It has been a good ride so far for the Penn State wrestling team. Now it is time to see if the car can handle the potholes.

The Nittany Lions (7-3) hope those potholes are more like speed bumps this weekend when they open this year's Big Ten action. Penn State will face Indiana and Purdue, starting a schedule that takes them through some of the toughest teams in what could be the nation's toughest conference.

Here is a preview of the eight Big Ten squads Penn State will face this season -- the Lions do not wrestle Illinois and Northwestern -- as the team tries to stay ranked in the top 25.

Indiana

Although Indiana is not one of the stronger teams in the Big Ten, the Hoosiers still boast a very capable team with some individuals who bring solid competition to the mat.

Leading the team is junior Coyte Cooper, who wrestles at 141 pounds and leads the team in pins with 11. Senior Ty Mathews wrestles at 184 and has a career record of 58-31.

Freshman Joe Debuque has made a nice contribution in the 125-pound class.

Purdue

The Boilermakers suffered a loss at the hands of Missouri back on Dec. 20. That's the only time the No.16 team in the country has faced defeat this season. At 11-1, Purdue is continuing the strong wrestling that got it to a top-20 finish at the NCAA tournament last year. The team is led by sophomore Chris Fleeger, the top-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds and a returning All-American. Penn State faces Purdue Sunday in West Lafayette, Ind.

Minnesota

The Golden Gophers are the returning national champions. They returned to the 2002-2003 season with standout wrestlers in six weight classes.

Seniors Luke Becker (14-1) and Ryan Lewis (17-2) are ranked No. 1 in the 157- and 133-pound weight classes, respectively. Senior Jared Lawrence (17-2) and juniors Jacob Volkman (17-3) and Damian Hahn (10-3) are also dominating their weight classes.

Senior Garrett Lowney has struggled early on with a 3-3 record but is expected to rebound to the form that brought him a 28-8 record last season.

Wisconsin

When the Nittany Lions face the Badgers, they will be in for another tough Big Ten battle. Wisconsin enters conference play with an undefeated 8-0 record.

The Black brothers, Tony (15-3, 7-0) and Kevin (15-1, 6-0) remain undefeated in dual competition.

The seniors wrestle at 125 and 133, respectively.

Coach Barry Davis' team also gets help from junior Ralph DeNisco (12-2) in the 184-pound class and sophomore and senior Justin Staebler (14-4) at heavyweight.

Ohio State

When Ohio State comes to town on Feb. 6, the Buckeyes will bring four of the nation's top wrestlers in heavyweight Tommy Rowlands, 197-pound Anton Talamantes, 157-pound Keaton Anderson and 165-pound John Clark.

Anderson enters Big Ten competition with a 25-1 record.

Rowlands (26-3), Clark (25-4) and Talamantes (21-5) have equally impressive records as well.

Iowa

This perennial juggernaut simply cannot be slowed down.

Following a fourth-place finish at the NCAA tournament a year ago, the Hawkeyes have picked up where they left off last year. Iowa is 10-2 on the season, good enough for a No. 2 ranking, including a third-place finish at the NWCA National Duals last weekend.

Having two wrestlers who refuse to lose certainly helps. Jessman Smith and Steve Mocco, ranked No. 1 at 184 pounds and Heavyweight, respectively, sport a 41-0 combined record.

The lightweights -- returning All-Americans Luke Eustice (125) and Cliff Moore (133) -- aren't any easier than the heavyweights. Iowa makes the trip to Happy Valley on Feb. 9.

Michigan

Despite a 5-4 start, the Wolverines are still ranked No. 9 in the country. One reason for the Maize and Blue to have optimism is the quality of wrestling they should get come Big Ten time.

The team's four returning All-Americans -- Ryan Bertin (157), A.J. Grant (125), Mike Kulczycki (157) and Kyle Smith (197) -- have combined for a 46-16 record this season.

Add to that Foley Dowd, who is 18-3 at 133 pounds, and the lineup looks very strong for Michigan. The Wolverines will host Penn State in Ann Arbor on Feb. 15.

Michigan State

The Spartans do not have any one wrestler who stands out among the competition. But that has not kept them from being ranked in the top 25. They are currently at No. 15.

Senior heavyweight John Wechner leads Michigan State with a 12-9 record.

Freshman Nick Simmons went 10-2 in tournament competition but has fallen to 13-5 since entering dual-meet action.