Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, September 15, 2015

Great read from Lee Barfknecht of Omaha.com, who wonders why more fuss isn?t being made nationally over Michigan State. I am as miffed as he is.

Barfknecht wonders what else Michigan State must do to get onto college football?s main marquee. Check the trophy wins the past three seasons. The Spartans handed Urban Meyer his first loss in 25 games at Ohio State in the 2013 Big Ten championship game. The Buckeyes were No. 2 at the time. Then MSU toppled No. 5 Stanford in the Rose Bowl. During the 2014 regular season, Michigan State led both national title game participants (Ohio State and Oregon) midway through the game before losing. But they capped the season with another bowl win, this time over everybody?s upstart darling, No. 4 Baylor, in the Cotton Bowl. Now, the Spartans have defeated West Coast wonder Oregon. That was MSU?s 26th victory in 29 games. Don?t look for that pace to slow.

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Pat Forde also is impressed with Michigan State.

One way MSU can't be ignored: Win the Big Ten and get into the playoff. It could happen, people.

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Michigan State plays a pesky foe in Air Force. How will the uber-talented Spartan d-line deal with a Falcons? o-line that cut blocks in the triple-option?

Blocks like that tend to slow down a rush.

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Wisconsin has to feel good about its 58-0 win over Miami (Ohio), right? I mean ? 58-0 ? c?mon. That?s pretty good. Still, the rushing attack may be something to fret about.

Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes the Badgers, held to 40 rushing yards on 21 carries in a 35-17 loss to Alabama, managed only 58 yards on 21 carries in the first half Saturday.

"You take what you can get," said Joel Stave, who finished 19 of 30 for 236 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. "Last year, when you're running the ball for 400, 500 yards a game, it's tough to turn away from.

"I think we just got to take what the defense gives us. If that's the passing game, then we got to continue to work it. If it's the running game, we just got to continue to take that. It's just playing the game."

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It was a tough blow to see left OT Andrew Nelson go down last week for a reworked Penn State o-line. The unit needs his presence.

James Franklin said following the contest that Nelson's issue was one he has dealt with in the past, and that it flares up from time to time. Pennlive.com says that what was left unsaid, though, was how long this issue has taken to heal in the past, and whether it being a known issue, as opposed to a new one, meant that would keep him out for a short duration or a longer one. PSU needs Nelson … badly.

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Good stuff during Urban Meyer's weekly press conference, as the coach said he doesn't care about the Big Ten's perception.

Meyer was asked about the strength of the Big Ten and to compare it to other conferences around the country, and his answer kind of sounded like he was responding to Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema's comments last week.

"I don't have any idea," Meyer responded. "I don't know where people have time to do that all that. I don't know anyone else's schedule. I don't care. I'm going to work on punt when I'm done here in a minute. … We have enough issues.

"I've been asked that question: 'Did you hear what this guy said?' I'm like, 'how did they say that?' I don't know."

We all can thank Bielema for giving us a life lesson: Just shut up and take care of your own business. Thanks, Bret!

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Oh, and Meyer also said that Cardale Jones is the starting QB for Ohio State this week. But Meyer also said this.

"Both of them will continue to get reps," Meyer said. "The approach I've taken is Cardale started. He's the starting quarterback. I met with him yesterday. J.T. (Barrett) has not beat him out yet. He's going to continue to have opportunities to do that because J.T. is a very good player and Cardale's got to perform."

I just don?t like this arrangement.

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Would Michigan redshirt QB Shane Morris? It?s a consideration.

?If (redshirting him) is a possibility, then, yeah, it's a consideration," Jim Harbaugh said. "You don't know how it's going to play out, you don't have a crystal ball (but yeah, it's a consideration)."

Michigan opted to let Wilton Speight take the final kneel down snaps in the team's 35-7 win over Oregon State last week, keeping Morris out of action after also not playing at Utah. Hmmmmm.

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Tumult continues to swirl around Rutgers. At least A.D. Julie Hermann has expressed support for Kyle Flood, according to a source in this NJ.com report.

Hermann has not addressed the media since the news of the university's investigation into Flood broke on Aug. 25. Flood has said repeatedly that he feels he has the support of the university's administration.
I wonder why Hermann won't publicly support Flood.

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Big game for Iowa this week, as Pitt comes to Iowa City. Kirk Ferentz hopes DE Drew Ott (elbow) and RB LeShun Daniels (ankle) are OK after getting banged up vs. Iowa State.

?We?re not ruling either one of them out,? Ferentz said. ?We?re hopeful they get back.?

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About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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