Big Ten links: More on Harbaugh, takes on Pelini & Bosa scores honor

The buzz around Michigan?s reported blockbuster offer to Jim Harbaugh still has many talking. And with good reason. If the Wolverines somehow could land Harbaugh, it would be huge. Ex-players at the University of San Diego have high praise for him, with one saying it?s this simple: Harbaugh takes losers and makes them winners.

Steve Politi of NJ.com thinks the mammoth 6-year, $49-million offer to Harbaugh is another sign that the college sports model is broken.

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Most schools lack the funds to play a coach like Michigan. How high can colleges go with salaries? And what will it take to sustain and fuel salaries like that? There?s no going back. It?s just another lesson in how uneven the playing field is in college sports. The rich always will be rich ? the poor always will be poor.

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Strong take on Bo Pelini from David Jones of Pennlive.com, who says immaturity was the former Nebraska coach?s downfall. Jones makes some good points. It?s just one more round of drama for Pelini as he exits for Youngstown State. You didn?t think he was going to go quietly, did you?

Tom Shatel of Omaha.com blows a farewell kiss toward Pelini. Well, it?s not really much of a kiss ? but you get the idea.

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We knew Ohio State sophomore DE Joey Bosa was a stud. Now, we have even more validation, as he has become the Buckeyes? 27th unanimous All-American.

As Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com notes, you should think of Bosa among the Ohio State legends. With Heisman Trophy winners Archie Griffin and Eddie George and Troy Smith and Hop Cassaday and Vic Janowicz and Les Horvath. With defensive stars Jack Tatum and Randy Gradishar and Chris Spielman and Mike Doss and A.J. Hawk and James Laurinaitis. With other OSU favorites like John Hicks, Bob Ferguson, Keith Byars and Orlando Pace. Heady company, indeed.

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OK, here?s a little dose of fun for your Friday: A comparison between the states of Alabama and Ohio prior to the Sugar Bowl-cultural stuff.

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Well, this is interesting: Northwestern coach Chris Collins recently compared his freshman class with the senior class that just departed Virginia amid much hubbub after landing a No. 1 seed in the 2014 NCAA tourney. InsideNU.com takes a look at some similarities-and differences.

For NU?s sake, I hope Collins is correct. There is some nice talent among the Wildcat newbies, headed by Vic Law. But as the loss to CMU showed, growing pains are taking place.

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Nice piece on Michigan State RB Jeremy Langford from Mike Griffith of Mlive.com, who says the Spartan star is looking at his trip to the Cotton Bowl as a business junket.

What the 6-foot-1, 208-pound senior lacks in glitz and glamour, he more than makes up for in production, as Langford will roll into the Cotton Bowl Classic riding a school-record streak of nine-straight 100-yard rushing performances. Baylor boasts the best run defense in the Big 12, allowing a stingy 107.7 yards per game and 2.9 yards per rush. This is gonna be good.

This is interesting: Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz recently told fans on a radio show that QB C.J. Beathard ?could start? in the bowl game.

I guess it shouldn?t be a shock. Beathard looked pretty good when he played this year. And it?s not like Jake Rudock set the world on fire in a 7-5 season that left many disappointed. But, in the end, my money is on Rudock starting vs. Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Bowl. He gives the Hawkeyes the best chance to win.

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Nice piece from the always excelled Tom Oates of Madison.com, who says Paul Chryst?s arrival means good news for the Wisconsin quarterbacks.

His pro style will benefit signal-callers like Joel Stave and Bart Houston. Tanner McEvoy? Eh, not so much so.

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