2014 Big Ten Media Days notebook

<p> <a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/Miller_Dave">Follow @Miller_Dave</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></p> <p> <strong>CHICAGO — </strong>The Big Ten held its annual Media Days event on Monday and Tuesday at the Hilton Chicago.</p> <p> Here are some news, notes and thoughts from the two-day gathering of coaches and players.</p> <p> <strong>— </strong>Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell danced around the question of what his realistic expectations are for the new season, stating that he just wants his team ready to compete in Week 1. The Boilermakers were 0-8 in conference play last season, but the second-year head coach said his players are more confident and the program has made "significant strides" from year one to year two heading into the new campaign. Hazell isn't going anywhere, but progress needs to be made in West Lafayette.</p> <p class="co_image co_image_right inline_right"> <img alt="Gary Andersen" src="http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c1910342/media_center/images/rendered/blog/wysiwyg/GARY.jpg" /><span>US PRESSWIRE</span>Gary Andersen and the Badgers will face LSU in their season opener.</p> <p> — There's no doubt that Wisconsin has a chance to be highly ranked by the end of the season because of the team's less-than-daunting schedule, which head coach Gary Andersen stated is "very challenging." Well, the truth is that it's not really difficult. The Badgers have a tough challenge in Week 1 in Texas against LSU, but the rest of the slate is very manageable even with a rebuilt front seven and questions at quarterback, where Joel Stave and Tanner McEvoy will initially split the reps at QB in camp. Andersen has put "no timeline" on naming a starter. While I believe Stave would start if the season began today, McEvoy is the dual-threat who could diversify the offense a bit more.</p> <p> — Wisconsin is not the only team that has a manageable slate, as Iowa has a chance to enter November unscathed if it can get past Iowa State and Pittsburgh in nonconference play. If the Hawkeyes get good enough quarterback play, which is the question in Madison as well, the Big Ten could have a nice national presence by the end of the year. Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz said Jake Rudock has more confidence and has all of the intangibles to be a successful quarterback.</p> <p> — Illinois head coach Tim Beckman said that former top in-state recruit Aaron Bailey will remain at quarterback and not switch positions. Oklahoma State transfer Wes Lunt is going to be the starter in Week 1 despite not having officially won the job yet, but Bailey has a bright future. Will he line up at various spots this fall if Lunt is the starter under center? On defense, eighteen of 22 defenders from last year's two-deep are back this year. Is that a good or a bad thing? Beckman said tremendous strides need to occur on that side of the ball.</p> <p> — Michigan head coach Brady Hoke said new coordinator Doug Nussmeier has done a tremendous job since his arrival, and the team's offense will tell the tale of whether the Wolverines can once again be a Big Ten contender. "The only pressure is every day preparing those guys for life after football," Hoke said, when asked if he is feeling the heat entering the new season.</p> <p> — Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood said he believes the school's affiliation with its new conference will be a "tremendous marriage," and he noted that the recruiting footprint for the program has expanded a bit since the news of the move to the Big Ten. Maryland head man Randy Edsall echoed the recruiting sentiments of Flood. But will either the Scarlet Knights or Terps be able to compete immediately in the tough East division? Flood said QB Gary Nova has really taken to what new OC Ralph Friedgen is teaching. Consistency has been Nova's biggest issue throughout his career. Meanwhile, the Terps have one of the nation's most exciting players in receiver Stefon Diggs, who caught 34 passes for 587 yards and three touchdowns before his injury last season.</p> <p> — Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said star dual-threat QB Braxton Miller is in the best shape of his life, and Miller later confirmed those words to reporters. Miller has been banged-up a lot in the past, so the Heisman Trophy contender should be the most prepared he's ever been to carry a lot of the load in Meyer's Power Spread scheme. Also keep an eye on Dontre Wilson, whom Meyer said will be an "impact guy" in a lot of ways. There has been a lot of offseason buzz for the talented hybrid athlete. Defensively, Meyer praised the work of Chris Ash, whose priority as new DC has been fixing the pass defense woes from last year.</p> <p> — Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio on what keeps the fire burning in the rivalry with the Wolverines: "I continue to live in Michigan. That ought to do it." Okay then. Meanwhile, expect the Spartans to have another dynamite season despite some key losses on defense. They still have Pat Narduzzi running that unit, and he's one of the top coordinators in the country.</p> <p> — Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini, when discussing his sometimes demonstrative nature on the sideline: "I'm not that intense, competitive animal all the time." He said he's laid back off the field and trying to show that more on the sideline. Yeah, I don't buy it either. But I am buying the Huskers' defense, which should be consistent and strong enough to help Pelini get past his four-loss hex in Lincoln.</p> <p> — James Franklin is going to own State College. He also inherited a quarterback in sophomore Christian Hackenberg, who could ultimately be the top overall pick in a future NFL Draft. Franklin said he's impressed by Hackenberg's hunger to learn and his humility, but the focus is on developing help around him.</p> <p> And…</p> <p> In regards to Bob Bowlsby's comments at Big 12 Media Days, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said that the major five conferences need to get together over the next year to eighteen months to achieve a new model for compliance and enforcement. Delany also said that he expects autonomy to pass in August and believes the desires of the major conferences will be met … Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald compared QB Trevor Siemian's personality to that of country music star Luke Bryan (laid-back if you're not familiar with the country music scene) … Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill said he's well aware of the team's losing streak to Wisconsin … Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson believes the Hoosiers will be "significantly better" on defense this fall.</p> <p> <em>Dave Miller, the college football editor for the National Football Post, is on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Miller_Dave" target="_blank">@Miller_Dave</a>.</em></p>

2014 Big Ten Media Days preview

<p> <a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/Miller_Dave">Follow @Miller_Dave</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></p> <p> <strong>CHICAGO — </strong>With the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 having concluded their Media Days, it's time to turn our attention to the Big Ten, which takes center stage on Monday and Tuesday at the Hilton Chicago.</p> <p> Here are some things to keep an eye on when members of the media talk to coaches and players.</p> <p> <strong>— The newbies:</strong> Maryland and Rutgers are officially members of the league after leaving the ACC and American Athletic, respectively. BTN was able to expand its footprint with the move, and both the Terrapins and the Scarlet Knights were able to secure more money for their athletic departments moving forward. But it will be a tough road for both squads in the East division, where Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and Penn State reside. Rutgers brings a power offense with a conservative flair to the league, but can they match up physically along both lines of scrimmage? And while the Terps bring back a lot of talent, can they stay healthy?</p> <p class="co_image co_image_right inline_right"> <img alt="Jim Delany" src="http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c1910342/media_center/images/rendered/blog/wysiwyg/delany1-4488.jpg" /><span>US PRESSWIRE</span>Jim Delany is one of the most powerful individuals in college athletics.</p> <p> <strong>— The commish:</strong> Jim Delany, who along with the SEC's Mike Slive is one of the most powerful individuals in college athletics, will certainly address some of the bigger issues plaguing the sport, including the impending vote by the NCAA's Board of Directors to give autonomy to the Power Five as well as Ed O'Bannon's antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA. Slive threatened to leave Division I if the Power Five didn't get autonomy, while Big 12 boss Bob Bowlsby took a shot at NCAA enforcement. Delany should provide a few good quotes.</p> <p> <strong>— Hot seat talk:</strong> When I posted my article describing <a href="http://footballpost.wpengine.com/Top-10-coaching-hot-seats-in-2014.html" target="_self">the head coaches whose seats were the hottest</a>, four of the ten program leaders were from the Big Ten: Michigan's Brady Hoke, Indiana's Kevin Wilson, Rutgers' Kyle Flood and Illinois' Tim Beckman. In my opinion, the Wolverines will be able to bounce back from their rough 2013 campaign if they get improvement from the offensive line both in pass protection and in opening up bigger holes for the running backs. And new coordinator Doug Nussmeier should bring a more consistent and improved identity on offense. For Indiana, a minor bowl bid could be on the horizon because the Hoosiers may have enough offensive talent to get to six wins. There is reason for optimism in Bloomington. In the case of Flood, we just don't know which direction his program is headed after initially keeping things sound following Greg Schiano's departure. Former Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen is now running the offense, and Joe Rossi is leading the defense. The step up in competition in a division featuring Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State and Michigan will prove challenging. Finally, in Champaign, Beckman needs coordinator Bill Cubit to keep the offense rolling with former Oklahoma State signal-caller Wes Lunt at the helm. Beckman could probably survive a bowl-less season, but improvement must continue to be made and there needs to be a reason to believe in the future.</p> <p> <strong>— Digging deeper: </strong>It's safe to assume that Ohio State and Michigan State will be involved in the national conversation for a majority of the season even if the Spartans are unable to notch a win <a href="http://footballpost.wpengine.com/The-top-nonconference-games-in-2014.html" target="_self">in Eugene in Week 2</a>. Both the Buckeyes and Spartans are strong candidates to return to Indianapolis and play for the league title (they are in the same division now, however). But can the league find greater depth at the top with teams such as Wisconsin, Nebraska and Michigan becoming legitimate league title contenders? The Badgers have a chance to be <a href="http://footballpost.wpengine.com/College-Football-Playoff-sleepers-for-2014.html" target="_self">a dark horse College Football Playoff contender</a> if they can get past LSU in Week 1, and Iowa has a chance to be unbeaten heading into its stretch run of November because the Hawkeyes' schedule is very favorable.</p> <p> <strong>— Franklin's debut:</strong> James Franklin will make his Big Ten Media Days debut after coming over from Vanderbilt, although he will be less impressed by the media turnout considering he dealt with the circus in Hoover every year while with the Commodores. He'll likely be asked about PSU's lingering sanctions as well as star quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who is already one of the best players in the country. He is one of eleven returning starting quarterbacks in the league. Keep in mind thay Kerry Collins was the last Big Ten signal-caller drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft.</p> <p> <strong>— Kill’s health:</strong> Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill's bouts with epileptic seizures have been well documented, and he was forced to coach from upstairs for a good portion of last season. While he is healthy and ready to put those issues behind him, Kill may have to answer questions about whether he's concerned about possible recurrences moving forward.</p> <p> <strong>— The new postseason:</strong> For the first time ever, major college football has a playoff system in place to crown a national champion. The College Football Playoff has replaced the BCS, so expect nearly every head coach and player in attendance to be asked to give his thoughts on the matter.</p> <p> <strong>— Paying players: </strong>Even the casual college football fan is aware of the various issues the NCAA has been dealing with both in the courts and outside of them, including autonomy for the Power Five conferences. Big Ten players will likely be asked to give their thoughts about issues such as cost of attendance, unionization, getting paid to play, etc., in addition to queries about the new playoff. And it's likely that Northwestern players Ibraheim Campbell, Collin Ellis and Trevor Siemian will have to deal with a surplus of media asking about player unionization.</p> <p> <strong>— Abdullah's speech:</strong> Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah will speak on Tuesday at the kickoff luncheon, and the former unheralded recruit should share his story of growing up in a large family in Alabama and discuss his journey toward becoming one of the best running backs in the country.</p> <p> <em>Dave Miller, the college football editor for the National Football Post, is on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Miller_Dave" target="_blank">@Miller_Dave&lt;/a>.</em></p>

The top nonconference games in 2014

<p> <a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/Miller_Dave">Follow @Miller_Dave</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></p> <p> There's nothing better in college football than when conference play begins and teams start competing for league titles.</p> <p> But before we get into late September and early October when league action kicks into high gear, nonconference play is all the rage. And, as usual, late November features in-state battles that could have College Football Playoff berths on the line. Plus, there's always the intriguing Notre Dame schedule to keep an eye on.</p> <p> Let’s take a look at some of the biggest nonconference contests on the slate for 2014.</p> <p> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 30</strong></p> <p class="co_image co_image_right inline_right"> <img alt="John Chavis" src="http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c1910342/media_center/images/rendered/blog/wysiwyg/John-Chavis.jpg" />What does LSU's John Chavis have in store for the Wisconsin ground game?</p> <p> <strong>LSU vs. Wisconsin (in Houston): </strong>If the Badgers are able to get by a Tigers squad that will be dominated by youth on the offensive side of the ball, the schedule sets up nicely for Gary Andersen's squad to be a <a href="http://footballpost.wpengine.com/College-Football-Playoff-sleepers-for-2014.html" target="_self">dark horse contender for a spot</a> in the first-ever College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, John Chavis will be looking to see what young defenders are ready to become stars for the Bayou Bengals. One thing is certain: this game will feature two clinics in the power run game.</p> <p> <strong>Clemson at Georgia:</strong> There's a chance this game could top last year's clash, although Clemson's offense will be breaking in several new starters at the skill positions in addition to quarterback Cole Stoudt. Meanwhile, Jeremy Pruitt will be making his debut as Georgia's defensive coordinator, though the unit may be susceptible to Chad Morris and that Tigers offensive attack. Both teams have a chance to notch a big early season win. The Bulldogs are loaded on offense, but the Tigers finally have a defense capable of helping the team claim an ACC title.</p> <p> <strong>Florida State vs. Oklahoma State (in Arlington): </strong>The Seminoles will kick off the defense of their national championship with a game against a Cowboys team that lost a lot of talent from a squad that thoroughly defeated then-unbeaten Baylor last fall. Will the Pokes be ready for the moment in Jerry’s World?</p> <p> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 6</strong></p> <p> <strong>Michigan State at Oregon:</strong> This game is still going a bit under the radar nationally in my opinion, because this clash has a chance to be the nonconference game of the year. Despite losing some pieces to the NFL, Mark Dantonio and Pat Narduzzi's defense should still be stout. But it will face a Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback in Marcus Mariota and the high-powered offense overseen by Mark Helfrich and Scott Frost.</p> <p> <strong>Virginia Tech at Ohio State:</strong> Hokies head coach Frank Beamer believes that he'll get improved play along the offensive line and at running back, two areas that the team has struggled in the past two seasons. That will be necessary if the Hokies have any chance of regaining upper-echelon status in the ACC this year. They will face one of the best defensive lines in the country, however, and the Urban Meyer Power Spread offense in this early season matchup. What does Hokies DC Bud Foster have cooked up for Braxton Miller and a revamped offensive line?</p> <p> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 13</strong></p> <p> <strong>Texas vs. UCLA (in Arlington):</strong> One week after hosting BYU in a rematch from their debacle last season (Cougars QB Taysom Hill is still running wild against the Longhorns' rushing defense), the 'Horns face the biggest test of the very young Charlie Strong era when Jim L. Mora's Bruins arrive in the Lone Star State. The Longhorns should be both physically and mentally stronger under their new head coach, but Brett Hundley could be primed for a special season in his third year under center for the Bruins.</p> <p> <strong>Thursday, Sept. 18</strong></p> <p> <strong>Auburn at Kansas State:</strong> The Wildcats have a chance to alter the course of the national championship picture with a win in the Little Apple against the BCS title runner-ups from last season. Gus Malzahn's offense is expected to be even better with Nick Marshall's improved passing game, playmakers all around as well as a veteran offensive line. But the K-State defense will be primed for this Thursday night showdown, especially after a bye week. Never overlook a Bill Snyder-coached squad.</p> <p> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 20</strong></p> <p class="co_image co_image_right inline_right"> <img alt="Ryan Williams" src="http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c1910342/media_center/images/rendered/blog/wysiwyg/Ryan-Williams-1603.jpg" />Will Ryan Williams be under center when the 'Canes battle in Lincoln?</p> <p> <strong>Miami (FL) at Nebraska:</strong> The Hurricanes have a very difficult September slate, and it continues with an old-school nonconference tilt in Lincoln against the Cornhuskers before a tricky home game against Duke. Once a fixture of national title and Orange Bowl games (including the classic 1984 tilt), these two programs are looking to become household names again. Will Ryan Williams be back under center for the 'Canes after his ACL injury, and are the Blackshirts really back for the 'Huskers?</p> <p> <strong>Saturday, Oct. 4</strong></p> <p> <strong>Stanford at Notre Dame: </strong>The Cardinal lost a lot of talent on defense, but the type of athletes David Shaw and his staff have been able to bring in the last few recruiting cycles should keep the unit sound. However, Brian Kelly and the Irish will lean a bit more on the offense this season. And while he has not officially won the starting job, Everett Golson <a href="http://footballpost.wpengine.com/OConnell-so-impressed-with-Golsons-overall-skill-set.html" target="_self">is primed for a huge 2014 campaign</a>. The Irish took the contest in 2012 in the memorable "goal-line stand" game, while the Cardinal pounded out a seven-point victory a year ago.</p> <p> <strong>Saturday, Oct. 18</strong></p> <p> <strong>Notre Dame at Florida State:</strong> A week after hosting a dangerous North Carolina squad, the Irish play the best team in the ACC in Tallahassee. While the oddsmakers don't love the Irish on the road, this should still be a test for the 'Noles. As mentioned above, ND should be prolific on offense. But the 'Noles have talent littered across the defense under new DC Charles Kelly. Offensively, Jameis Winston and Co. will put pressure on the ND defense all night. FSU has won the last two meetings in 2003 and 2011.</p> <p> <strong>Friday, Oct. 24</strong></p> <p> <strong>BYU at Boise State: </strong>There are few things as satisfying as an exciting West Coast game on a Friday night, and this game shouldn't
disappoint. The Cougars snagged a win last year in Provo, and this will be the third consecutive season these programs are meeting. First-year Broncos head coach Bryan Harsin will be looking for a marquee noncon win as he leads his team through the Mountain West schedule, but Cougars quarterback Taysom Hill will try to steal the show with his dual-threat ways.</p> <p> <strong>Saturday, Nov. 8</strong></p> <p> <strong>Notre Dame at Arizona State: </strong>Are the Sun Devils a legitimate national title contender? We'll find out how they stack up against the Irish this season after falling to ND 37-34 a year ago in Arlington. Turnovers were the issue for the Sun Devils in that loss, as they gave the ball to the Irish three times. Will Todd Graham's team be in sync defensively by the time the calendar flips to November?</p> <p> <strong>Saturday, Nov. 29</strong></p> <p> <strong>South Carolina at Clemson:</strong> Have you heard Steve Spurrier recently any time he has been around a mic? The Gamecocks' advantage over the Tigers in recent years is brought up most every time (the 'Cocks haven't lost to the Tigers since 2008), so Dabo Swinney and Co. will try to reverse the trend in this Palmetto State clash. How deeply entrenched (or not) will both teams be in the College Football Playoff race when they meet?</p> <p> <strong>Florida at Florida State: </strong>How improved will the Gators be this fall? I believe that the addition of Kurt Roper will be huge for this team and help save <a href="http://footballpost.wpengine.com/Top-10-coaching-hot-seats-in-2014.html" target="_self">Will Muschamp's job</a> (much like Chad Morris did for Dabo Swinney a few years back), and Muschamp has stated that he believes this is his most talented team yet. But this Sunshine State game is in Tallahassee. Will the 'Noles be en route to a berth in the College Football Playoff?</p> <p> <strong>Note: </strong>For the sake of some brevity, not every intriguing nonconference game is included on this list. However, these contests are also certainly worth watching: Boise State-Ole Miss (in Atlanta), Kentucky-Louisville, Michigan-Notre Dame, Arkansas-Texas Tech, Minnesota-TCU, Iowa-Pittsburgh, North Carolina-Notre Dame, Louisville-Notre Dame, Georgia Tech-Georgia and Notre Dame-USC.</p> <p> <em>Dave Miller, the college football editor for the National Football Post, is on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Miller_Dave" target="_blank">@Miller_Dave</a>.</em></p>

2014 Big 12 Media Days preview

<p> <a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/Miller_Dave">Follow @Miller_Dave</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></p> <p> With SEC Media Days complete and the ACC concluding its gathering today, the Big 12 is set to take center stage for its Media Days on Monday and Tuesday in Dallas.</p> <p> Here are some things to keep an eye on when members of the media talk to coaches and players.</p> <p> <strong>— A Strong start in Austin?: </strong>Longtime Texas head coach Mack Brown is no longer in Austin, as Charlie Strong has arrived from Louisville looking to make the Longhorns the top brand in the state once again. We know that Strong will bring a newfound mental and physical toughness to the program, but will that translate into more wins in 2014 while navigating a tough schedule?</p> <p class="co_image co_image_right inline_right"> <img alt="Dana Holgorsen" src="http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c1910342/media_center/images/rendered/blog/wysiwyg/holgie.jpg" />Is Dana Holgorsen the longterm answer in Morgantown?</p> <p> <strong>— Hot seat talk: </strong>West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen and Kansas head coach Charlie Weis occupy <a href="http://footballpost.wpengine.com/Top-10-coaching-hot-seats-in-2014.html" target="_self">two of the hottest coaching seats in the country</a>. The shine is off of the Mountaineer armor since the 70-point effort against Clemson in the Orange Bowl to conclude Holgorsen's 10-3 debut campaign. Since then, WVU compiled a 7-6 mark the following season after jumping out to a 5-0 start behind Geno Smith and Co., and last year the squad bottomed out at 4-8 — including losses to Kansas and Iowa State. The Mountaineers have posted just a 6-14 mark in their past 20 Big 12 games. Meanwhile, Weis has compiled a 4-20 mark in his two seasons with the Jayhawks. While it's not exactly easy to win in Lawrence, two of his wins were against South Dakota State and South Dakota. Weis limped out of South Bend, so it doesn't appear that program-building is a strength of the longtime NFL coordinator.</p> <p> <strong>An early season statement?: </strong>I posted a piece recently about <a href="http://footballpost.wpengine.com/College-Football-Playoff-sleepers-for-2014.html" target="_self">potential College Football Playoff sleepers</a>, and one of the teams I listed was Kansas State. Bill Snyder's squad rebounded nicely last fall after stumbling out of the gate at 2-4, as the Wildcats won six of their final seven to close out 2013. Jake Waters will have a full season as the starter under center, and receiver Tyler Lockett is one of the most explosive and productive players in the country. The reason I included K-State on the list, however, is because of the schedule. The 'Cats have a chance to make noise on the national landscape with a win on September 18 at home against BCS title runner-up Auburn following a bye week. And while road games loom at Oklahoma and Baylor, the strength of schedule factor would make a one-loss Big 12 team appealing to the selection committee. However, it will be interesting to see how the committee handles a team from the league, which does not hold a conference championship game. Meanwhile. could Baylor's nonconference slate end up hurting a potential one-loss Bears squad led by <a href="http://footballpost.wpengine.com/PostSpring-potential-2014-Heisman-Trophy-contenders.html" target="_self">Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback</a> Bryce Petty?</p> <p> <strong>Don't sleep on TCU:</strong> The Horned Frogs landed quarterback Matt Joeckel via transfer from Texas A&M, and he should be able to help improve the team's offense. The fifth-year senior will improve the decision-making at the position, and it will allow Trevone Boykin to focus on being a receiver. The Frogs brought in co-offensive coordinators Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie to run an up-tempo spread scheme, so there is optimism in Fort Worth.</p> <p> <strong>— The debut of a playoff: </strong>For the first time ever, major college football has a playoff system in place for the postseason. The College Football Playoff has replaced the BCS, so most every coach and player in attendance will likely be asked to give his thoughts on the matter.</p> <p> <strong>— Paying players:</strong> The NCAA has been dealing with a plethora of issues both in the courts and outside of them, including autonomy for the Power Five conferences. Players will likely be asked to give their thoughts about issues such as cost of attendance, unionization, getting paid to play, etc. Besides those about the new playoff, questions on these matters will be tossed around during this event.</p> <p> <strong>— The schedule (all times ET):</strong></p> <p> <strong>Monday</strong><br /> <br /> 10 a.m.: Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby<br /> 11 a.m.: Baylor head coach Art Briles, quarterback Bryce Petty, wide receiver Antwan Goodley, linebacker Bryce Hager and defensive end Shawn Oakman<br /> 11:30 a.m.: Kansas head coach Charlie Weis, wide receiver Nick Harwell, linebacker Ben Heeney, tight end Jimmay Mundine and safety Cassius Sendish<br /> 12 p.m.: TCU head coach Gary Patterson, safety Sam Carter, defensive tackle Chucky Hunter, center Joey Hunt and wide receiver David Porter<br /> 12:30 p.m.: Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, wide receiver Jhajuan Seales, cornerback Kevin Peterson and linebacker Ryan Simmons<br /> 1 p.m.: Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury, wide receiver Bradley Marquez, linebacker Sam Eguavoen and running back Kenny Williams</p> <p> <strong>Tuesday</strong><br /> <br /> 9:30 a.m.: Big 12 coordinator of officials Walt Anderson<br /> 10:30 a.m.: College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock<br /&gt; 11 a.m.: Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, quarterback Trevor Knight, linebacker Geneo Grissom, defensive tackle Chuka Ndulue, offensive tackle Daryl Williams and safety Julian Wilson<br /> 11:30 a.m.: Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads, offensive lineman Tom Farnick, defensive end Cory Morrissey, tight end E.J. Bibbs and linebacker Jevohn Miller<br /> 12 p.m.: West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen, wide receiver Kevin White, cornerback Daryl Worley and punter Nick O'Toole<br /> 12:30 p.m.: Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder, wide receiver Tyler Lockett, quarterback Jake Waters, defensive end Ryan Mueller, linebacker Jonathan Truman and offensive lineman B.J. Finney<br /> 1 p.m.: Texas head coach Charlie Strong, center Dominic Espinosa, running back Malcolm Brown, cornerback Quandre Diggs and defensive end Cedric Reed</p> <p> <em>Dave Miller, the college football editor for the National Football Post, is on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Miller_Dave" target="_blank">@Miller_Dave</a>.</em></p>