Good morning, Big Ten fans. Looks as if we might be in store for an interesting day ...
1. Writing on the wall for Brady Hoke?: It sure seems that way. Our Dan Murphy reported that Hoke will meet with the athletic director at 2 p.m. Tuesday, which just so happens to come before a 3 p.m. meeting with the players. It’d definitely be odd if no decision was made to keep or fire Hoke by then. But, then again, stranger things have happened -- like a 5-7 season by Michigan, for instance. Stay tuned ... we could have an answer soon.
2. And the Big Ten Coach of the Year is ...: The conference will announce the winner of the McClain/Hayes-Schembechler Trophy on Tuesday night, and it’s really the only award up for debate. I picked Urban Meyer in the preseason -- really, the only good preseason pick I made -- and I think he deserves to win over Jerry Kill. The Buckeyes didn’t have 2013’s leading quarterback, running back or wideout, but their offense was still arguably the best in the conference. If Meyer doesn’t get the trophy this year, then Buckeyes fans are right: An Ohio State coach is never getting this award.
3. Wideout questions on the All-B1G team: Both the coaches and the media agreed Tony Lippett belonged on the first team -- that was a total no-brainer -- but there was no common ground to be found with the other picks here. The coaches liked Kenny Bell on the first team, with Stefon Diggs and Devin Funchess on the second team. The media preferred Leonte Carroo on the first, with Mike Dudek and DaeSean Hamilton on the second. Count me among the camp that especially thinks Carroo was snubbed by the coaches; the Rutgers wideout was second in B1G receiving yards (1,043) and second in receiving TDs (10). Surely, he deserved at least a second-team nod by the coaches. Funchess' inclusion was the biggest shocker, in my opinion, because he disappeared for long stretches during the season. Three of his four TDs came in the first game, after all. Give me Lippett, Carroo and Dudek ... and I’ll let Diggs and Hamilton fight it out for the last spot.
Now, on to the links ...
Big Ten championship
Wisconsin-Ohio State is a tale of different recruiting rankings.
Wisconsin and Ohio State are both hungry for the B1G title.
Gary Andersen: We expect to win championships.
Five things to know about Ohio State QB Cardale Jones.
Ohio State OL Taylor Decker speaks from the heart on Kosta Karageorge, whose body was found Sunday.
East Division
Band-Aids and tough luck ruled in Michigan's disastrous season, writes MLive's Nick Baumgardner.
Mark Dantonio has previously felt -- and overcome -- heat from Michigan State fans.
Maryland wideout Stefon Diggs is expected to return to practice Friday.
Defensive tackle Darius Hamilton will return to Rutgers for his senior season.
Sanctions helped to sink Penn State to 6-6, writes the Reading Eagle's Rich Scarcella.
Indiana football is headed to a crossroads next season.
West Division
Scott Frost and Greg Schiano are pegged as favorites to replace Bo Pelini at Nebraska.
Firing Pelini has fueled reflection for Iowa, which hasn't beaten an FBS program with a winning record this season.
Reviewing Minnesota's 8-4 regular season.
Patience remains big in Purdue's future football plans.
Illinois' Tim Beckman did enough to retain his job -- for now.
Northwestern's down season could just as likely be an aberration, writes the student newspaper's Alex Putterman.