The college football season is already a week old, but it is not too late to preview how the Big Ten will shape up this year. From top to bottom, heres the lowdown on this year's cream of the crop, middle of the road and bottom of the barrel.
The Buckeyes were an easy pick to repeat as national champs until star sophomore running back Maurice Clarett was suspended due to allegations of cheating in class and theft. The team still remains almost fully intact and junior backup running backs Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross are enough to make up for the loss of Clarett. The Buckeyes will push for another national title.
Michigan is poised to make their yearly run at the Big Ten title. Senior quarterback John Navarre is still trying to prove that he can be a big winner, but with a running back like senior Chris Perry, it may be easier than first thought.
Returning senior wide receiver Lee Evans, junior running back Anthony Davis and a schedule without Michigan is making many experts project Wisconsin as the sleeper team in the conference. UW's game against Ohio State may determine who wins the Big Ten championship.
The Boilermakers annually have a strong defense, thanks to Head Coach Joe Tiller, but wide receiver senior John Standeford was quietly one of the best at his position in the nation last year. If Purdue can utilize both their strong defense and aerial attack effectively, they could be another dangerous Big Ten sleeper.
The Golden Gophers return running backs senior Thomas Tapeh and junior Terry Jackson II along with multi-dimensional senior quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq, all three of which combined for 88 percent of Minnesota's offensive touchdowns last year. The defense prevented the team from winning any more than eight games after a blazing 7-1 start, and they will again determine whether Minnesota soars or stumbles this coming season.
The Hawkeyes are receiving seemingly little hype for a team that won its conference last year and ended up in a BCS bowl, but a seriously depleted offense has contributed to that. Unless senior running back Fred Russell (1,264 yards rushing last season) can really fire up the team, Iowa will be hard-pressed to land a bowl game this year.
New Spartans Head Coach John L. Smith will find it hard to win this year with leading receiver Charles Rogers graduated and now playing with Detroit Lions. With senior quarterback Jeff Smoker returning as the team starter after battling substance-abuse problems, the team could finish with a decent record and possible bowl berth.
The Nittany Lions are another Big Ten team that was bit hard by the graduation bug, losing their top wide receiver, rusher, sacker and tackler from last year. Dangerous junior quarterback Zack Mills returns this year for legendary Head Coach Joe Paterno, but even the great coach will find it tough to work his magic this year.
Quarterback senior Jon Beutjer and a strong defensive front return for the Fighting Illini this year to showcase another team that could go either way. Beutjer's arm and a decent receiving core could ignite a strong offense, but the defense will tell the tale.
Wildcats Head Coach Randy Walker has had quite a turn-around from his share of the Big Ten title in 2000 to what he has now, which isn't much at all. Northwestern fans will again have excitement on offense with sophomore quarterback Brett Basanez and senior running back Jason Wright returning, but had better turn their heads again when the defense takes the field.
Junior Fighting Irish transfer quarterback Matt LoVecchio makes his Indiana Hoosier debut this year, but that's about all Crimson and White fans may have to be excited about. Indiana will be looking at another long year of rebuilding and hardship.
