ESPN College Football

The league meetings in Chicago and playoffs (cue Jim Mora clip) dominate your hump day links:

• The Big Ten's love of the Rose Bowl is making it act irrationally and against the league's best interests, Dan Wetzel writes.
• There's no guarantee on how that Rose Bowl relationship will continue.
• The Big Ten won't be able to use geography as an excuse for bowl performance in the future, Drew Sharp says.
• The league is pushing for a seven-win minimum to make a bowl game even though that may hurt some of its own teams.
• A selection committee is the best way to go to pick playoff teams, Andy Staples writes.
• Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas envisions playing a game in Chicago every other year.
• Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said he would welcome a night game against Michigan.
• Indiana AD Fred Glass says his athletic program is self-sustaining (subscription required).
• Brady Hoke talked about the need for leadership from his seniors during a speech to fans. Michigan missed out on Ty Isaac but has other options at running back.
• Athlon ranks Nebraska No. 14 and previews its season, while asking if Taylor Martinez is one of the league's top quarterbacks. A 92-yard romp through Yankee Stadium makes the list of most memorable Huskers touchdowns.
• Curt Warner's son hopes to follow in dad's footsteps at Penn State. Bill O'Brien will adjust his offense to fit his current players. Quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher says Matt McGloin leads in the QB race.
• Purdue's Otis Armstrong once heard he was too small to be a running back. Now, he's headed to the College Football Hall of Fame.
• Ohio State AD Gene Smith said the tattoo scandal hurt him and his family.
• Former Wisconsin athletic director Pat Richter earned an honor. Wisconsin spent about $44,000 investigating sexual impropriety allegations against former athletics administrator John Chadima.
• Maize N Brew asks what will be good enough for Minnesota.

Here are your lunchtime -- wait for it -- links.

• Playoffs are on the minds of Big Ten leaders as they gather in Chicago today.
• Penn State coach Bill O'Brien says he'd like to play Pitt on an annual basis, but the schedule may not allow it to happen. A decision on the Lions' starting quarterback should be coming soon. Penn State has gone to great lengths to help restore its reputation.
• Michigan receiver Jerald Robinson had his hearing on a misdemeanor charge postponed. A one-time Wolverines recruiting target says Michigan doesn't pressure prospects into committing. Tate Forcier signed with a CFL team.
• Le'Veon Bell is earning some high praise at Michigan State.
• Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke wants to preserve the Rose Bowl tradition.
• Concussions caused Ohio State's Andrew Sweat to walk away from football. Tom Dienhart analyzes the Buckeyes' schedule.
• Indiana's Kevin Wilson won't follow Tom Crean's lead and start recruiting eight- or ninth-graders.
• Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was asked about the debate over compensating players in a talk with students.
• Versatility will be key as former Gopher fullback Jon Hoese tries to make the Green Bay Packers.
• An Ohio linebacker has taken notice of Illinois and Tim Beckman.
• The married life suits Bret Bielema just fine.
• Kirk Ferentz went on the road to talk about what's happening with Iowa football.
• Nebraska's nutritionist talks about how to feed a bunch of hungry Huskers. The Lincoln Journal Star's countdown of the Cornhuskers' top 100 most memorable touchdowns takes a look at the beginning of the Triplets.

This isn't exactly surprising news, but Big Ten schools are among the biggest spenders -- and earners -- in all of college athletics, according to a new database compiled by USA Today.

The newspaper collected the expenses and revenues for Division I athletic programs in 2010-2011, the most recent year for which public schools' filings with the NCAA were available. The study showed that everything is bigger in Texas, including sports spending; the Longhorns outpaced every other school with a $133.7 million budget and more than $150 million in revenue.

But Big Ten schools also ranked high among the biggest spenders, with seven teams in the top 16 nationally. Here is how they stacked up nationally in operating expenses:

2. Ohio State: $122.3 million

3. Michigan: $111.8 million

6. Penn State: $101.3 million

9. Wisconsin: $95.6 million

12. Iowa: $93.4 million

14. Michigan State: $84.5 million

16. Nebraska: $83.7 million

22. Minnesota: $78.9 million

26. Illinois: $77.7 million

29. Indiana: $71 million

41. Purdue: $66.2 million

(Note: Information for Northwestern, which is a private school, was not available).

Only the SEC -- another surprise, right? -- has more big spenders than the Big Ten, with eight schools reporting more than $80 million in expenses

The USA Today report also said that only 22 athletic programs turned a profit in 2010-11, but 10 of the 11 Big Ten schools surveyed were in the black, while Minnesota broke even (Thanks, Big Ten Network). Penn State had the biggest profit, at nearly $15 million, while Michigan and Ohio State each reported revenue of about $11 million more than their expenses.

Another interesting part of the report is how much subsidy each athletic program receives from its school, in the form of student fees and other university support. Four Big Ten athletic programs -- Ohio State, Nebraska, Penn State and Purdue -- receive no school subsidy, something only seven Division I programs can claim. Meanwhile, Michigan ($272,000) and Iowa ($564,000) get less than a million, ranking in the bottom 10 nationally for subsidy support.

Here's a look at the subsidies other league programs receive:

Minnesota: $7.8 million in subsidies (9.9 percent of total operating budget)

Wisconsin: $7.2 million (7.5 percent)

Illinois: $4 million (5.1 percent)

Michigan State: $3.7 million (4.3 percent)

Indiana: $2.7 million (3.8 percent)

The USA Today report paints a picture of the haves and have-nots in college athletics and even suggests that the wild disparity between the upper echelon and the bottom schools could lead to a split in college football.

But while many schools' athletic programs are struggling to make ends meet or need vast support from their universities to keep the lights on, the Big Ten looks extremely healthy in its finances.

During the course of spring practice, Big Ten bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett visited 11 of the 12 league schools, getting an up-close look at the players and coaches who will shape the 2012 season.

Now it's time for them to share their thoughts on what they saw and learned this spring, and you can follow along as they exchange e-mails. First, they'll discuss the teams in the Leaders Division. A Legends Division e-mail exchange will arrive in the near future.

Brian Bennett: Adam, I guess the biggest story in the Big Ten this spring was the culture change at both Penn State and Ohio State. You went to both places. What was your sense of how different things are there now, compared to your previous visits to State College and Columbus?

Adam Rittenberg: There's definitely a new energy in both football complexes, Brian. Change can be tough on fans, especially at a place like Penn State where they've only known their program under Joe Paterno's watch, but the players seem to be excited about the new ways things are operating. At Penn State, they're excited to play for a coach (Bill O'Brien) who comes straight from the NFL and has made some much-needed modernizations to certain areas of the program (strength program, offensive philosophy). The enthusiasm about strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald and his philosophy really stood out to me at Penn State. I was also impressed by some of the younger players like freshman tight end Jesse James and redshirt freshman defensive end Deion Barnes.

The changes aren't as dramatic at Ohio State because Urban Meyer retained so many assistants from the previous staff. On the other hand, the thought of Ohio State running a true no-huddle, spread offense amazes players as much as it does the rest of us after so many years of TresselBall. One welcome change with both programs is greater accessibility for the media (and, through us, the fans). I had to pinch myself a few times while watching a Penn State practice.

You made your first visit to Madison, where, judging by the pictures you posted on Twitter, you likely gained 15 pounds and lost that Kentucky twang. What stood out about your time in Mad-city?

Brian Bennett: I'm just now shedding the last of those cheese curds from my system. Change was not really a buzzword with the Badgers, even with a slew of new assistant coaches and some turnover at key positions. This program has a system it believes in and will continue to do the same things year in, year out with new faces.

Wisconsin is still all about running the ball, and Montee Ball looked terrific during the practice he participated in while I was there. If possible, he's even a step faster, and backup Melvin Gordon is going to be a star someday as well. The quarterbacks and receivers weren't nearly as impressive or consistent, but Danny O'Brien wasn't there and Jared Abbrederis was out with his foot injury. I am intrigued by the size of some of the Badgers wideouts, like Marquis Mason (6-foot-4) and Chase Hammond (6-5). The Badgers could be effective throwing some jump balls to those guys, and with their tight ends and offensive line, their offense is going to be just fine.

There are more questions on the defense, but I liked what I saw from the defensive tackles and the secondary, which looks a little more athletic. We know the linebackers will be good with Chris Borland and Mike Taylor. If David Gilbert or someone else can come back and give them a pass rusher from the defensive end spot, this team should be loaded for a run at repeating in the Leaders Division.

I see Illinois as a bit of a mystery team in the division, with a new coach and a new system. How much progress did the Illini make in learning the spread under Tim Beckman, and do they have enough offensive playmakers to run it?

Adam Rittenberg: I don't think they do, although running back Josh Ferguson's performance in the spring game raises hope. Illinois also has some versatile players in cornerback Terry Hawthorne and quarterback Miles Osei who can fill in at receiver and/or running back if need be. But Beckman has been candid about the lack of depth at running back, and we both saw how that offense fared after opposing teams limited A.J. Jenkins' effectiveness. I do think quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase could end up being a good fit for the spread. He obviously has the mobility you need at that position, and while his arm strength is a question mark, he should be able to spread the ball around if enough weapons emerge. I think it's critical for receiver Darius Millines to stay healthy. He really had stood out in practices, but he just can't stay on the field.

I liked what co-offensive coordinator Chris Beatty said about the offense needing to regain its swagger. It's still hard to pinpoint exactly what happened to the unit last year, but I know when a spread offense establishes a nice tempo, it's awfully hard to stop. But here's the thing with Illinois: it might only need to score 20-24 points a game. The defense should be really, really good, and potentially better than last year's crew. The coaches are really excited about Michael Buchanan at end, and the front seven could be the best in the Big Ten.

You also spent some time in the Hoosier State this spring. Purdue coach Danny Hope feels this is his best team. Things couldn't get much worse for Kevin Wilson at Indiana after a 1-11 clunker in 2011. What sense did you get from being in West Lafayette and Bloomington?

Brian Bennett: I sensed quite a bit of confidence coming out of Purdue's camp. That will happen when you have 18 starters back, three healthy quarterbacks and are coming off a bowl win (granted, only against Western Michigan, but it beats the alternative).

The Boilermakers didn't let reporters watch any meaningful parts of spring practice because they're installing Tim Tibesar's new defensive system, so I didn't learn as much about them as I'd like. Still, it's clear this team has experience and some major talent with guys like Kawann Short and Ricardo Allen on defense. I think Purdue is very much a sleeper in the division, though we're going to need to see this team cut down some of its mental mistakes and play with far greater consistency than it has in the Danny Hope era.

The best thing I saw from Indiana was competency on defense. Wilson played so many freshmen last year, and the benefit is that those guys are now a year older and know the system. They were able to execute it much better this spring, and the juco kids will help a lot. The Hoosiers have some nice players on offense, like young quarterback Tre Roberson, running backs Stephen Houston and Isaiah Roundtree and tight end Ted Bolser, and I think Seth Littrell's system will play well to their strengths. Yet you look at the roster and compare it to the upper echelon of the Big Ten, and it's clear that Indiana has a long way to go to catch up and be any sort of factor in the league race.

I came away from the spring still thinking Wisconsin will win this division, but I also believe it will be a tight race and that Penn State could very well take it. Ohio State might end up being the best team in the Leaders but can't play for the league title. Did your spring visits make you feel any differently about the division?

Adam Rittenberg: I agree that Wisconsin remains the team to beat, but I came away thinking the division could have greater depth. The Legends still looks stronger with Michigan State, Michigan and Nebraska up top, and every Leaders Division team has some flaws. But Wisconsin knows how to win, returns a nice core and added a key piece in O'Brien. Ohio State will be a better defensive football team -- end John Simon is poised for an enormous senior season, and hopes are high for tackle Johnathan Hankins, too -- and while there will be some growing pains on offense, it's not as if the Buckeyes set an impressive benchmark in 2011. They were mostly awful.

Penn State and Illinois are very similar teams to me. Both have new coaches whose hiring elicited some skepticism. Both look extremely strong in the defensive front seven. Both retained excellent D-line coaches from the previous staff (Larry Johnson, Keith Gilmore). Both have standout linebackers (Gerald Hodges, Jonathan Brown) and stout defensive tackles (Jordan Hill, Akeem Spence). And both have major question marks on offense: Penn State more so at quarterback, Illinois more so at running back/receiver. Still, if the defenses perform to their capability, Penn State and/or Illinois could really make some noise in a wide-open division.

There are football guys, and there are track guys. It takes more than just speed to be good at football, which is why some coaches will dismissively call players "track guys."

But football guys sometimes give track a shot, too, like during this past weekend's Big Ten outdoor track and field championships in Madison, Wisc.

A few recognizable names from the league's gridiron competed in the event. Here's a look at how they did:

• Indiana wide receiver Nick Stoner was part of the 4X100 relay team that finished second and the 4X200 relay team that placed third. He was also 18th in the 200-meter dash prelims with a time of 21.61 seconds. Stoner played cornerback and wide receiver as a freshman for the Hoosiers last year but was known more for his special teams play.
• Ohio State's Devin Smith -- best known for catching the 40-yard touchdown pass to beat Wisconsin last season -- finished 12th in the high jump at 6 feet, nine inches. He was also 19th in the 100-meter dash prelims, with a time of 10.88 seconds. He could be a key part of the Buckeyes' offense this season.
• How versatile is Illinois' Ryan Lankford? He played wide receiver and punter last year to pull off that rare double. Lankford also finished 19th in the long jump, going 22 feet, seven inches.
• Kyle Jefferson, a former Wisconsin receiver, finished sixth in both the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes and was on the 4X400 relay team that placed second. That second-place finish clinched the overall men's title for the Badgers.

Doing well in one sport is hard enough. Congrats to these guys for succeeding in two.

It's a new week, and it's time to delve back into our series looking at the most indispensable players on each Big Ten squad entering the 2012 season.

Once again, this is not necessarily a listing of the best players on each team, but ones whose absence would be toughest to absorb because of their particular value or a lack of depth behind them. Let's take a look now at the Indiana Hoosiers:

Will Matte, C, Sr.

The Hoosiers have some replacement options for several key players on offense. For example, if quarterback Tre Roberson were unavailable, junior college import Cameron Coffman showed this spring that he could run the offense. Leading rusher Stephen Houston has solid backups in Isaiah Roundtree and Matt Perez. It wouldn't be nearly as easy to replace Matte, a fifth-year senior who has started 32 career games on what is otherwise a pretty young offensive line. Indiana had to scramble when Matte got hurt last season and would not want to be without his leadership again this year.

Adam Replogle, DT, Sr.

The Indiana defense was pretty brutal last year, but Replogle wasn't to blame. He led the team with four sacks, while adding seven tackles for loss and 49 stops overall, which was the most on the team's defensive line. He enters 2012 as the Hoosiers' active career leader in tackles, sacks and tackles for loss (tied in that last category with fellow defensive lineman Larry Black Jr., who's pretty indispensable himself). Replogle was a team captain last season, providing leadership to an extremely young team. He'll need to do that again, along with making plays up front to help this defense get better.

Clear alcohols are for rich women on diets.

• The Wall Street Journal's Rachel Bachman argues the Big Ten and Pac-12 should secede from the college football playoff and just stick with the Rose Bowl. Alabama coach Nick Saban doesn't exactly endorse Jim Delany's latest playoff proposal (something along the lines of "Hell no!").
• The Sporting News ranked 124 college football head coaches, with Urban Meyer (No. 3) topping the Big Ten contingent. Bret Bielema (No. 12) and Mark Dantonio (No. 13) were next in line.
• Defensive lineman Chris Rock (not that one) has left Michigan. Well, there go all the Chris Rock jokes I had holstered. Brady Hoke is already looking forward to the opener against Alabama.
• Evaluating the Michigan State receiver position in the wake of the DeAnthony Arnett news.
• Minnesota could get a $3 million bump from having the Vikings play in TCF Bank Stadium. The parents of the late Gary Tinsley received the degree he was scheduled to earn.
• Could Alex Anzalone still end up at Ohio State despite one of the weirdest recruiting flaps of all time?
• Bill O'Brien has a good idea who his quarterback will be, and that's likely Matt McGloin, Dustin Hockensmith writes. O'Brien says the Nittany Lions have big-play capability.
• Defensive end/linebacker Randy Gregory is still going to be a Purdue Boilermaker, just after a little detour.
• Athlon previews Wisconsin's 2012 season.
• The top recruit in the state of Iowa committed to Missouri. The Hawkeyes' new indoor practice facility should be up and running by the start of fall camp.
• Nebraska cornerback Charles Jackson didn't let an eligibility problem keep him down.
• Illinois appears ahead of its normal pace in recruiting.
• Maize N Brew offers an assessment of Kevin Wilson's challenges at Indiana.
• Off Tackle Empire lists some reasons to dislike Northwestern.

2011 record: 1-11
2011 conference record: 0-8 (sixth, Leaders Division)
Returning starters: offense: 7; defense: 8; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

QB Tre Roberson, RB Stephen Houston, WR Kofi Hughes, CB Lawrence Barnett, DT Larry Black, DT Adam Replogle, S Mark Murphy

Key losses

OL Andrew McDonald, LB Jeff Thomas, LB Leon Beckum, WR Dre Muhammad

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Stephen Houston* (802 yards)
Passing: Ed Wright-Baker (1,029 yards)
Receiving: Kofi Hughes* (536 yards)
Tackles: Jeff Thomas (80)
Sacks: Adam Replogle* (4)
Interceptions: Greg Heban* (2)

Spring answers

1. Improved defense: The Hoosiers had nowhere to go but up after fielding one of the worst defenses in the country last year. Some junior college transfers, especially linebackers David Cooper and Jacarri Alexander, injected some much-needed talent and energy into the unit this spring. The defense showed much better execution and fundamentals overall, thanks in large part to some young players getting baptized by fire last fall. This is still not a dominating group by any stretch, but with some solid players up front such as Larry Black and Adam Replogle and in the back end such as Mark Murphy and Lawrence Barnett, the Hoosiers hope to have far fewer major breakdowns this season.

2. Depth at running back: Stephen Houston led the team in rushing last season despite showing up a little out of shape in the summer from junior college. That spoke both to his skills and the lack of competition around him. That's not the case now, as Indiana has a much healthier stable of backs to work with, including a healthy Matt Perez and transfer Isaiah Roundtree, who had a big spring game. Add in mobile quarterback Tre Roberson, and the Hoosiers could have an effective ground attack in 2012.

3. Better off Ted: Tight end Ted Bolser had a promising freshman year with 27 catches for 407 yards and five touchdowns, but those numbers dipped to just 14 catches for 165 yards last year. Some of that was probably due to a largely ineffective passing game. Bolser had a strong spring, capped by a six-catch performance in the spring game, and was targeted often in the offense. The 6-foot-6, 255-pounder could become a go-to guy for new offensive coordinator Seth Littrell.

Fall questions

1. Quarterback competition: Roberson seized the starting job midway through last season and showed so much promise that two other young quarterbacks -- Ed Wright-Baker and Dusty Kiel -- transferred. He has a strong presence and the potential to be a star. But the coaching staff insisted that junior college transfer Cameron Coffman was right in the thick of the race to be the starter this season after a nice spring. Coffman is a better pure passer than Roberson, who needs to work on that aspect of his game.

2. Bringing the heat: Indiana had just 18 total sacks last season and often had trouble generating much of a pass rush, which was part of the reason it gave up so many big plays. While Black and Replogle make a nice tandem at tackle, the search is still on for playmakers who can get to the quarterback. Ryan Phillis showed some things late in his freshman year, including a big game in the finale against Purdue, and Bobby Richardson made a nice transition from tackle to end as a freshman. Maybe the linebackers can help in the pass rush as well. But the Hoosiers need to make other teams uncomfortable in the passing game without blitzing to improve on defense.

3. Overall talent and depth: Head coach Kevin Wilson has his work cut out for him after failing to win a single game against FBS competition his first season in Bloomington. Wilson played 32 true and redshirt freshmen in 2011 and had many players going through spring practice for the first time this year. The extra seasoning will no doubt help them get better, but this is still a roster that doesn't look like the top Big Ten contenders. Indiana will need to stay healthy, get some breaks and see its young players mature quickly to make any noise in the league this season.

And the wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws.

RIP, Maurice Sendak.

• The date of the alleged locker-room shower incident involving Jerry Sandusky has changed, which could help two former Penn State officials in their perjury case.
• Recruit Alex Anzalone hasn't ruled out Ohio State after decommitting from the Buckeyes last week. The sex offender who posted pictures of himself and Anzalone on the Web was arrested Monday.
• Spring football accelerated the healing process at both Penn State and Ohio State, colleague Gene Wojciechowski writes.
• Northwestern might be a long shot to bring ESPN's "College GameDay" to campus, but coach Pat Fitzgerald is taking the challenge head on. Matt Micucci starred as a prep quarterback, but he'll walk on as a kicker/punter at Northwestern.
• Several former Illinois players gear up for NFL camps, John Supinie writes. A look back at the year for Illinois football.
• There's a chance Iowa's season opener at Soldier Field might not be televised. The Hawkeyes roll out the welcome mat for folks from Camp Courageous.
• Here's the latest on the arrest of Purdue wide receiver Antavian Edison. Former Purdue star Matt Light has announced his retirement from the NFL's New England Patriots.
• Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs steps into a primary leadership role. Soon-to-be baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin talks about how he told Bo Schembechler he was quitting football at Michigan.
• Dirk Chatelain has a very personal take on the controversy surrounding Nebraska assistant Ron Brown.
• Wisconsin's coaches need to make a stronger effort to ensure their athletes avoid bad choices. Montee Ball wasn't the only elite athlete on Mifflin Street -- oh, Kaner.
• BTN.com's Tom Dienhart ranks his top Big Ten tandems.
• Bill O'Brien is aware of the expectations he faces at Penn State. The Beaver Stadium scoreboard makeover won't be complete until 2014.
• Several former Minnesota players are chasing their NFL dreams with the Vikings.
• A defensive recruit from Florida lands his first scholarship offer from Indiana.
• The Football Writers Association of America gives some well-deserved recognition to Michigan State's athletic communications staff.
• The Naples News' David Moulton favors Jim Delany's proposal for a college football playoff.

Hoping you have a great weekend.

Ryan from Maryville, Mo., writes: I keep hearing various media pundits claiming that home sites for a college playoff wouldn't work. Shouldn't these people, conference presidents, commisioners, and media members be focusing more on the benefits associated with home sites? The stadium size argument is moot, the need for guaranteed ticket sales would be eliminated, travel costs for fans and teams would be less, almost every stadium now has luxury boxes, tv revenue is a non factor, and the atmosphere would be amazing. I don't get it, why not? Sure there's bound to be some minor logistical hurdles but nothing impossible.

Adam Rittenberg: You're preaching to the choir, Ryan. And you're absolutely right that the drumbeat should be louder for some of these games to take place on campus. Yes, there are some facilities that would provide challenges, including TV production (not as much space for as many cameras). That's quite significant, given the dollars TV puts up to broadcasts these events. But from the fan perspective, on-campus sites are infinitely better. And in most cases, there's plenty of room to hold the supplementary events. The media contingent would make do. We have done that for years, and finding enough room for us shouldn't be a significant factor at all. Yes, a playoff game at TCU might be a bit tough. But how often is that going to happen? Maybe once every six years? In most cases, the host venues would be more than capable of hosting these events. I was a bit surprised to hear Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman say a playoff will be "kind of a corporate event, rather than a school event," and then not advocate more for on-campus games.

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The Roaming Badger from South Bend writes: Hi Adam, I've been thinking about your blog post about leveraging draft success into recruiting success. I know every team wants more superstars, but I feel the Badgers problem isn't necessarily a lack of stars, but a lack of depth. Do you think the Badgers would be better off bringing up the top of the class by spending their energy to add a couple of 5 star recruits every year or focusing on bringing up the bottom of the class and signing more 3/4 star recruits than 2 star guys?

Adam Rittenberg: This is a really good point, Badger. You can say Wisconsin's three losses stemmed from a lack of depth in areas like special teams and the secondary. Wisconsin would really be helped by adding more top-line defensive backs in the coming years, but you always want to build greater depth so there's not such a drop-off in the kicking game. The lack of depth undoubtedly shows up in the all-important third phase for UW. So my answer is both: aim for more elite prospects, but also make sure the overall depth is improving. Not sure it's a question of prioritizing one over the other. You can do both.

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Steven from Colorado Springs, Colo., writes: With Urban Meyer and Ohio State running a more spread/speed oriented offense. Do you think this will change how other Big Ten teams recruit? For instance more hybrid linebackers like Nebraska recruited before this year.

Adam Rittenberg: I don't think so, Steven. There's a belief that the spread is now just coming to the Big Ten. Teams like Purdue and Northwestern have used it for more than a decade. And the majority of teams now run some version of the spread. But you still have power teams like Wisconsin, Michigan State and Iowa, and Penn State will be a pro-style offense under Bill O'Brien. Nebraska's coaches have been open about the need to recruit more linebackers in the coming years. If they felt they could keep their previous defensive structure in the Big Ten, they would. But they know they need to change it up. Big Ten defenses need speed, but they'll always need size, too. So, I don't think you'll see a fundamental shift in how teams recruit.

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Greg from Norristown, Pa., writes: Hey Adam, you keep saying that MSU will most likely be the best defense in the league this year. But in your recent post about Mauti and Massaro you say PSU's front seven might be the best in the league this year. Is PSU's secondary the only thing holding it back from stealing that "best defense" title from MSU? The starters in the secondary actually look fairly good, but I totally get the lack of depth back there, especially at safety, causing people to have a lack of confidence in PSU's overall defensive potential.

Adam Rittenberg: Yes, Greg, Michigan State's strength in the secondary is the difference between those teams. The Spartans have the most dynamic lineman of the two squads in end William Gholston, but Penn State has an edge at linebacker with Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti leading the way. Michigan State's secondary, led by cornerback Johnny Adams, gives it an edge. Michigan State has recruited and developed defensive backs extremely well under head coach Mark Dantonio. Players like safety Isaiah Lewis and corner Darqueze Dennard could have big years this fall. Penn State has some nice pieces in Malcolm Willis and Stephon Morris, but the overall depth is a concern.

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Fake Harry Husker writes: Adam, I challenge the vast and far reaching tentacles of the mothership at ESPN to find just ONE former or current player from Nebraska that feels that they were mistreated in any fashion by Ron Brown due to his religious views. Have any of the kids that he has coached thru the years actually been impacted in a negative manner by Ron Brown? Does Ron Brown actually discriminate on the basis of a players sexual orientation? I challenge Wojo or any pundit at ESPN to sit down and interview former or current players to find out if Ron Brown is actually a "bigot" that forced his beliefs down their throats. As with any story, there are two sides that need to be told. It is unfair and frankly untolerable that ESPN continues to only tell one side of the Ron Brown story. Take the challenge, Adam, and interview those former and current players and provide the quotes that detail the terrible bigoted ogre that is Ron Brown.

Adam Rittenberg: Harry, I don't think the issue is whether Brown discriminates against his players. From what I know, his players love him and regard him as an excellent figure in their lives. It's not about them. The question is whether Brown, as an employee of a state institution and a member of a high-profile football program, should be using his position to trumpet his views on a controversial topic as much as he does. No one cares if Brown is in the private sector and wants to voice his views. But the reason he gets all these opportunities to voice his opinion is because he's a longtime Nebraska football assistant coach, plain and simple. There's definitely a question about whether he's abusing that position.

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Wes from Indianapolis writes: Do you agree with my thinking that Indiana can be a much improved team and still not win a B1G game again this season? It would appear that their "talent equal" opponents are all road games this season (NW, Illy, and Purdont, with the possible exception of Iowa) and all the "only talent equal would be those carrying the water bucket" opponents are all home games (Sparty, Bucky, and Wisky) Do you concur or have I suffered through too many bad seasons? Thank you for all your good work.

Adam Rittenberg: Wes, while another winless Big Ten campaign is possible, I think the Hoosiers break through this year. It's never easy to win on the road, but Evanston, Champaign and West Lafayette aren't the most hostile venues in the Big Ten. Indiana will put up points this year. The question, as always, is whether the Hoosiers can stop anyone on defense. If the defense takes just a few steps toward respectability, Indiana should be able to get over the hump in one or more of those games. That said, the home schedule looks challenging, especially if Iowa improves on its performance from 2011. Remember that Indiana came very close to beating Iowa in 2010 in Bloomington, and Wisconsin wasn't overly dominant in its last trip to Memorial Stadium.

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Steve from Washington D.C. writes: Hey Adam, I have a proposal for the playoff system that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet. Why can't the two semifinals be played the week after the conference championships, and before the bowls are selected? That way the losers of the semifinals could still be selected for BCS bowls, and the winners would play in a real national championship game. I just think this would preserve the tradition of having every top team in a bowl, while having a true national champion selected by a playoff system. It would also preserve the B1G/Pac-12 Rose bowl if neither has a team in the national championship. What do you think?

Adam Rittenberg: Steve, while this would be great, I think the push back would be conflicts with final exams. I know some schools on the quarter system have finals the second week of December, and there's no way the presidents would approve a plan that would have football teams practicing during finals week. It wouldn't be as big an issue for schools on the semester system, but because you have finals taking place anywhere between, say, Dec. 7 and Dec. 23, depending on the school, it really takes that time frame out of consideration. We can roll our eyes and say the academics excuse is merely convenient for the presidents to protect their beloved bowls, but the reality is they will never go for something where teams are practicing during finals week.

Here's your Thursday linkage.

• Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany reveals a proposal that would create playoff access for the best conference champs. It's important for the Big Ten to protect its Rose Bowl partnership.
• Athletic directors Dave Brandon (Michigan) and Mark Hollis (Michigan State) weigh in on the playoff issues.
• Penn State is moving defensive lineman Kyle Baublitz from end to tackle. Lions coach Bill O'Brien has "a pretty good idea" of how the team's quarterback situation will shake out. O'Brien understands the challenges he faces at Penn State.
• Take it from Minnesota coach Jerry Kill: "You hang around with turds, you'll finish third."
• Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio likens Le'Veon Bell to former Ohio State great Keith Byars. The Kirk Cousins-Keith Nichol connection could continue with the NFL's Washington Redskins.
• Tom Mulhern projects what Wisconsin's depth chart looks like coming out of the spring. The Badgers pick up a verbal commit for 2013.
• Kawann Short's decision to stay at Purdue could pay off for the standout defensive tackle.
• The Big Ten can embrace both the Rose Bowl and the national title, Tom Shatel writes.
• Iowa is paying lower guarantees for nonconference games this season. Like Iowa's other receivers, Kevonte Martin-Manley could see his production surge in the new offense this fall.
• A breakdown of Illinois' 2012 schedule.
• Assistant Ron Brown's remarks shouldn't be tolerated at a public institution like Nebraska, Blair Kerkhoff writes.
• Ohio State assistant Kerry Coombs has settled in well to his new role.
• A look inside draft night for Michigan's Mike Martin.
• Indiana linebacker Jeff Thomas gets a tryout with the Buffalo Bills (subscription required).

Big Ten bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett will occasionally give their takes on a burning question facing the league. We'll both have strong opinions, but not necessarily the same view. We'll let you decide which blogger is right.

In our most recent Take Two, we debated which position group was the strongest throughout the league. So on the flip side, today's Take Two topic is this: What position group in the league looks most in need of improvement after spring practice?

Take 1: Brian Bennett

The Big Ten had nine receivers drafted into the NFL over the weekend, and overall the league lost its top seven pass-catchers from the 2011 season. So there's no wonder that position looked a little weak across several campuses this spring. Only two players who caught at least 50 passes last year -- Wisconsin's Jared Abbrederis and Iowa's Keenan Davis -- return in 2012. Michigan State lost its top two wideouts in B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin and is relying on wildly inexperienced players to step up there. Ohio State didn't have a player catch more than 14 passes last year, and new coach Urban Meyer criticized the receivers all spring, though Michael Thomas did have a strong spring game. Wisconsin missed Abbrederis (foot injury) this spring and is trying to find someone else to play with consistency at that spot. A.J. Jenkins basically was the passing game for Illinois last year, and now the Illini need more options in their new spread system after losing the first-rounder. Michigan needs to replace Junior Hemingway and is hoping Roy Roundtree bounces back after a subpar junior year stats-wise.

I could go on and on. Very few schools appear settled at receiver right now, and I'd be hard pressed to select a pair of preseason first-team all-conference performers there at this point. While receiver is one position where young players can often have a quick impact, it's also true that the league is lacking proven stars at that spot heading into the season.

Take 2: Adam Rittenberg

The league undoubtedly loses a lot at receiver, but I'm going with the guys throwing the passes, not catching them. Great quarterbacks can make adequate receivers good and good receivers great. It rarely works the other way around. The Big Ten doesn't lose as many standout quarterbacks as it does receivers, but the league says goodbye to three of its best in Wisconsin's Russell Wilson, Michigan State's Kirk Cousins and Northwestern's Dan Persa. Wilson energized Wisconsin's offense with his strong arm and athleticism, and while his accomplishments were overshadowed by those of teammate Montee Ball, he'll be sorely missed. While Danny O'Brien is a nice addition, he's not Russell Wilson. Cousins and Persa also leave significant voids in East Lansing and Evanston, respectively. While Kain Colter is a great athlete and Andrew Maxwell has been groomed for the spotlight, both men have a lot to prove.

The overall quality of quarterback play in the league needs a boost in 2012. Remember that the Big Ten failed to have a team ranked in the top 35 nationally in pass offense in 2011. Nebraska's Taylor Martinez, Illinois' Nathan Scheelhaase and Minnesota's MarQueis Gray must become a lot more consistent. Ohio State's Braxton Miller and Indiana's Tre Roberson must grow up. Michigan's Denard Robinson needs to cut down on his interceptions and add reliability to his repertoire. Iowa's James Vandenberg has to get a lot better on the road. Purdue and Penn State need a quarterback to separate himself from the pack. There are many more familiar names at quarterback, but if they don't make strides, the Big Ten once again will be grounded on offense.

For lunch: codfish, Heinz beans and links. With a Shirley Temple, since we're tapering.

• The Michigan State defense is really good -- maybe even national championship good, Matt Charboneau writes. New Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins has been working with a neuropsychologist to try and gain a competitive mental edge.
• Nebraska running back Aaron Green is transferring, with an eye on getting closer to his San Antonio home.
• Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz review Ohio State's spring.
• Bill O'Brien says his quarterback choice will be about winning now, not who has more eligibility left. O'Brien is on board with a college football playoff system.
• Rob Henry is determined to get stronger and get back into the thick of the Purdue quarterback competition.
• New Minnesota AD Norwood Teague has had success at fundraising, something he'll need to repeat with the Gophers.
• Wisconsin picked up two commitments for 2013, while the son of former Badgers captain Joe Panos became the first commitment in the 2014 class.
• Eleven Iowa players were either drafted or signed free-agent deals with NFL teams. The Hawkeyes have seven commitments for the 2013 class, joining the fast lane of modern recruiting.
• Northwestern's Drake Dunsmore and Jeremy Ebert got picked in the last round, and Dunsmore might reunite with Dan Persa in Tampa Bay.
• Indiana offensive tackle Andrew McDonald is hoping to catch on as an NFL free agent.
• A few undrafted Michigan players, including Ryan Van Bergen and Troy Woolfolk, landed free-agent deals.
• Illinois' draft success made Ron Zook smile.
• Lee Barfknecht breaks down the Leaders Division following spring practice.

Thursday is the start of the 2012 NFL draft, also known as the most important thing in the history of things.

That got me to thinking about which Big Ten teams have been the most successful in producing draft picks and first-rounders. Which led me to doing some research. Which wound up being this post.

I took a look at the last 10 years of NFL draft results. (Why 10 years? Because it's a nice round number. And it's fairly representative of recent success. Also, this is my game and my rules.)

So let's see which schools are the best at churning out the draft picks. First, here's how each Big Ten team stacks up in overall draft picks since the 2002 draft:

1. Ohio State: 66 total draft picks
2. Iowa: 42
3. Nebraska: 41
4. Michigan: 40
5. Wisconsin: 39
6. Penn State: 38
7. Purdue: 27
8. Michigan State: 25
9. Illinois: 22
10. Minnesota: 14
11. Northwestern: 13
12. Indiana: 12

It's no surprise that Ohio State is on top, since the Buckeyes have mostly dominated the league over the past decade and always have blue-chippers. But the fact that they're so far ahead of the rest of the conference schools is impressive. Ohio State has had more draft picks in the past decade than Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern and Indiana combined.

The mild surprise here, for me at least, is Iowa's success. We know Kirk Ferentz's program has done a great job of producing pros, but I didn't expect the Hawkeyes to have the second-most picks, ahead of Nebraska, Michigan Penn State and others. That speaks volumes to the development of players in Iowa City. And Michigan State's number is lower than I expected, though the amount of draft picks should be on the rise soon with what Mark Dantonio has done in East Lansing.

Total draft picks is one way to view draft success. Another measurement is the number of first-rounders. That's where every player aspires to be picked, and it's the only round that gets its own day in prime time (did you know the draft is on ESPN tomorrow night?).

Here's how Big Ten schools have fared in producing first-rounders the past decade:

1. Ohio State: 14 (Michael Jenkins 2004, Chris Gamble 2004, Will Smith 2004, Nick Mangold 2006, Santonio Holmes 2006, Bobby Carpenter 2006, Donte Whitner 2006, A.J. Hawk 2006, Anthony Gonzalez 2007, Ted Ginn Jr. 2007, Vernon Gholston 2008, Beanie Wells 2009, Malcolm Jenkins 2009, Cameron Heyward 2011).

2. Penn State: 8 (Jared Odrick 2010, Aaron Maybin 2009, Levi Brown 2007, Tamba Hali 2006, Larry Johnson 2003, Bryant Johnson 2003, Michael Haynes 2003, Jimmy Kennedy 2003).

T-3. Michigan: 6 (Brandon Graham 2010, Jake Long 2008, Leon Hall 2007, Braylon Edwards 2005, Marlin Jackson 2005, Chris Perry 2004).

T-3: Wisconsin: 6 (Wendell Bryant 2002, Lee Evans 2004, Erasmus James 2005, Joe Thomas 2007, Gabe Carimi 2011, J.J. Watt 2011).

5. Iowa: 5 (Adrian Clayborn 2011, Bryan Bulaga 2010, Chad Greenway 2006, Robert Gallery 2004, Dallas Clark 2003).

6. Nebraska: 4 (Prince Amukamara 2011, Ndamukong Suh 2010, Adam Carriker 2007, Fabian Washington 2005).

T-7. Illinois: 3 (Corey Liuget 2011, Vontae Davis 2009, Rashard Mendenhall 2008).

T-7. Purdue: 3 (Ryan Kerrigan 2011, Dustin Keller 2008, Anthony Spencer 2007).

T-9. Michigan State: 2 (Charles Rogers 2003, T.J. Duckett 2002).

T-9. Northwestern: 2 (Luis Castillo 2005, Napoleon Harris 2002).

11. Minnesota: 1 (Laurence Maroney 2006).

12. Indiana: 0

Again, Ohio State's success is wildly impressive. The Buckeyes produced more first-rounders in 2006 alone than seven other Big Ten teams managed the entire decade. Half of Penn State's haul came in one year (2003). I expected more from Nebraska, and Michigan State's drought is stunning, though Jerel Worthy might very well end that on Thursday.

How much does it all mean? Like everything with the draft, probably not as much as you think. But this should help get you ready for this weekend's extravaganza.

Bye, bye, Blackhawks. You made this mess, Stan. Time to clean it up.

• New Minnesota AD Norwood Teague has to sell hope at the U. Minnesota hit a home run with Teague, Charley Walters writes. Teague's lack of football experience doesn't make him a poor choice, Chip Scoggins writes.
• No surprise here as Montee Ball won't play in Wisconsin's spring game Saturday. Some Badgers notes from coach Bret Bielema's news conference.
• Quarterback Matthew McGloin discusses Penn State's new offense in this Q&A. Paul Jones is very much a part of the team's quarterback competition. Penn State's mostly new coaching staff will be sporting a different look on the sideline.
• Michigan State and Michigan aren't shying away from tough nonconference foes. BTN.com's Tom Dienhart ranks the nonconference slates.
• Ohio State's big April on the recruiting trail continues. A spring game report card for the Buckeyes. Doug Lesmerises had better give Jim Tressel his sweater back after sharing his thoughts on Buckeyes football.
• Iowa's NFL draft prospects on defense have to prove themselves. The Hawkeyes' recruiting roll continues.
• Chris Spielman talks about his very personal new book.
• Alcohol will be served at Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium in special tents through halftime of games.
• Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard posts bond after being charged with felony assault. Dennard's troubles will test NFL teams' faith in Nebraska, which typically supplies solid defensive backs to the league.
• Some bad news for Michigan tight end and draft prospect Kevin Koger, who will be out 6-8 weeks with a partially torn Achilles. The Wolverines hope to add a coveted linebacker to their recruiting class today.
• Michigan State beat writer Joe Rexrode weighs in on Arkansas' hiring of John L. Smith.
• Some Illinois football notes in John Supinie's latest piece.
• The Orlando Sentinel looks at Indiana heading into the 2012 season.
• Northwestern players get dizzy with it after the spring game.