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Adonis Smith's decision to transfer from Northwestern might not mean much come September.

But his exit adds to the questions surrounding a position that hasn't provided enough definitive answers in the past few seasons.

Smith appeared in 17 games the past two seasons, racking up 462 rush yards and three touchdowns. He might have evolved into the Wildcats' featured back, but he also might have been a career backup. It's tough to tell. Coach Pat Fitzgerald announced Smith's departure Wednesday.

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Jerry Lai/US PRESSWIRERunning back Adonis Smith has decided to transfer from Northwestern.

"We're disappointed to see Adonis leave Northwestern," Fitzgerald said in a statement. "He is an outstanding young man and we wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."

Wildcats fans will forget about Smith if, say, Mike Trumpy returns from a torn ACL and surges as the starter. Or if true freshman Malin Jones emerges in preseason camp. Or if Treyvon Green builds on a freshman season in which he rushed for 362 yards and four touchdowns.

But if Northwestern can't identify a featured back and fails to generate a consistent rushing attack in 2012, Smith's name likely will be brought up.

While a struggling defense should be coach Pat Fitzgerald's top priority in the offseason, running back shouldn't be too far down his checklist. Northwestern's offense has made strides under Fitzgerald's watch, producing a steady stream of quarterbacks and wide receivers in recent years. But the running back position, once a program strong point, has declined.

Fitzgerald's predecessor at Northwestern, the late Randy Walker, left an indelible mark on the position he played in college. Walker had a 1,000-yard rusher in 25 of his 30 seasons in coaching, including each of his final four seasons as Northwestern's head coach (2002-05). Northwestern produced a 1,000-yard rusher in five of Walker's final six seasons.

But since Tyrell Sutton finished with exactly 1,000 yards in 2006, Fitzgerald's first season as Wildcats coach, Northwestern has failed to produce a 1,000-yard rusher.

Here are the team's leading rushers the past five seasons:

• 2007: Sutton, 451 yards
• 2008: Sutton, 890 yards
• 2009: Arby Fields, 302 yards
• 2010: Trumpy, 530 yards
• 2011: Kain Colter, 654 yards

Colter, by the way, plays quarterback for the Wildcats. Fields transferred following a disappointing 2010 season when he struggled to hang onto the ball or a favorable spot on the depth chart.

Why can't Northwestern produce featured backs anymore? An offense rooted in high-percentage passes and accurate quarterbacks has something to do with it. But the Wildcats have run the spread since 2000, and it didn't stop them from producing standout backs under Walker.

Northwestern has run the ball better as a team the past two seasons, rising from 95th nationally in rushing in 2009 to 58th in 2010 and 45th in 2011. But the team had a league-low 3.8 yards-per-carry average last fall.

Jones, the team's first commit in the 2012 recruiting class, could be the answer, much like Sutton was in 2005, when he captured Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Perhaps Trumpy bounces back from injury or Green takes steps in his development. Maybe a committee system is the best approach.

If not, you might hear some grumbling about Adonis Smith in September.

She had a nice face, her booty was in place, but Barney don't chase.

• Pennsylvania high school prospects are on the rise, and Penn State must capitalize, Frank Bodani writes in the York Daily Record.
• An excellent piece on former Michigan kicker Phil Brabbs and his cancer fight from annarbor.com's Pete Bigelow. Illinois AD Ron Guenther has some kind words about new Michigan secondary coach Curt Mallory, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Speaking of Guenther, he weighs in on several Illinois football items, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette. GateHouse News Service's John Supinie ponders Guenther's future as Illini AD.
• Nebraska coach Bo Pelini discusses his changes to the staff. The Lincoln Journal Star's Steven Sipple examines a new-look Huskers offensive line.
• In the wake of the Toomer's Corner tragedy, Marc Morehouse recalls Iowa's own brush with herbicides at Kinnick Stadium.
• Wisconsin is charging for this year's spring game, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. DeMontie Cross' move from West Lafayette to Madison could add flavor to the Wisconsin-Purdue rivalry, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Ohio State defensive lineman Joel Hale is doing a little Simon Says to prepare for the 2011 season, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
• Former Northwestern running back Arby Fields didn't understand why he went from being "the guy" to "nothing," Tina Akouris writes in the Chicago Sun-Times. Wildcats coaches are finishing their review of the 2010 season, Lindsey Willhite writes in the Daily Herald.
• New Indiana coach Kevin Wilson says his players are "drinking our Kool-Aid," Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required). A few more Hoosiers football nuggets from The Indianapolis Star's Terry Hutchens.

Northwestern sophomore Arby Fields, who opened the season as the team's starting running back before falling off the depth chart, has decided to leave the program.

The team announced Thursday morning that Fields will seek a transfer.

"We're disappointed that Arby has made the decision to leave Northwestern," coach Pat Fitzgerald said in a statement. "He is an outstanding young man and we wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."

Fields' departure comes as no surprise as he had a disappointing season relative to the expectations. After leading Northwestern with 302 rush yards as a freshman in 2009, Fields turned in a strong performance this spring and entered the fall with high hopes.

But he struggled to find running room and endured a string of fumbles that cost him his starting job before Big Ten play began. Fields, who started seven games in his career, was used sparingly down the stretch as Northwestern turned to Mike Trumpy and Adonis Smith as its primary ball carriers.

The bigger loss could be for Northwestern's baseball team, as Fields started in center field and hit .292 last season.

I was really impressed with the way Fields handled playing both sports this spring, but he likely wouldn't have been part of Northwestern's future plans at running back. It will be interesting to see where the California native lands.

Conference play finally kicks off this week, and here are 10 things to track on Saturday.

1. John Clay vs. Greg Jones: The Big Ten's top running back (Clay) goes up against the league's top linebacker (Jones) in a matchup football purists will love. Clay has rushed for 253 yards and two touchdowns in two career games against Michigan State, while Jones has recorded 27 tackles in those matchups. After limiting Clay's carries a bit during nonconference play, Wisconsin likely will feed him a lot at Spartan Stadium, particularly in the second half. If Jones and the Spartans defense keep Clay in check, they'll have a good chance to win.

2. Roles reverse for Hawkeyes, Lions: Iowa's recent dominance against Penn State is well known, as the Hawkeyes have claimed seven of the teams' last eight meetings. Unranked Iowa teams have knocked off top 5 Penn State squads in each of the last two seasons. This time, Penn State is the acknowledged underdog heading to Kinnick Stadium. Iowa has the senior quarterback (Ricky Stanzi) and the more accomplished team, but it also has the pressure to win. Penn State certainly boasts the talent to shock the Hawkeyes.

3. Fireworks in Bloomington: Expect a ton of points in the Michigan-Indiana game, as quarterbacks Denard Robinson and Ben Chappell lead potent offenses against shaky defenses at Memorial Stadium. Robinson will play after suffering a bruised left knee against Bowling Green, and he faces an Indiana defense that ranks 10th in the league against the run (177 ypg). Chappell leads the Big Ten and ranks 10th nationally in passing (296.7 ypg). He and his talented receiving corps face the Big Ten's worst pass defense in Michigan (264.8 ypg allowed). This could easily become a basketball score.

4. Improved Illini defense tested: All the early signs point to some genuine improvement with an Illinois defense that finished last in the league in both points allowed and yards allowed in 2009. But as coach Ron Zook said this week, "This will be the first major, major test." Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor leads the nation's No. 8 offense into Champaign on Saturday, and Illinois will be challenged to slow down the Heisman Trophy candidate, who accounted for six touchdowns (4 pass, 1 rush, 1 receiving) last week. To have any shot, the Illini need continued playmaking from defensive backs Travon Bellamy, Tavon Wilson and Justin Green.

5. Gophers on life support: There's little joy in Minneapolis about the Golden Gophers after a 1-3 start that includes three consecutive home losses. Despite coach Tim Brewster's perpetual positivity, players are aware of the gloom on the outside. Minnesota really needs something good to happen early in Saturday's Big Ten opener against Northwestern. If things start to go bad, the boos likely will rain down and it's hard to imagine the team turning things around. Minnesota really could use some big plays to lift the mood in TCF Bank Stadium.

6. Clayborn digs in: Penn State hasn't forgotten what Adrian Clayborn did last September at Beaver Stadium. Lions left tackle Quinn Barham put a picture of Clayborn on his cell phone as a reminder of what he'd face this fall. But Clayborn has been relatively quiet this season, as constant double teams have limited him to 15 tackles and no sacks through the first four games. Clayborn is due for a big night and he'll set his sights on Penn State freshman quarterback Rob Bolden. Penn State has protected Bolden well, allowing only one sack, but the Lions are shorthanded after losing right tackle Lou Eliades to a season-ending torn ACL.

7. Dantonio begins his return: Michigan State's Mark Dantonio will be in the coaches' booth Saturday at Spartan Stadium less than two weeks after suffering a mild heart attack and undergoing surgery. Dantonio said Tuesday that offensive coordinator Don Treadwell will continue to handle head-coaching duties as needed, as Dantonio eases into his full-time role again. "Guys are really excited to see him around," Greg Jones told me. "You feel like the tempo's picking up even more. Guys are going to really, really feel his presence more than they did last week."

8. Northwestern turns to Trumpy: Northwestern has been looking for an answer at running back for a year and a half. As good as quarterback Dan Persa has been, the Wildcats need a legit ground game to join the Big Ten's elite this fall. After Arby Fields' early struggles, Northwestern will turn to redshirt freshman Mike Trumpy, who provided a boost with 53 second-half rush yards last week against Central Michigan. Trumpy and Jacob Schmidt were elevated to co-starters on the depth chart, as Northwestern faces a Minnesota team that allowed Northern Illinois' Chad Spann to run wild (223 yards) last wek.

9. Cousins, Tolzien in crunch time: Both Michigan State and Wisconsin are run-first teams boasting a multitude of capable backs, but I really believe Saturday's game comes down to which quarterback makes plays in the fourth quarter. Both Kirk Cousins and Scott Tolzien have played well the last two weeks, combining for 998 pass yards with eight touchdowns and only one interception. Cousins needs to prove himself in the clutch, while Tolzien looks for a signature road win in a place where Wisconsin has struggled. He'll get top receiver Nick Toon back from a toe injury.

10. Buckeyes need answers at RB: Perhaps Buckeyes fans are nitpicking, or maybe they have a point about Brandon Saine and Dan Herron. Either way, Ohio State fans want to see more production out of the veteran running backs, or increased opportunities for dynamic redshirt freshman Jaamal Berry, who has 15 carries for 177 rush yards (11.8 ypc) this season. Coach Jim Tressel is loyal to his veteran players, and it will be interesting to watch what he does if Saine and Herron start slow against Illinois.

First, Northwestern turned to Stephen Simmons, but he got hurt.

The Wildcats then tried Arby Fields. And Scott Concannon. And Jacob Schmidt. And Simmons again. The result was a rushing attack that ranked eighth in the Big Ten and 95th nationally in 2009.

Northwestern went back to Fields and Schmidt in the 2010 season opener against Vanderbilt, but only got fumbles and short gains. Through the first four games, Northwestern has had four lost fumbles from its running backs and no runs of longer than 20 yards, a problem that has carried over from last season.

The hard truth: Since Tyrell Sutton graduated, Northwestern has had a major hole in its backfield.

But there's hope this week as the undefeated Wildcats open Big Ten play at Minnesota.

Redshirt freshman Mike Trumpy gets his chance to become the answer for Northwestern's rushing issues. Trumpy, who missed all of 2009 because of injuries, provided a lift last week against Central Michigan with 53 yards on 12 attempts, all in the second half of a 30-25 victory.

His performance elevated him to co-starter status with Schmidt on this week's depth chart.

"Michael, really the first time being healthy here a couple weeks ago, has put a couple good weeks of practice together," Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "He ran hard for his first real opportunity of getting some carries besides mop-up duty. His role is going to increase based on the production that he has."

At 6-foot and 210 pounds, Trumpy gives Northwestern a little extra size at running back. The nephew of former NFL star Bob Trumpy ran hard between the tackles against Central Michigan and most important, he held onto the football.

Northwestern on Saturday faces a Minnesota team ranks last in the Big Ten and 97th nationally against the run (187.8 ypg). Northern Illinois' Chad Spann gashed the Gophers for 223 yards and two touchdowns in last week's win.

It's a good opportunity for Trumpy to help himself in a wide-open backfield. If he's not the answer, Northwestern might not have one, unless it wants to use true freshman Adonis Smith, an increasingly unlikely possibility.

"We've made no secret we want to try and be much more efficient running the football," Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald knows that as good as quarterback Dan Persa and the wide receivers have been, a one-dimensional offense can only go so far in Big Ten play.

If the Wildcats plan to turn their quick start into a special season, someone needs to answer the call at running back.

A few notes from around the league on the Monday before conference play kicks off:

• Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson should be fine for this week's game at Indiana after suffering a bruised left knee in the first quarter of Saturday's win against Bowling Green. Robinson will be limited in Monday's practice but is expected to do more in Tuesday's workout. Coach Rich Rodriguez said after Saturday's game that Robinson could have returned if needed. Rodriguez said Monday that reserve quarterback Tate Forcier also should be fine after sustaining a bruised quad against Bowling Green. Running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (shoulder) and Michael Shaw (knee) will be evaluated throughout the week.
• Illinois offensive lineman Hugh Thornton was arrested for simple battery and damage to property following a weekend incident at a Champaign bar. Thornton hasn't been suspended as coach Ron Zook continues to gather information. The sophomore suffered a scary neck injury against Northern Illinois and had to be carted off the field, but he was released from the hospital later that day and had been expected to play this week against No. 2 Ohio State.
• Thanks to colleague David Ubben for passing along this nugget from The Austin American-Statesman's Kirk Bohls: "[Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe] also said Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told him last week that the Big Ten has 'zero activity' for further expansion." This is fairly consistent with what Delany said following the Big Ten divisions announcement, as the league has several items to address before it can devote more time to the expansion study. Does this mean the Big Ten is totally done with expansion? Not necessarily, although I get the sense that the league is very content with its current setup.
• Wisconsin receivers Nick Toon (toe) and David Gilreath (concussion) both are listed on the depth chart for the Michigan State game. Gilreath hasn't been cleared for full contact just yet, but he might be later this week. I'd definitely expect to see Toon on the field at Spartan Stadium. "Probably since fall camp started, this is the healthiest we've been," Badgers coach Bret Bielema said Monday.
• Indiana senior linebacker Tyler Replogle is back on the depth chart after missing Saturday's game against Akron with a concussion. Coach Bill Lynch expects Replogle to return to practice this week.
• Northwestern running backs Mike Trumpy and Jacob Schmidt have been elevated to co-starters on this week's depth chart for the Minnesota game. Trumpy provided a lift to the run game in the second half against Central Michigan, while Schmidt rushed for two touchdowns. Arby Fields has been moved to second string following his costly fourth-quarter fumble.

Before getting ready for Penn State and Ohio State, some quick thoughts on Purdue's loss to Toledo and Northwestern's win against Central Michigan.

Toledo 31, Purdue 20: I can't name another team in America that has been hit harder by key injuries than Purdue. The Boilers today lost starting quarterback Robert Marve to a knee injury. Marve joins top running back Ralph Bolden and top receiver Keith Smith on the shelf with knee injuries. I'll have an update on Marve when I get it, but coach Danny Hope has to feel totally snake bit right now. Purdue had a mini rally in the second half and forced some turnovers, but Toledo put things away on a touchdown run with 5:24 left. The Boilers defense can't feel too good about this one, as a Toledo offense ranked last nationally in yards racked up 378 yards and 31 points. Quarterback Austin Dantin picked apart a still-vulnerable Purdue secondary.

Northwestern 30, Central Michigan 25: Things got a interesting at the end as Central Michigan closed to within five, forcing Northwestern to recover an onside kick to preserve the win. But the game shouldn't have been nearly as close, as Northwestern completely dominated the third quarter and only let up after an inexcusable fumble by running back Arby Fields early in the fourth. Fields, who is struggling this season, can't make a mistake like that if he wants to stay in the mix at running back. Northwestern ran the ball a bit better with Mike Trumpy, who might be the answer. Quarterback Dan Persa threw his first interception of the year but still looked very good. Linebacker Quentin Davie and defensive tackles Corbin Bryant and Jack DiNardo stepped up nicely for a defense that performed well until the fourth quarter.

Rolling through September.

• The Big Ten is off to a strong start, Herb Gould writes in the Chicago Sun-Times. The league could be measured by its success against the Pac-10 this week, Mike Lucas writes in The Capital Times.
• Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson is The Story right now, and read all about him here and here and here.
• Terrelle Pryor doesn't have to play like a Heisman Trophy winner for Ohio State to win the national title, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Pryor and the Buckeyes are making strides, colleague Pat Forde writes. The Columbus Dispatch reports Buckeyes safety C.J. Barnett (knee) will miss at least a week.
• Coach Tim Brewster is humbled by Minnesota's loss to South Dakota, while the Gophers should get both starting safeties back for USC, Phil Miller writes in the Star Tribune. Things will only get worse for Minnesota this week, Tom Powers writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press.
• Penn State played Alabama like it didn't want to be embarrassed, David Jones writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News. The Lions were seeing red in the red zone, Bernard Fernandez writes in the Philadelphia Daily News. Penn State's Week 2 grades from Bob Flounders.
• Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst acknowledges the team has been careless with the ball in the red zone, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. Great to see that Wisconsin receiver David Gilreath is OK after a scary hit Saturday.
• We should learn a lot more about Michigan State after Saturday's game against Notre Dame, Shannon Shelton writes in the Detroit Free Press. A lot of questions linger about the Spartans, Lynn Henning writes in The Detroit News.
• Good news on Illinois receiver/quarterback Eddie McGee, whose ankle injury isn't as severe as originally thought, Shannon Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune. Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill could miss Saturday's game at Illinois, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
• Iowa boasts two running backs but zero controversy, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. The Hawkeyes are as good as advertised, Pat Harty writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
• Purdue will be without receiver Keith Smith for this week's game and probably much more, Stacy Clardie writes in The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. The Boilers have options to replace Smith in the passing game, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• Northwestern running back Arby Fields has stopped dancing and started producing, Chris Hine writes in the Chicago Tribune. ESPNChicago.com's Scott Powers has some quick hits from Northwestern's win against Illinois State.

The good stuff is about to get started around the Big Ten, but five games are already in the books.

I'll weigh in on Minnesota-South Dakota in a bit, but here's what happened in the other four contests.

Wisconsin 27, San Jose State 14: For the second consecutive week, Wisconsin walks off the field with a win but knowing it has a lot to clean up. Up 17-0 at halftime, the Badgers struggled to put away a San Jose State team that got crushed by No. 1 Alabama seven days earlier. Wisconsin's offense achieved tremendous balance and running back John Clay had another big game (23 carries, 137 rush yards, 2 TDs), rumbling for a first down that allowed the Badgers to run out the clock. Scott Tolzien threw an interception for the second consecutive game but still had decent numbers and hooked up with tight end Lance Kendricks three times for 60 yards and a touchdown. The defense played decently until late in the third quarter, when San Jose State's Chandler Jones broke several tackles on a 37-yard touchdown. All in all, not bad, but I'm a little concerned about the Badgers heading into the Arizona State game.

Michigan State 30, Florida Atlantic 17: The Spartans improve to 2-0 thanks to another impressive effort from the run game and specifically sophomore Edwin Baker, who piled up 183 yards on 15 carries, including an 80-yard touchdown run. As Larry Caper sits out with a hand injury, Baker has certainly made a good case that he should be Michigan State's starting running back. Florida Atlantic dominated possession time, but Michigan State cashed in on its opportunities. There were some negatives, namely two turnovers and some shaky pass defense against Florida Atlantic quarterback Jeff Van Camp. But overall, a solid "road" win. The Spartans also have to be extremely pleased with kicker Dan Conroy, who converted attempts from 50, 44 and 41 yards. The performance establishes Conroy as the starter as Michigan State tries to replace standout kicker Brett Swenson.

Northwestern 37, Illinois State 3: Sure, it's Illinois State, but Northwestern looked much better on both sides of the ball in a rare blowout victory. Quarterback Dan Persa continued his very impressive start, completing 19 of 23 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns with a rushing touchdown. Wideout Sidney Stewart had a big day, and Northwestern got talented superback Drake Dunsmore (2 TD receptions) more involved. Northwestern had its second-team offense in the game midway through the third quarter. The defense also looked very good, recording three interceptions, two by senior linebacker Quentin Davie. Northwestern also ran the ball a bit better, as sophomore Arby Fields had 96 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. The ground game remains a work in progress, but with the way Persa is throwing the ball, it doesn't matter.

Purdue 31, Western Illinois 21: Kind of an odd game in West Lafayette. A Robert Marve interception spotted Western Illinois an early lead before the Boilers gradually came back and took control. The defense did a nice job until struggling in the fourth quarter, allowing two touchdowns. Purdue appeared to find its running back as senior Dan Dierking racked up 103 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Dierking has been somewhat overlooked in the running back race, but he's a big, tough runner with experience. Al-Terek McBurse also had a nice touchdown run that seemingly put away the game in the fourth quarter. Marve had a similar performance to Week 1, completing a lot of passes (23) but struggling to stretch the field (only 5 yards per pass). Purdue needs to find ways to get Keith Smith, Cortez Smith and Justin Siller in space. The Boilers are a work in progress right now, but their schedule sets up well the next month.

Northwestern is an odd football program.

The Wildcats have been very solid in Big Ten play since 2003, beating every team in the league at least once and going .500 or better five times in the past seven years. They've driven Iowa nuts and pulled off several upsets against ranked teams.

But nonconference play has been a very different story. The Wildcats almost always play down to their competition, dropping games to teams like Duke (2007), Hawaii (2004) and Syracuse (2009). Some of those early losses have kept NU out of the postseason.

That's why Pat Fitzgerald and crew are breathing a big sigh of relief right now.

Vanderbilt nearly became the latest bottom feeder to beat Northwestern in non-league play. Northwestern only secured a 23-21 victory after a controversial helmet-to-helmet penalty against Vandy secured a first down and allowed the offense to run out the clock. The game was similar to Northwestern's previous nonconference disasters, featuring special-teams blunders, momentum shifts and several utterly bizarre moments. Vanderbilt really hurt itself with penalties (9 for 91 yards).

But a win's a win, and Northwestern will take them in non-league play. New starting quarterback Dan Persa had a solid performance, passing for 222 yards and three touchdowns, completing 19 of 21 passes in Mike Kafka-esque fashion. Defensive tackle Jack DiNardo also stepped up for the Wildcats.

Once again, the run game really struggled, which is a concern given the experience along the offensive line. Persa rushed for 82 yards, but Northwestern's running backs, particularly Arby Fields, really struggled. This team has to do better with a veteran offensive line.

Special teams were an adventure for both teams, as Northwestern had a field goal attempt blocked, and muffed an extra point attempt that could have made it a two-score game with 4:39 left.

A lot to correct for Fitzgerald's crew going forward.

The good news from Northwestern's Week 1 injury report is that Arby Fields' name doesn't appear. The sophomore running back appears to be recovered from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for part of camp, and he'll play Saturday night at Vanderbilt.

The bad news is a few more names appear, including outside linebacker Bryce McNaul, a projected starter, who is out with a shoulder injury. McNaul has shown promise in practice but can't stay healthy, missing 13 games the last two seasons. Junior Ben Johnson, who started seven games last season, likely will replace McNaul.

Veteran offensive lineman Keegan Grant also will miss the opener because of an unspecified illness.

Here's the official rundown (player, injury, status):

• Safety David Arnold, foot, out
• Linebacker Roderick Goodlow, knee/ACL, out for season
• Guard Keegan Grant, illness, out
• Wide receiver Tony Jones, shoulder, out
• Linebacker Bryce McNaul, shoulder, out
• Linebacker Tim Riley, shoulder, out

Welcome to National Depth Chart Day. No day on the college football calendar inspires more curiosity about depth charts than the Monday before the season, when most teams release their Week 1 two-deeps.

(And then there's Purdue, which didn't include a depth chart in its game notes for Notre Dame. Ugh.)

I've had the chance to review depth charts from those programs that released them today -- two-deeps from Illinois, Michigan State and Minnesota are coming soon -- and I checked in on several coaches' news conferences.

Here's what stood out:

INDIANA

• Even though Indiana will shift to a 3-4 defensive alignment this year, the depth chart lists a 4-3 with Darius Johnson and Fred Jones as the starting ends and Chad Sherer and Tyler Replogle flanking junior college transfer Jeff Thomas at linebacker.
• Interesting to see several veteran offensive linemen like Justin Pagan and Cody Faulkner listed as backups rather than starters. Junior Andrew McDonald steps into some big shoes at left tackle as Rodger Saffold departs to the NFL.
• The backup quarterback job remains open, as Dusty Kiel and Edward Wright-Baker are both listed as No. 2 behind Ben Chappell.
• Indiana expects big things from redshirt freshman Duwyce Wilson, listed as a starter at wide receiver, kick returner and punt returner.

IOWA

• Sophomores Micah Hyde and Greg Castillo are listed as the starting cornerbacks. Shaun Prater doesn't appear on the depth chart after dealing with a leg injury in camp. Prater hasn't been officially ruled out for the Eastern Illinois game, but I wouldn't expect to see much of him on Saturday.
• James Ferentz is listed as the starting center, a spot where Iowa might be a little thin following Josh Koeppel's motorcycle accident Monday morning.
• Starting defensive end Broderick Binns is suspended for the opener, so Christian Ballard is listed as a possible starter at both end and tackle. Mike Daniels and Lebron Daniel are the next options behind Ballard.

MICHIGAN

• Sophomores Denard Robinson and Tate Forcier and freshman Devin Gardner are listed as co-starters at quarterback. Head coach Rich Rodriguez reiterated Monday that Gardner won't redshirt this fall.
• Vincent Smith and Michael Shaw are listed as co-starters at running back, with Michael Cox behind them.
• True freshman Carvin Johnson is listed as the starter at the spur position (safety/linebacker). Pretty big surprise here, and a testament to Johnson's work in camp.
• Senior James Rogers steps into Troy Woolfolk's starting cornerback spot opposite J.T. Floyd.
• Receivers Martavious Odoms and Kelvin Grady clearly showed enough in camp to be listed as starters or possible starters against Connecticut.

NORTHWESTERN

• Sophomore running back Arby Fields returned to practice Monday and wore a no-contact jersey after being sidelined with a shoulder problem. He's listed as a co-starter at running back with Jacob Schmidt and Stephen Simmons. Northwestern wanted a clear No. 1 running back to emerge in camp, but Fields' injury changed the plan.
• Junior Bryce McNaul is listed as the third top linebacker alongside returning starters Quentin Davie and Nate Williams. McNaul won the job in camp.
• Venric Mark is the only true freshman listed on the depth chart, both as a backup wide receiver and a co-starter at punt returner. I'll go out on a huge limb (sarcasm) and predict Mark will be the man on returns for the Wildcats very shortly.

OHIO STATE

• Junior defensive end Nathan Williams, a projected starter, will miss the Marshall game with a knee injury. He should be back shortly thereafter. Solomon Thomas will start in Williams' spot Thursday night.
• Starting cornerback Chimdi Chekwa (hamstring) is questionable for the Marshall game, but corner Devon Torrence (hamstring) should be fine.
• Sophomore C.J. Barnett's strong performance in camp lifted him ahead of Orhian Johnson on the Week 1 depth chart. Johnson missed a chunk of camp with an injury.
• Start salivating, Buckeyes fans, because running backs Jordan Hall and Jaamal Berry likely will handle kickoff returns against Marshall.

PENN STATE

• Sophomores Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin and freshman Robert Bolden are listed as co-starters at quarterback for the Youngstown State game.
• Sophomore Devon Smith's strong camp landed him a starting spot at both receiver and kick returner, and a backup role on punt returns.
• Redshirt freshman Garry Gilliam is listed as the starting tight end, as Andrew Szczerba likely will miss the opener with a back injury. Penn State obviously is thin here after losing Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler.
• Veterans Nate Stupar, Chris Colasanti and Bani Gbadyu are listed as the starting linebackers, with promising younger players like Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges right behind them.

WISCONSIN

• After a very impressive camp, freshman running back James White appears at No. 3 on the depth chart behind both John Clay and Montee Ball. White also is the No. 2 punt returner behind David Gilreath. His emergence likely will result in veteran Zach Brown redshirting the season.
• Senior Blake Sorensen likely will start at outside linebacker, as Mike Taylor continues to rehab after undergoing a second procedure on his knee in camp. Culmer St. Jean and Chris Borland are listed as the other starting linebackers.
• The starting cornerback spots remain open, as Niles Brinkley, Antonio Fenelus and Devin Smith will compete in practice this week.

I've had the chance to check out the Big Ten Network's preview of Northwestern. The crew of Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith stopped by Wildcats practice in Kenosha, Wis.

Here are a few notes and observations:

• DiNardo pointed out that this Northwestern team is built differently from ones in the past, with the major strengths up front on both sides of the ball. Despite a lot of experience on the lines, DiNardo didn't sound too convinced that Northwestern would reach a school-record third consecutive bowl game, and he pointed out that the schedule might be tougher than it appears because several Big Ten teams Northwestern beat last year will be improved. Not sure I buy the schedule argument. Looks pretty manageable to me.
• We didn't get a full read on the all-important running back situation because sophomore Arby Fields, who most believe will end up as the starter, sat out practice with an injury. Junior Jacob Schmidt, who provided a nice boost in short-yardage situations last year, had a very good day, including a big burst up the middle during team drills. Northwestern typically uses smaller backs in the spread offense, but both Schmidt and true freshman Adonis Smith bring good size to the mix. Smith is listed at only 5-10, 185 but looks a lot bigger. "Smith is to me the guy who has an opportunity to come and be special as a freshman," Griffith said.
• The running game is clearly the focus of camp, as quarterback Dan Persa and superback Drake Dunsmore both mentioned it during interviews with the BTN crew. "We take it personal that we didn't run the ball very well last year," Persa said.
• Persa looked good during the practice, making different types of throws and showing good accuracy. He displayed nice touch on a deep fade to Jeremy Ebert in individual drills and made a nice throw to Lee Coleman into tight coverage during team drills. The receivers looked good as well, as Ebert and Sidney Stewart ran some nice routes and freshman Venric Mark left the BTN feeling he can play right away this fall. Dunsmore said he tweaked a hamstring early in camp but should be fine for the season.
• Backup quarterback Evan Watkins had a nifty rollout and pass to Ebert for a touchdown during team drills. "Nice job of running the seam route there," Griffith said. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald is pleased with all the quarterbacks in camp, saying the team "hit grand slams" by adding freshmen Trevor Siemian and Kain Colter.
• DiNardo likes Northwestern's starting linebacking corps but is unsure about the depth. Bryce McNaul certainly looks like the third starter alongside mainstays Quentin Davie and Nate Williams. Davie told the BTN crew that forcing turnovers is the defense's top priority after it tied for second in the league in takeaways with 30 last fall.
• An experienced offensive line left a good impression in this practice. DiNardo and Griffith singled out guard Brian Mulroe and tackle Patrick Ward for their play, and DiNardo said, "This is the best offensive line we've seen at Northwestern for a while." Fitzgerald noted the athleticism on the left side of the line with Mulroe and veteran tackle Al Netter.
• Aside from Schmidt's long run, the defensive line did a good job of filling gaps in team drills. The BTN crew likes the depth at both end and tackle, and Griffith lists tackle Jack DiNardo as his under-the-radar player. Niko Mafuli showed some good power in team drills, especially after Fitzgerald, mic'd up for part of the practice, called him out for being slow. Fitzgerald calls senior tackle Corbin Bryant an "All-Big Ten-level player."
• Not much stood out about the secondary in this practice, although the BTN crew praised the play of safeties Jared Carpenter and Hunter Bates, who are competing to start alongside Brian Peters. "He's key for that young secondary," DiNardo said of Carpenter.

Adam Rittenberg talks with Northwestern running back Arby Fields.

It's that time again. Let's take a look at the power rankings as camps are under way throughout the Big Ten.

1. Ohio State: There isn't a glaring weakness on this team. History shows the defense will be extremely stingy, and if quarterback Terrelle Pryor continues to develop, the offense should be more than capable of putting up points. A bona fide national title contender.

2. Iowa: The core from the Orange Bowl championship team returns, led by defensive end Adrian Clayborn and quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Iowa must reload at offensive line but has a strong tradition there. A Week 3 test at Arizona could be tricky, but Iowa will be a BCS bowl contender if it defends its home turf.

3. Wisconsin: No Big Ten team returns more individual stars than the Badgers. A balanced offense led by one of the nation's best lines could be unstoppable if John Clay, Scott Tolzien and others can stay healthy. The defense is young in spots but talented, and safety Jay Valai promises me they'll lay the wood. Can head coach Bret Bielema take this program from very good to great?

4. Penn State: I had the Lions tied with Michigan State coming out of the spring, but Penn State's historic success on defense and its superior line play provides an ever-so-slight edge right now. Given the inexperience at quarterback, Penn State will need to rely on its run game and its defense. Joe Paterno has won that way a few times before.

5. Michigan State: The Spartans boast more depth at the offensive skill positions than any Big Ten team. Linebacker Greg Jones returns to lead the defense. My only hesitation here is the line play on both sides of the ball. I'm tempted to buy into Michigan State, but I'm going to take a wait-and-see approach for now.

6. Northwestern: Quarterback Dan Persa has done everything right in the offseason. Now he needs to prove himself when it really counts. The secondary and the rushing game concern me, but running back Arby Fields is poised for a big year. This isn't a championship-level team but one that should make a school-record third straight bowl.

7. Purdue: Like Persa, Robert Marve has established himself as a leader before starting his first game at quarterback for the Boilers. If Purdue fills a few gaps on the offensive line, its offense could be very good. The defensive front seven should be better against the run, but Purdue must replace its entire starting secondary, which is never easy.

8. Michigan: Regardless of who wins the starting quarterback job, Rich Rodriguez's offense will put up points. But if the defense doesn't make a major jump in 2010, nothing else will matter. Demar Dorsey's departure from the secondary could hurt, and while I'm interested to see what Cam Gordon and others can do on the field, it's hard to buy into this unit right now.

T-9. Minnesota: There has been too much change in personnel and on Tim Brewster's staff the last two years for me to give the Gophers a stamp of approval at this stage. Quarterback Adam Weber certainly is talented enough to turn things around, especially with some help from the run game and the offensive line. I'm not counting out Minnesota by any means, but a very challenging schedule combined with a lot of new faces creates some concern.

T-9. Indiana: I'm buying into Ben Chappell and the Hoosiers offense. If the unit stays healthy, Indiana will put up points and improve in critical situations (third down, red zone). Not surprisingly, the major concerns come on defense, where Indiana hopes a switch to the 3-4 alignment pays off. A very favorable schedule gives IU a chance to make it back to a bowl game.

11. Illinois: The Grand Experiment begins Sept. 4 against Missouri in St. Louis. Great recruiting classes haven't translated into on-field success for the Illini. Perhaps an upgrade in coaching will make the difference. Linebacker Martez Wilson's return provides a boost, but Illinois needs to help young quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase as much as possible.