Much like the Big 12, the hunt for the Big 10 title is a 3-team race. Ohio State won it last year and is the favorites again, but both Wisconsin and Iowa are more than capable of knocking the Buckeyes off. The rest of the conference breaks down into tiers and there will a lot of close games this season.

• 1. Ohio State (8-0): The reigning Big 10 Champs and winners of the Rose Bowl come into 2010 primed for a big season. QB Terrelle Pryor will be surrounded by the same skill players as last year, with Brandon Saine and Dan “Boom” Herron back to lead a rushing attack that averaged just under 200 yards per game last season. Each of the leading receivers return as well, and OSU is loaded with talent up front to plug the holes on an otherwise experienced offensive line. With all that returning and the potential of Pryor, the Buckeyes will have an offense that can put points up on anybody and could be one of the best in the nation. The scary thing for teams playing OSU is that the offense may not even need to score much, as the defense will be one of the best around. With Cameron Hayward returning to anchor the line, the top two tacklers on the team back at linebacker, and both starting corners back to lead the secondary, opposing teams will have a tough time moving the ball on a stingy Buckeye defense. Only four road games means the Buckeyes have a real good shot at running the table, but a slip up is possible and even likely either @ Wisconsin in mid October or @ Iowa in November in what could turn out to be the Big 10 Championship game – again.
• 2. Iowa (6-2): The Hawkeyes, who took OSU to overtime last year in Columbus without starting QB Rick Stanzi, may again have the best chance to knock the Buckeyes off the top of the conference. Stanzi is healthy this year, and has a ton of weapons at his disposal. WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos has a chance to leave Iowa as the Hawks’ all-time leading receiver, and WR Marvin McNutt bust on the scene last year in his first full season at the position. In addition, the entire backfield is back from last year and a healthy Jewel Hampton will only add to that group; Hampton ran for 463 yards and 7 TD’s as a backup two years ago. The O-line will need to be rebuilt, but OT Riley Reiff is moving to LT and looks to be the next great Hawkeye lineman, and coach Kirk Ferentz is known for being a great offensive line coach. The real strength of the team will be defense, where all four lineman return and are led by pre-season All-American DE Adrian Clayborn. Clayborn’s 20 TFL and 11.5 sacks last season led the team, but each of the three other starters along the line have all-conference potential, making the Hawkeye D-line arguably the best in the country. LB’s Pat Angerer and AJ Edds and CB Amari Spievey, who are all in the NFL now, will be missed, but a great defensive line and two experienced safeties will again have this defense among the fiercest in the nation. Iowa gets OSU, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State all at home, but the schedule is still brutal. Eight bowl teams from last season litter the schedule and the Hawkeyes close with 3 of 4 on the road with Ohio State as the lone home game. They have the potential to make noise on a national level, but it is feasible to think that Iowa could actually be better than last year but finish with a worse record.
• 3. Wisconsin (6-2): Wisconsin will be home to the best offense in the conference. QB Scott Tolzien is a legitimate threat in the passing game, but the real star in Madison is RB John Clay. Clay led the Big 10 in rushing yards and TD’s last year and is set to have a huge year this year. Tolzien will have a solid group of receivers to throw to, led by WR Nick Toon and TE Lance Kendricks. The task of stopping Clay will be made even more difficult by perhaps the best offensive line in the entire nation. The line is anchored by tackle Gabe Carimi, who could be a high 1st round draft pick, and guard John Moffitt, one of the best in the nation. The thing that might prevent Wisconsin from winning the Big 10 is defense. Only average last year, the defense loses a lot up front including an excellent defensive end in O’Brien Schofield. DE JJ Watt is turning into one of the best lineman in the conference, but he doesn’t have much help to speak of. The schedules aligns so that it is almost a sure bet Wisconsin will start 6-0 before back-to-back games against Ohio State and at Iowa. We think the Badgers are a definite threat to win the conference, but the premier defenses of OSU and Iowa can neutralize that offense, while Wisconsin’s own defense might not be enough to contain the opposing offenses. We tab the Badgers for six conference wins, but they could just as easily win one or both of those big games (especially after man-handling OSU last year despite losing the game) and find themselves at the top of the Big 10.
• 4. Penn State (5-3): The Nittany Lions will be a bit down this year as they need to replace a lot of talent, especially on defense. On offense, the key will be finding a replacement for QB Darryl Clark. Kevin Newsome, Matt McGloin and even freshman Paul Jones are in the mix, but the good news is whoever wins the job will have a ton to work with. The skill positions are loaded and Penn State has the best RB tandem in the conference in senior Evan Royster and junior Stephfon Green. The WR’s are experienced and talented and will help ease in the new QB. The o-line has some experiences starters including one of the best interior linemen in the nation in Stefen Wisniewski. There has been a lot of shuffling of positions up front though, so it may take the line some time to hit their stride. The defense, which was great last year, will take a big hit. They lose last year’s Big 10 Defensive POY and all three LB’s. The secondary will be solid, but the front 7 will determine how good this unit is. Tough road games against OSU and Iowa will likely be losses, and we think the Nittany Lions slip up at least once more along the way. Another bowl is on the way, but don’t expect double digit wins again from Penn St.
• 5. Michigan State (4-4): The Spartans lose about half of their starters from last year, but this team is on the rise and could make some noise this season. QB Kirk Cousins shared some snaps with Keith Nichol, but Cousins should be the undisputed #1 this year and has some nice weapons to work with. RB’s Larry Caper and Edwin Baker both have bright futures and form a potent 1-2 punch. The key on offense will be the line, where only two players have much starting experience. The defense loses quite a few guys, but the guys that return can carry this unit. MLB Greg Jones is the favorite for this year’s Conference Defensive POY, and DT Jerrel Worthy will become a star. CB Chris L. Rucker leads what will be a solid secondary, but the depth behind the starters is paper-thin. Michigan State misses Ohio State, but road games at Michigan, Iowa and Penn State and a conference opener against Wisconsin means the Spartans will likely go .500 in the conference.
• 6. Michigan (4-4): Wolverine fans are dying to get back on top of the conference, but this year will only be a small step up from last year. The offense has some talent at the skill positions, with three QB’s capable of running the ball and a pair of deadly slot receivers in Roy Roundtree and Martavious Odoms. A steady ground game is key, and junior Micheal Shaw and sophomore Vincent Smith will step in to replace the departed Brandon Minor. The interior of the line will be boosted by a healthy David Molk, and there is a lot of competition for the tackle spots. Big 10 defenses haven’t seen Rich Rodriguez’s offense at its finest, and despite an expected improvement the offense isn’t going to wow anyone just yet. The defense returns seven, but it has been so bad the last couple years that that might not be a good thing, especially since the best three players have all moved on. No matter how good the offense becomes, Rodriguez will need at least an average defense to win consistently in the Big 10. With Iowa and Penn St back-to-back in the middle of the season and Wisconsin and Ohio State the final two games, Meeeechigan won’t be threatening the top of the conference this year.




• 7. Northwestern (3-5): The Wildcats have been over-achievers under coach Pat Fitzgerald, but Fitzgerald will have a monster job on his hands this year if NW wants to get to .500 in the conference. QB Mike Kafka carried the team often in 2009, but he is gone this year. Dan Persa will step in and has potential, but the Wildcats will need to find a running game to take the pressure of Persa. Persa will have a good set of receivers, but will need to find a true go-to guy. The good news is the line will be the strength of the offense and should be able to buy Persa time to break down defenses. The D loses some big time players in Corey Wootton and Sherrick McManis, but a strong LB corp returns and the Wildcats have some young talent ready to step in. Northwestern probably won’t win two straight conference games all season, but they have shown in the past that they can surprise (just ask Iowa).
• 8. Illinois (3-5): Ron Zook’s Illinois teams have been steady under-performers, which makes being picked near the bottom of the Big 10 even worse news. Nathan Scheelhaase won the QB job and looks like a future all-conference performer. RB’s Mikel LeShoure and Jason Ford form an outstanding duo in the backfield and can make Scheelhaase’s job much easier. The WR’s and line will not wow anyone, but they also won’t be liabilities. The defense won’t be at the top of the conference, but it is better than the bottom three. New coordinators on both sides of the ball will mean some new looks, so it is hard to place the Illini, but .500 would be a pleasant surprise.
• 9. Purdue (2-6): Miami transfer Robert Marve will lead the team this fall and though he doesn’t have a lot of experience, he oozes potential. RB Ralph Bolden will likely miss the season with an injury and the depth behind him is a question mark. WR Keith Smith is one of the top receivers in the conference and will give defenses fits all season. Marve could have a tough time keeping his jersey clean this fall, with only two starters back on the line and no real standouts. Purdue’s rush defense was dreadful last season, but should be improved with five of the front seven back. Unfortunately for the Boilermakers the secondary is a mess. The good news is DE Ryan Kerrigan can get to the quarterback quickly, and he will need to as the secondary is as inexperienced as you will ever find. Marve will need to be terrific to get this team to .500 in the conference, and unfortunately the loss of Bolden and some major question marks will likely prevent even that.
• 10. Indiana (2-6): The Hoosiers have an offense that can compete with any in the conference. QB Ben Chappel is the best pure passer in the Big 10, and he will have an outstanding trio of WR’s to throw to. RB Darius Willis has the potential to break-out this year if he can stay healthy, and the Hoosiers have a nice power back and speed back behind him. The offensive line loses star tackle Roger Saffold but will be good enough to keep the offense clicking. The defense will be what keeps Indiana down, with 8 starters gone. The DT’s will be a strength, but behind them is a load of question marks. The Hoosiers will fight with Purdue and Illinois to be the leader of the bottom tier of the conference, but don’t expect a big jump in the standings.
• 11. Minnesota (1-7): The good: the offense returns 9 starters and QB Adam Weber. The bad: that offense was the worst in the conference last year and loses its best player in WR Eric Decker. The ugly: at least 9 starters need replaced on defense. Finishing above last place in the conference will be a stretch for the Gophers, and you have to figure coach Tim Brewster’s seat is warming up. Minnesota should be able to ride Weber’s arm and five returning offensive lineman enough to steal a game somewhere, but they are more likely to go winless than win more than two games in the conference.

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