ESPN College Football

Seven Big Ten teams hold their spring games Saturday, and we're taking a closer look at each one of them.

Next up: The annual Orange and Blue Spring Game at Illinois. Here are all the vitals:

When: 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. local time), Saturday

Where: Memorial Stadium

Admission: Free. All seating will be in the east stands. Free parking is available in the lots surrounding the stadium and Assembly Hall.

TV: The game will be streamed live on both BTN2Go and the Big Ten Digital Network. The Big Ten Network will broadcast the game on tape-delay at 7 p.m. ET Sunday.

Weather forecast: Partly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms possible, temperatures between 66-76 degrees, 50 percent chance of rain, winds at 19-20 mph.

What to watch for: Illinois should have one of the more entertaining spring games in the Big Ten. New head coach Tim Beckman said players will approach it "as if it's a real game." The team's seniors were divided into two groups and drafted teams earlier this week. The game will be played with a normal clock in the first half and a running clock in the second half (except if the game is close in the final two minutes). Another unique tidbit: Beckman will go into the stands and select Illinois students to call two plays per half for both teams.

Beckman wants to put on a show for the fans, who should get a decent sense of the new systems Illinois is using on both sides of the ball. The Illini are employing an up-tempo spread attack on offense, and it will be interesting to see how quarterbacks Nathan Scheelhaase and Reilly O'Toole are adjusting. There are depth issues at both wide receiver and running back, and Illinois is bolstering the spots with players such as Miles Osei, a reserve quarterback who could see time at both receiver and running back Saturday, and starting cornerback Terry Hawthorne, who will see time at receiver. Another defensive back, Justin Green, is being used as a running back. Top wideout Darius Millines (foot) is out, so plenty of others will have opportunities to make plays.

The changes aren't as dramatic on defense, as coordinator Tim Banks uses a similar scheme to his predecessor, Vic Koenning. Illinois looks very strong in the defensive front seven, and coaches have praised players such as Michael Buchanan, Jonathan Brown and Justin Staples. Safeties Supo Sanni and Steve Hull, both projected starters, are out for the game.

If you ever plan on calling the cops on one of my guys again, you go ahead and get two barrels.

• Jerry Kill's top coordinators will try to keep things running smoothly at Minnesota until the boss returns. Gophers players admit they were rattled by Kill's seizure on the sidelines.
• Michigan State is 2-0, but we will really find out what the Spartans are made of this week at Notre Dame. Linebacker Max Bullough has some family ties to the Irish.
• Fumbles remain a problem for the Nebraska offense. The Huskers defensive backs look to step up this week, with or without Alfonzo Dennard.
• Both Ohio State and Miami are fighting some negative national stigmas. Braxton Miller will eventually play a lot, and maybe soon. A booster admitted he's the one who gave three Buckeyes cash at a charity event.
• Penn State's Devon Still is a quiet leader who has matured since the birth of his daughter. The Nittany Lions are trying to move past the Alabama loss. The two-quarterback system, loved by almost no one, will continue.
• An empty backfield with Russell Wilson is a new wrinkle for the Wisconsin offense. The Badgers are changing their signals this week so former assistant Dave Doeren won't steal them.
• Kirk Ferentz says he didn't blackball former Hawkeye receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. DJK has no one to blame but himself, Mike Hlas says. Former Iowa player Brent Greenwood is showing some positive signs after going into an induced coma over the weekend.
• Al Borges plans to put Denard Robinson under center more to help the Michigan tailbacks. Defensive tackle Will Campbell is earning himself some more playing time.
• Illinois safety Supo Sanni had the same injury as Northwestern's Dan Persa and feels Persa's pain. The Illini are turning up the intensity with Arizona State heading to town.
• Kevin Wilson has shown he's willing to roll the dice in key situations. Indiana defensive end Fred Jones has finally put in the hard work, and it's paying off.
• Purdue's Cody Webster is among the nation's top punters after two weeks. Robert Marve should make his season debut Saturday, but Caleb TerBush remains the Boilers' top quarterback.

Use this weekend to test your grills, buy your face paint and design your signs. From here on out, football will fill the rest of your 2011 weekends.

• Defense will hold the key to success for Illinois this season. Safety Supo Sanni used basketball to help his rehab from an Achilles tendon injury.

• Indiana linebacker Chad Sherer might miss the season with a knee injury. Kevin Wilson is feeling upbeat about his team (subscription required).

• Iowa has found lots of talent in its own backyard. The Hawkeyes are getting a new, younger look at linebacker.

• Greg Mattison sees improvement in the Michigan defense, but it's not all the way there yet. Al Borges says the offense will be "gunning" more than any he's overseen in 24 years because of Denard Robinson. Physical play in practice has quite a few Wolverines banged up.

• Kirk Cousins is the face of Michigan State's program. Dan France is trying to clean up his mistakes and hold onto the starting left tackle job.

• Minnesota receiver Da'Jon McKnight puts his former hoops skills to good use on the football field. Linebackers Mike Rallis and Keanon Cooper should be ready to go for the Gophers' opener at USC.

• Nebraska backup quarterback Brion Carnes is waiting for his time to shine. Junior college transfer Joseph Carter is pushing for playing time at defensive end. True freshman Tyler Moore is battling for a starting job on the Huskers' offensive line.

• Former walk-on Jacob Schmidt has risen to the top of the depth chart at running back for Northwestern.

• Former blue-chip recruit Curtis Grant is experiencing some growing pains but wants to avoid a redshirt this year for Ohio State. Luke Fickell acknowledged a poorly-kept secret: Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller are his top two quarterbacks. Mike Vrabel appears to be making a successful transition to coaching.

• Joe Paterno is still getting it done in recruiting despite not going to high schools in person. Stephfon Green is back on the Nittany Lions -- at least according to him. Recruit Malik Golden is being ticketed for cornerback.

• Purdue quarterback Caleb TerBush is confident despite his lack of experience. Rick Schmeig is the anchor for the Boilers' offensive line.

• Wisconsin is seeking a dependable third receiver to go along with Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis. A healthy Toon is making Wisconsin coaches smile. Here's some news: The Badgers have giant dudes on the offensive line, including enormous freshman Ray Ball.

The Big Ten chat returned today, and it was an entertaining one.

In case you missed out on the fun, here's a full wrap-up.

Some highlights:

rob (iowa): Adam whith the difficulty of Nebraskas schedule and the break Iowa gets by not playing OSU or Wisconsin and getting Michigan, MSU and NW all at home am I crazy to think Iowa has a shot at winning their division this year even with all the losses they need to replace?

Adam Rittenberg (12:03 PM): You're not crazy Rob, but keep in mind Nebraska also gets Michigan State, Northwestern and Iowa on its home turf. Nebraska's division schedule actually is very beneficial in my view, despite the tough crossover games. But you're right: if Iowa can take care of business at Kinnick Stadium and steal some wins on the road, it'll be in the mix for a division title.

Adam Rittenberg (12:09 PM): GOL!!!

Craig (Virginia): With Rob Bolden coming back, who do you think will start at QB for Penn State this fall?

Adam Rittenberg (12:23 PM): Craig, I think it will be Bolden. He was the team's top option when healthy and should have been used in the Outback Bowl, a decision both Joe Paterno and Jay Paterno regret. While I don't fully trust that he'll remain at Penn State if McGloin is named the starter, I think Bolden gets the nod for the opener.

Lucas (NYC): You say an undefeated B1G champion would go to the NC game, but Ted Miller says an undefeated Oregon would be a lock. We all know what C Low would say. Which one of them is wrong?

Adam Rittenberg (12:30 PM): There's definitely a belief that the SEC champion, whether undefeated or with 1 loss, will make the title game no matter what. I guess when you win five consecutive championships, you've earned that right. If we somehow get undefeated teams from the SEC, Pac-12 and Big Ten, someone gets left out, and it could be the Big Ten squad if Oregon or Stanford runs the table. But the chances of this happening seem pretty slim to me.

Illini Mike (Chicago IL): Hey Adam, I truely believe Illinois will fill those gaps on defense. Last year it seemed VK did a great job nuturing and developing talent. I think he'll continue that production into this year. Mark my words, towards the end of the year you'll be call Illinois the most underratted defense in the league.

Adam Rittenberg (12:42 PM): Mike, I agree Vic did a great job in his first season as coordinator. Although the defense seemed to let down in November against Michigan, Minnesota and Fresno State, the unit's overall strides shouldn't be dismissed. I think the secondary will be fine and even better than last year's unit, especially if Hawthorne and Sanni stay healthy. The front seven concerns me, especially after losing Liuget, but if Ian Thomas, Akeem Spence and others step up, Illinois should be in decent shape.

Brandon (Las Vegas, NV): Who's replacing Boom for the Bucks? My guess is a tandem of Berry and Smith with Hall mixed in every now and then. Although, I have heard rumblings of Carlos Hyde showing promise.

Adam Rittenberg (12:47 PM): Brandon, I tend to think it'll be a mix of backs as well. The NFL has showed us that you typically need two running backs, and Ohio State has several good options as well as some nice variety. Smith can be your bruiser, and both Hall and Berry can provide a change-up with their speed. I'm really excited to see who emerges among that group.

Thanks again for the questions, and my apologies to those whose questions weren't answered. Let's do it again next week!

We wrap up our preseason look at Big Ten secondaries with a look at the safeties.

Safety isn't quite as stacked as cornerback, and the Big Ten loses some solid players like Iowa's Tyler Sash and Ohio State's Jermale Hines. There are fewer elite prospects at safety, but several teams have potential playmakers.

Here are the top 10 entering 2011:

1. Trenton Robinson, Michigan State, senior: Robinson played a big role in Michigan State's improvement as a secondary in 2010. He led the Spartans with four interceptions and tied for the team lead in passes defended with eight. Robinson, who enters his third season as a starter, had 76 tackles last season and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches.

2. Aaron Henry, Wisconsin, senior: After emerging as a playmaker in 2010, Henry should be primed for even bigger things in his second season at safety. The former cornerback made the switch and recorded two interceptions, seven pass breakups, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries last season. Like Robinson, he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches.

3. Tyler Moeller, Ohio State, senior: Moeller will provide a huge boost for a new-look Ohio State defense as he returns from a torn pectoral muscle that shortened his 2010 season. He can play either safety or linebacker and showed impressive playmaking skills early last fall, recording two forced fumbles, an interception and 4.5 tackles for loss in just five games. If Moeller stays healthy, he'll be in the mix for All-Big Ten honors.

4. Brian Peters, Northwestern, senior: Peters boasts a lot of experience, appearing in every game the past three seasons. He also shows a knack for the football, recording three interceptions in each of the past two seasons. A second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2010 after recording 107 tackles, Peters must get a bit more consistent in coverage but looks ready to lead the defense.

5. Micah Hyde, Iowa, junior: After starting all 13 games last season at cornerback, Hyde likely will move to safety as the Hawkeyes lose two multiyear starters in Sash and Brett Greenwood. Hyde showed last fall that he's a tremendous playmaker, recording four interceptions, including the pick-six that won the Insight Bowl against Missouri. He led the team with 11 passes defended, finished second with 82 tackles and had a forced fumble.

7. Nick Sukay, Penn State, senior: Like Moeller, Sukay was doing big things in 2010 before a torn pectoral muscle ended his season. Sukay recorded three interceptions, a forced fumble and 29 tackles in just six games. He's a natural playmaker who finished third in the Big Ten in passes defended with 13 in 2009. His return makes a very good Lions secondary even better.

8. Trulon Henry, Illinois, senior: An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2010, Henry will help anchor an Illini secondary that could do some big things this fall. Henry led Illinois with three interceptions and two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, three pass breakups and 64 tackles. He should be helped by the return of Supo Sanni from injury.

8. Logan Link, Purdue, senior: Link quietly turned in a solid 2010 season, finishing eighth in the Big Ten in tackles with 91. He's a solid tackler who added an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The former walk-on has emerged as a really nice contributor for the Boilers' defense.

9. Drew Astorino, Penn State, senior: Astorino has been the iron man in Penn State's secondary, starting each of the past two seasons as well as three games as a redshirt freshman in 2008. He has played through injuries, including a shoulder problem that impacted him last fall, when he recorded 70 tackles, an interception and five pass breakups. If Astorino stays healthy, he could blossom in his final season.

10. Courtney Osborne, Nebraska, junior: This is a bit of a projection pick, but Osborne should be able to help fill Nebraska's gaps at safety this fall. He appeared in every game last season, starting four, and recorded 41 tackles, an interception, a sack and five tackles for loss. Osborne did some nice things down the stretch and seems primed for bigger things in a bigger role.

Also considered: Minnesota's Kim Royston, Ohio State's Orhian Johnson, Michigan's Jordan Kovacs, Indiana's Greg Heban

Illinois

2010 overall record: 7-6

2010 conference record: 4-4 (T-4th)

Returning starters

Offense: 7; defense: 6; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

QB Nathan Scheelhaase, LT Jeff Allen, WR A.J. Jenkins, C Graham Pocic, CB Tavon Wilson, S Trulon Henry, LB Ian Thomas, DT Akeem Spence, K Derek Dimke

Key losses

RB Mikel Leshoure, G Hugh Thornton, T Ryan Palmer, DT Corey Liuget, LB Martez Wilson, LB Nate Bussey, DE Clay Nurse, P Anthony Santella

2010 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Mikel Leshoure (1,697 yards)

Passing: Nathan Scheelhaase* (1,825 yards)

Receiving: A.J. Jenkins* (746 yards)

Tackles: Martez Wilson (112)

Sacks: Corey Liuget (4.5)

Interceptions: Trulon Henry* (3)

Spring answers

1. Scheelhaase takes next step: Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino seemed extremely pleased with the way quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase built on his first season as the starting quarterback. Scheelhaase proved himself as a runner last season, but he upgraded his passing skills this spring, displaying a quicker release and better decision-making. The redshirt sophomore should be a dangerous dual-threat signal-caller this fall.

2. Secondary steps up: Illinois must replace several standouts in the defensive front seven, but it should be very solid in the secondary this season. Terry Hawthorne, Justin Green and Tavon Wilson were among the defensive backs who stood out in spring ball. Illinois boasts depth at both safety and cornerback, as Supo Sanni returns from injury and Trulon Henry enters his second year as a starter.

3. Lankford provides depth: Top receiver A.J. Jenkins and projected contributor Darius Millines both missed spring practice after offseason surgeries, so the coaches were looking for options at wideout. Sophomore Ryan Lankford answered the bell with a very impressive spring, showing good hands and run-after-catch ability. Lankford capped the session with five receptions for 64 yards in the spring game.

Fall questions

1. Running back: Injuries prevented the coaches from getting much of a read on the group this spring. Senior Jason Ford, a likely successor to Mikel Leshoure, missed most of the spring with a bruised knee, and Petrino said he needs to see more from Ford this summer. Troy Pollard had some good moments before suffering a concussion in a scrimmage. The starting job is open heading into the fall, and there's opportunity for an incoming freshman like Donovonn Young to make a splash.

2. Linebacker leadership: Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning didn't sound too pleased with the linebackers midway through the spring, although the group picked up its play toward the end. Illinois still must replace two productive players (Martez Wilson and Nate Bussey) and identify leadership at the position. Senior Ian Thomas seems like the obvious choice to take the reins, while talented younger linebackers like Jonathan Brown, Houston Bates and Brandon Denmark must continue to make progress.

3. Punter: Illinois loses a field-position weapon in Anthony Santella, who ranked 14th nationally in punting average (44.8 ypp) and placed 19 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line in 2010. Backup kicker Matt Eller worked as a punter this spring and Lankford auditioned as a rugby punter, but Illinois likely will see what incoming freshman Justin DuVernois can do before settling on a starter.

Illinois' safeties will have an ally on the field this season.

Tavon Wilson is excited to be once again playing his natural position of cornerback, but he isn't forgetting his roots.

"I help my safeties a lot more because I know how hard it is back there, to cover each half of the field all by yourself," Wilson said. "If we're in Cover 2, I make sure I get my hands on [the receiver]. In Cover 3, I protect the front side when they're going to the middle.

"I've got a little more respect for the safeties now after playing the position."

Wilson moved from cornerback to safety before the 2010 season because a series of injuries hit Illinois' defensive backfield. The big loss was Supo Sanni, a projected starter at safety who ruptured his Achilles tendon in camp and had to miss the season.

After a productive sophomore season at cornerback, where he led the team with seven passes defended, Wilson made the shift to safety and once again led the team in passes defended (9) to go along with 48 tackles. Illinois' improved depth in the secondary has allowed Wilson to return to cornerback, although he practiced as a nickel safety this spring.

Wilson's versatility should help a secondary that likely will be the strength of the defense in 2011.

"Safety and corner are two totally different positions," Wilson said. "It's a different mind-set. At first, I tried to go out there and play like a corner, but I had to learn the game from a safety standpoint. It's a totally different aspect of football."

Wilson admits he "probably played a little smarter" as a safety, knowing that any risk could backfire and result in a touchdown for the opposing team.

"At corner, I know I'm a lot more aggressive and more of a hitter," he said. "I take more chances just because I know I've got some help over the top."

He won't take that help for granted.

Sanni is on track to return at safety alongside Trulon Henry, a starter last season who led the team with three interceptions. Wilson, Terry Hawthorne and Justin Green give Illinois a very nice complement of cornerbacks, and the secondary also brings back Patrick Nixon-Youman, Steve Hull and Miami Thomas, the talented corner who has battled injuries for much of his career.

"I definitely feel like we're going to have a chance to be the leaders of the defense, just because of the confidence we have in each other and the confidence everybody else has in us," Wilson said. "A lot of us have played a lot of football around here, so when things are going wrong, people on the defense expect me or one of my guys back there to make a play. We've been doing that this spring.”

Columbus today, State College tomorrow ...

• There has been some bad news (mounting injuries) and good news (Brandon Ware's progress) for Penn State this spring, Bob Flounders writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News. Lions offensive lineman Chima Okoli must answer the bell this fall.
• Terrelle Pryor tweets that his foot is improving after clean-up surgery Monday, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. The drawn-out process of NCAA investigations actually could help Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel, Bruce Hooley writes. Anyone catch "Pawn Stars" last night? Apparently some Gold Pants were being sold.
• Michigan State must replace three offensive line starters and upgrade its play, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal. Blake Treadwell is now part of the O-line mix, Matt Charboneau writes in The Detroit News.
• Purdue quarterback Rob Henry has upgraded his play this spring, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier. Boilers star Ryan Kerrigan confirms he'll be attending the NFL draft.
• Nebraska's Bo Pelini lives and learns as a young head coach.
• Based on limited footage from Michigan's scrimmage, the Wolverines' run game looks strong, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Get the lowdown on Iowa position changes and spring competition here.
• Illinois safety Supo Sanni is working his way back from a ruptured Achilles', Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
• Kevin Wilson is changing the atmosphere in Bloomington, Dave Curtis writes in The Sporting News.
• Nebraska's depth at defensive tackle is a nice problem to have, Jon Nyatawa writes in the Omaha World-Herald. Samuel McKewon looks at the Huskers halfway through spring ball.

Vic Koenning isn't the type of coach to ever ease up on the throttle.

That's a good thing, too. This season, Illinois doesn't have the luxury to relax on defense, even for a split second.

"There's really not a middle ground for us," Koenning, the team's first-year defensive coordinator, told me Wednesday. "We've got to be hammer-down, playing as hard as we can play with a high motor and almost be electric -- or we're not very good."

Koenning's defense has been very good for stretches this fall and certainly is showing improvement from 2009, when the unit ranked 91st nationally (403.3 ypg). Through four games, Illinois ranks in the top half of the Big Ten in several defensive statistical categories, including scoring (T-4th, 18 ppg) and red zone efficiency (4th, 75 percent conversions).

The Illini boast five players among the Big Ten's top 17 in tackles per game, and linebacker Martez Wilson finally seems to be reaching his immense potential after missing all but one game last year with a neck injury.

Asked to assess the defense through four games, Koenning, mindful of the team's 2-2 record, replied, "About .500."

"In our two losses, we had chances to close out the games," he continued. "If we had done that, we'd have been way ahead of where I thought we could have been."

The high-energy Koenning has provided a jolt to an underachieving defense, but the veteran coach also recognizes that players can't be in fifth gear all the time. Koenning said the defense has played an electric level about 80 percent of the snaps.

After short-circuiting for stretches in the opener against Missouri -- "The guys didn't know how to do it yet," Koenning said -- Illini defenders have increased their percentage of peak-energy plays. Last week, Illinois limited Ohio State's offense to 14 points in the first 51 minutes and just 290 yards for the game. Ohio State came to Champaign averaging 49.3 points but mustered only 24 against Koenning's crew.

But there still were lulls, like Terrelle Pryor's 66-yard run in the first quarter.

"You try and figure out a way to motivate them," Koenning said. "I can holler loud but I can’t holler that loud. We’ve got to bring along the next guys and we have to keep developing depth because if a guy's not playing up to what we need to do, you got to sub another guy in."

Depth is unquestionably Illinois' biggest obstacle right now. The Illini lost two projected starters in the secondary, safety Supo Sanni and cornerback Terry Hawthorne, to injuries before the season (Sanni's is season-ending).

The injury losses forced Illinois to shuffle its personnel, like moving Justin Green from running back to defensive back. Illinois' depth really hurts in the red zone, despite the decent numbers so far.

"We haven't been worth [crud] in my thoughts," Koenning said of the red zone defense. "We don't have enough safeties or enough D-linemen to play goal-line package, so have to continue to play our base package. It’s been something we need to do a better job of and work on it.

"But in fairness to us, we're handicapped down there."

It'll be interesting to see how the Illini fare in the red zone Saturday at Penn State, which has had major problems inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Penn State ranks last in the Big Ten and tied for 114th nationally in red zone offense, converting only two-thirds of its chances into points.

Don't be surprised to see Illinois try to turn up the heat on Penn State freshman quarterback Rob Bolden on Saturday.

"We feel like the quarterback, no disrespect, but he's not Terrelle Pryor yet," Koenning said. "But as far as the other positions, we feel Penn State may be as strong or stronger than the team we just played [Ohio State]. That's the respect level we have."

Speaking of respect, Illinois can gain even more by winning in State College for the first time in team history.

To do so, the Illini will look for a spark from their defense.

"You've got to challenge them to be great," Koenning said. "If you're going to challenge them to be average, you get average."

Time will tell whether the Great Experiment of Champaign works or not, but one big piece of the puzzle seems to fit.

First-year coordinator Vic Koenning is having a positive effect on the Illinois defense.

Yes, it's still very early, but the Fighting Illini defense is showing promising signs after two games. Illinois limited Missouri to 23 points in the opener -- the Tigers' had averaged 43 points in its previous three games with the Illini -- and kept Southern Illinois out of the end zone last Saturday in Champaign. Despite losing three projected starters in recent weeks -- defensive backs Supo Sanni and Terry Hawthorne to injury, defensive end/linebacker Michael Buchanan to suspension -- the Illini are receiving production from a variety of sources.

Again, there's long way to go, but so far, so good.

"We're playing so much harder, we're tackling better, we're chasing the football better and we're not giving up the big plays," coach Ron Zook said. "That was the biggest problem we were having last year, the big plays. They're playing as a group, they're playing as a unit, they're flying around.

"It's hard to find a play where there's not at least eight guys around the football. It's team defense."

Zook's last phrase is the important one. Illinois never has lacked individual talent during Zook's tenure on both sides of the ball.

The two-deep on defense features heralded recruits like Martez Wilson, Corey Liuget and Whitney Mercilus. But since the Rose Bowl run in 2007, Illinois hadn't played well as a defensive unit, slipping to 67th in points allowed in 2008 and 96th last fall.

Although much of the criticism in 2009 was directed toward Mike Schultz and an offense that took eight weeks to get on track despite a fourth-year starter at quarterback (Juice Williams) and an All-America candidate at receiver (Arrelious Benn), the defense didn't hold up, either. Illinois allowed 102 points in its final two games, losses to Cincinnati and Fresno State.

As part of a major staff overhaul in December, Zook demoted co-defensive coordinators Dan Disch and Curt Mallory and brought in Koenning (Mallory left for Akron, while Disch remains on staff as linebackers coach). Illinois beat out Georgia for Koenning's services, and the move seems to be paying off.

Here's what cornerback Tavon Wilson told the (Decatur) Herald & Review this week.

"Coach Vic is more of an enforcer. If the [team] leaders are not taking charge, he will. He won't sit around and let practice go mediocre. He will make sure everyone is running to the football on every play. He'll run to the football with you if he has to. That's probably the biggest difference from coaches in the past. Past coaches wouldn't let it slide, but they weren't enforcing it as much as coach Vic would. He doesn't take a play off just like he expects you not to take a play off."

The Illini are receiving strong performances so far from safety Travon Bellamy (19 tackles, 3 tackles for loss), linebacker Ian Thomas (17 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery) and Martez Wilson (14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble.

Five players already have recorded multiple tackles for loss in the first two contests.

"Everyone's involved," Zook said. "It's not just one player that's playing hard. They're all playing hard."

Illinois has lost its third defensive starter in the past three weeks, this time to an off-field incident.

Sophomore Michael Buchanan, who plays the "bandit" position, a defensive line-linebacker hybrid, has been indefinitely suspended following his weekend arrest for DUI. He'll miss Saturday's home opener against Southern Illinois and possibly more games. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Buchanan appeared in 10 games last season and recorded three tackles and a pass breakup Saturday against Missouri.

It'll be interesting to see how coordinator Vic Koenning replaces Buchanan this week against Southern Illinois. Sophomore Justin Staples was listed as Buchanan's backup on last week's depth chart.

Illinois already is down two starters in the secondary -- cornerback Terry Hawthorne (foot) and safety Supo Sanni (Achilles, out for season) -- and has lost several other potential defensive starters in recent months.

It has been an interesting first half in St. Louis, and a very good one for a new-look Illinois team, which leads Missouri 13-3.

I'm pretty stunned that only 16 points have been scored, and only three by Missouri. New Illinois defensive coordinator Vic Koenning has to be pleased with the way his group has looked, especially without two projected starters in the secondary (cornerback Terry Hawthorne and safety Supo Sanni). Missouri's Blaine Gabbert has a nice stat line (14-for-20 passing, 114 yards) but little to show for it on the scoreboard. Defenders Ian Thomas and Corey Liuget are stepping up nicely for the Illini.

Illinois redshirt freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase needs to take a bit better care of the football following two first-half turnovers, but he certainly has the ability to lead the offense. Scheelhaase is running the ball effectively, scampering 20 yards to set up a 52-yard Derek Dimke field goal at the end of the half.

One half to go, but so far, so good for Illinois.

Tonight, it begins.

The wait is over and we finally get to see Big Ten teams play games that count. As opening weekend begins a little early with three games tonight, here are 10 things to watch around the league.

1. Quarterback questions at Michigan, Penn State: Two of the league's traditional powers likely will be evaluating multiple quarterbacks in their openers. True freshman Robert Bolden was named a surprise starter for the Nittany Lions, but sophomores Matt McGloin and Kevin Newsome also are likely to get some work. Denard Robinson could be poised to take control at Michigan, but head coach Rich Rodriguez expects to play more than one signal caller, so sophomore Tate Forcier and true freshman Devin Gardner likely will take some snaps in the spotlight. Penn State has to see what it has under center before a Week 2 trip to defending national champ Alabama.

2. Opportunity knocks for Marve, Boilers: No team in the Big Ten has a better opportunity to make a national statement than Purdue. All eyes will be on South Bend -- really, when aren't they? -- as Notre Dame kicks off the Brian Kelly era, but Purdue can ruin the fun by upsetting the Fighting Irish. Quarterback Robert Marve has done all the right things in West Lafayette since transferring from Miami, and he boasts a big arm and plenty of weapons to attack a suspect Notre Dame secondary. Marve should flourish in the spread offense, so expect a strong debut. It might not matter, though, if Purdue can't upgrade its run defense and protect a new-look secondary from Dayne Crist and Michael Floyd.

3. Heisman push begins for Pryor, Clay: When we last saw Terrelle Pryor in a game, the Ohio State quarterback was at his best, winning Offensive MVP honors at the Rose Bowl. By all accounts, Pryor made strides during the offseason and said he has a greater grasp of the offense and what it takes to be a leader on the big stage. His accolades heading into the season -- Big Ten preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Heisman Trophy candidate -- are based largely on hype and potential, but Pryor finally gets a chance to produce some hard evidence against Marshall. Wisconsin running back John Clay has been largely overlooked in the preseason, but he also could help his Heisman candidacy with a strong debut at UNLV, which ranked 112th nationally in rush defense a year ago.

4. Mystery team makes debut in St. Louis: Who's the Big Ten's mystery team this season? Illinois. The Illini have new offensive and defensive schemes, a new starting quarterback in Nathan Scheelhaase and plenty of unknowns on both sides of the ball. Missouri typically brings out the worst in Ron Zook's squad, and Illinois will need to show some resiliency in the Edward Jones Dome. Scheelhaase is young but skilled and athletic, and it'll be interesting to see how he handles the spotlight in an NFL stadium. Illinois' secondary faces Blaine Gabbert and Missouri's high-powered passing attack without two starters (safety Supo Sanni, cornerback Terry Hawthorne), so linebacker Martez Wilson and others need to step up.

5. Iowa's new-look offensive line: The Hawkeyes shouldn't have much trouble beating Eastern Illinois, although after last year's roller-coaster ride, you never know. The opener should give a new-look offensive line time to get comfortable and create holes for running back Adam Robinson. Iowa will start three new players up front -- right tackle Markus Zusevics, right guard Adam Gettis and center James Ferentz -- and needs to get comfortable before bigger tests the next two weeks against Iowa State and Arizona. Running back Jewel Hampton sits out because of a suspension, but Iowa really needs to get the run game going with Robinson and adequately protect quarterback Ricky Stanzi.

6. Spartans' secondary in spotlight: Most point to the secondary as Michigan State's biggest weakness in 2009, and for good reason. The Spartans ranked last in the Big Ten in pass yards allowed (267.6 ypg), allowed 11 more passing touchdowns (32 total) than any other Big Ten squad and recorded only six interceptions, the second-lowest total in the league. Several underperforming players are gone, and Michigan State hopes to be younger but better in the back four this fall. Cornerback Johnny Adams returns to the mix, and hopes are high for Trenton Robinson, Chris L. Rucker and others. The secondary needs to step up Saturday against Western Michigan, which loses standout quarterback Tim Hiller but returns top wideouts Robert Arnheim and Jordan White.

7. Line dance in the Volunteer State for Gophers, Wildcats: Both Minnesota and Northwestern boast veteran offensive lines that need to upgrade their run-blocking ability this fall. Minnesota ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing for the second straight year in 2009, while Northwestern finished eighth and had no big plays in the ground game. It'll be very interesting to see how both lines perform in what likely will be balmy weather in Tennessee. Minnesota opens Thursday night at Middle Tennessee, while Northwestern visits Vanderbilt in Nashville 48 hours later. Both squads have multiple backs competing for carries, but the performance of the two lines will go a long way toward showing what the upcoming season will hold.

8. Brock Mealer leads Michigan out of the tunnel: Doctors told Brock Mealer he'd never walk again after being paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident that killed his father and the girlfriend of his brother, Elliott, an offensive lineman for Michigan. But Brock never gave up hope and worked with Michigan strength and conditioning coaches Mike Barwis and Parker Whiteman to work his way out of a wheelchair. Saturday, he'll be walking out of the tunnel at Michigan Stadium as he leads the Wolverines onto the field for their opener against Connecticut. "He's that one percent," Wolverines defensive tackle Mike Martin told me. "People said he'd never walk again, and he's proving people wrong right there. We’ve got to come out right behind him and show what we've got."

9. Indiana's new-look defense: The Hoosiers' season likely hinges on whether a historically porous defense can improve. IU will use the 3-4 alignment more this season, but the coaches also are excited about defensive ends Darius Johnson and Fred Jones. Tyler Replogle provides excellent leadership at linebacker, but Indiana needs three junior college transfers -- linebacker Jeff Thomas and defensive backs Andre Kates and Lenyatta Kiles -- to make an immediate impact. A strong debut against Towson is key.

10. Quarterback-turned-receivers: There was a time when Michigan State's Keith Nichol, Minnesota's MarQueis Gray and Purdue's Justin Siller looked like the potential answers for their teams at quarterback. All three players now will play prominent roles at wide receivers on opening weekend. All three received strong reviews in training camp as receivers, and all three could start on Saturday. Gray is the likeliest to be called upon as a quarterback, as he remains Adam Weber's backup for the Gophers. Siller makes his first appearance since 2008 after being suspended from school for the 2009-10 academic year.

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."

I'd like the theme from "Hard Knocks" to play every time I enter a press box. Can you guys make that happen, please?

• Ohio State president Gordon Gee is the latest big wig to say he's OK with the Buckeyes and Michigan ending up in separate divisions, the Dayton Daily News reports. Ohio State AD Gene Smith says no final decisions have been made on what to do with The Game, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Moving the Ohio State-Michigan contest is unquestionably the wrong move, Michael Rosenberg writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Iowa wants to have rivalries with Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska when the Big Ten divisions are unveiled, the Associated Press' Luke Meredith writes. For the Hawkeyes, being ranked No. 9 in the preseason AP Poll is just fine, Mike Hlas writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette.
• Wisconsin's group of six captains has been around for a very long time, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Badgers add UTEP to their 2012 schedule.
• Minnesota's big uglies hope their play along the offensive line is prettier than their haircuts, Dennis Brackin writes in the Star Tribune.
• The Big Ten still should consider geography when deciding divisions, Pat Harty writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen. A North-South split makes the most sense, Mike Lucas writes in The Capital Times.
• The Chicago Tribune's Shannon Ryan previews Penn State in 2010. Some thoughts on Penn State and the Big Ten from The Times Leader's Derek Levarse.
• Ohio State's Week 1 depth chart features two mini surprises as defenders C.J. Barnett and Andrew Sweat are listed as starters, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
• The Michigan-Notre Dame series might be put on pause after 2012, Michigan AD Dave Brandon says.
• Purdue's experience on defense stems from the linebacking corps, Stacy Clardie writes in The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
• After safety Supo Sanni's season-ending injury, Illinois has moved two offensive players to the secondary, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.