With the Big Ten's first week in the books, let's look at what questions were answered and what we should, and shouldn't, overreact to from every opening game.
Northwestern's 43-3 win vs Maryland Saturday was its first 40-point conference victory since it beat Illinois 48-0, 10/10/70. During that half century, the Wildcats lost 41 Big Ten games by at least 40 points — 12 in the 1970s, 13 in the ‘80s, 7 in the ‘90s, 6 in the 2000s & 3 in the 2010s. 14 such losses were to Ohio State, 8 to Iowa, 6 to Michigan, 4 each to Wisconsin & Michigan State, 2 to Illinois & 1 each to Purdue, Indiana & Penn State.
His first coaching job was as a Maryland graduate assistant in 1998. A win vs. the Terrapins Saturday would be a school-record 100th for Pat Fitzgerald as Northwestern head coach (2006-), 51 more than 2nd place Pappy Waldorf (1935-46). Indiana & Purdue are the only other longtime Big Ten schools without a 100-win coach. Among active Big Ten coaches, Fitzgerald trails only Kirk Ferentz's 162 wins at Iowa.
Wisconsin has advanced to the Big Ten title game six of the past nine years, and although the Badgers are the favorites to make it this season, might there be a dark-horse candidate looking to end their run?
College football is a sport governed by tradition and coached by those adverse to change. But in 2020, it is operating on the fly, and all of us -- coaches, players, officials and fans -- are living at the mercy of a long nasal swab.
Northwestern announced Friday that defensive lineman Samdup Miller, quarterback Aidan Smith, safety Travis Whillock and tight end Jason Whittaker have all elected to opt out of the upcoming season.
The Big Ten is playing football this fall. What changed? It all came down to updated medical reports. Those who provided that report take ESPN inside the meeting with Big Ten presidents that changed everything.
The full Big Ten football schedule is out, and this is everything you need to know, breaking down the biggest games for each team in the conference.
In case you haven't heard, the Big Ten is returning. Here are the early storylines worth watching.
After initially canceling its fall college football season, the Big Ten announced the conference will resume play starting the weekend of Oct. 24.
David Pollack and Kevin Negandhi kick off the podcast with Adam Rittenberg after the breaking news of the Big Ten playing an eight-game season starting October 24. The guys get into how rapid testing was the game changer in the conference’s decision, the lack of flexibility with the shortened timeline of the season and if players will consider opting back in. Then, Pollack and Negandhi discuss how the Big Ten screwed this whole thing up, why the Pac-12 is even more behind in college football, how the conference stacks up behind Ohio State and D’Eriq King looking ready to scare ACC defenses.
After declaring the conference would sit out this fall in football, the Big Ten had a change of heart. Here's how it all unfolded.
Teams, players and coaches share their excitement on the October return of Big Ten football.
The Big Ten's presidents and chancellors did not vote Sunday on whether to start the fall football season after hearing updated medical information and other presentations on a potential return to play, sources told ESPN.
The medical subcommittee of the Big Ten return to competition task force met with eight presidents and chancellors of conference universities, and a revote on when to start the fall football season could possibly take place Sunday, sources told ESPN.
The Big Ten medical subcommittee will present new testing programs Saturday to a subcommittee of conference presidents and chancellors, outlining options that weren't available last month when the Big Ten postponed the 2020 season, sources told ESPN.
Political leaders from six states sent a letter Tuesday to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and the league's presidents and chancellors, urging the conference to reconsider its postponement of the 2020 football season.
| EAST | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Michigan | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Ohio State | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Rutgers | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Maryland | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Michigan State | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Penn State | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| WEST | CONF | OVR |
| Northwestern | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Purdue | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Wisconsin | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Illinois | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Iowa | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Minnesota | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Nebraska | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| NAME | POS | STATUS | GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Najee Story | DE | Committed | 82 |
| Mac Uihlein | ILB | Committed | 80 |
| Brendan Sullivan | QB-PP | Committed | 79 |
| Caleb Tiernan | OT | Committed | 78 |
| Jackson Carsello | OT | Committed | 76 |
