Dan Murphy, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Big Ten morning links

Tomorrow is a day to remember and be thankful for all of our blessings. Today is a day to be thankful for morning links, the final edition of the regular season.

1. Maryland’s football team got into the holiday spirit this week by explaining the fine tradition of football on Thanksgiving to a room full of foreign diplomats. Four Maryland players visited Washington, D.C.’s, Blair House -- across the street from the White House – to rub elbows with ambassadors from around the world and provide a Nerf-aided tutorial of America’s favorite sport. That must be one of the perks that comes with plastering the lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner on your helmets early in the season. For their efforts, the four Terrapins who made the trip were rewarded by taking part in America’s other favorite Thanksgiving tradition -- food.

2. This week’s new College Football Playoff rankings, released Tuesday night, add more evidence that November has been kind to the Big Ten’s image. The league now has four teams in the top 20 with Minnesota moving up to No. 18 behind Wisconsin (14), Michigan State (10) and Ohio State (6). Those rankings will get the conference’s top teams another chance to prove themselves against good competition in bowl season.

The Buckeyes are in good position to test the importance of a conference championship in the new playoff system. At least two teams ahead of Ohio State in the current rankings will finish the year without playing in a conference title game (TCU and either Alabama or Mississippi State). That extra game could help Urban Meyer’s team plead its case to the selection committee.

3. First, the Buckeyes have to avoid an upset against rival Michigan this weekend. Meyer told his team earlier this week that losing their cool would not be tolerated. Last year the two teams fought, players were ejected and an overmatched Wolverines team was in the game until its final play.

Meyer’s solution – simply telling his team not to scuffle with opponents – seems like a better approach than the altercation avoidance tactics supported by the Wisconsin and Minnesota coaching staffs for their battle this week. After a stand-off last season, the teams decided to water down the winning team’s celebration with the massive axe rivalry trophy by keeping it tucked away until after the game ends. It seems that reminding players that fighting should remain between the sidelines should be enough.

East Division

  • Noah Spence’s career at Ohio State officially came to a close Tuesday night.

  • Michigan State’s Jeremy Langford is fired up to face the top-ranked run defense.

  • Randy Edsall is coming off of his best week in four years as Maryland’s head coach.

  • A look back at a year Michigan fans would prefer to forget.

  • Penn State coach James Franklin met with his captains after losing last Saturday to try to right the ship.

  • Rutgers coordinator Ralph Friedgen returns this weekend to the program he spent nine years helping to build.

  • An attempt at explaining the mysteries of Indiana star running back Tevin Coleman.

West Divison

  • Wisconsin’s jump in the rankings gives the Big Ten another program in the top 15.

  • Confidence is as good a sign as any that Minnesota is trending in the right direction.

  • Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz thinks a slightly short week of preparation is a good deal for the Hawkeyes.

  • The making of a fun new trophy during the Nebraska-Minnesota game week.

  • Tim Beckman is hoping to add some heat to the Northwestern-Illinois rivalry

  • Former starter Danny Etling is handling his move to second-string quarterback well.

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