Spring practice invariably leads to position battles, especially in today's climate of "win, and win now." Gone are the days of waiting for that young star to develop. Instead, players are expected to achieve great things almost from the day they set foot on campus. If they don't, they may soon find their name tumbling down the depth chart.
Coaches are always aware that a lack of success in any given season could result in a spot on the dreaded "hot seat." In order to avoid that fate, coaches seem more willing than ever before to place their own players on the hot seat—where losing a spot as a starter can often mean the end of a once-promising career.
With 2014 spring games right around the corner, we wondered which Big Ten players might find their names on a hot-seat list. Who is at risk of losing his coveted position as a starter? Which players are facing more than their fair share of pressure to up their games?