Tag: Big Ten Media Days

Trio of Ohio State players to make trip to Big Ten media days

A solid trio to represent Ohio State in Chicago for Big Ten media days this year. #GoBucks

The annual spectacle that is Big Ten media days is almost upon us, and that ushers in the realization that the college football season is just around the corner.

And thanks to the Ohio State Football Twitter account, we now know which Buckeye players will be representing the scarlet and gray in Chicago this year. On Wednesday, it was announced via graphic that three of the team’s most important players will accompany Ryan Day on the trip. The four will take part in the unofficial countdown to the season by appearing in front of reporters and being available to field questions.

If you are even a casual Ohio State football fan, you know the trio well. Generally, some of the most respected leaders of the team make the annual trip, and that’s certainly the case here.

Here is a rundown of the three players looking to represent Ohio State on Wednesday, July 26. The three will be made available separately after Ryan Day gives his scheduled press conference at 12:15 p.m. ET.

Huskers basketball forecasted for Big Ten cellar in poll

More of the same is expected from the Huskers men’s basketball team this year. Can a new batch of transfers begin to turn things around?

A Big Ten men’s basketball preseason poll conducted by writers from The Athletic and The Columbus Dispatch was released on Monday as Big Ten media days kicked off in Minneapolis.

After nearly slipping out of the NCAA Tournament last season, the Indiana Hoosiers were tabbed as the preseason favorites in the poll, which is not the official Big Ten preseason poll. Trayce Jackson-Davis (18.3 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game in 2021-22), who was the poll’s preseason Player of the Year, returns for Mike Woodson’s squad, along with second-team honoree Xavier Johnson. Five-star recruit and now Indiana freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino joins the fray as well as the Hoosiers look for their first conference title in seven years.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers did not receive such a favorable prospectus and were predicted to finish last in the Big Ten after a 10-22 season overall and 4-16 record in conference play last season. The Huskers’ mark in Big Ten action matched Minnesota for the worst in the conference.

None of the Huskers’ hoopers received a vote in any all-conference team voting but Nebraska’s youthful new-look group could be candidates to surprise.

Head coach Fred Hoiberg no longer has the services of Alonzo Verge, Kobe Webster and both Trey and Bryce McGowens, the latter of which was drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft by Charlotte Hornets.

Transfers Sam Griesel (14.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.4 APG in 2021 at North Dakota State), Emmanuel Bandoumel (10.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG at SMU) and Juwan Gary (6.5 PPG at Alabama) will infuse new blood on the court in Lincoln, along with a crop of JUCO transfers and freshman Ramel Lloyd, a four-star recruit out of nationally-ranked Sierra Canyon High School in California.

The Huskers’ biggest returner is senior forward Derrick Walker, who started every game last year. Walker led Nebraska in rebounds and broke the Huskers’ single-season record for field goal percentage by shooting 68.3% from the field.

The results of the poll are listed below, with each team’s number of total voting points, first-place votes and all-conference honorees, according to the poll.

Big Ten media day comments from Ryan Day, Ronnie Hickman, C.J. Stroud, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Video and audio of Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, along with players Jaxon Smith-Njigba, C.J. Stroud, and Ronnie Hickman at Big Ten media days. #GoBucks

Big Ten media days are in the books, and there was plenty to digest — especially in a day and age when there are so many monumental changes occurring across the college football landscape.

Ohio State is front and center in helping to shape where things go, and head coach Ryan Day was the last head coach to speak at the podium on during the two-day event. He had plenty to say then, and then had an additional media session afterward along with players Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ronnie Hickman, and C.J. Stroud.

In case you missed some of those side session comments the four Ohio State representatives made in Indianapolis, we’ve got significant video and audio of the responses to some of those questions that were lobbed their way.

Of course, the Michigan game came up, but so did Name, Image, and Likeness as well as conference expansion and realignment. Here’s the video of each as they took their turn in front of the media at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Erick All: Turning the 2020 season from ‘the worst season I’ve ever played’ into a key role for 2022

Awesome to see him bounce back from that 2020 season. #GoBlue

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Going into the 2020 season tight end Erick All was being called a “sure-handed” pass-catcher according to teammates and his coaches. The four-star recruit from the class of 2019 from Fairfield (Ohio) was predicted to be a major breakout performer for the 2020 season, but drops got in the way.

According to Pro Football Focus, All dropped 25% of balls that were on target to him, and the analytic site gave All a 28.1 grade for hands/drops. 2020 was not a good year for the tight end.

Erick All was one of the four Michigan football players that attended the Big Ten media days on Tuesday in Indianapolis, and he was asked about that 2020 season and what it did to him mentally. All acknowledged that it was the worst season he has ever played. He gives thanks to mentor Greg Harden — who would mentor student-athletes at Michigan — for helping him get his focus back.

“Man, it’s that was my worst season I’ve ever played in my life,” All admitted during Big Ten media days. “Ever. And I’m like, it’s just the game. Like, when when I talked to Greg, Mr. Greg Harden, he basically put me back in that mindset. And basically reminded me football is a game, you’re supposed to have fun, you’re not supposed to treat it like a job. And I’m not supposed to treat it like it runs your life. It’s a sport. You don’t need football, you need to focus on what you do after football and what other things you can focus on other than football. It basically changed my life because I was probably more than likely going to be stuck in the same mindset.”

The starting tight end at Michigan said hearing all that hype going into the season killed him mentally, especially after dropping that first ball during the season. He said it was like a switch flipped in his brain and it was over. But now he is treating the game like it should be treated — having fun, but staying competitive.

“Just hearing all the hype about me, just killed me and I dropped that ball, I just dropped one ball,” said All. “And it was just a switch that just hit my brain like it was just over for me. Talking to Greg to flip that switch back in the right spot. I got into the game as more of like a fun, fun and competitive and I’m treating it like how it should be treated. I feel like that’s the way to succeed in this game. Going out there worrying about targets and worrying about receptions it’s going to lead you down the wrong path. And I can tell you that firsthand.”

Last season, in 2021, All bounced back in a huge way after regaining his focus. He caught 38 receptions for 437 yards and two scores. PFF had him with a significantly better 9.5% drop rate for 2021.

Now Erick All, along with Luke Schoonmaker, is listed on the Mackey Award watch list for the nation’s best tight end. Jim Harbaugh made a statement on Tuesday that he believes Michigan has the best two tight ends in the country.

“Erick All. I think, in my opinion, his biggest competition for being the best tight end in the country will be Luke Schoonmaker and I think Luke Schoonmaker’s toughest competition to be the best tight end in America will be Erick All,” Harbaugh admitted on Tuesday.

Later on, Harbaugh talked about his veteran players on the team like Cade McNamara, Ronnie Bell, Erick All, and others, about how much leadership they have shown to the younger players. How they are coaching them up and setting a tremendous example.

The last John Mackey Award winner at Michigan was Jake Butt back in 2016. He helped show what a dynamic tight end can do for an offense. Erick All has those same qualities, just like running 47-yards against Penn State — on a less than 100% ankle — for a winning touchdown.

The Michigan offense is loaded at wide receiver and tight end, but we can most certainly expect Erick All to have a tremendous season in Ann Arbor.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=61122]

WATCH: Keeanu Benton and Nick Herbig ‘rave’ about Braelon Allen at Big Ten Media Days

In an interview with Big Ten Network at Big Ten Media Days, Wisconsin NT Keeanu Benton and OLB Nick Herbig talked about RB Braelon Allen:

On Wednesday, some Wisconsin football players spoke with the media at the Big Ten Media Days. In an interview with Wisconsin On BTN, senior nose tackle Keeanu Benton and junior outside linebacker Nick Herbig raved about the play of sophomore running back Braelon Allen.

Related: The Big Ten’s stance on College Football Playoff expansion

In the interview, Benton and Herbig talked extensively about Allen’s exceptional strength on the field and their empathy for opposing defenders who have to try to bring him down. The junior outside linebacker also mentions Allen’s outstanding work ethic, which put him in a place to succeed last season.

If the Wisconsin defenders’ interview is any indication of where Braelon Allen is at going into his second year, Badger fans should be excited for another historical season from the Wisconsin rushing attack.

LOOK: Wisconsin football players travel in style to Big Ten Media Days

Several Wisconsin Badgers players arrived for Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday afternoon after traveling in style to the annual event:

Several Wisconsin Badgers players arrived for Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday afternoon after traveling in style from Madison, Wis., to the annual event.

Related: 15 schools the Big Ten should consider adding

A picture posted on Twitter by Wisconsin outside linebacker Nick Herbig shows himself along with nose tackle Keeanu Benton and quarterback Graham Mertz aboard a privately-chartered flight to Indianapolis, Ind. Wisconsin had a different surprise for its players at last year’s media days, where they each received custom-tailored suits.

The three players, along with head coach Paul Chryst, will be the Badgers’ representatives to the press on Wednesday. It is great to see Wisconsin taking care of its players, and it will be exciting to hear what they have to say to the media about the upcoming season.

Big Ten’s Kevin Warren talks TV implications of UCLA, USC: ‘we’ll be able to provide content all the way from the morning into the night’

The Big Ten’s Kevin Warren talks about the impact on programming that UCLA, USC brings to the conference.

Kevin Warren is the commissioner of the first coast-to-coast conference in major college sports. And the Big Ten’s commissioner is excited about what he sees as opportunities for his conference, even if this new blueprint comes with some hurdles.

Last month, the Big Ten approved UCLA and USC becoming member institutions. It was a huge win for the Big Ten in the latest college football expansion craze.

Undoubtedly, the driving force behind the Big Ten’s conference expansion wasn’t just adding two storied programs, it was adding a significant media market in Los Angeles. For a league already making oodles – yes oodles – of money, adding the second-largest market in the country certainly has ramifications across the college sports landscape.

The Big Ten now has at least one program in the top three media markets in the country, something that no other Power Five conference can boast.

The move to add UCLA and USC doesn’t come without some headaches. Scheduling across four time zones will be a challenge. Early kickoffs will be a pain for the West Coast fanbase and late kickoffs might find the East Coast heading for bed.

[listicle id=17257]

Warren doesn’t see the logistical challenge. Instead, from the podium at the Big Ten’s football media days, he talked about the opportunity he sees in having college sport’s first true coast-to-coast conference.

“I always ask why and why not. I think sometimes later time zones on the West Coast, people looked at it as a negative, and I always looked at it as a positive. So for us in the Big Ten to be — we’re in four time zones, we will be in 2024: East, Central, Mountain, and West. So now we’ll be able to provide content all the way from the morning into the night and lead into some really incredible programming,” Warren said at the start of the conference’s football media days.

“So I think the value of being across four time zones for multiple reasons is really important. We haven’t finalized the financial impact, and ironically this probably will shock you, the numbers and finances associated with it are typically the last thing that I kind of consider and analyze. It’s important for me from a business standpoint, but from a decision-making process standpoint, always look at all the other reasons why because, if all the other reasons make sense, the finances will take care of themselves.

“So I’m looking forward to building a brand to be fortified and strong from Los Angeles to New Jersey and everywhere in between. So it will be an exciting time, busy time for these next two years.”

Warren also talked about his belief that the College Football Playoff should be expanded and will be expanded.

WATCH: Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren’s opening remarks at media days

The complete opening remarks from Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren to kick off the conference’s media days. #B1G

There are a lot of things that are mile markers to the start of the college football season. None of those is more noticeable and noteworthy than the various conferences’ media days. We’ve already seen some of the conferences hold their annual event, and the Big Ten got things started on Tuesday.

One of the most anticipated openings of any Big Ten media days event occurred on Tuesday when commissioner Kevin Warren made his first public remarks after the bombshell news of UCLA and USC joining the conference beginning in 2024.

As you would imagine, the interest in what he had to say was at a fever pitch, and boy did he deliver some especially interesting sound bites to make everyone believe that we haven’t seen the last of all the changes currently occurring in the sport.

In case you missed any of his comments, we’ve got them here thanks to video from ESPN.

This is just the first day of Big Ten media days. We’ll get to hear from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and some of the representative players on Wednesday, so we’ll have even more.

For now, though, embrace the change because there’s likely more coming.

[mm-video type=video id=01g8c201tsqd2rq1xmft playlist_id=01eqbz0qtnjg5x7tc8 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g8c201tsqd2rq1xmft/01g8c201tsqd2rq1xmft-98090a61c4af3208041fc5656a52a55d.jpg]

[listicle id=93046]

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.

Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

A look at Nebraska’s Big Ten Media Day

Nebraska’s day in Indianapolis is complete!

Nebraska completed its Big Ten Media Day on Tuesday morning. Scott Frost and company were the first team to talk to the media in Indianapolis this year. A photo recap of the day can be found below. You can get a recap of Cornhuskers Wire coverage here. And for a look at social media reactions click here.

The Big Ten’s stance on College Football Playoff expansion

Where does the conference stand on CFP expansion?

Big Ten Media Days kicked off on Tuesday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and College Football Playoff expansion was among a long list of topics covered with conference commissioner Kevin Warren.

Where does the conference stand on expanding the current four-team structure? Warren’s answer was as clear as day: “I’m 100 percent supportive of College Football Playoff expansion,” Warren told the media in Indianapolis.

“We need to take a holistic view. We need to make sure we protect some of the critical bowl relationships. So as we work through all these, whether it’s automatic qualifier, whatever the case may be, I’m confident as we get these new individuals in the room, get these issues on the table, that we’ll be able to reach some resolution.”

2025 is the soonest the College Football Playoff could implement any changes as the current contract runs until then.