Coach: Gary Moeller (fifth season, 28-5-3)

Last season: 9-0-3, 6-0-2 (first in the Big Ten). Beat Washington in the Rose Bowl.

Strengths: The Wolverine defense should be a strength, anchored by inside linebacker Steve Morrison and strong safety Shonte Peoples. Junior Todd Collins should be capable of filling Elvis Grbac's shoes -- especially with Heisman Trophy candidate Tyrone Wheatley at tailback and all-around threat Derrick Alexander at wide receiver.

Weaknesses: The Wolverines lost four outstanding starters on the offensive line. If a new group can fill in and the defense solidifies around its superstars, the team should be in the national championship hunt.

Player to watch: Wheatley -- the junior tailback ripped apart Big Ten defenses on his way to becoming the 1992 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. His 235-yard show in the Rose Bowl opened a number of eyes, and if that type of explosiveness continues, he could be matching Desmond Howard's infamous Heisman pose.

Moeller said: "Wheatley is potentially as good a back as any, but he can improve because he's still learning the position . . . He's never completed a whole season with the mindset of a Walter Payton -- that's a back to me."

Coach: Joe Paterno (first season, 247-67-3 as an independent)

Last season: 7-5 as independents. Lost to Stanford in the Blockbuster Bowl.

Strengths: As usual, the defense. Defensive linemen Lou Benfatti and Tyoka Jackson and defensive backs Lee Rubin and Derek Bochna are all potential All-Americans.

Weaknesses: And then there's the kicking game, Paterno's biggest worry. If kicker Craig Fayak can return from back surgery and a punter materializes out of nowhere, the Lions should be OK. Of course, those aren't the only problems. The team lacks a starting quarterback, starting tailback, starting fullback and a go-to wide receiver. Paterno must settle on one person at each of these positions. In addition, the attitude overhaul the Lions experienced after last year's dismal season has to be maintained.

Players to watch: Whoever the starting tailback and quarterback are, plus Benfatti, who has evoked comparisons to former Penn State great Mike Reid. He just needs to make a couple of those spectacular plays that he just missed last year.

Paterno said: "I think if we can kick the ball and play the kind of defense we're capable of playing, we can develop an offensive philosophy."

Coach: John Cooper (seventh season, 35-21-3)

Last season: 8-3-1, 5-2-1 (second). Lost to Georgia in the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Strengths: Line play should be the Buckeyes' forte on both sides of the ball. The Buckeyes return 13 starters, including star defensive linemen Jason Simmons and Dan Wilkinson -- a first-team All-Big Ten pick as a freshman. The offensive line returns four starters, including last year's Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Korey Stringer.

Weaknesses: The Buckeyes lack experience at the skill positions. Cooper has expressed his confidence in quarterback Bob Hoying, but time will tell whether Hoying will have anyone to receive. Flanker Chris Sanders is the only letterman returning, and although fullback Jeff Cothran returns, three tailbacks will fight for the starting job.

Player to watch: Hoying -- the sophomore may have to shoulder a great deal of the Buckeyes' offensive load with so few returning starters. His leadership ability will also be tested early on.

Cooper said: "I think we improved as the season progressed. We were a pretty good football team at the end of the year."

Coach: Hayden Fry (15th season, 105-58-5)

Last season: 5-7, 4-4 (fifth)

Strengths: The Hawkeyes have one of the nation's most underrated coaches in Fry. Eight defensive starters return for the Hawkeyes, including first-team All-Big Ten defensive tackle Mike Wells, who had 89 tackles last year. Fry's strong recruiting class includes 10 junior college transfers -- some of whom may contribute right away, especially on offense.

Weaknesses: Only two offensive starters return this year. The Hawkeyes may ride their defense at first. A strong kicking game --an area which frustrated Fry last year -- is essential.

Player to watch: Paul Burmeister. The senior quarterback started the last three games of the season for the Hawkeyes, winning two of them. The program has a history of developing strong quarterbacks.

Fry said: "We had 29 youngsters graduate -- that was obviously more high school players than we could recruit. Then with the option to play the (junior college transfers) immediately and a great need for speed, we went to California and got a whole truck load of them . . . They have a lot better chance of helping us immediately. I'm looking for some immediate help."

Coach: Barry Alvarez (fourth season, 11-22)

Last season: 5-6, 3-5 (sixth)

Strengths: The highly respected Alvarez has improved the Badgers' Big Ten standing in each of his three seasons. Many feel this could be the breakthrough year for Wisconsin, behind a solid squad with 16 returning starters. The Badgers' defensive line of Lamark Shackerford, Carlos Fowler and Mike Thompson have started a combined 64 games. In addition, all four starters in the secondary return.

Weaknesses: The only factor hindering the Badgers' Rose Bowl hopes is their inexperience. Quarterback Darrell Bevell is a 23-year-old sophomore who came off a four-year Mormon mission to start as a freshman, and along with the offensive line, he is still growing and learning. If the Badgers grow up in a hurry, eight wins is a definite possibility.

Player to watch: Shackerford. The 6-foot-1, 265-pound senior lineman had 14 tackles for losses despite double and triple-teaming. Last year's defense allowed only 122.6 yards per game rushing, the sixth best in school history, and Shackerford was a major part of that.

Alvarez said: "We have a tough season ahead of us, especially with playing Michigan State in the Japan Bowl . . . We are very aware that our season is longer."

Coach: George Perles (12th season, 62-50-4)

Last season: 5-6, 5-3 (third)

Strengths: After seven winning seasons in his first eight years, George Perles' Spartans have struggled for the last two seasons. But with 18 returning starters, the Spartans should be back in the Big Ten race. Quarterback Jim Miller may be the best signal-caller in the Big Ten this season, and tailback Craig Thomas was second-team All-Big Ten last fall -- as a backup. On defense, safety Steve Wasylk may be the smartest starter in the Big Ten, holding a 3.95 grade point average.

Weaknesses: A tough schedule. The Spartans play Kansas, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and are in the Japan Bowl against Wisconsin. They also face a Central Michigan team that has upset them the last two years.

Player to watch: Miller. While injury-prone last season, Miller completed almost 64 percent of his passes and passed for over 200 yards four times. The three-time Academic All-Big Ten will need every ounce of brainpower to work his way through the formidable defenses the Spartans will face.

Perles said: "We just have to play the cards we're dealt. When the pipe won't fit in the cutlink, just beat it in. Somehow we have to just make our tough schedule work."

Coach: Lou Tepper (third season, 6-6-1)

Last season: 6-5-1, 4-3-1 (fourth). Lost to Hawaii in the John Hancock Bowl.

Strengths: Linebacker U. has moved to Champaign this season. Junior Dana Howard merely made 150 tackles last year, while John Holecek registered 137. Simeon Rice led the nation's freshmen with nine sacks a year ago. The Illini return a total of 17 starters overall.

Weaknesses: The offense was one of the worst in the Big Ten last year. Highly touted offensive coordinator Greg Landry worked under Mike Ditka with the Chicago Bears, and his first priority will be to find a replacement for three-year quarterback starter Jason Verduzco.

Player to watch: Howard, one of the nation's top inside linebackers, can dominate a game. With the attention spread evenly across his talented cohorts, Howard should have a number of monster games.

Tepper said: "Last year I really felt our defense was going to be our weak suit; it proved to be our strongest suit . . . and I think this corps of linebackers is the finest I've ever been around."

Coach: Bill Mallory (tenth season, 49-52-3)

Last season: 5-6, 3-5 (sixth)

Strengths: The Hoosiers return eight starters on defense, including lineman Charles Beauchamp. The linebackers and secondary boast experience and decent depth, something that Indiana has lacked in the past. The maturity of the defense will have to carry over to an unproven offense.

Weaknesses: The number-one priority on offense is to replace quarterback Trent Green, so John Paci will start the season. After finding no one to replace Vaughn Dunbar as a No. 1 running back last year, the Hoosiers will return to a two-back set. They should have a decent amount of time to establish some stability -- their first three games are against Toledo, Northern Illinois and Kentucky.

Player to watch: Beauchamp, who had 62 tackles (six for loss) as a freshman, is a legitimate All-Big Ten candidate. If he can stay healthy, the Indiana defense could mature and reach the next level.

Mallory said: "Last season I think we played some people who weren't quite ready and I put them in some key positions. I had one who we bounced around about three different positions. I'm hoping we can eliminate that type of deal this fall."

Coach: Jim Colletto (third season, 8-14)

Last season: 4-7, 3-5 (sixth)

Strengths: Just another Big Ten team on the rise. The Boilermakers return 15 starters. Tailback should be a strong spot -- senior Arlee Conners ran for 676 yards last year and Corey Rogers, was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1991. Fullback Mike Alstott, flanker Jeff Hill and split end Jermaine Ross all return for quarterback Matt Pike, who started five of the first six games last year. The secondary boasts two stars in Pat Johnson and Jimmy Young, both All-Big Ten selections last year.

Weaknesses: The Boilermakers lost Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Jeff Zgonina and All-Big Ten inside linebacker Eric Beatty, on a team that had the worst pass rush in the Big Ten last year. Only one experienced starter returns to the offensive line.

Player to watch: Alstott. He ran for 195 yards on 46 carries as a freshman, and Colletto sees a future star in the Joliet, Ill., native.

Colletto said: "(With the players) on coming to Purdue, it was a show up on Saturday, get your fannie beat, go home and see what party you could hit the fastest . . . Now these youngsters are interested in playing, they have a great deal of enthusiasm, and they've stood up and played some pretty good football games."

Coach: Gary Barnett (second season, 3-8)

Last season: 3-8, 3-5 (sixth)

Strengths: "Expect Victory" --that was the motto Barnett brought in, and that's what happened last season -- at least by Northwestern's standards. It was the team's highest conference finish since 1973. And this year, things could get better, behind Heisman Trophy candidate Lee Gissendaner and talented quarterback Len Williams. Williams completed 63.3 percent of his passes and was 20th in the nation in passing efficiency. Offensive tackle Matt O'Dwyer is one of the best in the Big Ten, and defensive back William Bennett had a great freshman season.

Weaknesses: While the defense returns seven starters, Barnett considers the defensive line his biggest concern. However, the coach has no problem with playing freshmen, and a number of people in his highly regarded recruiting class may contribute immediately.

Player to watch: Gissendaner. A legitimate Heisman candidate, if he gets enough hype. He led the Big Ten in receptions, receiving yardage and all-purpose yardage last year, and was voted the league's MVP by the conference coaches last year.

Barnett said: "This year we're going to be able to play speedwise and skillwise with anybody in the Big Ten."

Coach: Jim Wacker (second season, 2-9)

Last season: 2-9, 2-6 (tenth)

Strengths: Penn State's first Big Ten opponent returns 15 starters, and Coach Jim Wacker has taken a positive outlook despite last year's woes. He has some talent, including wide receiver Omar Douglas, who had 61 receptions last year as a junior. In fact, the Gophers were fifth in the league in total offense last year, but penalties and turnovers killed them. A season-ending victory over Iowa helped instill some confidence in Wacker's ever-positive mentality.

Weaknesses: Quarterback Marquel Fleetwood, who gained 2,483 all-purpose yards last season, is gone. ve line is a weak spot, but Wacker is willing the give it time to come around. And the much-improved and more experienced defense, which returns five of its front seven, should improve over its ninth-place Big Ten ranking last year.

Player to watch: Douglas. He's a speedy wideout who runs a 4.32 40-yard dash, and saw time at wide receiver and kick returner last season. He caught 11 passes against Pittsburgh, and returned 10 kicks for 220 yards last year.

Wacker said: "All of the pre-season mags are picking the Gophers to be last -- boy, I hope they're wrong . . . Right now it's just a matter of lining up, rolling the dice and seeing where we end up."