7. Northwestern Wildcats

Top Offensive Player: The offensive line

It's tough to pinpoint one man from this group, but its four returning starters make this the offense's strength. That could come in handy because of Mike Kafka, the turnover-prone senior quarterback who has a knack for running the football. He was second on the team in rushing in 2008, and his 217 yards on the ground against Minnesota last season was a Big Ten single-game record for a quarterback. He'll be throwing to three experienced wideouts in Andrew Brewer, Sidney Stewart and Jeremy Ebert. Still, questions at running back and a lack of star power may keep this offense from moving the ball consistently against the better Big Ten defenses.

Top Defensive Player: DE Corey Wootton

Wotton had 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss en route to a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season. He is on virtually every single preseason award watch list and, if fully recovered from a knee injury suffered in last season's Alamo Bowl, will be a legitimate contender for the conference's defensive player of the year award. The linebackers are solid at best, and the secondary returns all four starters, making it the best part of this defense.

Overall Outlook: Northwestern has improved its win total in each of coach Pat Fitzgerald's first three seasons at the head of the program. Because of a non-conference schedule that ranks right down there with Penn State's on the thrill scale (and because they avoid Ohio State this year), the Wildcats will have an opportunity to match last year's 9-4 mark, although anything more would be miraculous with a team of good but not great players, with the exception of Wootton.

-Fortuna