Nearly every Big Ten football program would like to push a Heisman Trophy contender forward at this time of year.
Granted, a few are more obvious than others, like Illinois’ Chase Brown, who had coach Bret Bielema stumping for him after the former Western Michigan running back piled up 180 yards on 41 carries Saturday afternoon in Champaign: “If there’s a better player in college football who has had an effect on his program,” Bielema told reporters, “I’d like to know who it is.”
(Pay no attention to those fellers who squared off in Knoxville, eh, coach?