The Big Ten will be one of this year's strongest conferences in the nation. Last season, the conference collected seven bowl bids, winning in three of the games, with two wins coming in BCS bowls. The Big Ten will feature nine returning starting quarterbacks in 2006, the most it has had coming back in more than 20 years. With strong leadership and talent behind center, look for at least seven of the conference's teams to be bowling come December and January, with at least two of them contending for a berth in one of the four coveted Bowl Championship Series contests. Here are the top five teams in the conference.
1. No. 1 Ohio State
Last season: 10-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten (t-1st); defeated No. 6 Notre Dame 34-20 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Outlook: The Buckeyes enter the 2006 season as the nation's No. 1 ranked team and a legitimate national title contender. They return two Heisman Trophy-caliber players in senior QB Troy Smith and junior WR Ted Ginn Jr. Smith was named the Big Ten's preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and Ginn Jr. is one of the most feared offensive threats in the nation. Talented RB Antonio Pittman is one of the most overlooked players in the Big Ten. Defensively, OSU is quite inexperienced and lacks a true leader after losing LB A.J. Hawk to the NFL Draft. However, the Buckeyes return two talented starting defensive tackles in 2005 second-team all-Big Ten selection Quinn Pitcock and senior David Patterson. That should be enough to anchor a very young, talented defense. Head coach Jim Tressel's squad is likely BCS-bound, and will be tested early with this Sunday's match-up at No. 2 Texas.
2. No. 14 Iowa
Last season: 7-5 overall, 5-3 Big Ten (t-3rd); lost to Florida 31-24 in the Outback Bowl.
Outlook: Kirk Ferentz's squad is riding a four-year stretch in which they have compiled a 38-12 record with two Big Ten Championships and two bowl victories. However, with high expectations coming into the 2005 season, the Hawkeyes failed to meet the prospects of contending for a national title. Third-year QB Drew Tate is one of the Big Ten's best in a conference loaded at his position, and RB Albert Young returns off of a Big Ten-leading 1,334 yard 2005 season. With a tough offensive line and a defense that came on strong in the second half of last season, look for Iowa to contend for the Big Ten title and a BCS bowl berth.
3. No. 19 Penn State
Last season: 11-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten (t-1st); defeated No. 22 Florida State 26-23 in three OTs in the Orange Bowl.
Outlook: Penn State returns only five offensive starters and four defensive starters from a magical 2005 season. The Nittany Lions are spearheaded by All-American Butkus Award winner LB Paul Posluszny, who leads a defense that was one of 2005's most tenacious. Senior DT Jay Alford, a second-team All-Big Ten performer, has the talent to become one of the best in the nation. However, PSU will have to rely on young, unproven talent to fill in the missing pieces. Despite losing co-Big Ten Offensive POY Michael Robinson, the offense will be lead by promising junior QB Anthony Morelli. The offensive line could be an Achilles heel for the navy blue and white, returning only one starter from a year ago in All-American T Levi Brown. Legendary head coach Joe Paterno never seems to stop, and this team will carry the same attitude on the field. An early date at No. 4 Notre Dame this weekend could determine whether the Nittany Lions can match last season's performance.
4. No. 10 Michigan
Last season: 7-5 overall, 5-3 Big Ten (t-3rd); lost to Nebraska 32-38 in the Alamo Bowl.
Outlook: Despite several big wins last season, the Wolverines suffered their fair share of heart-breaking losses and fought through their worst season since 1984. This season, Michigan is loaded on offense, with QB Chad Henne and RB Mike Hart anchoring the backfield, and one of the nation's top WR tandems in Steve Breaston and Mario Manningham. With Hart healthy after he missed four games in '05, Michigan has one of the nation's top offenses. On the other side of the ball, the Wolverines look to improve upon last season's defense that ranked 10th in red zone performance in the Big Ten. Depth will be key on a defense that wore down in the latter part of 2005. Head coach Lloyd Carr and the coaching staff will be sure to have this team ready for two tough road tests at No. 4 Notre Dame (Sept. 16) and at No. 1 Ohio State (Nov. 18).
5. Michigan State
Last season: 5-6 overall, 2-6 Big Ten (9th).
Outlook: The Spartans struggled after beginning 2005 undefeated, going 1-6 in their final seven games. Michigan State enters 2006 as one of the most talented and exciting teams in the Big Ten. QB Drew Stanton, the Big Ten's most accurate passer last season (66.7 completion percentage), leads an electric offense that ranked 5th nationally in 2005. Head coach John Smith's spread offense allows Stanton to get everyone involved, as five different players reached the 400-yard plateau in receiving yards last season. Defensively, the Spartans have much potential due to overall quickness, but will need to rely on several newcomers to improve a shaky unit. If the defense can improve, look for the Spartans to be one of the biggest surprises in the conference.
