches and milkshakes, but he was on a schedule that was shorter than usual with his new job as both head coach and defensive coordinator for the Tigers.

Days before, Ted Roof left to take a similar job at Central Florida, so Chizik, who has 11 years of defensive coordinating experience, took over the position through bowl season.

“I did that for so many years,” Chizik said of coaching Auburn’s defense. “You just kind of jump back on the horse and get back at it.”

Still, with time management and time constraints being just two things changing for Chizik, you could imagine there’s a little more stress in the Chizik household these days.

Bowl anxiety is truly setting in and his double duty act will really be put to the test Saturday night against Virginia.

While Chizik might be stressing more than usual, his players aren’t. Sophomore defensive end Nosa Eguae said things are relatively the same for players. To him, the defense hasn’t changed much when it comes to preparation, and Chizik’s defensive knowledge has made the short transition easy.

“He has a great football mind,” Eguae said. “Anytime we’re in a meeting, everybody gets it and understands it.

“I love it. There are people who can balance the two of being head coach and defensive coordinator and he’s great at what he does.”

The only real difference, outside of not seeing Roof overlooking the defense, is Chizik’s demeanor. Eguae said Chizik’s defensive passion is glowing, and it can get a little intimidating.

“When he’s focusing more on the defense you can see that intensity in his eyes and hear it in his voice,” Eguae said. “I love it.”

Auburn isn’t the only team dealing with change. Arkansas has welcomed in a new offensive and defensive coordinator in Paul Petrino and Paul Haynes. Florida lost offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who is now the head coach at Kansas, and temporarily promoted running backs coach Brian White.

No one was probably more caught off guard by change than Florida’s players. Weis said weeks before taking the Kansas job that he expected to be in Gainesville for the long haul. But his abrupt exit left players shocked.

While Florida struggled tremendously on offense this season, White said he wants to keep some order by maintaining the same offensive philosophy. There will be some tweaks, but plays and formations should be relatively the same.

“It’s pretty much status quo. This is what our players know,” White said. “This is what we’ve coached all year. We can’t all of the sudden go and do something out of the box in a couple weeks. That would be foolish.”

Unlike Auburn and Florida, Arkansas’ coordinators are locked into next season.

Petrino is very familiar with the Hogs. Not only is his big brother the head coach, but he was also on staff in 2008 and 2009. Even with Garrick McGee now UAB’s head coach, Arkansas’ offense shouldn’t change much under Petrino, but he does have some big shoes to fill.

Haynes, who takes over for Willy Robinson, left Ohio State to work in a conference where defense truly is king. Arkansas’ defense took an unexpected step back in 2011, ranking no higher than eighth in the SEC in major defensive categories.

In order to keep things easier for defenders, Robinson isn’t changing much, either, and plans to show a multiple defense attack.

While it isn’t always easy to say goodbye to a coach, these replacements appear to be making life better. Limiting the thought process seems to be the recipe for smooth transitions.

“There’s not going to be a lot of thinking come Saturday,” Eguae said.

One team lost its final six games and fired its coach. The other team finished with a losing record and fired its coach. Still, they're both going to play a bowl game in San Francisco, and one team has to win it. Let's take a look at the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl essentials:

WHO TO WATCH: Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus. The junior leads the nation with 14.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles. He showed up on everybody's All-America team and will almost certainly head to the NFL after this game. So he may be primed to go out with a bang against a UCLA offensive line that is decent but not overpowering. Bruins tackle Jeff Baca may need some help containing the explosive Mercilus off the edge.

WHAT TO WATCH: The Illini defense has been strong all season, but can the offense generate anything? After starting the season well, Illinois averaged just 11 points per game in its six straight losses to end the year. The offensive line was a mess, and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase appeared to lose his confidence -- not surprising, considering how little time he was given to throw. Leading rusher Jason Ford is academically ineligible for the bowl, and offensive coordinator Paul Petrino bolted for Arkansas, leaving quarterbacks coach Jeff Brohm in charge of the playcalling. If Scheelhaase can get some protection, he has one of the top receiving threats in the country in A.J. Jenkins. But that's a big if.

WHY TO WATCH: Well, you need something to do while getting ready to go out for New Year's Eve, right? We can't pretend this isn't one of the least appealing bowl matchups, given the complete lack of momentum or enthusiasm on either side. But, hey, it's still a Pac-12 vs. Big Ten meeting in California, even if this is about as far away from the Rose Bowl as you can get. Both teams have talent and tradition, and both will be looking to impress their new incoming head coaches.

PREDICTION: Illinois 17, UCLA 9. I have little confidence in the Illini's ability to do much offensively. But the Illinois defense will be the best unit on the field and should be motivated to play for Vic Koenning, the defensive coordinator/interim head coach who is leaving after the game. It probably won't be pretty -- except for the background shots of San Francisco.

Illinois will be without another major piece of its coaching staff for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against UCLA.

The school fired head coach Ron Zook one day after a season-ending loss at Minnesota. Now, offensive coordinator Paul Petrino is jumping ship and reportedly heading back to Arkansas to coach for his brother, Bobby. Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning is the Illini's interim head coach, but he said Sunday night that there's no guarantee he wouldn't leave before the bowl game if he found the right opportunity elsewhere.

Losing Petrino causes more uncertainty for the players, but perhaps this offense could use a shakeup right now.

Like his brother, Paul Petrino is an excellent playcaller, and Illinois averaged 32.5 points per game during his first season as coordinator last year. The offense was scoring at a similar clip in the first half of this year, but it suddenly ground to a halt over the last six games, all losses. The Illini averaged just 11 points per game in the final six and put up at least one scoreless half in each of those games. You can't blame that all on Petrino, but it was odd how the offensive line got worse as the year went along and how quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase's production and confidence dipped after a strong freshman campaign.

One of the main reasons Petrino left Arkansas was because he wanted to become a head coach, and he felt he needed to get out of his brother's shadow to do so. When Koenning was named interim coach, it became clear that Petrino wasn't going to succeed Zook. Now he heads back to Fayetteville to replace Garrick McGee, who was named head coach at UAB.

Quarterbacks coach Jeff Brohm reportedly will serve as Illinois' offensive coordinator for the bowl game. Brohm has experience as a playcaller, having served as offensive coordinator at Louisville under Steve Kragthorpe. He also was an assistant under Bobby Petrino at Louisville and helped tutor his brother, Brian, at quarterback. His knowledge of the Petrino-style offense should make this as smooth a transition as possible, and Brohm deserves a shot at being a coordinator again after getting a raw deal in his one year under the embattled Kragthorpe.

Ultimately, the Illinois coaching situation won't start to settle until athletic director Mike Thomas hires a new head coach.

We've had some time to digest the bowl selections and examine the Big Ten's bowl lineup for this season.

Here are some thoughts after looking over the bowl landscape:

• As usual, the Big Ten's bowl lineup will be challenging, but not as daunting as it was last year. Having two teams in BCS bowls every year makes things tougher for the squads in non-BCS bowls, especially given the locations of the games. It's vital for the Big Ten to get at least a split in the BCS bowls. Although Oregon is a tough draw, Wisconsin can put up points and control possession time. Michigan State exposed Wisconsin's lack of speed on defense, and Oregon will try and do the same. Wisconsin will need a bunch of eight-minute scoring drives to win this game.
• Michigan will be a popular pick against Virginia Tech, which has been miserable in BCS bowls, but those thinking the Wolverines will roll the Hokies should tone it down a bit. If Denard Robinson limits mistakes, he'll be a tough matchup for Virginia Tech.
• The SEC-Big Ten matchups look more favorable after the Big Ten embarrassed itself against its rival conference in last year's bowls. Nebraska's offense will be challenged by South Carolina's ferocious defense, but the fact the Huskers are so run-oriented should help them against a team that is good but not great against the run. Michigan State and Georgia are evenly matched, and while the Spartans are disappointed after their Big Ten title game loss, they should be motivated to get their first bowl win under Mark Dantonio. As Dantonio said last week, the Spartans showed in the 2011 Capital One Bowl that they weren't BCS-worthy. They have another chance to change perception against Aaron Murray and Georgia, and they must take advantage. Ohio State and Florida both are mediocre, but I like this matchup for the Buckeyes, who should benefit from bowl practice. Buckeyes linebacker Andrew Sweat (concussion) should be back, and he'll provide a big boost against an anemic Gators offense.
• The Big 12-Big Ten matchups are by far the toughest on paper, and it's tough to see the Big Ten doing any better than a 1-1 split. Iowa and Northwestern both are sizable underdogs against Oklahoma and Texas A&M, respectively. Although Oklahoma has been the most overrated team in America for much of the season, the Sooners boast a lot of talent. Iowa has been fabulous in bowls under Kirk Ferentz, but the Insight Bowl will be a major test. Texas A&M's motivation could be an issue for the Aggies, who saw their coach fired last week. This would play into Northwestern's favor, as the Wildcats will be geared up to get their first bowl win since the 1949 Rose. But Northwestern's defense has been pretty awful for most of the season, and without top cornerback Jordan Mabin, the Wildcats could struggle against a dangerous A&M offense.
• Speaking of motivation, it will be the key factor for Penn State in the TicketCity Bowl. The Lions deserved a better bowl after going 9-3, and the players were unfairly punished for a situation they had no part in creating. As you can see here and here, Penn State players weren't too thrilled about their bowl placement. If Penn State shows up to play, the Lions have a great chance to beat Houston, which showed itself to be a fraud in the Conference USA title game. The Cougars can't stop the run, and Penn State's Silas Redd should have a huge day in Dallas. But if the Lions don't care, Case Keenum could shred them.
• Ricardo Allen and Purdue's secondary will be tested by Western Michigan's passing attack, led by quarterback Alex Carder and receiver Jordan White. It's another good opportunity for Allen to showcase his skills against an elite wideout. The Boilers will miss top running back Ralph Bolden (knee), but they have other backfield options and face the nation's No. 107 rushing defense. Pretty even matchup in Detroit.
• It's hard to know what to expect from Illinois or UCLA in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco. Both teams had their coaches fired, and both had disappointing finishes to the season. Will Illinois coordinators Vic Koenning and Paul Petrino, both in the mix for other jobs, still be around to coach the game? Illinois' defense should be able to contain a UCLA offense that averages just 23.8 points per game. But if the Illini offense doesn't figure things out and show life for the first time since early October, it likely won't matter.
• Remember that a .500 record typically qualifies as a strong bowl performance from the Big Ten, which faces the nation's toughest lineup almost every year. It's crucial the Big Ten wins at least one of its BCS games and performs better against the SEC. If the Big Ten can get 5-6 wins with one BCS victory and a 2-1 mark against the SEC, the bowl season should be deemed a success. But there aren't many gimmes in the lineup and could be another rough year for the league.

Illinois Fighting Illini (6-6) vs. UCLA Bruins (6-7)

Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Illinois take from Big Ten blogger Brian Bennett: A bowl game is a San Francisco treat for Illinois, which lost its final six games of the season and fired head coach Ron Zook.

The Illini secured bowl eligibility on Oct. 8, beating Indiana to improve to 6-0 and move into the top 20 of the polls. From there came a stunning free fall, thanks in large part to an offense that forgot how to move the ball; Illinois scored just 66 total points in its final six games after averaging nearly 30 in the first half of the season. The offensive line is a mess, and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase seems to have regressed in his sophomore year.

The one constant was the defense. Defensive end Whitney Mercilus leads the nation in sacks (14.5) and forced fumbles (nine, a Big Ten record). No wonder, then, that defensive coordinator Vic Koenning was named interim head coach when the school canned Zook. But Koenning says there's no guarantee that he and offensive coordinator Paul Petrino won't leave for other employment before the bowl game.

The Illini's finish made them so unappealing that they got shut out of the Big Ten's bowl lineup. So San Francisco is a nice landing spot, and UCLA -- a 6-7 team that also fired its head coach --- seems like the most fitting opponent.

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UCLA take from Pac-12 blogger Ted Miller: UCLA is heading to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl with an interim coach and losing record. Yeah, it's been that kind of season.

Coach Rick Neuheisel began the season on the hot seat and he couldn't get off it. Only once could the Bruins win consecutive games. The offense ran the ball well but struggled to find any balance with a consistent passing game. And the defense was just terrible.

Things got off to a bad start with a loss at Houston. Neuheisel had made a big deal in the preseason of how important the game was, and the Bruins had stomped the Cougars the previous year. But the Bruins got off to a slow start and couldn't finish a comeback. Then, after a win over San Jose State, the Bruins got clubbed at home by Texas, another team they had beaten the year before.

Then they started alternating wins and losses, beating Oregon State, losing to Stanford and beating Washington State. Things cratered -- it seemed -- in a loss at Arizona, which had just fired coach Mike Stoops.

But then the Bruins beat California and Arizona State back-to-back. Both were upsets. And the combination suddenly put the Bruins in the drivers' seat of the reeling South Division. But the Bruins couldn't maintain. They lost to Utah, beat Colorado and then got crushed 50-0 against rival USC.

The UCLA coach needs to be competitive with the Trojans, and Neuheisel wasn't on Nov. 26 and hasn’t been during his tenure. So he was fired, even though the Bruins backed into the Pac-12 title game. The loss to Oregon dropped the Bruins to 6-7, but they nonetheless will play in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl after the NCAA granted it a waiver.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Multiple times during his introductory news conference Monday, new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer talked about putting together the very best staff he can.

All coaches say that, of course. But Meyer has walked the walk before, leading a very talented staff at Florida that included, among others, Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen, Louisville head coach Charlie Strong, Temple head coach Steve Addazio, Marshall head coach Doc Holliday and Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison.

"In 2005 -- I know this is a little biased -- I think we put together the best coaching staff maybe in college football history," Meyer said. "I know that's a profound statement. But what those guys did, the recruits they brought in and the run that team went on, with the great players, the style of offense, defense and kicking game ... my goal is to find that kind of group of coaches again."

Bringing in that kind of all-star staff takes one thing above all else: money. And athletic director Gene Smith says Ohio State is willing to pony up.

"We'll put in place the resources necessary to attract the staff that Urban feels he needs," Smith said.

The Buckeyes haven't exactly been cheap in the past. Former coach Jim Tressel was making more than $3.5 million per year before his forced resignation. Meyer just signed a six-year deal with $4 million annually, plus many incentives. Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman and defensive coordinator Jim Heacock were among the top-paid assistants in the Big Ten, each making $309,000.

But Tressel's staff was often mostly anonymous. And one of the gaps between the Big Ten and other leagues, especially the SEC, has been pay for assistant coaches. According to one recent study, the Big Ten ranked only fourth in assistant football coach compensation, behind the SEC, Big 12 and ACC.

Meanwhile, pay for some assistants in the Big Ten has spiked recently. Michigan is paying Mattison $750,000 a year. Illinois gave offensive coordinator Paul Petrino $525,000, while Wisconsin raised offensive coordinator Paul Chrysts's salary to more than $400,000.

Meyer is keeping current head coach Luke Fickell on staff, likely as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. You've got to figure that Fickell, who was making $775,000 to be the head coach, won't take much of a pay cut.

Meyer said he'll be looking for the right fit when hiring assistants and would love to have coaches with "any kind of Ohio background." However, that won't preclude him from hiring someone with no ties.

"The way I do it, if you're the best secondary coach in college football, I'm going to try to get you to come here coach at Ohio State," he said. "If you're the best offensive line coach, I'm going to do my very best to get you to come here."

Doing the very best means offering a highly-competitive salary. Ohio State is one of the richest athletic departments in the country, so it can afford to dive into this pool. And Smith says he will.

"If you look at Urban's term sheet, it's probably in the top five [among highest paid head coaches]," Smith said. "Two teams in our league have really jumped up [in assistant pay], and Michigan is one of them. So I have to change my thought process and my philosophy."

Illinois has done the expected by firing Ron Zook after a historic collapse this season. The next step will be the hard one for first-year athletic director Mike Thomas.

Zook finishes his Illini career at 34-51, though there were some successes. He led the program to the 2008 Rose Bowl, where it was blown out by USC. Illinois is bowl eligible at 6-6 this season, and if the team is selected for the postseason, that would mark the first back-to-back bowl years since 1991-92.

But Zook also had four losing seasons out of seven and was nearly fired in 2009. Instead, he was allowed to return with two new coordinators -- Vic Koenning on defense and Paul Petrino on offense. That worked for a 7-6 record and Texas Bowl win over Baylor last year, and the Illini started this year 6-0 and ranked in the top 20.

That only set the stage, however, for an palindromic 0-6 finish in which the team often looked lost on offense and special teams, the latter of which was supposed to be Zook's area of expertise. The season ended with a 27-7 loss to Legends Division cellar-dweller Minnesota in which Illinois mustered only one first down in the entire first half.

“I assessed the entire program and felt that it was time for a change in leadership,” Thomas said in a statement. “It is imperative that our program shows some consistency and competes for championships, and I think a change in coaches can help us get there sooner."

A change was necessary, since Zook had never shown the ability to consistently compete at a high level, either in Champaign or at his previous head-coaching stop at Florida. His job status was hovering over the program and fans had long since lost faith in his ability to get the job done. It's better to do this now and get started on the coaching search. Koenning will serve as interim coach now and through a possible bowl game, and the players will somehow have to regroup after the deflating losing streak and this transition.

Meanwhile, Thomas now is under the gun to bring a winner to Illinois. And that earlier stat about the back-to-back bowl appearances illustrates just how hard it's been for anyone to consistently deliver. Thomas has already hired one big-time winner, bringing Brian Kelly aboard at Cincinnati and seeing that team make consecutive BCS bowl appearances. He hired Butch Jones to succeed Kelly, and Jones has the Bearcats on the verge of a Big East championship this year in his second season.

Thomas will try to do the same with the Illini, who don't have it easy in trying to battle Wisconsin, Ohio State and Penn State in the Leaders Division. The program got as far as it was going to go under Zook. Can Thomas find somebody to take it farther?

Illinois is playing inspired football, and Penn State is loving every minute of it.

An Illinois upset of Wisconsin in Champaign would give Penn State the chance to clinch the Leaders division later today against Ohio State in Columbus. The Illini are halfway there after an impressive first 30 minutes. Embattled Illinois coach Ron Zook promised changes, and his team has looked different today.

After failing to score a single point in the first half of its past four games, all losses, the Illini twice reached the end zone behind a resurgent offense. Coordinator Paul Petrino moved from the press box to the field, and he's pulling the right strings as Illinois racked up 224 yards and 15 first downs in the half to just five for Wisconsin. Petrino has used two quarterbacks (Nathan Scheelhaase and Reilly O'Toole), and both have had tremendous success, combining to complete 17 of 19 passes for 113 yards. Freshman Donovonn Young has two touchdown runs for the Illini.

Illinois could have had more points late in the half but an offensive pass interference penalty negated a touchdown.

Wisconsin knows a thing or two about special teams miscues in big games, but the Badgers benefited from one late in the first half after stuffing Illinois deep in its own territory. Punter Justin DuVernois fumbled a snap, essentially handing Wisconsin a touchdown, which Montee Ball converted from 1-yard out. Ball's score gives the Badgers a bit of a boost heading into the break, while Illinois' kicking-game struggles continue.

For the most part, Wisconsin looked like a different team. Russell Wilson committed an uncharacteristic turnover in Illinois and the Badgers haven't established any sort of rhythm on offense. They have only five first downs, 99 total yards and have converted just 1 of 4 third-down opportunities. Wisconsin has held the ball for just 12:14 and hasn't generated any consistent run game. Whether they miss center Peter Konz or simply can't crank it up on the road like they do at home, it has been ugly for Bret Bielema's crew.

Ten things to watch around the Big Ten as a pivotal Week 11 slate of games kicks off on Saturday.

1. Penn State with no JoePa: For the first time since 1965, Penn State will play a game without Joe Paterno as its head coach. Paterno's firing Thursday night shook a program that had been rattled to its core throughout the week. Senior Day at Beaver Stadium will take place without the most famous senior of all. How will Penn State players respond? How will the fans respond after an outpouring of emotion Wednesday night? It's a very big game for this team and these seniors, but they'll be truly challenged to keep the focus on the task at hand.

2. Tom Bradley: The longtime Penn State defensive coordinator steps into the uncomfortable position of acting head coach following Paterno's ouster. Bradley must keep the focus on the players and not on the firestorm outside the program. He'll need help from his fellow assistants, including former head coaches like Galen Hall and Ron Vanderlinden. While many think Penn State's assistants have coached the team for years, Saturday will mark the first time Paterno is totally out of the equation.

3. A date with destiny: Michigan State and Iowa are the only two Legends Division teams that control their own fate in the Big Ten championship race. Only one squad will walk out of Kinnick Stadium on Saturday with that label still in place. Iowa has won seven consecutive home games in the series, including a 37-6 spanking of the then-undefeated Spartans last season. Michigan State hasn't been the same team away from home and must come out with better energy, particularly on offense, after struggling in a 24-3 loss at Nebraska on Oct. 30. The Hawkeyes haven't lost at home this season, but haven't played a team as complete as Michigan State.

4. Chasing the record: Wisconsin running back Montee Ball, or "Moneyball," as we like to call him, needs two touchdowns to tie the Big Ten single-season record of 26 held by three players (Ohio State's Pete Johnson in 1975, Indiana's Anthony Thompson in 1988 and Penn State's Ki-Jana Carter in 1994). Ball has scored at least two touchdowns in every game this season and leads the nation with 24 scores in 2011. He'll try to make history as Wisconsin puts Paul Bunyan's Axe on the line at Minnesota.

5. Starting blocks in Champaign: Michigan and Illinois are trying to get back in the win column, and both teams are looking for stronger starts. The Wolverines have throttled opponents after the first quarter, but have been outscored in the first 15 minutes. The Illini have failed to score in the first half in each of their past three games, all losses. Ron Zook wants his Illinois team to play loose, while offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said it comes down to the basics. Illinois needs to show up offensively against a Michigan team that typically gets better as games go along.

6. Rex vs. Silas: Still undecided about the Big Ten's best running back? You're not alone. Two of the top candidates square off Saturday in State College as Nebraska's Rex Burkhead goes up against Penn State's Silas Redd. Both men have been their teams' most consistent offensive performers this season. Redd comes off of a bye week after recording a historic performance in October, rushing for more than 100 yards in five consecutive games and leading all FBS players with 703 rush yards during the month. Burkhead, who was a bit banged up in last week's loss to Northwestern, has eclipsed 100 rush yards five times in the past seven games.

7. Cousins' chance at redemption: Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins grew up a big Iowa fan and has a few Hawkeye alums in his immediate family. But he has yet to record a win against Iowa as Michigan State's starting quarterback, losing a 15-13 heartbreaker in 2009 and struggling in last year's game, throwing three interceptions, including a pick-six. Cousins gets one final shot at Iowa on Saturday, and it's a huge game for the senior and his Spartans teammates. Iowa has been vulnerable against the pass at times this season, so Cousins and his receivers will look to stretch the field.

8. Axe to grind: Speaking of final chances, Minnesota senior safety Kim Royston gets one last crack at Wisconsin, his former team, on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium. Royston began his career as a Badger before transferring to Minnesota, where he has faced some hurdles, including a broken leg that sidelined him all of last season. The NCAA granted Royston a sixth year of eligibility, and he has made the most of it as one of few bright spots for Minnesota's defense, leading the Big Ten in solo tackles (51). The Gophers have been playing much better ball as of late, and they hope to shock Wisconsin and regain the Axe on Saturday. Said Royston: "I've been having those visions [of hoisting the Axe] ever since I left there."

9. Buckeyes' boiling point: After looking flat at times last week against Indiana, Ohio State knows it can't afford a similar performance this week at Purdue. The Boilers are one of those teams, like Illinois, that seems to give Ohio State trouble. Ohio State stumbled at Purdue in 2009, putting its Big Ten title hopes in jeopardy. Another loss Saturday likely would take Ohio State out of the Leaders Division race. Buckeyes' running backs Dan Herron and Jordan Hall both are dealing with ankle injuries. Herron is expected to play and Hall could return after missing the Indiana game.

10. Bowl push continues: Northwestern (4-5) and Purdue (4-5) both need two more wins to become bowl eligible, and the quest resumes Saturday on their home fields. After a potentially season-turning win at Nebraska, Northwestern returns home to face 3-6 Rice, which has a victory over, yep, Purdue. Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald said his team won't be overlooking the Owls, who can put up plenty of points. Purdue, meanwhile, returns home after consecutive blowout losses on the road against Wisconsin and Michigan. The Boilers are 2-0 in Big Ten home contests and need at least one of the next two (Ohio State, Iowa), plus the finale at Indiana to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007.

Illinois offensive coordinator Paul Petrino entered the season brimming with confidence, and for good reason.

His unit had set team records for scoring (423 points) and points per game (32.5) in 2010 and returned most of its key pieces, namely quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. Most of the questions about Illinois rested with a defense that had lost three players to the NFL draft, including first-round pick Corey Liuget.

"We're always going to set our expectations high," Petrino told ESPN.com in August. "We set the school record last year, and we're going to break it this year."

Petrino looked prophetic through the first six games, as Illinois averaged 34.7 points and 447.7 yards. The Illini recorded 32 plays of 20 yards or longer. Scheelhaase and wide receiver A.J. Jenkins formed the Big Ten's most dangerous passing connection, as Jenkins soared to the top of the national receiving chart with 815 yards and seven touchdowns.

A surprisingly effective defense complemented the offense, and Illinois swept its first six games to get off to its best start since 1951.

But the Illini since have backslid, dropping three straight games. While the defense continues to perform well, the offense has disappeared.

Illinois has scored only 28 points during the losing streak, including none in the first half and only seven before the fourth quarter. Amazingly, the Illini had more yards and more first downs than any of its past three opponents -- Ohio State, Purdue and Penn State -- and dropped all three contests.

What's wrong with the Illini offense? It's not complicated, according to Petrino.

"Blocking, protecting, throwing and catching -- the basics," Petrino told ESPN.com. "You've got to block people. You've got to hit people when they're open. You've got to catch the ball. And then you've got to run through some tackles. Just the basic stuff we've got to do better. We've kind of hurt ourselves from that standpoint in the last three games.

"We've got to do it better."

They need to start Saturday against No. 24 Michigan at Memorial Stadium. Illinois' once-promising season could go down the drain if the offense doesn't resurface.

A potential turnaround for the Illini starts with the offensive line, considered one of the Big Ten's best before the season. Illinois boasts experience up front and continuity, as there has been only one change in the starting lineup all season.

But Illinois' front five has struggled against some of the Big Ten's best defensive linemen, allowing too many negative-yardage plays. Opposing teams have recorded 24 tackles for loss and eight sacks during Illinois' losing streak.

"A lot of times we've been getting beat up front," Petrino said. "That doesn't necessarily mean it's always the O-line. Sometimes it's the tight end or the back, [and the] quarterback a couple times needed to get the ball out of his hands quicker."

Petrino also is looking for more big plays. Jenkins and Scheelhaase provided a bunch of them early in the season, but defenses have done better at limiting Jenkins' effectiveness the past three games.

Illinois has recorded just three plays of 20 yards or longer in the past three games -- all passes from Scheelhaase to Jenkins.

"Some of the other guys have got to do it, too," Petrino said. "Darius Millines did it early in the year and he was hurt for a while, but I think he's getting back, being closer to being 100 percent, so that will help. Jon Davis, our freshman tight end, has made some plays for us. Ryan Lankford has got to start making some plays.

"And then in the running game, we've got to bust through the holes and get some long runs, also."

Senior running back Jason Ford has been a bright spot, recording 183 rush yards on 34 carries in the past two games. But Ford's longest run this season is just 18 yards.

"Bottom line, defenses are too good this day and age if you go three, four yards the whole time," Petrino said. "You've got to get some big plays."

Illinois also needs to start games better, especially against a Michigan team that has improved as games go along. The Illini averaged 17.5 points in the first half through the first six games, but they've since limped out of the gate.

"We haven't played worth a darn in the first quarter of the last three games," Petrino said. "It's something we take pride in. We script our opening plays and we work on them all week.

"So we've got to go out and play fast and definitely get going early."

Saturday would be a good time for a better start.

Now this is more like the Illinois team we thought we'd see.

After trailing 8-7 late in the first half, the Illini have scored 23 straight points to take a 30-7 lead on Arkansas State at home. They opened the second half off with a bang, as Nathan Scheelhaase hooked up with A.J. Jenkins for a 72-yard scoring strike on the second play from scrimmage.

Jason Ford also scored his second touchdown as Paul Petrino's offense has started humming like we thought it would.

Nathan Scheelhaase was a revelation for Illinois last season. As a redshirt freshman quarterback, he threw for 17 touchdowns and rushed for five more, and led his team to victory in the Texas Bowl. Scheelhaase got better as the season went along and had a 13-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his final seven games as the Illini offense hit a new level.

Head coach Ron Zook and offensive coordinator Paul Petrino have raved about Scheelhaase's work this offseason. I recently caught up with the second-year quarterback as he and his teammates prepared to open the season against Arkansas State at home.

Your coaches have gushed about your development this offseason. How do you feel about your progress as a quarterback and a leader?


Nathan Scheelhaase: It's been exciting for me, too. Last season, with 13 games and getting that under your belt, you learn a whole lot about the game, about the conference and about what it takes to win games. In the offseason, I wanted to focus on becoming as good a player as I can. So it has been exciting, whether it's developing as a quarterback and being more consistent and working on different passes. Then also as a leader, and being that guy on our team.

How much more comfortable are you heading into this second year with the same offensive system and coaches?


NS: It's been great being able to work with Coach Petrino a second year. He's a guy who definitely has a great sense of the game, a great football mind. With us being more on the same page this year, I've been able to learn more about how he's thinking, from game to game and from call to call during the game. Any time your quarterback and offensive coordinator are thinking on the same level and the same page, I think it helps your offense.

A quarterback always has to lead the team, but it's sometimes tricky when you're a freshman. How much easier is it to lead now?


NS: That comes with the territory of having more experience. You're going to feel more comfortable leading the guys around you when you feel more comfortable with what you're doing. So I think that helps. They look at me as a guy who started 13 games as a quarterback, who won Big Ten games and a bowl game. And that's important for not just the leading part, but the following part. All great leaders, they have to have great followers. And I think our team has that.

What happened in the middle of last year that helped you really take off as a quarterback?


NS: Coach Petrino just reminded me right during the midpoint of the season, we had a talk during the middle of the week, and he said, 'Remember what won you the job and what got you here. Remember why you're our starting quarterback.' I just went back to the basics, what I was comfortable with in my style of play and what things I can do. Obviously, after you've played six or so games and they are your first six games, you're going to feel better about what you're doing on the field. You're going to make better decisions and put the ball in the right places more often. That's what happened. It was just constant repetition, constant film study that helped me develop into a more efficient quarterback.

What aspects of your game did you focus on this offseason?


NS: Throwing the ball was something I wanted to improve on and take strides in, and I think I have done a good job with that. I feel like our receivers have done a great job, too. We've worked a lot on our timing and our routes, and we all feel more confident in each other. And when you have that kind of confidence brewing around between a quarterback and his receivers, you're going to make more plays. That's when you start to get an offense really clicking.

People have said they've seen more zip on your passes this summer. What would you attribute that to -- just getting stronger and older?


NS: A part of it is getting stronger. Lou Hernandez, our strength coach, has done a good job of working with me. And it's not only getting my arm stronger, but a lot of the power is generated from your legs. So it's making sure that base is there. And part of that is being more confident. When you know your plays and your reads and know where the ball should go, you put more zip on it because you're not doubting yourself. So it's probably 50-50 those two things.

It seems like I've seen your touchdown run against Baylor 100 times this offseason. How many times have you watched it?


NS: I've definitely watched it. The first time I saw it was when I was watching highlights that night back in the hotel room with my family. I watched the film of that game, obviously, and they'll show reruns of the game on the Big Ten Network whenever it's Illini day. Whenever you have games like that, it's exciting to be able to reflect on that and see it again. Because as an athlete, you remember those moments like it was yesterday.

That was the past. A new season starts this weekend. Can your offense pick right up where it left off, or will it take a while to get going?


NS: We definitely plan to pick up where we left off. There's no reason why we shouldn't. We've got a lot of great players at a lot of positions, and whenever you have that experience and talent spread across the field, you've got a chance to do things. We feel like the sky is the limit. The way we worked and prepared this offseason, we're planning for it to pay off. We look forward to getting the season going and showing where we're at.

With the home schedule you guys have this year, how much can that help the team get off to a strong start?


NS: I definitely think it will help us out. We love playing in front of our home crowd. Just having that home environment, where you don't have to worry about traveling and missing classes and different things like that, you can really just focus in on the game. I feel like if we're a strong home team, not only with those first five games but the eight home games, that will really do us a big favor when it comes to our end-of-season record. We plan to be strong at home and plan on it being an advantage.

Finally, fans and the media and everybody else can't wait for the season to get going. What's the excitement level like at this time for you as players?


NS: This is what we wait for. Football is a unique sport where you spend a huge amount of time on preparation, not only in the offseason but from a week to week standpoint. So we look at this as our payday. We finally get to go out there and play against somebody else who's not wearing orange and blue for the first time in a while. We're excited about the things we can do and the people we can shock this season. We feel confident and ready to go.

» Predictions: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-12 | SEC | Upset pick

Now that we have two bloggers covering the Big Ten, you'll get two sets of predictions right here each week. Which of us will get more picks right? The winner should receive a trophy at the end of the year, and we have a good idea for a design.

Enough chatter. Let's get to the prognosticating.

Thursday

UNLV at No. 11 WISCONSIN

Brian Bennett: Teams aren't always their sharpest in the first game of the season, but Wisconsin's offensive line and running game produce too much blunt force for the Rebels ... Wisconsin 42, UNLV 10

Adam Rittenberg: Russell Wilson performs as advertised and should be wearing a baseball cap by the third quarter, while Montee Ball scores two touchdowns in a Badgers romp ... Wisconsin 45, UNLV 14

Friday

YOUNGSTOWN STATE at No. 17 MICHIGAN STATE

Adam Rittenberg: Michigan State's new-look offensive line gets a confidence boost against undermanned Youngstown State, allowing Kirk Cousins to have a big night ... Michigan State 48, Youngstown State 10

Brian Bennett: Mark Dantonio will be coaching with a heavy heart, so soon after his father passed away. The Spartans play inspired and put this one away early for their coach. ... Michigan State 38, Youngstown State 3

Saturday

NORTHWESTERN at BOSTON COLLEGE

Brian Bennett: I'm still not sold on a Boston College offense that was really bad last season. But I'm even less sold on Northwestern without a healthy Dan Persa. ... Boston College 19, Northwestern 17

Adam Rittenberg: I agree. Both teams likely will be shorthanded, but Northwestern makes one too many mistakes to get out of Chestnut Hill with a victory. Boston College 24, Northwestern 20

AKRON at No. 18 OHIO STATE

Adam Rittenberg: The Buckeyes come out fast and jump on Akron, as both Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller have their moments at quarterback. ... Ohio State 35, Akron 6

Brian Bennett: When there were as many questions about what Luke Fickell would wear as there were about Akron at the Ohio State head coach's news conference, you know this will be a blowout. ... Ohio State 37, Akron 9

INDIANA STATE at PENN STATE

Brian Bennett: We still don't know who will start at quarterback for the Lions, but JoePa could take some snaps under center and they would still win this game. ... Penn State 45, Indiana State 13

Adam Rittenberg: You know JoePa would stand his ground in the pocket. I don't know how much the Lions learn about their QBs in this one, but Silas Redd and Brandon Beachum run wild. ... Penn State 38, Indiana State 7

TENNESSEE TECH at IOWA

Adam Rittenberg: Iowa's offense takes a little time to click, but Marcus Coker has a big day and a revamped defensive line looks strong. ... Iowa 34, Tennessee Tech 3

Brian Bennett: We're agreeing so much, it's almost scary. Here's a slight changeup: Tennessee Tech actually hangs with the Hawkeyes enough to scare them until Iowa pulls away in the fourth quarter. ... Iowa 31, Tennessee Tech 16

MIDDLE TENNESSEE at PURDUE

Brian Bennett: Tempted for the upset pick here, as Middle Tennessee is a decent program and Purdue has a first-time starting QB. But I think the running game with Ralph Bolden is enough for the Boilers to escape. ... Purdue 21, Middle Tennessee 17

Adam Rittenberg: You're tempted, while I'm pulling the trigger. Purdue is still reeling a bit from Rob Henry's torn ACL, and the Boilers can't complete a late rally against the Blue Raiders. ... Middle Tennessee 26, Purdue 24

MINNESOTA at No. 25 USC

Adam Rittenberg: Your neighbor Pat Forde likes the Gophers in a huge upset. I'm not quite as bold, although MarQueis Gray helps Minnesota hang around for a while. ... USC 30, Minnesota 20

Brian Bennett: First-time QB, new coaching staff, on the road -- this might not be the golden age of Troy, but I can't see the Gophers getting it done. ... USC 28, Minnesota 14.

WESTERN MICHIGAN at MICHIGAN

Brian Bennett: Alex Carder will test the Michigan secondary, but the Broncos have no answer for Denard Robinson no matter what kind of offense he's running. ... Michigan 48, Western Michigan 20

Adam Rittenberg: I actually think "Shoelace" starts off a bit slowly before finding his groove, but Michigan's defense delivers a strong performance against Carder, much like it did against Western Michigan's Tim Hiller in 2009 ... Michigan 37, Western Michigan 16

CHATTANOOGA at No. 10 NEBRASKA

Adam Rittenberg: Chattanooga is a solid FCS team, but Nebraska wants to make a statement with its new offense and Rex Burkhead has a very big day. ... Nebraska 44, Chattanooga 7

Brian Bennett: The Cornhuskers have averaged 49 points per game in their last five openers. Things stay the same as they begin their Big Ten era. ... Nebraska 49, Chattanooga 6

ARKANSAS STATE at ILLINOIS

Brian Bennett: Nathan Scheelhaase and the Illini offense pick up where they left off at the end of last season, though the Red Wolves expose some red flags with the defense. ... Illinois 38, Arkansas State 24

Adam Rittenberg: Your guy Paul Petrino loves this offense, and the unit should pile up points against Arkansas State; the defense will have a few hiccups. ... Illinois 41, Arkansas State 28

INDIANA vs. BALL STATE

Adam Rittenberg: I have a hunch the next Big Ten game at Lucas Oil Stadium will look a bit prettier than this one, but Indiana will take a W in Kevin Wilson's debut. ... Indiana 23, Ball State 21

Brian Bennett: Thought you were going to pick against both Indiana schools for a moment there. There will be some adjustments for the Hoosiers under Wilson, but Ball State's got a new head coach, too. ... Indiana 28, Ball State 20