Adam Rittenberg

  (1:00 PM)

Hey guys, glad to be back. Let's talk Big Ten, Red River, Florida-LSU or whatever else is on your mind.

Ryan (Cedarville, OH)

Adam, How impressed have you been with Darryll Clark so far this year? I think his ability to take care of the football will allow Penn State to compete with anyone.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:01 PM)

I'm really impressed with how smart he plays. Not everything went his way last week at Purdue, but Clark keeps his cool and doesn't make mistakes. He's established himself quickly as the leader of that offense despite limited experience before this season.

Jeff Chicago

Do you think Zook will be able to keep Illinois in the upper echelon of the big ten with ohio state, michigan and penn state

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:02 PM)

He has to continue to recruit like this, which shouldn't be problem given his track record. Illinois is already recruiting at or beyond Penn State's level, but Michigan could change the landscape a bit once Rich gets his feet under him. I see Michigan and Illinois going for a lot of the same types of players.

Brad (Gadsden,Alabama)

Adam, What bowl will Northwestren go to?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:03 PM)

It's hard to tell right now. If the Wildcats win Saturday, a very strong start, even 9-0, is possible. My sense is they still have some issues on offense, though, and I'd see them ending up in either the Insight or Champs Sports. Northwestern has been passed over for bigger bowls because of its smaller fan base, like in 2000 when it went to the No. 4 bowl despite finishing tied for the Big Ten lead

rerun (su)

in your opinion, who will be the coach of the Syracuse Orange next year? oh, SU 31, WVU 28. Pat Shadle FG to win it.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:04 PM)

That's a bold prediction, especially for a Syracuse fan named rerun. I would hope they take a look at Turner Gill from Buffalo. He knows the area and has made a program that looked like a lost cause into a decent team in the MAC.

Mike (LA)

Can PSU Def. Line hold up to the bigger Badger line and depth at RB???

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:06 PM)

With Evans and Koroma back in the mix, Penn State should be able to make some plays against a huge Wisconsin line. I'd be stunned if LT Gabe Carimi plays Saturday, so Penn State's veterans could capitalize on a less-experienced player (Josh Oglesby) on that side.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Love the Red River and Florida/LSU matchups. Someone has to lose the Red River and if Florida can beat LSU then a PSU win over Wisconsin might get them into the top three in the nation. I still say if PSU runs the table, there is no way to keep them out of the BCS title game.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:07 PM)

I agree with your second point, JB. Penn State heads to Miami with a 12-0 record, which includes wins at Wisconsin and Ohio State. I'm not sure Florida would jump that high by beating LSU. Missouri might also need to lose as well as some others. But a win against the Tigers would put the Gators back in the SEC title mix.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Who are your front runners for O-POY, D-POY, and COY in the Big Ten?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:09 PM)

Offensive POY has to be Juice Williams at this point, but Daryll Clark or one of the running backs could change things by Nov. 22. Defensive POY is more of a toss-up. Could be a guy like Michigan State safety Otis Wiley. I don't think it'll go to Laurinaitis. Coach of the year to this point could be Joe Paterno or Tim Brewster. Pat Fitzgerald also might be in the mix.

Cosmo (Anytown, USA)

What is the final score Saturday night in Madison?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:09 PM)

I predicted 30-21 Penn State (I think), though it might be a little on the high side.

Cosmo (Anytown, USA)

Has Norwood been held out a little longer than needed to make sure he is ready specifically for the Wisconsin game?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:10 PM)

It wouldn't surprise me. The great thing about Penn State's offense is it can survive an injury to a skill player (RB, WR). But to get Norwood back is a major boost. He still leads the team in receiving yards and TDs.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Will this be Penn St's toughest game of the year so far? Will they prevail?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:11 PM)

Yes and yes, but it won't be easy. Wisconsin will play extremely hard after back-to-back losses, but the Penn State offense is simply too strong to hold down.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Can you see the Big Ten and/or PAC-10 ever adding enough teams to have their own conference championship game? It seems like the BCS officials give those games some weight considering what happened with LSU last year.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:12 PM)

On the flip side, the lack of a championship game has gotten a Big Ten team to the national champoinship and two Big Ten teams to BCS bowl in each of the last three years. I don't see the Big Ten champing at the bit to add an 11th team, and the Pac-10 would need two more (BYU? Utah? Boise?)

Justin (Ohio)

Hey Adam, do you think a freshman QB like Pryor can lead OSU to a big ten championship?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:14 PM)

It certainly helps to have Beanie Wells beside him. Pryor proved a lot with the game-winning TD drive last week, but he still makes some bad decisions at times, like all young players. He'll have to keep coming up big on the road, with trips to MSU and Illinois in addition to the home showdown with Penn State.

Brad (Gadsden,Alabama)

Who do you think Auburns OC will be and will they fire Tommy Tuberville at the end of the season?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:15 PM)

I'm not sure who in their right mind would want to work for Tommy Tuberville at this point, big salary or not. It's ridiculous to fire a coordinator six games into his first season, and other coaches will take note. But I doubt Tuberville gets the axe after the season.

Justin (Ohio)

I'm pretty sure PSU has never won in Columbus, so you may want to hold off on that reservation to Miami.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:16 PM)

Good call, Justin, the Lions have really struggled at The Shoe. This year could be their best chance for a win, but it'll be tough.

Tom (Chicago)

I for one, do not see conference championship games as anything but a money grab. Any chance the Big 10 does what the Pac 10 does and determine a true champion by having every team play each other? I really don't need to see Michigan play Toledo in October.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:17 PM)

It's a little trickier, Tom, because that would mean 10 conference games and only two non-con games. I don't see it happening. Nine league games, maybe, but there will always be one team off the schedule. The Big Ten is a little too concerned with getting its non-traditional powers into bowl games.

Ken CA

People talk about Boise St and BYU being potential BCS busters. Wouldn't the possibility of a horrible 10-2 Notre Dame team be the ultimate buster?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:19 PM)

Ken, after covering Notre Dame teams that went to BCS games in 2005 and 2006 and didn't deserve to, I'm definitely concerned with that scenario. Notre Dame is a name, but neither of those teams deserved to be in the big bowls, and neither does the current one. That said, I could see the Irish winning at UNC on Saturday.

Will J (Portland, OR)

If the Pac-10 added 2 more teams, I would say Fresno St. and Boise St. I would hate to see Utah and BYU to be separated.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:20 PM)

That would be a shame, Will. I don't think Fresno State has the budget to play in the Pac-10 -- it always seems to be an issue with football scheduling -- but the Bulldogs are strong in several sports (baseball) and could compete

Cosmo (Anytown, USA)

Are you expecting the PSU offense to reach into their bag of tricks with their skill players, or do you expect them to just try to wear down the Badger defense?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:22 PM)

I'd imagine Penn State runs its base offense at first, which is still pretty dynamic. Royster still averages 7.8 yards a carry, so I'd keep giving it to him until Wisconsin stops him. But Penn State will also use Derrick Williams' versatility and could throw in a trick play or two.

Justin (Ohio)

I think Minnesota should just do the right thing and leave the big ten. Then with 9 conference games we would have a real champ. Seriously, what has Minnesota contributed to the league.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:23 PM)

Minnesota hasn't done anything since the 1960s, but Tim Brewster has that team on the right track, a 5-1 start with a big proving-ground game this weekend at Illinois. The more I read about that game, the more interested I become.

Cosmo (Anytown, USA)

My wallet really hopes Notre Dame goes to another bowl game that they do not believe in. Betting against them in January is a good way to pay for those Christmas gifts.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:23 PM)

Picking Notre Dame's bowl opponent is about as close to a sure thing as we get in college sports.

TigerPete (Alameda, Ca)

Who is really the best in the SEC? Is is the defending National Champions LSU or will their fate be determined in the SWAMP by Florida this weekend. Or how about BAMA does SLICK NICK have the TIDE back to the top again...

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:24 PM)

If LSU wins in the swamp, they have to be considered the front-runner again. I'm a little concerned about Alabama's youth and depth situation, but the Tide have looked awfully impressive in big games.

steve

nd 05 not deserving? yes they got beat handily in the bcs game. BUT the 2 games they lost that season were by 3 points each. and if not for the bush push, a 10-1 nd would have played texas in the bcs champ game --they would have gotten smoked-- but still they were a good team--- that said, Can MSU be 10-1 going into the final agianst PSU? 10-1 msu vs 11-0 psu would be sweet! it would guatentee msu would go to the rose bowl if they won or lost (lose they get 2nd place while psu goes to champ game, win and they win the big ten)

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:25 PM)

They lost to a bad Michigan State team and beat up on a bunch of programs having down years. ... Anyway, Michigan State could be 10-1, but I see the Spartans losing one of the next two games (Northwestern, Ohio State). But you outline the ideal situation for Mark Dantonio's team.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

I think Notre Dame football and bananas have a lot in common. Put them both in a bowl and watch them go rotten!

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:28 PM)

That's a good one. But I'd just like to see Notre Dame get matched with a comparable team in a bowl game. The best-case scenario for the Irish would be the Gator Bowl or another bowl that they can actually win. Ohio State and LSU were so much better in the 2006 Fiesta and 2007 Sugar.

Mike (Philly)

Adam, I lik eyour chats but you might be losing a little respect here. Why is MSU a bad team?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:29 PM)

Never said Michigan State was a bad team. The Spartans are a much-improved team, in fact, especially on the defensive side. But I'm still not sold on Brian Hoyer and they lost their only game against a solid offensive team (Cal), so the jury's still out a bit.

Justin (Ohio)

Is Painter playing this week for Purdue? Was he benched last week or injured?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:30 PM)

Painter will start Saturday after being benched in the fourth quarter last week against Penn State. No injury there, just inconsistent play from a veteran quarterback working with a new set of receivers. Painter is a solid QB, but he really misses Dustin Keller.

TigerPete (Alameda, Ca)

Thanks for your reply, oh by the way I forgot to add GEAUX TIGERS... On a serious note though, "Who deserves to be the #1 team in all the land? Or is there just to much parity throughout Division 1-A that anyone has a chance...

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:31 PM)

A lot of teams are in the mix, Pete, but from what I've seen on tape, Oklahoma really deserves the top spot. They've been so impressive on offense, though Saturday will be a big test.

Mike (Philly)

Adam Rittenberg: (1:25 PM ET ) They lost to a bad Michigan State team and beat up on a bunch of programs having down years.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:31 PM)

Michigan State in 2005 was a bad team, dude.

Cosmo (Anytown, USA)

Who has the best O-line in the Big Ten?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:32 PM)

It's got to be Penn State or Michigan State. Both teams are led by veterans (Shipley, Cadogan, Miller, Martin) and they get it done at the line of scrimmage. I'd give a slight edge to Penn State, followed by Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin.

Jason (IA)

With Hardy gone, can the Hawks FINALLY beat Indiana again? Or will the IU offense put on a show again against the 1940's Iowa defense?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:33 PM)

I think the Hawks finally break through Saturday and get a win. They had better, for Kirk Ferentz's sake. But I've watched Iowa multiple times, including this week in a film session with two FBS players. We all agreed that Iowa should be much better than 3-3. It's a young team that needs to execute better in the red zone.

jeff, dc

What do you think of the job butch davis has done at unc so far..... I was little worried about his last recruiting class he brought in but he seems to be doing a good job

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:35 PM)

He's done a terrific job, Jeff, and I wouldn't be too worried about his recruiting. North Carolina has been a solid state for high school talent, and I never understood why that program didn't win more. Nicks is a stud, and they're on the right track.

Dan (Rochester, MN)

The Iowa defense and Shonn Greene have played well enough for Iowa to be 6-0. Who is more to blame for them being 3-3, the qb's or coaching staff?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:36 PM)

It's a combination. Going so long without a definitive starting quarterback was a mistake. Kirk gave Christensen every chance possible to win the job and he just couldn't. But the play-calling also has been questionable at times, though I didn't mind the fourth-and-1 call with Greene last week. He gets that yard nine times out of 10.

Will J (Portland, OR)

And don't forget the 2001 Fiesta Bowl when the Ocho Cinco, Housh, and Barnett led Beavers pummeled the Irish.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:36 PM)

That's another year where ND would have been better served playing in a lower-profile bowl.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

If PSU at least gets into the BCS title game, do you think Joe will retire or will he say he's still got it and coach until he's 100?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:37 PM)

A lot depends on his health. It's the one thing that could force him to hang it up before he's ready. He probably needs some sort of surgery after the season on his leg or hip, so that could determine what he ends up deciding to do.

renee (DC)

What is the Badgers biggest problem? inconsistent coaches or players?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:39 PM)

There's been a lot of inconsistency there, Renee. The team that played the second half at Michigan, especially on defense, didn't resemble the one that played the first 30 minutes. I still don't understand the coaches' decision not to play John Clay more. He's an excellent complement to P.J. Hill and gives an offense another threat.

Justin (Ohio)

Ya, what has happened to Iowa? 4 or 5 years ago they were winning conference titles and now Ferentz is fighting for his job.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:40 PM)

A big problem was the 2005 recruiting class. I worked for a paper in Illinois at the time and remember Iowa getting the best recruits out of the Chicago area and several other spots. That class has been a major bust so far, and it's really set back a program that was really on the rise at the time.

Matt (Cedar Rapids, IA)

Could Shonn Greene be a legit Heisman contender?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:42 PM)

Man, a lot of Iowa questions today. Where are the Michigan fans? Must be that 2-3 record. ... Anyway, Greene can't be a Heisman contender because he doesn't score enough touchdowns (only 5) and the team isn't winning. He's a tremendously consistent back (six 100-yard rushing performances) but doesn't have the other factors going in his favor.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Do you see the move by several Big Ten schools to some form of a spread offense bringing them back into discussions about the best conferences in the NCAA?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:44 PM)

It was a move that several Big Ten teams had to make to stay competitive. The spread just puts so much stress on a defense, particularly the linebackers, and when you plug speed into the equation, it's so hard to stop. You even see Ohio State going to more of a spread with Pryor and sprinkling in elements of the pistol offense.

Crew (Ann Arbor)

Adam: As a Michigan fan I am not looking past games but it seems like MSU fans and people in general just assume MSU will beat Michigan this year. But to me MSU just has a good running back and a questionable QB. That sounds like a Wisconsin team that was beat by Michigan 2 weeks ago. Does it not?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:45 PM)

It does, but the Wolverines have way more issues on their side of the ball. I was stunned at how Illinois sliced through Michigan's defense last week. MSU doesn't have as many big-play threats, but it will be a very tough game for the Wolverines. The Spartans have highlighted this game for months, and they don't want to go through their entire careers without beating Michigan.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Adam, I'm afraid that if too many schools implement the spread, they will lose the traditional drop back passer, who are generally the ones that have performed well in the NFL. No more Elways, Marinos, Mannings, Bradys, etc.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:47 PM)

That's an interesting point, Will. A lot of the spread offense guys haven't succeeded at the next level because defenses are faster and more disciplined. We could see a very different type of quarterback in the NFL 10 years from now.

Ben (Tempe, AZ)

What are your thoughts on Brett Bielema as a coach. I originally loved him after the 11-1 season but now I am starting to think it was all of Alvarez's players. He just doesn't seem like he knows what he is doing. For instance in the Michigan game John Clay had a huge run and then a td run in back to back plays and then doesn't see the field... Thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:48 PM)

Bielema is a solid defensive coach, but he's had a bit of a charmed career to this point. I'm interested to see how he handles his first real bout with adversity. The decision not to use Clay more against Ohio State was baffling, but Bielema generally makes the right call and seems to be popular among his players. Saturday is a big game for him.

Dan (Rochester, MN)

IOWA FOLLOW-UP QUESTION: I have watched every second of every game, and it seems like the offense runs the same 5 or 6 plays all game. Every pass has play-action or a bootleg, even in obvious passing situations. When will the offense be brought into the 21st century? Do they need a new OC?

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:49 PM)

They might need a change of offensive leadership after the season, but Iowa has had its opportunities to score and just can't cash in. The play-calling in the red zone must improve, but a lot of it comes down to better execution from Ricky Stanzi and his receivers.

Adam Rittenberg

  (1:50 PM)

OK guys, that's all the time I've got today. Enjoy another interesting weekend of Big Ten games. Same time, same place next week.