POLL: Pick your winner in a mythical Big Ten football coach battle royale

Fickell is one of the youngest (37) and biggest (6-foot-4, 242 pounds) coaches in the conference. And he claims 18 years of wrestling experience.

Here’s how we’d seed the field:

1) Fickell. It’s his show. And the credentials of the former Ohio State nose guard are legit.

2) Joe Paterno, Penn State. The way we see it, the 84-year-old legend is too respected to be on the receiving end of a pile-driver from any other coach. He’s guaranteed to be one of the last two standing.

3) Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern. He’s the youngest (36) coach in the league and was an All-American linebacker at Northwestern.

4) Bret Bielema, Wisconsin. The 41-year-old former nose guard at Iowa is still in good shape.

The rest of the field, listed in alphabetical order:

• Mark Dantonio, Michigan State. Age: 55. Background: Defensive back at South Carolina.

• Kirk Ferentz, Iowa. Age: 55. Background: Linebacker at UConn.

• Brady Hoke, Michigan. Age: 52. Background: Linebacker at Ball State

• Danny Hope, Purdue. Age: 52. Background: Offensive lineman at Eastern Kentucky.

• Jerry Kill, Minnesota. Age: 49. Background: Linebacker at Southwestern College.

• Bo Pelini, Nebraska. Age: 43. Background: Free safety at Ohio State.

• Kevin Wilson, Indiana. Age: 49. Background: Offensive lineman at North Carolina.

• Ron Zook, Illinois. Age: 57. Background: Defensive back at Miami (Ohio).