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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.

Let's check that May mail.

Matt from Sidney, Neb., writes: Adam,Total speculation here, but your article with playoff possibilities had the "Top 6" set-up been in place got me thinking of Delany's possible ulterior motive for his proposal (he wouldn't propose it if it didn't offer the B1G an advantage). Wouldn't this scenario put Notre Dame at a disadvantage for being independent? With that set up, a top 4 ND team would be left out if a conference champ was in the top 6 (if the other 3 in the top were champs). So...Top 4 = ND + 3 conference champs;#5 or 6 is a conference champ;ND is left out.So the whole point: a disadvantaged ND has more incentive to join a conference, with the assumed destination being the B1G. Lots of speculation, but that Delany fella is wiley. Thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I think the details still would need to be worked out on access for independents like Notre Dame, and it's really interesting to think about how much power, if any, Notre Dame has at this stage in terms of playoff access. That said, I think the Notre Dame-to-Big-Ten ship has sailed, as far as Delany is concerned. Has he totally written it off? No. He can't do that. But the growing sentiment is if Notre Dame joins a league, it will be the ACC, not the Big Ten. And Notre Dame's preference is to remain independent in football. From talking to folks in the Big Ten, it's clear to me that the Big Ten won't actively pursue Notre Dame again. If the Irish want to be part of the B1G, they need to do the courting this time.

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Mike from Boston writes: Now that you've seen the new upgrades to PSU's strength program, how do you think it compares to the best programs in the Big Ten like Iowa?

Adam Rittenberg: Penn State is undoubtedly moving closer to the cream of the crop in the Big Ten. It's clear the strength program needed to be modernized, and Craig Fitzgerald has been an excellent addition in State College. The new approach already has yielded positive results, particularly with the offensive linemen. It's hard to say this strength program is better than that one, but I think it's safe to say Penn State is more on par with the programs throughout the Big Ten than it was before.

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Todd from Peoria, Ill., writes: Adam,I like your analysis of Jim Delany's proposed playoff format. I would suggest one change and am interested in your thoughts. If a team that didn't win their conference, or even their division falls in the top two, they should still get in ahead of a conference champion ranked 5 or 6. That would ensure you would always have the top two in the playoff while rewarding conference champions over others to fill the remaining two spots, as long as they are in the top six.What do you think?

Adam Rittenberg: Todd, I like your idea. As I pointed out in Monday's post, there would be a lot less outcry about a No. 5 conference champ replacing a No. 4 than a No. 6 league champ leapfrogging a No. 2 non-champion (league or division) like Alabama in 2011 or Nebraska in 2001. I can't see a system being approved that would potentially leave a team like last year's Alabama squad out of the playoffs. The discussions remain fluid and the selection procedures likely will be the trickiest part going forward now that a four-team model seems fairly set.

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Carlton from Chicago writes: Agree with your sentiments that Michigan will not have as dominant of a D-line this year, but don't you think Michigan has enough excellent coaching to put them in the right spots this year? It seems that Hoke and Old Man Mattison were excellent in doing this last year. Can that cover for the majority of the weaknesses the line has shown?

Adam Rittenberg: It's very possible, Carlton. Michigan has no shortage of expertise in defensive line coaching, and Brady Hoke, Greg Mattison and Jerry Montgomery know what it takes to develop players. It wouldn't surprise me to see a star develop from the D-line this fall. I'm very interesting to see how a bulked-up Craig Roh performs at the strongside defensive end spot. And there's always the Will Campbell watch.

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Boston Bucky from Jamaica Plain, Mass., writes: I'm a life-long Badger fan with a family that has season tix to the UW slate. I pick one game to go back for every year. It has been pretty easy to pick which game in the last few years (Nebraska's Big 10 debut last year was a no-brainer).Should I attend the MSU game on Halloween weekend or the OSU game just before Thanksgiving?MSU has become the most relevant rival over the past two years, but this off-season recruiting beef has certainly spiced up things with OSU.I'm leaning one way right now, but would love your opinion.

Adam Rittenberg: Both good choices, Bucky, but I'd pick the Ohio State game and have no regrets. While it'd be great to be in Mad-city for Halloween weekend, the Ohio State game carries more excitement in my view. It's a division home game against a Buckeyes team that will be improved under Urban Meyer. You have the Meyer-Bret Bielema subplot after the recruiting spat. You have the two teams that have won the past seven league titles. While Michigan State should be a fun one too, I think the Ohio State game will mean more for the Badgers in their quest to repeat as division champs.

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John from Austin, Texas, writes: Adam,I think I'm lost on the whole "That team" comment. Am I lost or do those of us that live in the South just perhaps miss the finer points of the English language. Granted, I didn't see the actual question before his statement, but it looks to me like someone asked him about "non-conference winner" or division, or something like that and he then used "that team" referencing the non-conf winner. To read "Alabama" out of a reference to "non-conf winner" seems like Washington politics more than anything else.

Adam Rittenberg: John, I definitely see your point, and while I could make some snide remarks about southerners, I'll resist. I think by using the phrase "that team," months after a team fitting the description captured the national championship -- a team from the Big Ten's rival conference, no less -- Delany made it easy for folks to form the link to Alabama. Had he used the phrase "those teams," and mentioned several of them, like Stanford from 2011, the backlash wouldn't have been so severe. But it was a poor choice of phrase, given the timing, and Delany paid the price.

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Brandon from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: Hi Adam, the link Brian posted about abandoning the National Championship in favor of the Rose Bowl piqued my interest. Personally, I think it's a terrible idea, and will only further the perception that the Big Ten is falling behind in college football. Incoming players want to play for championships, and the Rose Bowl just doesn't have the pull that it used to. More and more players will decide not to play in the B1G or the P12 because of this. My question is, what percentage of B1G fans agree with abandoning the National Championship? Perhaps you could set up one of those nifty polls.

Adam Rittenberg: Brandon, this is a great question/topic to discuss, given the shifting environment in college sports. There's a portion of Big Ten fans I talk to who remain traditionalists. They love the Rose Bowl, want the Big Ten championship in Pasadena every year and don't really care about the SEC and its national championship streak. But the younger generation of Big Ten fans seems more championship-focused and less obsessed with the Rose Bowl and the history. They're ticked off by the SEC's bluster and want to see Big Ten teams start raising the crystal football again. Many of the Big Ten players also fit into this category. Will it mean more Big Ten teams enter that mix for national titles? We'll see. But that's the key, for the Big Ten's depth at the top to get closer to what the SEC has right now.

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Matt from Dallas writes: What is with all this faith in Mich St? I cannot see them beating Michigan or Nebraska this year. In fact Mich St has never beat Nebraska and this year I would argue Nebraska will be better than they were last year and Mich St will not be as good as last year when Nebraska handled them. Where is the logic????

Adam Rittenberg: It's all about the Spartans defense, Matt. Right now, the Michigan State D looks like the single best unit in the Big Ten entering the season. Michigan State has All-Big Ten candidates in all three levels of the defense and should be extremely stingy this fall. The Michigan game will be tough for the Spartans, but Michigan State has won four straight in the series. While Nebraska handled the Spartans easily last year, remember where that game fell for MSU: at the end of a stretch featuring Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin. It's not a shock that Michigan State had a letdown in Lincoln. And Nebraska failed miserably in its two marquee Big Ten road games last year (Michigan, Wisconsin). While both the Wolverines and the Huskers could win the division, Michigan State is my favorite entering the season.

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.

Spring (practice) has sprung in the Big Ten. So let's look back and review the highlights:

Best debut by a player: Ohio State true freshman Michael Thomas introduced himself to Buckeyes fans with 12 catches for 131 yards in the spring game. No Buckeyes player had more than 14 catches all season in 2011. Don't expect Thomas to replicate that performance every week in the fall, and Ohio State was throwing the ball all over the place in its spring game. Still, for an offense that was desperately seeking playmakers to surround Braxton Miller, Thomas's performance was very encouraging.

Best debut by a coach: (Tie) Urban Meyer and Bill O'Brien. The new coaches at Ohio State and Penn State didn't take long to endear themselves to their constituents. Already wildly popular among Buckeyes fans, Meyer brought the team and the student body a little closer by inviting students to watch a practice, even allowing them on the field during a kicking drill. O'Brien made Penn State's practices more open to public scrutiny, and then went around the state and area to meet and greet fans on a caravan tour. No wonder that the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions ranked first and third nationally in spring game attendance.

Best debut by a mascot: Mark Dantonio livened up Michigan State's spring game by putting Sparty -- the school mascot -- in for a running play. Sparty hardly looked like a warrior, getting stuffed immediately on the play and then fumbling, but Dantonio bailed him out by ruling that the defense was offside. There was no more entertaining sequence in any spring game in the country than that one.

Best fill-in for a Heisman finalist: Wisconsin, like a lot of teams, saw no reason to put its star players at risk in the spring game. So 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball watched from the sidelines as redshirt freshman Melvin Gordon ran 30 times for 159 yards and a touchdown. Gordon is stuck behind Ball and James White, but head coach Bret Bielema told ESPN.com that Gordon "might have the most talent of any kid ever I've signed at that position."

Best overhyped position move: A massive fan base and closed spring practices combined to have Michigan fans rampantly speculating about backup quarterback Devin Gardner moving to receiver. A Facebook update supposedly confirmed the move -- until it was later revealed as a fake. Bottom line: Gardner spent some time working at wideout, but is a long way from being an impact player there. And he's still the backup quarterback.



Best spring break: It's hard to question Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez's desire to get better. When the Huskers let their players loose for spring break in the middle of their practice session, Martinez eschewed the beach or the ski slopes. Instead, he went to California to work on his footwork with quarterback instructor Steve Calhoun. The word around Lincoln this spring was that Martinez's fundamentals and passing were much improved. If that's the case this fall, Nebraska's offense should be awfully dangerous.

Best big score: Thanks to a modified scoring system, Northwestern defensive tackle Chance Carter earned 17 points for his team when he returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown. "It should be a pick-17 every time -- especially for a defensive tackle," Carter later joked. The play by the defense and the front four in particular (four sacks, plus that pick) provided some optimism for a team that struggled to stop anybody last season.

Best Food Network Challenge: New Illinois coach Tim Beckman knows the way to his players' hearts is through their stomachs. Illini team members who missed team meetings were forced to eat porridge for breakfast this offseason, while those who met their requirements received steak and eggs. The same was true at the spring game, with the losing Orange squad getting a postgame meal of beans and weenies instead of the steaks for the victorious Blue squad. We'll see if this motivational technique makes Illinois hungry enough to contend for a Big Ten title this fall.

Best hair: Spring is a time for experimenting, and that includes hairdos. Purdue defensive end Ryan Russell dyed his hair bright red and cut it into a mohawk. He also tested out some other colors during the Boilermakers' spring practice. "It's just a spring thing," he said. "I might change it up and do something different for the season."

Best quote: Dantonio didn't mince words when ESPN.com asked him about the challenges Michigan might present in the future with the Wolverines' strong recruiting efforts. "We're laying in the weeds," he said. "We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?" Michigan State fans loved the quote, while Michigan fans despised it. But the Spartans have earned bragging rights. They'll try to keep them when they visit the Big House on Oct. 20

Three new head coaches. Fourteen new coordinators. Quarterback competitions. New faces everywhere. The Big Ten had it all during spring football.

Here are five lessons we learned about the league this spring:

1. Big Ten offenses are speeding up: Tempo was a huge theme for offensive coordinators we spoke with around the league this spring. Defenses are catching up to the spread in college football, so offenses are speeding up to stay a step ahead. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer talked about mimicking Oregon with a no-huddle spread attack, and even conventional offenses like Iowa's and Penn State's will have no-huddle elements and an emphasis on maximizing snaps. It's a myth that the spread offense is new to the league -- teams like Purdue and Northwestern have run it for more than a decade -- but most Big Ten teams have spread elements and want to keep the pedal down as much as possible.

2. Bill O'Brien is building momentum but still needs a quarterback: First-year head coach Bill O'Brien has taken the necessary steps to win over Penn State's fan base. Now he needs to do what he does best: identify a quarterback and develop the signal caller for the 2012 season. The spring didn't provide much separation as Matthew McGloin, Rob Bolden and Paul Jones adjusted to O'Brien's complex, NFL-style offense. Bolden's struggles in the Blue-White Game might have closed the window on his chances, although no decisions have been announced. O'Brien told ESPN.com he wanted to reduce the candidate pool from three to two before fall camp. Penn State needs a significant upgrade at quarterback after the past two seasons, and the O'Brien effect must pay off for the Lions this fall.

3. Fresh faces bring greater accessibility: The Big Ten has a reputation of being a buttoned-up, closed-doors league when it comes to accessibility. And in some respects, the label holds true to this day. But new faces and new approaches have created a more open feel around the conference. Penn State opened up some spring practices to media for the first time in recent memory. Ohio State hosted thousands of students at an practice, creating very cool scenes like this. Open practices at Iowa seems like a pipe dream, but one of the nation's least accessible programs had more interaction with the media this spring than in recent memory. Hawkeyes coaches are taking to the Twitterverse, and there's even talk that Kirk Ferentz might start tweeting soon. While I'm sure mentioning this will jinx us, the increased accessibility is a welcome change.

4. Nebraska isn't lacking confidence: The Huskers didn't steamroll through the Big Ten in their first go-round, as some expected, but a somewhat bumpy ride didn't damage their confidence, either. Led by junior quarterback Taylor Martinez, Nebraska players are openly discussing the national championship as a goal for 2012. The Huskers last played for the title after the 2001 season, which marks their most recent BCS bowl appearance. Coach Bo Pelini is comfortable with the title talk, and Nebraska points to an offense that returns mostly intact, a defense with potentially more depth and arguably the Big Ten's best special teams units as reasons to believe. As wide receiver Kenny Bell told me, "It's a big jump to go from a 9-4 to a 13-1 or a 14-0 season. But if you don't believe wholeheartedly in a goal, there's no point in trying to chase it."

5. Spartans look loaded on the lines: Most football games are won at the line of scrimmage, and Michigan State is positioned to win plenty of them this fall. The Spartans' defense could be the Big Ten's best unit in 2012, and it starts up front with freakish end William Gholston, veterans Tyler Hoover and Anthony Rashad White, newcomer James Kittredge and others. Perhaps more important, Michigan State's offensive line is taking shape after a choppy 2011 season that brought injuries and personnel shuffling. This could be the deepest offensive line in coach Mark Dantonio's tenure, and the Spartans will try to re-establish themselves as a power running team with top ball-carrier Le'Veon Bell back in the fold.

Adam Rittenberg talks about some of the key Big Ten players to keep an eye on this season.

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: 11-3
2011 conference record: 7-1 (Legends Division champions)
Returning starters: Offense: 5; Defense: 8; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

DE William Gholston, DE Marcus Rush, LB Denicos Allen, LB Max Bullough, LB Chris Norman, CB Johnny Adams, CB Darqueze Dennard, S Isaiah Lewis, RB Le'Veon Bell, LT Dan France, C Travis Jackson

Key losses
QB Kirk Cousins, DT Jerel Worthy, WR Keshawn Martin, WR B.J. Cunningham, S Trenton Robinson, RB Edwin Baker, TE Brian Linthicum

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Le'Veon Bell* (948 yards)
Passing: Kirk Cousins (3,316 yards)
Receiving: B.J. Cunningham (1,306 yards)
Tackles: Max Bullough* (89)
Sacks: Denicos Allen* (11)
Interceptions: Isaiah Lewis* and Trenton Robinson (4)

Spring answers

1. Defensive depth: Michigan State returns eight starters off one of the best defenses in the country, and the coaching staff might have been most excited this spring about guys who didn't play much last year. Linebackers Darien Harris and Taiwan Jones, defensive ends Joel Heath and Shilique Calhoun and defensive back Trae Waynes all had impressive practices and showed that they're ready to contribute and push the starters. The Spartans won't have much drop off if their first-stringers need a break or get injured. That gives this defense a chance to be scary good in 2012.

2. The Bell tolls: Le'Veon Bell asserted himself at the end of last year as the team's top tailback, overtaking Edwin Baker. And after appearing to get called out by coach Mark Dantonio for being complacent early in the spring, he turned in some dominant efforts. At 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, he's a rumbling freight train with surprising nimbleness in the open field. Do not be surprised to see him emerge as a superstar back this season if he remains focused.

3. O-line on the way up: Michigan State mixed and matched on the offensive line early last season because of injuries and inexperience. By the end of the season, the group was playing well. This spring, the line features six players who have started and much more maturity. That's one reason why Bell excelled this spring, as the Spartans' power running game looked much better. This figures to be the best and deepest O-line in Dantonio's tenure, and the offense could lean more on the ground attack while the passing game finds its wings.

Fall questions

1. Catching on: The top receivers coming out of spring were redshirt freshman Andre Sims Jr., little-used sophomore Keith Mumphery and Jeremy Langford, who made the switch from running back in the middle of spring practice. In other words, there's a dire lack of experience at the position that Keshawn Martin, B.J. Cunningham and Keith Nichol patrolled so well. Tennessee transfer DeAnthony Arnett was cleared by the NCAA for immediate eligibility on Thursday, and that should help. The Spartans are also going to need Tony Lippett and Bennie Fowler -- their two veterans even though both lack much receiver experience themselves -- to get healthy and for some true freshmen to make an impact. If there's a glaring concern for this year's team, it's definitely at this spot.

2. Maxwell's house: Michigan State feels confident that Andrew Maxwell, a fourth-year junior who sat behind Cousins the past three seasons, can make a smooth transition into the starting quarterback job. But Maxwell doesn't have much game time under his belt, and we won't know whether he can bounce back from adversity until it happens on the field this fall. It didn't help that he missed the last couple weeks of spring practice with a knee injury. The Spartans need him to stay healthy, or else they will have to turn to redshirt freshman Connor Cook. And a new quarterback could struggle with such a green receiving group.

3. Worthy replacements: Jerel Worthy skipped his senior season and wound up as a second-round NFL draft pick after an All-America campaign. The Spartans have a host of players looking to replace him at defensive tackle, with Vanderbilt transfer James Kittredge stepping up late in spring practice to assume the No. 1 reps. Depth won't be an issue, but it remains to be seen whether any of his successors have the kind of game-changing ability that Worthy brought when he was fully engaged. Nothing boosts a defense quite like a disruptive force in the middle of the line. We know the Spartans' defense will be good. Can it be great without a player like Worthy up front?

A "College Football Live" panel of experts previews Michigan State's upcoming season.

As the weeks went by, doubt started creeping in for DeAnthony Arnett.

He had what seemed like a convincing case for an NCAA waiver that would allow him to suit up for Michigan State this coming season rather than sit out a year. After playing his freshman year at Tennessee, Arnett, a native of Saginaw, Mich., transferred to Michigan State in January to be close to his ailing father, William, who is waiting for a kidney transplant and is on dialysis.

While the NCAA can be unpredictable in waiver rulings, it seemed like if ever there was a player who deserved the green light, Arnett would be it. But the NCAA continued to ask the Arnetts for medical information, and no decision came during Michigan State's spring practice session.

"At one point in time, I wasn't sure because it was taking so long," Arnett told ESPN.com "They kept asking for information. But my dad just told me, 'Keep it in the good Lord's hands, and everything will happen."

Arnett was resting late Thursday morning before a workout at his old high school when the phone rang. Head coach Mark Dantonio told him the good news: the NCAA had granted his residence waiver. Arnett, who had 24 receptions for 242 yards as a freshman last season with Tennessee, has three years of eligibility left.

"I didn't even know it was coming," Arnett said. "It was a big surprise. It was a big relief off my back. I was able to really take a deep breath."

Arnett called his father, who had undergone a recent surgery.

"He was just happy," Arnett said. "He was glad it was over with and he didn't have to give any more information."

William Arnett attended Michigan State's spring game April 28. It was the first time he had seen his son play in college, and he told MLive.com, "This brings joy to my heart."

William hopes to be in the Spartan Stadium stands Aug. 31 when Michigan State's season kicks off against Boise State.

"He's really looking forward to it," DeAnthony Arnett said. "He's excited, man. When I talked to him, that's all he talked about, being able to see me play."

This spring, Arnett acclimated himself with the Spartans offense, which is similar to the system at Tennessee. He's excited to work with former Spartans great Andre Rison, who is returning to school and will serve as a student assistant with the team.

"Me and Dre go way back," Arnett said. "He's going to be a big help for us."

The same can be said for Arnett, who provides a boost to a Michigan State offense that loses its top three receivers, its top tight end and its starting quarterback from the 2011 squad.

How can Arnett help the Spartans in 2012?

"Just be me, be the guy I've always been," he said. "A speed guy, be able to create separation and make plays. That's what I do.

"I'm just looking to take the offense to another level."

You got questions, I got answers. Let's do this.

Mickey from Battle Creek, Mich., writes: Your recent "Take Two" post really has me fired up. I'm pretty sure that I speak for many of the "little 10" fans out there who are just tired of seeing nearly every future projection regarding B1G dominance including only Michigan and Ohio State. When will you guys realize that just because you get top flight recruits and a have high profile program, doesn't mean success on the field? A national title for U of M or Ohio St in the next 5 years? Not at OSU with Braxton Miller playing, or the young guy after he graduates. Michigan I will admit is much more likely than OSU. I know they aren't the "sexy" picks, but I'd be willing to wager that a team that develops its players better (Wisconsin, Michigan State, Iowa) has a better shot, but still gets no mention, even with all the success those programs have had lately. Thoughts?

Brian Bennett: Well, I laid out my thoughts in that post. I don't know why you dismiss Braxton Miller, who showed major potential as a true freshman and seems like the ideal fit for Urban Meyer's offense. As I wrote, I wouldn't be surprised if Wisconsin or Michigan State or Nebraska, etc., jumped up and played for a title. But if I've got to pick one, I'll take a team that is getting elite-level recruits and has good coaches. Ohio State did pretty well, before last season's tumultuous events, in making BCS games and even championship appearances. With a coach who knows how to win titles, why wouldn't the Buckeyes be a safe bet for doing it again?

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Max from Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., writes: I enjoy the blog and thinks you guys do a good job most of the time, but you seemed to have "mailed it in" today. OSU and UM on the fast track? Come on. In today's game defense wins national championships and only Michigan State has that type of defense. Speed and depth at every position, two players considered to be possible first rounders next year, and loads of experience. What am I missing here? Adam mentions that the losses on offense will hamper the Spartans then states that UM will challenge next year after they lose their only weapon. You mention OSU's lines while discounting the experience and depth of both lines at MSU. Come on, guys, you can do better.

Brian Bennett: I absolutely love what Michigan State is doing on defense. Yet I'm still not sure it's quite at the level of some of the recent SEC superpowers. Remember that the Spartans' 'D' was rated one of the nation's best a year ago, and yet it still gave up 30 points to Georgia. (OK, only 23 of those points actually came against the defense, but the 'Dawgs mustered just 10 points against LSU, for instance). A Big Ten team is going to need to score points as well to win a national title, just as Michigan State was able to put up 33 points in that Outback Bowl. I have serious questions about the Spartans' passing game this year. I think once Ohio State gets rolling, it will have a top-notch defense and a highly productive offense. But we'll see who's right in the next few years.

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Ry P. from Greensburg, Pa., writes: You understated PSU's nonconference opponents. Temple is now a Big East school AND they are a rival, especially since they are 1 of 3 PA FBS schools and that many kids go to Temple after PSU and PITT pass them over. Also, Navy is an important independent school and cannot be overlooked and disrespected like that. PSU has one of most consistent nonconference schedules with n0 FCS schools scheduled the next 3 years. Personally I'd love to see PSUs nonconference schedule be Temple, PITT, WVU, and Syracuse EVERY season.

Brian Bennett: Memphis, San Diego State and SMU are in the Big East, too. Would you like to play those teams? Temple might be in the same state as Penn State, but it's hardly a rival, given the unequal results between the two. As you said, Penn State has consistently scheduled ambitiously, and the Nittany Lions should be taking on marquee teams like Alabama or USC at least once every year.

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Jeff from Marquette, Mich., writes: Hey, Brian, how much of an impact do you really think Andre Rison can have as a coach for MSU? The current coaching staff has done a pretty good job developing receivers and it seems like we've got talent, just not experience. It's not like Rison can take the field so how much of a difference can he really make?

Brian Bennett: I see it as every little bit helps. Rison won't be the main voice in the meeting room or the practice field. But kids will listen to him, because of the success he had in his career. And he surely has some tips and advice to offer. With a group as inexperienced as this one, another mentor can only help.

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Ryan from Geneva, Ohio, writes: I think Jim Delany really needs to play hardball with Mike Slive when it comes to campus sites/neutral sites north of the Mason-Dixon. If Slive doesn't capitulate then Delany and Larry Scott (of the Pac 12) should walk out of the talks and announce plans for starting a rival, 8-team playoff on their terms and let the other conferences decide who to follow. The other conferences, particularly the ACC, BE, and the former non-AQs will be inclined to side with the Delany/Scott playoff because they have greater access to it. To entice them to come any conference champion in the top 12 would automatically qualify. What are your thoughts?

Brian Bennett: Boy, I hope that doesn't happen. We're so close to a workable college football playoff system that your scenario would be a nightmare. And can you imagine the fan backlash against the Big Ten and Pac-12 if they were basically to announce they were taking their ball and going home? Delany and Scott have no interest in expanding the playoff beyond four teams, anyway. The problem is the Big Ten doesn't have a ton of leverage against the SEC, because Slive is the one holding all those trophies. The home site idea appears to be dead or dying; at the very least, the Big Ten needs to make sure that Midwest sites are strongly considered for the championship game.

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Brian from Warrensburg, Mo., writes: Am I the only one that was shocked to see both Montee Ball and Rex Burkhead missing from Todd McShay's way too early 2013 mock draft first round? Are they both too undersized to be first rounders?

Brian Bennett: I'm not surprised by Burkhead's omission. As much as I love him as a college player, I don't think he fits the mold of what NFL scouts -- who often rigidly adhere to measurables and preconceived notions -- are looking for in a running back. But he'll play in the league. It has to be disheartening for Ball, who came back to school largely to improve his draft status after receiving a third-round grade. But after seeing Doug Martin and David Wilson go in the first round, Ball has to like his chances of moving up with a big senior season.

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Charlie from Chicago writes: As a Northwestern fan, I think it's a little lame that Fitz is copying Woody Hayes by calling Illinois "that team from Champaign." What do you think about him maybe changing it to "Champaign's Big Ten team"?

Brian Bennett: That's funny, though I've grown tired of the "Ohio" and "That team up north" stuff. Everybody knows who you're talking about. Let's find more clever ways to tweak our rivals.

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Andrew F. from Fairbanks, Alaska, writes: As a Buckeye fan, I love Terrelle Pryor -- the kid was awe inspiring on the field, and its not like he was beating up women crashing cars off of it. I don't want him to go away. Did he screw up? Did Tressel screw up? Sure. But I don't care if Urban Meyer is the coach now, I have enjoyed the best coach that Ohio State will ever see, and Terrelle Pryor gave us three wonderful years. I am proud to call them Buckeyes.

Brian Bennett: We have found Terrelle Pryor's fan base: it's in Alaska. Just kidding, Andrew. So you don't want Pryor to go away? Well, Ohio State certainly does, since it banned him from any association with the program for five years. And get back to me if he does actually write that book he promised. I've got two words for you: Jose Canseco.

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Logic from Ohio writes: Brian, I agree with your comments about Terrelle Pryor's tattoos not being much help for his family. Another thing - didn't Pryor's attorney claim that his mother bought him a car last May? (The Nissan 350Z that he showed up to a team meeting in). If she couldn't afford her rent, why was she buying him a car? It's hard to feel bad for a kid who time and time again appears dishonest, and only out for himself.

Brian Bennett: You're right, and there was also the issue of some pretty nice cars with dealer tags he drove around Columbus. Was he doing "God's work" in those? Look, I can't begrudge anyone for trying to help their family, and sometimes people go through economic ups and downs. But the point is that Terrelle Pryor has always been about Terrelle Pryor, and I don't find him credible on any of this stuff.

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Drew from Milwaukee writes: I can only imagine what kind of completely outrageous emails you are receiving about this Ron Brown business, but I do have a bone to (respectively) pick with you about something you said in your chat on Monday. I find the approach of giving equal consideration to opposing view points, even when one of those viewpoints is utterly objectionable, to be completely irresponsible. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. If any public figure associate with a major institution like the University of Nebraska had spoken up to say the same things about laws protecting African Americans or Women from discrimination he would fired immediately (especially if he listed his residence as a campus building). Should he be arrested? No. Should he be fired? I'm not even sure about that. But lets stop saying that this is a 'complicated issue' because people have the right to believe whatever they want to. Its not complicated. Ron Brown is a bigot.

Skip from Omaha writes: I want to let you know that I come to ESPN to read about SPORTS! If I wanted to read about social issues I'd go over to a news website. There is a large Christian following that agrees with Coach Brown. You should run some articles about their points of view, but right now you are just making a lot of people like me very angry. I support Coach Brown, he is a very moral person who has had a great impact on many people. Being openly against the gay community is not uncommon, nor is it an immoral stance. The way these articles beat up on Coach Brown, you would think that he is some sort of pedophile or anomaly. He is not. I support Coach Brown and his stances, and I know a vast amount of people who would stand up for him and agree with him. You need to be careful running articles like this. There is no reason to lose sports fans and paying customers over political, social issues.

Brian Bennett: I have largely stayed away from commenting on the Ron Brown story, because you start getting into political, religious and social views that are probably a bit too much for a college football blog. Others have had strong viewpoints and have made their case well. I do know this: I really, really don't want to read any of the articles Skip is talking about.

Sometimes the NCAA gets it right. When it came to DeAnthony Arnett's waiver application, the folks in Indianapolis had an easy decision to make.

Fortunately, the NCAA made the correct call Thursday and approved Arnett's residence waiver, which allows the wide receiver to play for Michigan State this season. Arnett transferred to Michigan State from Tennessee after the 2011 season to be closer to his ailing father, who is awaiting a kidney transplant and is on dialysis. The waiver prevents him from sitting out a season. Arnett, a native of Saginaw, Mich., has three years of eligibility remaining.

The NCAA can be tough to predict on waiver requests. But after green-lighting Notre Dame receiver Amir Carlisle, whose case didn't seem nearly as urgent Arnett's, the NCAA had only one decision to make here.

The decision is big news for Michigan State, which loses its top three wide receivers and its top tight end, not to mention starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, from the 2011 team. Arnett, a decorated recruit who left Big Ten country to play at Tennessee, recorded 24 receptions for 242 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman in 2011. He practiced this spring with the Spartans and will join Keith Mumphery, Bennie Fowler, tight end Dion Sims and others as quarterback Andrew Maxwell's top targets in the passing game.

Although Michigan State will remain a run-first team this fall, Arnett's presence on the field gives the Spartans a talented target who has produced at a high level.

I haven't been judged by this many people since I forgot my canvas bags at Whole Foods.

• Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany is talking about the postseason again, and this time he doesn't want division winners in the playoff.
• A ranking of the Big Ten's backup quarterbacks in 2012.
• The mother of the late Minnesota player Gary Tinsley will accept her son's diploma today at commencement.
• An interesting piece from Mike Hlas on how Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is the Big Ten's youngest elder statesman (among coaches) since another Iowa boss (Hayden Fry).
• Several Big Ten games appear on this list of top contests in the first month of the 2012 season.
• Wisconsin's Bret Bielema, Michigan State's Mark Dantonio and Michigan's Brady Hoke appear on the Sporting News' latest installment of the FBS coaches' rankings.
• Athlon Sports ranks Michigan State at No. 18 on its preseason countdown and has plenty of coverage here and here and here.
• Bill O'Brien sees "sunny days and blue skies" at Penn State. If you need more evidence that things are changing at Penn State, check out the video system O'Brien is using to break down games. The Lions could be adding a second quarterback recruit to their 2013 class.
• Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges is already preparing for the Alabama game. Former Wolverine star Marcus Ray turns his life around after battling depression.
• Nebraska makes an offer to a prep QB from the Atlanta area. It has been 15 years since former Nebraska coach and AD Bob Devaney passed away.
• Standout recruit Ifeadi Odenigbo hopes to build football tradition at Northwestern.
• Ohio State's spring game attendance shows that the sky is no longer falling in Columbus.
• Illinois picks up yet another recruit for 2013, but Kenton Gibbs still will take visits elsewhere .
• Purdue tackle Dennis Kelly signs with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Let's dive 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.

We'll select two players from each Big Ten team, usually one on offense and one on defense, but not always. Your move, Michigan State Spartans.

Andrew Maxwell, QB, Jr.

Well, here's an unusual choice, as Maxwell has never started a game. But he has enormous value as a quarterback who is entering his fourth year in the system and who has been groomed for this job. Without Maxwell, Michigan State would have to turn to redshirt freshman Connor Cook, and the depth at the position would be annihilated. Cook took over for the last part of spring practice while Maxwell dealt with a knee injury and showed it wouldn't be the end of the world if he had to run the show. But the Spartans' offense wouldn't be the same without the more veteran quarterback, and it would place the entire team in a precarious position if he weren't available.

William Gholston, DE, Jr.

I actually struggled with whom to select on defense, as there are many viable candidates. Middle linebacker Max Bullough is a terrific leader, and while there are lots of good players at the outside linebacker spots for the Spartans, I don't know that they have one with the size and skill of Bullough to captain the defense. Cornerback Johnny Adams is also incredibly valuable because if his experience and ability to both cover receivers and provide run and blitz support. But Michigan State's defense is deep and likely could absorb the loss of any one player. The exception may be Gholston. Although there are other capable defensive ends on the depth chart, there are few players in the country quite like Gholston, a 6-foot-7 athletic freak who can dominate at times. If he takes the next step in his development this year as expected, then he can be an elite player who brings the whole defense up a level. That makes him indispensable.