Big Ten: What's new in 2012?

CHICAGO -- It's going to be a Big Ten season like no other -- a little strange in some regards, a little sad in others, but certainly exciting most of the way around.

Here are five reasons 2012 in the Big Ten is going to be different from previous years, why different will be (mostly) good and where the state of football in the conference could go from here.

Two teams are barred from postseason play - That both of them play in the Leaders Division in the second year of the Big Ten's split-division format makes it even more disappointing as just four teams in that division have a chance to play in December's conference championship game. And with Penn State (four years) and Ohio State (just 2012) out of that mix, does anybody really think Purdue, Illinois or Indiana can stop Wisconsin from rolling to Indianapolis looking to repeat? Barring a major upset, throw out competitive balance for this season. Not since Drew Brees was the quarterback has Purdue been seen as having a legitimate chance to play in a New Year's Day bowl game, and maybe this opportunity will prove to be good for Danny Hope's program, but Purdue has plenty of proving to do. On the other side in the Legends Division, Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska are all legitimate division-title contenders -- and two of the three play both Wisconsin and Ohio State in cross-division games. There will be no breathers and a very small margin for error.

Fallout at Penn State - The scholarship sanctions won't kick in until next season, but it's clear that football at Penn State will never be the same. That every player on the current roster is free to transfer without penalty -- and decisions are being made just a week before camp -- makes Bill O'Brien's job even more complicated. Having other Big Ten coaches in State College recruiting Penn State's players is an unprecedented situation. It's also not a healthy one even though it's within the rules, and it's not one anyone within the Big Ten is particularly happy about. Time will tell if the Nittany Lions can stay competitive through the sanctions, but there's certainly a long road ahead.

Urban Meyer's arrival - A three-time winner of various National Coach of the Year awards joining any conference is a big deal. That he comes in at Ohio State, inherits a talented roster and has been recruiting at a top level suggests both a high ceiling and a very high interest level. People know Meyer, and people know Meyer is going to win in Columbus. Just how much and how soon remain to be seen, but look for Meyer and Michigan's Brady Hoke to continue to stage intense recruiting battles and even better games on future Thanksgiving Weekends. Circle the aforementioned Michigan game, at Michigan State on Sept. 29, vs. Nebraska the following week and at Wisconsin on Nov. 17 among the can't-miss games of this Big Ten season. Meyer was at the forefront of the SEC's dominance that dates back to the middle of the last decade, and at Ohio State he'll have the resources to bring that type of player and that type of mindset to Ohio Stadium.

Montee Ball's new name - His first name sounded just like it looks (Mon-Tee) when he led the nation with 1,923 rushing yards and 39 total touchdowns last year. Ball is now going by "Mon-Tay," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema confirmed on Thursday morning. Will he run for immortality and win the Heisman Trophy this year? Bielema said that's something that would mean a lot to his team - to the offensive line, specifically - and something Ball is capable of doing. The Badgers will keep feeding Ball, and opposing defenses will have to figure a way to stop No. 28. Whatever his name is.

The spread offense - It's here to stay in college football, and with Meyer and Tim Beckman (Illinois) taking head-coaching jobs in the Big Ten, eight of the 12 Big Ten teams will be using some form of the spread as their base offense. That doesn't include Michigan, which will use a pro-set as its base but will still spread it on occasion to let quarterback Denard Robinson showcase his array of talents. A couple guys named Woody and Bo might not approve, but multiple-receiver sets, lots of shotgun snaps to dual-threat quarterbacks and the use of the bubble screen to get those coveted three yards -- with or without a cloud of fieldturf dust -- are going to be the norm, not the exception.