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Fans of the Auburn Tigers that were hoping for sweeping changes at the top of Auburn's athletic department did not get the news they were hoping for on Monday. Auburn president Jay Gogue released the findings from the committee he appointed to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the Auburn athletic department. Statements from Gogue and committee member Mac Crawford showed support for Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs going forward. 

On Tuesday, Jacobs went more in-depth with the committee's findings and his intentions to turn things around. One of the things he focused on in his speech was his commitment to enhance the game-day experience at Auburn and turn it into a weekend experience. Auburn has hired JMI Sports to review the department's processes. He based this off of feedback from alumni in a recent survey (via Brandon Marcello, al.com):

"When you look at the surveys, the things that you can control are the tailgating experience and the parking, and also the food, the quality of the food in the stadium," he said. "And then certainly the things that we've done around the game day have been very positive, but there's ways that we need to improve and we certainly look forward to those."

Excuse me, Mr. Jacobs, but the only game-day experience that Auburn fans are concerned with is winning. That is the common denominator for any Auburn fan's best game-day experience. 

Winning cures all. 

There are few atmospheres in college football that can match a weekend at Auburn when the Tigers are winning. Auburn fans with their RVs show up in droves from all over the South as early as Thursday, and there is a buzz around the campus that is almost palpable as tailgating tents pop up around campus on Friday morning. 

In 2010, CNN ranked Auburn as the No. 2 tailgating spot in America. The Tigers won a few games that year, didn't they? 

Improved signage around the stadium, locker room tours and dining on the 50-yard line of Jordan-Hare Stadium on a Friday night before a game were among 30 additions that Auburn added for the 2012 game-day experience. 

Sure, that is really cool, but no Auburn fan cared about those things when they were walking out of Jordan-Hare Stadium at halftime of the Texas A&M and Georgia beat downs.

For Auburn fans, nothing can top the excitement of when the tunnel video comes on before the Tigers take the field with a chance to get a big victory. Watching Spirit or Nova fly majestically over Jordan-Hare Stadium is one of the best traditions in all of college football. The experience of walking out of Jordan-Hare Stadium on the way to Toomer's Corner with the rest of the Auburn family after a win over LSU, Georgia, Alabama or any other team never gets old. 

It is those types of experiences that make the Auburn atmosphere so great for fans. But without winning, those things either don't happen or aren't nearly as exciting. You will be hard-pressed to find an Auburn fan that has much to complain about the game-day experience during the 2010 season.

The game-day experience will take care of itself when Auburn starts to win again. That isn't happening enough on the Plains right now. 

Jacobs' three main programs (football, basketball and baseball) have combined for a 14-27 record in SEC play in the 2012-2013 academic year. He knows that winning is the ultimate measuring stick.  "Winning means everything to me. I'm not going to do it at any cost, I'm not going to compromise my integrity, but I've heard it. Sometimes I hear it when I go home" (via Joel Erickson, al.com). 

The noise around his job security this year will sound muted if Auburn sports show no improvement in 2013.

With a new lease on his stay as Auburn's athletic director, Jacobs' plan for enhancing the game-day experience at Auburn begins with making sure there is a winning product on the field. 

"His (Gogue) expectations are high – and I intend to meet them," Jacobs said. "What comes next sits squarely on my shoulders."

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The wave of attrition is a bit alarming, to an extent, but it shouldn’t be much of a surprise for those who follow Michigan Wolverines football.

During the past couple of months, a handful of players have fled Ann Arbor for greener pastures, leaving some to ask the obvious question of “Why”?

For starters, it’s not because there is “something negative going on” within the program, at least from what we can tell now. No, the reduction of personnel is a direct result of coach Brady Hoke’s recruiting.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

When analyzing who left, the situation becomes clear: They’re players who wouldn’t have much of an impact on the field, and they’re also players who are being replaced by younger, stronger, faster and, simply put, better stock.

Without ever playing a down for Michigan, freshman linebacker Kaleb Ringer departed Hoke’s program for Ferris State. The formerly 3-star-ranked prep was talented, sure. But the Wolverines are bringing in the likes of Michael Ferns, a 4-star linebacker (2014), who will most certainly contribute to giving guys like Ringer time on the bench.

Reserve linebacker Mike Jones, a senior, saw action on special teams during his time with the Wolverines. However, the seasoned collegiate veteran would have a hard time cracking the starting rotation this fall, even with stud Jake Ryan out with an ACL injury.

Youngsters like Joe Bolden and Desmond Morgan are making sure that there is a healthy competition for the starting roles—and that’s just what defensive coordinator Greg Mattison wants. There is no room for anything but that now that Michigan is shelving 4- and 5-star recruits at a breakneck pace.

Senior defensive back Marvin Robinson won’t be around for 2013, either. Although he left Lake Region High (Eagle Lake, Fla.) as a 4-star sensation and top-20 player at his position of the 2010 class, he hasn’t impressed Michigan’s coaching staff enough to gain favor over other members of the secondary, like Blake Countess, Courtney Avery, Raymon Taylor, Thomas Gordon and Jarrod Wilson.

Out With the Old, in With the New

 The departures directly coincide with incoming talent.

Ben Gedeon, a 4-star prep from Hudson High (Hudson, Ohio) is on his way to Michigan this fall. At 6’3” and 220 pounds, Gedeon has the frame of a should-be successful Big Ten linebacker.

Had Jones stayed, he would have struggled to leapfrog Gedeon on the depth chart. As a senior, that’s a difficult pill to swallow. Leaving Michigan was a perfectly understandable decision for Jones to make. The same goes for Ringer.

Competing with Taylor, Avery and Countess and the rest is a difficult task, but throw in Jourdan Lewis, Delano Hill and Ross Douglas—each of whom are 4-star defensive backs—and Robinson was staring at an upward climb.

And don’t forget about Dymonte Thomas, who could end up starting this fall. The 4-star safety out of Marlington High (Alliance, Ohio) was the No. 80-rated player of the 2013 class, according to 247Sports.com’s composite rankings.

How Attrition Impacts Wolverines Moving Forward

Athletes who fail to improve are typically passed by—that’s the nature of the business. With the way Michigan is recruiting, it wouldn’t be a stretch to expect others to jump ship in the future, either.

Michigan’s 2013 class was ranked No. 5 in the nation, according to 247Sports.com—that spree, alone, brought in 27 new faces for coach Hoke to supervise and develop. Competition won’t be light, so the chances of each of those 27 staying all four years are slim.

Look at the 2014 class, already packed with talent at wide receiver with 4-star playmaker Drake Harris joining the fold.

Sophomore Jerald Robinson left Michigan prior to the Wolverines’ Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina. As an upperclassman, Robinson would have been foolish to think that his job was safe—not only due to Harris, but also because of the arrival of 2013 talents JaRon Dukes, Da’Mario Jones and Csont’e York—each 6-foot-plus, 190-something-pounders that better fit offensive coordinator Al Borges’ needs in terms of size at position.

Robinson entered Michigan with similar credentials as the aforementioned; he was a 3-star prospect and had good size at 6’2” and 175 pounds. But programs like Michigan are always on the hunt for the next best thing, so considering Dukes, Jones and York safe and sound, at least at this juncture, wouldn’t be the wisest choice.

They’ll encounter hurdles, too. That’s how the game goes.

No Need to Panic

Racing to a knee-jerk reaction would be a mistake. Just because departures have been common since the conclusion of the 2012 regular season doesn’t mean that Michigan’s coaching staff is doing something wrong—it means it’s doing something right.

And by “doing something right,” that means Hoke’s associates are doing their jobs—and they’re doing them well.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

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In light of Steven Bench transferring away from Penn State, head coach Bill O’Brien has said that he doesn’t expect more players to leave.

But why is O’Brien so confident?

The NCAA sanctions placed on Penn State still allow players to transfer to another FBS school without sitting out the year.

This offer was obviously very enticing to some players last year, including Silas Redd and Justin Brown most notably.

So what makes this year different, and more specifically what are the best reasons why players should stay?

Here’s a list that starts with the present then leads to how staying in Happy Valley can affect a player’s future.

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Robert Anae has revamped a formerly hindered offense and turned it into a high-tempo unit. The offense should show much improvement, but it is not possible to have a successful team without good players.

BYU boasts some very talented athletes on the offensive side of the ball this year and could turn their talents into something special. They may not be Heisman candidates or potential top-5 picks, but they will have a big impact on the Cougar team, and here are a few of them.

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New head coach Gus Malzahn will quickly turn the Auburn Tigers around for the better in 2013.

For starters, it can't get much worse coming off a 3-9 campaign last fall, including zero SEC victories.

Tigers fans have good reason for optimism, though. Malzahn's recruiting class ranked No. 14 on Scout.com and tied for No. 8 on Rivals.com.

After such a frustrating season in 2012, getting a strong recruiting class is quite impressive. Plus, Auburn was the only team ranked inside the top 15 that finished below .500.

Factor in Malzahn leading the Arkansas State Red Wolves to a record of 9-3 and a Sun Belt conference title. His team also went on to take the GoDaddy.com Bowl over Kent State 17-13 after he had joined Auburn.

Retreat further back to February of 2011 and ESPN.com's Chris Low had Malzahn listed as one of the SEC's best recruiters. Unsurprisingly, that trend held true with his current class.

Malzahn also made a great coaching move by reeling in defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson shortly after he was hired. Johnson enters with plenty of previous SEC experience and believes Auburn's current defense has great potential.

As written by James Crepea of the Montgomery Advertiser, Johnson has set expectations:

Johnson was pleased with his squad after the conclusion of spring practice and believes the group he is inheriting is better than those he had in his first years at Mississippi State (2004) and South Carolina (2008).

“We made it clear to them it's going to be a new standard, and I think the reception has been good, the attitude has been good, the work habits have been good. We made a lot of progress,” Johnson said. “The biggest thing, I think, (is) there are more really good, solid SEC players on this defensive unit than were at either one of those two places I was at, especially the first year.

Now Auburn's 2013 schedule is quite brutal.

With the obvious tough matchups against LSU (away), Texas A&M (away), Georgia and Alabama, the Tigers' route to bowl season is in jeopardy. Other sound SEC contests versus Mississippi State and Ole Miss simply enhance the schedule's difficulty.

Fortunately, there is running back Tre Mason to rely on as he collected 1,002 rushing yards last fall and scored eight times. He also averaged 5.9 yards per carry, which maintaining that effectiveness will help set up the play-action pass.

Defensively, Auburn must get more production from Dee Ford up front. He recorded six sacks in 2012 but only 34 total tackles. The better Johnson's front line wins the immediate point of attack, the more Auburn wins on first and second down.

That then increases turnover opportunities for those in coverage regardless of the game situation.

In short, getting off the field on third down and minimizing turnovers offensively will have Auburn competing this fall. Combine that with a solid recruiting class and the Tigers are headed in the correct direction.

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Notre Dame's scheduling agreement with the Atlantic Coast Conference—a byproduct of the university's decision to join the conference in all sports aside from football and hockey—has miffed Michigan head coach Brady Hoke for one particular reason (h/t ESPN.com).

During a speaking engagement in Grand Rapids, Mich., Hoke voiced his displeasure with the discontinuation of the rivalry between his Wolverines and the Fighting Irish.

"We have unbelievable rivalry games at Michigan. The Notre Dame, that rivalry, which they're chickening out of ... they're still going to play Michigan State, they'll play Purdue; they don't want to play Michigan."

Hoke, entering his third season as head coach at Michigan, is referencing Notre Dame's decision to cancel contests between the two schools in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Yes, the cancellation of those games was solely Notre Dame's decision, which is a fact that needs to be laid out on the table before further discussion.

Hoke's apparent frustration with the arrangement isn't off-base; the rivalry between Notre Dame and Michigan, while not as tenured as the Irish's rivalries with Michigan State and Purdue, has rapidly increased in value and popularity, as this season's matchup will be the third consecutive broadcast in prime time.

It's a contest with deep regional ties, and one fans have circled on the calendar on an annual basis.

Unfortunately, scheduling casualties are an inevitable consequence in the ever-spinning game of conference realignment (see Kansas-Missouri and Texas A&M-Texas). 

With Notre Dame making the jump to the ACC, the Irish, while still being an independent in football, will play five games per season against ACC teams. And with only 12 regular-season slots available, Notre Dame will be limited to seven games to fulfill its ideal of having a true "national schedule."

Additionally, the Irish have already stated their desire to maintain traditional rivalries with USC, Stanford and Navy, meaning that, in a perfect world, they would have four available slots remaining.

Let's take a look at Notre Dame's 2015 schedule to gain clarity on the issue at hand.

The Irish will face five ACC opponents: Boston College and Georgia Tech at home, and Clemson, Virginia and Pittsburgh on the road. 

The so-called "non-conference" portion of the schedule includes Texas, Purdue, Massachusetts, Navy, USC and Stanford.

That leaves the Irish with just one remaining slot, which Michigan fans may argue should belong to the Wolverines. And this is where the discussion will lead to heated exchanges between fans of both schools.

As the schedule is currently mapped out, the one available slot would be used for the Irish's annual Shamrock Series game, which takes place at a neutral site in an attractive TV market against a non-regional opponent.

Michigan doesn't fit that bill, leading to the consensus belief that a brand-name team outside the Midwest would finalize the 2015 schedule.

The undeniable fact is that mutuality is non-existent between the schools; Notre Dame does not need Michigan, whereas Michigan needs Notre Dame.

The Big Ten Conference as a whole is in a period of decline; the conference's last national championship arrived in 2002, and concerns existed as to whether Ohio State's schedule would have been strong enough to qualify the Buckeyes for last season's title game had they been eligible.

Because of the conference's lack of quality teams, members such as Michigan and Ohio State—both marquee programs—are in desperate need of non-conference dates with powerhouse programs, making Notre Dame's cancellation of its series with the Wolverines a direct blow to the Michigan program.

The scenario also sheds light on Hoke's derisive comments. The sentiment surrounding the banter is comparable to a breakup in which one person leaves the other knowing his or her options are abounding.

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Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez is coming off the best season of his career, while Michigan's Devin Gardner is still somewhat of a question mark at the position.

With both leading teams that hope to compete for a Big Ten title this year, the performance of each signal-caller will play a big part in how things turn out.

This being the case, Wolverines fans would be excited to know that their leader will step up in a big way. Although Martinez is the senior and has the household name, Gardner has the upside and will have the stronger performance this season.

Martinez has been under center for three years now and you get the feeling that what you have seen is what you will continue to get. He is an athlete first and can truly be considered a quarterback second.

His completion percentage has always been below average and he has struggled throughout his career with accuracy issues.

Last season was his best, as he completed 62 percent of his passes and threw for 2,871 yards and 23 touchdowns. This was good enough to wake up the neighbors, but then Martinez reminded you that he was the same quarterback when he threw four interceptions in the final two games.

The Nebraska signal-caller is a runner first and passer second, which would explain the 2,858 career rushing yards.

Even though Gardner only played quarterback in the final five games last year, he still displayed tremendous ability. Showing off terrific arm strength, being able to put the ball right on the money and knowing when to run, Gardner was a key reason why Michigan won three of its final five games. He also nearly led his team to victories over Ohio State and South Carolina.

In a small sample size of playing time, Gardner passed for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns, while rushing for 101 yards and seven scores.

His completion percentage of 59.5 percent could certainly improve, but remember that this was somebody who spent much of his career as a running back and wide receiver. Imagine how he will perform with a full offseason and training with quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr. under his belt.

While both quarterbacks have shown their athleticism and ability to make plays with their feet, it is what is done throwing the ball that will put one of these guys over the top.

Gardner was able to pick up 39 percent of the passing first downs Martinez produced in a full season. As for big plays throwing the ball, the Michigan quarterback had nearly 45 percent of Martinez's passing plays of more than 25 yards.

Remember, this was just in five games compared to a full season.

As for the returning offenses, Michigan has one of the deepest backfields in the Big Ten with Fitzgerald Toussaint, Drake Johnson and Derrick Green. The Wolverines also have two of the best offensive tackles protecting Gardner in Mike Schofield and Taylor Lewan.

Nebraska, on the other hand, returns a line that allowed 35 sacks last year and has a backfield that lost Rex Burkhead and Braylon Heard.

Gardner has the players around him and the upside to become even better than he was last year in limited playing time. Unfortunately, we have seen the best from Martinez, which will likely not be good enough.

All stats come from cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted. Graphs were made using onlinecharttool.com.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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When a recruit is offered a scholarship to play college sports, coaches usually have to worry about other schools, family, girlfriends, playing time and location being potential pitfalls to signing a kid that could help the program.

Add a career in music to that list. 

2013 Michigan State recruit Jay Harris, ranked by 247Sports as a 3-star wide receiver, has decided to forgo a college football career and instead focus on a music one in the hip hop industry. 

Truly one of the oddest decisions we've ever seen with respect to the high school-to-college jump. But, if you listen to the young man explain his decision to Matt Breen of Philly.com, it's something that has really been weighing on his heart for quite some time:

I’ve been thinking about doing this for a couple of years now...I try to take advantage of every opportunity I get and for him to like my music and reach it to me, I really appreciated that. I’ve always had this in the back of my head, but never had the courage to tell my parents that this is what I want to do.

According to the article, Harris' mixtape is set to drop in June and he'll be working with a professional recording artist this summer, instead of heading to East Lansing in preparation for Mark D'Antonio's upcoming football season. 

Harris originally committed to the Spartans on National Signing Day (Feb. 6), but called his original commitment to the program "halfhearted", per Breen's piece. 

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We all know Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes as the most legendary coach in the history of the Ohio State football program. Hayes was a winner on the Ohio Stadium field (205-61-10) and off the field. 

But when Hayes' name is mentioned, it's rarely about his service as a World War II Navy lieutenant commander. It's not about staking his claim to five national titles and 13 Big Ten titles. Or about inspiring so many young men to excel not just on the football field, but in life.

Rather, Hayes is best known for a bad decision he made at the 1978 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. On December 29, 1978, the most legendary coaching career for one of the nation's most legendary programs came to an end with one right hook.

An Eerie Feeling

"I'm not trying to win a popularity poll. I'm trying to win football games. I don't like nice people. I like tough, honest people." - Woody Hayes

Jack Park, commentator for 97.1 The Fan, stated, "Had Ohio State won (the 1976 Rose Bowl against UCLA), some people have voiced their opinion that Hayes was ready to retire. But since he didn’t win, he wanted to come back and win one more (national title)." 

The Bruins defeated the Buckeyes in Archie Griffin's final game. The loss denied Hayes and the Buckeyes a national championship and started a downward spiral for Hayes.

The Buckeyes went 9-2-1 and 9-3 in the next two seasons and won the Big Ten title in each season. However, Hayes dropped back-to-back games to his former assistant Bo Schembechler and "that team up north" and never again competed for a national title under Hayes.

Prior to the 1978 season, Hayes' assistants and those close to the program felt something was coming, but they didn't know what it was.

"Those closer to the program at that time, one of them was a longtime sportscaster by the name of Jimmy Crum, told me that the assistant coaches had told him that they felt (leading up to the 1978 season) something was going to happen," Park said.

"Hayes was just different," he said. "He had trouble with some things and just blew his top a lot more. They were not completely surprised when something bad happened."

Park strongly believes Hayes' health had a lot to do with what happened in Hayes' fateful, final game.

"He was a diabetic, I don't think most people know," Park explained. "I think (age, stress and lack of success on the field) plus health contributed to what happened (at the Gator Bowl)."

The 1978 Gator Bowl

"Football is, after all, a wonderful way to get rid of your aggressions without going to jail for it." - Woody Hayes 

The score was 17-15. Clemson was leading Ohio State. With under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Hayes had to abandon his beloved running game and rely on freshman quarterback Art Schlichter. 

Schlichter dropped back and tried to get the ball to a receiver crossing over the middle. But Charlie Bauman cut in front of the pass and intercepted it. Bauman was tackled in front of the Ohio State sideline, and in the ruckus that ensued, Hayes threw a punch into Bauman's throat.

Those watching from the stands and those watching on TV were not privy to what actually happened in the scrum on the Ohio State sideline.

Harry Blaine was at the game and recounted what he saw after Schlichter's pass was intercepted.

"(I was) on the opposite side of the field from Ohio State's bench, so all I could see was that something was going on," Blaine recalled. "We saw the Clemson player run up to Woody, then a real ruckus with players and coaches milling around. Then calm was restored and the game went on."

Park had a similar experience watching on TV. 

"On television, it was hard to understand what had really happened," Park recounted. "The announcers Keith Jackson and Ara Parseghian didn’t know what had happened. They knew that there was a disturbance and shoving, but they didn’t know that Woody Hayes had hit a player."

After the interception, Clemson was able to run out the clock and win the game. But shortly after, the talk changed from Clemson beating Ohio State to what Hayes had done on the sideline.

The Fallout 

"I don't apologize for anything. When I make a mistake, I take the blame and go on from there. I just despise to lose, and that has taken a man of mediocre ability and made a pretty good coach out of him." - Woody Hayes

"Pretty soon after the game, news came through (that Hayes had punched Bauman)," Park said. "I think all around the country, the leadoff story that night was that Woody Hayes had hit a player."

Ohio State's athletic director Hugh Hindman held an impromptu press conference the morning after the game. While the team was on the plane at the Jacksonville airport, Hindman announced Hayes would no longer be the coach.

Park said the team was not aware their coach had been fired until they arrived back in Columbus.

"It was time for Hayes to go, but the way the Ohio State University handled (the firing) was extremely poor," Park asserted. "I think the right thing to do was to wait a little bit (to let tempers cool). Then ask Hayes if he would consider retiring, and if he wouldn't, maybe then you force him to retire."

Blaine, an alumnus of Ohio State and a faculty member of the athletic council during the late '70s, was told that is what happened. But Hindman didn't allow any time for emotions to settle.

"(Hindman) later told me that he had asked Hayes to retire," Blaine explained. "Woody replied 'I'm not doing your damned job for you. If you don't want me here, fire me."

Blaine maintains that had the decision been under the purview of the athletic council, which is a policy board not involved in the day-to-day running of the athletic department, he would've opposed Hayes firing.

"I do believe that Woody would not have been fired if he still had been a supremely successful coach," Blaine declared.

The Lasting Legacy of the Legend

"Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it." - Woody Hayes 

Despite the firing of Hayes, which Park said took him nearly a week to comprehend, Hayes never lost popularity.

"He was almost held in higher esteem after he wasn’t coaching because he did so much for the university afterwards," Park said. "What Hayes did didn't damage the program; it gave it a little bit of a black eye. But the biggest damage was probably the embarrassment Hayes brought to himself and Mrs. Hayes."

For Buckeye fans that grew up during the Hayes era, the punch will remain as one blemish to an otherwise outstanding man and coach. 

"Monetary wealth and possessions really didn’t mean a lot to him," Park explained. "But, yet if you could measure in some way what he did for other people throughout his lifetime, he was probably one of the richest people in this world." 

Ironically, 32 years after Hayes was fired, another Buckeye coaching legend resigned as a result of a scandal. Jim Tressel, who ended Ohio State's national title drought in 2003, coached with a similar style and also had a good standing in the Buckeye community.

But it wasn't just the winning of those two coaches that made them so influential in Ohio State's future. Interestingly enough, the firing of Hayes and the resignation of Tressel both played a role in bringing Urban Meyer to Ohio State.

When Hayes was fired, Ohio State hired Earle Bruce. In 1986, Bruce hired Meyer as a graduate assistant, a two-year stint that may have played a role in increasing Meyer's love for the Buckeyes program, a program that Meyer joined as head coach just 11 months after he retired and seven months after Tressel resigned. 

"To me, Urban Meyer coming to Ohio State like he did is a tremendous coincidence," Park said happily. "I don’t think (Ohio State) could have found a better coach if it had taken 100 years." 

In Ohio State lore, Hayes was more than just his 205 wins and his championships. He was a legendary man that took a sleeping giant and made it into one of the greatest programs in the country. Not only were his successes great, but his greatest failure also didn't sink him or his beloved program.

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Which teams will make it to the BCS title game this January? 

Please, people. One of them will be Alabama. Picking a Nick Saban team to contend for a BCS championship is like testing pasta to see if it's done. Throw a noodle at a wall—if it is ready, it sticks.

Throw the Crimson Tide into the Rose Bowl this January. They will be al dente.

But before we crown the Tide champions again, there is one team that no one should be overlooking.

Ohio State.

I know, your jaw dropped. You're having laughing fits. Cue the S-E-C chants. 

Ohio State has faced SEC teams twice in BCS title games and those forays didn't end well—the Buckeyes went 0-2 against Florida and LSU.

But that was when the Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel. 

After serving out their one-year NCAA-sanctioned postseason ban, the Buckeyes are now eligible to play in the Big Ten Championship and beyond. And they'll be doing that under head coach Urban Meyer.

Meyer took a Buckeye team that had nothing to play for last season and still marched them to an undefeated record. Yet Ohio State didn't get a lot of respect.

Despite some big surprises, 2012 wasn't a particularly strong season for the Big Ten. The Leaders Division's two best teams, Ohio State and Penn State, were both ineligible for postseason play. But going 12-0 in any conference is a strong statement, especially for a team learning a new offense under a new head coach. 

That Meyer took a team that had no bowling opportunities and inspired it to play like a champion is testament to his influence on student athletes. This year he'll have to perform a minor miracle with the defense, as only four starters return. The biggest concern is the defensive line due to the departure of all four starters.  

But didn't Saban win the 2012 BCS Championship with only four returning starters? It's never a good idea to compare coaches, but if there is one coach who comes close to Saban's winning mentality, it's Meyer. Like Saban, Meyer has also recruited well. Alabama had the No. 1 class of 2013 followed closely by No. 2 Ohio State. 

Urban Meyer could be the head coach who stops the SEC's title streak. This season the SEC won't have home-field advantage. Alabama's last two BCS title game appearances were played in the SEC-friendly confines of New Orleans, La. and Miami Gardens, Fla. The 2013 BCS Championship will be held in Pasadena, Calif. on January 6.

Still, Alabama has left its imprint at the Rose Bowl, beating Texas 37-21 in the 2010 BCS Championship. Ohio State has also fared well there—the Buckeyes beat the Oregon Ducks 26-17 in the 2010 Rose Bowl game, but that also was the old Ohio State.

No more plodding offense. No more holding the punting game in highest esteem.

And, wait for it...no fear of the SEC. More from Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel: 

Ryan Shazier grew up in Plantation, Fla., and committed to play at Florida before its coach left. The star linebacker wound up playing for Urban Meyer a bit farther north, but he's reminded constantly of the region he left.

"I hear about it all the time from my cousin -- SEC this, SEC that," said Shazier. "There's one reason I came to Ohio State -- to beat up on the SEC."

Bradley Roby hails from Suwanee, Ga. The All-America cornerback would love to face Alabama so he could talk trash with close friend and Tide linebacker Adrian Hubbard -- and also because it would likely mean Roby's Buckeyes are playing on the final night of the college football season.

"The SEC has won, what, seven [BCS titles] in a row?" said Roby. "What better than for Ohio State to be the team that ends it? That's what we're looking to do this year."

Meyer knows how to beat a Saban-coached team. And nothing would give Meyer greater pleasure than to not only stop Alabama's roll—pun intended—but do it while coaching a Big Ten team. 

It would be one for the ages. The ridicule aimed at the Big Ten would cease.  

And Urban Meyer, if his Buckeyes play for the title and beat an SEC team, will have completed a trifecta. 

End the SEC's seven-year streak. End the S-E-C chants. And begin, perhaps, a new conference domination. No one would like to bet against Nick Saban.

But how many are willing bet against Urban Meyer? 

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After an undefeated season in 2012, head coach Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes are among the top contenders in the nation to play for the national championship.

In order to get to that point, however, Ohio State will almost certainly have to win the competitive Big Ten Conference.

The Buckeyes would have won the conference title last year, but sanctions prevented them from playing any postseason games. It's also possible that Ohio State would have faced Notre Dame rather than Alabama in the national championship game, but all of that is water under the bridge at this point.

All that matters to Ohio State now is the 2013 season.

Here are three star players who must step up during the upcoming season in order for the Buckeyes to realize that potential, win the Big Ten and possibly compete for a national championship.

Braxton Miller

Success in football usually starts and ends with the quarterback, and it will be no different for Ohio State this season. Miller made major strides in his second season as a starter last year, but he will have to continue to improve in order to take Ohio State to the next level.

Miller has proven that he is a dual-threat quarterback who can beat opposing defenses in many ways. However, his passing must get better.

He led the Buckeyes in rushing last year with 1,524 yards and 13 touchdowns, so he doesn't have much to work on in that regard. He also posted 15 passing touchdowns as opposed to just six interceptions, but accuracy was an issue.

Miller completed just over 58 percent of his passes and there is no question that Meyer would like to see that number much closer to 65 percent in 2013.

In addition to improving his accuracy, Miller must be a bit more aware in the pocket. Despite his mobility, Miller was sacked 28 times last season. That was actually a big improvement after being dropped 39 times in 2011, but he was still hit far too often.

As a running quarterback, Miller is bound to get hit, so he needs to ensure that less contact occurs within the pocket.

If Miller can do all of those things, he'll be good enough to lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title this year.

Ryan Shazier

If Miller is the unquestioned leader of the offense, then linebacker Ryan Shazier is the same on the defensive side of the ball.

Shazier was extremely impressive with inconsistent playing time as a freshman in 2011, but he became one of the premier linebackers in the nation last year. He led the Buckeyes in a number of key statistical categories including tackles (115), tackles for loss (17) and forced fumbles (three).

In addition, Shazier was second on the team behind John Simon with five sacks. Shazier is a jack of all trades on defense, as he is capable of playing the run, defending the pass, rushing the quarterback and doing pretty much anything Meyer asks of him.

The Big Ten is a rough-and-tumble league and defense is often the deciding factor in games. With that in mind, Shazier will be a huge factor for Ohio State this year.

While it wouldn't be fair to compare him to a college football legend like Notre Dame's Manti Te'o, it was proven last season that defense can lead a team to the promised land. That isn't to say that Shazier will be a Heisman Trophy candidate like Te'o was, but he is capable of taking games over.

Shazier is actually far more athletic and explosive than Te'o, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him become the best linebacker in college football this season.

Devin Smith

The Buckeyes are currently a team without a go-to receiver, but look for speedster Devin Smith to possibly fill that role in 2013.

After catching just 14 passes as a freshman in 2011, he upped that total to 30 in 2012 while maintaining his insane yards-per-catch number. Despite reeling in just 30 passes last year, he totaled 618 yards for a 20.6-yard average. He also caught six touchdowns, including a huge one against the rival Michigan State Spartans.

Smith isn't the type of receiver who is going to run across the middle and move the chains, but he is a true home-run threat. In order to keep defenses honest this season, Miller must take some shots down the field and Smith will be his target on most occasions.

Miller actually throws an underrated deep ball and is capable of finding open men for big plays, so Smith should have a huge year if he is able to find space.

Like many players on the Ohio State roster, Smith was significantly better in his first season under the tutelage of Meyer. Now that Meyer has a year under his belt in terms of instituting the offense, bringing in his own recruits and instilling his culture on the team, the improvement should be even greater in 2013.

Smith is one of a handful of guys with a chance to become a star this season and his performance may go hand in hand with Miller's.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

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All of the way-too-early previews of the Big Ten have Kirk Ferentz and his Iowa Hawkeyes at or near the bottom of the conference.

Collegefootballnews.com has the Hawks at 4-8 with a winless Big Ten season. Athlonsports.com has Iowa sixth in their division. ESPN has the Hawkeyes 11th in the conference.

The vast majority put Iowa in the bottom three, along with Purdue and Illinois.

There are no previews that have Iowa outside of the bottom five, which includes Purdue and Illinois, along with resurgent Indiana and Minnesota.

Tom Dienhart of the Big Ten Network recently wrote a preview of the historically inept Indiana Hoosiers, in which he wrote, "missing a slumping Hawkeyes team that IU beat last season hurts." Yes, missing Iowa now weakens a perennial cellar-dweller's schedule.

Some argue that this year, along with last year, are transitional years, both in terms of concerned schemes—in 2012, the Hawkeyes broke in new coordinators on both sides of the ball—and talent.

The first contention is accurate, though the roughest part of the transition should be well behind Iowa in 2013. At the very least, Ferentz won't have any excuses if it isn't.

However, the other part of that transition—lack of talent—while true in 2012, doesn't apply to 2013.

Firstly, it's impossible to measure talent in the college ranks. 

All the recruiting stars in the world don't guarantee success at the next level. Meanwhile, success at the college level doesn't guarantee success at the professional level.

Nonetheless, Ferentz's greatest accomplishment as the Hawkeyes head coach has not been what he has done on the field, but the athletes—often lightly recruited—he has sent to the NFL. Those athletes are a direct reflection of how much talent has passed through Iowa City over the past 14 years.

According to Dienhart, between 2003-2012, Iowa had the second-most players drafted in the Big Ten. That means the NFL coveted Iowa players more than players from every program in the conference outside of Ohio State. More than Michigan, Penn State and Nebraska.

The Hawkeyes also tied for the third-most first rounders, and they developed the most offensive linemen.

The 2012 class sent only Micah Hyde into the NFL Draft, a considerable letdown from three years of six draftees each.

But the 2013 class should bounce back, which, once again, is a testament to the amount of talent in the program.

One can never assume how the seniors will perform. After all, Hawkeyes receiver Keenan Davis was a strong bet to get drafted before 2012's offensive breakdown.

Still, consider the early returns of this year's seniors and potential draftees.

CBSSports.com ranks C.J. Fiedorowicz the No. 2 tight end in the country. Walterfootball.com has him No.5 and going in the second-third round.

CBS Sports.com has linebacker Anthony Hitchens as the No. 12 outside linebacker (probably a generous ranking), while fellow linebacker James Morris is the No. 14 inside linebacker.

Walterfootball.com (which is the more accurate of the two sites) ranks Morris as the No. 8 outside linebacker—outside linebacker is his more natural position, though he played middle linebacker for the majority of his collegiate career—and has him going in the second-third round.

Neither site ranks fellow seniors Brett Van Sloten (offensive tackle) or B.J. Lowery (cornerback), but history is on both Van Sloten's and Lowery's side.

Every starting Iowa cornerback going back to 2008 has been drafted, and according to Kirk Ferentz (via Marc Morehouse of the Cedar Rapids Gazette), "the offense threw away from B.J. Lowery this spring."

As for Van Sloten, every Kirk Ferentz-coached, multi-year-starting Iowa tackle has been drafted. The one exception was Markus Zusevics, who started 2010-11, but he would likely have been drafted if not for a torn pectoral muscle suffered during the combine.

After 2013, Van Sloten will have been a two-year starter.

On top of that, junior left tackle Brandon Scherff could push himself into the draft if he has a good year.

CBSSports.com also has Tanner Miller as the No. 13 free safety, but most Iowa fans would agree that Miller will not get drafted unless he takes major steps forward this season.

That makes six Hawkeyes who will have a reasonable shot of getting chosen in the 2014 NFL Draft, with two locks to get drafted.

This is not a team that has a severe talent deficiency, especially when compared with the potential draftees in other mid-tier (i.e. not Ohio State and Michigan or arguably Nebraska and Penn State) Big Ten programs.

According to Walterfootball.com, Wisconsin has five potential draftees, while Michigan State has three. No other program has more than two.

CBSSports.com—the more liberal of the two sites—has six Badgers and four Spartans, as well as three each from Nebraska and Penn State.

Obviously, the websites could be missing prospects, as I believe they are with Van Sloten and Lowery.

However, unlike with Van Sloten and Lowery, history supports minimal-no draftees coming from the likes of Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois and Minnesota, as the second-linked Dienhart article suggests.

It also supports the probability that more or just as many Hawkeyes will go in the draft as will Spartans, Cornhuskers and Nittany Lions, though there will be definitively more Badgers drafted.

With all this in mind: Yes, football is a team sport, and six quality players do not a team make.

Nevertheless, the idea that Iowa is talent-poor at this point—at least when compared to other mid-tier or even lower-tier Big Ten programs—is inaccurate.

Most are predicting a weak year for the Hawkeyes, because a certain reality has set in after the last three disappointing seasons.

That reality is that Kirk Ferentz's reputation—of doing more with less—doesn't reflect his program. Rather, he has worked with a surplus of talent. By NFL Draft standards, he has presided over the second-most talented program in the conference between 2003-2012.

The issue is he has proven himself to be a great developer of talent, but he does not put that talent in a position to succeed when it comes time to play football.

After years of entering the year with inflated expectations—2005, 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2012 all serve as examples—the prognosticators have caught up with reality.

Kirk Ferentz has been a top-notch developer of talent, but has not been a great coach.

The predictions that place Iowa at the bottom of the conference reflect that.

There is enough talent in Iowa City to win football games, but nobody will give the Hawkeyes credit for that talent until Ferentz shows that he can put that talent in a position to win,

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Matthew Thomas will not have his wish granted from Florida State. If he hopes to play football elsewhere, he will have to take the route of the NCAA.

A week ago, Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald reported that the former 5-star recruit made a mistake and only signed his letter of intent with Florida State because of pressure. Thomas wanted to play for Georgia or USC, but he instead picked the Seminoles because he wanted to make his mother happy.

Now, Florida State athletic director Randy Spetman told Tallahassee.com that the school has no plans on releasing him.

 “You’d get into a situation where if you release him, then people would be doing that every year,” Spetman said.

If Thomas was allowed a pass because he gave into pressure, every other player in the country could come up with the same excuse. The school would then be backed into a corner because if Thomas was let go, the next said player would likely receive the same treatment. What is good for one is good for the other, and that is a road Florida State prefers not to travel down.

Spetman later goes on to say that if there was a valid reason for why he wants out, the school would consider making it happen.

"We would be more than happy to release someone if there is a compelling reason," Spetman said.

The only reason Thomas has is that he wanted to make his mother happy, and then he quickly realized that the decision should have been made for himself. A really sad situation, peer pressure is something these recruits constantly deal with. Friends tell you one thing, family tell you another—it's surprising this kind of stuff doesn't happen more often.

So what can Thomas do to remove himself from this situation?

"The feeling is we wouldn't release him," Spetman said. "He can appeal to the NCAA, and they can decide if there's a compelling reason."

Good luck with that. According to the report, head coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff are still hopeful they can convince the star linebacker to change his tune. Hopefully, the outcome to this story is a happy one.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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After winning three BCS titles in the past four years, you wouldn't be crazy to expect Alabama to have a tough schedule heading into the 2013 season. After all, it only makes sense to think that the top team in the nation should be tested by other top teams.

Unfortunately, you'd be wrong. 

Nick Saban's juggernaut of a program has what appears to be the easiest schedule of any top SEC team. 

In fact, there are only two legitimate tests on the schedule for Alabama in 2013: the highly anticipated matchup against Texas A&M on Sept. 14 and the team's annual matchup against LSU.

Even if Alabama were to lose one of those games, there would be a strong likelihood this team finishes the season with a record of 12-1. This is a program that is loaded with the top players in the nation at every position, as illustrated by The SEC Logo recently:

Given the ungodly amount of talent Saban has amassed over the past handful of years, Alabama will be able to sleepwalk through most of its 2013 schedule.

Here's a quick look at the team's opponents this upcoming season:

• Virginia Tech
• @ Texas A&M
• Colorado State
• Ole Miss
• Georgia State
• @ Kentucky
• Arkansas
• Tennessee
• LSU
• @ Mississippi State
• Chattanooga
• @ Auburn
• SEC Championship

How Alabama managed to secure a schedule that only includes four road games out of 12 is something that's hard to understand. Furthermore, only one of those games is against an opponent that will truly challenge this team.

It's hard to imagine the Crimson Tide losing more than one game; it's far more likely that 'Bama will go undefeated.

Looking at the schedules of schools like Georgia, South Carolina and other top SEC teams, it's clear that Alabama's getting off way too easy this season. 

LSU—Alabama's top rival in the SEC West—has four contests against top teams. The Tigers will face Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Texas A&M. 

Clearly, college football doesn't strive for parity like the NFL. When a team finishes in first place in the NFL, it faces a first-place-caliber schedule the next year. 

In Alabama's case, however, the reward for winning multiple championships seems to be a schedule that leads directly to another potential championship. 

Something must be done to remedy this situation, because it's not fair to the rest of the top teams in the nation.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78 

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Two Michigan football players chose to end their careers at the university when Marvin Robinson and Mike Jones announced they would not be returning in 2013.

Robinson would have been a senior this fall, while Jones would have been a fifth-year player. In fact, some were even surprised that Jones was invited back for a fifth season in the first place.

Sure, he is on scholarship, but he has contributed very little over the last few years, and an invitation for a fifth year is usually something that has to be earned. Regardless, he wound up getting one—perhaps it was because of his play on special teams.

Robinson, on the other hand, wasn't expected to start this fall, but he was expected to at least contribute at safety. Michigan is still very thin at the position, so Robinson would have likely provided nice depth and veteran leadership.

In fact, he likely would have been the first safety in off the bench behind projected starters Thomas Gordon and Jarrod Wilson. That leaves a big hole in that spot now, as whoever fills it will have basically no game experience.

Redshirt freshman Jeremy Clark looks like the most likely to fill the void that Robinson left, but he has never played a snap in college.

Robinson's departure is even more of a shame when considering the hype that surrounded him out of high school. One of the very few solid prospects that Michigan brought in its 2010 class, Robinson was considered a huge get for Rich Rodriguez at the time.

The native of Eagle Lake, Florida was expected to basically be a star on Rodriguez's maligned defenses and a savior to the secondary. Unfortunately, it never played out that way.

Things did look bright for him under Hoke at the beginning of the 2011 season, as he was seeing lots of action, but injuries and off-the-field issues derailed that promising start.

He missed the rest of the season, didn't even travel with the team and never recovered from there. Still, there was always hope for him, evidenced by the fact of his expected contributions here in 2013.

Robinson's legacy at Michigan will likely be surrounded with a lot of "what if's?" The kid was filled with potential, but he just couldn't really put it all together, leaving behind a disappointing legacy.

Jones' story is a much shorter one, as he seldom contributed defensively here at Michigan. He was a regular on the special teams unit, though, often making his presence known with a big hit or two over the years.

Still, he was buried on the depth chart at linebacker and wasn't expected to even sniff the field this year. As mentioned above, some were surprised he was even invited back for a fifth season.

A positive to Jones' story, though, is that he has already graduated and should be eligible to play wherever he chooses to go next season.

This is probably the main reason why these two young men left the program: playing time. Honestly, you can't blame either one of them for it either.

Some naysayers are speculating that the school should be worried about the high number of players leaving the team in recent weeks, as if Hoke is doing something wrong, but that is downright absurd.

All of these departing kids have had nothing but good things to say about the school after they left, so there is obviously nothing strange going on. It's just folks out there trying to stir up some controversy.

It's too bad these two young men chose not to finish their senior seasons here at Michigan, but this was their decision and the fans should fully support them. We wish both Robinson and Jones nothing but the best at whichever school they wind up!

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The college football season is fast approaching with hopes running high for every program. Everyone is undefeated right now, and these 10 players will be looked upon to keep their teams that way all season.

There is a lot riding on the performance of these stars. AJ McCarron is looking for a third straight national title, and Jadeveon Clowney is out to prove that a defender can run away with the Heisman.

This is a look at the players that will carry the weight of the world for their programs this year. 

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Tony Brown is not only one of the best cornerbacks in the country. He's also one of the best overall players.

Brown has been ranked high on several lists at B/R and other publications. He's a terrific talent who sits high on top of many boards and it is time he gets a little more in-depth coverage.

This piece will formally introduce Brown to the audience and present a scouting report on him. Not to be stopped there, Brown also will be seen in action with video highlights so his talent can be displayed for those unable to see him play in person.

Finally, predictions will be made on Brown's career and where he will end up. This is not something to miss!

Player evaluations are based on my review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports and ESPNU.

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As the month of May continues to fly by, we are inching closer to the college football regular season. We are nearing the homestretch of the offseason and the good stuff will be here before you know it.

But before we reach the games that matter, the bone-crunching hits and spectacular one-handed catches, there are still a few important dates out there. Events that lead up to the season, these are the final steps that will get you prepared for another marvelous year of college football.

Here are the most important college football dates remaining.

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Defense wins championships, the saying goes.

Last season, the Texas Longhorns suffered quite a bit on the defensive side of the football, as did most of the Big 12. But that isn't to say the 'Horns are without their cornerstones.

With positive reviews coming from the offensive camps, the spotlight will mostly flood the defensive stages. After fielding the statistically-worst defense in the history of Longhorns football, how can Manny Diaz shake things up and instill some development? And without Kenny Vaccaro and Alex Okafor?

There are few surprises in the top five, but there are a number of under-the-radar types who could begin making names for themselves.

The offensive players were ranked recently, but now we will take a gander at Texas' top defensive stoppers.

Stats from mackbrown-texasfootball.com

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Penn State could be on the verge of extending their football rivalry with Pittsburgh beyond the four years already agreed to between the schools.

Brett McMurphy of ESPN reports (via Twitter) Pittsburgh Athletics Director Steve Pederson is "very optimistic" a series with Penn State could be renewed.

The two long time, in-state rivals have not played each other since 2000 but agreed to renew the series with two games starting in 2016 in Pittsburgh and returning to State College in 2017. That agreement was later extended to a four-year agreement, alternating once again between home sites for 2018 and 2019.

Penn State will begin using a nine-game conference schedule in Big Ten play starting in 2016. The Nittany Lions will then have three non-conference games to fill on an annual basis. Between 2016 and 2019, the Panthers, who begin play as an ACC member this fall, will fill one of those spots.

The Big Ten will grow to 14 conference members in 2014 with the additions of Maryland and Rutgers. The ACC will grow to 14 members this year with the additions of Pittsburgh and Syracuse and will maintain that 14-school membership with the addition of Louisville in 2014 to fill the loss of Maryland.

Although both conferences will be equal in total membership, the ACC will continue to move forward with an eight-game conference schedule. A handful of ACC members have traditional rivalry games with in-state opponents from the SEC played in the final week of the regular season. Florida State typically plays Florida and Clemson typically plays South Carolina.

Could this be an idea that is used in the revival of the Penn State and Pittsburgh series?

Let us not get too far ahead of ourselves, but it would be an interesting idea to explore that would likely require some cooperation from both schools and the Big Ten.

It remains much more likely that Penn State could be paired up with Rutgers and/or Maryland for the final game of the season, but one idea might be to have the Scarlet Knights and Terrapins play each other in the final game of the season. That could lead to a revival of the Land Grant Trophy game with Michigan State in the final week of the season for Penn State.

Or the conference could open the book on an idea not common in Big Ten play and have a conference member set up a rivalry game in the final week of the year against a non-conference opponent.

The sad reality is this may be nothing more than wild speculation and hypothetical thinking. But it makes sense. Penn State and Pittsburgh used to play each other in the final game of the regular season every season. If the schools are going to play again on an annual basis, then let us put it right back where it belongs: at the end of the regular season.

Penn State leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1893, with a 50-42-4 edge. Two of those Penn State wins have been vacated.

This story was originally published by the author on Examiner.com.

Kevin McGuire is the host of the No 2-Minute Warning podcast and an analyst for Bleacher Report. Follow McGuire on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook.

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