As far as leadership goes on the Wisconsin defensive line, losing O'Brien Schofield will unquestionably hurt. But with junior J.J. Watt poised to assume that open leadership void, it seems the Badgers have a capable leader set to move forward.

At the conclusion of a recent practice, BadgerBlitz.com caught up with the junior defensive end. The following is a question and answer with Watt.

Coach Ben Herbert does a great job with us in the weight room. Everybody made gains. The guys that needed to add weight added weight. I got a lot stronger, a lot faster and more flexible. Overall it was a good winter for our team.

I initially added about five or six pounds?(inaudible)?my ideal goal to play defensive end is to play at 284 pounds. I dropped back down, right now I'm about 285 and that's where I want to be.

Rutgers has become a perennial bowl team under Greg Schiano, a once-unthinkable notion for Scarlet Knights fans.

The next step - a Big East title - might not be too far off. The Scarlet Knights open spring with a young team, but they are building around potential star quarterback Tom Savage.

However, there are some offensive questions. Anthony Davis left school a year early for the draft and left a huge hole on the offensive line. The Scarlet Knights still are looking for a running back to come close to the production of former standout Ray Rice.

Compared to the first time Bill Snyder was asked to salvage Kansas State's program, the Wildcats are way ahead of schedule.

In 1989, the opening season of Snyder's first Manhattan tour of duty, the Wildcats went 1-11 before growing into a national power. Last season, Snyder came out of retirement to direct the Wildcats to a 6-6 finish.

But just like before, he faces a daunting task. An anemic offense has to be rebuilt without a proven quarterback or receivers. The defense was vulnerable to the pass. The special teams were sound, but now are without Brandon Banks, one of the country's most feared kick return specialists who completed his eligibility.

Michigan will play its first night game at the Big House in 2011 against Notre Dame.

New athletic director Dave Brandon made the announcement Thursday. Brandon expects it to be an unprecedented atmosphere at Michigan Stadium, adding a new chapter to the rivalry between two of college football's most storied programs.

The Wolverines have played the Fighting Irish at night three times, losing in 1982, 1988 and 1990 by an average of four points, all at Notre Dame Stadium. Michigan leads 21-15-1 in the all-time series that started in 1887.

Notre Dame and Michigan are scheduled to play each year through 2017, then take two years off to play other teams, before resuming the rivalry in 2020 through 2031.

Florida coach Urban Meyer is back at practice after his leave of absence.

Meyer is blowing a whistle and engaging players, but also is clearly less involved in certain aspects of his team's first spring practice. Meyer has several assistants helping with special teams drills, something the coach usually handles alone.

Citing health concerns three weeks after he complained of chest pains, Meyer announced his resignation in late December. He changed his mind the following day, deciding instead to take an indefinite leave.

He scaled back in January, he didn't go on the road recruiting, but still hired four assistant coaches and assembled the nation's No. 1 recruiting class. He has declined to divulge details about his health.

UCLA guard Stan Hasiak has been reinstated to the football team and will participate in spring practice.

He had been suspended since Dec. 21 for violating unspecified team rules and did not travel with the team to Washington, D.C., for the Bruins' bowl game against Temple.

Coach Rick Neuheisel said Tuesday that Hasiak has done everything that was asked of him during winter quarter. After speaking to the other coaches and players, Neuheisel says he believes Hasiak deserves a last chance to be part of the team.

Ohio State has added two more years to football coach Jim Tressel's contract?and has offered him an administrative job when he retires.

The nine-year coach of the Buckeyes had his original contract, signed in 2006 and amended twice more, extended through the 2014 season on Tuesday.

"We wanted to reward Jim for his exemplary work with our football program and lock him in as our coach for an additional two years," athletic director Gene Smith said.

Tressel, who is 94-21 at Ohio State, makes about $3.5 million a year, depending on incentives and additions. He will be 62 years old when the new extension ends.

A Boise State football player suspended from the team earlier this month has been arrested and charged with felony aggravated battery.

Boise police arrested 21-year-old Jason Robinson on Monday on a warrant accusing him of causing bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement to another person.

Ada County sheriff's spokeswoman Andrea Dearden said Robinson posted a $5,000 bond and was released Monday. He is scheduled to be arraigned March 23. Few other details of the alleged assault were available Tuesday.

Boise State coach Chris Petersen suspended Robinson from the team last week for violating team rules. Robinson, a safety and special teams player from Los Angeles, made 26 tackles for the Broncos in 2009.

Former University of South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt has sued the university over his firing.

Leavitt, who was fired in January over claims that he grabbed and player by the throat and struck him in the face, filed the complaint Monday against the USF board of trustees and athletic foundation.

Leavitt denied the accusations and claims in the lawsuit that the university's investigation was flawed and his reputation has been damaged. The action seeks to recover some of the $9.5 million left on his seven-year contract.