The summer "talking season" tour made its stop in Big Ten country this week, the last of the power leagues to have its media days. And much like the events previously held for the ACC, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC, the two days of interviews and news conferences Monday and Tuesday served as the unofficial start of the 2016 season.
"This is one of those events every year that you mark on your calendar, that it's the start of football," first-year Maryland coach D.J. Durkin said on the Big Ten Network telecast.
Thirteen of the league's 14 schools were represented in Chicago, with Nebraska staying home to mourn the loss of punter Sam Foltz.