Talk about being in "the big ten."

It is tough enough taking on one ranked team, but the Penn State men's cross country team is heading to West Lafayette, Ind., where it will run against seven top-30 teams in the Big Ten Men's Cross-Country Championship.

Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa are all nationally ranked teams that the Nittany Lions will face off against 11:30 Saturday morning.

The Lions will also face tough squads from Illinois and Purdue.

Ohio State coach Robert Gary said one team could dominate the 10-team race.

"Wisconsin, by far and away. They are the best," Gary said.

Michigan coach Ron Warhurst also said Wisconsin is favored to win the race at Purdue. He said he doesn't know just how good the Badgers might be.

While eight of the 10 conference teams ran in the Pre-Nationals' White and Blue races, Minnesota and Wisconsin did not. During the races many of the Big Ten coaches were able to see where their team stacked up in the conference.

The Badgers have a very deep squad that has only competed in two races this season. Coach Jerry Schumacher has not yet had all of his runners race together this season.

Freshmen Josh Spiker, Bobby Lockhart and sophomore Matt Tegenkamp are expected to be strong finishers for the Badgers.

"Wisconsin has been laying low and they haven't run everyone together yet," Warhurst said.

He thinks the Badgers could be very dominant if they are healthy, but that, "stranger things have happened then for them to lose."

Penn State coach Harry Groves said Michigan and Minnesota could beat Wisconsin.

"He's sure got the guys," Groves said of Schumacher's Badgers. "But they haven't really run much ... The whole conference is stacked."

Gary Wieneke's Illinois squad won the Illinois Invitational and Pre Midwest Regional, but finished 18th in the Blue Race at the Pre-Nationals. The Fighting Illini are led by freshman Jason Bill and seniors John Kronforst and Justin Mitchell.

Freshman brothers Sean and John Jefferson lead a rising young team from Indiana.

The Hoosiers surprised a lot of teams by finishing fourth in the Blue Race at Pre-Nationals.

Robert Chapman's Buckeyes are ranked 29th, thanks to another young group of runners. Joe Welter, one of only two seniors on the team, has spearheaded the group.

The Wolverines are ranked just behind Wisconsin. Coach Warhurst could complete his 29th season with a Big Ten Championship if his team can upset the Badgers.

Sophomore Nate Brannen and freshman Nick Willis led the team to a sixth-place finish in the White race at Pre-Nationals.

Michigan State is another strong team in the conference. Sophomores Steve Sherer, Mike Thorson and Christopher Toloff lead coach Jim Stintzi's Spartans.

Minnesota, the defending Midwest Region Champion, finished first at the Jim Drews, beating Wisconsin.

Coach Steve Placendia's Golden Gophers are led by seniors Will McComb, Neil Hanson and Andrew McKessock.

Ohio State has improved over last season with first-place finishes in the Akron and All Ohio Invitationals.

Coach Gray's team is lead by sophomore Dan Glaz and senior Jon White.

The Nittany Lions' early successes haven't carried through the rest of the season. But Groves' team shouldn't be counted out yet.

Senior Josh Loren and sophomores Chris Foster, Joel Moceri and Mike Gioia are leading a Lions team that Foster said could shock some people.

"None of us have had our best races yet, and we hope to have them at this meet," Foster said.

Purdue finished sixth in the white race at Pre-Nationals.

Junior Kyle Orender and senior Mike Ciccarelli lead coach Mike Poehlein's team.