B1G awards, BTFCG QBs, ACC/BT Challenge

Brady Hoke is the Big Ten Coach of the Year, as voted by media and coaches. Montee Ball is Graham-George Offensive Player of the year, Penn State's Devon Still is Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and Ohio State's Braxton Miller is Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year.

    The only thing that surprises me there is Ball, just a bit. I thought Russell Wilson would get it, as referenced here in this look at Wilson's chance at redemption in Indy. It is BTFCG QB day, so here are some post-practice thoughts from Kirk Cousins.

    On the Wisconsin side, starting center Peter Konz hopes to play Saturday. Andy Baggot looks at the mutual respect between Cousins and Wilson.

    Also hot today is talk that the Big Ten, or someone, is looking to pay seat fillers for the game. Here's what we know about tickets for this game: Michigan State sold out its allotment of 15,450 tickets in one business day; many tickets are available right now at online broker sites, going for very cheap prices. Here's some speculation: Nebraska fans bought up a whole bunch of these things when tickets went on sale in July (they sold out quickly), and now a whole bunch of Nebraska fans are trying to dump. Here's an opinion: The $175 price for good seats to this game is ridiculously high. The Big Ten expects people to pay that and then buy plane tickets to the bowl site a few hours after the game ends? That needs to change next year.

    And now, basketball as an afterthought. But it is a big game tonight for MSU against a big, strong, mature, defensive-oriented Florida State team. And here's the tipoff.

    The Big Ten is 4-2 after the first night. Very impressed with Ohio State. Not a good night for Michigan. But I do believe Maui fatigue may have been a factor for the Blue Devils and Wolverines. Northwestern looks strong right now, even without the Juice. Intrigued by Illinois. Disappointed in Iowa. Purdue did as expected.

    Can the Big Ten make it three in a row tonight? For that to happen, I believe MSU has to win. And I believe MSU will. I'm going to assume Wisconsin loses at North Carolina and Penn State loses at Boston College (not that BC is good). That would make it 5-4 Big Ten. Can Indiana go win at N.C. State? I have to see it to believe it, so that's 5-5. That brings it to Minnesota at home vs. Virginia Tech and Nebraska at home vs. Wake Forest. With Trevor Mbakwe, I love the Gophers. Without him, how will they respond? It may just come down to those completely anonymous Cornhuskers, endearing themselves to the league with a clinching win.