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Big Ten blogger Brian Bennett talks about why the former Buckeyes quarterback has decided to revisit the Ohio State scandal.

Terrelle Pryor is trying to put his past behind him and become a successful NFL quarterback. But he's not finished talking about what happened at Ohio State.

In an interview with SI.com's Jim Trotter, the disgraced former Buckeyes star and current Oakland Raider offered a new perspective on why he sold his memorabilia for cash and favors, which eventually helped lead to the downfall of coach Jim Tressel and NCAA problems for the program.

Pryor was suspended for the first five games of last season and then decided to enter the supplemental NFL draft. He was later banned from associating with the school for five years.

"The reason why I did it was to pay my mother's gas bill and some of her rent," Pryor told Trotter. "She was four months behind in rent, and the (landlord) was so nice because he was an Ohio State fan. He gave her the benefit of the doubt and she said, 'My son will pay you back sometime if you just let me pay you back during my work sessions.'

"She ended up losing her job, and she and my sister lived there. Let me remind you it was freezing cold in November, December, and she's using the oven as heat. That's what I did as a kid. I was telling the NCAA, 'Please, anything that you can do. I gave my mother this so my sister wouldn't be cold, so my mother wouldn't be cold.' They didn't have any sympathy for me.

"It's not like I went there and bought new Jordans. It's documented. Whenever I write my book the proof will be in there, the receipt that the money I gave my mother was to pay the electric and heat bill. The truth is going to come out one day when the time is right. I don't think I deserved (being punished) in that way, because of the reason I was doing it. I felt like I was doing God's work in a way, and I was getting driven into the ground."

Your heart would have to be constructed of stone not to feel some sympathy for a kid trying to pay the rent and heating bill for his mother and sister. And we all know that the system is stacked against college athletes, who make millions for their schools and see little besides tuition in return.

But is Pryor really credible? One of the key parts of the Ohio State scandal involved Pryor and other players receiving tattoos in exchange for memorabilia. Unless body ink contains some heating ability I'm not aware of, it's hard to see how that helped his family. (Or, just possibly, Pryor has found the solution to our energy crisis: tattoo power!)

And remember this ESPN story that alleged Pryor made as much as $40,000 signing autographs from 2009-10? Was that "God's work?" Just how much was that rent and heating bill, anyway?

There's more from Pryor in the interview.

"It was humbling," he said. "A mistake I made when I was a freshman by selling my pants for $3,000 just took away everything from me. I was just driven into the ground. I was the worst person in the world. My face popped up on the screen, and it seemed like I was the only one who did anything. I was the only one who was getting attacked.

"At that point last year, I'm 21 and it just felt like everything was against me, like I can't do anything right. I did something to help somebody else out, and I end up getting into trouble. I understand. I shouldn't have sold the stuff and taken $3,000. But I was kind of in a place where I didn't understand why this is happening to me -- especially for the reason that I did it."

Again, there's at least a glimmer of something here with which we can emphasize. What Pryor and others did, selling their Ohio State rings, jerseys and other memorabilia -- things they earned, by the way, and which the school is more than happy to handsomely profit from -- is not the worst crime in the world, especially compared to some of the other scandals we've seen in college football in the past year alone.

Yet Pryor knew what he was doing was wrong and that it would hurt Ohio State. He often seemed like he felt bigger than the program. He admitted in the SI.com interview that "I had some type of ego with me" during his college days.

Pryor is not a super villain. He may have had some legitimate and understandable reasons for some of the rules he broke at Ohio State. Hopefully, he learned some important lessons.

But Buckeyes fans would like him to just go away. And the prospect of him writing a book, which he mentioned in the interview, has got to be highly unsettling for Ohio State supporters.

The Big Ten has had some odd choices for preseason offensive player of the year -- Terrelle Pryor in 2009 -- but this year's pick should be obvious. Wisconsin running back Montee Ball won the award after the 2011 season, and he's back in Madison for his senior year. Ball, one of two Heisman Trophy finalists returning for 2012, should be the preseason pick, end of story. We'll save you the suspense about our preseason player rankings: Ball will be No. 1.

But the preseason pick for OPOY often doesn't mean much. In fact, the preseason pick hasn't won the postseason award since Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith in 2006. Smith, by the way, is the last Big Ten player to win the Heisman Trophy.

2007
Preseason pick: Michigan RB Mike Hart
Winner: Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall

2008
Preseason pick: Ohio State RB Chris Wells
Winner: Iowa RB Shonn Greene

2009
Preseason pick: Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor
Winner: Wisconsin RB John Clay

2010
Preseason pick: Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor
Winner: Michigan QB Denard Robinson

2011
Preseason pick: Michigan QB Denard Robinson
Winner: Wisconsin RB Montee Ball

Ball will be the favorite, but he's far from a shoo-in. There are several players who should challenge the Wisconsin star this season, and we've listed four of them in the accompanying poll. Vote and let us know who you think has the best chance to beat Ball for the offensive player of the year award.

Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead, Penn State running back Silas Redd and Michigan's Robinson are obvious choices. Burkhead and Redd carried their respective offenses as times last season, and both logged more than 240 carries (Burkhead had 283, the second most in the league behind Ball's 307). Burkhead plays for a unit that should see more balance and more weapons develop this season, but he remains the top ball-carrying option. Redd, meanwhile, might once again be Penn State's only viable offensive threat if the quarterback situation doesn't improve.

While Robinson's inclusion undoubtedly will spark some snide remarks, the guy has won the award before and remains one of the nation's most exciting offensive players. He's entering his third season as Michigan's starter, and if he can cut down on interceptions and become a more consistent passer, he'll be in the mix for both league and national awards.

The fourth choice was tough, and I considered several candidates, including Ohio State QB Braxton Miller, Iowa QB James Vandenberg and Michigan RB Fitzgerald Toussaint. Any of them could contend for offensive player of the year honors, as could several others. But I've always thought Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell could be a potential superstar in this league. As Michigan State transitions back to a run-heavy offense behind an improved offensive line, Bell will have a chance to shine.

What say you? Be sure and vote in the poll.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- From his 10th floor office across the street, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith has an excellent view of the football practice fields next to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Smith only attended three practices this spring -- a busier-than-normal schedule, highlighted by the men's basketball team's run to the Final Four, kept him occupied -- but he occasionally used his binoculars to check in on the team. When the Buckeyes resume workouts in August, he'll be a regular fixture on the sideline.

"I see things," Smith told ESPN.com. "And the players talk to me. Because of my background [Smith played defensive end at Notre Dame], they come and talk to me. I know when something's out of whack in that regard."

But Smith doesn't expect any issues to surface. He has full confidence in the way new head coach Urban Meyer manages his players.

Smith took notice of the recent Sporting News investigation alleging, among other things, that Meyer coddled star players, oversaw a program filled with drug use among players and let character issues get out of control during his time as Florida's coach. Smith encouraged Meyer to respond to the reporter, Matt Hayes, which Meyer did.

The report "disturbed" Smith because of its timing, not its content.

"It bothers me that there's a continued attack on him about something that happened supposedly two, three years ago," Smith said. "Where are we? I just don't get that. Those are things Urban and I talked about in the hiring process."

Smith addressed the number of Florida players arrested during Meyer's six-year tenure, which varied in media reports.

"There were reports of everywhere from 41 to 26 arrests," Smith said. "I never could figure it out, so I said, 'Urban, where are we at? What's the number?' We actually talked about the issues he had at Florida, talked about the behavioral issues he had at Florida.

"But he talked about his system. He has a system like you and I deal with. As an employee, we get rewarded when we do well. We get bad reviews when we do poorly."

Meyer acknowledges he gives preferential treatment to players who earn it through their commitment to the program both on and off the field. He plans to operate the same way at Ohio State.

"It reminds me of Ara Parseghian a little bit," said Smith, who played for Parseghian at Notre Dame, "in that he's rewarding the guys that ultimately commit themselves. Whether you're a 4.0 student or a 2.2 student, it doesn't matter. If 2.2 is your capacity, that's you, you still get rewarded. We had a long conversation about it, and I like it."

Most Ohio State fans could not care less about the allegations during Meyer's time at Florida, and there haven't been any major player-management incidents during his time with the Buckeyes. Yet the lone connection between the allegations and Ohio State is an important one. Many say Ohio State's recent NCAA maelstrom stemmed from the head coach (Jim Tressel) failing to rein in a key player (Terrelle Pryor).

While Ohio State has put measures in place to prevent problems, Smith reiterates he has full faith in Meyer and his staff.

"We have a compliance officer in the [football complex] now," Smith said. "He's in the building, right next to Urban's office. So that changes things a little bit. We continually talk about how we treat kids, not just in football but all sports. So I don't feel the need to micromanage that.

"I really have a great deal of trust in what they're doing."

Ohio State University officials remained in contact with a memorabilia dealer they were investigating for wrongdoing and used him as a mole to rat out others, according to records released this month in response to a public records request submitted by ESPN.

First, a little helpful context: Sales of licensed collegiate merchandise is a multimillion-dollar revenue stream for the university. And, as we've seen time and time again, the memorabilia and autographs area can be an NCAA violation concern, too.

As far back as 2009, Ohio State officials had concerns about local photographer Dennis Talbott selling autographed photographs and items from players, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor. But rather than cut off Talbott entirely, the university maintained communication with him in order to root out unlicensed memorabilia dealers who were selling OSU items -- including those with the signatures of players. Players are not allowed to make money from their autographs, and it is up to the school to police such matters.

Read more from The File blog here.

The folks at ESPN Recruiting stepped into the rewind machine Wednesday and looked back at the ESPNU 150 from 2008 to see which heralded recruits panned out and which did not.

From a Big Ten slant, this exercise is essentially a referendum on Ohio State's class, which ranked sixth nationally that year and featured eight ESPNU 150 prospects, headlined by quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Several other Big Ten squads had prospects in the 150 as well.

Overall, the results are mixed. Some players matched their hype, like Ohio State center Mike Brewster and, when healthy, Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti. Others did not or have not, once again proving that recruiting rankings should be viewed with caution.

Here's a look.

Prospects ranked from 1-25

No. 4: Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State -- Helped Buckeyes win three Big Ten championships and two BCS bowls before departing in June because of multiple NCAA rules violations.

No. 18: Etienne Sabino, LB, Ohio State: -- Started the 2011 season after redshirting in 2010. Hasn't been a difference-maker for Buckeyes, but ended with a strong performance in the Gator Bowl and could be a key player in 2012.

Prospects ranked from 26-50

No. 42: Mike Brewster, C, Ohio State -- Four-year starter undoubtedly paid off for Ohio State. Brewster earned All-Big Ten honors and was an All-America candidate his final two seasons.

No. 48: Andrew Sweat, LB, Ohio State -- Sweat had a solid but unspectacular career for Ohio State. He was the team's top linebacker in 2011, and Ohio State missed him late in the season.

Prospects ranked between 51-75

No. 56: J.B. Shugarts, T, Ohio State -- Started the final three seasons at right tackle but never earned All-Big Ten honors.

No. 58: Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State -- Plagued by knee problems, but very effective when healthy. He turned in a strong 2010 season and entered 2011 as an All-America candidate before tearing his ACL in September. He'll be back in 2012.

No. 69: Dann O'Neill, T, Michigan -- Redshirted as a freshman before transferring to Western Michigan, saying Michigan wasn't the right fit. He earned third-team All-MAC honors in 2011.

No. 71: Darryl Stonum, WR, Michigan -- Turned in a nice year in 2010, but found himself in off-field troubles throughout his Michigan career. Wolverines coach Brady Hoke on Tuesday dismissed Stonum after his latest infraction that resulted in jail time.

Prospects ranked 76-100

No. 88: Mike Adams, T, Ohio State -- One of the Big Ten's top offensive linemen during his final two seasons, earning first-team all-conference honors in 2010 and second-team honors in 2011 despite playing in only seven games. He had some off-field issues with the Buckeyes and was part of the Tat-5 with Pryor.

Prospects ranked 101-125

No. 107: Jake Stoneburner, TE, Ohio State -- An excellent weapon when used in the Ohio State offense. He recorded a team-high seven touchdown receptions in 2011, but had only 14 overall receptions. He returns in 2012 and should have a bigger role in a more wide-open offense.

No. 115: Brandon Moore, TE, Michigan -- Moore has two receptions in three years as a reserve tight end for the Wolverines. He could see a bigger role in 2012 as Kevin Koger departs.

No. 119 Baker Steinkuhler, DT, Nebraska -- Started the past two seasons on the Huskers' defensive line and recorded 40 tackles, including five for loss and two sacks, during the 2011 season. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and will be called upon to take a leading role for Big Red in 2012.

Prospects ranked 126-150

No. 128: Patrick Nixon-Youman, CB, Illinois -- Hip surgery a few years ago slowed Nixon-Youman's progression, but he appeared in 11 games in each of the past two seasons in a reserve role. He could play a bigger role in 2012.

No. 130: Keanon Cooper, LB, Minnesota -- Started in 2011 for Minnesota and recorded 77 tackles, including six for loss, as well as two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He enters his third season as a starter in 2012 and will need to be a big contributor for the Gophers' defense.

No. 135: Travis Howard, CB, Ohio State -- Took on a bigger role in 2011 and recorded 44 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five pass breakups for the Buckeyes. He'll enter the 2012 season as a projected starter and could end his career with a flourish.

No. 141: J.B. Fitzgerald, LB, Michigan -- Started only three games in his career, but appeared in 50 contests and was a valuable reserve and special teams performer for Michigan in 2011.

No. 148: Tyler Westphal, DE, Wisconsin -- Had a serious shoulder injury following his redshirt year in Madison and eventually transferred to North Dakota State.

Minnesota linebacker Brendan Beal, who has yet to play for the Gophers after transferring from Florida, is No. 133 in the rankings.

NEW ORLEANS -- Michigan's defense hasn't seen players quite like Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas and Hokies running back David Wilson.

At least not this season.

The 6-foot-6, 254-pound Thomas isn't your typical quarterback. Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said the hulking Hokie is "bigger than some of our defensive linemen." And Michigan isn't exactly slight of build up front.

Thomas has 2,799 pass yards and has added 416 rush yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. He's extremely tough to bring down, as Virginia Tech has allowed only 15 sacks all season, tied for 21st fewest nationally.

"He kind of reminds me of Terrelle Pryor when I played against him," Wolverines defensive end Ryan Van Bergen said. "Maybe a little bit less athletic. I don't know if he has the speed that Terrelle Pryor [had], and the elusiveness, but he stands tall in the pocket, delivers a good ball. You've seen times where he's got guys around his legs that are trying to sack him, and he's just looking downfield. It's impressive, it really is.

"It's going to be a challenge, not only to get to him because they have a good offensive line, but to bring him down."

Pryor went 3-0 against Michigan as Ohio State's quarterback but wasn't overly dominant. His best performance came last year when he passed for 220 yards and two touchdowns (with an interception) and added 49 rush yards.

Wilson, the Hokies' junior running back, gives Michigan's defenders a different look. Wilson ranks sixth nationally in rushing average (125.2 ypg) and has 1,627 rush yards on the season, just 28 shy of Virginia Tech's single-season record.

He has been clocked at 4.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash but also brings some power when he runs.

When looking for comparisons to Wilson, Van Bergen again cited a player Michigan hasn't faced since 2010.

"Montee Ball's probably the most comparable running back to him, just because I watched the tapes and stuff," Van Bergen said. "The backs at Michigan State probably rival him in athleticism and stuff, but obviously Michigan State has the rotation. The one thing that's good about [Wilson] is he's just so smart. He knows when to bounce it out, he knows when to cut it up. He gains all the yards some running backs miss out on because they think they can get more by making a move in the hole.

"He's one of those running backs coaches are happy to have because of the way he picks and chooses the way he's going to get upfield."

Ball gashed Michigan for 173 yards and four touchdowns last year in Ann Arbor. He's a much different back now, having slimmed down significantly during the offseason to more closely resemble Wilson in size.

Michigan also is vastly different on defense since its struggles against Pryor and Ball.

The Big Ten and Pac-12 announced Wednesday that the two leagues would join forces for annual interconference games (And if somebody hasn't already trademarked the Biggie-Pac Midwest/Coast Feud as the title of this series, I'm running to the patent office tomorrow).

Anyway, many details are yet to be hashed out about which teams will play, when, where, etc. We know the football games between the leagues won't start until 2017. That's a long time from now. But that didn't deter me from coming up with a fun potential lineup of head-to-head, Big Ten/Pac-12 showdowns if the games were to begin next season.

Here's what I suggest:

Ohio State-USC: The Compliance Bowl. Loser has to eat the scholarship reductions from the winner. Terrelle Pryor and Reggie Bush serve as honorary captains.

Michigan-Arizona: RichRod's Revenge. Wildcats practice 20 hours a day to get ready. Let's make this happen.

Nebraska-Colorado: Buffs: "Hey, we're renewing our old Big 12 rivalry!" Huskers: "I'm sorry. Who are you again?"

Northwestern-Stanford: The SAT Bowl. The combined tuition payments from those in the stands would surpass our national debt.

Michigan State-Oregon: Almost happened this year if the Spartans would have held on in Indy. There would be so much green in this game that they should play at a neutral site: Boise's blue field.

Wisconsin-Cal: The cities of Madison and Berkeley also enter into a partnership. Their shared goal: mellowing out.

Penn State-Washington: Cue up the grunge music, because this game would totally rock if it were still the early '90s.

Indiana-Washington State: Two former Oklahoma offensive coordinators square off in Mike Leach and Kevin Wilson. Worth it just for the press conferences.

Purdue-UCLA: The John Wooden Bowl. Two programs that care more about basketball and often underachieve in football.

Illinois-Arizona State: These two teams played this season in just about the last time anybody thought either one was any good.

Minnesota-Oregon State: Beavers vs. Gophers just seems to fit.

Iowa-Utah: Uh, both states have four letters? OK, so these don't all work.

What are your dream Pac-12/Big Ten matchups?

It is this time of the year when Twitter is the most useful and the most dangerous tool we have as sportswriters. The layoff between the regular season and bowl games is when coaches are hired and fired, transfers are decided upon and the rumor mill kicks into full swing.

It is through social media that much of the speculation and reaction is made upon such news, with nearly every move throwing a portion of the Twittersphere up in arms.

That is, of course, unless you are Dayne Crist and you just decided where you will play your final year of college ball.

"After a long & difficult decision making process, I'm incredibly excited to join the Kansas football team. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!" Crist posted at 11:59 a.m. ET.

That was the news. Within minutes, the reaction would have made you think Crist was taking all of Notre Dame with him:

• Tight end Jake Golic: "Congrats to my long lost brother @dcrist10 for committing to Kansas!"
• Nose guard Brandon Newman: "My man @dcrist10 made the best decision for himself & thats why I am super proud of him! Go win some football games buddy! #RockChalkJayHawk"
• Defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore: "Happy for my guy @dcrist10 and his decision. High character guy that will fit in perfectly. Great leader on and off the field. #rockchalk"
• Center and Braxston Cave: "Just became a huge Kansas football fan for a year! Nothing but love for my bro @dcrist10"
• Nose guard Louis Nix: "@dcrist10 Hell Yea…im going to miss u alot bro. Congrats!"
• Center Mike Golic Jr.: "But I do love @dcrist10 and am very happy he's made the best decision for himself. Know he's gonna kill it next year."

Reading what Crist had to say to Douglas Farmer of the student paper Wednesday, it's easy to see why his former teammates felt this way.

The hiring of former Irish coach Charlie Weis no doubt helped with the decision immensely, as Crist will get one final shot with the coach who recruited him and in a system he is familiar with. Kansas was a two-win team last year and is a basketball school, so expectations will be tamed.

Wisconsin, believed to be the other finalist, would have been in better position to win its third straight Big Ten title after Tuesday's bowl ban placed on Ohio State, but it may have lost its hope as offensive coordinator Paul Chryst leaves to become Pitt's head coach.

Regardless, this is one final shot for Crist, who committed to Notre Dame as ESPNU's No. 2 quarterback from the Class of 2008. As colleague David Ubben points out, Landry Jones, Blaine Gabbert and Andrew Luck were all ranked behind him. Only Terrelle Pryor was ranked ahead of Crist.

Season-ending injuries in each knee and bad breaks on the field have spoiled Crist's opportunities, leaving many to wonder whether this last chance will actually provide a happy ending. That remains to be seen. For now, all it takes is a brief glance at Twitter to know nobody deserves one more than him.

Ohio State's infractions case with the NCAA came to an end today after the events leading up to it had played out -- at least publicly -- for almost exactly one year. Here is a timeline of the Buckeyes' trying times:

April 2, 2010: Then-Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel gets his first email from Columbus lawyer Chris Cicero informing him that quarterback Terrelle Pryor and other players were trading their team memorabilia to local tattoo-parlor owner Edward Rife in exchange for tattoos. Tressel does not inform any of his superiors about this.

Dec. 7, 2010: The U.S. attorney’s office discovers Ohio State football memorabilia in a raid of Rife's business.

Dec. 23, 2010: Ohio State announces that Pryor, running back Dan Herron, receiver DeVier Posey, offensive tackle Mike Adams and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for trading their memorabilia. All five players are allowed to play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, thanks to some lobbying by the Big Ten. The Buckeyes would go on to defeat Arkansas in the game.

Jan. 13, 2011: Ohio State unearths Tressel’s emails with Cicero, igniting an investigation.

Feb. 19: A group of Buckeyes players are paid $200 by booster Robert DiGeronimo for attending a charity event in Cleveland.

March 8: The school announces that Tressel will be suspended for the first two games of the 2011 season and will be fined $250,000. His bosses voice their support of Tressel, with school president E. Gordon Gee infamously saying, "I'm just hopeful the coach doesn't dismiss me."

March 17: Tressel’s suspension is extended to the first five games of the season.

May 30: Athletic director Gene Smith forces Tressel to resign. Luke Fickell is named interim coach.

July 8: Ohio State announces it has vacated all wins from the 2010 season and is self-imposing two years' probation stemming from the Tressel/tattoo controversy. The school later also says it will return its proceeds from the Sugar Bowl.

Aug. 12: Ohio State goes before the NCAA Committee on Infractions in Indianapolis.

Sept. 1: Less than 48 hours before the season opener against Akron, running back Jordan Hall and defensive backs Travis Howard and Corey “Pittsburgh” Brown are suspended two games each for accepting cash from DiGeronimo at the charity event.

Sept. 20: Ohio State publicly disassociates itself with DiGeronimo, who had given more than $70,000 to the athletic department in the previous 25 years.

Oct. 7: Posey is suspended an additional five games, while Herron and linemen Marcus Hall and Melvin Fellows are suspended one game for being overpaid for summer jobs at a company owned by DiGeronimo.

Nov. 3: The NCAA sends another notice of allegations to Ohio State concerning the DiGeronimo accusations. The NCAA says the Buckeyes will face a "failure to monitor" charge. The Buckeyes respond by stripping themselves of five total scholarships over a three-year period.

Nov. 28: Ohio State hires Urban Meyer as its new head coach. Meyer and Smith both say they are not worried about any serious NCAA penalties. Smith says there is no precedent for receiving a bowl ban in cases similar to this one.

Dec. 20: The NCAA doles out its punishment to Ohio State: a 2012 postseason ban, the loss of four scholarships on top of the school's own reduction, an extra year of probation and a five-year show-cause penalty for Tressel.

Luke Fickell was placed in an extremely difficult position when Ohio State appointed him to take over for Jim Tressel on Memorial Day.

Becoming a first-time head coach is tough enough. Doing so three months before the season after a scandal at a place like Ohio State is even tougher. Inheriting a team without a proven quarterback, without a starting left tackle and a starting running back for five games, and without the team's only proven wide receiver for 10 games ... well, you get the point.

Still, few saw Ohio State going 6-6 this season, the Buckeyes' worst mark since 1999. Aside from a dramatic win against Wisconsin and a three-game win streak midway through Big Ten play, Ohio State had little to celebrate this fall.

Now with Urban Meyer expected to be introduced as Ohio State's next head coach later this afternoon, it's time to take a look at Fickell's short tenure in charge. There's a good chance Fickell leads the Buckeyes in their upcoming bowl game -- he reportedly could stay on Meyer's staff as an assistant -- but it's fair to take a snapshot of his performance in the lead role.

Like many, I was extremely impressed with the way Fickell handled himself in the media spotlight. He was honest and direct, and even showed a bit of emotion, like after Saturday's loss to Michigan. Perhaps it's because he hadn't been a head coach before, but Fickell really seemed to stay true to himself in these situations. He often talked about the importance of momentum -- getting it and then sustaining it -- and the difficulty to keep it this season. These qualities will help him when he gets a head-coaching opportunity -- and he will get one.

As a game coach, Fickell showed his inexperience at times. His teams often started slowly and fell behind. He coached conservatively -- not a surprise for a guy who apprenticed for Jim Tressel -- but it cost Ohio State at times. Ohio State clearly missed the influence of both Tressel and former assistant Darrell Hazell on offensive play-calling, as the offense really struggled until the breakout performance against Michigan. You didn't get the sense Fickell put his stamp on the program on game days.

Ohio State should have won more games than it did, but this was never a championship-caliber team, given the suspensions and Terrelle Pryor's departure.

So what grade should Fickell receive? I'd give him a C. And if I were an athletic director looking for a rising star, I'd put in a call to Fickell.

What grade would you give Fickell?

Ohio State fans have grumbled about the Buckeyes' offense for years. Too conservative. Too run-heavy. Not imaginative enough.

Those days are over as Urban Meyer is coming to Columbus. Meyer's offenses at Utah and Florida ranked in the top 20 nationally all but one year between 2004-09.

Colleague Todd McShay takes an in-depth look at what Meyer looks for with his offense and how the Ohio State roster fits his plan. McShay's conclusion: while it could take a bit of time for Meyer to get all his perfect pieces in place, he's hardly inheriting a bare cupboard.

McShay weighs in on all the position groups. Here are a few:

Quarterback: I think [Braxton] Miller is loaded with talent and he has the ideal physical skill set to excel in Meyer's system. He has a big, sturdy frame and still has room to add muscle. Miller has very good arm strength (check out his 54-yard TD strike against Michigan) and he's a more sudden athlete than former Buckeyes QB Terrelle Pryor.

Tight end: Assuming Jake Stoneburner returns for his senior season (which would be a wise choice, in my opinion), he could provide a good short-term solution at this position. Stoneburner isn't the ideal athlete for this role, but at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, he has proved capable of creating mismatches in the passing game and he has reliable hands. He also has solid blocking skills both in-line and in space, which will allow the Buckeyes to get creative with his launching point.

Running back/receiver: The Buckeyes have an obvious need for more speed and athleticism at running back and wide receiver, so expect the Buckeyes' next couple of recruiting classes to have a few highly regarded "athletes" at the top of the priority list. Ohio State does, however, have some intriguing young athletes in house that Meyer and his staff must quickly develop into playmakers. The most intriguing of the group is true freshman WR Evan Spencer, an ESPNU 150 recruit from the 2011 class. He flashed his talent at times during his freshman season but much more will be expected of him moving forward -- and if Spencer is willing to put in the work, he has a chance to become a focal point in Meyer's attack.

Click here to read McShay's entire piece on Meyer and the Ohio State offense.

The conversation between two coaches began Monday with a standard question.

Luke Fickell asked Tom Bradley how he was doing.

"I kind of chuckled," Bradley said. "[Fickell] knew what I meant because he had the same thing."

Fickell started laughing as well. He then told Bradley, "At least I got my start in May."

It was a rare moment of levity for two men who haven't had much to laugh about lately.

Bradley and Fickell know one another like many assistant coaches know one another -- from the recruiting trail. They both have been among the top recruiters for their programs -- Bradley for Penn State, Fickell for Ohio State -- and crossed paths numerous times in the fertile football grounds of Ohio and Pennsylvania. They both played defense and coached defense, building reputations as two of the Big Ten's top assistants.

They both had aspirations to be head coaches. Their dream jobs? Coaching their alma maters.

They never expected to be doing so under these circumstances.

Bradley and Fickell will lead their teams onto the field Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium. Penn State and Ohio State will play a game with great significance to both teams, one that should add some clarity to the Big Ten title race. For three and a half hours, the spotlight will briefly shift back to football and away from the controversy that has consumed both programs.

But make no mistake: Saturday will be no ordinary Ohio State-Penn State game. Both programs have come under siege.

Ohio State is still dealing with the fallout from the NCAA violations by current players, former coach Jim Tressel and former player Terrelle Pryor. The school last week announced it had received a second Notice of Allegations from the NCAA that will prolong the wait for a ruling from the infractions committee. Senior wide receiver DeVier Posey, suspended 10 games for two separate sets of NCAA violations, will make his season debut Saturday, on Senior Day. Fickell, who became head coach following Tressel's Memorial Day resignation, has led Ohio State through an up-and-down season with no idea what his future holds with the school.

Penn State's problems have surfaced more recently, but the gravity of the issues consuming the entire university -- not just the athletic program -- continue to resonate. The sex-abuse scandal remains one of the nation's top news stories. Joe Paterno, Penn State's iconic coach in his 46th season, was fired last Wednesday. Bradley was appointed interim head coach. Penn State has no permanent athletic director, university president or head football coach.

Like Fickell and the Ohio State assistants, Bradley and the remaining Penn State coaches have received no guarantees from the school beyond this season.

"Obviously, not the exact same time frame, and not the exact same situation, but you have to go with what you've got," Fickell said Tuesday. "You're not going to make excuses with a whole lot of things in whatever situation you're dealt. Like we said, life isn't fair."

The turmoil for two proud and successful programs will be the dominant theme heading into Saturday.

Fickell and Bradley spent part of Monday's conversation discussing safety for the Penn State players and coaches. The two coaches also discussed a pregame show of unity, much like the moving midfield prayer between Penn State players and Nebraska players before last week's game in State College.

"There will probably be a little handshake or something to make sure that we all understand it's a tough time," Fickell said. "Just wanted to make sure that the people in the stands, they understand there are some different things going on outside of just the football game."

In recent years, Penn State-Ohio State was all about the game, the players and the two coaches, Tressel and Paterno.

You could argue Penn State-Ohio State has been the most significant Big Ten matchup since 2005. The teams shared Big Ten titles in both 2005 and 2008, but Penn State's victories against the Buckeyes gave the Nittany Lions the league's automatic BCS bowl berth.

Ohio State began its run to the national title game in 2006 with a 28-6 win against Penn State, and the Buckeyes' 2009 win in State College sparked their push to the Rose Bowl.

"It's still Ohio State-Penn State," Bradley said.

He's right, but it feels different. These programs aren't used to so much uncertainty and so many distractions.

Simply having an Penn State-Ohio State game without Paterno and Tressel prowling the sidelines looks odd.

"Those are two people that won't be here," Fickell said. "There are probably 70 on their side and 106 players on our side. So we focus on the things we have and not the things we've lost."

Keeping the focus is the challenge for two men leading their alma maters through turbulent times.

"This is all about the players," Bradley said. "It's about our team, their team. It's still football, great atmosphere, college football, playing at the Horseshoe. Doesn't get any better than that. It's going to be an exciting game. We're both fighting for the title. There's a lot on the line.

"It will be a very spirited match regardless of what's going on outside."

Ohio State has been a different team since Dan "Boom" Herron returned to the field from suspension. Not only have the Buckeyes won three straight games, but Herron has boosted the run game, which has eclipsed 200 rush yards in each contest. Herron, undeniably the team's emotional leader, has racked up 415 rush yards and two touchdowns on 70 carries since his return. Arguably no player is more directly tied to Ohio State's success than Herron, as the Buckeyes are 21-1 in games where he rushes for at least 55 yards. A member of the so-called "Tat-5," Herron was suspended for the first five games for selling memorabilia items in exchange for cash and tattoos and sat out another game because he was paid by a former booster for work not performed.

The Buckeyes senior running back took some time to talk with ESPN.com about his season, his suspension and what lies ahead for Ohio State.

What has been the key to the way you've performed since coming back from suspension?

Dan Herron: It was just working really hard with the defense. We have a great defense, and with me being on scout team, it really helped me out. Just working with the strength coaches, my running back coach, they just kept me game-ready.

Being on the scout team, how much were you practicing against the first-team defense?

DH: Every day for six weeks. I was definitely working with those guys, trying to make them better and trying to make myself better. They definitely got me prepared to go out there and play in a game again.

How do you feel being out there in games, getting hit again?

DH: I feel blessed. I'm so happy to be back out there, to be out there playing against so much great talent, just playing with my teammates again. It's been an honor to get back out there and play with my guys.

What do you think you mean to the guys, your presence being back out there?

DH: Me being an older guy, I definitely feel like I'm one of the leaders and one of the guys to kind of get the team going. Me having so much experience and just being around some of the greater teams from the past years we had, I bring that leadership.

Was it hard to be a leader when you were suspended?

DH: Actually, no. I was always trying to stay on the guys, even being on the scout team. On the field, off the field, I tried to help the guys keep going and working hard.

When you first found out last December that you weren't going to be out there for the first five games, how did you react?

DH: When everything first happened, I was definitely down a little bit. But at the same time, I told myself I can't let this situation keep me down. I have to go out there and keep working hard and keep trying to get better and really learn from the situation and turn it around and make it a good situation for myself.

What was it like watching the games early in the year?

DH: It was definitely hard for me, just to sit there and watch the games, knowing I could be out there helping out my teammates. Especially when we took a couple losses early during the season, that was really hard for me.

Have you ever thought about what this season would be like if none of you guys had been suspended, if you were out there from the start and DeVier [Posey], maybe even Terrelle [Pryor]?

DH: I've thought about it a few times, but everything happens for a reason and we have to just keep on moving forward now. We can't think about what if or what could have happened. We just have to worry about what happens now.

What did you learn from the experience of sitting out?

DH: Oh, man, just really thinking twice before making a decision, making sure I know all the rules. And before you make a decision, make sure you make the right decision. It's just crazy. You learn so much from it.

What do you think the legacy of your senior class will be at Ohio State?

DH: I think it's going to be special. With everything that we've gone through, if we keep on winning and we get a chance to go to the Big Ten championship game, I think that will definitely be special. Especially with everything that has gone on at Ohio State in the last year or so.

What would it mean to go to the Big Ten championship?

DH: It's definitely still alive for us. It's one of our goals, to be the top team in the Big Ten and try to play for a big-time bowl game. It would definitely mean a lot to us.

What has it been like working with Braxton [Miller]? You were with Terrelle for three years and now you're with Braxton. How have you seen him develop?

DH: It's been good. Braxton's definitely one of those guys who works hard every day. He's one of those guys who wants to win. He's a special athlete, and I think he has a very bright future. It's been great working with him.

You still have your backs to the wall in the division race. A loss might take you out of it. How will you approach these last three games as a team?

DH: We're just staying focused and go out there and give it our best every single game. Every Saturday is a stepping stone.

Drip, drip, drip.

Every time Ohio State thinks it has fixed a leak, the NCAA problems keep flowing. It was last December when the tattoo-for-memorabilia scandal broke. And it might not be until this December, or later, until the Buckeyes finally get their punishment from the NCAA.

The Buckeyes went before the NCAA committee on infractions Aug. 12, but even that wasn't the end. They were sent another notice of allegations last week involving disgraced booster Robert DiGeronimo, and now they'll have to go back before the committee again. The NCAA told Ohio State it would review the school's response at the next infractions committee on Dec. 10 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., but Ohio State has requested that be done via teleconference the week of Nov. 28.

It's no coincidence that date corresponds with the last week of the football regular season. What if the team made the Big Ten title game, won it but then was told a week later that it could not participate in a BCS game? A far-fetched scenario, for sure, but surely the school wants a final answer sooner than later.

The latest allegations include a failure-to-monitor charge, which the NCAA had previously said wouldn't be handed out in the tattoo case. Failure to monitor is the second-worst charge the NCAA can level, though it's far less devastating than lack of institutional control. Michigan, for example, was charged with failure to monitor in the practice-time allegations, and the Wolverines were hit with probation and some reduction in allotted practice hours. Not exactly the end of the world in Ann Arbor.

But Michigan also didn't have other pending charges at the time it was hit with failure to monitor. Ohio State has already stripped itself of five total scholarships over three years for this latest case, which is significant, but hardly anything that would keep the Buckeyes from competing for Big Ten titles. The school hopes that, plus the concessions it gave in the tattoo case --- vacating the 2010 season, giving back the Sugar Bowl money, firing Jim Tressel -- are enough. Yet it's also safe to say that the NCAA infractions committee isn't like a sub shop that gives you a free sandwich on your 10th visit; repeat appearances are generally not a good idea.

Ohio State can blame this latest mess on DiGeronimo, who apparently just couldn't stop rubbing elbows with players and coaches to make himself feel more important.

DiGeronimo was a booster in every sense of the word, donating more than $72,000 to the athletic department since 1988, according to OSU's response. Not surprisingly, he wanted some extra access in exchange for his money. Ohio State said DiGeronimo was given locker room and sideline access under former coach John Cooper, and that he often bought lunch for Buckeyes coaches. When Jim Tressel became coach in 2001, he banned boosters from the locker room, and Gene Smith prohibited sideline access to all but media, game-day personnel and former players in 2006.

But DiGeronimo wouldn't be stopped, according to this revealing passage from the response:

"After Tressel implemented this restriction, DiGeronimo and another individual impermissibly gained access to the locker room prior to a home football game. Tressel saw DiGeronimo attempting to hide in a locker to listen to Tressel’s pregame speech. DiGeronimo and the other individual were told to leave the locker room."

Ohio State basically told DiGeronimo to stop coming around its players, coaches or facilities in 2006. But the school said he just started contacting the players directly after that. Strangely, though, the school still allowed players to attend charity events organized by DiGeronimo and to work summer jobs for his company. That raises an obvious question: if Ohio State was as concerned by DiGeronimo's red-flag raising behavior as it claims in its response, why would it permit players to spend time under his watch in a different city without close scrutiny?

I imagine that question might come up a time or two in Fort Lauderdale or over the teleconference. Ohio State's argument in the response goes along these lines: "We didn't fail to monitor DiGeronimo because we knew he was a problem. And he would have broken the rules anyway since he never listened to us when we told him to go away in the past. Hey, what are you gonna do, right?"

The NCAA says the DiGeronimo charges came about after a interview with an Ohio State player led to a review of his bank records, which showed a check for $200 from DiGeronimo's company. That triggered a further investigation. The player's name was redacted, but it's quite obviously Terrelle Pryor. The gift that keeps on taking for Buckeyes fans.

With everything that's happened at Penn State, it's more difficult to summon outrage at players getting free tattoos or a couple hundred bucks from a booster. That doesn't make it any less serious in the eyes of the NCAA, which doesn't seem capable of punishing the Nittany Lions for true lack of institutional control.

The Buckeyes must hope that their own self-imposed sanctions are enough, that they can simply avoid awarding a deserving walk-on or two a scholarship the next three years and be done with this mess. They can't feel comfortable, however, until this faucet is finally turned off.