Sports Editor
Ohio State has reached Big Ten dynasty status, only to have one major problem: Getting thrashed in the national championship games. The SEC speed of Florida and LSU has given the Buckeyes fits in the past two BCS championships.
With the return of an experienced, talented roster in Columbus, Ohio State will be the favorite to win the Big Ten crown again and make another trip to the BCS title clash. A championship would mark their third consecutive outright Big Ten title (No school has won three straight outright titles).
The best offensive and defensive players in the league also suit up for the Buckeyes: Chris Wells and James Laurinaitis. Wells, a 6'1", 237-pound junior running back, rumbled for 1,609 yards last season, which included 222 yards and two touchdowns in the rivalry game against Michigan. Laurinaitis returns for his senior season at linebacker and holds down a defense that has an embarrassment of riches including shutdown corner Malcolm Jenkins and defensive end Cameron Heyward.
Sixth-year senior Todd Boeckman will keep the quarterback seat warm before unleashing highly touted Terrelle Pryor. The 6'6", Pryor was the nation's number one recruit, and broke the hearts of Michigan and Penn State with his decision to pick the scarlet and gray. Look for Jim Tressel and his coaching staff to find ways to work in Pryor, like working him in select series to take advantage of his run-pass abilities.
Wisconsin will make a push for second prize with a talented defense and a running game that is powered by an always solid line and junior running back P.J. Hill, along with a stable of other backs. A quarterback position up for grabs won't matter all that much as long as they throw the ball to talented tight end Travis Beckum.
The stock report is up for Illinois, after Ron Zook took his team to the Rose Bowl last season. Shaky quarterback Juice Williams will have to do a better job throwing the ball, and that shouldn't be a problem as long as he gets it into the hands of the Big Ten's best receiver, Arrelious Benn. Zook has done a great job of bringing speed to Champaign -and that list starts with cornerback Vontae Davis, who's a blazer destined for the NFL.
With the return of an experienced, talented roster in Columbus, Ohio State will be the favorite to win the Big Ten crown again and make another trip to the BCS title clash. A championship would mark their third consecutive outright Big Ten title (No school has won three straight outright titles).
The best offensive and defensive players in the league also suit up for the Buckeyes: Chris Wells and James Laurinaitis. Wells, a 6'1", 237-pound junior running back, rumbled for 1,609 yards last season, which included 222 yards and two touchdowns in the rivalry game against Michigan. Laurinaitis returns for his senior season at linebacker and holds down a defense that has an embarrassment of riches including shutdown corner Malcolm Jenkins and defensive end Cameron Heyward.
Sixth-year senior Todd Boeckman will keep the quarterback seat warm before unleashing highly touted Terrelle Pryor. The 6'6", Pryor was the nation's number one recruit, and broke the hearts of Michigan and Penn State with his decision to pick the scarlet and gray. Look for Jim Tressel and his coaching staff to find ways to work in Pryor, like working him in select series to take advantage of his run-pass abilities.
Wisconsin will make a push for second prize with a talented defense and a running game that is powered by an always solid line and junior running back P.J. Hill, along with a stable of other backs. A quarterback position up for grabs won't matter all that much as long as they throw the ball to talented tight end Travis Beckum.
The stock report is up for Illinois, after Ron Zook took his team to the Rose Bowl last season. Shaky quarterback Juice Williams will have to do a better job throwing the ball, and that shouldn't be a problem as long as he gets it into the hands of the Big Ten's best receiver, Arrelious Benn. Zook has done a great job of bringing speed to Champaign -and that list starts with cornerback Vontae Davis, who's a blazer destined for the NFL.
Michigan football is under construction with the arrival of coach Rich Rodriguez. The first-year coach will install his spread offense with one major problem: No quarterback to orchestrate it. Seems everyone left, including offensive lineman Justin Boren to none other than Ohio State, after saying the new program lacked "family values."
Joe Tiller will enter his 12th and last season at Purdue as the school's winningest coach. Quarterback Curtis Painter is the league's best passer with a strong and accurate arm, and his best option could be handing off the ball to the tailback tandem of Kory Sheets and Jaycen Taylor. The erosion on defense will need to improve if the Boilers want to send out Tiller to his 11th bowl game at Purdue.
Coaching Penn State for his 43rd year, Joe Paterno will have a wealth of talented senior receivers with Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordon Norwood. The storyline will be if this is Paterno's last season or if he is pushed out of the door.
Iowa missed their first bowl game since 2000 last season, in large part due to bad quarterback play and a flurry of off-season troubles for coach Kirk Ferentz's program. The program has hit the skids after a nice 31-7 run from 2002-04.
A soft early schedule for Northwestern will help a program that is trying to get on track with third-year coach Pat Fitzgerald. A prolific offense will be once again led by quarterback C.J. Bacher who threw for 19 TDs last season.
Running back Javon Ringer has game breaking speed for Michigan State, which will be in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten.
Ending a 13-year drought, Indiana played in a bowl game last season. Pre-season junior All-American defensive end, Greg Middleton, who led the country with 16 sacks last season, and quarterback Kellen Lewis are the Hoosier players that opponents will key on.
The Metrodome will host Minnesota for its last season, before moving into an on-campus stadium that Gopher fans hope will help boost the program.
Joe Tiller will enter his 12th and last season at Purdue as the school's winningest coach. Quarterback Curtis Painter is the league's best passer with a strong and accurate arm, and his best option could be handing off the ball to the tailback tandem of Kory Sheets and Jaycen Taylor. The erosion on defense will need to improve if the Boilers want to send out Tiller to his 11th bowl game at Purdue.
Coaching Penn State for his 43rd year, Joe Paterno will have a wealth of talented senior receivers with Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordon Norwood. The storyline will be if this is Paterno's last season or if he is pushed out of the door.
Iowa missed their first bowl game since 2000 last season, in large part due to bad quarterback play and a flurry of off-season troubles for coach Kirk Ferentz's program. The program has hit the skids after a nice 31-7 run from 2002-04.
A soft early schedule for Northwestern will help a program that is trying to get on track with third-year coach Pat Fitzgerald. A prolific offense will be once again led by quarterback C.J. Bacher who threw for 19 TDs last season.
Running back Javon Ringer has game breaking speed for Michigan State, which will be in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten.
Ending a 13-year drought, Indiana played in a bowl game last season. Pre-season junior All-American defensive end, Greg Middleton, who led the country with 16 sacks last season, and quarterback Kellen Lewis are the Hoosier players that opponents will key on.
The Metrodome will host Minnesota for its last season, before moving into an on-campus stadium that Gopher fans hope will help boost the program.
Published in the PUC Chronicle on Aug. 25, 2008
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