Michigan State: 2000 finish: 5-6 (2-6), T-9th place

Offense: T.J. Duckett is a tank. The 6-foot-1, 249-pound junior from Kalamazoo, Mich. led the Spartans and was fourth in the conference in rushing a year ago with 1,353 yards. The Heisman contender figures to be a workhorse again this season.

Quarterbacks Jeff Smoker and Ryan Van Dyke have been battling for the starting job since the spring. Whoever wins the position will not be helped by the departure of four starters on the offensive line. People in East Lansing are excited about sophomore wideout Charles Rogers, who did not see action due to academic reasons last fall.

Defense: Despite its poor finish in the conference standings, Michigan State led the Big Ten in total defense last season, and returns most of its defensive core, including senior linebacker Josh Thornhill (team-leading 114 tackles in 2000).

Converted tight end Ivory McCoy gives the Spartans added size and speed at outside linebacker, and preseason All-Big Ten pick Cedric Wright will head up the secondary.

Outlook: The Spartans have two tough road tests early at Notre Dame and Northwestern. Conversely, if they can withstand the first part of the season, they have three of their final four games (vs. Michigan, Indiana and Penn State) at home. Duckett will get his carries and his yards, but Michigan State will need a steady presence at quarterback to be successful, something they lacked last year. If the defense is as stubborn as it was in 2000, however, watch out.

Predictions: McDonald — 9th, Rice — T-6th,
Gorney — 10th

Illinois: 2000 finish: 5-6 (2-6), T-9th place

Offense: The Illini have one of the most experienced and talented backfields in the Big Ten. Senior Kurt Kittner is a three-year starter at quarterback, while tailbacks Rocky Harvey and Antoineo Harris give coach Ron Turner versatility and depth. Three starters return on the offensive line, including preseason All-Big Ten center Luke Butkus, but the receiving corps is thin and untested.

Defense: The strength of this unit lies in the secondary, where seniors Bobby Jackson and Muhammad Abdullah form a pair of hard-hitting safeties that provide leadership as well. Junior linebacker Jerry Schumacher was second on the team in tackles last year, but the other linebacker spots and most of the defensive line are in question.

Outlook: Kittner is a gamer — if teams don't put the Illini away early, he can make them pay. That is, if he ever gets the ball. Illinois could not stop the run last year — its 232.5 yards per game average was more than twice conference-leading Ohio State's. The Illini offense didn't get enough chances to put it in the end zone. If that changes, they might surprise some people. This is a young team, however, with a schedule that includes Penn State, Ohio State and Northwestern in November.

Predictions: McDonald — 8th, Rice — 9th,
Gorney — 6th

Michigan: 2000 finish: 9-3 (6-2), T-1st place

Offense: If you don't recognize anyone in the Wolverines' offense this season, don't feel too badly. No one in the Big Ten will either. Michigan lost running back Anthony Thomas, wide receiver David Terrell and three starters on its offensive line to the NFL, and quarterback Drew Henson to the New York Yankees.

Leading the returnees will be tailback Chris Perry and receiver Marquis Walker, and sophomore John Navarre takes over at quarterback.

Defense: Michigan is known for its hard-nosed defense, and eight returning starters will be looking to live up to that reputation after finishing a disappointing sixth in the conference a year ago. Senior Larry Foote leads an outstanding corps of linebackers, and junior Julius Curry gives the Wolverines a big-play threat at strong safety.

Outlook: Losing the number of talented offensive players that Michigan did would leave most teams decimated, but the Wolverines will probably once again contend for the conference title. Their defense needs to make strides from last year if that is going to happen.

Predictions: McDonald — 1st, Rice — 2nd,
Gorney — 1st

Ohio State: 2000 finish: 8-4 (5-3), 4th place

Offense: Quarterback Steve Bellisari is a year older, and Buckeye fans are hoping a year wiser. The senior threw 13 touchdown passes last season, but had an equal number of interceptions. He and tailback Jonathon Wells will be counted on to lead a relatively young offense. Look for new head coach Jim Tressel to employ a number of different offensive sets this season.

Defense: The Buckeyes finished first in the conference in scoring defense in 2000, allowing opponents a paltry 18.5 points per game. They return three starters at linebacker, including fifth-year senior Joe Cooper. All-America candidate Mike Collins anchors the defensive line, and safety Mike Doss was an All-America as a sophomore last season.

Outlook: Fans in Columbus are anxious to see how Tressel, who had a successful career at nearby Youngstown State, will do in John Cooper's stead. Tough road contests at UCLA, Penn State and Michigan will give them a chance to find out quickly.

Predictions: McDonald — 5th, Rice — 4th,
Gorney — 4th

Wisconsin: 2000 finish: 9-4 (4-4), T-5th place

Offense: The Badgers usually depend on a brutal running attack to beat opponents, but this season coach Barry Alvarez will have to work out a new plan. Wisconsin has no veterans at the position and the only true tailbacks on the roster are all redshirt freshmen. The Badgers plan to try a spread offense, something characteristic in college football today, to help the running game and a young offensive line. Junior quarterback Brooks Bollinger and sophomore Jim Sorgi will both see time and will most likely be the most consistent players on the offense.

Defense: There are major questions at the linebacker and secondary positions this season. After two spectacular defensive years in 1998 and 1999 when the Badgers defense carried them to two Rose Bowls, Wisconsin isn't as talented nor does it have the depth this season. For the Badgers to contend in the Big Ten, the youthful players have to grow up quickly.

Outlook: There are talented players at quarterback and wide receiver, but secondary questions and special teams seem to be the problem for the Badgers. If maturity happens quickly and before the Big Ten season gets into full swing, Wisconsin can be setting themselves up nicely. But the question marks are too big and coach Alvarez will have to find many more ways to win than just depending on Bollinger throwing the ball.

Predictions: McDonald — 6th, Rice — 3rd,
Gorney — 5th

Northwestern: 2000 finish: 8-4 (6-2), T-1st

Offense: You don't stop the Wildcats' offense, you just hope to limit the amount of points it scores. Last season, coach Randy Walker implemented a revolutionary offense that racked up over 475 yards per game and put up 38.5 points per contest. Scary. But Evanston could see an even bigger barrage of points this season as 10 starters return to Walker's offense. Heisman Trophy candidate Damien Anderson is back after darting for 2,063 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. But the man that makes the Wildcats' offense go is quarterback Zak Kustok who aired it out for 2,701 yards last season and tossed 27 touchdowns.

Defense: Six starters return to Northwestern's defense, which was absolutely humiliated in the Alamo Bowl by Nebraska. The Cornhuskers racked up 636 total yards and put 66 points on the board to breeze past the Wildcats in San Antonio. Defensive end Dwayne Missouri will be hard to replace as will defensive back Harold Blackmon. But the most difficult player to be replaced will be Rashidi Wheeler, who died during a team workout in early August.

Outlook: The only way this team will lose is if the opposition can 1) stop Kustok and company once the Wildcats get near the red zone and 2) pile up the points against a suspect Northwestern defense. Northwestern will undoubtedly use Wheeler as inspiration throughout the year, and rightfully so. If they can ride that emotional high the distance this team could be one of the best stories of the 2001 college football season.

Predictions: McDonald — 3rd, Rice — 1st,
Gorney — 2nd