The Big Ten — which Delany said will keep its name regardless of the number of teams — announced on June 11 that Nebraska will join the conference next year. Delany said the expansion process has not ended, but is on pause right now. The commissioner noted the original 12-to-18 month timetable, and only six months have passed in their investigation.

“I think we’re an even stronger conference as a result,” Delany said. “A lot of people wanted to know why we couldn’t get it done faster. In fact, we went faster than we thought we were going to go because Nebraska had some decisions it had to make, which required us to make some decisions.”

Many head coaches exhibited excitement about the addition of Nebraska — which will result in a Big Ten championship game starting in December 2011 — including Penn State head man Joe Paterno.

Paterno said he didn’t give much thought to any divisional alignment, but carries enormous respect for the Cornhuskers.

“I think really that the Nebraska thing was a real good move for the Big Ten,” Paterno said. “Now, whether we needed a couple more schools or not, I think we ought to leave that in the hands of Jim (Delany) and the people that are going around talking to different people, doing some investigating.”

A great concern for the growing conference are the rivalry games, especially ones with top-billing, like Ohio State vs. Michigan. Delany said the divisions must be created with competitive fairness in mind, but he will go to great lengths to ensure that traditional rivalries are respected. The league’s plan for division structure will be announced in the next 30 to 45 days.

Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema expressed hope that the Badgers’ long-standing rivalries with Minnesota and Iowa wouldn’t meet their demise, but Bielema also expressed a strong interest in creating new rivalries. The head coach said a season-ending rivalry game with Nebraska — much like the Ohio State-Michigan game — would be “neat,” and would like for a similar tradition to come to Madison.

Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster was more than hopeful that rivalries remain.

“I think it’s vital to the Big Ten,” Brewster said. “It’s what the Big Ten is all about. The traditions, the rivalries, playing for the Floyd of Rosedale, playing for Paul Bunyan’s Axe is important to those states, to the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota.”

Ohio State tops pre-season rankings

Ohio State has been picked to repeat as Big Ten champions in 2010. The pre-season rankings, voted on by Big Ten media, feature the Buckeyes in the top slot, with Iowa coming in second, and Wisconsin rounding out the top three.

Ohio State won the Big Ten crown last season with a record of 11-2 (7-1 Big Ten) and ended its season with a 26-17 victory over Oregon in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes have won at least a share of the Big Ten title in each of the last five seasons and look to match their own Big Ten record of six consecutive, set by from 1972-1977.

Pryor, Jones voted top offensive, defensive player

Ohio State boasts the Big Ten pre-season Offensive Player of the Year at quarterback in junior Terrelle Pryor. Pryor is a repeat selection and was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Rose Bowl.

Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones was voted the conference’s pre-season Defensive Player of the Year. Jones is also a repeat selection and was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year following last season. He was a consensus All-American in 2009.

— By J.T. Bugos

Binns was pulled over at Benton St. and Greenwood Drive after police saw him drive straight through a left turn lane. He was also stopped for an equipment violation.

The redshirt junior initially denied drinking, police said, but eventually admitted to having “several drinks.” Binns was observed by police as smelling of alcohol, as well as having watery eyes and impaired speech and balance. He showed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests and also failed a preliminary breath test (.097 blood-alcohol content level). A DataMaster breath analyzer later listed Binns’ BAC at .101.  The legal limit in the state of Iowa is .08.

Although Binns is 20 years old, police said he was wearing a bar wristband to indicate he was of legal age to drink. A new Iowa City ordinance prohibiting patrons under-21 from entering bars after 10 p.m. went into effect at midnight on June 1.

Binns was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) and taken to Johnson County Jail at 12:57 a.m. He was released this morning after making an initial court appearance.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz issued a statement Friday morning regarding the incident.

“I was very disappointed to learn of the incident involving Broderick Binns,” Ferentz said. “He will, as a result, receive counseling and will attend an educational program. He will also receive some form of suspension and will do community service.

“I still need to get all the facts concerning the incident. But, the matter and punishment will be handled internally.”

Binns, a St. Paul, Minn., native, started in all 13 of Iowa’s games last season on the way to earning honorable mention all-Big Ten honors. The 6-2 261-pounder recorded 10 tackles for loss, including six sacks. He is anticipated to be a starter on the Hawkeye defensive line in 2010 as well.

Two of Binns’ teammates, Jewel Hampton and Jordan Bernstine, were both charged with public intoxication on June 5. Hampton, 20, was also charged for being in a bar after 10 p.m. Ferentz has yet to publicly announce any football-related punishment for either player beyond stating the matter would be “handled internally.”

Bulaga, the 2009 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, issued the following statement Wednesday:

“After much deliberation and careful consideration, I have decided to forgo my fourth year of college eligibility and enter the upcoming NFL draft. This was not an easy decision since my Iowa experience has been very positive and rewarding.

“The illness I was faced with at the beginning of the 2009 season made me realize how important football is in my life and how quickly it can be taken away. … I will always be a Hawkeye and will carry that with me proudly wherever my future takes me. Thanks to everyone for the support you’ve always given me.”

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz released the following statement:

“Bryan has been a valued team member, well beyond his outstanding play on the field. I’m very appreciative of his efforts on the team’s behalf. I am confident Bryan will do very well in the years to come and again be a valuable asset to his future team. We wish him the best and continued success.”

— by Ryan Young

While Iowa’s opponent in the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl, the No. 9 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, had just landed in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on Wednesday, the Hawkeyes have been practicing on the fields of Barry University since arriving in Miami on Dec. 27.

The team has found a way to use the extra three days to its advantage.

“We’re making progress,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said after practice on Wednesday. “It’s good to be outdoors.”

Ferentz said they’re constantly shuffling the offensive line; that shifting was noticeable Wednesday.

Senior offensive lineman Kyle Calloway, who has started 11 of the Hawkeyes’ 12 regular-season games at right tackle, took snaps at right guard with the first unit. Redshirt freshman Riley Reiff, who has started 10 games on the left side between guard and tackle this season, took his place at right tackle, while junior Julian Vandervelde practiced at left guard.

“We like to keep people working at different positions, more than one, just to have that fluidness in there just in case someone goes down,” senior center Rafael Eubanks said.

Eubanks added while he is unsure of how the lineup will actually look in the Orange Bowl, it wouldn’t surprise him if Wednesday’s placements held for game day.

Senior Dace Richardson, who missed Iowa’s last four games after suffering a broken ankle, also returned. Richardson took snaps with the second unit, but the team remains optimistic for his return to play on Jan. 5.

“He’s slowly working himself in there,” Eubanks said. “He says he feels better each day.”

The Hawkeyes are also adjusting to life in Miami off the field. The team is staying at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, one of the most prestigious hotels in the area.

Players have also encountered celebrities since arriving earlier in the week: former NBA player Dennis Rodman, actor/musician Jamie Foxx, actor John Travolta, and singer Lady Gaga, who is performing at the hotel on New Year’s Eve.

Senior linebacker A.J. Edds said he’s taken note of the celebrities, especially Rodman.

“I was looking for Carmen Electra following him, but she wasn’t there,” the Greenwood, Ind., native said, joking.

But even amid all the possible distractions the city has to offer, Ferentz maintained his team is all business.

“The guys are having a great time, and they’re really enjoying it, but the nicest thing about it is that they can’t afford to do too much,” Ferentz said.

Georgia Tech will conduct its first practice in the Sunshine State on Thursday at Nova Southeastern University. Iowa will take the day off Thursday, with only a team weight-lifting session on the agenda. They’ll return to the practice field on Friday.

Be sure to visit dailyiowan.com for coverage each day leading up to the Jan. 5 contest at Land Shark Stadium.

— Brendan Stiles