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          Big Ten Blog

          B1G mailbag: Iowa angst, B1G wins 'overrated,' Meyer coach of year?

          • Brian Bennett, ESPN Staff WriterSep 21, 2016, 12:30 PM ET
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            • ESPN.com Big Ten reporter.
            • Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
            • Graduate of the University of Kentucky.
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          It's a glorious time of year. Fall weather is approaching, and Big Ten conference play is beginning. And it's also mailbag time. As always, you can tweet me your questions or email longer ones to ESPNBig TenMailbag@gmail.com.

          Away we go ...

          Brian Bennett: You're right. North Dakota State is really good. How many Big Ten teams could the Bison beat? I would say at least half the league, probably more. Iowa has only itself to blame for scheduling that game in the first place.

          As such, I'm not terribly worried about the Hawkeyes going forward. They still have the most advantageous schedule of the main West Division contenders. But there were a few issues that cropped up on Saturday, mainly on the offensive line. Iowa only ran for 34 yards on 25 carries, an astonishingly poor performance, and C.J. Beathard got smacked too many times. Key interior linemen Sean Welsh and James Daniels were injured, so that no doubt played a big part. But Kirk Ferentz's teams are always centered around strong O-line play, and that has to improve for Iowa to come anywhere near last year's run.

          Brian Bennett: It's an interesting test case. I believe the College Football Playoff committee is smart enough to recognize that North Dakota State is not a run-of-the-mill FCS team. The committee has shown the past two years that beating good teams is more important than whom you lost to (see Ohio State-Virginia Tech in 2014, Oklahoma-Texas last year).

          So it's not a lost cause. Iowa could potentially have Top 25 wins over Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska and the East champion if it were to run the table. I don't see that happening, but if it did, it might be enough to overcome the FCS loss. Can you imagine the howls from SEC fans and others around the country if that were to happen? Now I'm kind of rooting for it.

          Brian Bennett: If there ever were a year, this is probably it. If Urban Meyer can win the Big Ten with only six returning starters -- especially if the Buckeyes could go undefeated -- then he would absolutely deserve coach of the year honors. Although the guy mentioned below could have an argument ...

          Brian Bennett: Good to hear from some Maryland fans. The Terrapins are 3-0. They were my pick as the team to have the most improved record in the Big Ten this year, and it looks like they're well on track to do just that. The most amazing stat of all is that the Terps, after giving the ball away at a historic rate last year, haven't committed a single turnover yet this year. I feel like D.J. Durkin should get some sort of Nobel Prize for that.

          Anyway, to your question. Tyrrell Pigrome has been an excellent addition already and at the very least offers offensive coordinator Walt Bell an extra dimension. But Perry Hills is the starter as long as he's healthy. He hurt his shoulder in the UCF win and may or may not be ready for the Big Ten opener against Purdue on Oct. 1. But he's done everything the staff has wanted so far.

          Brian Bennett: Oh, here we go. You beat somebody, and all of a sudden they're overrated. Well, I'm not buying it here. LSU is one of the most athletically gifted teams around with a transcendent superstar in Leonard Fournette. Oklahoma was in the playoff last year and has been extremely difficult to beat at home under Bob Stoops. Oregon isn't as good as it was with Marcus Mariota, but the Ducks still have an explosive offense and are a tough matchup for anyone.

          The Big Ten's outstanding nonconference performance could lose a little luster if those teams (and Notre Dame) don't rebound to have solid seasons. Still, you can't take anything away from the four marquee wins -- especially because only one of them (Nebraska) came on a home field.

          Brian Bennett: Barring some total collapse this year, I think Franklin will be back in 2017. The sanctions, and now injuries, have put the Nittany Lions in a bind and I think the administration understands that. Penn State still needs to be competitive in the Big Ten, and making a bowl is important. But unless they go 3-9 or something awful like that, I think Franklin will return for what should be a crucial prove-it season in 2017.