College Football Preview: A Peek Inside the. . . Big Ten

Big Ten
Top Teams
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan State
3. Wisconsin
4. Nebraska
5. Penn State
6. Michigan
Top Players:
Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State
Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska
Drew Astorino, S, Penn State
Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
James White, RB, Wisconsin
Outlook: Even without Terrelle Pryor and a load of great suspended players Ohio State is still dangerous. Now Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller will fight for the starting job. Daniel Herron, DeVier Posey, John Simon and Mike Brewster will keep the team strong. Michigan State keeps back Edwin Baker and quarterback Kirk Cousins return making the Spartans a top ten team. Wisconsin may end up being the top team in the Big Ten. They gain Russell Wilson from NC State and return backs James White and Montee Ball. They also have a stacked linebacker core led by Mike Taylor and Chris Borland. Entering the Big Ten won't be easy for Nebraska in '11. Taylor Martinez is back and I really like power back Rex Burkhead. The defense is strong as ever as defensive tackle Jared Crick. Joe Paterno returns yet another strong squad at Penn State. The quarterback position will be fought over by Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin. Bolden likely has the edge and has wide out Derek Moye to pass too. Safety Drew Astorino is the best player in the secondary in the Big Ten. Michigan returns speedy quarterback Denard Robinson and has a lot of options to throw too with Roy Roundtree and Daryll Stonum. The Hawkeyes of Iowa lost Ricky Stanzi, Adrian Clayborn and Tyler Sash but still has talent. Quarterback James Vandenburg and back Jewel Hampton will keep the team respectable. Illinois has strong quarterback Nathan Scheelhasse. Northwestern returns 16 starters along with senior Dan Persa and wide out Jeremy Ebert. Indiana is weak on offense and defense. Without defensive end Ryan Kerrigan Purdue isn't very strong. Minnesota lost Adam Weber but still has talent. Star offensive linemen recruit Jonah Pirsig will make an impact immediately.