5 questions for Big Ten Football Media Days

1. Is the Big Ten done expanding?

The Big Ten rocked the college football world in late June when it announced USC and UCLA will join the league in two years.

That not only changed the look of the top conference in the Midwest and the West but also set off tons of speculation about what is next.

Not much else has changed yet, though so it will be interesting to see if Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren is willing to give up much about how he views what’s to come during his opening address Tuesday morning.

This will be the second year in a row expansion talk is part of Big Ten Media Days, but last year the SEC’s acquisition of Texas and Oklahoma was dominating the headlines.

2. What is next in the evolution of college sports?

A year ago, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke about the breakneck pace of change in college athletics.

Players had recently been granted the ability to profit from their name, image and likeness, and rules on transferring and playing immediately were loosened.

Those two changes — particularly coming at the same time — have had a big impact immediately on roster construction and turnover, but it remains to be seen how they will evolve and what else is coming.

The future could include a new governance structure for college sports, perhaps one that lets major football programs operate outside the NCAA. Ohio State director of athletics Gene Smith has endorsed such a move, but what is the feeling in the rest of the league?

3. What is Michigan doing to defend its conference title?

In 2021, Michigan knocked off Ohio State for the first time since 2011 and won the Big Ten for the first time since 2004.

What will the Wolverines do for an encore?

After flirting with the NFL (again), Jim Harbaugh got a new contract, but he lost both of his coordinators.

This season will test the staying power of his program, which lost top pass rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, important parts of the offensive line, Bengals draftee Dax Hill and standout running back Hassan Adams.

There is plenty to build around, but has Michigan finally established the type of recruiting and offseason program necessary to remain among the nation’s elite?

4. How is Ohio State trying to get back to the top of the mountain?

The Buckeyes have been the class of the Big Ten for nearly two decades — thanks in large part to gains in recruiting and the offseason program others in the league have not been able to match.

Their tumble from the top last season quite likely had something to do with a disruption of the latter, but it also signals some recruiting misses over the past three or four years.

Day made major changes to his coaching staff in the offseason, and strength and conditioning guru Mickey Marotti tweaked his methods in the winter and summer training sessions to try to restore the success of the previous decade.

How will those changes impact the 2022 season?

5. What are the area high school products in the league up to?

Fairfield tight end Erick All is scheduled to be in attendance to preview his senior season at Michigan, but the honorable mention All-Big Ten performer is not the only local player with the potential to be part of the discussion.

Alter grad Connor Bazelak transferred from Missouri to Indiana, where he could help the Hoosiers rebound from a disastrous 2021, and Michael Brown-Stephens is a returning starter at receiver for Minnesota. Brown-Stephens caught 23 passes for 392 yards and a touchdown last season.

Northmont grad Jestin Jacobs is expected to play a big role at linebacker on a strong defense at Iowa while Hamilton alumnus Kaleb Johnson could have an immediate impact at running back for the Hawkeyes.

Rod Moore is a returning starter at safety for Michigan while fellow Northmont grad Gabe Newburg is looking to bounce back from injury in Ann Arbor.

Another former Thunderbolt — Markus Allen — could climb the depth chart at receiver for Wisconsin this season while defensive end Jaiden Cameron is back for a third season at Northwestern.