Forbes takes a look at the worst college football teams for the money – and found the Indiana Hoosiers are the second worst bargain in all the land (behind Kansas). Their three-year analysis of automatic qualifying conference teams found that Indiana spent $58 million between 2009 and 2011 – or $5.8 million per win. On […]

Bowl season is nigh – and that means the unpaid student-athletes get free crap from the bowl organizing committees. Sports Business Daily breaks down what each bowl is handing out. Here is the Big Ten bowl SWAG: Minnesota, Meineke Car Care Bowl: Fossil watch, 32-inch flat-screen TV, belt buckle, T-shirt, lapel pin, backpack. Michigan State, […]

National Signing Day is just 57 days away (Feb. 6, if you choose not to do the math), and Big Ten classes are beginning to take shape. While there are plenty of commitments, de-commitments and switches to be made, here’s an early look at where each Big Ten team stands as signing day approaches (click […]

The Big Ten – in all its football excellence – is a cumulative 55-point underdog for its seven bowl games this holiday season. Better yet, not one Big Ten school is favored in any of the bowls. See: Bowl Big Ten Opponent Line Meineke Minnesota Texas Tech TT -13 Buffalo Wild Wings Michigan St TCU […]

ESPN surveyed 28 Big Ten players about which other coaches in the Big Ten they would most like to play for, with the following results: Urban Meyer, Ohio State — 8 votes Kirk Ferentz, Iowa — 6 votes Mark Dantonio, Michigan State — 4 votes Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern — 3 votes Brady Hoke, Michigan — […]

Big Ten football programs are increasingly turning to Twitter to share news, pictures and manage issues. But which schools have the greatest reach? Is it purely a function of the biggest fan bases? Or the best use of Twitter? Or a combination of both? As you see below, it’s a combination of both – with […]

The Badgers are taking a principled recruiting stand when it comes to Penn State: Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said Thursday he has no plans to recruit the players at Penn State, suggesting it would violate what he calls a Big Ten coaching brotherhood. “I made the decision as a head coach we would not reach out to […]

Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press had a tidbit this week on former Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber trying to win the backup job for the Broncos: Adam Weber, the former Gophers record-setting quarterback, on Wednesday begins his second season of training camp with the Denver Broncos. He’ll go into camp competing for the backup job […]

Bobby Bowden says Penn State should tear down the Joe Paterno statue. (StateCollege.com) Beer! Minnesota football games! But available only in one – or maybe two – spots, far from the student section. (KARE) A 92-year-old concrete baron (I just like the way that sounds) gives $2 million to Purdue’s football program. (Journal Courier) Recruiting […]

Off the top of your head, which Big Ten school would you say produces the best professional offensive players? Using ProFootballReference.com, we took a look at six categories – passing touchdowns, total touchdowns scored, total points, rushing yards, passing yards and receiving yards. The chart below shows the totals for each of the Big Ten […]

Plenty of goings on for the Big Ten’s northernmost member these days, and it’s high time we caught up on it. SKI-U-MAH! First and foremost, University President Eric Kaler’s search for a new AD has begun (if it hadn’t already behind the scenes), and he’s hired a search committee and assembled a 21-person advisory committee.  Parker Executive Search will also be retained […]

University of Minnesota Athletic Director Joel Maturi will announce today that he will be stepping down in June, at the end of his contract, to make way for new University President Eric Kaler’s own athletic director hire.  A formal announcement will be made by Kaler and Maturi at 11am CST today, from TCF Bank Stadium. Over his 10-years, Maturi […]

The Golden Gophers have new uniforms – which some are very excited about. They also are getting some new players. Minnesota has a whoppingly large class of 29 recruits coming up north, and it appears some of them can even play. Here is what is expected to happen during National Signing Day today (Player rankings […]

A few notables to share from Golden Gopherland this week: Gopher Hoops:   - Minnesota went on the road this week and lost to Draymond Green and his merry band of Spartans.  Despite what the lower score would indicate, the game was frequently up-tempo, and the Gophers hung around in striking distance most of the way.  The […]

Could the college football coaching carousel get any more confusing? Todd Graham is the coach at Tulsa, then at Pitt. Blink again and the guy is at Arizona St. What the …? Not only is Joe Paterno gone, gone also are the days when larger then life legends roamed the same sidelines for 20, 30 […]

The wait is over (for those of you rubes like me who actually were waiting).  The Gophs had their uniforms completely redesigned by Nike, and here are the results, complete with dramatic Minneapolis skyline shots and our immense locker room: Good stuff.  Overall I like the updated look very much, and they’re about what I expected, […]