Schedule strength will become more vital beginning in 2014, when a four-team playoff is started. Why? Because a major component of the playoff team selection process figures to be schedule strength, which is one of the reasons why the Big Ten is going to a nine-game league slate in 2016 and phasing out games with FCS.

Michigan product Trey Burke is a sure-fire lottery pick in next week’s NBA draft, which means he’s a wanted man. That goes for outside the basketball world, too. The 2012-13 Big Ten Player of the Year is featured in the latest edition of GQ, and it’s not just a simple mention or a single page. No, he’s got a four-page spread. See the photos in this post.

Here’s what we know: There will be no repeat winner for the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year. Last year’s winner, John Simon, is in the NFL, leaving a pool of worthy candidates to fight for the award now in its third year. Who’s the top candidate entering the season? Tom Dienhart and Brent Yarina discuss it in this post.

Following Monday night’s narrow 5-4 defeat to Mississippi State, Indiana finds itself in a win-or-go-home game at the College World Series. The Hoosiers, who had won seven consecutive games before Monday, battle Pac-12 champion Oregon State at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday on ESPN. Win, and Indiana advances to play Mississippi State, which it would have to beat twice to stay alive. Lose, and it’s the end to the team’s best season ever.