ESPN College Football

2012 record: 8-5

2012 conference record: 6-2

Returning starters: Offense: 6; defense: 6; kicker/punter: 3

Top returners:

QB Devin Gardner, WR Jeremy Gallon, TE Devin Funchess, LT Taylor Lewan, RT Michael Schofield, DT Quinton Washington, LB Desmond Morgan, LB Jake Ryan, CB Raymon Taylor, S Thomas Gordon

Key losses

QB Denard Robinson, WR Roy Roundtree, OG Patrick Omameh, C Elliott Mealer, DE Craig Roh, DT William Campbell, LB Kenny Demens, CB J.T. Floyd, S Jordan Kovacs

2012 statistical leaders

Rushing: Denard Robinson (1,266 yards)

Passing: Denard Robinson (1,319 yards)

Receiving: Jeremy Gallon* (829 yards)

Tackles: Jake Ryan* (88)

Sacks: Jake Ryan* (4.0)

Interceptions: Thomas Gordon* and Raymon Taylor* (2)

Spring answers

1. Defensive line fine: Michigan had to replace a four-year starter in Craig Roh as well as defensive tackle Will Campbell up front. It doesn’t seem like it will be an issue. Michigan has a potential star in Frank Clark at rush end as well as depth at the position with Mario Ojemudia and Taco Charlton. Keith Heitzman, for now, seems to have locked up a spot at strong side end, but there is a lot of talent there, too. The Wolverines have depth at all four spots and while competitions will continue into the fall, Michigan should be able to rotate at defensive coordinator Greg Mattison’s leisure.

2. Devin Gardner’s progression: After the way he played toward the end of last season, there was not much doubt about Gardner as the starter, but Michigan’s coaches appear happy with his growth throughout the offseason. He has developed as a quarterback the way the coaching staff has liked, and this is even more critical because he is the only healthy scholarship quarterback until Shane Morris arrives next month. Gardner's teammates believe in him and he is setting up for a big year.

3. Tight end weapons: Michigan still doesn’t have great depth at tight end, but what the Wolverines do have is a young group of guys who will become big targets for Gardner as the position evolves into a more featured role. Devin Funchess could have a breakout sophomore season and Jake Butt has a similar skill set. A.J. Williams slimmed down as well, perhaps turning him into more than just an extra blocker.

Fall questions

1. Who runs the ball: Michigan was never going to be able to answer this question in the spring with Fitzgerald Toussaint coming off a broken leg and freshmen Derrick Green and Deveon Smith still not on campus. But none of the running backs who participated in spring made a lasting impression on the coaches, meaning if he is healthy, Toussaint will likely receive the first chance at winning the job in the fall.

2. Can Jake Ryan be replaced: Michigan seems confident with its grouping of Brennen Beyer and Cam Gordon at strongside linebacker, but part of what made Ryan Michigan’s best defender was his ability to instinctively be around the ball. Whether or not Beyer or Gordon can do that in games remains to be seen. If the combination of those two can approximate that, Michigan’s defense should be fine.

3. Can the interior of the line hold up: Michigan is replacing both of its guards and its center. While the combination of redshirt sophomore Jack Miller at center and redshirt freshmen Ben Braden and Kyle Kalis at guard has a ton of talent, none have taken a meaningful snap in a game before. How they mesh with returning tackles Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield, along with how they connect with each other on combination blocks on the inside, could determine not only Michigan’s running success this fall, but also how many games the Wolverines win in Brady Hoke’s third season.

One day away from spring ball in the Big Ten. Link time.

• All is quiet on the Big Ten expansion front, according to Ohio State AD Gene Smith.
• Ohio State's Braxton Miller receives help from a famous quarterback guru (subscription required). Buckeyes incoming recruit Jayme Thompson credits jiu jitsu for some of his success on the gridiron.
• Michigan State cornerback Johnny Adams says rival Michigan "isn't going anywhere any time soon."
• Michigan draft hopeful Will Campbell draws inspiration from his college coaches. After signing a Midwest-centric class earlier this month, Michigan adds a 2014 recruit from Florida.
• Audrey Snyder looks at how Penn State's contingent fared at the NFL combine. The Lions' first two 2014 commits address a big need at running back.
• Northwestern will stress offensive line development as it kicks off spring ball.
• California prospects Johnny Stanton and Terrell Newby can't wait to head to Nebraska. Several future Nebraska players are competing in the state's Shrine Bowl.
• Wisconsin's Montee Ball struggled and shined at the combine.
• A few Minnesota notes from the weekend.
• Former Indiana player and assistant Mark Deal will be inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame.

I don't wanna meet anything on Monday that I'm gonna eat on Friday.

• A great story about how Penn State's Michael Mauti reached out to a football player who suffered a catastrophic injury. The NCAA is challenging the Pennsylvania law that keeps Penn State's $60 million fine within the state. Lions center Matt Stankiewitch gets some NFL combine advice from Stefen Wisniewski.
• If the Big Ten adds North Carolina, it will be a "corporate merger" and a "soulless takeover," Dave Jones writes. Adam Jacobi agrees with me that Chicago makes sense for the Big Ten football title game.
• Not surprisingly, Urban Meyer received a strong performance review in 2012. Injury-plagued Ohio State defensive lineman Nathan Williams feels like a new man as the combine begins.
• Nebraska's Rex Burkhead is confident heading to Indy for the combine. Former Huskers CB Alfonzo Dennard shows no reaction after being found guilty of felony assault.
• Michigan assistant Jerry Montgomery reportedly is in the mix for a post at Oklahoma. Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison is the nation's eighth highest-paid assistant. Wolverines DT Will Campbell isn't discouraged about no combine invite.
• A quick snapshot of Minnesota running back Donnell Kirkwood entering 2013.
• Illinois is among several Big Ten suitors for RB Justin Jackson. More on Mike Bellamy's promotion to receivers coach for the Illini.
• Michigan State makes some more scholarship offers.
• A look at the four Wisconsin players at the combine.
• Ten spring story lines for Northwestern, which opens practice next week.
• The Daily Gopher ranks Minnesota's Big Ten rivalries.

One week until the first Big Ten spring practice.

• Former Iowa receivers coach Erik Campbell landed a gig with the CFL team in Montreal. A closer look at each of the Hawkeyes' signees, all in one place. Should Iowa spend more time recruiting Florida?
• A big recruiting weekend approaches for Michigan. Will Campbell wasn't invited to the NFL combine but still believes he'll get his chance.
• Michigan State's Larry Caper feels like he should have played more, and he hopes to make his impression during the Spartans' pro day.
• Purdue punter Cody Webster made the school's baseball team, where he'll be used as a left-handed reliever.
• Another Illinois assistant could be moving on.
• Here's a look at Minnesota linebacker Aaron Hill.
• Brett Maher will start off the Nebraska NFL combine contingent. Jury deliberations continued in the Alfonzo Dennard trial.
• What if Ohio State had played a schedule as hard as its basketball team has faced? Some Buckeyes are looking at position changes at the next level.
• What to expect from Penn State's four players at the combine. John Urschel is ready to be a leader for the Nittany Lions.
• Barry Alvarez talked about the Miami scandal.
• The elimination of FCS opponents by the Big Ten and possibly others will have a big impact on those smaller schools.

Our postseason position rankings wrapped up the offensive side of the ball Wednesday with a look at the offensive line. Now it's time to switch to the other side of the ball. We'll stay in the trenches with our rankings for the defensive lines.

This was one of the stronger position groups for the league throughout the season. You can see how we ranked them in the preseason here. You need both star power and depth to rate high, especially on units like these.

Here we go ...

1. Ohio State (Preseason ranking: 1): It took a while for this group to live up to expectations, but once it got going in the second half, you saw why the Buckeyes earned the No. 1 preseason ranking. Defensive end John Simon was named the Big Ten defensive player of the year. Run-plugging tackle Johnathan Hankins should be an early first-round draft pick in April. Nathan Williams shook off injuries to contribute in a big way down the stretch. Freshmen Noah Spence and, in particular, Adolphus Washington helped with the depth, though the starters played a lot of downs.

2. Penn State (Preseason: 4): The Nittany Lions made up for the loss of 2011 defensive player of the year Devon Still quite nicely. Jordan Hill was playing as well as any league defensive tackle at the end of the year. Deion Barnes won freshman of the year honors for his havoc-inducing work off the edge. Penn State also had solid depth behind the starters and led the league in sacks.

3. Michigan State (Preseason: 2): The Spartans fielded the best defense in the Big Ten and were the toughest team to run against, and the defensive line was a big reason why. There was always a feeling that the linemen, especially William Gholston, could have created a few more negative plays. But overall, the line was really strong, with more depth and balance than sheer superstar power.

4. Wisconsin (Preseason: 8): The Badgers lacked a dominant pass rusher but were very stout up front and hard to run against. Beau Allen and Ethan Hemer did an excellent job of controlling the middle of the line of scrimmage, while David Gilbert and Brendan Kelly cleaned things up on the outside.

5. Northwestern (Preseason: 10): The Wildcats were one of the pleasant surprises among league defensive lines. They had the third-best rushing defense in the league and ranked fifth in sacks. Tyler Scott had a breakout year at defensive end, while Brian Arnfelt was an underrated defensive tackle. Quentin Williams had a pick six in the bowl game victory.

6. Michigan (Preseason: 7): This was a perfectly solid defensive line but not one that often grabbed your attention. Will Campbell finally fulfilled most of his promise as a starting defensive tackle, and Craig Roh was predictably reliable as a senior. But this unit lacked a dynamic playmaker, which is evident in the Wolverines' decent but not outstanding sack and rush-defense numbers.

7. Minnesota (Preseason: 12): A recent sore spot for the Gophers turned into more of a strength in 2012. Ra'Shede Hageman put his huge body to great use at defensive tackle, while D.L. Wilhite got off to a great start and finished with nine sacks. Minnesota's defense also had to carry a heavy load down the stretch as the offense struggled to stay on the field.

8. Nebraska (Preseason: 6): The Huskers' defensive line had its moments, and end Eric Martin emerged as a fearsome pass-rusher. Baker Steinkuhler's late-season injury hurt as he was playing really well inside, and Cam Meredith did his best to hold his ground there. But the memory of Wisconsin completely flattening Nebraska in the Big Ten title game prevents me from ranking this group any higher.

9. Purdue (Preseason: 3): We expected much more out of this group, with talents like Kawann Short, Bruce Gaston and Ryan Russell. And perhaps we are unfairly judging their performance because the unit struggled with injuries throughout the year. Still, Purdue was steamrolled by teams like Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Oklahoma State and simply didn't get enough out of its front four on a consistent basis.

10. Illinois (Preseason: 5): If there was a strength for the 2012 Illini -- and after a 2-10 season, we're not sure there was one -- it had to be the defensive line. Yet like Purdue, we expected more from a group that included athletes like Akeem Spence and Michael Buchanan, though they would have had to be superhuman to change their team's course.

11. Iowa (Preseason: 9): We feared for the Hawkeyes' youth in the preseason, but this group held together pretty well most of the year. The low ranking is in some ways a reflection of other teams playing better than expected. Yet Iowa's defensive line seemed to wear down late in the season, and the lack of any true studs was reflected in a Big Ten-worst 13 sacks in 12 games.

12. Indiana (Preseason: 11): The 2012 Hoosiers actually improved over 2011 on the defensive line but still finished last in the league in rush defense. Adam Replogle and Larry Black Jr. gave Indiana something to work with in the middle as two of the defense's rare veterans. But as it showed in the crucial Wisconsin game, this group still has a long way to go.

There are two colors in my head.

• John Urschel is not just a top-flight offensive lineman for Penn State; he also teaches a math class. Virginia backed out of this year's game against the Nittany Lions, opening up a spot for UCF.
• Curt Phillips is determined to win the starting QB job for Wisconsin.
• An Iowa receiver target chose to commit to UConn. An in-state linebacker is deciding whether to walk on for the Hawkeyes or take a partial scholarship at Northern Iowa. More Iowa recruiting talk can be found on this podcast.
• Will Campbell needs to work on his motor, but the Michigan defensive tackle should get drafted because of his size. MGoBlog examines what landing a five-star running back like Derrick Green really means.
• Nebraska running back Braylon Heard's status is up in the air after a report out of Ohio says he's transferring.
• An offensive lineman Ohio State was pursuing chose Arkansas. Former Buckeyes fullback Dionte Johnson turned to fashion after his football career ended.
• Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who once held that same job at Michigan State, has his own method of success.
• Kawann Short hopes he answered all the questions about him with his Senior Bowl performance. An offensive tackle committed to Purdue.
• The Big 12 has its eye on what the Big Ten might do.
• Some Illinois recruiting notes.
• Mike Hlas says just say no to a 10-game Big Ten conference schedule.

Finally saw "Zero Dark Thirty" last night. Intense and awesome, though I still don't buy Andy from "Parks and Recreation" as a Navy SEAL.

• Michigan has switched two players committed to Big Ten schools to its camp this week. Denard Robinson is embracing the receiver role. Will Campbell has had flashes of brilliance but has been inconsistent in Shrine Game practices.
• Nebraska's Ben Cotton wants to be an NFL tight end and then go into coaching, just like his dad. A high school tight end said yes to Big Red. Examining the Huskers' defensive recruits.
• Wisconsin quarterback Curt Phillips got a sixth year of eligibility. Badgers assistant Bill Busch is thrilled to be back in Madison.
• Bill O'Brien was named the Bear Bryant coach of the year. Penn State players did well in the classroom.
• Urban Meyer checked in on some Oregon commitments.
• Michigan State is gearing up for a big recruiting weekend.
• Tom Dienhart has his early 2013 Big Ten power rankings. Spoiler alert: he's higher on Iowa and lower on Northwestern than most others I've seen.
• CBSSports.com reviews the Big Ten season in podcast form.
• Iowa's athletic department finished in the red for the first time in seven years. Hawkeyes AD Gary Barta says geography will play a major role in division re-alignment.
• Indiana's signing class is discussed in this Bloomington Herald-Times chat.

Let me tell you a little story about acting. I was doing this Showtime movie, "Hot Ice" with Anne Archer, never once touched my per diem. I'd go to Craft Service, get some raw veggies, bacon, Cup-A-Soup ... baby, I got a stew going.

• Looking at Michigan's options for its final two spots in this recruiting class. Will Campbell is willing to play offensive line at the next level but may not have to with his early performance in the East-West Shrine Game practices. The Sporting News picks the Wolverines as a team that could mirror Notre Dame's turnaround in 2013.
• Bill O'Brien's success is obscuring Joe Paterno's legacy, Frank Fitzpatrick writes. Matt Stankiewitch and Gerald Hodges are impressing early at Shrine Game practices.
• Players with good GPAs like former Minnesota quarterback Max Shortell might be able to transfer without sitting out a year if a proposed NCAA rule is approved.
• Michigan State commit Drake Harris is giving up the idea of also playing basketball and is opening up his recruiting. Urban Meyer is moving in on Harris.
• A professor says Illinois football is not very valuable. Bob Asmussen offers some predictions for 2013 for the Illini, Big Ten and others.
• Iowa parted ways with a recruit who had some legal troubles.
• Could Northwestern be a surprise contender in '13?
• Wisconsin gets an A-minus and Purdue a B-plus in SI.com's grading of the offseason coaching hires.
• Nebraska added another defensive line recruit, bolstering a position of need.
• New Wisconsin offensive line coach T.J. Woods says he has "the opportunity of a lifetime."
• Indiana will battle Illinois for a 2014 running back.

The college football postseason all-star games kick off in the next few weeks, so I thought it would be a good time to see who from the Big Ten is headed where. These games feature NFL draft hopefuls from around the sport, and we'll have full coverage of each contest, particularly the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

These rosters will be updated in the coming days, but here are lists of confirmed attendees.

SENIOR BOWL

When: Jan. 26 Where: Mobile, Ala.

• Wisconsin RB Montee Ball
• Illinois G Hugh Thornton
• Ohio State OT Reid Fragel
• Wisconsin OT Rick Wagner
• Illinois DE Michael Buchanan
• Penn State DT Jordan Hill
• Purdue DT Kawann Short
• Ohio State DE John Simon
• Michigan State CB Johnny Adams

EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME

When: Jan. 19
Where: St. Petersburg, Fla.

• Purdue CB Josh Johnson
• Penn State LB Gerald Hodges
• Nebraska RB Rex Burkhead
• Iowa WR Keenan Davis
• Iowa C James Ferentz
• Michigan DT Will Campbell
• Illinois CB Terry Hawthorne
• Iowa CB Micah Hyde
• Michigan DE Craig Roh
• Penn State C Matt Stankiewitch
• Ohio State DE Nathan Williams

NFLPA COLLEGIATE BOWL

When: Jan. 19
Where: Carson, Calif.

• Wisconsin CB Marcus Cromartie
• Nebraska LB Will Compton
• Nebraska TE Ben Cotton
• Penn State DE Sean Stanley (classified as LB/DE)
• Penn State FB Michael Zordich (classified as RB/FB)

RAYCOM COLLEGE FOOTBALL ALL-STAR CLASSIC

When: Jan. 19
Where: Montgomery, Ala.

• Michigan State DT Anthony Rashad White
• Iowa CB Greg Castillo
• Illinois CB Justin Green
• Michigan WR Roy Roundtree
• Iowa G Matt Tobin
• Iowa QB James Vandenberg

CASINO DEL SOL COLLEGE ALL-STAR GAME

When: Jan. 11
Where: Tucson, Ariz.

• Michigan State CB Mitchell White
• Minnesota CB Troy Stoudermire
• Penn State OT Mike Farrell

Final grades are in -- at least for each Big Ten team's regular season. We're handing out report cards on each team's offense, defense, special teams and overall performance in 2012.

Today's subject: the Michigan Wolverines.

Offense: B-minus

Michigan's offense went through several ups and downs this season. The Wolverines averaged a very respectable 30 points per game but ranked just 80th nationally in total offense. The attack fizzled in big games against Alabama, Notre Dame, Michigan State and Nebraska, but averaged 40 points against the likes of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern and Purdue. Denard Robinson ran for 1,166 yards, but was limited in the back half of the season by injuries. Devin Gardner put a charge into the passing game starting in November, rejuvenating the seasons of receivers like Roy Roundtree and Jeremy Gallon. The running backs, though, were a major disappointment, as Fitz Toussaint followed up his 1,000-yard season in 2011 with just 515 yards this season. Much of the blame for that belonged to an offensive line that largely underperformed outside of All-American Taylor Lewan. Michigan's offense could look unstoppable one week and wholly underwhelming the next -- or even from one half to the next, as the season finale showed.

Defense: A-minus

Though not as dominant on the defensive line as they were a year ago, the Wolverines still found ways to develop into a terrific unit. They finished second in the Big Ten in both points allowed and total defense, and were No. 11 and No. 16 nationally in those categories, respectively. Will Campbell finally lived up to his recruiting hype as a senior by becoming a very good run-stuffer. Jake Ryan was a monster at linebacker, constantly disrupting other teams' plans. The secondary overcame the early loss of Blake Countess to do a very good job against the pass and had a great leader in senior safety Jordan Kovacs. Michigan's defense was short on superstars but long on production. The only mark against it was that the defense benefited from playing some questionable Big Ten offenses like Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan State. Better attacks like Alabama, Air Force, Northwestern and Ohio State were able to exploit the Wolverines with speed on the perimeter.

Special teams: B-plus

Will Hagerup was named the Big Ten's punter of the year, and placekicker Brendan Gibbons had a strong year, booting the game-winner against Michigan State and the field goal against Northwestern to send the game into overtime. The Wolverines were average in the return game, where Dennis Norfleet looks like a possible future star. Michigan did rank last in the Big Ten in kickoff coverage, however.

Overall: B-minus

If we were using Brady Hoke's grading scale, we'd have to give Michigan an 'F' since he has said any season that doesn't end with a Big Ten title is a failure. The Wolverines once again fell short of hanging a league or even a division championship banner during their 8-4 campaign. It's tough to be too critical of a team whose losses were to the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 teams in the Associated Press poll (Notre Dame, Alabama and Ohio State) and Legends Division champ Nebraska. But as Hoke would say, this is Michigan, fergawdsake. The Wolverines are expected to not just play great teams, but win their fair share. Robinson's interception-festival cost them a shot at beating Notre Dame on the road, the lack of a strong backup plan when he got hurt killed any chance of winning at Nebraska, and some curious second-half playcalling contributed to the Ohio State loss. Michigan beat the teams it should have beaten and finally broke the losing streak against Michigan State, which was good. But you don't achieve greatness simply by being on the same field with great teams. You have to beat some. That's why a victory against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl would raise the overall grade for the Wolverines' season.

Previous report cards

Illinois
Indiana
Iowa

Ten items to track around the Big Ten on the final weekend of the regular season:

1. Bigger than The Game: Michigan defensive lineman Will Campbell told me this week that The Game never wavers in importance, whether Ohio State is 0-11 or 11-0. That's a good attitude for a player to have, but from the outside looking in, the Michigan-Ohio State game is much more appealing when there's a lot at stake for both teams. For the first time since 2007, that's the case. Ohio State aims for the sixth unbeaten, untied season in team history. Michigan can hand the Buckeyes their first loss and possibly reach the Big Ten title game. This one should be fun. "It makes the game even bigger," Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby said.

2. Bo knows: Stunned by his team's performance in a 63-38 loss to Ohio State, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini sat in the visitors' media room at Ohio Stadium and said, "Like I just told the football team, we need to win out. We need to win out." Few thought it would happen, and even Pelini's faith had to be wavering a bit at that low point. But Nebraska has won five consecutive games, rallying for three of the victories, and need only beat slumping Iowa in the Heroes Game to punch its ticket to Indianapolis. The Huskers have ridden the roller coaster all season, but they'd need a serious derailment in Iowa City not to fulfill Pelini's pledge.

3. Senior day in State College: There might never be another senior day at Penn State quite like the one Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Penn State will recognize a class that kept the team together during a tumultuous summer that included severe NCAA sanctions being handed down and several key player departures. "There's no doubt," first-year coach Bill O'Brien said, "that they set the tone for the future of Penn State football." Unfortunately, Penn State will play without senior linebacker Michael Mauti, a top candidate for Big Ten defensive player of the year and the team's emotional leader. Mauti, who suffered a knee injury last week, will be recognized along with his classmates.

4. Spartans, Boilers face must-wins: Both Michigan State and Purdue entered the season with lofty goals, particularly the Spartans, pegged by many to win the Big Ten and reach the Rose Bowl for the first time in a quarter-century. Few expected MSU and Purdue to be fighting for bowl eligibility in Week 13, but that's exactly the case. Michigan State must win at Minnesota, and coach Mark Dantonio is confident, saying Tuesday, "When we win Saturday -- and I'll say when -- we'll be a 6-6 football team." Purdue, meanwhile, aims for its third straight win when it hosts rival Indiana in the Bucket game. Will a 6-6 season save fourth-year coach Danny Hope?

5. Tressel's return: Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel will return to Ohio Stadium on Saturday for a reunion of the school's 2002 national championship team. It marks Tressel's first major public appearance at Ohio State since resigning from his post on Memorial Day in 2011. It will be interesting to see how the Buckeyes faithful react to Tressel, whose actions helped land the team in hot water with the NCAA. On the flip side, Ohio State's program is arguably better off with Urban Meyer as coach. "Some people will embrace it, some people will not," athletic director Gene Smith told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. "Some people will feel it's awkward, some people will not. I'm not going to feel it's awkward because I'm realistic -- he was part of that team. And I know what he means to those players."

6. Their kind of town: Northwestern and Illinois both want to increase their clout in the Chicago area. Pat Fitzgerald's Wildcats have been the more consistent program in the past decade and take an 8-3 record into Saturday's clash with the Illini at Ryan Field. With a win, Northwestern will match its highest victories total under Fitzgerald, who would tie Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf for the school's career coaching wins record (90). Illinois first-year coach Tim Beckman has emphasized the Northwestern rivalry from the moment he arrived. Perhaps his players will respond with a strong effort to end an otherwise miserable season.

7. Making their cases for awards: The Big Ten hands out all its awards next week, and races for offensive and defensive player of the year are still very much in doubt. Mauti's injury creates a potential opening in the defensive player of the year race, and a lot could depend on what happens in Columbus, as candidates such as Michigan linebacker Jake Ryan and Ohio State's tandem of John Simon and Ryan Shazier take the field. Other candidates, such as Purdue defensive tackle Kawann Short, also are in action. Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller remains the front-runner for offensive player of the year, but Nebraska's Taylor Martinez has been brilliant of late and could challenge Miller if he turns in a monster game at Iowa.

8. Boiler spoilers: Two weeks ago, Indiana was a home victory from putting itself in line to represent the Leaders Division in the Big Ten title game. The Hoosiers now know their season will end Saturday in West Lafayette, as they won't be going bowling for the fifth consecutive season. But Kevin Wilson's team still can reclaim The Bucket and prevent Purdue from making a bowl game. Wilson talked Tuesday about how the season doesn't feel like it's ending, and with so many young players, the future is promising. He downplayed the spoiler role, saying Tuesday, "It has nothing to do with what it does for them; it's about what it does for us. Winning is good for us. Winning builds us." Indiana has eight home games next season and should be in the mix for a bowl. A victory Saturday would be a nice boost before a crucial offseason.

9. Gray's day: Minnesota will recognize 15 seniors Saturday against Michigan State, and none has had a more unique career than MarQueis Gray. He arrived as a nationally heralded dual-threat quarterback recruit, played quarterback for a year, played primarily wide receiver for a year, started 10 games at quarterback in 2011 and opened this season as the top signal-caller but moved to wide receiver following an ankle injury. He will play primarily at receiver against the Spartans but had two rushing touchdowns last week and could see increased time in the backfield. Gray talked this week about "closing the chapter" on his Gophers career, and it'll be interesting to see how he performs in his final game at TCF Bank Stadium.

10. Denard and Devin: Michigan's Denard Robinson is healthy again, but how much quarterback he will play against Ohio State remains to be seen. Robinson's replacement, Devin Gardner, has been spectacular since returning to the quarterback role, accounting for 13 touchdowns in the past three games, including six last week against Iowa. Michigan started the Iowa game with Gardner at quarterback and Robinson at running back, and offensive coordinator Al Borges has the "creative juices" flowing as he crafts the game plan for Ohio State. Robinson and Gardner certainly give Michigan's offense a different look -- and some extra homework for Ohio State's improving defense.

There may never be another Ohio State-Michigan clash as important as the 2006 version, when the teams entered The Game ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.

The circumstances outside of the rivalry itself became less and less important during the Rich Rodriguez era at Michigan, as the Wolverines floundered around the .500 mark or below. Last year's game had significance for Michigan, aiming to end The Streak in The Game -- and help its cause for a BCS at-large berth. But Ohio State fell into the Michigan 2008-10 role -- a mediocre team finishing up a mediocre season.

When Ohio State hired Urban Meyer last November, the 2012 version of The Game suddenly became a lot more interesting. Both Ohio State and Michigan were projected to be strong, and the meeting could have bearing on the Rose Bowl race and, just maybe, the national title race.

Weeks later, Ohio State received a postseason ban for 2012. After Michigan started this season 2-2 -- Ohio State wasn't overly impressive in nonleague play, either -- The Game suddenly looked a lot less appetizing, aside from the whole bitter rivals thing.

Nearly two months later, the matchup couldn't be much more delicious.

Ohio State is 11-0, one win away from securing only the sixth unbeaten, untied season in team history. And it has to beat Michigan to get there in what is guaranteed to be Ohio State's final game.

Michigan remains alive for the Legends Division title and a chance to play for a spot in the Rose Bowl. The Wolverines need some help to get there, but they have to win at Ohio Stadium for the first time since 2000 to have any chance. Michigan also needs a signature win to keep alive its hopes for a BCS at-large berth.

And there is the whole ruining perfection thing.

"It makes the game even bigger," Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby said. "That team is going to definitely play harder, and they're going to play to ruin our season. What better would it be for them to give us the only loss we've had all year? ...

"We're going to be ready. It's going to be a showdown."

Michigan players had a slightly different view of the "Ohio" game. To them, it can never get bigger.

"It's the biggest rivalry in sports," Wolverines defensive tackle Will Campbell told ESPN.com. "If they were 0-11 and we weren't going for the Big Ten championship, it would still be huge."

Added Michigan center Elliott Mealer: "It's the game, it's a huge rivalry. I don't think there's any way to raise or lower the bar on the standards of this game. It's always important."

Campbell did acknowledge that winning in Columbus would be sweeter than last year's triumph at the Big House. Ohio State also is motivated by the 2011 outcome.

"Last year, we played horrible," Roby said. "We were 6-7, a lot of things were going wrong. We just wanted to come out this year and redeem ourselves. That's exactly what we're doing. We haven't lost a game yet."

Michigan will know by the time it takes the field Saturday whether or not it remains in the running for a Big Ten title. Nebraska can punch its ticket to the championship game by beating Iowa on Friday in Iowa City.

If the Huskers lose, Michigan can represent the Legends Division in Indianapolis. But don't expect the Wolverines to be huddled around a TV on Friday.

"From now until four or five o'clock Saturday, Ohio is the only thing on my mind," Campbell said. "Nothing else really matters."

Ohio State's Meyer had tried to downplay talk of an undefeated season before last Saturday's 21-14 overtime win against Wisconsin. But he gave the green light afterward, saying, "We can talk about it now."

Meyer also talked a bit about Michigan.

"This is all I knew growing up," he told ESPN.com. "Eight of my nine [assistant] coaches are from the state of Ohio. Our players understand this rivalry. It's the greatest rivalry in all of sports. We're honored to be part of it.

"We've got to find a way to go win it."

If they do, the Buckeyes will be 12-0. They'll reestablish their control in the series. And after taking down Nebraska, Penn State and Wisconsin, they'll leave no doubt about which team rules the Big Ten, even if they won't be playing in Indy or Pasadena.

"If we beat the best teams in the league, we have to be the best," Roby said. "We're going to take this game serious, study even harder, practice even harder and be ready Saturday."

Michigan State's four-game winning streak over Michigan is not a fluke. It did not happen because of trick plays or Hail Marys or bad calls. The Spartans have simply imposed their will and pushed around their rivals, especially the past three years.

Brady Hoke and his staff were only been involved in last year's 28-14 loss, but they saw all they needed to see from that one to know the deal.

"We thoroughly got out butts kicked," he said on his radio show this week.

"They took it to us," echoed Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison. "You can cut it any way you want. They lined up and they ran the football and knocked us off the football."

The numbers don't lie. Michigan State rushed for 213 yards to just 82 for the Wolverines last year in East Lansing. In 2010, the Spartans won the rushing battle 249 to 162.

So Michigan knows that if it wants to reverse the trend in this rivalry -- and enhance its Big Ten title hopes -- it had better come out and push back when the game gets physical Saturday in Ann Arbor.

"Last year, they came out and out-toughed us," senior defensive tackle Will Campbell told ESPN.com. "One of the things we preach about and really take to heart is being the tougher opponent. You can't be out-toughed if you want to play Michigan football.

"If somebody tells you that you were out-toughed or that you were punked, it's going to get you fired up. You're going to work hard so it won't happen again."

Wolverines players and coaches have mostly tried to downplay the importance of this game in interviews this week. At times, they've said it's just another Saturday, that it's one of three rivalry games, along with Ohio State and Notre Dame. That's a pretty standard approach by Hoke. You get the feeling that if he were coaching a team of Earth all-stars against aliens for ownership of the planet, he'd call it just another step in winning the Big Ten title.

But don't believe the (lack of) hype. Michigan installed a countdown clock to the Michigan State game in its football complex this offseason to go along with one for the Ohio State game. The team also has a quote from Mark Dantonio hanging on its weight room wall. Don't think the Wolverines have forgotten about several Spartans players mocking Denard Robinson on Twitter as he struggled in the opener against Alabama.

This has always been a big game, but it's even bigger now for the Michigan players. Wolverines seniors have never beaten Michigan State, and with the two schools so close and so much familiarity on both sides, that eats away at them.

"I've been here five years, and it's been hard," senior receiver Roy Roundtree told ESPN.com. "Being in the same state, you hear that a lot, especially from the fans. But you can't look back like that."

"I'm from Detroit, so I hear it all the time," Campbell said. "I try to block it out, though."

At least this year, Michigan comes in with much more momentum than the 4-3 Spartans. The Wolverines have blasted their first two Big Ten opponents and have continued to improve on defense. Meanwhile, Robinson has rushed for 363 yards on just 35 carries (10.4 yards per carry) in his past two games while not turning the ball over. Robinson has had a marvelous career but a miserable time in this rivalry. Last year, he was held to just 42 yards on 18 carries. In 2010, he threw three interceptions.

Here's his last chance to beat Michigan State, which has found ways to contain, pressure and bother him in the past. But Robinson has been at peak form ever since a disastrous game at Notre Dame.

"I feel like that bye week really refreshed his mind," Roundtree said. "He's ready to go and take the lead. We've just got to cut down on our mistakes. When we get in the red zone, we've got to score."

And most importantly, Michigan had better not let Michigan State push it around again.

“It’s important for us to represent Michigan football, and we haven’t done that in four years, in my opinion," Hoke said on Thursday. "We need to play better, execute better, play more physical and all those things that go along with it.”

We love to talk about quarterbacks and running backs and all the other glamor positions, but the Big Ten -- and all of football -- is usually won on the defensive line.

The league has many standout linemen once again in 2012, but several schools also have some question marks up front. That means a few defensive linemen must really live up to their potential for their teams to achieve their goals.

Which defensive linemen have the most riding on their shoulders? Here are the top candidates:

• Will Campbell, DT, Michigan: The senior is a big man who came to Ann Arbor with a lot of hype. His potential has mostly gone unrealized during his career, but he's in a starting role now and will be counted on to replace Mike Martin in the middle for the Wolverines. Summer reports say Campbell has lost weight and started to accept a leadership role.
• Carl Davis, DT, Iowa: The Hawkeyes' defensive line is full of inexperienced players, but the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Davis is being counted on as an anchor for the group. The redshirt sophomore has been slowed by injuries in his career, but has reportedly been impressive in preseason practice. But he has played in all of seven games in his career.
• David Gilbert, DE, Wisconsin: The Badgers are pretty well set in the middle of their defensive line, but need someone to come off the edge and provide a consistent pass rush. Gilbert is by far their most athletic defensive end, but the junior had his 2011 season cut short by a foot injury that also kept him out of spring practice. Wisconsin needs Gilbert to be healthy and effective.
• Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota: The Gophers' problems on the defensive line in recent years have been well documented, but Hageman inspires hope. The 6-foot-6, 301-pounder has received a lot of attention for his physical skills, but hasn't yet delivered much on the field. Minnesota hopes this is the year he has a long-predicted breakout campaign.
• Eric Martin, DE, Nebraska: The Huskers should have a lot more depth in the defensive trenches this season, but they could still use a fierce pass-rusher. Martin, a senior who moved from linebacker to end last season, has drawn some offseason buzz for his ability to be just that. "He's kind of a wild-card for us up front," Nebraska defensive coordinator John Papuchis told ESPN.com. "He's different than all of our other defensive ends in terms of his ability to rush the passer, and we can stand him up and do different things with him.. He's going to be a key for our defense this year."

Which of these defensive linemen will hold the biggest key to their team's success? Vote in our poll now.