No video mailblog today, but plenty of questions and answers.

JW from Novi, Mich., writes: Can any of the sports writers tell us, with a straight face, how Jim Tressel, does not get selected as Big Ten Coach of the Year? EPSN blog predicts Wiscy or Iowa (again). In 9 years at The Ohio State University, has now won 6 Big Ten titles, 2 (or 3, depending on when you answer this) outright. We always here that he has "the talent" that other "more deserving" coaches do not have, but 1) you need to recruit that talent and 2) the cupboard was pretty bare in 2001, so he had to build it. I guess he'll have to wait for the Big Ten Lifetime Achievement Award.

Adam Rittenberg: It's still amazing that Tressel has never won one of these, and he definitely deserves to be considered this year. Ohio State really turned things around after the Purdue loss. But in terms of adversity, Iowa faced more than the Buckeyes. The Hawkeyes were hit really hard with injuries, particularly at running back, and overcame temporary losses of starting left tackle Bryan Bulaga and tight end Tony Moeaki. Kirk Ferentz should be the Big Ten Coach of the Year, but Tressel is right up there as well.

Drew from New York writes: Adam - love the new vlog segment. Cuts down on time spent viewing your blog instead of doing my job. One thing though. Maybe time for a haircut there, buddy?? I think you should go with the John Clay/O.B. style mohawk. Certainly workin' out well for those guys this season, huh?

Adam Rittenberg: You people spend way too much time thinking about my hair or my out-of-date TV! But hey, if you can sell my wife on the Mohawk idea, maybe I'll do it. But I can tell you this: I won't look nearly as cool as Clay, O.B. or my personal favorite, Illinois State basketball star Osiris Eldridge, who sports the O-hawk.

(Read full post)

A few afternoon notes from ESPN's Stats & Information group.

OHIO STATE-MICHIGAN

• Since the Ohio State-Michigan game was moved to end of season, only one time has a team with a losing record defeated a team with a winning record. In 1951, 3-5 Michigan beat 4-2-2 Ohio State 7-0 in Woody Hayes' first season.
• With a loss, Michigan would have consecutive seasons with at least seven losses for the first time in school history.
• This is the first time an unranked Michigan team is hosting a ranked Ohio State team since 1993. That year Michigan defeated 5th-ranked Ohio State, 28-0.

Michigan's longest losing streaks vs. one opponent

1. Minnesota, nine games, 1934-42
2. Cornell, seven games, 1889-94
3. Ohio State, five games, 2004-present
4. Purdue, five games, 1962-66
5. Army, five games, 1945-54

PENN STATE-MICHIGAN STATE

• With a win, Penn State would have its second straight 10-win season. The Nittany Lions haven’t won 10+ games in consecutive seasons since 1993 and 1994. It would also be the 21st 10-win season under Joe Paterno. Only six schools -- Oklahoma, Alabama, Michigan, Nebraska, USC and Texas -- have more 10-win seasons than Paterno, and no coach has more.
• The Spartans have a chance to be 3-0 in November. That also hasn’t happened since the 1999 season. Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State is 6-2 in November games. They were just 2-11 under John L. Smith.

Most 10-win seasons

1. Joe Paterno, 20
2. Bobby Bowden, 18
3. Tom Osborne, 15
4. Paul "Bear" Bryant, 14

Michigan State's defense has epitomized the team's up-and-down season. The Spartans have been solid at home but shaky on the road.

Michigan State: Home vs. Away

CategoryHomeAwayPPG Allowed15.832.8Pass YPG Allowed203.2295.2Rush YPG Allowed77.8139.6Total YPG Allowed281.0434.8

Here's the second half of my interview with Penn State senior linebacker Sean Lee. For Part I, click here.

Are you sensing the urgency from the other seniors right now, or even a guy like Navorro [Bowman] who might not be back in 2010?

Sean Lee: For sure. We knew coming into this week that we were going to have to play our best, especially playing Michigan State at their place. With everything else in line, especially with us trying to put ourselves in the best position and it being a lot of guys' last games, we want to go out on a high note and try to set ourselves up well.

Slow starts have been a bit of an issue for you guys. How do you remedy that at Michigan State?

Lee: We've got to not make any silly mistakes, whether it's defensively, on the offensive side of the ball or even through special teams. We just have to jump on that because Michigan State, offensively, they can score a lot of points. So if you let them jump on you, it's going to be a very tough game.

What has stood out to you about Michigan State's offense?

Lee: [Kirk] Cousins is really talented. It seems like they just bring back really talented guys who have great arms who can make a ton of throws. They're a very similar type of team, where they've got a big offensive line with good running backs. They're tough and they can run the ball. But at the same time, if they need to throw it and spread it out, they have the quarterback and the receivers and the tight ends that can really be serious threats. We're going to have to stop that run game first and after that, make plays in the passing game.

I know you always scout the opposing offense, but do you ever watch a guy like Greg Jones? A lot of people are excited about the linebacker play in this game with him and you and Navorro on the same field.

Lee: Yeah, he's great. He's always around the ball. That's what's so impressive about him. He has such great instincts, and to go along with that, he's a really good athlete. When you put that combination together, it's tough. He's been so productive throughout his career so far. He's a true junior and, is he still leading the nation in tackles? He's obviously having a huge season. It's fun to watch another linebacker who is a great football player with great instincts. That's what you love to watch on the other side of the ball, and that's what you like to compete against.

You have such a great tradition at linebacker at Penn State. How would you like to be remembered there?

Lee: I just want to be remembered as a guy who's always gone hard, who's always tried to lead the team, who's always tried to build on the tradition we've had of having tough, blue-collar guys who do whatever it takes to try to help the football team win.

I know you're focused on this season, but when you look ahead at the program and the future, what do you see?

Lee: If you look at the recruiting classes we've had, especially the freshman class this year, there's a ton of talent. It's whether you can get a few guys in certain positions to step up early in their careers. And I think we will. We'll pass that leadership down, and we have a ton of young leaders on this team that are going to keep this program going.

It hasn't been an easy road for Penn State's Sean Lee the last two seasons, but the senior linebacker is playing his best football down the stretch. Lee, who missed all of last season and part of this season with injuries to both knees, recorded four pass breakups and 10 tackles as Penn State survived a Senior Day scare against Indiana. The star outside linebacker has been tremendous when healthy this fall, ranking third on the team in tackles (73), fourth in tackles for loss (9.5) and second in pass breakups (7). Penn State remains very much alive for a BCS at-large berth and possibly a share of the Big Ten title as Lee leads the 14th-ranked Nittany Lions into East Lansing to face Michigan State (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET).

Lee spent some time this week discussing the season and how he wants to be remembered at Penn State.

Do you feel like you're playing your best football right now?

Sean Lee: For sure. Each week, I've gotten better physically, not only with the knee, but getting back in football shape. I felt last week was probably the best I've felt since the injury [sprained left knee] happened. As I've watched myself practice, I feel like quickness-wise, playing with the brace, I've just felt better. Even when it comes down to playing football, recognizing things, I'm seeing things a little quicker. So both from a physical standpoint, in practice I knew that I felt better, and getting back and playing games, you feel better each week.

Has it felt like the season has flown by there at Penn State?

SL: It's crazy. Especially for me, not playing last year, it seemed like the offseason took forever and then the season gets here and we're playing our last [regular-season] game this week. It's gone by extremely fast and most of the older guys who are about to get out of here can't believe how fast the season has gone.

What was it like playing your last home game?

SL: I just felt blessed to be healthy and have a Senior Day where I could go out and play in front of our fans. Especially with all the injuries I've had, I was having a ton of fun being out there, being healthy, being able to play.

The injury has tested you mentally, but how are you different on the field this year compared to 2007?

SL: I'm bigger and stronger. Just being that I'm older now, more time working out, I'm definitely stronger. When I'm healthy, I feel like I'm a better athlete, which I haven't necessarily been able to show this year because of injury. And then mentally, just having a year to game-plan [against] teams, I'm learning football each year with all our coaches, so mentally, I'm a little bit quicker, too.

Going back to the Rose Bowl was a big goal entering the season, and that's not going to happen. What things are still out there for you and this team?

SL: We've talked about finishing the season with pride and really trying to win these last two games. Playing Michigan State, especially at their place, it's always a battle. It's always an ugly game, tough game, hard-fought game. Two years ago, we went there and were up and lost. We really want to finish the season with as much pride and as well as we can to set ourselves up for the best possible position when it comes to bowl games.

What would it mean just to get that 10th win? A lot of programs are judged by 10-win seasons.

SL: Sure. My two years playing after my freshman year [2005], we didn't win 10 games, and that's huge. You want to obviously have an undefeated season, but 10 is that number, that double-digit win that everybody says is a successful season.

Come on, Lemon. What do we elites do when we screw up? We pretend it never happened and give ourselves a giant bonus.

• Ohio State has won the Big Ten title, but the Buckeyes boast few legit all-conference candidates, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Justin Boren's transfer from Michigan to Ohio State still surprises his new teammates, Lesmerises writes.
• Rich Rodriguez doesn't think his job is in jeopardy, and Michigan fans wanting him out should be careful what they wish for, Mitch Albom writes in the Detroit Free Press. Things are messy in Ann Arbor right now, Joe Lapointe writes in The New York Times.
• Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer is one of a kind.
• Penn State players have some funny descriptions of the Land Grant Trophy, Bob Flounders writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News. A lot of folks disagree, but the Centre Daily Times' Jeff Rice thinks Penn State met expectations this fall.
• Wisconsin tackle Josh Oglesby will undergo knee surgery soon and be out until the bowl game, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• ESPN's Lee Corso will be on hand in Bloomington as Indiana honors its 1979 team, Jeff Rabjohns writes in The Indianapolis Star.
• Very sad news from Columbus as the wife of former Ohio State star Chris Spielman has died of breast cancer.
• Tim Brewster has upgraded Minnesota's recruiting, but not enough of those players have become stars on the college level, Kent Youngblood writes in the Star Tribune.
• The Big Ten Network's Dave Revsine goes inside the numbers for Week 12.