It stands to be a very exciting season in the Big Ten this year. Ohio State has won the last three conference championships, and the Buckeyes are the favorite again, and are among the top contenders for this year’s national championship.

However, the conference is very deep, and not only do the Buckeyes have a few challengers that will do all they can to take them down, but there could be at least nine or ten teams that end up bowl eligible.

Here’s our look at the conference this season, and keep checking back throughout the week as we give in-depth team-by-team previews, from the Buckeyes to the Boilermakers.

Conference Favorites

What’s there to say that hasn’t been said already? Ohio State is good, we know that. They’re the favorite, and with a couple of Heimsan candidates on offense and a team littered with first-round picks and All-Americans, the chances are good (provided they beat USC and/or go unbeaten in the Big Ten) that they play for the national title for the third year in a row.

Can anyone stop them? Yes. Will anyone stop them? That’s another question entirely left for the next few months.

Illinois is a favorable pick among many, but as for the team who could best take down the Buckeyes for the conference title? That’s Wisconsin, who will be breaking in a new starter at QB in Kansas State transfer Allan Evridge, but has talent everywhere, from star RB P.J. Hill, to tight end Travis Beckum, and a defense that features the likes of end Matt Shaugnessy and safety Shane Carter. More than that, they get Ohio State (10/4), Penn State (10/11), and Illinois (10/25) all at home. Road games at Michigan, Michigan State, and Indiana could pose a threat, but there’s no reason why the Badgers can’t win the Big Ten.

As for the Fighting Illini, they’re a team on the rise after beating. They do get Ohio State (11/15) at home, but by that time, will their Big Ten challenge be done and dusted? They have to go to Penn State (9/27), Michigan (10/4), and Wisconsin, and it’ll be hard for them to come out with wins in all three of those games. That being said, all you have to do is look at what happened in Columbus last November, and that says it all.

Penn State also has to be mentioned, and not just because it’s a courtesy to Joe Paterno. The Nittany Lions are stocked with talent, and having a new starting QB isn’t necessarily a bad thing, given that Anthony Morelli was pretty unpredictable, and not always in the good way. Losing star linebacker Sean Lee in spring practice is a big blow, but the defense should be a force, led by end Maurice Evans, who’s going to bring the pain to a lot of quarterbacks this season and beyond.

Darkhorses

Laugh now if you want, but Indiana could be very, very good. Anytime you can avoid Michigan and Ohio State on your schedule, you’ve got a chance at a pretty stellar season. They do have to face Penn State and Illinois on the road, along with in-state rival Purdue, but they do get Wisconsin at home. If Kellen Lewis keeps his focus on making nothing but good headlines on and off of the field, don’t be surprised if Indiana makes a push for nine wins (or more, if they can get a road upset or two).

Many in the college football universe are expecting Rich Rodriguez’s first year at Michigan to be a down one, but don’t be so quick to assume. There are indeed a lot of questions to answer, most notably at QB and whether someone will be able to take command in Rich-Rod’s spread option, and several holes to fill all around, but it all comes down to a three-game stretch in the early part of the season. It will either shut up a lot of people or verify their projections, as Michigan goes to Notre Dame (who’s facing quite a few questions of their own), and then hosts Wisconsin and Illinois in their first two Big Ten games.

Postseason-Bound

I will stop short of making any bold predictions about Michigan State, because we know where such things can lead, especially with the Spartans. However, there is potential, even without Devin Thomas, who parlayed his big junior season into getting drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round of this year’s draft. QB Brian Hoyer will have to make do without Thomas and Kellen Davis, and touchdown machine Jehuu Caulcrick, but he does have a potential darkhorse Heisman candidate in RB Javon Ringer, who stands to get into the end zone many, many more times this season with Caulcrick not hogging the six-pointers.

Purdue, like Michigan State, is a big question mark. The Boilermakers should make yet another bowl run in Joe Tiller’s final season, but will it be another seven-win regular-season? QB Curtis Painter could be a first-round pick in next year’s draft if he can have a monster senior season, which needs to include a marquee win or two, both for his and the team’s sake. He certainly will have several chances to make it happen, too, as Purdue hosts Oregon, Penn State, and Michigan.

Northwestern fell just short of the postseason last year, with a season-ending loss to Illinois keeping them from seven wins and a likely bowl. But, the Wildcats should be back in the bowls this year, with QB C.J. Bacher leading the way, along with a (hopefully) healthy Tyrell Sutton, who only played seven games last season.

The Rest

A few years ago, Iowa looked to be on the verge of being a regular presence atop the Big Ten standings after going 31-7 between 2002-04. But, the last three seasons have seen the Hawkeyes regress to 7-5, 6-7, and 6-6, and last season, Iowa missed the postseason after six straight trips. There’s the potential to make a push for a top-half finish, with a talented defense and junior Jake Christensen returning at QB, but if the Hawkeyes are mediocre again, Kirk Ferentz might get to know the hot seat.

Last year was an ugly one, to say the least, for Minnesota under first-year head man Tim Brewster, as the Golden Gophers went 1-11, went 0-8 in the Big Ten, and lost at home to I-AA North Dakota State. Minnesota has a budding star in sophomore QB Adam Weber (2,895 yards, 24 TD passing, 617 yards, 5 TD rushing in 2007), but they’re bound for the bottom of the barrel once again.

Conference Predictions

1. Ohio State – There’s a chance they could be knocked off of their pedestal, but they should be able to lock up a fourth straight Big Ten title and make a run at a third straight appearance in the BCS title game.

2. Wisconsin – Early games against Akron and Marshall should allow Evridge to get comfortable in a starting role, and with the Badgers getting Ohio State, Penn State, and Illinois all at home, the stage is set for at least a BCS at-large berth.

3. Illinois – The schedule is anything but favorable, as there are road trips to Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin. But, the Illini have the talent, and as they showed last year, they’re not afraid of anyone.

4. Penn State – A nine-win (or more) season is well within reach, and if they can put all of the distractions behind them, they could also make a run at a BCS berth.

5. Indiana – The Hoosiers have a very favorable schedule, and last year’s impressive 7-6 season should be trumped by at least a win or two.

6. Michigan – The first five games will play a big part in whether it’s ‘rebuild’ or ‘reload’ in Ann Arbor, with a tough season opener against Utah, a trip to South Bend, and games against Wisconsin and Illinois in their first two conference contests.

7. Michigan State – Dantonio has the program heading in the right direction, and they have the chance to help be a spoiler, with games at home against Wisconsin and Ohio State. Eight or more wins isn’t a stretch, but Michigan State is one of those teams that you can never be sure about, one way or another.

8. Purdue – There’s some reloading to do on both sides of the ball, but with one of the best quarterbacks in the conference (and country) in Painter, Purdue should make their 11th bowl under Tiller in his 12th and final season, and could vie for another eight-win campaign.

9. Northwestern – There are several talented teams ahead of them, but with an offense that should have no problem putting up plenty of points, and a defense that has potential to be solid, the Wildcats should make their first postseason trip since 2005. With a pretty favorable schedule, eight wins isn’t out of reach.

10. Iowa – Iowa has the talent to have a winning team, and for Ferentz’s sake, talent needs to translate into results.

11. Minnesota – They should win more games than the one that they managed last season, but unless the defense sees some significant improvement, a winning record is at least another season away.

Ten Conference Games to Watch

Indiana vs. Michigan State, 9/27
Michigan vs. Wisconsin, 9/27
Purdue vs. Penn State, 10/4
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State, 10/4
Michigan State vs. Ohio State, 10/18
Ohio State vs. Penn State, 10/25
Illinois vs. Ohio State, 11/15
Michigan vs. Ohio State, 11/22
Purdue vs. Indiana, 11/22
Northwestern vs. Illinois, 11/22

Five Non-Conference Games to Watch

Illinois vs. Missouri, 8/30
Michigan vs. Utah, 8/30
USC vs. Ohio State, 9/13
Purdue vs. Oregon, 9/13
Fresno State vs. Wisconsin, 9/13

Preseason All-Big Ten Team

QB: Kellen Lewis, Indiana
RB: Chris Well, Ohio State
RB: Javon Ringer, Michigan State
WR: Brian Robiskie, Ohio State
WR: Greg Orton, Purdue
WR: Eric Decker, Minnesota
TE: Travis Beckum, Wisconsin
OL: Alex Boone, Ohio State
OL: Xavier Fulton, Illinois
OL: Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin
OL: Rich Ohmberger, Penn State
OL: A.Q. Shipley, Penn State

DL: Greg Middleton, Indiana
DL: Maurice Evans, Penn State
DL: Terrance Taylor, Michigan
DL: Mitch King, Iowa
LB: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
LB: Marcus Freeman, Ohio State
LB: Anthony Heygood, Purdue
LB: Will Patterson, Indiana
CB: Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
CB: Vontae Davis, Illinois
S: Anderson Russell, Ohio State
S: Austin Thomas, Indiana

Kicker: Austin Starr, Indiana
Punter: Jeremy Boone, Penn State
Kick Returner: David Gilreath, Wisconsin
All-Purpose: Derrick Williams, Penn State

Player of the Year: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
Offensive Player of the Year: Kellen Lewis, Indiana
Defensive Player of the Year: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
Newcomer of the Year: Daryl Stonum, Michigan
Coach of the Year: Bill Lynch, Indiana