Big Ten coaches reveal insights on national championship ambitions, transfer portal impact, and forging new team identities on BTN's Signing Day Special.
The Big Ten Network’s Signing Day Special airs Wednesday starting at 3 p.m. EST, as February 4 marks the beginning of the second national signing period for high school football players.
The transfer portal has already brought plenty of excitement, potential, and water-cooler talk around the Big Ten. When you pair that with the Indiana Hoosiers finishing the impossible — rising from cellar dweller to national champion — there has never been more buzz surrounding the conference.
The Big Ten now holds the last three national championships, including two undefeated seasons by Michigan in 2023 and Indiana in 2025, with Ohio State sandwiched in between.
More and more players are choosing the Big Ten not only because it molds great athletes and people, as it long has, but because statistically it has become the biggest, baddest, and best conference in the country.
With all that attention, it’s no surprise the conference continues to pull in a massive amount of skilled and highly touted prospects on Signing Day.
During the BTN broadcast, national champion Curt Cignetti is scheduled to join the show to discuss the Hoosiers. Lincoln Riley will also appear to talk about USC’s top-ranked class, while Matt Campbell, Kyle Whittingham, and Bob Chesney are set to discuss their first year with their new programs.
And for fans of the beloved Michigan State Spartans, Pat Fitzgerald is also scheduled to join the show to talk about his fast start with his new team.
Fitzgerald has wasted no time trying to reignite a once-proud program that lost its way over the past few seasons. By aggressively attacking the transfer portal — especially along the offensive line, on defense, and at running back — the Spartans are clearly signaling how they want to play moving forward: physical, run-first football backed by defense, and daring opponents to last four quarters.
As expected with a new head coach, there has also been a significant shakeup on the coaching staff. Fitzgerald has added alumni, former NFL coaches, and retained key pieces who helped land some of MSU’s current commits. The staff brings attitude and understanding to a locker room that has been desperate for a new identity.
You likely won’t hear Fitzgerald drop any groundbreaking news during the appearance, but expect him to use the platform to send a message: Michigan State football is on its way back. With plenty of high school players watching as they get home from school, Fitzgerald has a prime opportunity to sell not just MSU, but the vision behind it.
The Spartans also have real skin in the game this signing period. WR Samson Gash, son of former Penn State and Baltimore Ravens fullback Sam Gash, remains committed to Michigan State. He even sat with Fitzgerald during the Michigan–Michigan State basketball game and is expected to sign somewhere Wednesday.
Gash would bolster a thin receiving corps and could be a major piece for the Spartans’ future.
Football season may feel far away, but blink and it’ll be here. For a little extra anticipation, tune into BTN’s Signing Day Special and see what Michigan State’s new era has to say for itself.