The week in review

◊ I think I'll make this a weekly thing, particularly during the off-season. Anyway, here's what you should know, as we wrap up the week:

• Just when you thought Penn State was settling down at the quarterback spot, this happened, sending shock waves throughout the message boards. Matt Simms (formerly of Louisville, by way of Don Bosco in NJ), is looking to play JUCO for a year, then try to get in at Oklahoma or PENN STATE.

My Take: Listen to me, it won't happen. Not now, not ever. If he thinks he can come into Holuba Hall and just start competing for the job, think again. Kevin Newsome is here, and Paul Jones is on the way for '10. Put this rumor to bed, fast. Penn State doesn't like JUCO players (about 99% of the time), and won't be too keen on bringing in a high-profile (in name at least) skill player.

• On Wednesday, the NCAA rules committee rolled out a shitastic new rule–yes, another one–regarding penalties and "unsportsmanlike conduct."

Here's the SI.com wire story for the background. And TINNOMJ's reaction... 11W's and Orson's as well.

My Take: I'm not a fan of deregulation, but college football needs heavy doses of Alan Greenspan and Ronald Reagan right now. Over the last few years, we've seen the rules committee run roughshod over our game. Sometimes it's a good thing, as in the RC's cooperation with instant replay adoption. But too many other times, the RC's actions leave us all baffled, if not frustrated. Remember that fantastically doomed experiment that was Rule 3-2-5-E, in 2006? It's made a few of us upset, especially when we realized it was more about creating additional media timeouts, rather than its stated purpose of speeding up the game. But this proposed taunting penalty, should it be adopted as is, will turn out to be nothing short of the complete disaster the 2006 clock rules were. It's time for the RC to wake up.

• Yesterday, it was also revealed that the BCS is happy where it is right now, and likes being happy where it is right now. For those of us who were hoping to see the Cotton Bowl's inclusion into the formula, thus moving closer to the true plus-one system, this was a real nail in the coffin... for now.

My Take: Just relax, and take it. I don't like the BCS. Not many fans do. But is it really as bad as the taunting rule news? Not really. The BCS and college presidents run the show. And unless we stop watching the games, and buying up BCS bowl tickets like there's no tomorrow, we don't have much clout over how the system is run.

• Penn State picked up a big-time recruit this week. Oh, and did I mention is was a–are you sitting down?–basketball recruit. Needless to say, mired in a terrible losing streak, with the NCAA tournament berth gone, and the NIT steadily stepping aside, this was a shocker.

My Take: This is a major coup for Ed DeChellis & Co. Penn State took a nosedive this week, but was able to pull it up for a few minutes with this news. I'm not a fan of mediocrity, but that's what you're going to get with Penn State basketball, at least for a little while longer. When I was at Penn State, 15 wins was a major accomplishment. It wasn't that long ago. I"m not saying we need to lower our standards that much, but an understanding of the situation is critical for this program's future. The BigTen is a good conference this year, more so than usual. Penn State has managed to play with the big boys though it all.

• The BigTen coaching situation ironed out a small wrinkle this week, with the news that Kirk Ferentz is staying at Iowa... for a while. (HT: BHGP)

My Take: Ferentz had been in warm water the last few seasons, when his teams greatly underperformed with better talent than his more successful teams had from 2002-2004 (31 wins, 2 bowl wins over the SEC). But that doesn't mean he can't coach, or isn't good for the Hawkeyes. Ferentz has had a better 7-game run vs. Penn State than Jim Tressel, and only Michigan has done equal (well, you could really say 'Michigan & The Refs') over that span. On the flip side, Ferentz faces a daunting task going into 2009. He loses Shonn Greene, and two of the best defensive tackles in college football. If he can coax 8-9 wins out of this team next season, this was a great move by the university. But anything less than 7 wins will turn up the heat, even more than before.

• Oh yeah, and then there was a BigTen Bloggers Roundtable this week. Can we say shameless self-promotion?

Have a great weekend...

More below the fold...

BigTen Bloggers Roundtable :: Signing Day

◊ The BigTen Bloggers–well, a bunch of them–were motivated enough to tackle a post-signing day roundtable. I threw them some questions, they answered. Here's what we got.

(Download the .pdf version of this post!)

Signing Day edition participants:
Lake the Posts (Northwestern)
Bucky's 5th Quarter (Wisconsin)
Our Honor Defend (Ohio State)
Off the Tracks (Purdue)
Maize 'n Brew (Michigan)
Maize & Blue Nation (Michigan)
Nittany White Out (Penn State)
The Nittany Line (Penn State)
Happy Hour Valley (Penn State)
1. Were you pleased with this year's recruiting class? Where did your team excel? Where did they fall short?

I figured on starting with a predictable, boring question. My guess is that I achieved my goal. But there were some interesting story lines emerging from this year's recruiting battles. Like, is there a growing war over the State of Illinois? With Illinois admittedly underachieving last year, Northwestern's seemed to pounce on the opportunity, says LTP:

"I would say we excelled in putting the proverbial flag in the Chicagoland ground as we inked three of the areas most highly touted players… NU has seemingly had a blue chip back in the lineup since Darnell Autry and this coming year, with Simmons the heir apparent, is the most questionable we've been at the RB spot in a long time."

Ok, so Chicago is only a small part of the state, but it's a major hub of talent. Then there's the land of polka and brats, a.k.a. Weeskansin, where B5Q is upbeat about UW's slim pickin's this year, yet with a warning:

"This year's class has the making of any other Wisconsin recruiting class. Bret Bielema grabbed the second tier players and now the goal is to make sure they don't become the "sloppy seconds." Most fans are disappointed in the class, but I'm actually somewhat surprised the class is as good as it is after such a bad season."

But if there was one team that made a real impression this recruiting season, it was Purdue, under new head man Danny "Sunshine" Hope. OTT welcomed the relocation of the Boilers' efforts:

"Purdue needed to go in a different direction and we did by cleaning upt he leftovers in the state of Florida. I say leftovers because you are rarely going to pry the top players away from Miami, Florida, and Florida State. Getting even anyone marginally good out of Miami-Dade county is impressive because Randy Shannon has a headlock on the talent down there, but fortunately there is so much talent in the state that those three schools can't possibly take all of it."

Michigan had some holes to fill on defense, even if some of them (cToRuEgNhT) might not be bad holes to have right now. MBN liked what the Wolves did this year, but was left looking for a bit more immediate results:

"We probably fell short in shoring up were linebacker and defensive back. We did get some guys that I think could end up making an impact in 3 years, but no standout playmakers."

Ah, then there's Penn State. You know, that team that fielded the first-team All BigTen quarterback? Well, TNL wants more of the same the next few years, and wants to see it happen in next year's class:

"Penn State landed 5 guys listed as wide receivers and four of them are of the 6 foot 2 inch or taller variety, so yeah they did their job there. Star recruit and dual-threat QB Kevin Newsome aside, the coaches fell a little short at quarterback but already have a verbal for 2010 so things aren't all bleak."

2. Name one or two players you want to see get on the field ASAP, and where you think they will fit in.

Sick of Ohio State fielding NFL talent every year? Well, it's not over, says OHD:

"James comes to Ohio State by way of Grand Ledge, Michigan and runs a reported 4.31 40. I'll go ahead and downplay the significance of that measure, but there's still plenty of reason to want to see James Jackson get on the field. He's a vertical threat when the last season seemed to have no receiver capable of meeting that need."

And for Northwestern, LTP is looking forward to the Cats' newest signal caller, even if he may not play (LTP said redshirts are very common at NW) in 2009:

"We're all anxious to see what QB Evan Watkins can do - his 6-6 size is of course appealing and he seems to be the guy we're betting the next four years on."

MNB forgot what decade we're in:

"I'd like to see Charles Woodson at Corner and Tom Brady at QB. I think, especially given their work with NFL teams, they could compete to start immediately."

While MBN looks for the defensive line to field some very highly touted freshmen:

"William Campbell, the 5-star DT from Detroit, will probably be an instant starter at defensive tackle. He will fill the massive hole left by departing senior Terrance Taylor."

However, don't think that because Penn State loses Derrick Williams & Co., that the speed factor will fade in Happy Valley, as HHV explains:

"I'd like to see the coaching staff utilize Devon Smith and his Usain Bolt-like speed (4.19 40-yard dash) as a kick/punt returner or on bubble screens. Give that kid just a little bit of open space to create and the sky's the limit… Although, I would like to see the coaching staff feed him something because he's only a racing singlet and a haircut away from being mistaken for a Kenyan marathoner."

3. This one's purely for the sake of argument. Much has been made about the SEC's recruiting 'dominance' over the BigTen, particularly this year. Either validate that claim, or try to prove it wrong. At least vent a little bit. You know you want to.

You had to know I was going to ask some question about the SEC. After all, are we BigTen Bloggers, or not? But first, we here at ZN and across the BigTen community, must express our deepest sympathies to OHD, for:

"...being a resident of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, [yet] I try to advance my days without acknowledging the SEC."

He did answer the question, though:

"Important for Ohio State's sake — and indeed, anyone else in the Big Ten — is that recruiting, while invariably important, is but half the battle. Getting top flight athletes to come to Ohio State is one thing, but they obviously have to be much better by time they leave."

NWO looks at the situation as a problem with the BigTen's image nationally, but isn't helping itself:

"I think that the media dictates this perception, but the Big Ten does need to show up, with, at the very least, a BCS bowl win next year."

And MBN points out that the whole "Southern Speed" thing might not have too much weight behind it anymore:

"Michigan did it's part to help refute the notion that only fast guys from Florida go to SEC schools. 8 of Michigan's 22-member class are from the state of Florida, and all of them are skill-position players."

MNB is looking to start a blog war:

"SEC country has always been better at tracking sub-18 year old kid's every movements via facebook and internet chat-rooms."

While OTT throws a little gas on the flame... in fantastically blunt fashion:

"You know what, screw the SEC."

Could it be that there's another reason for the SEC's grip on recruiting? TNL had some suggestions:

"Let's just put it this way, with the last three national championship teams sitting in the SEC conference it's not a difficult sell to young kids. That and it just reached 40 degrees today in central PA for the first time in oh…. 3 months."

Hmm... he may have a point there. So might HHV:

"It's undoubtedly frustrating but honestly, do you expect the majority of that "southern speed" to agree to play in the cold/wind/rain/snow up in Big Ten country during the latter half of the college football season? They all would rather play in a climate where the temperatures never dip below the 50s and rain is the only element that ever causes a hinderance."

Weather have an impact on where 18-year-old boys want to go to school? No way. I mean seriously. Who wants to go to a place like Florida, with all those girls laying around dressed only in... oh, wait...

4. Going into next year (already), where does your team need to focus its efforts? How about the BigTen as a whole? What can the conference/ your team do better to attract more highly-regarded recruits, or is it even an issue?

Ha! You thought we were don't blaming the BigTen's troubles on weather? Think again!

"Global Warming! Global Warming!"

Proclaimed B5Q...

"We need warmer weather to compete with the SEC… Flashier teams on primetime national television sounds more appealing than playing Toledo on the Big Ten Network. Just saying."

But enough with that already. NWO wants to see Penn State (and the BigTen overall) recruit more defensive speed, along with the schemes to utilize that speed:

"The spread offense seems to have finally hit the midwest, with at least Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois, and Northwestern running some variation on it. Speed on offense needs to be countered with speed on defense. I think Joe Paterno stepping down isn't as big an issue as others seem to, but maybe if (when) Tom Bradley takes over, he'll have a more hands-on approach."

And HHV added to the defensive talk for Penn State, specifically the quickly-thinning defensive front:

"Since the D-line took a harder-than-expected hit with the departures of Gaines, Evans, and Maybin, and with Jared Odrick entering into his senior year, that should be our main concern for 2010."

And now for some easy stuff...

One word/number answers...

How many freshmen (in your class) redshirt in 2009?

LTP: 15 of 18.
OHD: 10
OTT: Half
MNB: All of them. Rodriguez believes he can win with last year's team given a 2nd opportunity.
MBN: 16
NWO: 19
TNL: 15
HHV: 10

Did you watch live TV coverage on signing day? If not, how many times did you hit 'refresh' on your browser on signing day?

I don't think anyone actually watched it on TV. So figure the internet in some form was the predominant medium used.

Are you going to your spring game?

Yes: LTP, OTT, MBN, NWO, TNL, HHV
No: B5Q, MNB, OHD

...and so it ends.

More below the fold...

Some Tuesday linkage

◊ Here's a couple of links to note this week.

Penn State...

Interesting news on Jerome Hayes, via FOS (Scout.com):

"[Jerome] Hayes plans on petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility."

I don't think he qualifies under the rules. But we can always hope for the exception.

In the blogosphere...

• Was Terrelle Pryor secretly hurt during the Fiesta Bowl? I don't care, but Eleven Warriors does.

"Shortly after the Fiesta Bowl loss to Texas, rumors began sprouting up about Pryor possibly having an injured shoulder for the game. After all, how else to explain the all of the ducks and the times he ran out of bounds early to avoid contact."

• BSD gave us an early look into Penn State's roster/scholarship situation for 2009 and '10. Great read.

"We have 16 kids that can't come back. But we're already over the 85 scholarship limit by three or four. We'll undoubtedly lose a few kids between now and August due to transfers or, God forbid, dismissals. And keep in mind the staff always has the option of oversigning in the next class and hoping to shed a few next spring too."

• Buck Bravo breaks down the Big Ten recruiting classes with some nifty charts. Gotta love charts.

"What has been frequently overlooked is the average quality of incoming classes. Class rankings typically weigh both quantity and quality of recruits."

• A Bleacher Report story looked at the integration of the spread offense in recent years. Apparently, they didn't watch college football prior to 2000. Otherwise, they'd know plenty of teams ran the spread. But, who cares about history or research.

"The few powerhouses that don't run it are USC and Ohio State, at least not yet. Other powers such as Texas and Florida run pure spread attacks, while other teams like Oklahoma and Penn State run hybrid offenses with some spread principles... Other teams have adapted either the spread or at least a form of it. Most notably this year is Penn State's Spread HD, featuring underrated back Evan Royster and three talented senior wideouts... The spread came in to the 2000s as a gimmicky-type offense. But as the end of the decade nears, it has become one of the most revolutionary systems in the history of college football."

In the national media...

• Mark Schlabach has his revised top 25 rankings. Penn State jumped from No. 11 to No. 9.

"9. Penn State Nittany Lions The Nittany Lions expect to return only 11 starters from the team that lost to USC in the Rose Bowl, but quarterback Daryll Clark and tailback Evan Royster will give them a chance to compete for the Big Ten championship in 2009. Three very good offensive linemen, including All-Big Ten center A.Q. Shipley, will have to be replaced. So will standout receivers Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood. Coach Joe Paterno probably isn't counting on incoming freshmen Justin Brown and Shawney Kersey to help right away, but they might have to play immediately. Losing All-Big Ten defensive end Aaron Maybin to the NFL draft will hurt the defense, but linebacker Sean Lee will return from a knee injury that caused him to miss all of last season."

• Pete Fiutak took a shot at college recruiting, including the idea that negative recruiting, particularly against a coach's age, doesn't always work. "

5. Are the coaches going to be around? … The prospects don’t seem to care... The odds are overwhelming that more than half of the current head coaches won’t be at their current schools five years from now, when this year’s recruiting class is set to graduate. Of course, there are always some shockers in the mix, no one ever thought the tremendous Penn State recruiting class of 2005 was going to finish its career with Joe Paterno at the helm."

• Dave Curtis voiced many fans' sentiment that the bowl system is becoming just plain gluttonous with 34 games set for 2009-10. But he's hopeful the economy can help...

"The trickle down to college football is inevitable. How long can GMAC continue to sponsor a game featuring Conference USA and MAC teams in Mobile, Ala.? How valuable is Citi's investment in the Rose Bowl in this sort of market? What about hotels (Gaylord, Sheraton), auto-related companies (Meineke, AutoZone) and other financial institutions (Capital One, San Diego County Credit Union)? ... The interest in even the most insignificant bowl games isn't dying. So, for now, our only hope for a contracted bowl season might be a poorer economy. Come on, recession. Don't let us down."

That's the spirit. Let's hope the economy completely bottoms out! Yay America!

• And remember, tomorrow morning I'll have the Big Ten Bloggers Roundtable wrap up post.

More below the fold...

NLOI mid-day update

◊ So, we're almost done with completing the 2009 recruiting class. Despite what you'll read on the message boards, this is a very good class. It has, so far, addressed most, if not all of Penn State's needs going into the 2009 season. The loss of Jelani Jenkins to Florida really hurt, but isn't catastrophic. Has he signed with a rival BigTen school, then you would have seen a nuclear meltdown across the internets. Here's where we're at, right now.

*Updated 1:07 p.m.

Signed so far:
in alphabetical order...
Mark Arcidiacono
Nate Cadogan
Glenn Carson
Curtis Drake
Curtis Dukes
Brandon Felder
Anthony Fera
Frank Figueroa
Garry Gilliam
Darrell Givens
Adam Gress
Jordan Hill
Gerald Hodges
Ty Howle
Shawney Kersey
Christian Kuntz
Kevin Newsome
Stephen Obeng-Agyapong
Eric Shrive
Devon Smith
Sean Stanley
John Urschel
Mike Wallace

Still unsigned:
Stephon Morris
Derrick Thomas
Malcolm Willis

Uncommitted, still hoping:
Justin Brown

Went elsewhere:
Jelani Jenkins (Florida)

More below the fold...

Another bogus "SEC Speed" argument

◊ Year, after year, after year they do it. This time it's Stewart Mandel. On SI's front page, Mandel wrote a feature story on first-year Purdue coach Danny Hope's recruiting adventures. It's a nice piece, but one that is flawed. Towards the end of the story, Mandel (I assure you, he's not the only culprit) tries to argue that if a team wants to be successful, it must recruit and sign players from the South, specifically Florida, like Hope is this season. The problem is, Mandel contradicts what he's writing... blatantly.

"...Ohio State has been [recruiting Florida players] for years, luring recent standouts Chris Gamble, Michael Jenkins, Santonio Holmes and Nate Salley, among others..."

Mandel wrote that towards the top of his story, and for the most part, it is true, as those were all very, very good, if not great football players. Then, in the fourth-from-last graph in the story, Mandel observes what Penn State has done, to contrast against his argument. It's a fully admirable (and responsible) way of writing this kind of story, providing the exception to the rule, while arguing your own point.

"Not everyone in the Big Ten is jumping on the Florida bandwagon. Penn State's current crop of 26 commitments is, like most classes in the program's recent history, heavy on Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York/New Jersey players. Not a single player hails from Florida or any other SEC state... That being said, Penn State has won four of its past five bowl games, including games against Florida State and Tennessee."

Holy crap, did he just make a sensible, honest counterpoint to the "SOUTHERNSPEEDISSOAMAZING!!!!" lie? It seemed like it. But then, it happened. You almost wish Mandel left it there. The article would have been more than worth reading, if not praising. Nope, Mandel had to regress back to his roots in the main stream media.

"However, the discrepancy in athleticism (particularly on defense) between Penn State and USC was plainly obvious in last month's Rose Bowl, as it was for Illinois the year before. To help erase that gap, Big Ten schools will need to continue looking beyond their backyards when it comes to recruiting."

Yes, Penn State was beaten soundly by USC, as was Illinois. HOWEVER, let's revisit what Mandel wrote earlier in the story, and quoted at the top of this post.

"...Ohio State has been [recruiting Florida players] for years, luring recent standouts Chris Gamble, Michael Jenkins, Santonio Holmes and Nate Salley, among others..."

Didn't Ohio State, with all that fantastic Florida talent, get BLOWN OUT by Florida in '06, LSU in '07 and USC this year, then lost to Texas?

That there is the problem with this entire premise. Where your talent comes from means NOTHING. Stewart Mandel just proved it to everyone, even if that wasn't (of course it wasn't) his intention. Sorry, but you can't hold up a pencil and tell me it's a pen, just because you want me to think it's a pen. Florida and USC, among other really good teams, aren't blowing out northern and midwestern teams because they recruit kids from Florida.

Why is it that, even though Mandel did mention PSU's wins over Florida State and Tennessee, these guys always fall victim to selective memory? Michigan over Florida in 2007? Wisconsin over Arkansas in 2006? Wisconsin over Auburn in 2005? Iowa over LSU in 2004? Iowa over Florida in 2003? Ohio State over Miami in 2002?

Those must have all been just flukes, right? Just like Utah over 'Bama this year? West Virginia over Georgia in 2005?

And didn't Penn State just beat Ohio State in Columbus?

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

More below the fold...

Toughest Home Stadiums for 2009

◊ ZN's 2009 Penn State Football Preview - National Outlook

Penn State last week released its official 2009 football schedule. One of the highlights will be when Penn State hosts Ohio State in Beaver Stadium on Nov. 7, 2009, it will mark the 300th football game played at the Nittany Lions' home venue. But that's not all.

"The Nittany Lions have an impressive 236-57 (80.5) record in the nation's largest stadium (107,282), earning a 26-2 home record since the Michigan State game in 2004."

That got me thinking. So, I dug up home records of other really "tough" places to play. I've compiled those records and win percentages of all the teams that are perceived to boast a formidable home venue. The records span the 2005 thru 2008 seasons. I chose the four years because it's generally accepted that college football goes in four-year "cycles," basically mirroring how long it takes for one recruiting class to go through. Here's what I found:

Best home records, 2005 thru 2008 - FBS.

School__________	Home_Games	Home_Record	Winning_%
Boise St.	25	25-0	1.000
Oklahoma	25	24-1	0.960
USC	24	23-1	0.958
Penn St.	28	26-2	0.929
Florida	27	25-2	0.925
TCU	23	21-2	0.913
Ohio St.	28	25-3	0.893
Texas Tech	27	24-3	0.888
Texas	25	22-3	0.880
Va. Tech	24	21-3	0.875
Wisconsin	27	23-4	0.852
West Va.	26	22-4	0.846
LSU	29	24-5	0.827
Oregon	25	20-5	0.800
Utah	24	19-5	0.792
Georgia	28	22-6	0.785
Tennessee	27	19-8	0.703

As you can see, some of the more highly touted stadiums, like Georgia's Sanford Stadium and Tennessee's Neyland Stadium, aren't as kind to the home squad as we're led to believe. The Boise State is the only team to go undefeated at home during the span.

Now, just for kicks, let's look at how the BigTen conference stacks up.

Best home records, 2005 thru 2008 - BigTen.

School__________	Home_Games	Home_Record	Winning_%
Penn St.	28	26-2	0.929
Ohio St.	28	25-3	0.893
Wisconsin	27	23-4	0.852
Iowa	27	19-8	0.703
Purdue	27	17-10	0.630
Michigan	29	18-11	0.620
MSU	27	16-11	0.593
Northwestern	26	15-11	0.577
Indiana	28	14-14	0.500
Minnesota	26	13-13	0.500
Illinois	25	12-13	0.480

What can we gather from this information? If Penn State's home conference wants to earn back some of the respect lost, the BigTen really, really needs to start better defending its home turf.

More below the fold...

Top 2009 OOC BigTen Games

◊ ZN's 2009 Penn State Football Preview - BigTen Outlook

Just as I did last week for the conference schedule, today we'll look at the BigTen's top non-conference games for 2009. Sure, there's always the duds like Michigan State vs. Montana State and Iowa vs. Northern Iowa. But there's also those fantastic marquee matchups like Ohio State vs. USC, and very good games like Iowa vs. Arizona and Illinois vs. Missouri. Which ones can we look forward to this season? Let's find out.

Sept. 5:

Missouri vs. Illinois - After the last few years, Illinois is licking its chops at the 2009 season opener. No more Chase Daniel, but Juice Williams remains, along with Arrelious Benn. The Tigers are a bit down, but they still have great talent. The Illini should be able to pull this one out in front of a national audience, which they (and the whole conference) desperately need.

Western Michigan @ Michigan - The Wolverines hit rock bottom last season when they lost to Toledo in Ann Arbor. This time, a MAC team with actual talent comes calling in the season opener. If we all tune in for no other reason, just the minute possibility of another flop will be worth staying on the couch. The BigTen really, really needs Michigan to look good in this game.

Sept. 12:

USC @ Ohio State - You would hope the TV people would tone down their "Game of the Century" talk that comes around, well, every single week of the season. But will they for this one, considering last year was such a flop? No way, Jose. You can bet your bottom this will be hyped up starting in August, and all the pressure is going on the Buckeyes. But it's really a no-win situation, as USC will be called "down" should OSU win, and if OSU loses... well, it'll be bad.

Notre Dame @ Michigan - The Irish should be better. Michigan should be better. Which one really is better? We'll find out. Notre Dame still doesn't look like a great football team, but Michigan could be going through the same exact thing the Irish did the last two seasons. This game is still worth its weight in name-brand tradition.

Purdue @ Oregon - This sounds crazy, but it's not like Oregon hasn't lost to worse teams. Indiana went into Autzen Stadium in 2004, and left with an improbable win. The Boilermakers nearly beat the Ducks last season in West Lafayette, but blew it late. Oregon is a very, very good team going into this year, while Purdue is going through a big turnover phase.

Sept. 19:

California @ Minnesota - You can't complain about Minnesota's scheduling. The Gophers open at Syracuse, host Air Force and then welcome the Cal Bears to Minneapolis. Tim Brewster has something good cooking up north, and can stick a fork in the first course with a win over this really good BCS opponent. This will be Minnesota's first chance to get their new stadium in front of a big time audience, and big time recruits.

Arizona @ Iowa - The Wildcats are hotter than the Arizona desert right now, but Iowa can douse those flames with a win. This game could come down to the quarterbacks: Iowa has one; Arizona doesn't. Iowa can set a loud tone for the rest of their season by beating a not-so-bad BCS team.

Notre Dame @ Michigan State - Ok, so just mark town all the BigTen vs. Notre Dame dates. Michigan State is one of the toughest teams in the BigTen, even if they're not the most talented. The Irish are very talented, but have lacked any sort of cohesiveness to put that talent to use. This game could give a very clear indicator as to where Michigan State is right now as a program, and how much farther they have to go.

Nov. 21:

Fresno State @ Illinois - Whatever you do, don't think this is an easy game. We all saw what the Illini did last season against Western Michigan, and it could happen again if they're not careful, really careful. Fresno loses a few key players, but they shouldn't be anything near a punching back this season. The Illini might need a big, comfy win here to secure a better bowl bid. Plus, who wants to go out on Senior Day and lose to a team like Fresno State?

Nov. 28:

Wisconsin @ Hawaii - If Wisconsin blows this one, Bret Bielema is as good as gone. But I doubt it'll happen. Hawaii may be a little better this season, but they're far, far from the 2007 BCS buster. Even with the loss of Travis Beckum and PJ Hill, Wisconsin is a talented team that should have no problem against these lower opponents. You'll watch this game, just because it's the last regular season game for the conference.

More below the fold...

Top 2009 BigTen Games

◊ ZN's 2009 Penn State Football Preview - BigTen Outlook

Today we'll take a quick look into the best BigTen conference games in 2009. Can Penn State get revenge on Iowa? Will Michigan finally beat Ohio State? We won't know until the games are played, but we can get an idea of which games, off the bat, will provide tons of intrigue.

Week 1 [Sept. 26]:

Iowa @ Penn State - Think the Nittany Lions want to win this game, after the mammoth upset last season? The hype machine will be in full force during the days leading up to this one, but be wary, as it could quickly turn into a dud. Penn State will suffer some pretty big losses, but that's nothing compared to Iowa. Shonn Greene, MItch King and Matt Kroul are just some of the names gone from 2008.

Michigan State @ Wisconsin - Two key running backs from 2008 won't be around, while both teams have huge question marks at quarterback. This game could be the decider for both teams' seasons. A win in Madison could propel MSU back into the top-three of the conference, but Wisconsin could regain some swagger with a conference-opening win over a 2008 New Years Day Bowl team.

Minnesota @ Northwestern - The two biggest surprises of 2008 will have little time to prepare, as they'll meet in week 1 of conference play. Last season's matchup was an all-timer of a classic, but will this year's be as good? Minnesota is still on the rise, and can legitimize its return to conference relevancy with a win. Northwestern really pulled a rabbit out of its hat last year, but lose a good amount of talent. The winner goes to the Alamo Bowl.

Week 2 [Oct. 3]:

Penn State @ Illinois - Two seasons ago, Illinois burst onto the scene, and launched its improbable Rose Bowl campaign, with the upset over Penn State in Champaign. Can the Illini work its magic again? Penn State had some trouble with Illinois last year in Happy Valley, particularly–again–with Arrelious Benn. The Lions won comfortably, but will the trip to Memorial Stadium go as well (or, as poorly) as last time?

Michigan @ Michigan State - The Spartans haven't won two straight against the Wolverines since... ready for it... 1966-67! Michigan still looks like it's a year away from contending, while State should have enough tools to go bowling once again. This rivalry is a bit more heated on the State side, since the Spartans have always been labeled Michigan's "Little Brother." That could all change with a win.

Week 3 [Oct. 10]:

Wisconsin @ Ohio State - The Buckeyes look a bit vulnerable this season, but could put that to bed (even if they lose to USC) with a convincing win over the Badgers. Wisconsin's season really took a nose dive last year, when they failed to put away Ohio State in Madison. This looks like a must-win if the Badgers want to top 7 wins.

Week 4 [Oct. 17]:

Northwestern @ Michigan State - The Spartans cruised over the Wildcats in Evanston last year, but we can never really tell when the Cats will strike. This looks like a prime upset, and if Michigan State comes in at 6-0, it could be one for the ages. Michigan State hosts, and with a packed house, this will be a tough task for Northwestern.

Week 5 [Oct. 24]:

Penn State @ Michigan - Penn State hasn't won in Ann Arbor since Wally Richardson was under center. Yeah, that would be 12 years ago. If Michigan wants to get its program back on track, a win over what should be a top-10-ranked Penn State could spark a run at a bowl. You can never say never in this series, but this one looks a bit out of hand for the Wolverines... this year.

Illinois @ Purdue - Want to watch the Boilermakers' season come down to one game? This could be it. If Purdue comes in to this one at 4-2, a bowl bid would almost be assured with a win over the Illini. West Lafayette has never been a very intimidating place to play, but visiting teams never seem to play well in Ross-Ade Stadium. Unfortunately for Purdue, neither have they lately.

Week 6 [Oct. 31]:

Indiana @ Iowa - The Hoosiers are actually 2-1 since 2006 against the Hawkeyes, but were crushed last season. Of course, the loss was to a vastly underrated Iowa team. This will be the final season for QB Kellen Lewis, the only Indiana QB to go bowling since 1994. The trip to Iowa City will also mark Indiana's last chance for .500, with Penn State, Wisconsin and Purdue to close out the season.

Penn State @ Northwestern - The Lions are only 2-2 against the Cats in the last four meetings, and it could have been worse, if not for a miracle finish in 2005. If there was ever a good time to catch Penn State, it would be this game, as Ohio State comes to Happy Valley the next week. Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald has a knack for inspiriting his team at the right time, and this could be it. He remembers 1995, when the Wildcat upset catapulted them into the Rose Bowl.

Week 7 [Nov. 7]:

Ohio State @ Penn State - [ZN's 2009 Preseason Game of the Year] Penn State hasn't beaten Ohio State in two consecutive regular seasons since 1963-64. Ohio State felt they deserved the win last year, if not for one key fumble by Terrelle Pryor. While it might not come so close this season, as the game is in Happy Valley, the Buckeyes have more raw talent than any other BigTen team. It's an early toss up, and should be a fantastic game. Pryor can redeem himself, and possibly launch his Heisman candidacy, with a good game and a victory. You can bet it will be an 8 p.m. kickoff, and a full stadium White Out.

Illinois @ Minnesota - The Gophers could be 6-3 at this point, and would secure another bowl bid with a win. Illinois could also come in at 6-3. That would put this game into the "Separation Saturday" category for each team. Similar to the Minn/NW game earlier in the season, a middle of the pack-type finish is in order for the winner. Minnesota was thrust into the spotlight after last season's upset in Champaign; the Gophers can stay there with another.

Week 8 [Nov. 14]:

Iowa @ Ohio State - Regardless if the Buckeyes beat Penn State the week before, this is the trap game of all trap games for Ohio State. I know it's in Columbus, but if Iowa has anything left, they'll put all of it into this game. The Buckeyes are only 6-3 under Jim Tressel the week before Michigan, so don't think this will be automatic for the Buckeyes.

Michigan @ Wisconsin - Wisconsin is 2-0 the last two times Michigan has come to Madison, and Wisconsin blood will be boiling after last season's catastrophic meltdown in Ann Arbor. As long as Wisconsin is above .500 at this point in the season, Camp Randall will be packed. The story line all week will focus on 2008, which is the last thing Wisconsin wants to hear about.

Week 9 [Nov. 21]:

Ohio State @ Michigan - This game might not mean as much as the 2006 edition did, but sooner or later, the Wolverines have to pull one out. I get a strong feeling that this is their chance. There's no way Michigan will be as bad as 2008, while Ohio State might be down. Those are all the ingredients of an upset, with a little home-field advantage sprinkled on top.

Penn State @ Michigan State - For some reason, the Nittany Lion fanbase is still pissed off that their team blew a 24-7 third-quarter lead in 2007. Most of that was taken out on the Spartans in last season's 49-18 demolition, but there's still work to be done. Penn State is 12-4 against Michigan State since joining the BigTen in 1993, and it might not get any better for the Spartans. Penn State could be playing for a spot in the Rose Bowl, or more...

Next week, we'll look at the best 2009 BigTen non-conference games.

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