Welcome back to another edition of the Big Ten mailbag. As always, you can send in your questions via Twitter. Keep 'em coming.
Brian Bennett: That's an excellent question. The Lovie Smith hire -- and the strong financial commitment to both him and his staff -- certainly signals an increase in expectations in Champaign. There's really no reason not to aim high.
We are less than a decade removed from the Illini making the Rose Bowl, and the program also has a Sugar Bowl appearance this century. Unlike Rutgers and Maryland, which also hired new coaches this offseason, Illinois doesn't have to climb past superpowers in its own division.