Big Ten Football Talk

So what if it's June? Anytime is a good time to talk football. Especially Big Ten football.

I talked to Lead Big Ten Writer Ben Axelrod from Bleacher Report — here's some of the topics he and I talked about:

• Should Illinois coach Lovie Smith have banned his players from using scooters?
• What should Iowa fans' expectations be?
• Is C.J. Beathard the X-factor for the Hawkeyes?
• Who's the "sleeper" team in the Big Ten West?

Iowa opens its season on Sept. 3 against Miami of Ohio. The Illini host Murray State on Sept. 3.

Each of the first three games for both the Hawkeyes and Illini are at home.

Iowa and Iowa State is a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 10, and it will be televised on Big Ten Network.