What lies ahead for an undefeated Iowa squad? Let's hope the Ohio State QB drama has run its course. There is a one very likely spoiler out there - we're looking at your Nebraska. And let's pick he best QB in the conference right now. BTN's Tom Dienhart lays out ten Big Ten football thoughts in this post.
With the Big Ten Conference's Independent Medical Spotter system in it's first year, BTN Senior Writer Tom Dienhart checks in to see what the conference has learned about spotting injuries in football games. What is the exact process? Who are the spotters and what have they seen through 42 non-conference games and 20 conference home games so far? Read Dienhart's update here.
A look at the rise of Penn State's Carl Nassib. Another look at how Michigan punter Blake O'Neill handled adversity. What are Ohio State's Cardale Jones' options? Is Iowa's 7-0 start "lucky" or a product of design? Find these Big Ten football stories and more in Friday's Big Ten roundup.
Here’s a loaded question for you to ponder: If you had one game to win, which Big Ten coach would you choose to lead your team? I asked some esteemed and sage media members for their answer. Check it out. Steve Greenberg, Chicago Sun-Times, Bleacher Report, Rolling Stone: Easy. Urban Meyer. Mark Dantonio next, followed by Jim Harbaugh. But Meyer has the big-game chops those guys still don’t quite have. You’d better believe other coaches are cowed by him, too, whether or not they care to admit it to themselves. Tom Oates, Wisconsin State Journal: Mark Dantonio. The Spartans always
Best game? Best matchup? Player on the spot? How about an upset alert? Heading into a five-game Big Ten Week 8, BTN senior writer Tom Dienhart prepares you for another football Saturday.
Thursday morning brings stories on Brady Hoke's take on Michigan's last play last Saturday, a little bit of possible tension between Pit and Penn State, Maryland's handshake plan for this weekend, and Urban Meyer's thoughts on Rutgers WR Leonte Caroo. Plus, Purdue seeks approval on a new football complex. Read it all in this post.
Two years, two 25-point comebacks for Rutgers. It’s enough to make Rutgers’ QB Chris Laviano shake his head. [ MORE: Week 8 scoreboard | Week 8 previews | Polls: Who wins Week 8 games? | Power Rankings | Bowl Projections | Player Rankings | Mailbag | Q&A: Chris Laviano | Barrett named Ohio State starter | Watch Mark Dantonio dance | Watch OSU student do jump pass vs. Barrett | Hear your coach’s teleconference | Big Ten standings | Big Ten stats | Latest polls ] Gary Nova engineered last year’s epic rally at Maryland. This year, it was Laviano
Mark Dantonio has a name for that crazy game-ending play that propelled Michigan State to a wild last-play victory at Michigan that still has me sitting on the ceiling: “Rangers: Mission 4:10.” This also interesting: Dantonio said the MSU staff turned the situation around, and like many other staffs across the country, reviewed what they would have done in Jim Harbaugh’s shoes. “You have to recognize the situation, (and) recognize if there’s a guy back (to receive the punt) in that situation or not, (and) if they don’t have a guy back, you bring you gunners in possibly,” Dantonio said.
A truncated week of action with just five games, as Iowa, Michigan, Purdue and Minnesota are off. The big news: Ohio State has a new starting quarterback in J.T. Barrett.
Would it be a shock to see Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State all finish 7-1 and tied atop the Big Ten East? Not really. Should it happen, it could mean we won't know the Big Ten title game participants until four days before the game. See why inside.
