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BuckeyeNation

Austin Ward writes : Here are the player power rankings after spring practice.

Brad Bournival writes : Dante Booker, a four-star LB out of Akron, joins the 2014 Buckeyes class, picking OSU over a surging Notre Dame.

Bournival writes : Here are the top five uncommitted CB targets who have OSU offers.

NittanyNation

Josh Moyer writes : Here are the player power rankings after spring practice.

Moyer writes : Here are the top 10 defensive players the Nittany Lions will face this season.

WolverineNation

Michael Rothstein writes : Here are the player power rankings after spring practice.

WolverineNation roundtable: : The staff tackles questions about the No. 21 jersey, recruiting surprises and whom to follow on Twitter.

Good job filling up the mailbag during a slow time in college football. Let's do the question-and-answer session.

Andy from Lincoln, Neb., writes: Do you think the Big Ten's weak crossover schedule in 2014 could potentially prevent a one-loss team, such as Michigan, Wisconsin, or Nebraska, from being a part of the four-team College Football Playoff? I could see Michigan losing to Ohio State in 2014, not making the Big Ten championship and being left out of the CFP. Another possible scenario is an undefeated Wisconsin or Nebraska team losing in the Big Ten championship and being out of the CFP. Thoughts?

Brian Bennett: The crossover schedule won't help, but the biggest hindrance to a one-loss, non-Big Ten champion making the playoff next year is the perception that the league is not that strong. The Big Ten will need to perform well this year and win some big nonconference games in 2014 to have any chance of putting two teams in the four-team playoff, which still seems like a long shot. Some 2014 out-of-league games like Michigan-Notre Dame, Ohio State-Virginia Tech and Nebraska-Miami could bolster the league's case. Wisconsin's 2014 non-league slate -- highlighted by Washington State and USF -- will leave the Badgers little room for error.

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Rob NitLion from Morristown, N.J. writes: You "asked" (rhetorically) the wrong question in your recent blog post. The question is NOT "what do the Detroit Lions know about college football/bowl games" but "What is the draw for B1G fans to want to travel to Detroit in the winter...or in any season for that matter?" Is this really a destination that B1G fan bases want to travel to to see two mediocre teams face off in the post season? If my Nittany Lions finish 6-6 and make a bowl game (not for the next couple of years), do you really think I want to see them face a 6-6 ACC team (alright maybe Pitt) in any place other than a warm, sunny distination with other attractions to see as well as a football game? Can anyone say Detroit is a "winter destination" unless it's the SuperBowl?

Brian Bennett: First off, Rob, let's get the joke right. I asked, what do the Lions know about postseason football, a little jab at that organization's utter lack of playoff success. As for Detroit, well, there are casinos right by Ford Field, some nice Greek restaurants and, um, yeah. Let's be honest, that city is no one's idea of a great winter holiday spot. But the bowl is also likely to take 6-6 type teams, and when you finish with that kind of record, deep in the Big Ten standings, you don't really get to be choosy. The best thing about Detroit is that it's very close for most Big Ten fan bases, and if the bowl replaces the MAC with the ACC as the other tie-in, that has the potential to create some interesting games. And as I wrote, Big Ten fans are often complaining about how they play virtual road games during bowl season. Here's your Midwest bowl. Embrace it.

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Mochila from Grand Rapids, Mich., writes: A fellow reader indicated that MSU's secondary will not be very good this year due to their spring game performance and past dependence on Johnny Adams to operate on an island. I think the secondary has the potential to be improved considering MSU returns two All-Big Ten performers in Darqueze Dennard and Isaiah Lewis, Kurtis Drummond at the other safety position, who played very well last year, and a young Trae Waynes at the other CB position who started and performed very well in the bowl game. Do you think MSU's secondary will improve, regress, or stay roughly the same?

Brian Bennett: Adams was the Spartans' second-best corner last year, as Dennard outplayed him the entire season. Michigan State's secondary played well in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl without Adams, who was injured. I really like the potential of Waynes, and I think the Spartans will be just as good if not better in the defensive backfield.

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Vince from Phoenix, writes: Which game on Michigan's 2013 schedule do they have to win to (finally) win the Legends Division?

Brian Bennett: Winning all of them would be nice. The one that obviously sticks out is the Nov. 9 game at home against Nebraska, but it's probably more the three-game stretch that includes a road game at Michigan State the previous weekend and a trip to Northwestern on Nov. 16 that will make or break the Wolverines in the Legends race. Remember that road losses to the eventual division champions (at Michigan State in 2011 and at Nebraska last year) were what doomed Michigan the past two seasons. Brady Hoke's teams have been really good at home but are going to have to win away from the Big House to bring home a division championship.

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K. Norris from Detroit writes: Hello! Not that I disagree with the overall intent of Mr. Ted Miller's post earlier this week, but I will come rushing to the support of my 2 favorite Big Ten bloggers. Regarding the following quote: "Not to be outdone in prognosticative tomfoolery, the Big Ten blog picked Michigan State to win the conference. What were those guys thinking?" I would educate Mr. Miller that the 2012 Spartans did lose 4 games by a combined total of 10 points. It was the difference between 6-6 & 10-2 season. The team in the national championship game (Notre Dame) did only win by 17 against MSU. Yes, the Spartans were unable to find the extra gear when it was necessary to earn the 'W' at the end of games last year. That being said, it really was not a bad pick even from a national perspective. (Yes, green "Kool-Aid" tastes horrible.)

Brian Bennett: I'm pretty sure this is the first time in about eight months that anyone has told us our Michigan State title pick was not bad. In all seriousness, we clearly underestimated the inexperience of the Spartans passing game and gave too much credit to their offensive line. But 2012 was a weird year, considering that a team that finished 7-5 in the regular season (Wisconsin) went to the Rose Bowl -- and lost at home to Michigan State, I might add.

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@sammyj108 from Twitter writes: Could the Hoosiers really play 3 quarterbacks? Or a two-quarterback system? Or just pick a starter based on matchups week to week?

Brian Bennett: Indiana coach Kevin Wilson wanted to see someone among Nate Sudfeld, Cameron Coffman and Tre Roberson really stand out this spring, but they all played pretty equally. Ideally, he'd like to redshirt either Sudfeld or Coffman this year and have one main quarterback play. The problem is that Roberson is clearly the best runner but needs to improve as a passer, while Sudfeld and Coffman are both good passers but not great runners. I asked Wilson this spring whether he'd be comfortable playing a two-quarterback system, as he did last year after Roberson got hurt. "I don't know if you want one in, one out," he said. "I'd love to see one guy totally separate ... but if not, we can play more than one. I want to keep them all happy, and I want to keep them all here. But more than anything, we've got to win."

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Jay from Cincinnati writes: I am a little worried about Ohio State's recruiting class this year so far. I know it's early but seems like to would be better at this point.

Brian Bennett: Is Urban Meyer still the head coach? Then I'm not worried at all. He's one of the best closers in the game. If you're worried about the Buckeyes' recruiting in late May, take a deep breath.

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Jay from Arlington writes: Title drought? Who cares. It is not like most of the SEC's titles during their so-called streak are legit anyway. And honestly, it is a lot easier to get to the BCS title game when you only have to beat one or two good teams a year, which is all that is required of SEC teams due, in no small part, to media bias. Don't sell the Big Ten short. Penn State has every right to claim a share of the 2005 title having lost one game directly due to officiating. While Penn State lost a game a lot closer than the score, the 2009 Rose Bowl between Penn State and USC matched the top two teams in the country while the Fiesta Bowl matched the third and fourth best team in Texas and Ohio State. Conversely the title game set up the sixth best team (Florida) versus the eighth in Oklahoma.

Brian Bennett: I enjoy your theories and would like to subscribe to your newsletter. Revisionist history aside, however, the records are what they are. Seven straight titles trumps every argument.

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John from Iowa writes: In response you your Hope springs article: You have some misinformation posted when you talk about how many teams from each conference have made a BCS title game. The SEC has sent 4 teams not 5. They are: Tennessee, LSU, Florida, and Alabama. Also when you talk about the Big 12 sending 3 teams to the Big 10's only 1 team. One of those teams was Nebraska so you're essentially using the traditional power of one of our own teams to make your point about the Big Ten not being traditionally good.

Brian Bennett: Wow, Auburn fans must be steamed that John has already forgotten their 2011 national title. First Toomer's Oaks, and now this. I also find it funny that we get a lot of angry comments whenever we include Big-12 era Nebraska teams and coaches in our polls and lists, yet you want to include the Huskers when it might help out.

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GOB Bluth from Gobias Industries, Calif., writes: Have you seen Franklin? I heard he's in Portugal. That's in South America, right?

Brian Bennett: Did you check the dryer? He has had some trouble down there. If you go looking south of the border, watch out for Hermanos. C'mon!

If the season started tomorrow look for Ohio State to be an even bigger favorite to win the conference title.

Looking at Iowa's most important game in 2013: at Iowa State.

The Big Ten is rich. The SEC is rich. The two leagues are head and shoulders above the rest in terms of popularity and power.

So why is the SEC so far ahead on the football field? The question has been dissected over and over throughout the SEC's run of seven consecutive football national championships. You've heard about demographic changes and how there are more elite football recruits living closer to SEC campuses than Big Ten campuses. You've heard about speed. You've heard about oversigning. You've heard about superior coaching. You've heard about the passionate/maniacal year-round obsession with college football in the South that doesn't really exist in other regions.

Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke sheds light on another key difference between the Big Ten and the SEC, one that relates to revenue and specifically how the leagues use revenue differently. In an interview with The (Fort Wayne) News-Sentinel's Pete DiPrimio, Burke talks about the differences in the athletic department models between the Big Ten and the SEC.

"The SEC model, almost across the board, is sponsoring the minimum number of sports (16)," Burke told the News-Sentinel. "I'm not being negative toward the SEC, but their strategy has been to take seven men's sports and nine women's sports. That puts them in a gender equity balance. If you are getting 80,000 to 90,000 in your stadium, what that means is you're spending an awful lot on football. You have to call it what it is. I'm not saying it's wrong.

"The Big Ten model is, let's get more kids, more opportunities. We have a larger athlete base. Our grant in aid [scholarship] base is bigger. It's not that we don't spend, but football in the south is a religion. It just is. When you look at the dollars and models, they're very different."

Ohio State sponsors 36 varsity sports, while Penn State has 31 and Michigan has 27. Most SEC schools sponsor 19-21 sports. Purdue has 20 varsity teams but finds itself near the bottom of the Big Ten along with Northwestern (19 teams).

Big Ten fans probably don't want to hear that sports that generate little interest and zero revenue might be holding back their football teams from competing with the SEC for national championships. But Burke's point is valid: there are more mouths to feed in the Big Ten. It's a big reason why the Big Ten, while committing more money to assistant coaches, still lags behind the SEC in that area.

"The SEC and Big Ten are opposite ends of the spectrum. It makes for a challenge if you're going to try to challenge for a national championship."

Some will say Burke is making excuses for the Big Ten's recent woes. But he hits on an important difference between the two leagues that often gets overlooked. He also talks about the heightened interest level in the South -- "Football in the south is a religion. It just is" -- that can't be dismissed when sizing up these two conferences.

What do you think? Does the Big Ten's broad-based model hold it back on the gridiron, or is it just another way to mask bigger deficiencies in the league's football programs?

College football begins in fewer than 100 days, and now we have some more kickoff times announced for Big Ten games. The league has announced times for several 2013 homecoming contests around the league.

Here are the new announced homecoming kickoffs (all times ET):

Illinois: Oct. 26 vs. Michigan State, 3:30 p.m.
Indiana: Nov. 2 vs. Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.
Iowa: Oct. 5 vs. Michigan State, Noon
Michigan State: Oct. 12 vs. Indiana, Noon
Nebraska: Oct. 5 vs. Illinois, Noon
Purdue: Sept. 28 vs. Northern Illinois, Noon
Wisconsin: Oct. 12 vs. Northwestern, 3:30 p.m.

TV information for those games will be determined at a later date. Here are the two previously announced homecoming kickoffs:

Northwestern: Oct. 5 vs. Ohio State, 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN2)
Penn State: Oct. 12 vs. Michigan, 5 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN 2)

That just leaves three schools, who are expected to announce their homecoming kickoff times tomorrow: Michigan (Oct. 5 vs Minnesota), Minnesota (Sept. 28 vs. Iowa) and Ohio State (Oct. 19 vs. Iowa).

I love it here: manicured lawns, planned activities, early dinners. What more does a kid need?

• A must read: the second part of Mgoblog's look at a week in the life of Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges. Here's Part I. It seems unlikely the Wolverines will add a QB transfer. Michigan coach Brady Hoke talks turnovers (limiting them, that is).
• Some interesting thoughts from Purdue AD Morgan Burke on the Big Ten vs. SEC, the College Football Playoff and other national issues. A Q&A with Boilers offensive coordinator John Shoop. Former Boilers star Kawann Short signs with the Carolina Panthers.
• Former Penn State QB Steven Bench will transfer to South Florida. LSU is making a strong push for Penn State LB commit Jared Wangler (Insider). The rest of Penn State's 2013 recruiting class soon will arrive on campus.
• Find out why Ohio State coach Urban Meyer calls LB recruit Raekwon McMillan "bubble." A look at the Mount Rushmore of Ohio State tight ends.
• Kirk Ferentz says Northwestern was Iowa's "most representative" loss in 2012.
• Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio talks soft drinks -- and possibly hints at a 2-quarterback system, Mike Griffith writes. Some Spartans recruiting notes.
• It's OK the Big Ten dumps the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, unless it partners with the new Detroit Lions bowl, Graham Couch writes.
• Illinois is following a pay-to-win model with its non-league schedule. The Illini pick up a 2014 commitment from a juco tight end.
• Ranking the Big Ten's top five wide receivers.
• Former Nebraska coach and AD Tom Osborne will serve on the board for a national mentoring organization.
• The latest Wisconsin recruiting nuggets.
• Minnesota will induct two former football stars into its "M" Club Hall of Fame.

Michigan State's search for difference makers at wide receiver won't include Juwan Caesar. He has asked for, and received, his release and intends to transfer, the team announced Thursday.

Caesar, a 6-foot-4, 212-pound sophomore, didn't play a down for Michigan State. He redshirted in 2011 after sustaining a foot injury and didn't play last season, moving from wideout to tight end in Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl practices.

There's no word on where Caesar could transfer, although he's from Miami and could seek a destination closer to home.

RecruitingNation gave Caesar a four-star rating and listed him as the nation's No. 37 receiver in 2011. He was one of the highest-rated recruits in Michigan State's 2011 class.

Former Penn State quarterback Steven Bench is heading back to the South. South Florida, that is.

Bench announced Thursday that he's transferring to South Florida, selecting the Bulls ahead of Mississippi State. He will be eligible to play immediately because of the loosened transfer policies the NCAA gave Penn State players after imposing major sanctions against the program last summer.

After backing up Matt McGloin in 2012, Bench competed in spring practice with junior-college transfer Tyler Ferguson. Bench and Ferguson shared snaps in Penn State's spring game, but days later Bench announced he would leave the program after head coach Bill O'Brien told him that he had slipped behind Ferguson on the depth chart. Ferguson instead will compete for the starting job with heralded incoming recruit Christian Hackenberg.

Bench tweeted Thursday morning: "I’ve decided to attend the University of South Florida and become a bull!! #DoSomething."

A native of Bainbridge, Ga., Bench will return to a Big Ten stadium this fall with South Florida, which visits Michigan State on Sept. 7.

Now that spring practice is over, we're examining the most indispensable players on each Big Ten team for the 2013 season.

By indispensable, we don't necessarily mean best. We mean the players who would be hardest to replace between now and the start of the season if they got hurt or suspended or forced to listen to William Hung songs until their ears exploded. That could be because of their value to the team, or because of a lack of depth at their position.

We'll pick two players from each team, usually offense and defense, but not always. Purdue is our penultimate team in the series.

Bruce Gaston Jr., DT, Sr.

The Boilers already will be without a standout defensive tackle in Kawann Short, a second-round pick in April's NFL draft (first Big Ten player selected). They can ill afford to lose another space-eater in the interior defensive line. Gaston is a three-year starter who recorded two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 5.5 tackles for loss as a junior in 2012. Although Gaston hasn't put up All-Big Ten-type numbers, he has been consistently productive in his career and could take things to the next level as a senior leader. Gaston missed most of spring practice following thumb surgery but made an impact after returning for the final few workouts. "There’s weight classes in boxing for a reason," Boilers defensive coordinator Greg Hudson said, referring to Gaston. "When big guys move around, things happen. They create space and they alter the line of scrimmage." Hudson thinks Gaston, with a strong summer, could flourish at the 3-technique for Purdue this fall. He's critical to improving Purdue's run defense and overall consistency and would be missed if he goes down.

Akeem Hunt, RB, Jr.

There are several other possibilities here -- Ryan Russell, Dolapo Macarthy, Robert Kugler -- but it's hard to ignore what Hunt did this spring at a position where Purdue currently has very little depth. Hunt capitalized on the chance to establish himself as the Boilers' No. 1 back and more than just a speed guy. Although Purdue likely needs another back or two to emerge and could rely on incoming freshmen like Keyante Green, the coaches can enter camp knowing they have a good option with some experience and knowledge of John Shoop's offense. The passing game is a significant question mark as Purdue remains unsettled at quarterback and needs several receivers to step up. The Boilers can help their unproven signal-caller with a threat in the run game, and Hunt provides it. His contributions on special teams as arguably the Big Ten's fastest player also can't be overlooked.

More indispensable:

Michigan
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Nebraska
Indiana
Michigan State
Ohio State
Iowa
Penn State
Illinois

Jim Delany chose his words carefully when the Big Ten-Pac-12 scheduling alliance went kaput in July, but the Big Ten commissioner was ticked off.

He had gotten all his schools on board for a scheduling pact, which had been openly touted as an alternative to further expansion, that looked like a win for both sides, for TV, and especially for the fans. Ultimately, Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott couldn't deliver the same united front, and the agreement blew up.

"We thought we had captured a really innovative, positive idea for fans, coaches, and players in both conferences," Delany told ESPN.com last summer. "It's very disappointing."

But disappointment didn't ultimately become bitterness, and Delany's statement announcing the end of the partnership ended with, "We look forward to continuing the historic partnership that we have with the Pac-12, and to working together on other matters in the future."

Fortunately, those matters include future bowl agreements. Although neither league has officially announced its new bowl lineup for the 2014-19 seasons, all signs point to the Big Ten and Pac-12 meeting more often in the postseason.

Multiple reports say the Big Ten will add a tie-in with the Holiday Bowl against the Pac-12. The Big Ten also could add the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl to its lineup. The game's profile is on the rise as it moves to the San Francisco 49ers' new stadium in Santa Clara in 2014. The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl currently features the Pac-12, and that won't change.

So there's a strong chance the Big Ten and the Pac-12 will meet three times in the postseason in most years. This is good for several reasons.

1. Every Rose has its thorn

The Rose Bowl is great, but as we've saw during the BCS era, the traditional matchup of Big Ten champ vs. Pac-12 champ takes place less and less frequently. Although Big Ten and Pac-12 teams have met in the game in six of the past seven seasons, the best teams from the leagues haven't always gone. Ohio State, undoubtedly the Big Ten's dominant program of the BCS era, has made only one Rose Bowl appearance (2010 game).

The Rose Bowl's role in the upcoming College Football Playoff likely will further decrease the number of "traditional" matchups in the game.

2. Conference commonality

There's a reason the Big Ten and Pac-12 nearly pulled off the scheduling alliance. The two leagues are similar in many ways, from broad-based athletic programs to academically elite institutions. The SEC might be the Big Ten's biggest rival, but the leagues really don't share much in common. The Big Ten is much more like the Pac-12. They have a ton of history. It just makes sense for the Big Ten and Pac-12 to play more often in the postseason than just the Rose.

3. Variety

The Big Ten's current bowl lineup not only is overly difficult in my view, but it lacks variety. It's SEC, Big 12 and New Year's Day, that's it. Too much Florida and Texas. Not enough in other parts of the country.

The likely Pac-12 additions along with more games against the ACC (Pinstripe, new Detroit Lions bowl) provide a much-needed shakeup. Maybe this is the Californian in me, but would Big Ten fans rather travel to San Diego and San Francisco for bowls, or Jacksonville and Dallas? And that's not counting the large group of Big Ten fans who live on the West Coast.

The Big Ten-Pac-12 scheduling alliance would have been great. It's a shame that things fell apart. The upside is Big Ten fans are getting more conference games and seemingly more appealing non-conference games.

Now they'll likely get more Pac-12 matchups in the postseason. Glad to see it.

BuckeyeNation

Austin Ward writes : A handful of true freshmen could make an immediate impact for the Buckeyes.

Brad Bournival writes : 2015 DE Rashod Berry has a handful of MAC offers, but it’s OSU’s interest that has the Lorain, Ohio, prospect feeling “overwhelmed.”

NittanyNation

Josh Moyer writes : Everyone knows about the true freshman QB’s expectations, but there are a couple of other new kids on campus who could make an immediate impact.

WolverineNation

Chantel Jennings writes : At 6-foot-6 Ian Bunting figured his college future was in basketball, but he quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top tight end prospects.

Every Big Ten team will rely on a handful of freshmen (sometimes more than a handful) to fill key roles when the 2013 season rolls around. Which newcomers will make the biggest impact in the league?

Tom Luginbill, RecruitingNation's senior national recruiting analyst, has identified five names to remember among incoming freshmen who will enroll this summer. Luginbill already singled out Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple as an early enrollee who could make a difference this fall.

Two Big Ten freshmen make Luginbill's new list. Neither needs much of an introduction.

Michigan running back Derrick Green is expected to compete right away for a starting job. Ranked by RecruitingNation as the No. 5 running back (No. 38 overall player) in the 2013 class, Green will be Michigan's best option in the backfield as the Wolverines go back to a more traditional pro-set scheme that will emphasize power running. No Michigan back distinguished himself this spring, and Green likely will face the most competition from Fitzgerald Toussaint, who comes off of leg surgery.

Luginbill also likes the impact potential of Ohio State incoming freshman Dontre Wilson, who could be fill the so-called "Percy position" in Urban Meyer's spread offense in Columbus. Wilson, a speedster from Texas who picked Ohio State ahead of Oregon and Texas, brings playmaking ability to an offense that needs more of it other than star quarterback Braxton Miller. Although Jordan Hall returns to the mix after battling injuries throughout 2012, Wilson could have a significant role in the offensive vision with a strong preseason showing.

What other incoming freshmen (non-early enrollees) could make an impact in the Big Ten this season?

Here are a few:

Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg: It'll be Hackenberg or junior-college transfer Tyler Ferguson starting for the Lions in their season opener against Syracuse. Unless Ferguson creates significant separation in camp, Hackenberg likely will be a factor this season.

Indiana DT Darius Latham: The Hoosiers need help along their defensive line, and could turn to Latham right away. A four-star prospect with good size and athleticism (played basketball in high school), Latham should be part of the mix up front at IU.

Michigan State RB Delton Williams: The Spartans need help in the backfield after no one really emerged this spring, and the coaches moved backup middle linebacker Riley Bullough to offense for help. There's a good chance Michigan State turns to an incoming freshman and Williams, the team's highest-rated recruit in the 2013 class according to RecruitingNation, will have a golden opportunity in camp.

Ohio State S Vonn Bell: Unlike the other freshmen listed here, Bell doesn't play a position where Ohio State has an overly pressing need. But he might be too talented to keep off of the field, especially when the Buckeyes go to their nickel and dime packages.

Now that spring practice is solidly in the rearview mirror, we're examining the most indispensable players on each Big Ten team for the 2013 season.

By indispensable, we don't necessarily mean best. We mean the players who would be hardest to replace between now and the start of the season if they got hurt or suspended or had to go battle White Walkers north of The Wall. That could be because of their value to the team, or because of a lack of depth at their position.

We'll pick two players from each team, usually offense and defense, but not always. Let's turn now to the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Jonathan Brown, LB

Don't forget that Brown might never have been 100 percent healthy in 2012, when the Illini defense struggled mightily. He played in nine games but lacked the production he showed in a breakout sophomore campaign. Would Brown have made a huge difference in Illinois' final 2-10 record? Most likely not, since the team had so many other problems. But don't discount just how valuable a player he can be. This is a guy, after all, who had 108 tackles, six sacks and 19.5 TFLs in 2011. While Mason Monheim and Mike Svetina turned in promising campaigns as true freshman linebackers last year, defensive coordinator Chris Beatty would love to have a healthy Brown as a defensive difference maker in 2013.

Donovonn Young, RB

Frankly, it's a tough call finding two truly indispensable Illini because of how undistinguished most of the returning players are. That happens on a 2-10 team. We believe that the offense is better off with quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase starting, but that Reilly O'Toole or even freshman Aaron Bailey could handle the reins without him. Illinois will likely need Martize Barr and Miles Osei to stay healthy among a thin receiving corps, especially after the dismissal of Darius Millines. But Young is a guy who looks like a potential centerpiece of the offense, especially after he ran for 86 yards and three touchdowns in the spring game. He's a physical runner who could provide the punch in Bill Cubit's spread offense and improve a ground game that ranked last in the Big Ten in yards per carry last year. Josh Ferguson is a solid option at running back as well and brings a lot of speed to the table. But he's also been injury prone during his career, making Young look even more indispensable.

More indispensable:

Michigan
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Nebraska
Indiana
Michigan State
Ohio State
Iowa
Penn State

At 1:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, there will be a hearing in Upper Marlboro, Md., that should provide more information about the ongoing legal dispute between Maryland and the ACC.

Maryland intends to leave the ACC and play in the Big Ten in 2014, but the ACC intends to get every penny of the league's $52 million exit fee from the Terps. As of right now, the argument is at a standstill as the courts determine where this case will be tried -- in North Carolina or Maryland. Thursday's hearing will be focused on the ACC's attempt to dismiss the suit in Maryland.

The Maryland attorney general's office has forwarded ESPN.com three documents which help provide some context to their arguments. Based on the information in those documents, here's a look at both sides:

MARYLAND'S SIDE

Maryland writes that it is "seeking relief" from the ACC's intentions to "penalize the University of Maryland, College Park, its students, coaches and fans, and deny it the significant benefits of moving to the Big Ten Conference in 2014."

Maryland claims that "the ACC’s motion to dismiss is fundamentally flawed," and, "the ACC's legal arguments fare no better."

More from Maryland's Complaint:

"Through the illegal and improper conduct outlined in the Complaint, the ACC aims to send a message of deterrence to any other member school that might consider withdrawing from the conference -- any such attempts to do so will be met with harsh penalties. The ACC’s actions have resulted in the significant on-going and future damages suffered by the University.

The extensive factual allegations pleaded in the Complaint demonstrate that, if proven, the ACC’s actions constitute an illegal restraint of trade in violation of the Maryland Antitrust Act, tortiously interfere with Maryland’s contractual relationships and breach the ACC’s contractual commitments to Maryland as a member of the conference. These claims entitle Maryland to recover compensatory and punitive damages and to obtain injunctive relief against the ACC’s actions."

Maryland is claiming that the ACC is violating an antitrust law:

"Maryland’s Complaint pleads a viable antitrust claim because the ACC’s imposition of a $52 million withdrawal penalty is the direct effect of a horizontal conspiracy intended to and resulting in harm to competition. As pleaded, the withdrawal penalty constitutes an illegal restraint of trade in violation of § 11-204 of the Commercial Law Article."

"The ACC’s constitutional argument is premised on a misapplication of cases applicable to truly national sports organizations and to rules of those organizations that are uniformly applied and essential to producing a nationwide product. Neither circumstance exists here."

THE ACC's SIDE

The ACC writes that "This lawsuit violates the United States Constitution, is deficient on its merits, and is being pursued in the wrong forum. It therefore should be dismissed."

"In addition to being unconstitutional, plaintiffs' antitrust claim is deficient on its face because they have failed to plead, as is their burden, that the ACC unreasonably has restrained competition in any relevant product or geographic market or that the ACC has caused an injury to competition that is distinct from any harm that it has purportedly suffered in its individual capacity. And plaintiffs' tortious interference claim is deficient on its face because it fails in several respects to satisfy the elements of that cause of action under either Maryland or North Carolina law.

This lawsuit also should be dismissed because North Carolina is a more appropriate and convenient forum for this dispute."

The ACC makes its argument to have the case tried in North Carolina, writing that "all of the operative events took place in North Carolina, far more witnesses are located in North Carolina than any other state, and the dispute will be governed by North Carolina law."

As for Maryland's argument that these are not "truly national sports organizations," the ACC writes that:

"Simply put, sports leagues like the ACC are different from most commercial actors because their very nature requires that they be regulated on a national level if they are to exist at all."

Thursday's hearing won't tell us whether or not Maryland will have to pay up, but it is another step in what should be a long process.