BY MIKE CLARK (suntimes.com) -- 1. Ohio State: The Buckeyes can’t play in the Big Ten championship game or a bowl this season, thanks to the fallout from the scandal that led to Jim Tressel’s forced departure. But new coach Urban Meyer still recruited the conference’s best class, including Glenbard West DT Tommy Schutt, and they’ll be ready for the postseason in 2013. 2. Michigan: Second-year coach Brady Hoke has another exceptional class, one that’s just behind ... Read More

By Eric Prisbell (WashingtonPost.com) --The Big Ten is the nation’s strongest conference this season. It may also be the nation’s most balanced. Aside from Nebraska and Penn State, every other team in the 12-team league is capable of an upset or two. Among the noteworthy results this weekend: Northwestern beating Michigan State; Iowa blasting Michigan and Ohio State avenging an earlier loss to resurgent Indiana. There certainly are many Big Ten haters out there. But the league is the nation’s ... Read More

By Danny Restivo (TheLantern.com) -- The No. 11 Ohio State women's basketball team returns to action Thursday against Northwestern after suffering its first defeat of the season Saturday. While the loss against Michigan ended an unblemished record, coach Jim Foster is looking to his upperclassmen to take a leading role in the upcoming game. "I think it's up to your players to respond," Foster said. "The older players, you plus games and you bounce back, the younger players ... Read More

By: Scott Dochterman (TheGazette.com) -- Big Ten football schedules had slick manueverability when the league carried an unwieldy number of 11 schools. Each football program played two permanent rivals annually and faced the other league opponents six times over an eight-year period. That scheduling procedure worked until it got in the way of progress. In June 2010, the Big Ten voted to unanimously add Nebraska as its 12th member. In football terms that meant two divisions and a new scheduling ... Read More

By Rob McCurdy via LancasterEasgleGazette.com --  COLUMBUS -- A healthy and engaged Jared Sullinger makes all the difference. While Ohio State struggled at the start of its last six games, it's no coincidence Sullinger was either in street clothes or less than 100 percent in each of those. "I look at you guys and you are obviously physically fit, and if you take three weeks off, you'd be a little bit winded, obviously," Ohio State coach Thad Matta joked ... Read More

From: AP via SacramentoBee.com -- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- William Buford had career-highs of 28 points and five 3-pointers as No. 2 Ohio State showed off its perimeter shooting in an 87-54 victory over Northwestern on Wednesday night in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Jared Sullinger added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Buckeyes (13-1, 1-0), who dominated the boards 49-30. Deshaun Thomas had 16 points for Ohio State, which broke the game open with a 13-0 first-half run fueled by 3-pointers. Jordan ... Read More

From: ESPN.com --  COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For a change, No. 2-ranked Ohio State is healthy. Big man Jared Sullinger appears to be close to being healthy for the first time in three weeks. He missed two games with back spasms, and most of another with an injured ankle. After missing a lot of conditioning drills in practice, and playing sparingly in games, he still isn't in game shape. "It is going to take him time," coach Thad Matta said before ... Read More

From: ZanesvilleTimesRecorder.com -- COLUMBUS -- Ohio State might be 12-1 and a consensus No. 2 team in the country, but it's no finished product. In fact, coach Thad Matta sees the Buckeyes as a team in progress as it enters Big Ten play tonight with Northwestern. "They're continuing to build a bond and to build togetherness. I'm always on that," Matta said. With 11 freshmen and sophomores on the roster, it's not the same team that won the Big Ten championship the past two years. "You've ... Read More

By Jeffrey Bathe (BleacherReport.com) -- The Big Ten got 10 bowl bids this season, matching the most ever received by a conference in one season. Unfortunately, like the Big East last March Madness, more bids does not mean that the conference will thrive. While having the most bids is an impressive feat, there are four reasons why the conference ended up with the most embarrassing bowl season on record.   Bottom Half of the Conference In a bowl era where ... Read More

By Jeff Goodman(CBSSports.com) -- Jared Sullinger gave up late-night snacks and his favorite foods this past summer and shed about 25 pounds of baby fat in an effort to become more versatile and increase his stamina. He was primed for a huge season. Instead, he's caught the injury bug. The once-rotund Ohio State sophomore big man, who entered the season as the frontrunner for National Player of the Year honors, missed last weekend's loss at Kansas with ... Read More