Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, December 2, 2015

So, the College Football Playoff committee discussed jumping Michigan State over Iowa in this week?s poll. The Hawkeyes were No. 4; the Spartans No. 5. But, No. 4? No. 5? It doesn?t matter. The winner of the Big Ten title game is going to the playoff. So, who cares?

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Lots of intriguing storylines around the Big Ten title game. Both Iowa and Michigan State are physical teams. In fact, do any two teams better epitomize traditional, stereotypical Big Ten football than these two clubs? Nope. Which one is most physical?

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The NCAA has come up with a way to assign 5-7 teams to bowls based on schools? APRs.

That is good news for Nebraska, which figures to land a spot. But, the school won?t pay its coaches bowl bonuses-even though the Huskers would be playing in-you know–a bowl. How absurd is all of this 5-7 bowl stuff? Forget I asked. Carry on.

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The great Steve Politi of NJ.com has some off-the-radar names for the Rutgers job. This will make you smile. Maybe even chuckle.

Bob Diaco? Everett Withers? Ed Warinner? Rob Ryan? Why not?

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So, Penn State needs an OC. Names here. This is really quite entertaining. Mike Martz?s name is on here. Really.

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Here is a good look at the some key numbers for Michigan from 2014 compared to 2015. Interesting.

Points scored are up 116; points allowed are down 63. Also of note: penalties are up 41. Mlive.com says here's one to work on: Michigan nearly doubled its penalties committed in 2014, going from 42 (for 381 yards) to 83 (for 748 yards) year-over-year. Thirty-three of those penalties came in the final three games against Indiana (13), Penn State (13) and Ohio State (7).

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On the subject of Michigan, the Wolverines are in the market for an athletic director, as Jim Hackett is departing. So, if you are scoring at home, Minnesota, Illinois and now Michigan all need ADs. And Rutgers just hired one.

Hackett did a good job. Landing Jim Harbaugh was epic. And the school will be forever grateful for him for pulling off that coup. Make a statue of the guy.

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How good is Purdue?s hoops team? Pretty gosh darn good. That win at Pitt last night was impressive. The Boilers are big, deep, physical, and they defend and can shoot.

I can?t wait to see this team play at Maryland (Feb. 6) and vs. Michigan State (Feb. 9) in back-to-back games. Purdue gets just one crack at the Spartans, but the Terps come to West Lafayette on Feb. 27.

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Speaking of Maryland, tough loss to North Carolina last night. But, no shame in falling to the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. The Terps will benefit from this experience.

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To say it has been a tough season for Ohio State hoops to date would be an understatement. How do Buckeye fans keeps perspective?

Bill Landis of Cleveland.com notes that a three-game losing streak in November isn't something any coach envisions, especially one with the schedule Ohio State had to start the season. But this feeling was inevitable, so might as well bring it on now and figure out a way to get out of the hole. It's only getting tougher from here.

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