ESPN College Football

The wait is finally over for Big Ten players not selected in April's NFL draft.

Free agent deals are finally taking place during a whirlwind week in the post-lockout NFL.

We'll have additional updates as the day goes on, but here's a look at where Big Ten players are landing.

ILLINOIS

• CB Travon Bellamy, St. Louis Rams
• WR Jarred Fayson: New Orleans Saints
• G Randall Hunt: St. Louis Rams
• DE Clay Nurse: New England Patriots

INDIANA

• QB Ben Chappell: Washington Redskins
• WR Terrance Turner: Philadelphia Eagles

IOWA

• P Ryan Donahue: Detroit Lions
• LB Jeremiah Hunter: New Orleans Saints
• TE Allen Reisner: Minnesota Vikings
• LB Jeff Tarpinian: New England Patriots

MICHIGAN

• T Perry Dorrestein: New York Jets
• CB James Rogers: Denver Broncos
• TE Martell Webb: Philadelphia Eagles

MICHIGAN STATE

• WR Mark Dell: Denver Broncos
• LB Eric Gordon: Jacksonville Jaguars
• T D.J. Young: Arizona Cardinals

MINNESOTA

• T Dom Alford: Cleveland Browns
• FB Jon Hoese: Green Bay Packers
• QB Adam Weber: Denver Broncos

NEBRASKA

• K Adi Kunalic: Carolina Panthers
• TE Mike McNeill: Indianapolis Colts
• DE Pierre Allen: Seattle Seahawks
• G Ricky Henry: Chicago Bears
• T D.J. Jones: Miami Dolphins
• S Rickey Thenarse: Seattle Seahawks

NORTHWESTERN

• DT Corbin Bryant: Chicago Bears
• LB Quentin Davie: Detroit Lions

OHIO STATE

• G Bryant Browning: St. Louis Rams
• G Justin Boren: Baltimore Ravens
• RB Brandon Saine: Green Bay Packers
• WR Dane Sanzenbacher: Chicago Bears
• DT Dexter Larimore: New Orleans Saints
• CB Devon Torrence: Minnesota Vikings

PENN STATE

• WR Brett Brackett: Miami Dolphins
• LB Chris Colasanti: Indianapolis Colts
• LB Bani Gbadyu: Oakland Raiders
• DT Ollie Ogbu: Indianapolis Colts

PURDUE

• TE Kyle Adams: Chicago Bears
• WR Keith Smith: Detroit Lions

WISCONSIN

• CB Niles Brinkley: Pittsburgh Steelers
• RB John Clay: Pittsburgh Steelers
• QB Scott Tolzien: San Diego Chargers

The position rankings move from offense to defense. We'll start with the group that has produced more Big Ten stars than any other position group in recent years.

The Big Ten had five defensive linemen, all from different teams, selected in the first round of April's NFL draft: Wisconsin's J.J. Watt, Illinois' Corey Liuget, Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan, Iowa's Adrian Clayborn and Ohio State's Cameron Heyward. Iowa lost three starting D-linemen to the draft, and almost every Big Ten squad has to replace major contributors.

The personnel losses make the preseason D-line rankings both tricky and fun. The first three groups look very good, while there's not much difference in the middle of the league.

Let's take a look:

1. Nebraska: The Big Ten's newest member should fit in well with its strong play up front. Star defensive tackle Jared Crick stiff-armed the NFL draft and returned for his final season, giving Nebraska a terrific centerpiece up front. He'll be complemented by veterans Baker Steinkuhler and the mustachioed Cameron Meredith. If converted linebacker Eric Martin builds off of a strong spring, Nebraska should be fine at the end spot.

2. Ohio State: Heyward's leadership and versatility will be missed, but Ohio State always finds ways to fill the gaps up front. Junior John Simon should be primed for a breakout season. Like Heyward, Simon can play both line spots but might see more time on the edge this fall. Nathan Williams adds experience at end, and promising sophomore Johnathan Hankins could wreak havoc on the interior this fall.

3. Michigan State: Like several Big Ten teams, the Spartans build their line around a potential superstar tackle in Jerel Worthy. The junior already is projected as a potential first-round pick in the 2012 draft after recording four sacks last fall. Anthony Rashad White emerged this spring as a nice complement to Worthy. Michigan State needs a better pass rush from the end spots, and hopes are high for William Gholston and Tyler Hoover.

4. Wisconsin: Watt is a huge loss because he contributed in so many ways, but Wisconsin could account for his production with greater depth. Ends Louis Nzegwu and David Gilbert both have played a lot of football, and junior Brendan Kelly came on strong toward the end of spring practice. Senior tackle Patrick Butrym has emerged as one of the leaders on defense. Wisconsin needs young tackles like Jordan Kohout and Beau Allen to help Butrym.

5. Michigan: This is a projection pick, but I think Michigan's defensive front takes a significant step forward this season. Senior tackle Mike Martin is a bona fide NFL prospect and will lead the way, and players like Ryan Van Bergen and Craig Roh should be among the primary beneficiaries of the new defense under coordinator Greg Mattison. Michigan needs to build depth with Jibreel Black, Will Campbell and others, but there's great potential here.

6. Iowa: The Hawkeyes face a tough task in replacing multiyear starters in Clayborn, Christian Ballard and Karl Klug. Senior tackle Mike Daniels is ready to lead the group after recording 11 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2010. The biggest key is getting Broderick Binns back to his 2009 form. Iowa also needs to build depth with Lebron Daniel and others, and avoid major injuries.

7. Purdue: Defensive tackle is a major strength for Purdue as Kawann Short and Bruce Gaston Jr. form one of the league's top tandems. Short quietly turned in an extremely productive season last fall (12.5 TFLs, 6 sacks). The big unknown is how Purdue replaces Kerrigan. The Boilers need veteran Gerald Gooden to stay healthy and others to emerge alongside him.

8. Penn State: Much like Purdue, Penn State looks strong at tackle and has question marks at end. Devon Still could contend for All-Big Ten honors after a terrific performance in the Outback Bowl against Florida. Still and Jordan Hill should lock up the middle, but Penn State needs Jack Crawford and Eric Latimore to get healthy at the end spots. If not, the Lions will turn to unproven players to spark their pass rush.

9. Illinois: Liuget is a significant loss in the middle and Illinois also must replace veteran end Clay Nurse. The Illini will rely on Akeem Spence to step in for Liuget, and Spence showed some good things this spring. There's talent on the edges with Michael Buchanan, Whitney Mercilus and others, but Illinois needs more consistent production.

10. Northwestern: This group took a step back last fall and got manhandled down the stretch as Northwestern hemorrhaged yards and points. Senior end Vince Browne is a playmaker who put up impressive numbers (15.5 TFLs, 7 sacks) in 2010. He'll need help from tackles Jack DiNardo and Niko Mafuli, and Tyler Scott could provide a lift at the other end spot. The Wildcats need their line to regain the edge it displayed in 2008.

11. Indiana: It wouldn't surprise me to see Indiana's front four rise up these rankings during the season. There are some nice pieces back, namely senior end Darius Johnson, who can be a force when healthy. Junior Adam Replogle has been productive at defensive tackle. There's plenty of competition at the other two spots as Indiana tries to turn a page on defense.

12. Minnesota: The Gophers' pass rush was practically invisible in 2010, as they finished last nationally in sacks (9). The good news is new defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys will turn his linemen loose more often, giving players like Brandon Kirksey chances to make plays. We've heard a lot about Minnesota's talent up front but haven't seen nearly enough production on Saturdays.

It took a little while, but I've managed to find the full statistics from Saturday's NFLPA all-star game, which pitted Team Texas against Team Nation.

The Texas all-stars won 13-7, and nine Big Ten players participated in the game -- six for Team Nation, three for Team Texas (Wisconsin's Jay Valai was a late addition).

Here's how the Big Ten contingent fared:

• Iowa receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos recorded game highs in both receptions (5) and receiving yards (77) for the Nation squad. DJK didn't wear an Iowa helmet in the game and instead sported this headgear.
• Valai recorded six tackles for Team Texas
• Illinois defensive end Clay Nurse recorded four tackles and a sack for Team Nation
• Northwestern linebacker Quentin Davie recorded three tackles for Team Texas, while his college and all-star teammate, defensive tackle Corbin Bryant, had a sack and two tackles
• Ohio State cornerback Devon Torrence recorded a tackle for Team Nation

You can also check out my Big Ten recaps for the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game.

The Senior Bowl on Saturday doesn't mark the end of the all-star season for Big Ten players.

Eight players from Big Ten squads will head to San Antonio next week to prepare for the NFL Players Association all-star game that pits players from around the country against those from Texas. Colleague Todd McShay thinks the talent level at the NFLPA game is on par with that from the East-West Shrine Game last week.

Here are the Big Ten participants heading to the Alamodome:

NATION TEAM

• Iowa WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos
• Michigan State OT D.J. Young
• Illinois DE Clay Nurse
• Iowa LB Jeremiha Hunter
• Wisconsin CB Niles Brinkley
• Ohio State CB Devon Torrence

TEXAS TEAM

• Northwestern DT Corbin Bryant
• Northwestern LB Quentin Davie

The NFLPA game takes place Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. ET.

Don't forget: Big Ten chat is happening right now!

• Iowa players talk about the grueling workout that likely put 12 team members in the hospital, Tom Witosky writes in the Des Moines Register. Hawkeyes offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde tells the Associated Press the workouts aren't used for punishment.
• A full breakdown of Big Ten recruiting, headlined by Ohio State and Nebraska, from colleague Jamie Newberg.
• Michigan is building some late recruiting momentum with a big day Tuesday, Mark Synder writes in the Detroit Free Press. Former Wolverines quarterback Tate Forcier is considering both FBS and FCS programs for his next destination, colleague Joe Schad reports.
• Part of Michigan's recruiting success (QB Russell Bellomy) comes at Purdue's expense, although the Boilers did bolster their return game Tuesday, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• New Minnesota defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys discusses the Gophers' future here and here with the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press' Marcus Fuller.
• Northwestern is closing in on former Indiana assistant Dennis Springer as its new receivers coach, Teddy Greenstein writes in the Chicago Tribune.
• Nebraska is targeting a kicker who could succeed superstar Alex Henery, Brian Christopherson writes in the Lincoln Journal Star.
• Who were the Big Ten's worst head coaches since 1993?
• An interesting look at where Penn State gets its recruits from JoePa's Dog House. Penn State football turns a nice profit in 2010.
• Illinois defensive end Clay Nurse will participate in the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter during the Big Ten coaches' teleconference, which begins right now.

• Not a Big Ten story per se, but a great look at former Denison University coach Keith Piper from The Columbus Dispatch's Todd Jones.
• Wisconsin likely will turn to Bill Nagy at center on Saturday against Indiana, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. Badgers coach Bret Bielema has made the right calls on offense this year, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Michigan receiver Roy Roundtree wants to wear the coveted No. 1 jersey, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News. It looks like Wolverines' sophomore Craig Roh will be a defensive end for good, annarbor.com's Pete Bigelow writes.
• If Penn State wants to pull the upset Saturday, it must stop Cameron Heyward, Bob Flounders writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News. Fran Ganter has been there for almost all of Joe Paterno's success at Penn State, statecollege.com's Mike Poorman writes.
• Northwestern missed 27 tackles in Saturday's loss to Penn State, Lindsey Willhite writes in the Daily Herald. The Wildcats always live on the edge, and right now, they're falling off, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette.
• Ohio State beat writers Tim May and Ken Gordon discuss the Buckeyes' home stretch.
• Illinois defensive end Clay Nurse said it best: "There's no getting over 67-65."
• Iowa can expect a wild ride whenever it faces Northwestern, Sean Keeler writes in the Des Moines Register.
• The Lansing State Journal's Joe Rexrode examines Mark Dantonio's early success as Michigan State coach.
• Bill Lynch expects Indiana to bounce back after yet another close loss, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).

Time to press the rewind button on Week 9 before looking ahead to this week's games.

Team of the week: Iowa. After two close losses filled with what-ifs, the Hawkeyes left nothing to chance Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa obliterated Michigan State from the opening kickoff, storming out to a 30-0 halftime lead. The Hawkeyes did it with offensive execution, as quarterback Ricky Stanzi put himself on the Heisman radar, completing 11 of 15 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns. They also did it with opportunistic defense, recording three interceptions against the typically poised Kirk Cousins, returning one for a touchdown. Iowa received major contributions from many players and avoided a special-teams miscue. The win tightened the Big Ten race heading into November.

Best game: Michigan-Penn State. It was a Saturday of blowouts around the Big Ten, but two traditional powerhouses provided an entertaining offensive shootout at Beaver Stadium. Michigan's Denard Robinson had another huge night, rushing for 191 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 190 passing yards and a score. But "Shoelace" got upstaged by Penn State's Evan Royster and Matt McGloin. Royster, the former All-Big Ten running back who entered Saturday with just one 100-yard rushing performance in seven games, went for 150 rushing yards and two scores. McGloin sizzled in his first career start, passing for 250 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Michigan rallied late to cut Penn State's lead to seven points before the Lions answered. The teams combined for 72 points and 858 offensive yards. Northwestern-Indiana also had some late drama before the Wildcats held on to win 20-17.

Biggest play: Iowa led Michigan State 10-0 late in the first quarter, but the Spartans had entered Hawkeyes territory and had first-and-10 from the 41. Safety Tyler Sash read Cousins perfectly and made an easy interception on a pass to B.J. Cunningham. The exciting part came next, as Sash ran six yards before lateraling the ball over Cunningham's head to teammate Micah Hyde. Hyde raced 66 yards and dived inside the pylon for a touchdown. Iowa went up 17-0 and never looked back. "It's like the point guard that pulls up from 40 feet deep and shoots a 3-pointer," said Sash, a former basketball star in high school. "If he makes it, it's alright. But if he misses it, what are you doing?"

Specialist spotlight: Penn State's Collin Wagner went 2-for-2 on field goals, including a 42-yarder that gave the Lions a 10-point cushion in the fourth quarter. He also ran seven yards on a fake field goal to seal the victory in the final minutes. Northwestern's Stefan Demos has had an up-and-down senior season, but he came up huge at Indiana with two field goals, including a 45-yarder to make it a two-score game with 6:51 left. Both punters in the Michigan State-Iowa game performed well, as Iowa's Ryan Donahue placed three punts inside the 20-yard line and Michigan State's Aaron Bates averaged 48.5 yards per boot. Ohio State recorded a special-teams touchdown as Jonathan Newsome blocked a Minnesota punt and Zach Domicone recovered in the end zone. The Buckeyes also had a 70-yard punt return by Jordan Hall. Illinois' Anthony Santella averaged 43.7 yards on seven punts, and teammate Clay Nurse blocked a Purdue punt.

Game balls (given to players on winning or losing teams who didn't receive helmet stickers)

• Ohio State's Dan Herron, DeVier Posey and Terrelle Pryor: All three turned in big performances as Ohio State blew out Minnesota. Herron continued to establish himself as the Buckeyes' No. 1 running back with 114 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Pryor once again was efficient, completing 18 of 22 passes for 222 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Posey had six catches for 115 yards and a score.
• Iowa DL Mike Daniels: It's probably a combination of Daniels' emergence and the way opponents are double-teaming Adrian Clayborn, but the junior continues to have a huge season. He recorded two more tackles for loss against Michigan State, bringing his season total to 10.
• Northwestern QB Dan Persa and WR Jeremy Ebert: They've formed one of the Big Ten's top passing connections and hooked up five times for 98 yards and two touchdowns against Indiana. Persa completed 18 of 28 passes for 212 yards with two touchdowns and no picks, and he added 19 rush yards before being shaken up late in the game.
• Michigan QB Denard Robinson: Robinson single-handedly kept Michigan alive at Penn State with 191 rush yards and three touchdowns and 190 pass yards and a score. He accounted for 381 of Michigan's 423 offensive yards at Beaver Stadium.
• Indiana DE Darius Johnson: Johnson applied steady pressure to Persa and consistently beat Northwestern's offensive line for 11 tackles, including two for loss and a sack.
• Ohio State LB Brian Rolle: With fellow 'backer Ross Homan still sidelined by injury, Rolle stepped up against Minnesota with 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the win.

Now let's spin it forward and look at Week 10.

No. 16 Iowa (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) at Indiana (4-4, 0-4): The Hawkeyes are riding high after their dominant win against Michigan State, but they'll have to take care of business on the road the next two weeks before the Ohio State showdown. Indiana dominated Iowa last Halloween for three quarters as Stanzi threw five interceptions. But it was all Iowa in the fourth, as the Hawkeyes exploded for 28 unanswered points. Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell will throw the ball a ton, so Iowa's defensive linemen will have their ears pinned back for this one.

Minnesota (1-8, 0-5) at No. 14 Michigan State (8-1, 4-1): Despite Saturday's ugly loss, the Spartans remain very much alive in the Big Ten title race and can get well against the league's worst team. Look for Michigan State to reignite its ground game against a Minnesota team that allows a league-worst 201.8 rush yards per game. Minnesota's Adam Weber torched Michigan State for 416 pass yards and five touchdowns in last year's wacky game in Minneapolis, but he'll face a much tougher challenge this time around.

Illinois (5-3, 3-2) at Michigan (5-3, 1-3): Don't be fooled by the matching records; these teams are headed in opposite directions. Illinois is surging after back-to-back blowout victories and looks for its third consecutive win against the Maize and Blue. Michigan has dropped three consecutive league contests as its defense and special teams continue to regress. Embattled coach Rich Rodriguez needs this one in a big way, and the winning team will be bowl eligible.

No. 9 Wisconsin (7-1, 3-1) at Purdue (4-4, 2-2): After an open week, the Badgers return to action against a Purdue team coming off of back-to-back ugly losses. Speaking of one-sided games, Wisconsin crushed Purdue 37-0 last year in Madison. This game features Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year front-runners Ryan Kerrigan from Purdue and J.J. Watt from Wisconsin. The two defensive ends have combined for 12.5 sacks and 32 tackles for loss this season.

Northwestern (6-2, 2-2) at Penn State (5-3, 2-2): A pretty obvious story line here as Joe Paterno goes for win No. 400. The Nittany Lions' legend would be just the third college coach to record 400 victories -- John Gagliardi and Eddie Robinson are the others -- and the first to do so in Division I-A/FBS. Standing in the way of history is Northwestern, which brings a 4-0 road record this season to Happy Valley. Wildcats star quarterback Dan Persa returns to his home state for the game.

Bye: No. 11 Ohio State (8-1, 4-1)

There's a natural hesitation to draw definitive conclusions before Big Ten play, but it's safe to assume two things about Saturday's matchup at Illinois' Memorial Stadium.

1. Ohio State's offense is better

2. Illinois' defense is better

This isn't exactly out-on-a-limb stuff.

In 2009, Ohio State finished a pedestrian 68th nationally in total offense (369 ypg) and 49th in scoring (29 ppg). Although the Buckeyes rushed the ball effectively, their pass offense ranked 103rd nationally (173.6 ypg). They eclipsed 30 points just twice in Big Ten play and had no players rank among the top 40 nationally in the major offensive statistical categories.

Illinois' defense was even worse, finishing 91st nationally in yards allowed (403.3 ypg), 96th in points allowed (30.2 ppg) and 100th against the pass (248.8 ypg allowed). The Illini had only one defender make the All-Big Ten roster -- end Clay Nurse -- and only as honorable mention. Illinois finished the year hemorrhaging points, 102 in its final two games.

Both units couldn't get much worse. But both units also have shown genuine improvement heading into Saturday's game.

Ohio State brings the nation's No. 8 offense to Champaign, a unit that comes off of a 73-point performance against Eastern Michigan, its highest points total since 1950. Junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who remains in the Heisman Trophy mix, accounted for six touchdowns in the game (4 pass, 1 rush, 1 receiving). Pryor ranks 13th nationally in both total offense (302 ypg) and pass efficiency (167.2 rating). Wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher leads the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns (5), and both he and teammate DeVier Posey rank among the league's top 10 in receiving yards.

"They're a ton better," Nurse said. "The quarterback is throwing the ball a lot better, the receivers are better, the running backs are running hard, the offensive line is bigger and stronger. It's going to be a challenge for us."

Illinois seems more equipped to meet the challenge than it was a year ago, when it fell 30-0 to Ohio State. The Illini have allowed just 48 points in their first three games after surrendering 49 and 53 in their final two contests last season.

"I really like the quickness," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "They've always been a big, strong team. There's a couple of those guys you can see have trimmed down, and that's given them that quickness. Their pursuit is extraordinary, they fly around. They have tough kids, they play extremely hard.

"I would agree that their defense is a step ahead of perhaps where it was a year ago."

After being a run-heavy offense in Pryor's first two years as the starter, Ohio State didn't take long to show that things might be different this fall. The Buckeyes achieved a perfect balance of 16 rushes and 16 passes in their first half of the season opener against Marshall.

Pryor is more accurate and efficient, and the pass game has at times looked more polished than the run, as Ohio State keeps using a committee of backs.

"He's made the progress that you would expect," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "He was just as talented his first year, but now he's throwing the football probably 20 percent more, he's very, very accurate. The longer he stays in [the pocket], the deeper people get on the field and the further they've got to come if he does break contain.

"I've just been very, very impressed with his maturation process."

The same holds true for Illinois' defense, which has five players ranked among the Big Ten's top 15 in tackles average. Linebackers Ian Thomas and Martez Wilson both have been sound, and defensive backs Travon Bellamy, Tavon Wilson and Justin Green are making plays.

"Guys are more interested in each others' success," Nurse said. "You see guys doing their jobs. Guys are not trying to make every single play. If it's something where we need to funnel the ball, that's what we're doing. We're not taking chances any more."

Zook is pleased by what he's seen from Vic Koenning's group, but there's a lot more to prove, beginning Saturday.

"This will be the test," Zook said, "that we'll know exactly where we are defensively."

Is it Saturday yet?

• Joe Paterno is reluctant to talk about his past with Alabama and Bear Bryant, Bernard Fernandez writes in the Philadelphia Daily News. The uncle of Penn State quarterback Rob Bolden will be rooting for Alabama on Saturday, Jerry DiPaola writes in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Lions think they've solved their special-teams woes, Jeff Rice writes in the Centre Daily Times.
• Iowa running back Jewel Hampton is "starving" to get back on the field, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Great quote from Iowa offensive lineman Josh Koeppel: "It’s not like getting hit by a truck really changes me."
• After facing Alabama in Week 1, San Jose State's coach sees some similarities with Wisconsin, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Defensive end Clay Nurse steps into the Bandit spot at Illinois following Michael Buchanan's suspension, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette. Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase actually felt better after watching the Missouri game tape, Mark Tupper writes in The (Decatur) Herald & Review.
• After strong openers, Big Ten powers Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan all need to step it up in Week 2, Chris Hine writes in the Chicago Tribune. Buckeyes defensive end Nathan Williams looked good in Tuesday's practice, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
• Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson might be too good to keep his shoes untied, annarbor.com's Pete Bigelow writes. Robinson is Notre Dame's primary focus this week, Mark Potash writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Minnesota players are supporting teammate Jon Hoese after the loss of his father, Phil Miller writes in the Star Tribune.
• Michigan State's "road" game in Detroit is truly bizarre, Michael Rosenberg writes in the Detroit Free Press. Dan Conroy has claimed the Spartans' starting place-kicking spot, Denny Schwarze writes in the Lansing State Journal.
• Purdue running back Al-Terek McBruse admits he was tentative against Notre Dame following a knee sprain, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• After improving his blocking, Ted Bolser gives Indiana exactly what it needs at tight end, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).

The Illinois-Missouri series goes on hiatus after Saturday's clash in St. Louis. For the men wearing orange helmets, it seems like the break can't come soon enough.

Illinois has opened its season against the rival Tigers five times since 2002, including each of the past three years. All five games have produced the same result for the Fighting Illini: 0-1.

Many forecast another opening loss for Ron Zook's crew Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome. Translation: there's no better time for the Illini to step up and get some revenge.

If Illinois wants to make a statement that things are turning around, the Missouri game provides the perfect platform.

"They're all important, but this one has an awful lot of importance on it," Zook told ESPN.com. "Obviously, we haven’t had a lot of success against them."

The Missouri game has been a buzzkill for Illinois in each of the past two seasons. After a run to the Rose Bowl in 2007, preseason No. 20 Illinois entered the dome to face No. 6 Missouri in one of the more anticipated matchups of the 2008 opening weekend.

Game result: Missouri 52, Illinois 42

Illinois season result: 5-7

Optimism had been restored by the time Illinois made the trip to St. Louis last year. Quarterback Juice Williams and receiver Arrelious Benn had returned, linebacker Martez Wilson seemed on the brink of a huge season and the team had gone through a very successful preseason camp. Plus, Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin were no longer on Missouri's roster.

Game result: Missouri 37, Illinois 9

Illinois season result: 3-9

"We were healthy, we were fresh, no one was beat up, we put a big emphasis on it," Zook recalled. "And we get over there and the second play of the game, it was like somebody threw a blanket over us."

Benn and running back Jason Ford both went down with injuries. Wilson suffered a neck injury in the first quarter but remained in the game, only to learn days later that he needed season-ending surgery.

The team never fully recovered, plummeting to a 1-6 start.

As Zook prepares his team for another tough opener against Mizzou, he doesn't stiff-arm what has taken place the past few years.

“Traditionally, Missouri’s probably played if not their best, one of their best games of the year against us," Zook said. "That's the one thing we've tried to stress to our guys. You look at Missouri in the first game of the year, you look at them in the end, and they're not the same team.

"We've got to match the way they're playing."

Illinois isn't as healthy as it was a year ago, as two projected starters in the secondary, safety Supo Sanni and cornerback Terry Hawthorne, will miss the game. Missouri will play without running back Derrick Washington, but the Tigers still have quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who torched the Illini for 319 pass yards and three touchdowns last year.

Redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase makes his first career start for the Illini, who debut a new offense under coordinator Paul Petrino.

"I'm like everyone else, I want to see him play, too," Zook said. "I'm not going to say he’s going to be perfect, but he’ll learn from his mistakes and he'll do a great job."

After last year's loss, Zook and his players lamented that something happened on the bus ride from Champaign to St. Louis. No one could pinpoint the problem, but it zapped Illinois' mojo from a strong camp.

Saturday is a chance to get the momentum back.

"We all have something to prove," defensive end Clay Nurse said. "You can dwell on what your season was like last year, but I'm not one to dwell on that.

"I'm just ready to go out here and show people we can produce and be successful."

Bear with me here, as I promise I'll have posts on every Big Ten practice before the season. Up next are the Illinois Fighting Illini, who recently hosted the Big Ten Network preseason tour for two practices. I've reviewed the show, and here are some notes and observations.

• The Big Ten Network crew of Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith all agreed that the new coaches, particularly coordinators Paul Petrino and Vic Koenning, have helped change the attitude at Illinois after two subpar seasons. "This team is working harder than I've seen it work," said DiNardo, who also noted that the team isn't as talented as in years past. Petrino was mic'd up for one segment of the show, and his high-energy style came through. Illinois head coach Ron Zook also pointed out a difference among players. "The players are kind of taking over," Zook said. "Not that we didn't have leadership before, but these guys, particularly the upper-class guys, have kind of taken over.”
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase looked very good in drills, and those of who who haven't seen before likely came away impressed with his performance during the BTN interview. Although known for his running ability, Scheelhaase fired a bullet to Jarred Fayson in team drills. True freshman quarterback Chandler Whitmer also had a nice throw to Fred Sykes. "They're two-deep there," DiNardo said of the quarterback spot.
• Scheelhaase talked about how he has been able to gain respect on the team despite his age. "I’m around a bunch of great guys, guys who are willing to give me the respect," he said.
• Martez Wilson always has had an All-American's body, but he seemed to be backing it up with his play in practice as well. Wilson filled his gaps nicely during a 7-on-7 drill, and he made a really nice stop against Jason Ford during the team portion.
• DiNardo and Griffith both talked about how Illinois likely will use a lot of stunts and twists on defense to compensate for its lack of size up front. We saw this a bit from Glenn Foster, a 260-pound defensive tackle. Defensive lineman Corey Liuget looks leaner than he did a year ago, and DiNardo "liked the way he moved around." There also was a pretty good battle between Clay Nurse and weak-side offensive tackle Jeff Allen during a drill.
• The wide receivers looked very good in drills, although the defensive backs seemed to struggle with the exception of physical corner Terry Hawthorne, who Griffith called "a special player." Fayson, Sykes and Chris James all had very good practices. The BTN crew also liked what they saw from Eddie McGee, who we saw working at both receiver and cornerback. If Fayson can stay healthy, he'll form a nice 1-2 receiver combination with A.J. Jenkins.
• Running back Mikel Leshoure looked strong and a bit leaner than last year. Remember this is a guy listed at 240 pounds as a freshman who now checks in at 224. DiNardo said Leshoure has separated himself from the other backs, and Zook basically admitted it, too. "Right now, Mikel probably is the starter," Zook said. "I like his work ethic. He's so much different." Ford also looked good during the practice, cutting back nicely on one play.
• The offense seemed to have the edge in this practice, although Zook noted that Petrino's scheme throws a lot at an opposing defense. The BTN analysts think the new system will not only help Illinois' offensive players but provide the defense with looks other than the spread in practice. Petrino will use plenty of tight ends and fullbacks this year.
• Petrino also explained the strong-side/weak-side philosophy, which puts the offense's strongest players against the defense's weak spots.
• Freshman tight end Evan Wilson is an impressive-looking player, and DiNardo tabbed Wilson as his top newcomer. Petrino also said, "We’ve got a true freshman at tight end that's going to be a really good player." With Zach Becker (foot) out for a while, Wilson should see increased time. Griffith identified wideout Darius Millines as his top newcomer. McGee and rush end Michael Buchanan were the picks for under-the-radar players.

Adam Rittenberg talks with senior defensive lineman Clay Nurse of Illinois

Camps are up and running around the Big Ten.

• Hosting the first Big Ten football championship should pay off in a big way for Indianapolis, Jeff Rabjohns writes in The Indianapolis Star.
• Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez says six teams, not four, have separated themselves in Big Ten division alignment talk, Teddy Greenstein writes in the Chicago Tribune.
• Despite how Joe Paterno looked at media days, we didn't learn much about his future plans, Frank Bodani writes in the York Daily Record. In case you missed it, my colleague Gene Wojciechowski weighs in on JoePa.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase is now the man in charge at Illinois, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette. Illini defensive end Clay Nurse is focused solely on the future, Shannon Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune.
• Ohio State standout offensive lineman Justin Boren needs to become a better communicator, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Former Buckeye Quinn Pitcock is back on the field after battling depression and a strange addiction (video games), Greg Johns writes in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
• The NCAA's allegations against West Virginia shouldn't have a direct impact on Michigan's hearing before the Committee on Infractions, annarbor.com's Michael Rothstein writes.
• The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Mike Hlas details the fascinating story of Iowa receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. Iowa and Nebraska should meet on rivalry weekend, Sean Keeler writes in the Des Moines Register.
• Minnesota's freshmen will train separately from the upperclassmen for a portion of camp, Phil Miller writes in the Star Tribune. Five Gophers storylines as camp opens, Marcus Fuller writes in the Star Tribune.
• Indiana running back Darius Willis is eating his vegetables, Terry Hutchens writes in The Indianapolis Star.
• Wisconsin's new secondary coach is making an immediate impact, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald has no plans to be around as long as JoePa, Tina Akouris writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Schedule: First practice takes place Thursday at Memorial Stadium. First group hits the field at 4 p.m. ET and the second group at 5:30 p.m. ET. Team practices three times in Champaign before moving to Rantoul, Ill., on Aug. 9, for 15 workouts.

What's new: Uh, like, everything. Ron Zook is still the head coach, but he has six new assistants, including coordinators Paul Petrino (offense) and Vic Koenning (defense). Illinois is breaking in new systems on both offense and defense, and redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase takes over at quarterback following the departure of four-year starter Juice Williams. The new-look staff has some familiarity, as Petrino, quarterbacks coach Jeff Brohm and tight ends coach Chip Long all worked together at Louisville during the Cardinals' juggernaut days. Illinois needs a No. 1 wide receiver to emerge after Arrelious Benn's departure to the NFL.

Sidelined: Strong-side offensive tackle Corey Lewis, a projected starter this spring, sustained a torn ACL in spring ball and likely will miss the season. Illinois needs a strong camp from Ryan Palmer as he steps into a featured role.

Key battle: Illinois has two experienced defensive line pieces in Clay Nurse and Corey Liuget, but the other two spots should bring plenty of competition. Glenn Foster had a nice spring and could be the answer at the second defensive tackle spot, while several players, including Michael Buchanan and Nate Palmer, compete at the "bandit" position.

New on the scene: Although veteran Eddie McGee can shift from wide receiver to quarterback if needed, true freshman Chandler Whitmer likely is a play away from the field. Whitmer enrolled early and impressed the coaches with his knowledge this spring. He enters the fall as Scheelhaase's backup. Also keep an eye on safety Trulon Henry, a junior college transfer and Benn's older brother. He enters camp as the backup to Supo Sanni at free safety.

Breaking out: Wide receiver A.J. Jenkins nearly left Illinois in the winter before deciding to stay and turn around his career. Zook and Petrino raved about Jenkins this spring, and he'll likely be Scheelhaase's top target. Running back Mikel LeShoure will carry the load after a very impressive finish to 2009. Cornerback Terry Hawthorne also could have a big year after making an impact as a freshman last fall.

Back in the fold: Illinois really missed Martez Wilson, and the middle linebacker finally gets to hit people again in camp after being fully cleared by doctors. Wilson suffered a herniated disk in his neck in the 2009 opener against Missouri and underwent season-ending surgery. The one-time, can't-miss recruit has one final chance to break out. Cornerback Miami Thomas also returns after tearing his ACL in camp last year.

Quoting: "The players, we didn't execute. People want to jump on the coaches and blame the coaches. The last time I saw coach Zook catch a pass or make a tackle, they were wearing leather helmets. It is on us now. They brought in new coaches, but at the end of the day, we're the ones playing." -- defensive end Clay Nurse

Big Ten media days are the unofficial start to the 2010 season, and they're rapidly approaching.

The league today announced the 33 players who will be attending the media sessions, held Aug. 2-3 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago (new location this year). They will join all 11 Big Ten head coaches.

My thoughts in a bit, but first the roster of attendees:

ILLINOIS

• Eddie McGee, WR, Sr.
• Clay Nurse, DE, Sr.
• Tavon Wilson, CB, Jr.

INDIANA

• Ben Chappell, QB, Sr.
• Tyler Replogle, LB, Sr.
• Terrance Turner, WR, Sr.

IOWA

• Adrian Clayborn, DE, Sr.
• Karl Klug, DT, Sr.
• Ricky Stanzi, QB, Sr.

MICHIGAN

• Mark Moundros, FB, Sr.
• Stephen Schilling, G, Sr.
• Troy Woolfolk, CB, Sr.

MICHIGAN STATE

• Kirk Cousins, QB, Jr.
• Greg Jones, LB, Sr.
• Keith Nichol, WR, Jr.

MINNESOTA

• Brandon Kirksey, DT, Jr.
• Kim Royston, S, Sr.
• Adam Weber, QB, Sr.

NORTHWESTERN

• Corbin Bryant, DT, Sr.
• Quentin Davie, LB, Sr.
• Dan Persa, QB, Jr.

OHIO STATE

• Bryant Browning, G, Sr.
• Cameron Heyward, DL, Sr.
• Dane Sanzenbacher, WR, Sr.

PENN STATE

• D'Anton Lynn, CB, Jr.
• Evan Royster, RB, Sr.
• Stefen Wisniewski, G, Sr.

PURDUE

• Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Sr.
• Robert Marve, QB, Jr.
• Keith Smith, WR, Sr.

WISCONSIN

• John Clay, RB, Jr.
• Scott Tolzien, QB, Sr.
• Jay Valai, S, Sr.

Nuggets: Purdue's Smith will speak on behalf of the players at the Big Ten kickoff luncheon on Aug. 3. ... The list of attendees includes 25 seniors, eight juniors and no sophomores. ... It features last year's Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in Clay, as well as the league's co-Defensive Player of the Year in Jones. ... There are 19 former All-Big Ten players on the roster, including seven first-team selections from 2009.

My quick thoughts:

• A very good group overall, as most of the league's key players will be in attendance. The big absence is Ohio State starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor, although his omission won't surprise anyone who has covered the Buckeyes. Yes, yes, I know head coach Jim Tressel brings seniors or captains to Big Ten media days every year, so spare me the e-mails. But we're talking about a two-year starting quarterback and the reigning Rose Bowl MVP. Ohio State's continued sheltering of Pryor is not shocking, but disappointing. It's time we heard more from a guy who has led the offense onto the field for the better part of the past two seasons. Pryor has to be the most talked-about and least talked-to player in recent college football history.
• While Ohio State keeps its quarterback under wraps, other teams continue to expose their new signal-callers. Northwestern and Purdue both are bringing first-year starting quarterbacks to media days in Persa and Marve. Minnesota's Weber is no stranger to the media spotlight, but he made the list after winning the team's quarterback competition this spring. This is a good way for teams to acknowledge their leaders. Illinois is the only team besides Ohio State not bringing its starting quarterback, which is understandable since Nathan Scheelhaase is a redshirt freshman. The Illini are bringing a former quarterback in McGee. Penn State and Michigan aren't bringing quarterbacks because neither team knows its starter.
• Royston's inclusion is potentially a great sign for Minnesota, which would love to have the safety on the field for the start of the season. Royston suffered a broken leg in spring ball but has been making good progress throughout the summer. It'll also be interesting for him to be in the same room as his former Wisconsin teammates.
• Interesting to see that Michigan State is bringing both its current starting quarterback in Cousins as well as Nichol, who competed alongside Cousins last season before moving to wide receiver, where he projects as a starter. Nichol is an interesting choice -- linebacker Eric Gordon and guard Joel Foreman would have been good, too -- and I look forward to visiting with him.
• On behalf of the Big Ten media corps, I'd like to thank Wisconsin for bringing Valai, one of the best personalities in college football. Jay will be happy to know I've bulked up since our last visit (or not), and I'm sure he'll have some memorable lines in Chicago. Other very quotable players include Illinois' Nurse, Indiana's Chappell, Michigan's Woolfolk, Michigan State's Cousins, Northwestern's Bryant, Ohio State's Heyward, Penn State's Wisniewski and Purdue's Smith. All three Iowa players are good choices, but if they could sneak in Derrell Johnson-Koulianos to the Hyatt, I'd be in heaven.