Big Ten links: Chris Ash reaction, Ohio State hypothetical & more

Chris Ash officially was introduced as head coach at Rutgers on Monday. He is a bright defensive mind who is ready for the next step after helping run the Ohio State defense the last two years. Steve Politi of NJ.com has five first impressions.

Politi thinks Ash should leave his OSU post now and dedicate himself to RU. But Ash will coach in the Fiesta Bowl with the Buckeyes. I like it.

Here are Ash?s contract terms.

Ash, who turns 42 on Dec. 24, has a five-year, $11-million deal and will receive a guaranteed salary starting at $2 million for the 2016 season. His annual salary will increase by $100,000 at the beginning of each contract year starting on March 1, 2017.

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I like to see this: Stanford coach David Shaw advocates for an eight-team playoff.

Heck, I?ll take a six-team playoff. Anything that eliminates a committee picking teams-or all of the teams. How about the champs of the Power Five leagues getting automatic berths? And a committee can pick a wild-card team? Let?s do it. The glacial change/evolution of the college football postseason is absurd.

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Michigan State will get to measure itself against arguably the top program in the nation when it battles Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.

Alabama dismantled the 2010 Spartans, 49-7, in the Capital One Bowl after the 2010 season.

"We were 11-1 as we went down there that particular day and had some turnovers, and it became a rough day as things sort of spun out of control a little bit," MSU coach Mark Dantonio said. "That was our first game in a situation like that … we're going to find out if we've grown up a little bit."

You sure will– for better or worse.

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Would Ohio State have been better off losing to Indiana? Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com takes a look at the crazy notion. He has some good points that convinced me.

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Here is a little Northwestern-Tennessee hype video to get you going for the Outback Bowl.

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Tommy Armstrong endured an up-and-down season. But know this: Mike Riley sees better days ahead for TA.

Sam McKewon of Omaha.com says Riley preaches optimism regarding Armstrong, who still can be plagued by inconsistency. Call it hopeful, call it odd, but Riley said he thinks the coaching staff can make Armstrong a better quarterback and mold the offense a bit more to his talents. And while Riley said there has to be competition in the spring for every job, it?s not as if all the quarterbacks have some clean slate. There will be a pecking order - and Armstrong is atop that order.

?No. 1, Tommy?s our starting quarterback,? Riley said, ?and he?ll take the first turns (in the spring).?

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Will star Michigan TE Jake Butt turn pro or return for his senior season?

"It's 50-50 right now, I can't say I'm leaning one way or the other," Butt said Monday to Mlive.com. "Especially without talking to coach (Jim) Harbaugh, I really want to hear his input on everything."

The Big Ten's tight end of the year said he's already made a pros and cons list about the NFL vs. college decision with his father and family. He's also talked with former teammates who are currently in the NFL and says he'd like to have his decision made in the next week. This would be a big loss for Michigan.

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Is Indiana one of the top four teams in its own state? Interesting.

Purdue has been best so far. Butler and Indiana State are looking strong. The Hoosiers probably are fourth for now. Really.

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