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Josh A. from D.C. writes: First of all, I recognize that "parity-based" scheduling wasn't set to begin until 2016 -- along with the introduction of the 9 game B1G slate ... My question is, why? What were the primary obstacles to matching up OSU/UM/PSU with UW/UNL and Iowa in 2014 and 2015?

Adam Rittenberg: Josh, I hear you on this and wish there were a few more appealing crossovers. One issue in 2014/15 is that teams play only two crossover games, not three. It made sense for the Big Ten to have new members Rutgers and Maryland play crossovers with Nebraska/Wisconsin/Iowa. The league wants to give its new members as many showcase-type games as possible right away. The thinking also is that after 2016, we'll see more Michigan-Nebraska, Wisconsin-Ohio State, Iowa-Penn State, so there's less of a need to load up on them these next two seasons. I wish the Big Ten had sprinkled in a Nebraska-Ohio State series or a Wisconsin-Michigan series, but we will see more of those games soon enough.

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Andrew from New York writes: Quick follow up to your story on how the divisions came about. I don't think many Michigan fans are upset about playing at East Lansing in back to back seasons so much as they are concerned about the fact that having OSU and MSU in a home/home, away/away alignment creates tremendous imbalances in the quality of home game slates from year to year. The 2014 home slate is probably the least attractive set of home games Michigan has ever played, with a sanction-ridden Penn State probably the best game. At a time when fans have to pay upwards of $1000 for season tickets (including required donation) that's a pretty bad deal. With that said, do you have a sense whether the MSU/OSU alignment is a permanent thing or just an 8-game schedule thing?

Adam Rittenberg: Andrew, I understand your complaint, but Michigan isn't the only Big Team with an unappealing home schedule for 2014. Ask Nebraska fans how they feel about the Huskers' home slate that year. Nothing is permanent regarding scheduling, and the next model, which kicks off in 2016, could break up the MSU/OSU home-road thing for Michigan. I agree that it's more beneficial for Michigan and its fans to split those games home and road, but as I noted in Thursday's second scheduling post, athletic directors have never asked for rivalry games to be split up home/away. That's not one of the league-wide scheduling principles on which the ADs agree. All Big Ten fans have to be open to scheduling models changing, because there has been so much recent change in the league. Michigan's schedule could go back to the old format regarding Michigan State and Ohio State, or it could flip back and forth in the next few scheduling models.

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Joffre from San Diego writes: Adam,I just looked over your analysis of the 2014 B1G schedules and I'm a bit irked that my Lions don't play Nebraska in 2014. Moreover, the crossover game between the 11th and 12th members of the conference is no longer protected and that's something that all of Nittany Nation has to be displeased with. The Huskers got the best of us in 2011 after Joe (got fired a few days before the game, and last year we were adjusting under a new defensive coordinator (Ted Roof) which led to poor performances against running QBs (Braxton Miller, Taylor Martinez). Where do Penn State and Nebraska fit into the big picture now that they're no longer the "new kids on the block"?

Adam Rittenberg: Joffre, as you might or might not know, the Big Ten eliminated all protected crossover games aside from Purdue-Indiana when aligning the new East and West divisions. The goal is to protect as many rivalries within the division structure and create broader crossover rotations so that each team plays every other team at least once every four years. So Penn State and Nebraska no longer will play annually. The good news for you is that with parity-based scheduling coming in 2016, Penn State will play Nebraska -- as well as Wisconsin and Iowa -- more often than other West division teams in the first 18 years of the scheduling model. I liked the Huskers-Lions games as well, but I think it's more important to establish a structure that eliminates massive gaps between matchups like Illinois-Iowa, which last met in 2008 and won't meet again until 2014.

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Tom from New Brunswick, N.J., writes: Hi Adam, a Nittany Lion in Rutgers country. With all of this talk about 7-5 vs 6-6 bowl eligibility, 9 game conference schedule, needing 7 home games for balancing a budget and out of conference rivalries tying up schedules it seems to me there is one solution that is inevitable...a 13 game regular season. How far away do you think this really is or is it a reality? It seems to me it would solve a lot of issues.

Adam Rittenberg: You know, Tom, I've thought a lot about the possibility of a 13-game schedule these past few months. The money is only going up, most leagues are playing more conference games and it seems like every major-conference school -- traditional power or bottom feeder, big stadium or small -- demands seven home games per year. There would be some pushback from university presidents, especially with so much recent attention on concussions in football. But these folks always have a hard time passing up money, and there's more of it to be made with a longer schedule. I don't think anything is imminent, but it's an issue worth monitoring going forward because of the issues you outline.

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Rich from Des Moines, Iowa, writes: Adam, MAC teams can have a valid place on Big Ten teams' schedules so long as the rest of the non-conference games are scheduled correctly. They way I see it, given the financial realities that govern scheduling, Big Ten teams (and all upper-level conference teams for that matter) should schedule like this: 1 team from another big conference that is on about the same level as itself (Ohio State-Oklahoma; Iowa-Iowa State; Wisconsin-VaTech are good examples); 1 big conference team that is in the middle-tier (Nebraska-UCLA; Northwestern-California, etc.); and 1 game against a MAC team or similar opponent-preferably from inside the same state or nearby. A model for this is the MSU-EMU/CMU/WMU series, which is a great deal for all schools involved. I'm not saying Big Ten schools should make it a habit of playing at MAC schools like MSU is doing in this series, but scheduling in-state MAC teams is a good idea. Paramount is avoiding playing FCS schools or schools like UAB or Troy or any other low-hanging fruit from far away places. I think this scheduling philosophy results in maximizing the number of well-rounded, manageable schedules that meet financial obligations and produce interesting games with national appeal that Big Ten fans will enjoy. What do you think?

Adam Rittenberg: As always, some good thoughts here, Rich. The problem for athletic directors isn't so much the MAC game, but that second game against a major-conference foe. The UCLAs and Californias are going to want home-and-homes, and it's hard for athletic directors to structure things so they have two simultaneous non-league home-and-home series plus at least seven total home games per season. That's very difficult, especially with at least five guaranteed road games every other year as part of the Big Ten's nine-game league schedule. I'm fine with Big Ten-MAC games, as long as non-league schedules also include more marquee opponents. And while I'd love to see Big Ten teams adopt your model, too many ADs have told me they're resistant to that second major-conference series.

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Steve Z. from Lafayette, Ind., writes: Is it just me, or is Northwestern getting screwed (again) with teams having Byes the week before playing NU? Five teams have bye before they play NU, and they are ALL division opponents!

Adam Rittenberg: Great observation, Steve, as that seems to be an odd trend for Northwestern in recent years. I don't think it's intentional, and bye-week avoidance, much like opening Big Ten play on the road year after year (read: Penn State), isn't among the scheduling principles the Big Ten athletic directors agreed on for the league office. While I understand the perception that Northwestern is getting screwed, if you look at recent results for teams coming off of open weeks, it's not nearly as favorable as you might imagine. In fact, many Big Ten teams seem to struggle more after a week off. Sure, it's a chance to get healthier, but there's no significant correlation with success.

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Joel from Virginia Beach, Va., writes: I understand that the B1G has made a push to no longer schedule FCS games, and is encouraging a tougher non-conference slate, but with how the league has done the initial 2014 schedule, are there any plans to play league games earlier in the season? I think the brand will greatly benefit, by have exposure and big games (if only cross-over games) earlier in the schedule. I understand that there can be scheduling complications at this point, but there has to be some teams that this could work for? Or are we expecting more years of the MAC weekend slate?

Adam Rittenberg: Joel, the Big Ten is warming up to earlier league games, but the general attitude remains to play most if not all non-league games before entering the conference schedule. I doubt we'll see Big Ten teams open the season with league games any time soon, but putting 1-2 Big Ten games in Weeks 2 and 3 isn't a bad idea. The league certainly wants to avoid the MAC invitational weekends we've seen in the past, and hopefully, the directive to beef up non-league scheduling will create at least a few appealing games every Saturday in September. I agree that the league brand could be enhanced with a sprinkling of league games in Weeks 2 and 3 going forward.

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Barry from Sheboygan, Wis., writes: I find it interesting that Purdue is considered an also-ran at basketball in the B1G. Note that Purdue has a winning record overall against every school in the B1G and has more B1G championships than every other school. Even recently, Purdue has been one of the top schools in the B1G. Just because we had an off year, it doesn't diminish what the school has accomplished over its history including the majority of the last 5 years.

Adam Rittenberg: Barry, that post was more about recruiting prowess than on-court success. I included Purdue among the Big Ten programs that could rise up to a nationally elite level in recruiting, but might not do so year after year. It had nothing to do with the Boilers' on-court success, which has been very impressive. Purdue finished No. 19 in RecruitingNation's basketball class rankings for 2012, but didn't make the Top 25 in 2011, 2010 or 2009. That speaks to my point -- Purdue has the ability to rise up in recruiting, but might not be among the nation's elite as often as other Big Ten programs.

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T.C. from Philadelphia writes: Adam -- I just read your recent article on the Big Ten ADs new focus on game-day improvements and I just have one thing to say....Are you kidding me Michigan State??? Students didn't show up for the Iowa game in the rain last year because they couldn't text!?!? Hollis should have kept that one to himself, because that is embarrassing. Hopefully that was not the primary reason for most students not attending the game, because if it was, that says a lot about the students at MSU and their commitment to their football program. I graduated from PSU two years ago and I can say from experience that students at Penn State, Ohio State and other Big Ten schools would never even think about this is a reason to not attend a game. It rained all day and night for the Iowa/PSU game a few years ago when Iowa beat us at night ... My phone was broken the next day from the rain -- I never thought "oh man, I should have stayed home last night."

Adam Rittenberg: T.C., I doubt the rain was the only reason some Michigan State students stayed away that day, as the team also was off to a disappointing start after lofty preseason expectations. Hollis' greater point is that students/fans are looking for different things in their game-day experience now than 10-15 years ago. Having good Wi-Fi in the stadium is important, and not just for sportswriters like me who pin their livelihood on it. Supplying good video, audio and out-of-town scores is important as well. These schools need to make the in-game experience comparable with what you get at home. Penn State student support for games is among the best in the country, if not the best. But Michigan has had major problems getting its students to show up for noon kickoffs. Athletic director Dave Brandon this week called student turnout "unacceptable." So it's not just Michigan State. All schools have to be cognizant of what it will take to either bring students back to games or, in the case of Penn State, keep them there for years to come.

Tan, rested and ready after a week in Aruba. Well, maybe not tan.

• Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon says the 2014 home game against Penn State could be a night game. Brandon says student no-shows at the Big House are "unacceptable."
• Mark Hollis talks about keeping the Michigan State-Notre Dame game alive. Mark Dantonio says the Spartans "re-assessed" recruit turned rapper Jay Harris.
• Sixteen significant changes made by Bill O'Brien at Penn State. O'Brien's job is still more than just football. Matt McGloin signed with the Raiders.
• What sticks out about Nebraska's 2014 slate is who's not on it. Logan Rath took a different path toward walking on for the Huskers.
• Northwestern got a commitment from an offensive tackle.
• Ohio State's 2014 schedule looks unimposing. Examining the base pass plays in the Buckeyes' offense.
• Purdue will travel to Indiana in back-to-back years for the first time ever.
• Wisconsin picked up a running back from Utah, but he'll go on a Mormon mission before coming to Madison. The Badgers will get an early look at the new guys in the Big Ten in 2014.
• The stars are aligning for a 2014 resurgence by Iowa. The Hawkeyes skip many of the Big Ten powers that year.
• Minnesota's Derrick Wells and Cedric Thompson are mentoring high school students. Analyzing the Gophers' 2014 schedule.
• The 2014 schedule didn't make things easy for Illinois.
• Winners and losers in the 2014 schedule. Tom Dienhart breaks down the '14 slate.

Is it really already time for preseason watch lists? I guess football must be getting near.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy has released its 2013 watch list, and it includes seven Big Ten players on the initial group of 42 nominees. The award goes to the defensive player who makes the biggest impact for his team on and off the field.

The Big Ten players on the list are:

• Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin
• Max Bullough, LB, Michigan State
• Ibraheim Campbell, DB, Northwestern
• James Morris, LB, Iowa
• Damien Proby, LB, Northwestern
• Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
• Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State

Borland and Bullough also made the 2012 watch list. Notre Dame's Manti Te'o won the award last year, and Wisconsin's J.J. Watt (2010) was the last winner from the Big Ten.

The Big Ten released its 2014 league schedule earlier Thursday, completing what its architect Mark Rudner called a "long, arduous process" of crafting a slate with two new teams, two new divisions and a second open week.

ESPN.com caught up with Rudner, the Big Ten's senior associate commissioner for television administration, to discuss how the 2014 schedule came together.

It's important to note the Big Ten compiled the 2014 slate based upon principles green-lighted by its athletic directors.

They are:

• Nonconference games that had been previously contracted were protected. For example, Northwestern visits Notre Dame on Nov. 15, 2014, so the Big Ten made sure not to schedule the Wildcats on that day. Also, Penn State and Rutgers had a previously scheduled non-league game for Sept. 13, 2014, which became a conference game with Rutgers joining the Big Ten. The date wasn't changed.
• No more than two consecutive road games
• Each team must play two home games and two road games in each half of the season

It's not as if athletic directors ask the league not to schedule multiple rivalry games on the road every year.

"Once you do that," Rudner said, "you're at risk of never having a schedule."

There has been some reaction to Michigan facing in-state rival Michigan State in road games in consecutive seasons (2013, 2014) and Purdue visiting Indiana for the Bucket game the same two years. The Wolverines never have played the Spartans in East Lansing in back-to-back years and haven't hosted MSU in consecutive years since 1967-68.

Although it'll be new for Michigan, such back-to-backs are fairly common when a scheduling model changes. Between 2010-11, there were 13 instances of back-to-back matchups, including rivalry games like Iowa-Minnesota (both games in Minneapolis) and Penn State-Ohio State (both games in Columbus) and other good matchups like Wisconsin-Michigan State (both games in East Lansing).

"It's unavoidable," Rudner said. "It happened five times in 2008-2009. So it's not foreign, it's not ideal, but it's unavoidable. When you're introducing new institutions and you dole out home and road games, it just happens."

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has said "parity-based scheduling," where teams will face one another more often in crossovers based on historical success,will begin in 2016, will begin once the league goes to a nine-game conference schedule. Rudner said the league asked the ADs if they wanted to start the nine-game schedules in 2014 but they couldn't because of so many signed contracts for non-conference games. If they had, the 2014 would have incorporated parity scheduling.

The 2014 slate ultimately features none of it, as the traditional powers in each division -- Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State in the East, and Nebraska, Wisconsin and Iowa in the West -- don't play at all.

"I don't think it's going to hurt us," Rudner said. "Brand is strong enough. There are enough games that are strong that'll drive television interest. Short of a full round-robin, which nobody in our conference wanted to do, you're going to have these sort of issues."

A few other schedule notes:

• Rudner and his staff didn't have a directive to schedule mostly division games in November, but it worked out that way as most teams will play exclusively in their division or play only one crossover in the season's decisive month. "Ideally, that's what we would like to do," Rudner said. "It makes a lot of sense to play division games late in the season, toward a championship."
• The Big Ten doesn't look at long-term trends of how often teams open league play on the road when crafting schedules. Athletic directors haven't asked it to a be a principle of building schedules. "It's never been important to them," Rudner said. "What they want to avoid is long road trips and making sure there's balance, home and away, in each half of the season. The rest of it, they can live with. Not everybody plays the same kind of schedule, but they do it based on those principles. They look at it and say, 'That's fair. Let's do it.'" Penn State, by the way, will open league play on the road for the fifth straight year and for the ninth time in the past 11 seasons.
• That new members Maryland and Rutgers host traditional powers Ohio State and Michigan on the same day (Oct. 4) was pure coincidence, Rudner said.

The 2015 Big Ten schedule, which should be released by the end of the month, will feature the same matchups at the opposite locations. The league has to maneuver around some previously scheduled non-league games before finalizing the slate.

Some spring meetings leftovers and much more ...

• The Big Ten is expanding its bowl options for 2014 and beyond. The new lineup will combat "bowl fatigue," Kyle Meinke writes. There's a lot to like about what the Big Ten is doing.
• Some good takes on the Penn State/medical care issue from Neil Rudel, David Jones, Bob Flounders and Donnie Collins. The former Penn State walk-on mentioned in the SI story defends trainer Tim Bream. Hear from Penn State's latest recruit.
• New Rutgers athletic director Julie Hermann must be a visionary for the program. Hermann is the right type of hire for Rutgers. The historical ramifications didn't motivate Rutgers in hiring a female AD. Those who knew Hermann at Nebraska weigh in on her hire.
• Big Ten leaders talk about the possibility of the major conferences separating from the rest, Jeremy Fowler writes.
• Graham Couch weighs in on what Jim Delany and Mark Hollis said at the spring meetings.
• Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi talks recruiting and Joel Heath's development. The Spartans add to their 2014 class with Chris Frey. Former MSU signee Jay Harris knew the school wouldn't like his rap video.
• Michigan likely won't wear alternate unis in 2013.
• Alex Lewis wasn't wearing Nebraska gear the night of his arrest. Three former Huskers make the NFL Network's top 100 list.
• Wisconsin adds a defensive lineman to its 2014 recruiting class.
• Ohio State AD Gene Smith supports a Big Ten title game at Detroit's Ford Field.
• Illinois completes its 2014 nonleague schedule. The Illini are pursuing Oklahoma State transfer QB Wes Lunt (subscription required).
• More Big Ten spring meetings notes. Expansion isn't dead, but it's not on the front burner for the Big Ten.
• Northwestern's latest recruiting target watch.

 

Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez talks about future scheduling, including the status of the LSU series, as well as the College Football Playoff and the Big Ten's future bowl lineup at the league's spring meetings.

The mail comes to you a little early today as I'll have coverage of the Big Ten spring meetings this afternoon.

Badger in Columbus from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Please explain giving the edge to Washington over Wisconsin. If it was a contest of which defense would give up more points then Washington is the obvious choice. Or is this one of those auto-correct errors. Maybe some form of hangover. Did you forget which teams were which.... Help me out.

Adam Rittenberg: I've received several similar emails from Wisconsin fans, and I'm quite frankly a little surprised. Wisconsin was a slightly above-average football team in 2012 that couldn't pass the ball, struggled in close games and only got to the Big Ten championship because Ohio State and Penn State were barred by NCAA sanctions. Both Wisconsin and Washington finished 7-6, and Washington beat two teams -- Stanford and Oregon State -- that Wisconsin lost to last season. The Huskies have a talented veteran quarterback in Keith Price, a solid running back in Bishop Sankey and one of the nation's best tight ends in Austin Seferian-Jenkins (currently suspended). Sure, the matchup might be a toss-up, but to say Wisconsin is leaps and bounds ahead of Washington is silly talk, especially after the Badgers went through a coaching change. You can't base these picks on how a program has done in the past decade (Wisconsin obviously better). You base it on the current teams and the upcoming season.

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Matt from Omaha writes: People are worried about how the BIG West will be just as bad as the Big Twelve North, but they forget one key argument that no one seems to be talking about, COACHING STABILITY. The old Big Twelve North was actually really good before instability in the Coaching position affected Nebraska, Kansas State, and Colorado. I mean, during that time both Kansas (that?s right I said Kansas) and Missouri had pretty dominant programs for a short while. The fact right now is that the BIG West has enough stability at the coaching position to be competitive. Nebraska, Northwestern, and Iowa have had the same head coach for five years or more and each schools coach doesn?t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. Had the divisional split happened two or three years ago, there wouldn't be such a problem in my opinion. Remember that time when Michigan was terrible under Rich Rod., when Ohio State lost Tress, or when Joe Paterno was fired? All these programs had faltered, but became more attractive when coaching stability came back to eaches respective programs. Nebraska will be competitive, so will Northwestern, and does anybody really think Ferentz is going to let Iowa fall far and let Iowa State take over as the top school in the state?

Adam Rittenberg: Good points here, Matt. Coaching stability is a big issue not only for the new Big Ten West division but throughout the Big Ten. We've seen coaching changes at eight of 12 programs in the past three years, and the lack of stability certainly has contributed to the league's overall downturn. Pat Fitzgerald doesn't appear to be going anywhere at Northwestern, but some would say this is a big season for both Bo Pelini at Nebraska and Kirk Ferentz at Iowa. I wouldn't put either coach on the hot seat, but there's some grumbling from both fan bases, and it wouldn't shock me to see either coach eventually leave for another job (Pelini in college, Ferentz in the NFL). Jerry Kill should remain at Minnesota for a while, as long as he remains healthy, and Gary Andersen has the potential to be a long-term answer at Wisconsin. Your point is a valid one, but I also think it's imperative that West division programs upgrade their recruiting efforts to keep up with Urban Meyer, Brady Hoke and Bill O'Brien in the East.

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Adam from Chicago writes: Lots of excitement within Northwestern fan circles about the forming 2014 recruiting class. Is this class a sign that Northwestern is ready to become a legitimate contender for the immediate future or is this class just exciting because previous ones have been more average?

Adam Rittenberg: The recruiting uptick shows momentum is building at Northwestern. The combination of wins on the field, improved recruiting and, most important, the new lakefront facility being built puts Northwestern in position to be a more consistent division/league title contender. Northwestern's placement in the seemingly easier West division also helps. Pat Fitzgerald brought in some average recruiting classes at the start of his tenure, but the quality of recruits has improved in the past three seasons and 2014 has a chance to be the best yet. The question is whether Northwestern can continue to win 8-10 games per year as the schedules get a bit tougher in future seasons. Ultimately, it all comes down to wins and losses, but Northwestern definitely is bringing in more talent now than it was five years ago.

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Aaron from Bettendorf, Iowa, writes: After getting engaged over the weekend we have been discussing possible dates. We both like Fall 2014; however, that prime time Big 10 football season. We are in agreement that it CANNOT be on an Iowa weekend. With the additions of Maryland and Rutgers next year it is hard to know the schedule this far in advance. Any ideas when we might have some clarity on this situation regarding bye weeks for next season.

Adam Rittenberg: First of all, congrats to you and your fiancée! The simple answer is to tell her, like I told my wife, that we had to get married in the spring or summer (wife still a bit peeved, by the way). If that doesn't fly, wait a few more weeks as the Big Ten hopes to release the 2014 and 2015 schedules by the end of May. The Big Ten would like to get all its significant business -- bowl lineup, future schedules -- finished by the presidents/chancellors meeting June 2. So sit tight for now and you should know the schedules soon. One thing in your favor is that Iowa will have two open weeks rather than one in the 2014 season, like it will this fall.

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Craig from Braintree, Mass., writes: Adam, like your choice of important games for Minnesota. Have you done any more in depth study as to why previous Kill teams have succeeded in their third year? I believe that there are three particular reasons - Kill's leadership, consistency of staff and the quality of his physical fitness coach.

Adam Rittenberg: All three of those factors undoubtedly have contributed to Kill's Year 3 success at previous spots like Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois. Two other factors: he had more of his own recruits in positions to contribute, and every player had greater familiarity with his system. Former Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish, for example, was recruited by the previous staff but redshirted the season before Kill arrived. He had two years to develop in the offense under Kill's staff before putting together a record-setting 2010 season -- Kill's third at the school -- in leading the Huskies to the MAC title game.

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Jeremy from Columbus writes: You've said that Big Ten fan bases tend to frown upon games against the MAC, but why is this? Obviously we'd all rather watch a game against the Pac 12, but no team is going to schedule 12 games against BCS teams. If the Buckeyes demand on playing two 'cupcakes' each year, I'd much rather play local teams like Miami and Toledo than Alabama-Birmingham and Central Florida. When we played Miami last year, there were tons of Miami fans. Half the OSU students at the game had a friend from high school who had gone to Miami that they had been trash talking with in the week leading up to the game. In my opinion, that local aspect really helps build up the excitement for the game, even if the game itself usually isn't very good.

Adam Rittenberg: Jeremy, some great points here. Most fans don't understand why teams play cupcake/guarantee/gimme games in non-league play, and that's not a bad thing as programs should be pressured to challenge themselves and schedule attractive opponents for the fans. But the reality is these games will be played in some form (one per year, two per year), and there's value in playing teams from the same state or region. Ohio State has done this a lot over the years, and it helps that six MAC programs are located in Ohio. These are great opportunities for MAC teams to not only play on bigger stages but record signature wins. As long as Big Ten teams are playing at least one marquee game per year, I think there will be less grumbling about the MAC games. But it's also important for the MAC to keep improving as a league. Last year was a step in the right direction, but the MAC had been on a steady decline for a while. Most Big Ten fans will never get excited about playing MAC opponents, but if they understand the realities of scheduling and the benefits for playing in the state/region, they could start tolerating them.

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Ryan from Lincoln, Neb., writes: No more Pretender or Contender? When will you finish the remaining schools?

Adam Rittenberg: Ryan, we actually completed the series last week with the Illinois post. You can check out all nine posts here. As we pointed out in each post, we considered Ohio State, Michigan and Nebraska likely preseason top-20 teams and therefore bona fide contenders. So we didn't do polls for those squads. Maybe we should have for Michigan and Nebraska, but we didn't. There was some interesting voting. You guys don't think much of the Big Ten as only Northwestern was labeled a contender. Wisconsin finished with a 50-50 contender/pretender split. The voting for both Michigan State and Penn State was fairly even but leaned toward pretender. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue all were clear-cut pretenders, according to the voting.

Your Big Ten spring meetings version ...

• Future football schedules likely will be a hot topic at Big Ten meetings. So will bowl games, Lee Barfknecht writes.
• Nebraska coach Bo Pelini has been tough on player conduct, so how will he handle Alex Lewis? The details of Lewis' assault arrest aren't good.
• Michigan State picks up a commitment from tight end Matt Sokol. MSU's athletic budget once again is balanced. The Spartans have a favorable 2013 schedule.
• Minnesota coach Jerry Kill will get a raise, but not right away, his boss says.
• Michigan's depleted 2010 recruiting class hurts depth but not leadership. The Wolverines are recruiting Snoop Dogg's son.
• Penn State coach Bill O'Brien would like to be able to meet with players during the summer. CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd checks in with Jay Paterno. Nine Lions players take part in NFL rookie minicamps. Penn State quarterback Tyler Ferguson made this list of spring standouts.
• Purdue has seen an increase in football season-ticket sales after a more aggressive push. Missed this from late last week, but Jim Tressel talks Darrell Hazell.
• Former Northwestern receiver Demetrius Fields signs a free-agent deal with the Chicago Bears. Northwestern kick specialist Hunter Niswander relishes pressure situations.
• Several key Ohio State players to watch this season.
• Wisconsin deputy AD Sean Frazier is a finalist for the top job at Rutgers.
• Some Indiana tidbits from athletic director Fred Glass.

CHICAGO -- The Big Ten's annual joint group meetings are under way as men's basketball coaches, athletic directors and others gathered Monday afternoon.

The portion of the ADs' meetings most relevant to the Big Ten football blog take place Tuesday and Wednesday, so I'll have much more coverage on those days. Groups of athletic directors are scheduled to meet with media members both days, and Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany will make an appearance Wednesday afternoon.

A few quick notes from Day 1:

• The Big Ten's bowl lineup will be changing beginning in 2014, and colleague Brett McMurphy has some more details here. McMurphy reports that the Big Ten and ACC will share tie-ins with the Gator Bowl and Music City Bowl during a six-year agreement, so three Big Ten teams would go to Jacksonville and three to Nashville in the span. They'll face SEC opponents in both games. The Big Ten had a tie-in with the Music City Bowl from 2002-2005. As ESPN.com reported earlier, an ACC team could replace a Big Ten team in the Capital One Bowl when a Big Ten team makes the Orange Bowl. Other bowls the Big Ten could add to the lineup include Pinstripe (against ACC) and Holiday (against Pac-12). Don't expect the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas to be part of the next Big Ten bowl lineup.
• All 12 current Big Ten athletic directors are here along with Maryland AD Kevin Anderson, whose program joins the conference in 2014. Rutgers has yet to hire an athletic director to replace the ousted Tim Pernetti, although The Star-Ledger reports that the pool is down to two candidates: Wisconsin deputy athletic director Sean Frazier and Louisville senior associate athletic director Julie Hermann. A decision is expected later this week. Frazier has been with Wisconsin since 2007 and became deputy AD in 2011 after Shawn Eichorst left for the top job at Miami. Eichorst is now AD at Nebraska.
• The Big Ten will move its spring meetings to its new office beginning in 2014. Coaches from football, men's basketball and women's basketball will attend on a rotation basis. Since men's basketball coaches are here this year, football coaches or women's basketball coaches will attend next year's event.

There has been plenty of recent news on the recruiting trail around the Big Ten, and we're a bit overdue for a scorecard, so here's the latest rundown. Teams are sorted based on most verbal commitments for the 2014 class.

MICHIGAN

Total commits: 9
ESPN 150 commits: 8
The latest: Michigan's recruiting once again is off to an extremely fast start, as the Wolverines not only are piling up commits but quality players. Defensive end Lawrence Marshall on Saturday became the eighth ESPN 150 prospect to pick Michigan. No other FBS team has more than five ESPN 150 players pledged for the 2014 class. Barring a surprise turn, Michigan will sign a top-5 class in February. The Wolverines currently rank No. 3 in the RecruitingNation rankings.

PENN STATE

Total commits: 9
ESPN 150 commits: 1
The latest: Penn State has filled out most of its 2014 class before mid May, and the Lions are adding quality prospects like ESPN 150 athlete De'Andre Thompkins, wide receiver Chris Godwin and linebacker Troy Reeder. The Lions picked up two more commits late last week in defensive back Marcus Allen and linebacker Jared Wangler. Bill O'Brien and his staff have to be selective because of scholarship restrictions, but they've also been aggressive in piling up early commits. Penn State is No. 13 in the latest class rankings.

NORTHWESTERN

Total commits: 8
ESPN 150 commits: 0
The latest: Northwestern is quietly putting together the best class in coach Pat Fitzgerald's tenure. The Wildcats are 19th in RecruitingNation's class rankings after an excellent week that ended with them landing talented running back Auston Anderson on Thursday. Anderson's pledge came on the heels of four-star athlete Dariean Watkins choosing Northwestern. Although Northwestern hasn't landed an ESPN 150 prospect, it boasts several commits (QB Clayton Thorson, Watkins) who are close.

OHIO STATE

Total commits: 8
ESPN 150 commits: 1
The latest: Urban Meyer's assistants are all over the recruiting trail -- and letting us know about it on Twitter -- and after a six-week drought without a commitment, the Buckeyes added one Sunday in wide receiver Lonnie Johnson. The Gary, Ind., native had offers from Indiana, Purdue and Nebraska, among others, but gives Ohio State a four-star prospect at a position of need. Ohio State checks in at No. 14 in the latest class rankings.

MICHIGAN STATE

Total commits: 6
ESPN 150 commits: 0
The latest: The Spartans' total hasn't changed since they picked up linemen Brian Allen and Enoch Smith Jr. during spring game weekend, but they're closing in on prospects like tight end Matt Sokol and defensive end Rashawn Pierce. The downside is that Michigan State lost Marshall to rival Michigan after many believed Marshall would go green. Michigan State also had been pursuing Watkins, who verballed to Northwestern.

WISCONSIN

Total commits: 4
ESPN 150 commits: 1
The latest: Gary Andersen's staff has added just one 2014 commit (defensive tackle Craig Evans) since taking over in late December. Although Evans pledged in March, the Badgers staff has been active on the recruiting trail and extending plenty of scholarship offers. Wisconsin made a late addition to its 2013 class last week by picking up junior-college cornerback Tekeim Reynard.

ILLINOIS

Total commits: 4
ESPN 150 commits: 0
The latest: The Illini added to their quarterback depth earlier this month by picking up a commitment from Ohio prep signal caller Chayce Crouch. Crouch led his team to the state championship game last season and had received scholarship offers from several MAC programs, as well as some interest from other Big Ten schools. Illinois also has injected some more spice into its in-state rivalry with Northwestern by picking up defensive end recruit Tito Odenigbo, the younger brother of Wildcats defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo.

IOWA

Total commits: 3
ESPN 150 commits: 1
The latest: The Hawkeyes haven't added to their total since getting a pledge from offensive lineman Lucas LeGrand in early April. But with three in-state prospects -- headlined by guard Ross Pierschbacher, the nation's No. 47 player and highest-ranked Big Ten commit, according to RecruitingNation -- Iowa still is off to a decent start. Iowa is extending its recruiting reach to Georgia and recently offered defenders Henry Famurewa and Bradley Chubb.

MINNESOTA

Total commits: 3
ESPN 150 commits: 0
The latest: The Gophers added two verbals during spring game weekend in athlete Dimonic McKinzy (early All-Name team nominee) and defensive tackle Steven Richardson. In-state running back Jeff Jones, a three-star prospect, headlines the class so far. Like the previous coaching staff, Jerry Kill and his assistants are targeting Texas for recruits like linebacker Everett Williams and defensive end Noah Westerfield.

NEBRASKA

Total commits: 2
ESPN 150 commits: 0
The latest: The Huskers wait for their second 2014 commitment ended last week as Texas defensive back Jason Hall pledged for Big Red. At 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, Hall brings excellent size to Nebraska's defensive backfield. Although Nebraska should continue to add to its total in the coming weeks and months, recruiting coordinator Ross Els told ESPN.com last week that the Huskers likely won't see a surge until prospects start coming to campus on official visits this fall.

PURDUE

Total commits: 1
ESPN 150 commits: 0
The latest: Purdue is going back to its recruiting roots under new coach Darrell Hazell, as its first verbal for 2014 comes from the fertile state of Texas. The Boilers recently added wide receiver Trae Hart to the mix. I'll have more on this later in the week, but Boilers recruiting coordinator Gerad Parker said the program is ramping up its efforts in the Lone Star State, mindful of the success former Purdue boss Joe Tiller had there.

INDIANA

Total commits: 0
ESPN 150 commits: 0
The latest: After signing an excellent recruiting class in February, Indiana's efforts for 2014 are off to a slow start. Indiana and Colorado are the only programs from a big-five conference (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12) without a verbal commit for next year. Things should pick up when camps kick off next month in Bloomington.

Future Big Ten members Rutgers and Maryland also are recruiting for the Big Ten, so here's a quick look at how they're doing ...

RUTGERS

Total commits: 9
ESPN 150 commits: 0
The latest: The Scarlet Knights recruited well under Greg Schiano, had six players selected in April's NFL draft and continue to bring in quality players under Kyle Flood. After a productive March and April, Rutgers began May by adding a pledge from defensive tackle Pete Mokwuah. Running back Joshua Hicks and defensive end Justin Nelson headline Rutgers' 2014 so far. Rutgers also went into current Big Ten territory for quarterback Tyler Wiegers from Detroit Country Day School.

MARYLAND

Total commits: 3
ESPN 150 commits: 0
The latest: The Terrapins added two pieces to their 2014 class in recent weeks in running back Johnathan Thomas from Massachusetts and athlete William Ulmer from Washington D.C. Maryland has plenty of local and regional players on its radar for 2014, as the areas surrounding College Park consistently produce a ton of FBS talent. The Terps picked up most of their 2013 recruits before the start of the season, but they might have to be more patient after a 4-8 record in 2012.

Red Wings-Blackhawks one last time in the Western Conference playoffs? Yes, please.

• No more media trailers at Michigan State? Yes, please. Here's more on the proposed Spartan Stadium renovation. Matt Charboneau is reserving judgment on a Spartans team projected all over the map. Linebacker recruit Chris Frey is headed to East Lansing.
• Minnesota offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover talks about his amazing weight-loss transformation, which included gastric-bypass surgery.
• Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst has a new style but old-school values, Tom Shatel writes. A Q&A with the new Nebraska AD. Bo Pelini's Big Ten colleagues challenge him on the recruiting trail.
• Teddy Greenstein tees it up with Illinois coach Tim Beckman. Get to know these five Illini players before the fall.
• A good look at how Ohio State's unheralded 2010 recruiting class factors into a national title push. Orlando Pace's Hall pass puts the spotlight on Ohio State's great offensive linemen. Former Ohio State player Barry Walker passed away Friday.
• Northwestern's recruiting efforts are on the upswing for 2014 and beyond. Recruit Auston Anderson's mom gave him the extra push he needed to pick Northwestern.
• Penn State coach Bill O'Brien is excited about LB Nyeem Wartman in 2013 and beyond. A good piece on O'Brien, his wife and the challenges they face with a special-needs child. The Lions add two more recruits to their 2014 class.
• Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison played a big role in Lawrence Marshall's commitment. Kyle Meinke takes our "most indispensable" series one step further and lists Michigan's six most indispensable players. Breaking down Michigan's 2013 schedule.
• Coach Gary Andersen wants to keep a small-school feel at Wisconsin.
• Purdue coach Darrell Hazell talks toughness, the summer plan, personnel and much more in this interview with Pete DiPrimio. Will the Boilers' streak of NFL draft picks continue in 2014?
• Pat Harty runs down the top 10 Iowa players of the Hayden Fry era. Marc Morehouse examines Iowa's future nonconference schedules, which include more games with Northern Illinois.
• Indiana strength coach Mark Hill is mic'd up during a spring practice.

You can bemoan the Big Ten's recent lack of elite talent at some positions like quarterback and wide receiver. But one spot where the league has been traditionally strong is at defensive tackle.

That has been arguably the conference's deepest and strongest position in the past two years, filled with stars like Devon Still, Mike Martin, Jerel Worthy, Jordan Hill, Kawann Short and Johnathan Hankins, to name a few. In an otherwise slow NFL draft for the league, the Big Ten saw four defensive tackles get selected last month, including two underclassmen (Hankins and Akeem Spence). In 2012, the conference had five defensive tackles get drafted.

That's why it's notable that, heading into the 2013 season, the Big Ten has no established stars on the defensive interior. Several schools lost top players to either graduation or the draft, including Ohio State (both starters, Hankins and Garrett Goebel are gone), Penn State (Hill), Purdue (Short), Michigan (Will Campbell), Indiana (Adam Replogle and Larry Black Jr.), Illinois (Akeem Spence and Glenn Foster), Nebraska (Baker Steinkuhler), Northwestern (Brian Arnfelt) and Michigan State (Anthony Rashad White).

That's a big talent drain for one position. None of the returning defensive tackles in the league have ever made first- or second-team All-Big Ten. The top veteran tackles in the conference look like this (in alphabetical order):

• Beau Allen, Wisconsin, senior: An underrated player, the 330-pound Allen has what you'd call a low center of gravity, with calves that look like a normal man's thighs. He's a big reason why the Badgers were able to keep teams from running the ball effectively up the middle last year.
• Bruce Gaston, Purdue, senior: Overshadowed at times by Short, Gaston has the ability to disrupt things up front as well and will be asked to do more this season. He was slowed by injuries last year.
• Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota, senior: As athletically gifted as any Big Ten D-tackle, the 6-foot-6, 310-pound Hageman started to figure things out last season and had a strong spring. He looks like a guy who can take his game to the elite level if he stays focused and driven.
• DaQuan Jones, Penn State, senior: The 330-pounder is hoping to break out as a senior the way Hill and Devon Still did the past two years. He's been more of a run-stopper than a big-time playmaker so far in his career.
• Quinton Washington, Michigan, senior: He moved into a starter's role last year and will be the most experienced tackle on the Wolverines following Campbell's graduation. With the Michigan coaching staff's expertise on defensive line play, he could take a step forward this year.

All of those guys have been solid contributors, but hardly superstars. They're also all seniors, so maybe they'll go out with a bang.

Or maybe it's younger guys who emerge as the next wave of great Big Ten defensive tackles. Iowa's Carl Davis had a huge spring game and has always had talent but not health. Injuries have also held back Nebraska's Thad Randle and Ohio State's Michael Bennett. Michigan State's Lawrence Thomas, Michigan's Ondre Pipkins, Nebraska's Aaron Curry and Penn State's Austin Johnson could be on the rise. Recruiting and developing stud defensive tackles may be one of the hardest things to do in football, however.

On paper, the Big Ten defensive tackle situation looks to be down from the past couple of years. But new stars are sure to step forward in the fall. Several of them will have to do if the league's recent strong tradition at the position is to continue.

Wishing you a great weekend. Be sure to follow us on Twitter if you aren't already.

To your questions ...

Tons of fun from Champaign, Ill., writes: I've seen a lot of comments and disgruntled fans talking about the neutral site games for the Big Ten and how it takes away from the student and campus atmosphere that college football is known for. As a graduating senior however, I remember some of the most memorable games I attended being neutral site games. The Arch Rivalry games between Illinois and Mizzou were some of the most exciting college atmospheres I had experienced despite never winning (I wish it would come back). Also, the Illinois/Northwestern game at Wrigley Field was a blast being able to go out in Wrigleyville before and after the game (fortunately for me I was in the "scoring" endzone), and I look forward to the Washington game at Soldier Field next year. I feel that the neutral site games bring the campus atmosphere to these NFL stadiums and it creates a unique experience away from campus. The fans for the most part show unprecedented sportsmanship that you don't often see at the campus tailgates. As a current student who has experienced these neutral site games I hope they don't go away just because of poor attendance and traveling distance. Or maybe I'm just the only one... Thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: Some good thoughts here, especially about better sportsmanship at these games. You're definitely not the only person who likes neutral sites. From a tradition standpoint, there's a drawback as teams only play 6-8 home games a year, and each of those dates is special for the fans. There are different types of neutral-site games, from rivalries like Illinois-Missouri, Oklahoma-Texas and Florida-Georgia that have strong ties to a neutral site, to novelty games like Illinois-Northwestern at Wrigley Field. My take: if neutral-site games get us more attractive non-league games, I can sacrifice a campus-site game here and there. I'm so tired of unappealing non-league games, and if this is the only way certain schools will upgrade their schedules, fans should get on board. Who wants to see Nebraska-Idaho State or Illinois-Charleston Southern? I'd much rather trade those clunkers for appealing neutral-site games.

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Seth from Chicago writes: Hey Adam - Bobby Stoops recently ruffled some southern feathers by suggesting that while the top few SEC teams are ahead of the rest of college football, the rest of the conference is no better than any other conferences bottom group. Sports Nation lined the SEC up with the Big 12 - any chance you and/or Brian will line the Big 10 and the Pac 12 up (something we actually could have seen on the field if the scheduling agreement didn't blow up before it started)?

Adam Rittenberg: Absolutely, Seth. Maybe we'll do a more in-depth comparison with the Pac-12 blog, but here's my very quick analysis of the matchups, based on the most recent Pac-12 and Big Ten post-spring power rankings.

Ohio State vs. Stanford (edge: Ohio State)
Michigan vs. Oregon (edge: Oregon)
Northwestern vs. Arizona State (edge: Northwestern)
Nebraska vs. UCLA (edge: Nebraska, but we'll find out Sept. 14)
Wisconsin vs. Washington (edge: Washington)
Michigan State vs. Oregon State (edge: Michigan State)
Penn State vs. USC (edge: USC)
Minnesota vs. Arizona (edge: Arizona)
Indiana vs. Utah (edge: Indiana)
Purdue vs. Cal (edge: Cal)
Iowa vs. Washington State (edge: Iowa)
Illinois vs. Colorado (edge: Colorado, I guess)

It's a true 6-6 split in my view, and several games (Northwestern-ASU, Penn State-USC, Michigan State-Oregon State) are really tossups. The leagues are comparable entering 2013. Ohio State and Stanford both are national title contenders, and you can never count out Oregon. The Pac-12 might have a slight edge at the top, while the Big Ten seems a little stronger in the middle of the league.

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Dan from Pittsburgh writes: Adam, Now that the B1G divisions are set for the foreseeable future, how do you think the conference will be handling Thanksgiving Weekend rivalry games? Aside from what has already been announced (UM/OSU and Nebraska/Iowa), the conference could set itself up with some very appealing match-ups, think Paul Bunyan's Axe or the Battle for Chicago. No disrespect to a steadily improving MSU, but I'm hoping my Nittany Lions will finally get a real end of the year rivalry with either UMd. (not sure if the B1G can make a trophy out of the Mason-Dixon Line) or Rutgers (the losing state must claim Filthadelphia for the next 365 days).

Adam Rittenberg: Dan, I think you can pencil in most of the rivalry weekend matchups right now. Two factors to keep in mind are division games and proximity, as many fans won't have as much time to travel because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Ohio State-Michigan and Purdue-Indiana are guarantees. In splitting up Purdue and Indiana, the Big Ten agreed to keep the Bucket game on its traditional day. Although the Nebraska-Iowa series needs a little bit of juice, it makes sense for Thanksgiving weekend because of proximity. I really like the Friday game because it provides an exclusive national TV window, and I think Iowa fans will warm up to it in time.

Illinois-Northwestern isn't a huge rivalry and has moved dates a lot in recent years, but it also makes sense for that weekend because of the schools' proximity. So that leaves four East division teams: Penn State, Michigan State, Maryland and Rutgers. PSU-MSU was more of a faux rivalry with a hilarious/hideous trophy than anything else, but it could go there and then the Big Ten could pair the two new members. I'd also be fine with Penn State-Maryland and Michigan State-Rutgers. The proximity component doesn't really work for Michigan State, but there really aren't other options. What I like is that aside from Purdue-Indiana, every game is in the division. Right now, the Big Ten has way too many cross-division matchups on that Saturday and down the stretch in November.

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Fred from the Land of Sky Blue Waters writes: Hi Adam,Will Wisconsin continue to be one of the better B1G teams? Last year they struggled to get through their non-conference schedule, and then were basically gifted a ticket to the conference championship game. And now you add in a new coaching staff, which may or may not work out. As much as everyone seems to think they are one of the B1G elite and the ship will continue to sail as usual, things could also start taking a slide (see Iowa), don't you think?

Adam Rittenberg: Fred, last season was unusual all around in the Big Ten, and Wisconsin definitely went through a transition period with its new assistants. Another transition period could be on the way with Gary Andersen coming in and seven new assistants. But remember that Wisconsin returns 25 seniors, a group that only knows winning. Bret Bielema pointed to 2014 before last season as the year when he could possibly have his best team in Madison. It's possible Wisconsin takes a step back, but the foundation is in place, the facilities are finally being upgraded (long overdue) and Andersen understands the positions (wide receiver, defensive back) that need an upgrade in recruiting. I get the Wisconsin-Iowa comparison, but Wisconsin has been consistently good longer than Iowa has, and while both programs face some recruiting challenges, I like what Wisconsin is doing so far. So we'll see, but I'd be surprised if Wisconsin falls back too far, especially in the seemingly easier West division.

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Samuel from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: Adam, let's not go too far. "Everyone wants to know who will have the important and unenviable task of choosing the field of four for the Playoff each year." Important. Sure. Millions of dollars are involved. Unenviable? How many college football fans do you think would find the task of picking the playoff unenviable?

Adam Rittenberg: Samuel, most fans I deal with freak out at the mildest critique (read: truth) about their team. You honestly think they could handle the immense pressure and scrutiny the selection committee members will face? No way. Sure, it's a huge responsibility, but there are a lot of smart, qualified people in the business who want no part of being on the committee because of the intense spotlight. I deal with a portion of irrational Big Ten fans in my job -- not everyone, but some of you are -- and it can grade on you. I can't imagine the lengths some college football fans (cough, SEC, cough) would go to contact, criticize and pressure committee members. It'll be a largely thankless job, and a tough one.

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Randy from Marengo, Iowa, writes: It looks like a lot of B1G schools are working to upgrade their schedule. Iowa is stuck playing Iowa State, and with the 9-game schedule coming, that may be the only decent out of conference game they get. Assuming Iowa gets their act together and gets back to the level of 2009-2010, and ISU stays where they traditionally have been, what harm might that cause Iowa, if any?

Adam Rittenberg: Randy, while we could talk about Iowa's lack of recent success against Iowa State and Iowa State's recent upgrade under Paul Rhoads, your point about Iowa State being Iowa's only marquee non-league opponent every year is a valid one. I'm not opposed to Iowa playing good mid-major teams like Northern Illinois, but there's a lack of diversity on Iowa's schedule that seems a little troubling. Like all Big Ten teams, Iowa needs to decide its program goals and whether the College Football Playoff is realistic. If so, Iowa needs to think seriously about adding a bigger-name opponent to its non-league schedule. How that would impact the annual Iowa State rivalry remains to be seen. I'd be all for Iowa playing Iowa State and bigger-name non-league foe, but that might not be realistic for the Hawkeyes. If so, do you suspend the Iowa State series for a year or two and play a big-name SEC/Big 12/Pac-12 team? I'd be OK with that.

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Corey from Lansing, Mich., writes: Hey Adam, I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but when you say MSU hasn't won an outright B10 title since 1987, it bothers me greatly. OSU had the loss to Wiscy, Wiscy lost to MSU and all three had one loss. not to mention OSU (vacated) all of its wins from that season. I understand why it was a co-championship before the scandal (even though I never agreed with it). But why was the outright title never given to MSU after the "Tattoo 5"? Is there a 2010 B10 championship trophy still at Wisconsin? Again I'm sorry for bringing up something so old, but to me these are important questions that I have yet to find answers to

Adam Rittenberg: Corey, there still wouldn't have been an outright champion in 2010. Both Michigan State and Wisconsin finished with one loss (MSU to Iowa, Wisconsin to MSU), so they share the title. The Big Ten didn't have a championship game at the time so any teams that tied atop the conference shared the title, even if one beat the other. The same thing happened in 2008 with Penn State and Ohio State (shared title even though Penn State beat Ohio State). The bigger issue for MSU is that the Spartans would have gone to the Rose Bowl, based on their win against Wisconsin, if the Ohio State scandal had broken earlier. But it still would have been a shared title.

Inspired by Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign, our recruiting writers looked at other ways schools can sell themselves on the trail. Here's a look at recruiting pitches for the Big Ten:

Illinois Illini
What they’re selling: A chance to rebuild a program from the ground up, beginning with four-star quarterback Aaron Bailey, who signed in 2013.
What they’re missing: Just about all of the top prospects from their own state.

Indiana Hoosiers
What they’re selling: Indiana coach Kevin Wilson embraces the idea of a college spring break and is ready to head to Cancun with some of his players.
What they’re missing: Wilson looks like he might hold the group up in Mexico, however, as he still needs the assistance of a flotation device. Points that it is in the shape of a turtle, though.

Iowa Hawkeyes
What they’re selling: Iowa boasts one of the few staffs that can say they will be there all four years of a recruit’s career and has the history to back it up. Kirk Ferentz is the longest tenured coach in the Big Ten and it’s not even close.
What they’re missing: Out-of-state prospects tend to think Iowa is all cornfields, leaving the staff to battle that misconception countless times throughout the recruiting cycle.

Michigan Wolverines
What they’re selling: Michigan coach Brady Hoke looks like an outlaw patrolling the sideline on Saturdays without a headset.
What they’re missing: The player who graces the NCAA Football 2014 cover Denard Robinson. "Shoelace" was one of the Wolverines’ best recruiting tools.

Michigan State Spartans
What they’re selling: Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio is the man behind Little Giants, one of the greatest trick plays of the last few decades.
What they’re missing: A trip to a Rose Bowl under Dantonio would put Michigan State over the top when it comes to recruiting. There is already a significant difference in the caliber of player the Spartans are now getting compared to just a few seasons ago.

Minnesota Gophers
What they’re selling: The Gophers boast the biggest locker room in college football.
What they’re missing: They have not had a winning season since 2008.

Nebraska Cornhuskers
What they’re selling: Bo Pelini whipped out “The Bernie” in the Huskers’ Harlem Shake video. Harlem Shake equals instant credibility with recruits.
What they’re missing: A lack of a strong base of in-state talent makes it tough to recruit at Nebraska, and a Harlem Shake video can overcome only so much.

Northwestern Wildcats
What they’re selling: The new facilities are right near Lake Michigan, which, as assistant Bob Heffner is telling recruits, is a great spot for fishing.
What they’re missing: Not too many high schoolers in New Jersey have taken up fishing as a hobby. At least not yet.

Ohio State Buckeyes
What they’re selling: Urban Meyer is bringing SEC speed to the Big Ten.
What they’re missing: Has anyone actually clocked Meyer in the 40-yard dash? How fast is he really?

Penn State Nittany Lions
What they’re selling: Beaver Stadium fits more than 106,000 on Saturdays, making it the second largest stadium in the country. Inside is also one of the country’s most passionate fan bases, and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit once listed Penn State’s student section as “simply the loudest, most supportive student section in college football.”
What they’re missing: A full slate of scholarships and a chance to play for a Big Ten title the next few years.

Purdue Boilermakers
What they’re selling: Few programs have the history Purdue does at quarterback, and former Boilermakers Drew Brees, Kyle Orton and Curtis Painter are all on NFL rosters. The Boilermakers just signed ESPN 300 QB Danny Etling, too.
What they’re missing: Brees, Orton and Painter.

Wisconsin Badgers
What they’re selling: The Badgers have been to three straight Rose Bowls.
What they’re missing: The coach who took them there.

Is it late August yet?

• Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says a poor season in 2012 led to no night games in 2013. Iowa athletic director Gary Barta talks FCS games (or a lack thereof) on "College Football Live." The Hawkeyes face a tough road back to a bowl game this fall.
• Former Georgia Tech receiver Jeff Greene will walk on at Ohio State and have two years of eligibility left. CB Bradley Roby is projected to be the first Buckeye off the board in next year's draft.
• Five Penn State football questions to ponder as the team goes on summer break. Penn State hopes to finalize its 2014 opener in Ireland in the next two weeks. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett's lawsuit against the NCAA is hurting Penn State.
• Tom Dienhart lists his Big Ten post-spring power rankings.
• Former Arkansas QB Brandon Mitchell is considering a transfer to Michigan.
• Former Minnesota QB Max Shortell transfers to FCS Jacksonville State. Minnesota will earn up to $3 million per season from the NFL's Vikings when they play at TCF Bank Stadium.
• Purdue defensive coordinator Greg Hudson weighs in after spring practice (subscription required). Boilers young WR B.J. Knauf hopes to make a big impact this fall.
• Nebraska recruit Jason Hall has enough speed to succeed, according to his high school coach. The Huskers' five most important seniors for 2013.
• Michigan State is looking for linebackers on the recruiting trail. The Spartans are closing in on tight end recruit Matt Sokol.
• Former Northwestern DT Brian Arnfelt pushes himself to make it at the next level. Northwestern's strong recruiting push continues with RB Auston Anderson.
• Wisconsin S Dezmen Southward and WR Kenzel Doe get the surprise green light to compete for the school's track team. Wisconsin has one of the top 10 unsettled quarterback competitions coming out of the spring.