A trip around the Big Ten
POWER RANKINGS
1) Ohio State
The Buckeyes have won at least a share of the Big Ten title in each of the last five seasons. Keeping them from capturing a record-tying sixth-straight championship will be difficult.
2) Iowa
The Hawkeyes boast the best defensive line in the country, and they have a favorable home schedule.
3) Wisconsin
With Scott Tolzien and John Clay both returning, the Badgers may have the league's most explosive offense.
4) Northwestern
Pat Fitzgerald has the Wildcats primed for a third-straight bowl bid for the first time in the school's history — and maybe even more.
5) Penn State
No Darryl Clark … no problem? Not so much. The Nittany Lions have chosen to replace the two-year starter with true freshman Robert Bolden — good luck.
6) Michigan State
Greg Jones returns from a 2009 defense that consisted of, well, Greg Jones. We'll give Sparty more credit when a Mark Dantonio-coached team plays consistently.
7) Michigan
Much like Penn State, the Wolverines need to figure out a starting quarterback. But unlike the Nittany Lions, Michigan has some better options in Tate Forcier, Denard Robinson, and Devin Gardner.
8) Purdue
Ex-Miami Hurricane Robert Marve and Keith Smith will be the source of many headaches for Big Ten defensive backs this season.
9) Minnesota
Head coach Tim Brewster is *really* excited about the Golden Gophers' new stadium, but what Minnesota really needs is more talent.
10) Indiana
The Hoosiers say they're focused on finishing games this season, but they're going to need a much-improved defense to make that happen.
11) Illinois
Ron Zook said the Illini have as much talent as their 2007 Rose Bowl squad. Was he looking at the wrong roster when he said that?
Big Ten Highlights
No. 12 Wisconsin at UNLV
Time: 10 p.m. Saturday (Central)
Location: Sam Boyd Stadium (Whitney, Nev.)
Where to watch: Versus
Offense: The Badgers should put up big numbers — the Rebels surrendered 32.4 points per game last year.
Defense: Safety Jay Valai will make UNLV quarterback Omar Clayton pay if he makes the same mistakes that led to 12 picks in 2009.
Connecticut at Michigan
Time: Saturday 2:30 p.m. (Central)
Location: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Where to watch: ABC
Offense: The Huskies will be hard-pressed to stop whoever Rich Rodriguez slots at quarterback. As usual, offense will win this one for Michigan.
Defense: If Michigan's defense is similar at all to last year's, the Wolverines will have plenty of trouble with UConn's offense.
Purdue at Notre Dame
Time: Saturday 2:30 p.m. Central
Location: Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, Ind.)
Where to watch: NBC
Offense: Brian Kelly and Dayne Crist usher in a new era of Irish football. Offense is the name of the game in Kelly's system.
Defense: Boilermaker defensive end Ryan Kerrigan will give Kelly's offense plenty of fits, but it won't be enough for a victory.
Offensive impact
Name: John Clay
Position: Running back
Year: Junior
Despite entering the year as the Big Ten's reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor got the media's nod for the preseason honor last month.
Don't tell John Clay that, though.
The 6-1, 255-pound tank of a tailback said he feels like he's the conference's best offensive player, but he credited his teammates for making it possible.
"I feel that way, yes, just because of all the weapons I have around me," he said at Big Ten media days in Chicago on Aug. 3. "From the wide receivers coming back to the offensive line, I feel we have a very special offense."
He returns from a sophomore season in which he carried the ball nearly 300 times for 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns. With Clay poised to face a UNLV defense that surrendered a horrendous 220.6 rushing yards per game last season, expect him to pick up right where he left off.
Defensive impact
Name: Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
Position: Defensive end
Year: Senior
Ryan Kerrigan returns after a season in which he forced a national-best seven fumbles in addition to recording 13 sacks.
Kerrigan's first target in 2010 will be Notre Dame first-year starting quarterback Dayne Crist. The 6-4, 263-pound Kerrigan may make filling in for the now-departed Jimmy Clausen an even steeper challenge.
The Muncie, Ind., native has evolved from a "three-star" prospect (Rivals.com) in high school to garnering a spot on the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the nation's best defensive player.
Head coach Danny Hope called Kerrigan an extremely hard worker, and someone who has excelled at leading by example thus far in his career.
"He knows what's going on," the coach said. "We expect Ryan to continue leading by example on the practice fields and on the playing fields on Saturday, [and] to even step up his role from the vocal standpoint as well."
Inside a coach's mind
"I appreciate Bret [Bielema's] icebreaker. I'm pretty good with the media. So I'm not going to kill you with kindness. I'm just going to give you the facts and we'll go from there."
— said Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald at Big Ten media days in Chicago on Aug. 2.
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