Hello! Welcome to the second edition of Around the Empire, your weekly roundup of Big Ten sports coverage, Midwestern culture, and brilliant wit from your favorite writers at Off Tackle Empire. 

I regret to inform you that MNWildcat did not see fit to fire me after last week. You're stuck with me for now. Please air your grievances as necessary. 

So it seems like there's a substantial sports event going on this weekend, something about Nevada and a football game? I was under the impression that Northwestern already played in the Las Vegas Bowl last year. Must be something else. 

Have a Superb Owl Sunday, and be sure to pre-game the Big Game properly with Penn State-Northwestern and Minnesota-Iowa basketball on BTN. 

Thanks for signing up, reading along, and sharing this email with your friends.

-AlmaOtter 🦦