2013 Big Ten Football Media Days coverage: Updates and more from Chicago

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany stepped up to the podium at his conference’s media days on Wednesday, and what followed was a bizarre, half-hour speech and question-and-answer session that was both confusing and illuminating.

Delany’s power-conference counterparts from the SEC, Big 12, and ACC have all made a lot of noise this week and last about the need for major change in the NCAA, including a potential secession by the football powers from the rest of the governing body as pay-for-play and concussion issues loom, the NCAA’s enforcement authority crumbles, and even greater financial windfalls near.

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer spoke with the awaiting hordes at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday afternoon, and as expected, the focus was on the recent run of off-the-field issues involving Buckeye players. In fact, every single question involved off-the-field issues, and almost no notice was given to the 2013 Buckeyes, who have a good shot at going undefeated for the second straight year and challenging for a national championship. Here’s a full transcript of the questions and Meyer’s answers, via ASAP Sports:

The whole thing was a bit of a spectacle, but that’s to be expected. Meyer has become a lightning rod for criticism, and while some of it is deserved, it’s gotten out of control. The buck stops with head coaches when it comes to players acting up off the field, but they’re not baby sitters that control their players’ every move. Meyer came away from the firing squad today looking good, but it’s difficult to say that exercise was a good use of everyone’s time.

Kolter was a dynamic presence for the Wildcats last year, combining for 1,763 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground and in the air. He also had 169 receiving yards on 16 receptions in 2012, as the coaching staff was fond of moving him around to capitalize on his versatility.

Six current college football players joined the O’Bannon suit as plaintiffs earlier in July, but it’s not just players who are in support of the suit. Maryland head coach Randy Edsall was also vocal in support of the plaintiff’s efforts when speaking at the ACC Kickoff earlier in the week.

Hey all! It’s time for Big Ten Media Days, coming to you live from Chicago. We’ve already told you how to watch and when which people will be speaking. We’ve even told you the questions we really want to hear, but are pretty certain we won’t. Now it’s time for us to tell you what to listen for.

Between the 12 coaches and a smattering of other people who will be taking the podium today in Chicago, here’s what we’ll be listening eagerly to hear.

Ohio State’s off-the-field issues don’t bother those in charge of predicting the Big Ten. The Buckeyes projected to win the conference nearly unanimously, per an unofficial poll put together by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and was the only school to put three players on the watch lists released by the conference.

Here’s how voters picked the order of finish in each conference in the Plain Dealer poll, with the amount of first-place votes received in parentheses: