ILLINOIS
Last year: 6-7, 3-5 Big Ten, tie 5th West Division
Returning starters: 15 (7 offense, 7 defense, kicker)
Players to watch: QB West Lunt, RB Josh Ferguson, WR Mike Dudek, DE Jihad Ward, CB V’Angelo Bentley.
The big questions: Does coach Tim Beckman have to do better than last year’s six wins to keep his job? Will accusations of coaches mistreating players from a former player unify or divide the Illini? How soon will receiver Mike Dudek (76 catches last season) be able to return from a spring practice ACL injury?
Coach’s quote: “I’m focused on the first football game. That is what the team is focused on.” — Tim Beckman
IOWA
Last year: 7-6, 4-4 Big Ten, 4th West Division
Returning starters: 12 (4 offense, 6 defense, kicker, punter)
Players to watch: QB C.J. Beathard, RB Jordan Canzeri, WR Tevaun Smith, DE Drew Ott, CB Desmond King.
The big questions: Who are the playmakers on an offense with a first-year starter at quarterback, no running back who had more than 513 yards rushing last year and no receiver who had more than three touchdown catches last season? Will quarterback C.J. Beathard make choosing him over Jake Rudock look like the right move? Would another mediocre season put some heat on coach Kirk Ferentz, even with four years left on his contract.
Coach’s quote: “We’re just worried about playing well this year. That’s where our thoughts are.” — Kirk Ferentz.
MINNESOTA
Last year: 8-5, 5-3 Big Ten, tie 2nd West Division
Returning starters: 17 (7 offense, 8 defense, kicker, punter)
Players to watch: QB Mitch Leidner, RB/WR Jeff Jones, DE Theiren Cochrane, CB Eric Murray, CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun.
The big questions: Can the Gophers fill the huge hole left in their offense by the departure of running back David Cobb (1,626 yards rushing) and tight end Maxx Williams (8 touchdown catches)? Can Minnesota win 8 games or more three seasons in a row for the first time since 1905? How will the Gophers react to being a contender instead of an underog?
Coach’s quote: “I feel like we have as good a secondary as anybody in the Big Ten.” — Jerry Kill
NEBRASKA
Last year: 9-4, 5-3 Big Ten, tie 2nd West Division
Returning starters: 15 (7 offense, 6 defense, kicker, punter)
Players to watch: QB Tommy Armstrong, WR De’Mornay Pierson-El, WR Jordan Westerkamp, DT Maliek Collins, S Nathan Gerry
The big questions: Will quarterback Tommy Armstrong improve on his 52 percent completion percentage of last season? Who is going to replace Ameer Abdullah (1,611 yards rushing) at running back? Will new coach Mike Riley’s low key personality play better than the vein popping intensity of Bo Pelini did in the pressure cooker of Nebraska football?
Coach’s quote: “We said we had time for one more big adventure in our life, so here we are.” — Mike Riley
NORTHWESTERN
Last year: 5-7, 3-5 Big Ten, tie 5th West Division
Returning starters: 15 (6 offense, 8 defense, kicker)
Players to watch: RB Justin Jackson, WR Christian Jones, WR Cameron Dickerson, DE Dean Lowry, CB Nick Van Hoose
The big questions: Can Northwestern bounce back from consecutive 5-7 seasons? Have the offensive line problems of the last two seasons been fixed? Who will be the starting quarterback?
Coach’s quote: “Over the last two years we’ve beaten ourselves. And we can’t do that. That would be where my focus is now.” — Pat Fitzgerald
PURDUE
Last year: 3-9, 1-7 Big Ten, 7th West Division
Returning starters: 17 (8 offense, 7 defense, kicker, punter)
Players to watch: QB Austin Appleby, WR Danny Anthrop, DT Jake Replogle, CB Frankie Williams
The big questions: Which is the real Austin Appleby, the quarterback whose first few starts were good or the the one who struggled late last season? Can experience on the offensive line make up for a lack of experience in the backfield? Does coach Darrell Hazell (4-20 in two seasons) ever wonder why he took this job?
Coach’s quote: “I think the key to our success this year will be the month of September. We have to get off to a good start.” — Darrell Hazell
WISCONSIN
Last year: 11-3, 7-1 Big Ten, 1st West Division
Returning starters: 12 (4 offense, 6 defensive, kicker, punter)
Players to watch: QB Joel Stave, RB Corey Clement, WR Alex Erickson, LB Vince Biegel, LB Joe Schobert, S Michael Caputo.
The big questions: Will Corey Clement (969 yards rushing as Melvin Gordon’s backup) find as much running room behind an inexperienced line this year? In Madison, Wis. native Paul Chryst have the Badgers found a coach who will stay around for the long run? Can they find a deep threat at receiver to open up more space for the running game?
Coach’s quote: “There are players at Wisconsin who know how to win and what it takes to win.” — Paul Chryst
