Preseason football poll not kind to IU, Purdue

Until then, we’ll turn on our tape recorders and listen.

Can’t wait for someone to ask him whether he’d prefer his likeness carved out of margarine.

The Spartans have done so now, winning 24 games in the two seasons since, 53 in the last five. They don’t even have to play Wisconsin!

You need to have a little luck to go along with all that skill and acumen, and I worry Ohio State might have exhausted its supply by dipping down to the third string to find one of its saviors. How Harbaugh – who has been erratic in his offseason media appearances – handles his appearances, especially almost 90 minutes of podium and roundtable interviews, should be high theater.

Badgers running back Corey Clement was fifth. The schedule is tough, but the bottom line is, Michigan should be vastly better.

Don’t laugh. When looking at what’s at stake, I believe it’s the Buckeyes.

By the time they finish tussling with the perennial powerhouse from Grand Forks that knows how to maintain a revolving door, the Spartans will have logged 13 games, all of them nonconference.

In 2011, Nebraska was favored, but Wisconsin topped Michigan State in the inaugural Big Ten championship game. Yet even without Dylan Larkin and Jack Eichel, respectively, Michigan and BU both figure to field national tournament-caliber teams in 2015-16. Michigan State’s top two targets in 2014 (Tony Lippett and Keith Mumphery) combined for an average of 18.6 yards per catch and the Spartans produced the nation’s sixth-best passing attack (S&P+). Maybe Cardale Jones will come down with a nasty case of Twitter finger.

It is Aaron Burbridge – who totaled 397 yards and a touchdown in his junior season – whom is tasked with the hard responsibility of filling the void left by Tony Lippett. He’s the most complete package at the position.

Michigan State is ranked sixth in the pre-season “USA Today” Coaches’ Poll.

PLUS: Will Jim Harbaugh turn Michigan around immediately?

Perhaps former Hawkeyes QB Jake Rudock knows something about the Iowa caucuses.

It’s probably a tad early to have this discussion. Finally, the confidence appears to be back for one of the most physically gifted players on the roster. I think we’re going to see both play quite often.

Linebacker Denicos Allen infamously predicted a Rose Bowl in 2012 – if, of course, the national championship fell through.

Which brings us to arguably the biggest question mark of this Michigan State team – the defensive backs. 21 in Ohio Stadium.

To talk about Big Ten football as we are joined by Jason Long of The Buckeye Battle Cry and Kevin McGuire of Nittany Lions Den. The man can flat-out coach.

Buckeye tailback Ezekiel Elliott was tabbed the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.

For the first time in what seems like a generation, the Big Ten seems to be sitting high and mighty in the world of college football as it prepares for its annual media day event in Chicago later this week.