Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, April 19, 2016

Could former Wisconsin OT Chris McIntosh be the successor to Barry Alvarez as Badger A.D.?

McIntosh is an associate A.D. now in Madison, and he?s a rising star in the athletic department. Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel notes that sources say they won't be surprised to see McIntosh eventually succeed Alvarez. Alvarez, who turns 70 in December, is in his 12th year as athletic director and is under contract through the 2019-20 academic year. He has not talked publicly about retirement, but clearly he believes McIntosh has a bright future.

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Tough blow for Purdue during its spring game last Saturday, as running back D.J. Knox suffered a knee injury. The guy has some big-play ability. This is someone the Boilermakers really couldn?t afford to lose as Darrell Hazell enters a key season in 2016.

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Michigan State has its spring game Saturday. But Mark Dantonio says there is no pressure on the quarterbacks as the team searches for a replacement for Connor Cook.

Yes, well, maybe. But it sure couldn?t hurt to excel. In the end, this looks to be Tyler O?Connor's job.

"No, I don't think anybody will win the starting job on Saturday," Dantonio said this week on Lansing's 730 AM. "I think Tyler O'Connor leads that quarterback race, but nobody is going to win or lose it on Saturday, I don't want that pressure on anybody.

"It will be an accumulation of a body of work."

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Jim Harbaugh is here ? he is there ? he is everywhere. Coaching first base for the Tigers, at a rap concert, delivering a commencement speech. Why? Harbaugh says he has a hard time saying ?No.?

Of course, Harbaugh has to know he benefits from the exposure of these things he says ?yes? to, right? The commencement speech at Paramus High doesn?t have Rutgers coach Chris Ash fired up.

"Do I necessarily like it? No, I don't. I don't want another coach from another program to be able to come to our state and be able to basically present their logo and their team and their program in our state," Ash told NJ.com this week. "But the rules are rules. It's legal. I can't complain about it.

"I gotta go out and do it myself if I get the opportunity."

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Could Terry McLaurin be Ohio State?s big-play wideout? Maybe. He certainly made a case in last Saturday?s spring game.

Urban Meyer has said he wants to throw more in 2016. So, keep an eye on the speedy McLaurin.

"Coach Meyer put a big emphasis on who can take over to be that deep threat, and that's the competition, we all want that spot," McLaurin said.

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Nothing like Rutgers? Ring of Honor drill to get you in the mood for some football. Check out the video.

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Gophers hoops has added a grad transfer in Akeem Springs.

The 6-4 wing from Wisconsin-Milwaukee averaged 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in 31.9 minutes a game last year. Springs will be eligible right away.

Springs, who visited Minnesota's campus last weekend, fills the empty scholarship made available after freshman guard Kevin Dorsey announced his transfer earlier this month.

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Nice sit down one-on-one interview with Illinois coach John Groce from Scott Richey of the Champaign News-Gazette.

It goes without saying that next season is a big one for Groce, who has the full backing of new A.D. Josh Whitman.

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Chad Leistikow of HawkCentral.com thinks Fran McCaffery should take a grad transfer. Fran doesn?t like the grad transfer rule. Still ?

Iowa?s biggest need is at point guard, where departed Anthony Clemmons and Mike Gesell gobbled up almost every minute last season. At this point, McCaffery's only two options at point will be gently used sophomore Christian Williams and incoming freshman Jordan Bohannon.

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