Big Ten team capsules

State Journal college football writer Joe Rexrode expects Ohio State to go unbeaten and become the first team to win three straight outright Big Ten championships. He predicts MSU will finish in a three-way tie for fifth, with Michigan and Purdue.

1. Ohio State

• Coach: Jim Tressel, 8th season

• Last year: 11-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten (1st)

• Last league title won: 2007

• OUTLOOK: This is the best team in college football, despite all the catcalls OSU has received for losing the past two BCS title games. This group is as athletic and talented as anyone the SEC or Pac-10 can produce. Eighteen starters are back, including several who shunned the NFL for another chance at a national title. Adding quarterback recruit Terrelle Pryor will allow Tressel to mix things up on offense and make things even worse for opponents. The Buckeyes have some tough Big Ten road trips (at Wisconsin, Illinois and MSU), but let's face it - the Big Ten is but a diversion on the way to bigger things.

• KEY GAME: Ohio State at Southern Cal, Sept. 13. The league will be counting on the Buckeyes to regain respect in college football's biggest intersectional game of 2008.

• BIG TEN FOES MISSED: Indiana, Iowa

• TRESSEL'S TAKE: "I hope they've learned lessons from those two (BCS title) games. And hopefully they've learned lessons from the other 24 games they've been a part of."

• PREDICTION: 12-0 overall, 8-0 Big Ten, BCS title game

2. Wisconsin

• Coach: Bret Bielema, third season

• Last year: 9-4, 5-3 (4th)

• Last league title won: 1999

• OUTLOOK: The most surprising thing about Wisconsin last season was its porous defense at times. But the Badgers bring back nine starters on that side of the ball and, although there are questions in the secondary, this team should defend better. Allan Evridge will be Tyler Donovan's successor at quarterback. With four starters back on the line, a stable of backs led by star P.J. Hill, and a sleek weapon in tight end Travis Beckum, Evridge is set up to succeed. The schedule is helpful, too, with Ohio State, Illinois and Penn State all visiting the hostile beer garden that is Camp Randall Stadium.

• KEY GAME: Wisconsin at Michigan, Sept. 27. If the Badgers are going to make a run at the championship, they'll need to whip the transitioning Wolverines in the Big Ten opener in Ann Arbor.

• BIG TEN FOES MISSED: Purdue, Northwestern

• BIELEMA'S TAKE: "Michigan State had us on the ropes a year ago in our stadium, and I know that's gonna be a challenging game. That's the great thing about our conference, is anyone can beat anyone on any given day."

• PREDICTION: 9-3, 6-2, Rose Bowl

3. (tie) Penn State

• Coach: Joe Paterno, 43rd season

• Last year: 9-4, 4-4 (t-5th)

• Last league title won: 2005

• OUTLOOK: The last time Penn State had a great team, in 2005, it featured a mobile quarterback running the spread. That'll be the case at least part of the time this season, with talented senior Daryll Clark behind center. Sophomore Pat Devlin has a big arm and may wedge himself into a two-quarterback situation. Derrick Williams and Co. are back at receiver, and one of the best offensive lines in the Big Ten returns. Stud linebacker Sean Lee's season-ending knee injury is a killer for the defense, but six other starters return, led by relentless end Maurice Evans. If Paterno wants to go out on a high note, this season might be a good chance.

• KEY GAME: Penn State at Wisconsin, Oct. 11. If the Buckeyes get to a third BCS title game as predicted here, this game could be for a spot in the Rose Bowl.

• BIG TEN FOES MISSED: Minnesota, Northwestern

• PATERNO'S TAKE: "I'm having a lot of fun and I don't want to get out of it. And yet I don't want to be too stupid that I go too far and don't leave it the way I want to leave it."

• PREDICTION: 9-3, 5-3, Capital One Bowl

3. (tie) Illinois

• Coach: Ron Zook, fourth season

• Last year: 9-4, 6-2 (t-2nd)

• Last league title won: 2001

• OUTLOOK: It was cork-popping magical in Champaign a year ago, as a team picked to win three or four games instead shocked its way to the Rose Bowl - winning at No. 1 Ohio State in the process. No one envisioned a bump from two to nine wins. But now Illinois no longer has the benefit of surprise. And the Illini will definitely miss Big Ten offensive player of the year Rashard Mendenhall, who will be carrying it on Sundays for the Steelers. Quarterback Juice Williams needs to keep improving as a passer, and he needs to get the ball to wide out Arrelious Benn. The defense loses linebacker J Leman but returns top talent such as corner Vontae Davis and linebacker Martez Wilson.

• KEY GAME: Ohio State at Illinois, Nov. 15. Could this be the Big Ten title showdown, a week earlier than Ohio State-Michigan? One thing's for sure: The Buckeyes want their payback.

• BIG TEN FOES MISSED: MSU, Purdue

• ZOOK'S TAKE: "Was it just a one and done year for Illinois? That's a great, great challenge for us."

• PREDICTION: 8-4, 5-3, Outback Bowl

5. (tie) Michigan

• Coach: Rich Rodriguez, first season

• Last year: 9-4, 6-2 (t-2nd)

• Last league title won: 2004

• OUTLOOK: Reports of Michigan's demise have been greatly exaggerated. There's no question this team has issues as it transitions from nearly 40 years of Bo Schembechler football to Rodriguez's jazzy spread option. The offensive line and quarterback situation are foremost among them. But the Wolverines also have tons of young skill talent, top backs in Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown, and the second-best defense in the Big Ten behind Ohio State. The defensive line is loaded. The almost-inevitable offensive struggles early will keep this team from title contention, but it's too good to suffer a losing season.

• KEY GAME: Illinois at Michigan, Oct. 4. A week after hosting the Badgers, U-M gets Illinois at home, with a chance to prove to everyone that it belongs in the Big Ten race.

• BIG TEN FOES MISSED: Indiana, Iowa

• RODRIGUEZ'S TAKE: "We're going to be very young on offense. I'm not a pessimist or an optimist, I'm more of a realist, and I prefer to tell it like it is. We've lost some of the best players that probably have ever played at the University of Michigan on offense."

PREDICTION: 7-5, 4-4, Alamo Bowl

5. (tie) Purdue

• Coach: Joe Tiller, 12th season

• Last year: 8-5, 3-5 (t-7th)

• Last league title won: 2000

• OUTLOOK: It's time to say farewell to Tiller, who has had as much impact on this league as anyone over the past decade. He brought the spread to the Big Ten, and now it's the prevalent offensive system. Can Purdue send him out a winner? The schedule is rough, but Tiller has a senior quarterback in Curtis Painter who should have a big year - although he'll miss receiver Dorien Bryant and tight end Dustin Keller. Running back Kory Sheets must step up with Jaycen Taylor out for the year with a knee injury. The defense is led by linebacker Anthony Heygood, but this team will have to score big to beat people.

• KEY GAME: Indiana at Purdue, Nov. 22. It's a rivalry again after the Hoosiers' victory a year ago. The Boilermakers will be looking to get revenge and hoist Tiller for a victory lap.

• BIG TEN FOES MISSED: Illinois, Wisconsin

• TILLER'S TAKE: "To me it's almost a reflection of our society in that things can be instant in the spread offense. And I often refer to our society as being an instant gratification society, so the spread offense just fits right in. We've just done our part to help America be better."

• PREDICTION: 7-5, 4-4, Champs Sports Bowl

5. (tie) MSU

• Coach: Mark Dantonio, second season

• Last year: 7-6, 3-5 (t-7th)

• Last league title won: 1990

• OUTLOOK: A promising first season for Dantonio means some actual expectations for his second. If the offensive line comes together and stays healthy, the Spartans have the skill guys - led by running back Javon Ringer and quarterback Brian Hoyer - to put up points. There are plenty of capable options at receiver. The defense, led by sophomore linebacker Greg Jones, should continue to progress under Dantonio and coordinator Pat Narduzzi. That's not to say it's championship level yet. If MSU can win the opener at California, it will have a chance to exceed last season's win total.

• KEY GAME: MSU at Michigan, Oct. 25. It's always the big one for this program, but this time, the Spartans will head to Ann Arbor with a real chance to win - and end an agonizing six-game losing streak to U-M.

• BIG TEN FOES MISSED: Illinois, Minnesota

• DANTONIO'S TAKE: "We won seven football games, but we could have won nine, 10, whatever it is. So again, the difference between winning and losing is like that. If you blink, you may miss it. So we have very, very high hopes this season."

• PREDICTION: 6-6, 4-4, Insight Bowl

8. Iowa

• Coach: Kirk Ferentz, 10th season

• Last year: 6-6, 4-4 (t-5th)

• Last league title won: 2004

• OUTLOOK: Apparently, Ferentz has been drinking stupid juice, because a lot of the people who were calling him a genius three years ago are calling him overrated, overpaid and on the hot seat. The truth is, Ferentz is a very good coach who's had some teams overachieve in the past, and some recent teams underachieve. A string of ugly off-the-field incidents hasn't helped the atmosphere in Iowa City. These Hawkeyes won't have a chance unless quarterback Jake Christensen improves. Iowa is starting over at running back, but the defense will be solid at least, with tackle Mitch King setting the pace.

• KEY GAME: Iowa State at Iowa, Sept. 13. On the same day Ohio State travels to USC, Iowa will have some Big Ten - and in-state - pride on the line as well. The Cyclones have won seven of 10 in this series.

• BIG TEN FOES MISSED: Ohio State, Michigan

• FERENTZ'S TAKE: "Much of the attention we've drawn to the program is the result of our decisions off the field. ... We're confident that this will be a different year. We ask people to judge this roster based on what they do."

• PREDICTION: 6-6, 3-5, Motor City Bowl

9. (tie) Indiana

• Coach: Bill Lynch, second season

• Last year: 7-6, 3-5 (t-7th)

• Last league title won: 1967

• OUTLOOK: The death of former coach Terry Hoeppner, of complications from a brain tumor, fed last season's emotional run to respectability in Bloomington. Lost in that story was the discovery that Lynch is a pretty good football coach. And he's capitalizing on the recruiting trail. Lynch has some horses to help him back up the success of 2007 - quarterback Kellen Lewis, defensive end Greg Middleton, kicker Austin Starr, kick returner Marcus Thigpen - but it won't be easy. Dominating receiver James Hardy is in the NFL, and IU continues to search for a passable running game.

• KEY GAME: Wisconsin at Indiana, Nov. 8. The Hoosiers have a favorable schedule overall, missing Ohio State and Michigan, and this is an opportunity for another program-building upset.

• BIG TEN FOES MISSED: Ohio State, Michigan

• LYNCH'S TAKE: "You have to win. You have to prove you can win to create excitement, and I think that's what we did last fall."

• PREDICTION: 6-6, 2-6, no bowl

9. (tie) Northwestern

• Coach: Pat Fitzgerald, 3rd season

• Last year: 6-6, 3-5 (t-7th)

• Last league title won: 2000

• OUTLOOK: The Wildcats took a step forward in Fitzgerald's second season, although it didn't get them a bowl invitation. This team definitely shouldn't be underestimated. C.J. Bacher is back as the league's most underrated quarterback, Tyrell Sutton is healthy and could become the school's all-time leading rusher, and the defensive front seven has experienced talent. Ends Kevin Mims and Corey Wootton form a tough combo. The left side of the offensive line and the secondary are the main concerns.

• KEY GAME: Northwestern at Duke, Sept. 6. Bad nonleague losses - such as last season's home loss to Duke - have been a disturbing trend of late. If the Wildcats can return the favor in Durham, they can be 4-0 outside the league.

• BIG TEN FOES MISSED: Wisconsin, Penn State

• FITZGERALD'S TAKE: "Last year we got exactly what we deserved in the game against Duke. We didn't execute very well. When we finally decided to start to play Northwestern football, we ran out of time. So we got exactly what we deserved."

• PREDICTION: 6-6, 2-6, no bowl

11. Minnesota

• Coach: Tim Brewster, 2nd season

• Last year: 1-11, 0-8 (11th)

• Last league title won: 1967

• OUTLOOK: Well, at least things can't get worse. Brewster's debut was such a disaster, it only took about half the season for people to start wondering loudly why in the heck Minnesota decided to fire Glen Mason. But Brewster has been recruiting well, pulling blue chippers from all over the place. It's hard to tell how much the Gophers can improve, because a lot will be on the play of the freshmen. Brewster does have a top-notch aerial combo, though, in quarterback Adam Weber and wideout Eric Decker. It's the Gophers' last year in the dreary Metrodome before a move to a sparkling outdoor stadium.

• KEY GAME: Iowa at Minnesota, Nov. 22. What better way to exit the dome than to upset a bitter rival? This is one of the few chances for a conference win.

• BIG TEN FOES MISSED: MSU, Penn State

• BREWSTER'S TAKE: "Change is a difficult process. We changed head coaches, changed systems. We changed a lot of things. We feel like at the University of Minnesota that our change is really going to benefit us as we move forward. I like to say we took two steps back so that we can take that one big step forward."

• PREDICTION: 3-9, 1-7