A look at the Big Ten teams, after Week 1 of the 2018 College Football season

Have a problem with @JLaurinaitis55 keeping Michigan at No. 3?

He hears you, but there's a reason he isn't dropping the Wolverines.

Get his latest power rankings, presented by @ArcelorMittalUS. pic.twitter.com/1ii71JPunF

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 3, 2018

There are various schools of thoughts, when it comes to Top 25 ratings and conference power ratings heading into each season. Around the country, there are certain programs that often are ranked on reputation.

For example, last year, Florida State was a prime example of a school expected to finish in the Top 5, but at season's end, it finished 7-6, with wins over Delaware State, a 4-7 Florida, ULM and a bowl win over Southern Miss to take a 3-6 record and finish with a winning record. Florida State is often one of the most overrated programs each year, in College Football.

Another team with plenty of questions to answer entering 2018 is Michigan. The Wolverines finished 8-5 last year, with three straight losses @ Wisconsin, against Ohio State and in the bowl game against South Carolina. Now, they have lost four straight, with the 24-17 loss @ Notre Dame to open 2018 College Football season.

My problem with Michigan at #3 in the Big Ten power ratings is based on what have they done to earn the preseason #3 rating in the first place?

Despite a new season, familiar struggles returned for Michigan, as the Wolverines fell to No. 12 Notre Dame.

Game story: https://t.co/9OMMwKQJjl pic.twitter.com/AAkDrkceF4

— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) September 2, 2018

The Big Ten appears to be loaded in 2018? Michigan State and Penn State struggled in Week 1, but they won. Michigan shouldn't be awarded for a moral victory, as James Laurinaitis appears to suggest that should be considered?

Notre Dame is a good program, but ultimately, like with Florida State in 2017. We don't know how good any team may be, until after enough games are played. Notre Dame lost to Georgia, @ Miami-FL and @ Stanford last year, so good losses. They are often overrated.

There are five college football teams that are continually overrated.

Notre Dame.
Texas.
Michigan.
USC.
FSU.

I never trust their rankings until the season's progressed a ways.

— Connor Mighell (@cmigbear) September 4, 2018

Michigan and Nebraska are two Big Ten programs that are often among the Top 7 schools overrated in preseason ratings. Texas is the most common example. On Saturday, they clearly rose up and demonstrated why, when they fell 34-29 @ Maryland in a game played in Landover, MD.

Deja vu for the Longhorns.

Texas loses to Maryland in back-to-back season openers. pic.twitter.com/W7C1JDJGJb

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 1, 2018

So, after Week 1, here are the Big Ten power ratings ....

1. Wisconsin (1-0) - the Badgers have won 3 of the first 4 West division titles; and 5 of the first 7 division titles, when you toss in the first 3 seasons of Leaders and Legends, when division play began in the 2011 season in the Big Ten. Week 1 - beat Georgia State 34-3. Week 2 - vs. New Mexico (1-0) - first meeting between each program.
2. Michigan State (1-0) - the Spartans return 19 starters from last year's team, including one 3 OT loss @ Northwestern. It's not uncommon for Mark Dantonio teams to start slowly. The Spartans won the Big Ten in 2015. Week 1 - beat Utah State 38-31. Week 2 - @ Arizona State (1-0) - which is certainly going to be a big test, at night, in the Valley of the Sun! 
3. Ohio State (1-0) - the Buckeyes have had some off the field issues, since Big Ten Media Days. In the past two seasons, OSU has lost two games by 31 points. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten last year. Week 1 - destroyed Oregon State 77-31. Week 2 - vs. Rutgers (1-0), as head coach Urban Meyer returns to practice on Tuesday, but Meyer's three game suspension remains in force.
4. Penn State (1-0) - the Nittany Lions enter 2018 needing to replace play-makers on offense and welcome a new offensive coordinators. They won the Big Ten in 2016. Week 1 - beat Appalachian State 45-37 in OT. Week 2 - @ Pittsburgh (1-0), the Panthers beat the Nittany Lions here in 2016, so this one should be very interesting.
5. Northwestern (1-0, 1-0 B1G West) - the Wildcats opened 2018 in conference play for the first time in a long, long while. Week 1 - won @ Purdue 31-27, as two QB system of Clayton Thorson and T.J. Green is utilized by head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Week 2 - vs. Duke (1-0), who beat the Wildcats 41-17, after the Wildcats had won back to back non-conference games against the Blue Devils in previous seasons.
6. Iowa (1-0) - the Hawkeyes tallied the 144th win to boost Kirk Ferentz into the all-time win leader, as head coach. Week 1 - beat Northern Illinois 33-7. Week 2 - CyHawk game against Iowa State (0-0), who are looking to complete a game, after thunderstorms shelved their opener on Saturday night.
7. Michigan (0-1) - the Wolverines have one victory over a rival entering the fourth season of head coach Jim Harbaugh. The Wolverines will get plenty of opportunities to move up, since they play 1-5 in conference play. Week 1 - lost @ Notre Dame 24-17. Week 2 - vs. Western Michigan (0-1), the Wolverines should be safe in another home opener, having won 25 of last 28.
8. Purdue (0-1, 0-1 B1G West) - the Boilermakers play two quarterbacks and often the old saying with quarterbacks, if you have two, you likely have none. This appeared to be the case, watching game one. Week 1 - lost to Northwestern 31-27. Week 2 - vs. Eastern Michigan (1-0), who will start former Iowa QB Tyler Wiegers, who had a solid first start for the Eagles.
9. Indiana (1-0) - the Hoosiers were the only Big Ten team to pick up a win on the road to open the season. Week 1 - won @ FIU 38-28 to pick up first win of season. Week 2 - vs. Virginia (1-0), as the Hoosiers have won 14 of the past 16 home openers.
10. Nebraska (0-0) - the Scott Frost era has to wait one week to officially kickoff, after a thunderstorm Saturday night canceled the home opener. Week 1 - vs. Akron - canceled. Week 2 - vs. Colorado (1-0), the Huskers have won three straight in the series and three straight in Lincoln. Last meeting was 2010.
11. Rutgers (1-0) - the Scarlet Knights open the third season, with head coach Chris Ash. Week 1 - won 35-10 over Texas State. Week 2 - @ Ohio State (1-0), the Buckeyes defeated the Scarlet Knights 56-0 last season in New Brunswick, after 58-0 previously in Columbus.
12. Maryland (1-0) - the Terrapins opened 2018, with new offensive coordinator Matt Canada, also in the interim head coach role, after D.J. Durkin was placed on administrative leave in August. Week 1 - beat Texas 34-29 to begin back to back seasons, with an upset win over a ranked Longhorns team (note - not ranked in my Top 25). Week 2 - @ Bowling Green (0-1), which is ironically Durkin's alma mater.
13. Minnesota (1-0) - the Golden Gophers opened the second year under head coach P.J. Fleck, with another non-conference win. They Golden Gophers are 4-0 OOC under Fleck. Week 1 - beat New Mexico State 48-10. Week 2 - vs. Fresno State (1-0), the Bulldogs were 10-4 last season and are likely the best non-conference, since Fleck arrived that the Golden Gophers have lined up against.
14. Illinois (1-0) - the Fighting Illini entered 2018, coming off a ten game losing streak. Week 1 - despite playing from behind much of the game, Illinois beat Kent State 31-24. Week 2 - vs. Western Illinois (0-1), the Fighting Illini are 2-0 in this series outscoring the Leathernecks 65-0.

Preseason has ended: Bring on the 2018 Big Ten Football

So, who do we like in the Big Ten pecking order, as we kickoff the 2018 College Football Season begins tonight?

All five returning starters are back for the 2018 UW Badgers,
who have won 3 out of 4 West divisions, since 2014 and the
kickoff of the College Football Playoff. Can they win the B1G?

• #1 Wisconsin (13-1) - the loaded offense and 34-7 over the past 3 seasons under HC Paul Chryst makes the Badgers the team to beat in the West and a likely participant in Indianapolis in 2018 ....

Junior QB 14 Brian Lewerke leads the MSU Spartans and
the hope to pull the rope back into Indianapolis, after missing
last season. Behind UW, who have been to five Big Ten Title
games. The Spartans have been to three themselves.

• #2 Michigan State (10-3) - HC Mark Dantonio returns 19 starters from last year and a favorable schedule, with key games coming to East Lansing in 2018 ....

Member of the Ohio State of Trustees resigned over the light
punishment given to Urban Meyer in light of the August news
unfolding in Columbus, leading to the suspension of Meyer
and athletic direction Gene Smith. Meyer loses 3 games in 2018.

• #3 Ohio State (12-2) - the off the field issues surround HC Urban Meyer's program should likely knock the Buckeyes lower, but we shall see how the football plays out in 2018 ....

The Penn State Nittany Lions return senior QB Trace McSorley, but some top
play-makers have moved onto the NFL and new players will need to step up
at RB, WR and TE for the 2018 College Football season.

• #4 Penn State (12-2) - the Nittany Lions are seeking to get back to the Big Ten title game, after falling short last year. New players will have to step up and HC James Franklin will have his third OC, since arriving in State College, in 2014.

Junior Ole Miss QB transfer 2 Shea Patterson will engineer the
4th season of Michigan football under HC Jim Harbaugh, as
the Wolverines travel to South Bend, to face Notre Dame.

• #5 Michigan (8-5) - the Wolverines fell short last season and were the only Big Ten bowl team, out of eight bowl participants, to lose their bowl match up. The defense should be strong, but how will the offense step up in 2018 ....

Northwestern senior QB 18 Clayton Thorson is coming off knee
surgery and is questionable for the B1G season opener tonight.

• #6 Winner of Northwestern (10-3) @ Purdue (7-6) - the Wildcats beat the Boilermakers 23-13 last season, it appears more and more likely junior QB T.J. Green will have to lead his team into West Lafayette for a program known for slow starts lately under HC Pat Fitzgerald ....



It's about that time! To Fight For Iowa | #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/2s6cXSIIsC

— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) August 30, 2018



• #7 Iowa (8-5) - the Hawkeyes are seeking to get back in the West division title position, after back to back seasons falling short against the Badgers and Wildcats. How much has Iowa's offense, defense and special teams improved this off season, as the Hawkeyes enter the 20th season under HC Kirk Ferentz?

The Boilermakers have two QBs coming off injuries. Tonight,
the QB jerseys stay off and the 2018 starter will make his debut
for the 2nd season of Purdue football under Jeff Brohm. Will
it be senior 11 David Blough or junior 2 Elijah Sindelar at QB?

• #8 Loser of Northwestern (10-3) @ Purdue (7-6) - the Boilermakers only return four defensive starters from last season, so how fast can they get out of the blocks, after a strong first season under Jeff Brohm, know mostly for offense?

New HC Scott Frost returns to Nebraska in 2018. A place back
 in 1997, where he lead the Dr. Tom Osborne to the Cornhuskers last
co-national championship, shared with the Michigan Wolverines.

• #9 Nebraska (4-8) - the Huskers will open the 2018 season, with a true freshman at QB, with an offense, with talent in the skill positions, but questions in the trenches and with zero Blackshirts to pass out Day 1 ....

The Indiana Hoosiers head to Florida to kickoff the 2018 College
Football season at Florida International (8-5).

• #10 Indiana (5-7) - the Hoosiers enter the second straight season under HC Tom Allen, who continues to lead the IU defensive unit, as well.

Like Nebraska and Minnesota, Rutgers will ask a true freshman,
QB 8 Artur Sikowski, to lead the Scarlet Knights offense in 2018.

• #11 Rutgers (4-8) - the Scarlet Knights enter the third season under HC Chris Ash, who will have his third offensive coordinator to lead the offense. How will Rutgers step up in the trenches, when they get into Big Ten play?

This was supposed to be D.J. Durkin's third season at the helm
of the Maryland Terrapins. But, following the release of a player's
autopsy, the media found underlying questions of abuse in the
Maryland football program. Durkin hasn't been fired, but members
of the strength and conditioning program are gone and plenty of ???  

• #12 Maryland (4-8) - the Terrapins turn to first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada to lead the program, as D.J. Dirkin remains on administrative leave. Injuries hampered the quarterback position last season, as five players took the position. Can this team weather the storm in 2018?

Year 0 is in the books, as HC P.J. Fleck and the Minnesota Golden
Gophers open 2018 against New Mexico State (0-1 in '18,
7-6 in '17) in TCF Bank Stadium tonight. Row the boat ....

• #13 Minnesota (5-7) - the Golden Gophers will be the third B1G program turning to a true freshman quarterback to run their offense. The Gophers should be more physically ready to compete in 2018.

Coming off a 2-10 season, is Lovie Smith on the hot seat entering this year? pic.twitter.com/4ZmM4dAkDh

— Outside The Lines (@OTLonESPN) August 30, 2018

• #14 Illinois (2-10) - the Fighting Irish enter 2018 coming off a ten game losing streak, as HC Lovie Smith brings in a new offensive coordinator and the spread offense, last played at Arizona and Michigan, as Rod Smith returns to B1G to serve under HC Lovie Smith.

The 2017 College Football kicks off with a Big Ten showdown in Bloomington

Iowa will kickoff on Saturday hosting Wyoming in a B1G-MWC
showdown, as MLB 43 Josey Jewell leads the Hawkeyes defense ...

The Big Ten Conference kicks off the 122nd season, as The Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Bloomington for Big Ten opener against the Indiana Hoosiers, for the first Week One conference opener in 19 seasons.

Big Ten Football Release PDF 

•  The 122nd season of Big Ten football will commence this weekend with all 14 schools kicking off the 2017 campaign. For the first time since 1996, there will be a Big Ten matchup on the opening weekend of the season as Ohio State visits Indiana at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday. That same night, Minnesota will make its 2017 debut, playing host to Buffalo. Rutgers and Wisconsin will open the season on Friday night, as the Scarlet Knights entertain Washington and the Badgers welcome Utah State to Camp Randall. The remaining 10 schools will begin the 2017 campaign on Saturday. The complete opening weekend schedule appears to the right.

•  The first Saturday of the season will feature a pair of Big Ten teams competing at neutral sites. Michigan will face Florida at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, while Purdue will take on Louisville at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

•  The 2017 campaign will feature 33 All-Big Ten players (seven first-team, 12 second-team, 14 third-team) and 46 honorable mention selections from last season.

• Nearly 160 Academic-All Big Ten selections return from the 2017 season, along with 19 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars.

•  The winners of five regular-season individual awards from last season will also hit the field again this fall, including Minnesota’s Emmit Carpenter, Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett and Mike Weber and Penn State’s Saquon Barkley.

•  The Big Ten will continue to feature the largest bowl lineup in conference history. This season, the Big Ten’s bowl lineup will be highlighted by 16 potential bowl destinations in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Tennessee and Texas.

•  Penn State was crowned Big Ten Champion last season after its 38-31 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. It was the Nittany Lions’ fourth Big Ten title and first since 2008. Penn State will look to repeat as conference champions for the first time in program history.

•  Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin will all look to repeat as division champions this season, as the Badgers finished 7-2 to win the Big Ten West Division and the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions both completed the season with 8-1 marks to finish tied atop the East Division. Last season’s divisional crowns marked the second for Penn State, third for the Badgers and fifth for the Buckeyes.


This Week's Schedule

DATE	GAME	LOCATION	TIME (ET)	TV
Aug. 31, 2017	Buffalo at Minnesota	Minneapolis, MN	7:00 pm	BTN
	Ohio State at Indiana	Bloomington, IN	8:00 pm	ESPN
Sep. 1, 2017	Washington at Rutgers	Piscataway, NJ	8:00 pm	FS1
	Utah St. at Wisconsin	Madison, WI	9:00 pm	ESPN
Sep. 2, 2017	Ball State at Illinois	Champaign, IL	12:00 pm	BTN
	Wyoming at Iowa	Iowa City, IA	12:00 pm	BTN
	Bowling Green at Michigan State	East Lansing, MI	12:00 pm	ESPNU
	Akron at Penn State	University Park, PA	12:00 pm	ABC
	Maryland at Texas	Austin, TX	12:00 pm	FS1
	Michigan at Florida	AT&T Stadium, Dallas, TX	3:30 pm	ABC
	Nevada at Northwestern	Evanston, IL	3:30 pm	BTN
	Louisville at Purdue	Indianapolis, Ind.	7:30 pm	FOX
	Arkansas St. at Nebraska	Lincoln, NE	8:00 pm	BTN

Ranking the Big Ten heading into 2017 ...

1. Penn State - defending champions look to repeat in Year 4 under James Franklin ...
2. Ohio State - Urban Meyer's seventh season is primed for a B1G run and another birth in the CFP, but over the past two season, the Buckeyes have fallen once and missed out in Indy!
3. Wisconsin - consistency has become a staple for AD Barry Alvarez's Badgers, who begin Year 3 under Paul Chryst.
4. Michigan - Jim Harbaugh opens 2017 with only five starters back, as the Wolverines look to climb the B1G ladder in Year 3 ...
5. Northwestern - could this be the year for the Wildcats and Pat Fitzgerald to break out in the B1G West?
6. Michigan State - this may appear to be a little high, but Mark Dantonio is looking to rebound, after 1-8 campaign last season.
7. Iowa - the Hawkeyes are home to the dean of college football, as Kirk Ferentz enters his 19th season at the helm ...
8. Nebraska - the Mike Riley era turns 3, with a new QB, Tanner Lee, new DC, Bobby Diaco, with a new 3-4 defense to unveil in Lincoln ...
9. Indiana - new head coach Tom Allen hosts his former boss, new Ohio State OC Kevin Wilson, in the biggest game in Bloomington, since the 1967 championship season, 50 years ago!
10. Maryland - D.J. Durkin enters Year 2, with a challenging road trip to Austin ...
11. Minnesota - the P.J. Fleck era begins, with some urban renewal needed, as the row the boat mantra moves from the MAC to the Big Ten ...
12. Purdue - the Jeff Brohm era begins, with a match up against his alma mater in Indianapolis ...
13. Illinois - Lovie Smith enters Year 2 with questions in the trenches ...
14. Rutgers - there is a lot of work to do, entering Year 2 under Chris Ash ...

• Does the Big Ten get a team in the College Football Playoff in 2017?
• Alabama vs. Florida State is a heck of kickoff match up on Saturday
• Can the Big 12 get back into the CFP picture in 2017?
• Can Clemson stay on top, after winning it all in 2017?
• Does the Pac 12 keep improving in 2017?
• Does anyone other than Alabama represent the SEC nationally?

It should be a great kickoff weekend in 2017 ...

Thursday night kickoff of the 2016 College Football season

Cedar Rapids, IA -- Well, here's our projected Final 4 for the College Football Playoff, we can dream, can't we, for the 2016 College Football gods can give a little love for the home team?

• Clemson
• LSU
• Oklahoma
• Stanford or Iowa (actually, I said Washington from the Pac 12, since the 2016 Rose Bowl is history) ...

It is hard to pick two from the same conference, but with the strength throughout the Pac 12 and Big Ten, we may see a chance for the ACC and SEC will argue for two programs from the same division, as the season plays out?

Now, a look at the first kickoff in Week 1, Thursday, September 1st : 

Rankings are from Stassen.com preseason consensus polls. Forty-eight teams were picked in at least one Top 25 poll heading into the 2016 College Football season.

Popular tradition in the State of Utah:
The Beehive Boot.

• Charlotte at #21 Louisville 6:00 pm on FSN Affiliates / (ACC-RSN) - The bottom of the C-USA East travels to take on the #3 projection in the ACC Coastal ... pick the favorite!
• Maine at UConn 6:00 pm on (NESN+ / CSCA) / espn3 / ASN (affiliates) - Kirk Ferentz at Iowa got his first head coaching start at Maine in 1989. UConn coach Bob Diaco is a former Iowa player, so the Huskies should take care of business here! 
• #42 Appalachian State at #7 Tennessee 6:30 pm on SECN - Can the #1 choice in the Sun Belt upset the #7 ranked Volunteers ... is this 2007 and Ann Arbor ... we can only dream right?
• Indiana at Florida International 6:30 pm ESPNU - The Big Ten kicks off the 2016 College Football season, with two games on tap this evening. IU took care of business in Bloomington, but how will an early road test be for these Hoosiers? The Hoosiers are coming off a bowl season, for the first time, since 2007. FIU is picked #6 in the C-USA East ... 
• Rice at #41 Western Kentucky 7:00 pm on CBSSN - A conference opener against cross-division opponents in Conference USA ... Go WKU!
• South Carolina at Vanderbilt 7:00 pm on ESPN - Kickoff the 2016 SEC East season for the Gamecocks and the Commendores in Nashville ... both teams are picked by many to fight it out for the cellar in the East!
• Southern Utah at #40 Utah 7:00 pm on PAC-12 Network - It is the battle for the Beehive Boot tonight in Utah ... well, not quite, since Southern Utah isn't BYU, Utah or Utah State, but they are the #23 program in the FCS heading into 2016 ...
• Montana State at Idaho 8:00 pm ALT / espn3 - Could this be a FCS upset over a FBS program tonight?
• Oregon State at Minnesota 8:00 pm on BTN - One talking head over at ESPN suggests the Golden Gophers could be the #1 team in 2016 in the Big Ten West race. The Beavers are picked for the cellar again in the Pac 12 North in 2016 ... Pac 12 vs. B1G!
• South Dakota at New Mexico 8:00 pm on RSNW / RSRM - Another, FCS vs. FBS match up ...
• Jackson State at UNLV 9:00 pm on on MWC Video - The Rebels need to win games against programs only receiving votes in the FCS ...
• Presbyterian at Central Michigan 6:00 pm on espn3 - The Chippewas kickoff 2016 at home against an FCS program ...
• Tulane at Wake Forest 6:00 pm on WatchESPN - Tulane is picked last in the C-USA West, while Wake Forest is picked second to last in the ACC Atlantic ahead of Syracuse ...
• UT Martin at Cincinnati 6:00 pm on espn3 -The Bearcats are picked #3 in the AAC East heading into 2016 ...
• Weber State at Utah State 7:00 pm on MWC Video / Twitter Video - Clearly, this would be a disappointing FCS upset over a middle of the road MWC Mountain opponent ...
• William & Mary at North Carolina State 6:30 pm on WatchESPN - A #10 FCS program against an ACC Atlantic program picked #4 in the division ...

Big Ten looks to break .500 in the Quick Lane Bowl, as Minnesota faces Central Michigan

The Big Ten Conference opened the 2015-16 bowl season with an OT loss in the Pinstripe Bowl (Duke over Indiana) and a eight point win (Nebraska over UCLA) in the Foster Farms Bowl over the Christmas weekend. Next up: MAC vs. Big Ten, as the Big Ten faces its lone non-Power 5 match up of the bowl season.

The Huskers have appeared in a bowl game in 45 of the last 47 seasons

FOSTER FARMS BOWL: Nebraska 37, UCLA 29 - The Cornhuskers rushed for 326 yards and four touchdowns en route to a 37-29 victory over UCLA Saturday night in the Foster Farms Bowl. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw for 174 yards and a touchdown and carried the ball 10 times for 76 yards and another score on the ground in the contest. Recap

Indiana came up short against Duke at Yankee Stadium. IU was playing in only
second bowl, since 1994, with game in Pinstripe Bowl.

NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL: Duke 44, Indiana 41 (OT) - Duke earned a 44-41 overtime victory in the 2015 New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, as Indiana closed out its first bowl game since 2007 and 10th in program history. The back-and-forth game featured nine lead changes and three ties. It also saw numerous offensive records set and six turnovers combined in a game where momentum seemed to be hanging in the balance throughout. Recap

Minnesota looks to get to 6-7, as Nebraska did as one of two Big Ten teams,
with losing records playing in 2015-16 bowls.

• QUICK LANE BOWL: Central Michigan (7-5) vs. Minnesota (5-7) - kickoff at 4:00 pm on ESPN2 * Big Ten preview

Five things the Golden Gophers would like you to know about the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl from Detroit ...

1. Minnesota will play Central Michigan in the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit. Minnesota is 1-0 all-time against Central Michigan, as the Gophers won 30-10 at the Metrodome on Sept. 16, 1987. In that game, Rickie Foggie, Darrell Thompson and Gary Couch rushed for touchdowns and Chip Lohmiller kicked three field goals in the win. The Quick Lane Bowl marks Minnesota's first bowl game appearance in Michigan and is the Gophers first trip to the Great Lake State since it won 30-14 at Michigan on Sept. 27, 2014. 

The Golden Gophers are under first-year coach Tracy Claeys, who replaced Jerry
Kill mid-season, after Kill retired, due to ongoing health concerns.

2. Minnesota, which owns a 5-7 record, earned a bid into the Quick Lane Bowl this year based on the team's high APR mark of 975. The Quick Lane Bowl is the 18th bowl game that Minnesota will play in and is the fourth-straight bowl game for the Gophers. The four straight bowl games is the second longest stretch in team history, as Minnesota played in five straight bowl games spanning the 2002-06 seasons. Minnesota is 6-11 all-time in bowl games but has lost its last seven bowl games (five by four points or less). Minnesota's last win in a bowl game was a 20-16 victory against Alabama in the 2004 Music City Bowl where both Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney rushed for more than 100 yards.

3. Minnesota has played one of the toughest schedules in the nation this year. The Gophers have faced (AP rankings at time of the game) No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 TCU, No. 8 Iowa, No. 15 Michigan and No. 16 Northwestern. Minnesota also played Wisconsin, who ended the season ranked No. 23. The Gophers faced three top-15 teams in Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa in three straight weeks. The last time Minnesota played three straight games against top 15 teams was 2002 when it played No. 6 Ohio State, No. 13 Michigan and No. 6 Iowa. Baylor was the only other team in the regular season to play three straight top-15 opponents, as it played No. 12 Oklahoma and No. 4 Oklahoma State and No. 15 TCU.

4. Minnesota was the only Big Ten team to play (rankings at time of game) No. 1 Ohio State, No. 8 Iowa, No. 15 Michigan, No. 16 Northwestern and Wisconsin this year. Those teams have a combined 51-10 record and Minnesota's seven defeats have come to teams (Iowa, Ohio State, Northwestern, TCU, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska) with a combined 66-19 record (Nebraska has 7 of 19 losses). If Michigan and Wisconsin win their bowl games then the Gophers would have faced six teams (in addition to Iowa, Ohio State, Northwestern and TCU) who won at least 10 games this season.

5. Nine of Minnesota's 12 regular season opponents will play in a bowl game this year. Those nine opponents have a combined record of 81-28 and all won at least seven games. Minnesota posted a home win against Ohio (Bobcats ended season at 8-4) and ended Colorado State's school record nine-game home winning streak (Rams finished the season at 7-5). Minnesota's regular season opponents will play in the Rose Bowl (Iowa), Fiesta Bowl (Ohio State), Outback Bowl (Northwestern), Citrus Bowl (Michigan), Alamo Bowl (TCU), Holiday Bowl (Wisconsin), Foster Farms Bowl (Nebraska), Camellia Bowl (Ohio) and Arizona Bowl (Colorado State).

Indiana and Nebraska kickoff B1G 2015-16 bowl lineup in Pinstripe & Foster Farms bowls on Saturday

The Iowa Hawkeyes will face the Stanford Cardinal on New Year's Day in the
2016 Rose Bowl Game. The Hawkeyes arrived in California on Christmas Eve.
Kirk Ferentz is the Dean of Big Ten coaches, in his 17th season in Iowa City
as head coach and 26th overall. He has coached in two Rose Bowls, as an assistant.

Cedar Rapids, IA -- The Iowa Hawkeyes have landed in California on Christmas Eve, in preparation for the 2016 Rose Bowl Game with Stanford on Friday. In New York City and San Francisco, respectively, the Big Ten kicks off the 2015-16 bowl season, as the Indiana Hoosiers hit Yankee Stadium to square off with Duke Blue Devils in the Pinstripe Bowl, while the Nebraska Cornhuskers face the UCLA Bruins in the Foster Farms Bowl.

The 2015-16 B1G bowl slate kicks off today, with games played by Indiana
and Nebraska, respectively.

Indiana faces Duke in the 2015 Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium

Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson and Duke head coach David Cutcliffe, though not usual opponents, revealed that they've long admired one another from afar. Indiana finished 6-6 (2-6 B1G East) on the regular season, while Duke finished 7-5 (4-4 ACC Coastal), as the two programs will square off in the 2015 Pinstripe Bowl from Yankee Stadium.

The Indiana Hoosiers (6-6) playing in first bowl game, since the 2007 season.

Their coaching trajectory at their current schools are actually quite similar.

Pinstripe Bowl trophy
on the line in Yankee
Stadium today.

After being hired in 2008, Cutcliffe won 15 games over his four seasons in Durham. By comparison, Wilson won 14 in his first four years in Bloomington.

But in their fifth seasons, each broke through.

Duke won six games in Cutcliffe's fifth year in 2012, sparking a streak of four consecutive bowl appearances. Indiana won six games this season, Wilson's fifth, and is looking to follow Duke's path.

"Coach Cutcliffe doesn't know this, but we've looked at Duke for a long time," Wilson said. "We actually appreciated his spring game being on ESPN3 because we watched it with our team, and watched the practice organization and the way the managers are working—the whole organization."

But while Wilson's program was studying Duke's trajectory, the Blue Devils were keeping an eye on Indiana themselves. Wilson's offenses have long been regarded as some of the best in the nation, and Cutcliffe has taken notice.

Duke coach David Cutcliff and IU coach Kevin Wilson ahead of 2015 Pinstripe
Bowl in Yankee Stadium. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. CST on ABC.

Cutcliffe called Wilson an example for offensive-minded coaches around the nation to study. Under Wilson's guidance, the Hoosiers have seen steady growth and set nearly 50 school records along the way.

"I have watched Kevin coach for a long time. Offensively, I don't know anybody better," Cutcliffe said, turning to Wilson. "I have tried to steal a lot of what you do."

Cutcliffe will likely have a hard time pulling any of Wilson's own tricks against him when they meet on the field at Yankee Stadium. The two have become very familiar with one another over the years.

Today's Pinstripe Bowl will kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CST on ABC.

"We've got one of the outstanding leaders in college athletics and one of the tremendous coaches in Kevin Wilson here," Duke Athletic Director Kevin White said. "The job he's done at
Indiana is being widely talked about in college athletics. It's just amazing what he's accomplished."

The respect goes both ways. 

By the way, White was Maine's AD, when he hired then Iowa offensive line coach Kirk Ferentz to his first head coaching position, back after the 1989 season. White began his career in coaching administration at Loras College in Dubuque, IA.

Indiana senior QB #7 Nate Sudfeld was named a third team all-Big Ten QB,
behind MSU senior Connor Cook and Iowa junior C.J. Beathard.

"In previous years, Coach Wilson would show us a lot of articles or write-ups about the Duke program," Indiana senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld said. "We have a tremendous amount of respect for them and how Coach Cutcliffe has really stuck with his process…We've drawn a lot from that program."

Duke (7-5) vs. Indiana (6-6) in the Pinstripe Bowl on ABC.

Both teams played one common opponent in 2015. Indiana beat Wake Forest 31-24 on the road ahead of the Big Ten season, while Duke closed out ACC play with a 27-21 win @ Wake. Duke was 0-1 vs. Big Ten opponents, after losing 19-10 against Northwestern at home in Week 3.

Indiana is playing in its tenth bowl game and brings in a 3-6 record. The Hoosiers are 0-2 against current ACC programs in bowl games. Duke is 3-8 in bowl games. The Blue Devils lost in 1995 to Wisconsin 34-20 in the Hall of Fame Bowl. The Blue Devils beat Nebraska 34-7 during the 1954 season, when the Cornhuskers were in the Big 8.

OUR PICK: Duke over IU in the Pinstripe Bowl ...

Nebraska faces UCLA for third game in four seasons in Foster Farms Bowl

The Nebraska football team held its first of four bowl practices in the Bay Area on Tuesday morning, working out for nearly two hours in half pads at Laney College in Oakland.

Big Ten vs. Pac 12: Nebraska vs. UCLA in Fosters Farm Bowl from Stanford Stadium/

The Huskers arrived in San Francisco on Monday evening and were eager to begin game-week preparations for Saturday’s Foster Farms Bowl matchup with UCLA. Nebraska defensive Coordinator Mark Banker met with the media following practice and said the Bruins’ ability to survey the field pre-snap and identify match-ups will pose the biggest challenge for his defense.

“That’s the offense,” Banker said regarding UCLA’s penchant for finding favorable matchups. “The quarterback has that responsibility from a run or a pass standpoint at the line of scrimmage. As the game progresses, what they’ll do is you’ll see them stop the cadence and look to the sideline so that somebody up above that’s seeing the configuration can then get them in the right call.”

Banker was asked if the Huskers have seen a similar offense to UCLA this season, and said the Bruins’ offensive attack is similar to that of Northwestern, with one big difference.

“In our conference, Northwestern,” Banker said, referring to the Wildcats’ strategy of calling plays at the line based on the defensive alignment. “The difference between Northwestern and UCLA, UCLA’s speed is by far much, much better.”

Nebraska true freshman DB #24 Aaron Williams ahead of the 2015 season.

To stop the Bruins’ high-powered offensive attack, Banker said his defense will need to make the right calls at all times and will need to make plays. One Husker defender that could play a key role on Saturday is freshman Aaron Williams, who the coaches have chosen to be Nebraska’s nickel back against the Bruins.

When asked how Williams was adjusting to his new role, Banker said “I hope it’s real well. He’s a football player. He’s done well for us this year as a true freshman.”

Following the Huskers’ practice on Monday morning, Nebraska head coach Mike Riley, UCLA head coach Jim Mora Jr. and selected players from both teams took part in a Foster Farms Bowl press conference. The Huskers practiced again on Wednesday morning before practicing for a third time on Thursday afternoon. On Friday, Nebraska did a walk-through practice at Stanford.

Mora is in his fourth season at the helm for UCLA, as the seniors seek to go out with a bowl win. Mora lost to Riley's Oregon State team, during his debut Pac 12 game in 2012.

The 2015 Foster Farms Bowl is set for an 8:15 p.m. CST kickoff on Saturday on ESPN. The Huskers are 5-7 in Riley's debut season, while the Bruins head into the match-up with an 8-4 record on the regular season.

Nebraska is 0-2 against UCLA, during a head to head meetings
during the regular season in 2012 and 2013.

OUR PICK: UCLA over UNL ... in the Foster Farms Bowl ...

Michigan State, Iowa and eight other Big Ten teams heading to Bowl Games in 2015-16

Michigan State represents the Big Ten in the Cotton Bowl, as one part of the
National CFP semi-finals. Iowa and Ohio State are headed to College Football
Playoff  bowls, as well, with dates in the Rose and Fiesta, respectively. 

IOWA CITY, IA -- Following its 16-13 win over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, Michigan State has reached the College Football Playoff, while the Hawkeyes are headed to its first Rose Bowl Game in 25 years. Eight other Big Ten teams are headed to bowl games, including two 5-7 programs, due to open bowl slots in 2015-16.

In the final 27 seconds in Indianapolis, Michigan State knocked off Iowa,
16-13, to move into the Top 4 for the College Football Playoffs.

The Spartans (12-1, 7-1 Big Ten) were named the third seed in the four-team playoff and will play second-seeded and SEC Champion Alabama (12-1, 7-1 SEC) in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Thursday, Dec. 31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (time 7 p.m. CST; TV: ESPN).

No. 1 seed Clemson (13-0) will face No. 4 Oklahoma (11-1) in the Capital One Orange Bowl, also on Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. CST.

The 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game is set for Jan. 11 in Glendale, Arizona, at University of Phoenix Stadium. Ohio State won last year's National Championship in North Dallas, over Oregon 42-20 to finish 14-1.

The 2015 Iowa team captains heading out for the coin toss during the Big Ten
Championship Game with Michigan State on Saturday night in Indianapolis.

The University of Iowa has accepted an invitation to participate in the 102nd Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, California. The Rose Bowl is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. (CST), on Friday, Jan. 1. The game will be televised by ESPN from the Rose Bowl (89,105). Fifth-ranked Iowa meet, Pac-12 champion and sixth-ranked Stanford (11-2).

For the first time, Iowa and Stanford will meet in a football game, as each
accepted bowl bids the Rose Bowl Game, a tradition between the Big Ten
vs. the Pac 12. The Hawkeyes haven't been in Pasadena in 25 years, while
the Cardinal are playing in its third Rose Bowl in four years.

The Hawkeyes are making their sixth appearance in the Rose Bowl, but their first appearance in Pasadena since 1991. The Hawkeyes are 2-3 in past Rose Bowl contests with their last victory coming in 1959 against California. Iowa has posted a 14-13-1 record in 28 previous bowl appearances.

Iowa won the Big Ten Conference West Division with a record of 12-1, including 8-0 in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes' only loss came against No. 3 Michigan State (16-13) in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Stanford is lead by Heisman Trophy finalist senior AP offensive performer  #5
running back Christian McCaffery for the Cardinal coach David Shaw. 

This will be the first ever meeting between Iowa and Stanford. The Hawkeyes are 28-36-1 all-time against current teams in the Pac-12.

Iowa ranks third among Big Ten teams in bowl appearances and is bowl eligible for the 13th time under coach head Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has posted a 6-5 bowl record under Ferentz, including wins in four of seven January bowl games. Since the 2001 season, no Big Ten team has won more bowl games, or has a higher winning percentage in bowl games, than Iowa.

The Big Ten, Pac 12 and SEC lead the Power 5 conferences will bowl bids,
as the 2015-16 bowl season kicks off on Saturday, December 19th. The Big Ten
will get started after Christmas, on the 26th, when the Pinstripe Bowl is played.

Bowl matchups for the 2015-16 Bowl season.

Big Ten Matches Conference Record with 10 Bowl Teams

For the second straight year and just the third time in conference history, 10 Big Ten schools were selected for bowl competition on Sunday, including three teams earning berths in College Football Playoff bowls. The Big Ten’s total of 10 bowl teams equals the conference record for most bowl berths in a season, matching the 10 postseason teams following the 2011 and 2014 campaigns.

The Michigan State Spartans won its second Big Ten Championship game in
three seasons, with a 16-13 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Spartans have
played in three of the first five Big Ten Championship Games.

Big Ten Champion Michigan State earned a berth in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl. Iowa and Ohio State also will take part in College Football Playoff bowls, with the Hawkeyes heading to the Rose Bowl Game and the Buckeyes earning a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. In addition, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State and Wisconsin collected bids as part of the largest and most diverse postseason lineup in conference history.

Two Big Ten centers are among the three finalists for the Remington Trophy,
as Iowa senior C #63 Austin Blythe and MSU senior C #66 Jack Allen were named.

Iowa returns to the Rose Bowl Game for the first time since a match-up with Washington to conclude the 1990 season. The Hawkeyes were ranked No. 5 by the College Football Playoff selection committee and will face No. 6 Stanford on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif. This will mark the sixth appearance for the Hawkeyes in Pasadena and 68th by a Big Ten squad. The Hawkeyes will be taking part in postseason play for the 29th time.

#8 Notre Dame (10-2) against #7 Ohio State (11-1) in the Fiesta Bowl.

Ohio State will be back in the Fiesta Bowl for the first time since the 2008 season. The Buckeyes (11-1) were ranked No. 7 and will take on No. 8 Notre Dame (10-2) at Noon p.m. CST on Jan. 1 in Glendale, Ariz., a rematch of the 2006 Fiesta Bowl won by the Buckeyes. This will mark the seventh appearance for Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl and the ninth appearance by a Big Ten team. The Buckeyes will make their 46th official postseason appearance.

Rematch of the 2007 season, as Michigan and Florida square off in Orlando.
Michigan won the last game, 41-35, over the Gators. It was Michigan coach
Lloyd Carr's final game. This game matches teams with new head coaches.

No. 14 Michigan (9-3) will take part in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl at Noon CST on Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla., against No. 19 Florida (10-3). The game will mark the Wolverines’ 44th bowl trip overall and fifth appearance in the Citrus Bowl, the Big Ten’s second-oldest current bowl partner behind only the Rose Bowl Game. Michigan last played in the Citrus Bowl at the conclusion of the 2007 season and defeated the Gators, 41-35. Big Ten teams have played in 25 Citrus Bowls, including each of the last 23 seasons.

#23 Tennessee (8-4) vs. Northwestern (10-2) in the Outback Bowl. The Volunteers
won the TaxSlayer Bowl last season over Iowa. The Wildcats are bowling for
the first time in three seasons, coming off back to back 5-7 seasons, under Pat
Fitzgerald, in his 10th season.

No. 13 Northwestern (10-2) will play in the Outback Bowl for the second time in school history and the first time since the 2009 season. The Wildcats will face No. 23 Tennessee (8-4) at 11 am CST on Jan. 1 in Tampa, Fla. Northwestern will be taking part in a bowl game for the 12th time in program history. The Outback Bowl is the Big Ten’s third-oldest current bowl partner and has been affiliated with the conference since the 1993 season. Big Ten schools have played in 26 Outback Bowls, including each of the last 22 seasons.

#25 USC (8-5) vs. Wisconsin (9-3) will meet in the Holiday Bowl.

Wisconsin (9-3) earned an invitation from the Holiday Bowl to face No. 25 Southern California (8-5) at 9:30 p.m. CST on Dec. 30 in San Diego, Calif. The Badgers are taking part in postseason play for a school-record 14th straight season and are making their 27th bowl appearance. Wisconsin will make its first trip to the Holiday Bowl, which will mark the 11th appearance by a Big Ten team.

Penn State (7-5) vs. Georgia (9-3) meet in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

Penn State will take part in the in the TaxSlayer Bowl at Noon ET on Jan. 2 against Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla. The Nittany Lions will be making their 46th appearance in postseason play and fifth in the TaxSlayer Bowl, with the most recent visit taking place at the conclusion of the 1976 season in what was then known as the Gator Bowl.

Duke (7-5) vs. Indiana (6-6) in the Pinstripe Bowl to kickoff the 2015-168
bowl season for the Big Ten Conference on December 26th. It is the first
bowl game, since 2007.

Indiana (6-6) will make the Big Ten’s second appearance in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at 3:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 26 against Duke (7-5) at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, N.Y. The Hoosiers are making their first postseason trip since the 2007 season and 10th overall. Penn State was victorious in the conference’s first Pinstripe Bowl appearance last season.

Nebraska (5-7) vs. UCLA (8-4) as the programs meet for the third time in
four seasons, but this one is in a bowl game, as two meet in the Foster Farms
Bowl. Mike Riley was 6-2 in bowl games for Oregon State, so it will be interesting.

Nebraska (5-7) will face UCLA (8-4) in the Foster Farms Bowl, scheduled for 8:15 p.m. CST on Dec. 26 in Santa Clara, Calif. Nebraska will make its first appearance in the Foster Farms Bowl, its 52nd bowl appearance overall and will play in a ninth straight postseason game. The contest will mark the fourth time that a current Big Ten team will play in the Foster Farms Bowl, including a 2007 appearance by Maryland in what was then called the Emerald Bowl.

Central Michigan (7-5) vs. Minnesota (5-7) in the Quick Lane Bowl,
as the MAC meets the Big Ten in Detroit.

Minnesota (5-7) earned a berth to face Central Michigan (7-5) in the second annual Quick Lane Bowl at 4 p.m. CST on Dec. 28 in Detroit, Mich. The Gophers will be making their 18th postseason appearance and fourth straight bowl trip. Rutgers earned a victory over North Carolina in the inaugural Quick Lane Bowl last season.

Four Big Ten programs will be home for the Holidays, not reaching bowl games

Illinois named Bill Cubit its coach, after carrying the interim tag most of the
2015 season. Cubit, who was a former head coach in the MAC, was given
a two year contract to lead the Fighting Illini. Illinois bowled in 2014.

• Illinois (5-7) didn't get selected for one of the remaining bowl slots. The Fighting Illini open the 2016 season with Murray State on Saturday, September 3rd.

Purdue hired Darrell Hazell in December 2012 and over three seasons, the
Boilermakers are 1-11, 3-9 and 2-10. There is plenty of work here with only
two Big Ten wins over the past three seasons. Purdue bowled in 2012.

• Purdue (2-10) - The Boilermakers only B1G win was 55-45 against Nebraska in 2015.

Maryland hired Michigan DC D.J. Durkin its newest coach, after firing
Randy Edsall ahead of its bye week. The Terrapins saw its two straight bowl
streak end in 2015. Durkin was a DC previously at Florida, as well.

• Maryland (3-9) - The Terrapins elected to hire a defensive coach, after suggesting they may go with an offensive minded coach, after the firing of Randy Edsall. They have suggested a spread offense will be employed under new coach D.J. Durkin.

After a 4-8 season and plenty of off the field issues, including a three game
suspension of coach Kyle Flood, Rutgers fired Flood and replaced him with
an Iowa native, Drake graduate, Chirs Ash. Ash was a DC at Wisconsin and
Ohio State, most recently. Rutgers last bowled in 2014.

• Rutgers (4-8) - The Scarlet Knights have named Iowa native and Ohio State defensive coordinator Chris Ash its new head coach.

Iowa fans interested in purchasing tickets to the Rose Bowl Game are encouraged to make their request through the UI Athletics Ticket Office. By doing so, fans of the Hawkeyes will help the UI Athletics Department meet its obligation to the bowl game by selling the full allotment of tickets it assumes responsibility for as a participant.

Ticket prices range from $150-$185 with Iowa's ticket allocation located in sections 11-18. A benefit of purchasing bowl game tickets through the UI Athletics Ticket Office is a seat location inside the Rose Bowl among Hawkeye fans.

The UI Athletics Ticket Office will limit orders for game tickets to eight for Kinnick Gold & Kinnick Society; six for Champion Hawks; four for Golden & Silver Hawks; and two for remaining I-Club members, and season ticket holders. UI student season ticket holders may order one ticket and request to be seated with up to eight other students. Fans who are not I-Club or season ticket holders may go online and request to be placed on a waiting list.

The UI Athletics Ticket Office will assign seat location based on ticket orders received by the priority deadline of 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, Dec. 10. The UI Athletics Ticket Office will continue to accept orders for tickets beyond the priority deadline as long as it has ticket inventory available. The UI Athletics Ticket Office will notify fans of their order status by Monday, Dec. 14, at noon CT.

As always, the UI Association will offer an official tour for friends of the UI and fans of the Hawkeyes looking for a turn-key travel solution.

For more information on the Rose Bowl Game visit: www,tournamentofroses.com.