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: Henry Brown (BleacherReport.com) -- It has been 12 years since the Big Ten conference has had anyone sit atop the final rankings in college basketball. Not since the 1999-2000 season has a member of the nation's oldest intercollegiate conference won a national title. That team was Michigan State. Since then, the basketball power conference has taken a backseat as the ACC, SEC, Big East and Big 12 have all won national titles. However, the Big Ten may finally be back. Last weekend, Big Ten ... Read More

By Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer won't be worrying about the Gator Bowl at all, since he's not coaching in it. But when asked about the balance between recruiting and bowl prep, Luke Fickell, who is in fact coaching the Buckeyes against Florida in 22 days, said he'd been all recruiting, all the time, lately, too. "There hasn't been a whole lot of balance, to be honest with you," Fickell said, after ... Read More

By: Bud Elliot (SBNation.com) -- Wednesday night I was fortunate enough to chat with Tyler T. of Along The Olentangy, the excellent Ohio State site on the SB Nation network. Our main topic of conversation was, of course, Urban Meyer. And specifically Urban's plan to recruit at Ohio State. And it's safe to say that Tyler believes Meyer is going to be a major hit. "Meyer is bringing that SEC aggressiveness that hasn't been seen in the Big Ten. And I think he'll have immediate ... Read More

By Bud Elliott (SBNation.com) -- People in Columbus are justifiably excited about the hiring of new head football coach Urban Meyer. From his time in Gainesville, Meyer is known as an excellent recruiter. And while he says he won't work at the level that drove him to health problems and a brief retirement, he'll still be expected to haul in blue-chip talents. But Meyer only has about 60 days until signing day, so a large part of his ... Read More

Mark Titus and Shane Ryan (GrantLand.com) -- In advance of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, which begins tonight, Shane Ryan and Mark Titus exchanged e-mails discussing Duke, Ohio State, the nature of the Challenge, and a few odds and ends, including a new game called Trasherbaijan. And after much fanfare, picks were made. Shane: Mark, The ACC-Big Ten Challenge is about 24 hours away, and I have a few questions for you. But first, for the folks at home, it's probably worthwhile ... Read More

By Myron Medcalf (ESPN.com) -- It’s possible that Tuesday night’s duel between No. 2 Ohio State (6-0) and No. 4 Duke (7-0) in Columbus will determine the nation’s top team. If one-loss North Carolina knocks off Wisconsin and Kentucky this week, voters may choose the winner of this matchup to occupy the No. 1 slot when the next polls are released (assuming the victor remains unblemished). But even if the Tar Heels or Wildcats own the top post in ... Read More

By Zach Myers (Fox59.com) -- The Indiana Sports Corporation announced the first ever Big Ten Football Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium is sold out. But local ticket brokers said there are still about 2,000 seats available on the secondary market. Wisconsin and Michigan State will battle each other for a chance to play in the Rose Bowl this Saturday night. Both teams come into the game with a 10-2 record. For Wisconsin, it's a chance at a rematch after ... Read More

By Garry Smits (Jacksonville.com) -- If Urban Meyer becomes the next Ohio State coach, it might be very difficult for the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl to pass up a chance to match Meyer's future team against his past team. Gator Bowl Association president Rick Catlett said pitting the Gators against the Buckeyes — if Meyer accepts the job as the next Ohio State coach — wouldn't need the caveat of the Buckeyes (6-5) beating Michigan (9-2) Saturday. The Gator Bowl can select ... Read More

By Thomas Bradley (TheLantern.com) -- With a high-powered running offense led by junior quarterback Denard Robinson awaiting Ohio State in Ann Arbor, Mich., the Buckeyes will lose to Michigan for the first time since Nov. 22, 2003. After a game that was predicted to be a defensive struggle against Penn State on Saturday, the scoring was high and the defense was almost non-existent in the first half. OSU allowed 20 points in the first half to a PSU squad that, ... Read More