Welcome to a new age of college football. The year is now 1 CFPE. The College Football Playoff Era began last night with the first release of the selection committee’s Top 25 rankings.
1. The Big Ten landed three teams in the initial poll, which is about as good as the league could have expected. The No. 8 Spartans lead the way. Nebraska coming in at No. 15, one spot ahead of Ohio State, was the biggest surprise for Big Ten teams. As entertaining as it was to see the first rankings unveiled, next week’s will be far more interesting. Then we’ll find out if the committee will let its previous rankings affect the new version -- one of the biggest faults of the AP and Coaches’ polls -- or if it will more liberally move teams up and down based on how they look at the moment. Either way it’s safe to assume there will be just as much consternation and complaining about snubs as in the BCFPE.
2. Speaking of snubs, somehow Penn State’s Mike Hull was somehow left off of the list of 15 semifinalists for this year’s Butkus Award for the country’s top linebacker. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, who has a vote for the final winner, said he will make Hull a write-in candidate. Fitzgerald said the semifinalist lists, which he was on as a player in the mid-90s, are just a popularity contest. Hull did get noticed by the Bednarik Award folks this week. They added him to the watch list for their top defender award.
3. No snubs this week, however, were more headshaking than the ones Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon dished out to Wolverines fans via e-mail during the past year. A report on mgoblog.com Tuesday revealed a collection of snarky and condescending e-mails that the beleaguered athletic director has sent to fans. It’s baffling that a man described as a master of public relations when he took the job at Michigan in 2010 could be so tone deaf when talking to his customers. Brandon called the blog report "nonsense" when asked about it leaving an award ceremony Tuesday night, but the messages can’t sit well with the university president currently mulling over Brandon’s future at Michigan.
East Division
Michigan State controls its own fate for the postseason.
Ohio State dismissed running back Rod Smith from the roster Tuesday to give him time to deal with personal issues.
Taking stock of Maryland’s roster after a blowout loss to Wisconsin.
Quarterback Gary Nova's status is still up in the air for homecoming against Wisconsin this weekend.
Penn State safety Ryan Keiser remained in a hospital Tuesday recovering from a fracture rib and bowel injury.
One controversy after the next has defined the Michigan football program this season.
How does Indiana coach Kevin Wilson’s progress stack up to the other coaches hired in 2011?
West Division
The tunnel walk at Nebraska is one of the top 10 stadium entrances in college football, says USA Today.
A Super Bowl-winning Minnesota football alum says kicker Ryan Santoso is headed for big things.
Iowa is approaching must-win territory as it begins the final month of the regular season.
Wisconsin’s Barry Alvarez explained how he plans to vote as a member of the playoff committee.
Northwestern joined Iowa in having to suspend a player for alcohol-related reasons during its bye week.
Purdue’s players looked “fresh” and “rejuvenated” thanks to a bye after playing eight straight games to start the season.
Illinois punter Justin DuVernois won the Big Ten’s special teams player of the week award for his role in upsetting Minnesota last Saturday.