After 15 nights in 12 hotels and 12 cities, stretching from Lincoln, Neb., to State College, Pa., the BTN bus has come to a stop. It was a fun ride, visiting all the Big Ten schools to watch practices. It was the BTN crew’s last chance to kick the tires on each team before the start of the 2013 season.

The BTN bus tour concluded the 2013 trip with this morning’s Hawkeye practice. After returning to home base, the BTN studios, I had the chance to catch up with some of the B1G travelers.

As Kirk Ferentz enters his 15th season in Iowa City, he finds himself looking to get his program back on track. The Hawkeyes’ win total has gone from 11 to 8 to 7 to 4 last season. Myriad questions loom for Iowa as it winds down training camp, as the halcyon days of the early-2000s fade further into the rear-view mirror. But Ferentz and Co., often do their best work when expectations are low.

Believe it or not, the 2013 BTN Football Tour has reached its 12th and final stop. The guys took in Iowa practice Tuesday morning, and they live tweeted throughout the day. Find some of their best tweets in this post. Reminder: Watch the Iowa Preview Show at 8 p.m. ET Sunday on BTN/BTN2Go.

LINCOLN, Neb. – It’s difficult to believe that this is Bo Pelini’s sixth season in Lincoln. Time flies. He has done many good things, highlighted by last year’s trip to the Big Ten title game. But to get over the hump and to the program’s first league title since 1999, the defense needs to improve.

The BTN Football Tour is approaching the finish line, but not before stops to Nebraska and Iowa. Today, our guys were at Huskers’ camp to check out the reigning Legends Division champs. Tom Dienhart and Dave Revsine live tweeted from the practice, and we posting some of their best tweets right here.

MINNEAPOLIS – Jerry Kill is getting closer to turning the corner in his third season at Minnesota. This team looks noticeably bigger—and more athletic—than when I was here last August to watch practice. And Kill told me afterward that the players are now leading themselves better—and buying in.

Nine stops down, and three to go. Friday afternoon, Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo, Howard Griffith and Tom Dienhart took in Minnesota practice. The guys live tweeted during the practice, and we posted some of their best thoughts right here. Reminder: Watch the Minnesota Preview Show at 8 p.m. ET at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 23 on BTN/BTN2Go.

MADISON, Wis. – No doubt about it, Gary Andersen will possess plenty of talent in his first season at Wisconsin. In fact, ex-coach Bret Bielema often pointed toward 2013 as being a potentially big season for a program that has gone to the last three Rose Bowls. On Thursday, the defense had a big edge on the offense, as camp legs appear to be setting in.

The BTN Football Tour stopped at three-time reigning Big Ten champ Wisconsin on Thursday morning. Our guys live tweeted from the practice, and w posted some of their best thoughts in this post. Reminder: Watch the Wisconsin Preview Show at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 22 on BTN/BTN2Go.

RANTOUL, Ill. – Tim Beckman is hoping for better results in Year Two after a 2-10 debut in Champaign that saw Illinois push its Big Ten losing skid to 14 games. This is a team whose best talent is young, so patience must be preached as growing pains are likely. Beckman made nice adjustments on his staff in the offseason, bringing in ex-Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit to run the offense.

The BTN Football Tour has arrived at Camp Rantoul to take in Wednesday morning’s Illinois practice. Our guys are live tweeting from the practice, and we’re posting some of their best thoughts in this post. Reminder: Watch the Illinois Preview Show at 8 p.m. ET Aug. 21 on BTN/BTN2Go.

KENOSHA, Wis. – Much anticipation surrounds Northwestern. In fact, there was no school I was more looking forward to watching in camp than the Wildcats, who are coming off a 10-win season and the program’s first bowl victory since the 1948 season. Today, Camp Kenosha felt a little like mid-October during one of the more spirited stops on our tour.

The BTN Football Tour stopped in Kenosha, Wis., on Tuesday, which allowed us the opportunity to visit Pat Fitzgerald and his talented Northwestern football team. Our guys live tweeted from the practice, and we posted some of the best tweets in this blog. Reminder: Watch the Northwestern Preview Show at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, Aug. 20 on BTN/BTN2Go.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue ran a spirited practice Monday that moved in a well-organized fashion. Darrell Hazell is strong presence who floated from group to group, but he tends to gravitate to the offense—his background. There was more hitting in the Boilermakers’ camp this season than last under Danny Hope. I came away impressed with a lot for a program that seemingly has a bright future.