The Nebraska football program boasts some impressive facilities, that’s no secret. They’re so nice, in fact, BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart singled out the team in the “Best Facilities” category of his BTN summer football tour recap. What makes the facilities so great? A lot of things, actually, including the personal touches. And that includes an iPad in every locker. We’ve heard about said iPad’s for a while, but see a picture of the one in Rex Burkhead’s locker in this post.

The biggest number at the BTN offices today is 5 – as in our five-year anniversary. The years have flown by – though some of the days have been a bit arduous. That’s the nature of any kind of new venture. I was reflecting this morning on my first meeting with the BTN people. Frankly, I wasn’t sure how interested I was. I really didn’t understand what it was going to be.

Has it really already been five years? On Thursday night, BTN airs a one-hour show “BTN 5th Anniversary Special” to look back at just a few of the many memorable moments we’ve brought our viewers in our first five years. Hosted by Mike Hall and Rick Pizzo, the show airs on BTN/BTN2Go at 8 p.m. ET and then again at 9 p.m., too.

The Big Ten has gone four consecutive seasons without fielding a team in the BCS title game. Is this the year the streak gets snapped? The Big Ten enters the 2012 season with four teams ranked in the top 16 of the Coaches Poll, led by No. 8 Michigan, so the opportunity is there. But which team is most likely to make this season’s BCS title game?

It’s finally here: The 2012 season, as Minnesota kicks off tonight at UNLV. What can we expect from the Golden Gophers? Watch and listen to Minneapolis Star-Tribune writer Phil Miller. And then let’s get into the rest of today’s Big Ten links.