Rutgers and Maryland are being served up the same dish that Nebraska was in 2011. It's called the “Thank you, sir, may I have another? Platter,” and it does not go down smoothly.
Both teams face Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State. Only the Scarlet Knights have to face Nebraska in Lincoln, those lucky ducks.
There's some good news for one of them, though...
If there's one thing that Michigan football presented by Brady Hoke has taught me, it's that the Wolverines are usually set up for one or two upsets per year. If an egg is to be laid during a conference expansion year, it might as well pack a nasal knockout.
Why is Michigan ripe for such a fall? Jeremy Gallon's not around anymore. Tyler Lewan's not watching his quarterback's blind side. Fitzgerald Toussaint won't be carrying the rock either.
If someone would be so kind as to pass along a note to the Terrapin brass to have their boys wear the most gaudy uniforms possible, that'd be grand. This'll is a formal occasion.
Last year, Iowa came into Lincoln, Neb. and didn't just win the Heroes Game, they hit Nebraska below the belt, gave the Huskers a wedgie and simply took the trophy home.
Revenge may be a dish best served cold, but Nebraska won't be able to deliver it with a tepid secondary. Only seven members are upperclassmen and that's half of the entire corps assuming all current commits sign.
Hawkeyes quarterback Jake Rudock returns along with running back Mark Weisman. That duo scored a pair of touchdowns on the Blackshirts each. The Huskers' secondary loses standouts Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Ciante Evans. It'll also be under the tutelage of its fifth coach in six years.
Maybe Delany found himself a rivalry after all.
The Spartans weren't supposed to win the Big Ten crown last year. Nobody expects them to do it again, especially if Urban Meyer has anything to say about it.
Yes, Michigan State loses a likely 2014 NFL Draft first-round pick Darqueze Dennard along with Max Bullough, Blake Treadwell and Denicos Allen among others.
The x-factor is a guy I honestly didn't expect to be in green and white in 2014. Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi is easily one of the best defensive minds in all of college football, let alone the Big Ten. While several of his best pupils have moved on, the cupboard is far from bare.
Add in the return of quarterback Connor Cook, running back Jeremy Langford and two of the Spartans' leading receivers -- suddenly, the Spartans are ready to make another run at the conference crown, but why stop there?
What? Weren't you taught to dream big?
While the chances of Narduzzi fashioning a defensive unit as powerful as last season's aren't exactly fantastic, he's shown an amazing ability to work with what he has. Michigan State's wins weren't necessarily pretty last season, but they were wins.
The Spartans' workmanlike attitude ultimately earned them a Big Ten Championship, Rose Bowl trophy and No. 3 ranking in the final polls.
With four seeds up for grabs, a Michigan State team that wins the Big Ten for a second year in a row is nearly a shoo-in for the No. 4 slot.
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