Eric Olson
FILE - With his right arm in a sling following shoulder surgery earlier in the week, Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez walks onto the field during the tunnel walk before an NCAA college football game against Iowa on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. The success or failure of the Wildcats next season rests largely on whether Adrian Martinez, a four-year starter at Nebraska, is able to bounce back from offseason shoulder surgery and eliminate the interceptions and other mistakes that relegated him to mediocrity with the Cornhuskers. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, File)
Big 12 players expected to have impact seasons in 2022

By Stephen Hawkins Apr. 26, 2022 04:29 PM EDT

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day watches from the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. Ohio State defeated Nebraska 26-17. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Big Ten preview: No. 2 Ohio St at No. 6 Michigan tops slate

By Eric Olson Nov. 25, 2021 02:10 AM EST

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud throws a pass against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Big Ten preview: Spartans visit Ohio State for key East game

By Eric Olson Nov. 18, 2021 03:10 AM EST

Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn (22) gets past Iowa State defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. (26) for a first down during the first quarter of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
All-purpose running backs shine across Big 12, nationally

By Eric Olson Oct. 26, 2021 06:08 PM EDT

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud looks for an open receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State beat Maryland 66-17. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Big Ten Preview: No. 5 Buckeyes on roll heading to Indiana

By Eric Olson Oct. 21, 2021 03:10 AM EDT

Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras (7) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Boilermakers at No. 2 Iowa featured game on Big Ten schedule

By Eric Olson Oct. 14, 2021 02:03 AM EDT

Maryland wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr. is carted off the field during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Injuries highlight risk in having top players return kicks

By Noah Trister Oct. 12, 2021 06:23 PM EDT

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) runs in for a touchdown early in the first quarter against Northwestern in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Cornhuskers start fast in 56-7 rout against Northwestern

By Eric Olson Oct. 02, 2021 11:05 PM EDT

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) escapes from Michigan State's Jacub Panasiuk (96) and Jacob Slade, left, during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Huskers back home to face Northwestern after 2 close losses

By Eric Olson Sep. 30, 2021 03:10 AM EDT

Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa throws a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Illinois on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
No. 5 Iowa defense, Terps QB featured in battle of unbeatens

By Eric Olson Sep. 30, 2021 03:10 AM EDT

Purdue quarterback Jack Plummer (13) throws as Purdue offensive lineman Greg Long (69) blocks Illinois outside linebacker Seth Coleman (49) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in West Lafayette, Ind. (Nikos Frazier/Journal & Courier via AP)
Shoddy quarterback play has Big Ten scrambling for answers

By Michael Marot Sep. 28, 2021 02:08 PM EDT

Texas wide receiver Jordan Whittington (4) celebrates his touchdown during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Louisiana-Lafayette, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Week 2 Preview: Iowa-ISU not just for state bragging rights

By Eric Olson Sep. 10, 2021 01:26 AM EDT

Nebraska fans do the wave as the Huskers play against Fordham during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Nebraska will play another 'guessing game' against Buffalo

By Eric Olson Sep. 09, 2021 11:58 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 5, 2021 file photo, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud runs through a drill during an NCAA college football practice in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State is one of several national title contenders turning to a new quarterback this season, and C.J. Stroud takes over for the Buckeyes without a single college pass attempt. His debut for the four-time defending Big Ten champions comes on Thursday, Sept. 2 on the road against an experienced Minnesota team. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon, File)
No. 4 Buckeyes' new QB opens on road vs experienced Gophers

By Eric Olson Sep. 02, 2021 02:31 AM EDT

FILE - Texas running back Bijan Robinson (5) runs during the final half of the Texas Orange and White Spring Scrimmage in Austin, Texas, in this Saturday, April 24, 2021, file photo. No player frustrated Texas fans last season more than tailback Bijan Robinson. Not because of anything he did, but because of Herman’s odd refusal to give him the ball more often. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas, File)
Some Big 12 players expected to impact their teams in 2021

By Stephen Hawkins Apr. 27, 2021 02:00 PM EDT

FILE - Ohio State head coach Ryan Day watches during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Clemson in Glendale, Ariz., in this Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, file photo. The National signing day period begins Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Terps' hope top-20 recruit class brings improvement on field

By Eric Olson Feb. 03, 2021 06:28 PM EST

FILE - Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald walks on the field during the fourth quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., in this Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, file photo. Pat Fitzgerald figures he'll add a few more gray hairs by the time No. 15 Northwestern steps on the field to face No. 3 Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday, Dec. 19. Then again, if Northwestern wins? “Not gonna lie to you, it would be a helluva ride home on I-65,” Fitzgerald said. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)
Big Ten Champions Week has game for title and 4 on undercard

By Eric Olson Dec. 17, 2020 01:44 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2020, file photo, Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck looks at his bench during an NCAA college football game with Michigan in Minneapolis. Minnesota is among 10 of the 14 Big Ten football teams sitting at two wins entering the final weekend of the regular season. The statistical anomaly begs the question of whether it's difficult for those teams to stay motivated in a season that brought unique challenges because of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
What's my motivation? Stakes low for 2-win Big Ten teams

By Eric Olson Dec. 10, 2020 04:58 PM EST

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day talks to his players during an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Anything goes, from one day to the next, in wacky Big Ten

By David Ginsburg Dec. 03, 2020 01:08 PM EST

Indiana quarterback Jack Tuttle (14) throws during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Bloomington, Ind. Indiana won 27-11. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
No. 10 Hoosiers, No. 18 Badgers meet with undefined stakes

By Eric Olson Dec. 03, 2020 01:28 AM EST