Graham Watson:

BYU offensive line: The Cougars will have to fill four of the five starting spots on the offensive line, but do have some depth there since several players received playing time due to injuries and some shuffling last year.

Boise State wide receivers: Boise State lost its three starting receivers, including Jeremy Childs, who left early for the NFL. Childs led the team in receiving yards and receptions last year and now quarterback Kellen Moore is going to have to break in some new playmakers.

Brian Bennett:

Louisville: The biggest bunch of newbies are at quarterback, where there are four candidates for the job but not one who’s seen any significant playing time at this level.

South Florida: Look no farther than the offensive line, where four of five starters need to be replaced.

Tim Griffin:

Oklahoma offensive line: The departure of starting center Jon Cooper, tackle Phil Loadholt and guards Duke Robinson and Brandon Walker means that Sam Bradford will have an inexperienced group protecting him next season. Trent Williams moves to left tackle and Bob Stoops likes his incoming talent, if not its early work habits.

Texas defensive line: The major question dogging the Longhorns’ national title hopes will be rebuilding a defensive front that loses All-American defensive end Brian Orakpo, defensive tackle Roy Miller, defensive tackleAaron Lewis and defensive end Henry Melton from last season.

Texas Tech offensive line: New quarterback Taylor Potts will be relying on a retooled offensive line protecting his blind side after left tackle Rylan Reed, left guard Louis Vasquez and center Stephen Hamby all departed from last year.

Chris Low:

Alabama: The Crimson Tide are replacing three-year starter John Parker Wilson at quarterback, but losing the threesome of Andre Smith, Marlon Davis and Antoine Caldwell on the offensive line leaves the biggest void. They were at the crux of just about everything Alabama did on offense last season.

Georgia: Much of the focus this spring will be on Joe Cox and the quarterback position, but the Bulldogs’ most glaring weakness is the lack of a dominant pass-rusher from the defensive end position. They’ve got to find somebody who can consistently get to the quarterback.

LSU: Jordan Jefferson started the final two games at quarterback last season as a true freshman and enters 2009 as the favorite to win the job. His main competition will come from another true freshman, Russell Shepard, who graduated early and is going through spring practice.

Heather Dinich:

GEORGIA TECH — Having lost three of four starters on the defensive line, it’s easily one of the greenest groups in the whole conference.

MIAMI – The Canes are still young everywhere, but remember quarterback Jacory Harris has only started two games and his backups have no collegiate experience.

NORTH CAROLINA — The Tar Heels lost their top three receivers and will be counting heavily on inexperienced players to replace Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate and Brooks Foster.

Ted Miller

Arizona State — QB: Combined starts of the five candidates to replace Rudy Carpenter at quarterback? Zero.

Oregon – DT: Both starting defensive tackles are gone and this unofficial depth chart shows 14 combine tackles for seven potential replacements.

Oregon State — DE: Sackmasters Victor Butler and Slade Norris and their 41.5 combined sacks over the past two seasons are gone. Sophomore Kevin Frahm and senior Ben Terry, who split two sacks between themselves in 2008, are in.

Adam Rittenberg

Ohio State’s offensive line — Don’t be shocked if Ohio State enters 2009 with three sophomores (Mike Brewster, Mike Adams, J.B. Shugarts) and a transfer (Justin Boren) on its starting line.

Penn State’s defensive ends — Jerome Hayes should be back from another knee injury, but Penn State will be on the lookout for a proven pass rusher after losing Aaron Maybin, Maurice Evans and Josh Gaines.

Purdue’s wide receivers — New coach Danny Hope made wide receiver a peak priority in his first recruiting class after losing Greg Orton and Desmond Tardy, who combined for 136 receptions and 1,596 yards last year.

Wisconsin’s defensive line — The Badgers lose three multiyear starters (Matt Shaughnessy, Mike Newkirk and Jason Chapman) and don’t return many proven players aside from ends O’Brien Schofield and Dan Moore.

And — of course — everyone’s favorite green unit:

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Danny Hope doesn't hide his fondness for speed and athleticism, and he'll try to find those qualities in his first recruiting class as Purdue's head coach.

Hope has already shown a willingness to travel a good distance for what he wants, particularly to the state of Florida. Purdue's 2009 recruiting haul will have a very different look than previous classes.

The Boilers' biggest recruiting needs come on defense, as they lose three starting linemen and three starting defensive backs. Ryan Kerrigan looks like a budding star at defensive end, but Hope must add pieces around him through the 2009 class. End Alex Magee and tackles Mike Neal and Ryan Baker will be missed, and there's not much left over in the interior line. Safety also will be a priority for Hope as the Boilers lose Torri Williams, the team's second leading tackler, and Frank Duong.

Wide receiver jumps out as Purdue's biggest need on offense as the team loses Desmond Tardy and Greg Orton, who combined for 136 receptions and 10 touchdowns last season. Hope mentioned in August that he wants more speed at the inside receiver spots and will look to add some in this class. The new coach also prioritizes speed and athleticism over size at the offensive line spots, saying he wants "guys that are good enough to play on defense but are big enough to move to offense."

The Boilers also might look to add a quarterback or two in this class. Three-year starter Curtis Painter graduates, backup Joey Elliott is a senior and Justin Siller had mixed results in limited action last year, so another signal caller wouldn't be a bad move.

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Only one Big Ten team (Illinois) ranked in the top 25 nationally in pass offense, so this was anything but an explosive year for the league’s wide receivers and tight ends. Subpar quarterback play had a role, as did injuries (Travis Beckum). Here’s a look at the best of an average bunch, as well as my preseason rankings for wide receivers/tight ends.

1. Eric Decker, Minnesota – The junior turned in an excellent season that would have looked even more impressive if not for an ankle injury Nov. 1 against Northwestern. Decker, who will play slot receiver in the NFL next season or in 2009, led the Big Ten and ranked 16th nationally in receptions. His blocking ability makes him even more attractive to pro teams. 

2. Arrelious Benn, Illinois – Benn came on strong in Big Ten play, racking up 45 receptions for 794 yards and three touchdowns in eight league games. A likely candidate to turn pro after the 2009 season, Benn averaged 17.6 yards per catch in conference games and solidified himself as Juice Williams’ top option. 

3. Deon Butler, Penn State – The former walk-on finished his college career with a flourish, leading Penn State in receptions (43), receiving yards (713) and touchdowns (7). Butler became Penn State’s all-time receptions leader (175) and ranks second in career receiving yards (2,674) and third in touchdown receptions (22). 

4. Derrick Williams, Penn State — Williams’ value went far beyond what he did as a wide receiver. Though he contributed to Penn State’s passing attack with 40 receptions and 451 yards, his impact on returns, as a ballcarrier and as a part-time quarterback in the “Wild Lion” offense was even greater. The former nation’s No. 1 recruit played his best football in the twilight of his career.

5. Desmond Tardy, Purdue — It wasn’t a banner year for the Purdue offense, but Tardy did his part, particularly in Big Ten play. The senior finished third in receiving yards in league games (510). He eclipsed 100 receiving yards in four games, including each of the final two.

6. Greg Orton, Purdue — Orton helped fill the void left by Dorien Bryant with a team-high 69 catches, which ranked second in the Big Ten behind Decker. He was reliable if not overly flashy and settled into the possession-receiver role in the Boilermakers’ offense.

7. Blair White, Michigan State — Wide receiver was a major concern for Michigan State entering the season, and White came out of nowhere to become Brian Hoyer’s top option in Big Ten play. Only Arrelious Benn had more receiving yards in Big Ten play than White (568), who averaged a blistering 17.1 yards per reception. 

8. Eric Peterman, Northwestern — Peterman led Northwestern in receiving for the second consecutive season and recorded all five of his touchdown receptions in Big Ten play. He made big plays at key points and seemed to finish the season playing his best football.

9. Garrett Graham, Wisconsin — Beckum’s injury really hurt the Wisconsin passing game, but Graham did a nice job of stepping up. He was the Badgers’ only reliable option and led Big Ten tight ends with 37 receptions for 478 yards and five touchdowns. 

T-10 Brandon Myers, Iowa — The Hawkeyes had the nation’s best running back (Shonn Greene) and didn’t need to pass much, but Myers made his mark with 30 receptions and four touchdowns. The senior tight end earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the league’s coaches and helped Iowa reach a New Year’s Day bowl. 

T-10. Brian Robiskie, Ohio State — He certainly had higher expectations for his senior year and probably thought Todd Boeckman, not Terrelle Pryor, would be throwing him the ball. But under the circumstances, Robiskie performed adequately and grabbed a league-high eight touchdown receptions. 

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The response has been excellent for my list of the top five Big Ten games this season, so I’ve decided to extend the rundown to 10. Many of you made compelling arguments for games that should have been included in the top five, but I’m comfortable with my list.

I do think some other memorable contests should be recognized, so here’s the full rundown.

Recapping the top five (actually six):

1. Penn State at Iowa, Nov. 8, Kinnick Stadium (Iowa wins 24-23)
2. Penn State at Ohio State, Oct. 25, Ohio Stadium (Penn State wins 13-6)
3. Northwestern at Minnesota, Nov. 1, Metrodome (Northwestern wins 24-17)
4. Ohio State at Wisconsin, Oct. 4, Camp Randall Stadium (Ohio State wins 20-17)
T-5. Wisconsin at Michigan, Sept. 27, Michigan Stadium (Michigan wins 27-25)
T-5. Minnesota at Wisconsin, Nov. 15, Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin wins 35-32)

And here are games 6-10.

6. Wisconsin at Michigan State, Nov. 1, Spartan Stadium

I came very close to including this among the top five, but the fact that Michigan State played pretty poorly for the first 50 minutes or so kept it out. Still, the Spartans’ comeback and the Badgers’ collapse, which included a rare penalty on a head coach (Bret Bielema), made the game pretty memorable. Wisconsin dominated most of the game and was a holding penalty away from closing it out, but Michigan State capitalized on its final chance, driving 56 yards for the game-winning field goal with no timeouts remaining. Spartans kicker Brett Swenson went 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 50-yarder and the decisive 44-yarder in the fourth quarter as Michigan State prevailed 25-24.

7. Michigan at Purdue, Nov. 1, Ross-Ade Stadium

In a league dominated by defense and running backs, Michigan and Purdue produced a game that would make the Big 12 proud. The teams combined for 90 points and 822 total yards. Michigan scored three touchdowns of 45 or longer (one rush, one pass, one punt return), and Purdue backup quarterback Justin Siller sizzled in his first career start. The game also produced arguably the Big Ten’s Play of the Year, as Purdue executed a hook-and-lateral from Siller to Greg Orton to Desmond Tardy, who scored with 26 seconds left to give the Boilers a 48-42 win.

8. Iowa at Illinois, Nov. 1, Memorial Stadium

It was a pretty sloppy game on both sides, but the final 21 minutes featured several edge-of-your seat moments. Illinois took control with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Fred Sykes and a seven-yard fumble return to the end zone by cornerback Dere Hicks. But Iowa struck back to tie the score at 24-24 on a Shonn Greene run with 2:46 left. It set the stage for Illinois to drive 54 yards in 12 plays, setting up a 46-yard field goal by freshman Matt Eller that secured a 27-24 win.

9. Illinois at Penn State, Sept. 27, Beaver Stadium

If you liked big plays and tremendous athleticism, this was the game for you. The teams combined for four touchdowns of 21 yards or longer, and Penn State wide receiver/return man Derrick Williams stole the show with 241 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns (one rush, one pass, one return). Illinois stayed close for most of the way behind quarterback Juice Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn, but Penn State’s Williams proved to be too much on a “Whiteout” night in Happy Valley.

10. Minnesota at Illinois, Oct. 11, Memorial Stadium

The Golden Gophers completed their turnaround from 1-11 to bowl eligible with a tremendous defensive performance against Illinois. Minnesota senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg had arguably the league’s best individual defensive effort of the season, recording three sacks, a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown and a pass deflection that led to an interception in the fourth quarter. Minnesota held off Illinois’ big-play passing attack to win its first Big Ten road game since 2006.

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It’s always fun at this time of year to look back at preseason thoughts and predictions. In August, I outlined 25 items I wanted to see during the Big Ten season. Several of them came true, others didn’t and some materialized in different ways.

Here’s a look back at the list to see what worked out and what didn’t. 

	AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
	Terrelle Pryor earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.

1. Terrelle Pryor lead an offensive drive — He might be a Tim Tebow-like weapon near the goal line, but I’m more interested in how the Ohio State freshman quarterback handles a real offensive series. Pryor’s athleticism is undeniable, but it will be important to monitor his passing accuracy and the way he leads older teammates.

The verdict: We had plenty of opportunities to see Pryor lead drives after he was named Ohio State’s starter in Week 4. Despite a few growing pains, Pryor held his own and displayed remarkable athleticism in winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. He also came up big in the clutch to lead Ohio State’s game-winning touchdown drive Oct. 4 at Wisconsin. 

2. Michigan’s quarterbacks — Rich Rodriguez has ushered in a new era in Ann Arbor and will turn to unproven players like Steven Threet, Nick Sheridan and possibly Justin Feagin to lead his spread offense. There will undoubtedly be growing pains, but if one of those three takes control, the Wolverines will surge.

The verdict: Oh, there were growing pains. Big ones. Threet and Sheridan struggled to fit into Rodriguez’s system, and Michigan finished the season ranked 109th nationally in total offense. Feagin likely will move to slot receiver in 2009, and incoming freshmen Shavodrick Beaver and Tate Forcier will compete for the starting quarterback spot. 

3. Jump Around at night — Camp Randall Stadium is intimidating enough during daylight hours, but the electricity will reach new levels this fall with back-to-back night games against Ohio State and Penn State. The Badgers haven’t lost at home under coach Bret Bielema, and they should have a tremendous home-field edge this fall.

The verdict: It was pretty cool to see Ohio State players jump in lockstep with the Wisconsin students on Oct. 4, but Camp Randall certainly lost its edge this fall. Wisconsin saw its home win streak fade against Ohio State and then suffered its worst home defeat since 1989 the next week against Penn State. Plus, the Badgers band was suspended from performing Oct. 4 after allegations of hazing surfaced. 

4. The Spread HD – Penn State’s new offense remains somewhat of a mystery, but the Lions will try to utilize their many weapons at wide receiver, running back and quarterback. “Hopefully HD will stand for high def, highly diverse,” quarterback Daryll Clark said, “and hopefully it doesn’t turn out to be huge dud.”

The verdict: HD definitely stood for highly diverse, or huge difference, as Penn State surged behind Clark, a stockpile of skill players and a veteran offensive line. Penn State led the Big Ten in scoring offense and ranked second in rushing offense. 

5. Jim Tressel vs. Pete Carroll — Two of the sport’s elite coaches couldn’t be more different in personality or style (can’t exactly picture Carroll in a sweater vest), but they will match wits when Ohio State visits USC in Week 3.

The verdict: Everything about the game turned out to be a disappointment for Ohio State, and Tressel didn’t have much of a chance to outcoach Carroll. USC’s talent and athleticism overwhelmed a Beanie-less Buckeyes team, handing Ohio State another national embarrassment. 

6. Little brother in the Big House – The Michigan-Michigan State rivalry is growing, thanks to Mark Dantonio, but the Spartans need to win one of these games sooner or later. After six straight losses, Sparty heads to Ann Arbor on Oct. 25 determined to show they’re nobody’s little brother.

The verdict: The “little brother” tag is gone, at least for a year, after Michigan State rallied to beat Michigan and record its first win in the Big House since 1990. Despite a terrible call that gave Michigan a touchdown, Michigan State surged behind quarterback Brian Hoyer and All-American running back Javon Ringer. 

7. New quarterbacks – Three teams will start new quarterbacks this fall, and Iowa’s situation under center is far from settled. Wisconsin needs Allan Evridge to effectively manage games, while a greater load will be placed on Penn State’s Clark and Michigan’s new signal callers.

The verdict: It was a mixed bag here, as Clark earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and Ricky Stanzi established himself as Iowa’s quarterback of the future. On the flip side, quarterback play hurt Wisconsin during a four-game losing streak and prompted a switch from Evridge to Dustin Sherer. Michigan’s quarterback situation was messy, and that’s being kind. 

8. Beanie vs. P.J. — Forget about the spread offense when Wisconsin and Ohio State meet Oct. 4 in Madison. The Big Ten’s rushing roots will be on display as Heisman contender Beanie Wells goes up against P.J. Hill and the Badgers.

The verdict: Both backs scored touchdowns, but Wells dominated with 168 rushing yards in Ohio State’s 20-17 win. The 237-pound junior bullied his way into the end zone on a 33-yard scoring run and added a 54-yard burst in the third quarter. Hill split carries with John Clay and couldn’t do much in Wisconsin’s one-dimensional offense. 

9. Juice in the pocket – Juice Williams came on strong at the end of last season, and the Illinois quarterback continued to make strides in the spring and summer. He takes over an offense without Rashard Mendenhall and looks to pass more this fall.

The verdict: Williams started off very strong and set total offense records in three separate stadiums during the first half of the season. Illinois’ big-play passing attack challenged opposing defenses, but Williams struggled with interceptions in the second half as Illinois dropped its final three games to miss a bowl. 

10. Ferentz under fire — Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz still might be one of the league’s top coaches, but he has to prove it this fall. With his reputation suffering on and off the field, Ferentz needs a strong season from a squad that has major questions on offense.

The verdict: The heat was rising on Ferentz after a 3-3 start, but Iowa turned the corner in the second half, got over its crunch-time woes and reached a New Year’s Day bowl game. A potentially program-changing upset of Penn State gives Iowa and Ferentz some momentum heading into 2009. 

11. Tiller’s farewell tour – Joe Tiller revolutionized offense in the country’s premier cold-weather conference, and the Purdue coach should be celebrated as he goes through his final season. The regular-season finale against Indiana will surely be emotional for Tiller and the Boilers fans.

The verdict: Tiller’s final game proved to be a fitting sendoff, as Purdue pounded Indiana 62-10. Unfortunately for Tiller, his offense didn’t do much in the first 11 games and his final go-round left him with the most losses (8) in his Boilermakers tenure. Purdue missed the postseason for just the second time under Tiller. 

	Mark Cowan/Icon SMI
	Arrelious Benn led the Big Ten in receiving yards (1,055) this season.

12. Arrelious Benn in the backfield – The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year is fully healthy following shoulder surgery, and that means more touches this fall. Defensive coordinators will shudder at the thought of Juice Williams and Benn running the option in the same backfield.

The verdict: Benn wasn’t in the backfield as much as I expected after watching Illinois during preseason practice, but the sophomore certainly made his mark as a receiver. He led the Big Ten in receiving yards (1,055) and ranked third in receptions (67), doing most of his damage in conference play.

13. Grande Dos — That’s the self-appointed nickname of Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson, who was named to the Butkus Award watch list despite no career starts in college. Wilson will get every opportunity this fall to show why he could be the next Simeon Rice.

The verdict: Wilson was more like grande cero for much of the season, though he still finished third on the team in tackles and added three sacks and two fumble recoveries. The hype machine might have been cranked up a little early here, but Wilson will certainly play a major role in the Illini defense down the line. He’s expected to make a full recovery after getting stabbed outside a Champaign bar last Friday. 

14. RichRod vs. Charlie Weis – Both have been lauded as offensive innovators, though Weis’ honeymoon ended when Notre Dame went 3-9 last year. Michigan is dealing with some eerily similar personnel losses, and Rodriguez’s coaching ability will be tested when the Wolverines visit South Bend on Sept. 13.

The verdict: Wow, I really didn’t think one would come to fruition, but Michigan’s 3-9 record, its team records for futility and its offensive ineptitude certainly mirror what Notre Dame went through in 2007. Rodriguez will be in the spotlight in Year 2 as Michigan fans demand more. 

15. Brian Hoyer in crunch time — The Michigan State quarterback has taken heat for his fourth-quarter shortcomings, but he’ll have plenty of chances to redeem himself this fall. Hoyer’s poise under pressure will largely determine whether the Spartans back up their preseason hype.

The verdict: Hoyer led Michigan to a 9-3 record and a New Year’s Day bowl appearance, and he made big throws at critical times. Though his overall statistics weren’t impressive and he struggled against the Big Ten’s top two teams (Ohio State and Penn State), Hoyer managed the game well and played intelligent football for much of the season. 

16. Stephfon Green in the open field – The Penn State running back enters the fall with tons of hype despite never playing a collegiate game. If the reports prove true, Green will torch defenses if he gets any room to run.

The verdict: Green showed flashes of his track-star speed and rushed for 521 yards and four touchdowns, but teammate Evan Royster stole the spotlight at running back. Royster proved to be just as dynamic as Green, averaging 6.5 yards a carry, and has the between-the-tackles comfort that featured backs need in the Big Ten.

17. The renovated Memorial Stadium — Illinois is bringing in so many great players for its reopening of Memorial Stadium on Sept. 6 that I expect Red Grange to miraculously turn up. The 1923 relic has been spruced up big time, and it should give coach Ron Zook another recruiting tool.

The verdict: The renovations were impressive, especially the new press box, but the on-field product was not. Illinois is certainly enhancing the profile of its program, but going from the Rose Bowl to no bowl at all must be viewed as a step back. 

18. Lewis and the no-huddle – Indiana coaches had Kellen Lewis in mind when they installed the no-huddle offense in the offseason. Lewis got a late start with the system after being suspended for spring ball, but the junior quarterback should catch up fast.

The verdict: The no-huddle seemed guaranteed to succeed at Indiana, but injuries to Lewis and the general ineffectiveness on offense led to sobering results. Lewis never really got on track this fall and split snaps with Ben Chappell, who led Indiana to its only Big Ten victory. 

19. Painter’s pursuit – Purdue senior quarterback Curtis Painter is on pace to set a bevy of Big Ten career passing records this fall. The underrated Painter has a new group of receivers to work with but consistently puts up big numbers.

The verdict: Much like Tiller, Painter didn’t finish his Purdue career on a high note, though he does leave the school with several records. Painter ranked second in the league in passing (240 ypg) but threw only two more touchdowns (13) than interceptions (11). Receivers Greg Orton and Desmond Tardy emerged down the stretch, but Painter missed tight end Dustin Keller and Dorien Bryant. 

20. Gilreath on the move — Wisconsin sophomore David Gilreath is quickly developing into the league’s most dangerous return man. He might not merit the Devin Hester treatment quite yet, but expect Gilreath to break some electrifying runs this fall.

The verdict: Gilreath finished third in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (145.3) and will enter 2009 as one of the league’s most versatile players. He likely will see an enhanced role as a ball carrier after some big games down the stretch. Though Gilreath didn’t surge as a return man, he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a wide receiver. 

21. Mike Hankwitz’s impact — Northwestern hasn’t fielded a decent defense since adopting the spread offense in 2000. Hankwitz, the league’s most experienced coordinator, steps in this fall and tries to change the script in Evanston.

The verdict: Northwestern’s hiring of Hankwitz proved to be the Big Ten’s top offseason coaching move. Hankwitz transformed a perennially poor Wildcats defense into one of the league’s top units. Northwestern led the Big Ten in sacks and allowed 17 points or fewer in seven of the team’s nine victories.

22. Michigan Stadium makeover – The team on the field isn’t the only thing getting overhauled in Ann Arbor this season. Fans will enter a construction site every Saturday at Michigan Stadium, setting up an unusual game day experience.

The verdict: The stadium project definitely looks impressive and should be a sight to see when completed. Michigan fans should be more concerned about the team calling the Big House home after a 3-9 season. 

23. Ringer returning kickoffs – Michigan State star running back Javon Ringer will showcase his speed on kickoff returns this fall. How long the arrangement lasts isn’t known — I’m not sure how wise it is to put your best player on such a dangerous play — but Ringer is sure to produce a highlight or two.

The verdict: Ringer started on kickoffs before Michigan State wisely went with freshman Glenn Winston, who averaged 22.8 yards on 16 runbacks. The Spartans coaches still made sure Ringer got plenty of work, as the senior led the nation with 370 carries, 32 more than any other FBS back. 

24. Minnesota’s JUCOs – Gophers coach Tim Brewster needed some immediate help on defense and got it with junior-college transfers like Tramaine Brock, Traye Simmons, Cedric McKinley and Rex Sharpe. How quickly those players blend in will determine whether Minnesota makes a jump this fall.

The verdict: Simmons and Brock made an immediate impact as starters in the secondary, with Simmons earning second-team All-Big honors after recording four interceptions. Brock ranked third on the team in tackles (68) and forced three fumbles, while McKinley and Sharpe played minor roles. Linebacker Simoni Lawrence finished second on the team in tackles for loss (9.5), and Brewster effectively blended the jucos with the returning players.  

25. Finch on the field – Indiana’s Jerimy Finch has been cleared to play this fall, and the Florida transfer gives a big boost to the secondary. Considered arguably the nation’s top safety coming out of high school, Finch will make his presence known right away.

The verdict: A Hoosiers secondary depleted by injuries gave Finch an opportunity to play, but he saw the field sparingly, appearing in only five games. Finch made his mark on special teams with two blocked kicks and four punt returns, but he was a nonfactor on defense. 

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The All-Big Ten teams have been named by the league’s coaches and media members. My analysis will come later tonight.

Iowa running back Shonn Greene and Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis were selected as Big Ten Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year by both the coaches and the media. Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor was the consensus choice for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Penn State’s Joe Paterno was the media’s pick for Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Here’s the full list.

COACHES

First-team offense

QB: Daryll Clark, Penn State

RB: Shonn Greene, Iowa

RB: Javon Ringer, Michigan State

WR: Eric Decker, Minnesota

WR: Derrick Williams, Penn State

C: A.Q. Shipley, Penn State

G: Seth Olsen, Iowa

G: Rich Ohrnberger, Penn State

T: Alex Boone, Ohio State

T: Gerald Cadogan, Penn State

TE: Brandon Myers, Iowa

K: Kevin Kelly, Penn State

First-team defense

DL: Mitch King, Iowa

DL: Corey Wootton, Northwestern

DL: Aaron Maybin, Penn State

DL: Jared Odrick, Penn State

LB: Greg Jones, Michigan State

LB: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

LB: Navorro Bowman, Penn State

DB: Vontae Davis, Illinois

DB: Otis Wiley, Michigan State

DB: Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State

DB: Anthony Scirrotto, Penn State

P: Zoltan Mesko, Michigan

Second-team offense

QB: Adam Weber, Minnesota

RB: Chris “Beanie” Wells, Ohio State

RB: Evan Royster, Penn State

WR: Arrelious Benn, Illinois

WR: David Gilreath, Wisconsin

C: Rob Bruggeman, Iowa

G: Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State

G: Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin

T: Xavier Fulton, Illinois

T: Bryan Bulaga, Iowa

TE: Garrett Graham, Wisconsin

K: Brett Swenson, Michigan State

Second-team defense

DL: Jammie Kirlew, Indiana

DL: Brandon Graham, Michigan

DL: Wille VanDeSteeg, Minnesota

DL: Mike Newkirk, Wisconsin

LB: Brit Miller, Illinois

LB: Pat Angerer, Iowa

LB: Marcus Freeman, Ohio State

DB: Amari Spievey, Iowa

DB: Traye Simmons, Minnesota

DB: Allen Langford, Wisconsin

DB: Jay Valai, Wisconsin

P: Ryan Donahue, Iowa

Honorable mention: ILLINOIS: Jon Asamoah, Michael Hoomanawanui, Ryan McDonald, Derek Walker, Juice Williams; IOWA: Kyle Calloway, A.J. Edds, Bradley Fletcher, Matt Kroul; MICHIGAN: Obi Ezeh, Brandon Minor, Terrance Taylor; MICHIGAN STATE: Trevor Anderson, Aaron Bates, Charlie Gantt, Brian Hoyer, Roland Martin, Jesse Miller, Chris Rucker, Blair White; MINNESOTA: Jack Simmons; NORTHWESTERN: John Gill, Keegan Kennedy, Sherrick McManis, Eric Peterman, Brad Phillips, Brendan Smith, Tyrell Sutton, Amado Villarreal; OHIO STATE: Nader Abdallah, Kurt Coleman, Rory Nicol; PENN STATE: Jeremy Boone, Tony Davis, Dennis Landolt, Jordan Norwood, Mark Rubin, Tyrell Sales, Lydell Sargeant; PURDUE: Anthony Heygood, Greg Orton, David Pender, Kory Sheets, Torri Williams; WISCONSIN: Jonathan Casillas, Jason Chapman, P.J. Hill, Andy Kemp, DeAndre Levy, Matt Shaughnessy, Eric Vanden Heuvel, Philip Welch.

Offensive Player of the Year: Shonn Greene, Iowa

Offensive Lineman of the Year: A.Q. Shipley, Penn State

Defensive Player of the Year: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Mitch King, Iowa

Freshman of the Year: Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State

MEDIA

First-team offense

QB: Daryll Clark, Penn State

RB: Shonn Greene, Iowa

RB: Javon Ringer, Michigan State

WR: Arrelious Benn, Illinois

WR: Eric Decker, Minnesota

C: A.Q. Shipley, Penn State

G: Seth Olsen, Iowa

G: Rich Ohrnberger, Penn State

T: Alex Boone, Ohio State

T: Gerald Cadogan, Penn State

TE: Garrett Graham, Wisconsin

K: Kevin Kelly, Penn State

First-team defense

DL: Mitch King, Iowa

DL: Jammie Kirlew, Indiana

DL: Aaron Maybin, Penn State

DL: Willie VanDeSteeg, Minnesota

LB: Brit Miller, Illinois

LB: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

LB: Navorro Bowman, Penn State

DB: Vontae Davis, Illinois

DB: Otis Wiley, Michigan State

DB: Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State

DB: Allen Langford, Wisconsin

P: Zoltan Mesko, Michigan

Second-team offense

QB: Juice Williams, Illinois

RB: Chris “Beanie” Wells, Ohio State

RB: Evan Royster, Penn State

WR: Deon Butler, Penn State

WR: Derrick Williams, Penn State

C: Rob Bruggeman, Iowa and Ryan McDonald, Illinois

G: Roland Martin, Michigan State

G: Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin

T: Xavier Fulton, Illinois

T: Kyle Calloway, Iowa

T: Jesse Miller, Michigan State

TE: Jack Simmons, Minnesota

K: Brett Swenson, Michigan State

Second-team defense

DL: Matt Kroul, Iowa

DL: Brandon Graham, Michigan

DL: Corey Wootton, Northwestern

DL: Jared Odrick, Penn State

LB: Greg Jones, Michigan State

LB: Pat Angerer, Iowa

LB: Marcus Freeman, Ohio State

DB: Lydell Sargeant, Penn State

DB: Traye Simmons, Minnesota

DB: Kurt Coleman, Ohio State

DB: Anthony Scirrotto, Penn State

P: Aaron Bates, Michigan Stat

Honorable mention: ILLINOIS: Jon Asamoah, Michael Hoomanawanui, Derek Walker; INDIANA: Chris Hagerup; IOWA: Bryan Bulaga, Ryan Donahue, A.J. Edds, Bradley Fletcher, Brent Greenwood, Brandon Myers, Amari Spievey; MICHIGAN: Obi Ezeh, Tim Jamison, Terrance Taylor; MICHIGAN STATE: Trevor Anderson, Charlie Gantt, Brian Hoyer, Justin Kershaw, Brandon Long, Joel Nitchman, Chris Rucker, Blair White; MINNESOTA: Kyle Theret, Adam Weber; NORTHWESTERN: John Gill, Keegan Kennedy, Sherrick McManis, Eric Peterman, Brad Phillips, Brendan Smith, Amado Villarreal; OHIO STATE: Nader Abdallah, Rory Nicol, Terrelle Pryor, Brian Robiskie; PENN STATE: Jeremy Boone, Tony Davis, Josh Gaines, Dennis Landolt, Mark Rubin, Stefen Wisniewski; PURDUE: Anthony Heygood, Ryan Kerrigan, Greg Orton, Kory Sheets, Desmond Tardy, Torri Williams; WISCONSIN: P.J. Hill, Andy Kemp, DeAndre Levy, Mike Newkirk, Matt Shaughnessy, Eric Vanden Heuvel, Philip Welch.

Offensive Player of the Year: Shonn Greene, Iowa

Defensive Player of the Year: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

Freshman of the Year: Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State

Coach of the Year: Joe Paterno, Penn State

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Joe Tiller undoubtedly loved the 62-point sendoff he received from his Purdue team in his final game on the sidelines. But there’s a part of the Boilers coach that had to wonder: Where has this been? 

Entering the game ranked last in the Big Ten in scoring, Purdue turned in a near flawless performance against rival Indiana. It looked much like the games from the early part of Tiller’s tenure, when “Basketball on grass” gashed opposing defenses.

Senior quarterback Curtis Painter finally had a breakout performance (448 pass yards, 5 TDs), wideouts Keith Smith and Desmond Tardy both eclipsed 100 receiving yards and Kory Sheets added three touchdown runs.

What a way to send out an offensive innovator like Tiller.

As for Indiana, this solidifies the Hoosiers as the Big Ten’s worst team and one of the league’s bigger disappointments. It appeared as though Bill Lynch’s job was safe entering this game, but such a poor performance in a rivalry could make the next few days interesting. Then again, I don’t know how you fire a coach when his new boss (Fred Glass) doesn’t officially start until Jan. 2.

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• Brendan Smith’s 48-yards interception return for a touchdown with 12 seconds remaining lifted Northwestern over Minnesota.
• Greg Orton lateraled to Desmond Tardy after a catch for a touchdown with 23 seconds left in the Boilermakers’ 48-42 victory over Michigan.

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Coming off a tough and tight 20-17 victory at Wisconsin, and before heading to No. 23 Michigan State next week, No. 12 Ohio State is faced with a sneaky, treacherous in-between game against Purdue on Saturday.

The Boilermakers have lost three of their last four games and their quarterback, Curtis Painter, is under fire after playing poorly last week. Maybe that’s why the daily newspaper in Columbus had a story earlier this week which said, "Ohio State probably could use a bye week. Purdue will do."

The Boilermakers (2-3, 0-1 Big Ten) beg to differ.

"Our back is against the wall," wide receiver Desmond Tardy said. "It’s time for everybody to believe and not hope."

Defensive tackle Ryan Baker added, "This team is motivated by anger right now. We want to win. We’re going to do everything it takes to win the game."

Sound like they’re going to let the Buckeyes have an easy time of it?

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel doesn’t think his team can afford to look past anybody, particularly the Boilermakers.

"The danger is even looking one play ahead because if you’re not doing what you need to do on this play it could make the difference in a game and in a season," he said. "The guys who have been around here a long time know the fact that when Ohio State and Purdue square off it’s been overtimes, last-second wins – it’s been battles."

It’s true that the Buckeyes have an overwhelming 36-12-2 upper hand in the series, and haven’t lost at home to the Boilermakers in 20 years.

Yet in recent years, the Boilermakers have annually given the Buckeyes fits.

For instance, in 2000 Purdue quarterback Drew Brees hit Seth Morales on a long pass in the final minutes for a 31-27 win that spurred the Boilermakers on to the Rose Bowl. In 2002 Ohio State won the national championship but had its closest call at Purdue. It took a fourth-and-1 bomb from Craig Krenzel to Michael Jenkins to steal a late TD for a 10-6 win. A year later, the Buckeyes were No. 4 in the nation but had to go to overtime to escape with a 16-13 victory over the Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium.

Purdue took the 2004 meeting 24-17, before a three-year gap in the series. A year ago, the Buckeyes rolled to a 23-7 win.

Painter went to the air 60 times in that game, completing 31 for 268 yards. He completed 13-of-22 passes for only 112 yards with an interception last week while moving within 12 yards of becoming only the fourth Big Ten quarterback to pass for 10,000 yards in a career. Still, an angry coach Joe Tiller replaced him with Joey Elliott late in the game, with Elliott leading the way to Purdue’s only score.

Painter will start against the Buckeyes. Tailback Kory Sheets is fifth in the Big Ten in rushing (100 yards per game). The defense looked solid a week ago against Penn State’s Spread HD offense, giving up yards but only two touchdowns while holding the Nittany Lions to their lowest point total of the season.

Tiller, who has announced he will step down at the end of the year, said his players always seem to feel they can play with Ohio State.

"We’ve played pretty well over there and lost in overtime, lost on a kick in the last series of one game (1999)," Tiller said. "So we’ve been pretty competitive with them. I think our players just believe they can go over there and compete."

The Buckeyes aren’t talking as if they’ll have an easy time of it.

"They’re going to play their best game against us," said tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells, who went for 168 yards and a touchdown against Wisconsin.

Ohio State is also locked in at quarterback, although with a different one from a year ago. Todd Boeckman tossed two touchdown passes against the Boilermakers in 2007. This year, he’s been supplanted by speedy freshman Terrelle Pryor, who has looked good while learning how to play in the collegiate ranks.

"This guy loves to run, and he’s got some speed, and he’s got some size. That’s a big threat," Purdue DT Baker said. "If a play doesn’t seem to work out, if all else fails – run."

Purdue has lost its last 16 games against ranked teams. Tiller, an Ohio native, doesn’t differentiate between Top 25 teams and everyone else.

"What we look for is to try to improve as the season moves along, regardless of the opponent," he said. "What we want to do is get better. We don’t measure ourselves against our opponent, we measure ourselves against ourselves."

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Most preseason evaluations of Purdue’s offense pointed to the loss of top wide receiver Dorien Bryant, who set a team record with 6,219 all-purpose yards and led the Big Ten in receptions per game in each of his final three seasons. Though Bryant’s production shouldn’t be understated, anyone who watched Purdue knew tight end Dustin Keller would be the bigger loss. 

Keller was a 6-3, 240-pound matchup problem who finished his Purdue career with 142 receptions for 1,882 yards (13.3-yard average) and 16 touchdowns. As one Big Ten head coach told me this spring, “He was one of the best tight ends in the country. You played him in man, who takes him, the safety or the linebacker? You put a safety on him, you’ve got a size mismatch. You put a linebacker on him, you’ve got a speed mismatch.”

Looking at Purdue’s offense entering Week 7, the absence of a capable tight end who can catch short crossing routes or beat defenses down the field really stings. Junior Kyle Adams, who took all of the snaps with the first-team offense in preseason camp, has been out with a knee injury, and Purdue hasn’t gotten much from the reserves. 

The (Lafayette, Ind.) Journal and Courier’s Tom Kubat addressed Purdue’s lack of production at tight end:

After the first five games, Purdue has completed 113 passes but only five have been caught by the tight ends. Senior Jerry Wasikowski has three receptions for 19 yards, and redshirt freshman Colton McKey has caught two passes for nine yards.

Quarterback Curtis Painter admits things are different from last year when Dustin Keller caught 68 passes as a senior.

“Kyle is a great player but I don’t think we’re changing the game plan. I think all of our tight ends are the same style. They’re good blockers. Dustin was kind of a rare case. He was a very athletic guy who was more of a receiver.”

Senior wideouts Greg Orton and Desmond Tardy have filled the void left by Bryant, combining for 55 receptions and 723 receiving yards. But Keller’s absence has really hurt the Boilers. 

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