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After an offseason jam-packed with change, most players and coaches in the Leaders Division haven't had time to examine anyone but themselves.

"I have no idea," first-year Penn State coach Bill O'Brien said. "I'm only concerned about one program, and that's Penn State."

The Big Ten had three head-coaching changes in the offseason, all of them in the Leaders Division (Penn State, Ohio State and Illinois). Wisconsin, the two-time defending Big Ten champion, had to replace six assistant coaches, including premier playcaller Paul Chryst and offensive line guru Bob Bostad. Purdue replaced its defensive coordinator, while Indiana brought in a new offensive coordinator.

All six teams have some new flavor and the uncertainty that comes with it. All six teams also sense opportunity in what could be a wide-open division race.

"Everybody has new people," Penn State defensive tackle Jordan Hill told ESPN.com. "Even Wisconsin, they've got six new assistants, and in most cases, the assistants are who deal with the players the most. So I feel it's wide open. Not that I don't feel that every year, but it's more than usual."

Wisconsin has reached the past two Rose Bowls and won 32 games during the past three seasons. The Badgers return Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball, the Big Ten's offensive player of the year in 2011, and recently added another quarterback transfer in Danny O'Brien, the former Maryland signal-caller.

Although the staff turnover is significant, Bret Bielema has replaced key assistants before, like defensive coordinator Dave Doeren after the 2010 season. There's still a strong case to be made that the Leaders Division title still goes through Mad-city.

"We are the targeted team in the Big Ten because of what we've done the past two years," Ball said. "Everyone is shooting and gunning for us."

Added Bielema: "Everyone thinks it's complacency that's going to affect us, but here at Wisconsin we've become greedy."

Ball lists Ohio State as the team Wisconsin is gunning for, and the Badgers and Buckeyes have a spicy rivalry brewing. Some think Ohio State will end up as the division's top team, but the Buckeyes are banned from postseason play and the Big Ten title game, adding a subplot to the division race.

"We have a great opportunity right now," Purdue defensive tackle Kawann Short said. "We've got a lot of starters coming back. ... Ohio State can't get back in conference championship, so it just gives us a little edge.

"We've got to take advantage of it."

Purdue likely will be a popular pick as a sleeper team in the division. The Boilers return nine starters on both sides of the ball and three quarterbacks -- Caleb TerBush, Robert Marve and Rob Henry -- who have started multiple games. They also have recorded two wins against Ohio State during coach Danny Hope's three-year tenure.

Indiana has a bigger hill to climb after a 1-11 season in 2011. But the Hoosiers are a year older and more familiar with the demands of coach Kevin Wilson and his staff.

"Last year we struggled in my first year, didn't play up to our capabilities," Wilson said. "Hopefully that'll lead to giving ourselves an opportunity to compete with some of those teams as they go through some transition."

While Ohio State can't make it to Indianapolis in Urban Meyer's first year, the other two division teams with new coaches could surprise people. Both Penn State and Illinois have similar profiles, boasting strong defensive front sevens but question marks on offense.

"At this time, everybody is saying the same thing, whether it's Illinois, Ohio State, Wisconsin," Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said. "... It really comes down to who’s going to go out there every day and get better, who's going to put in the extra work to be the best football team.

"Everybody wants to be, but ultimately one team is going to do it more so than anybody else."

It was a hope and wish game.

Devon Butler lay bleeding in the hallway of his friend's apartment, an innocent bystander and hero all in one.

Minutes earlier, his friend called him into the bedroom to look out the window at a black truck circling outside. Butler stopped playing his video game to try and help.

The same truck had stopped his friend earlier in the day, the men inside asking about a drug transaction. His friend said they had the wrong guy.

Now the black truck was back.

They did not know what was happening, but they knew they should leave the bedroom. As they walked toward the door, they heard gunshots. His friend froze. Butler, acting quickly, threw him down the hallway.

One bullet pierced the window and hit Butler in the back, knocking him into the next room. Blood pooled around him. He shouted, "Call 911! Call 911!" and tried desperately to stay awake.

"I thought if I closed my eyes and laid back, it wouldn't end up well," Butler said in a recent phone interview. "As long as I'm awake for a lot of it, I felt I would be fine. So I tried not to close my eyes, and tried to keep fighting as long as I could."

He thought of his mother. His family. Of his Northern Illinois teammates. He thought, "There is no way it is my time to go."

It was April 5, 2011.

It was a hope and wish game.

By the time Butler arrived at the hospital, he was in critical condition. New Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren, on the job a handful of months, made his way to see Butler. So did position coach Tom Matukewicz.

Doctors met with the two coaches and told them they needed to operate on Butler as soon as he stabilized. Of major concern was a collapsed lung.

"They told us to say our goodbyes," Doeren recalled in a phone interview. "So the three of us held hands and prayed."

Butler remained in critical condition for several days before finally improving. Two Northern Illinois students were arrested in connection with the shooting, in what has been described as a drug deal gone bad. Football, however, is all Butler thought about in those first few days. When his teammates came to visit, he immediately asked, "How was practice?"

Doeren would drop off tapes for Butler to watch. Butler, impatient to the end, could not get out of his hospital bed without help. But he knew for certain he would get back onto that football field.

"Nobody ever knew if I was going to be able to come back or if things would work out," Butler said.

"It was like a hope and wish game."

With family in New Jersey and Florida, Butler needed somebody in town to help care for him as he recovered. Matukewicz stepped in. Northern Illinois was granted a special waiver from the NCAA to allow Butler to live with his coach until he could be on his own.

Butler had developed a close relationship with Matuekwicz during the recruiting process. While many schools backed off Butler because of academic concerns, Matukewicz appeared at the high school guidance counselor's office one day with a list of classes Butler would have to pass to attend Northern Illinois.

"It's like cold water in the face," said Matukewicz, now defensive coordinator at Toledo. "The reality is you really don’t know what tomorrow holds. But I do remember after that practice, the linebackers were together. Each kid talks a little bit, and he said, 'I took this off film. It was one of the better practices I had.' And a day, later he’s laying in the hospital."

Matukewicz and his wife cared for Butler as if he was their son. His wife changed his bandages for the first week he was at their home. Once Butler started feeling better, "It was like living with a teenager," Matukewicz said. "I would come home, and he would have my recliner 6 inches away from a 50-inch flat screen playing Madden."

Butler stayed with them for several months before going home to his family. When he returned to Northern Illinois, Butler had no doubt he would play football again, even though he had to redshirt the 2011 season. Sitting out allowed him to focus on his grades, and become a student of the game. He did much more film study, while also working his way back into shape.

He was finally allowed to join his teammates on the football field for bowl practices, without contact. That first day back during a seven-on-seven drill, Butler got an interception. "That was the highlight of the whole week," Butler said.

Butler, of course, needed more. He continued to work, his impatience driving him, until he got clearance to resume full-contact practice this spring.

Amazingly -- a year to the day since he got shot -- Butler has reclaimed his starting middle linebacker job. Doeren says Butler is better today than he was a year ago.

"When you love the game as much as he loves it, and it is taken away from you, then your perspective changes," Doeren said. "The way he has approached things, he knows how precious things are now. There is a greater sense of urgency."

Doeren uses the word miracle. Butler uses the phrase "story of my life."

"I have been through a lot of adversity," Butler said. "I don't do well when things are just given to me and things are easy. I feel I do a lot better under pressure. It makes me have no choice but to do well, to prove everybody wrong, to get things going the way they need to be. I realized that at a young age. Once I knew that I was going to be OK, I knew I didn't have anywhere to go but up. I knew I would still be able to play football, and I didn't let anything else stop me."

It was a hope and wish game.

Hope fulfilled. Wish granted.

1. “A Memorial for Joe” will honor the late Penn State coach Joe Paterno on Thursday, 29 years to the day that former Alabama coach Bear Bryant died only four weeks after his final game. The fact that both coaching icons died so soon after they left coaching has been noted time and again this week. The coincidences continue to pile up. Both Bryant and Paterno won their last victory against Illinois. Paterno’s last loss ever came to Alabama in September.
2. You can’t quibble with the success of Boise State coach Chris Petersen. The Broncos went 50-3 the last four seasons with Kellen Moore at quarterback, and is 73-6 overall. But now comes Petersen’s biggest test. According to PhilSteele.com, Boise State is dead last among FBS schools in returning starters with six. Depth is usually the last thing that mid-majors can count on. Then again, with the Big East on the horizon, we won’t be able to call Boise State a mid-major for much longer.
3. You know that a head coach has made it when he keeps winning even as his assistants depart. With that in mind, keep an eye on Wisconsin next fall. Head coach Bret Bielema is in the process of replacing six of his nine assistant coaches in this offseason. Offensive coordinator Paul Chryst became head coach at Pitt and took three coaches with him. Bielema may be young – he turned 42 this month – but he’s developing a coaching tree. Dave Doeren left his staff last year to become head coach at Northern Illinois.

Bret Bielema made a rapid rise up the college coaching ladder.

Big Ten position coach at 26 ... Big 12 co-defensive coordinator at 32 ... Big Ten defensive coordinator at 34 ... Big Ten head coach at 36.

Bielema's ambition helped put him on the fast track. And when he's hiring assistant coaches at Wisconsin, he wants to see the same qualities.

"When you talk to a coach, if he doesn’t want to advance in this profession, we probably won’t talk very long," Bielema told ESPN.com on Thursday. "I want guys that want to be coordinators, or guys that are coordinators who want to be head coaches. If they don't want to sit at the front of the room, we're probably dealing with the wrong type of coach. I want guys who want to advance."

Bielema has had plenty of assistants advance in recent years.

He lost two after the 2009 season, one of whom, Randall McCray, went from position coach to coordinator. He lost three after the 2010 season: defensive coordinator Dave Doeren became head coach at Northern Illinois, while running backs coach John Settle and nickel backs coach Greg Jackson both departed for posts in the NFL.

Wisconsin has lost six assistants in recent weeks, a number that has raised eyebrows in college football circles. The team is coming off of back-to-back Big Ten titles and back-to-back Rose Bowl appearances. Bielema's job is very secure. While one assistant (Paul Chryst) left for a head-coaching job and two others (Bob Bostad, Dave Huxtable) went from position coaches to coordinators, the exodus has left some wondering whether there's something wrong at Wisconsin.

Bielema views things differently.

"It's really not that unusual," he said. "It's unusual at a program that has as much success as we've had, where we're able to keep that continuity of winning in place. I take it as a compliment to what we've been able to do. All those coaches are moving on. Two of them didn't get coordinator jobs, but everybody else got coordinator jobs or titles that made it significantly better for them where they were going.

"To me, it's a tremendous challenge that I love, I embrace and I have a lot of fun with it."

Bielema has filled two vacancies with offensive coordinator Matt Canada and wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni. After an extensive interview process for the coordinator job, Bielema went with Canada, in large part because Canada has called plays in different systems (spread, pro style) and can adapt.

"I interviewed a lot of coaches of different levels: NFL, college, big college, small college," he said. "I'm not a résumé guy. I want a football coach. And as this thing gets moving forward, I kept coming back to him. I just think he’s going to be a great fit for what we're going to blend together at Wisconsin. I'm going to hire four new offensive coaches that are going to come from different areas of the country and come together and play the style of football we like at Wisconsin."

Wisconsin's staff will be two-thirds new in 2012, but Bielema won't be surprised if he's doing more hiring a year from now.

"I have every year," he said. "Usually the NFL takes two, took two from me last year. It’s just one of those things, the beauty of the beast here at Wisconsin."

Wisconsin has found its replacement for Paul Chryst, and he's a familiar name for those who follow football in the Midwest.

Matt Canada is joining Wisconsin as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach after spending the 2011 season in the same capacity at Northern Illinois. Canada, who worked under former Wisconsin assistant Dave Doeren at NIU, returns to the Big Ten after serving as offensive coordinator at Indiana, his alma mater, from 2007-10.

The interesting thing about the hire is that while Canada has run spread offenses in recent years, he'll lead a pro-style offense with the Badgers. Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema made it clear in the release announcing Canada's hiring, saying, "I know he is very excited about running a pro-style offense and handling a game the way we typically have at Wisconsin."

Canada has run a pro-style offense before, during a previous stint at Northern Illinois' offensive coordinator in 2003. That year, the Huskies ranked 26th nationally in scoring offense (32.2 ppg) but just 60th in total offense (378.9 ypg). NIU put up big numbers under Canada this past season, finishing 11th nationally in total offense and 12th in both scoring and rushing offense. NIU and Wisconsin were two of just five FBS teams to average at least 230 yards both rushing and passing in 2011.

Canada inherited an excellent quarterback in Chandler Harnish at NIU and helped take the unit to the next level, but he'll be facing some different challenges with Wisconsin.

"In the system we ran, I thought he was as good as they get," Doeren told ESPN.com on Tuesday. "We ran as many plays as we humanly could in a game out of as many personnel groups as we could. We were nothing like [Wisconsin], other than we ran zone and power like them. We had a mobile quarterback that we used in the run game, and he was our leading rusher, so we had a lot different system."

It's interesting that Bielema has hired two assistants -- Canada and receivers coach Zach Azzanni -- with backgrounds in the spread offense. But he says in the release that his offensive staff will "come from different directions to come together to play football the way Wisconsin has traditionally played."

Doeren is confident Canada can make the necessary adjustments.

"He's extremely intelligent," Doeren said. "Obviously, Bret wanted him to do whatever he thinks they're supposed to do, so that's what he's going to have to prove to everybody, obviously. I know he's extremely excited about that challenge. He's really competitive."

In 2007, Canada's first season as Indiana's offensive coordinator, the Hoosiers scored a team-record 412 points. But the offense backslid a bit during his final three seasons, and some Indiana fans voiced their displeasure about Canada.

He inherits a Wisconsin offense coming off of two record-setting seasons. The Badgers lose All-Big Ten quarterback Russell Wilson, All-America center Peter Konz and top wide receiver Nick Toon. Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball returns at running back along with other weapons like receiver Jared Abbrederis and tight end Jacob Pedersen, but the quarterback position will be Canada's biggest priority from now until Sept. 1.

Bielema still has two offensive staff vacancies (line, tight ends) to fill and one on the defensive side (linebackers).

Paul Chryst has been a hot head-coaching candidate for a couple of years, and he finally got his well-deserved chance at Pittsburgh. It's a good job but not the easiest of situations in which to prove himself.

Any school that was looking for a successful coordinator couldn't have done much better than Chryst. His Wisconsin offenses have been some of the most productive in the nation during his six years calling plays for the Badgers. Chryst oversaw an attack that has averaged 39.3 points per game the past three years. He might have done his finest work this season, incorporating quarterback Russell Wilson into the fold this past summer and blending Wilson's talents perfectly with the running game, as Wisconsin averaged nearly 45 points per game and made its second straight Rose Bowl.

Chryst has been a candidate at several schools the past two years and probably would have gotten a head-coaching job earlier if not for his low-key personality. He interviewed at Pitt in January but did not impress the selection committee, who instead went with the more energetic -- and, it turns out, completely phony -- personality of Todd Graham.

Chryst obviously learned from those experiences and did better this time in the interview process. He's still not a guy who loves the limelight, and the public demands of the job, from meeting the media to glad-handing boosters and speaking on the rubber-chicken circuit, will be things he'll have to work on and develop over time. How his personality will work in recruits' homes as the man representing the university also remains to be seen.

But from a pure X's and O's standpoint, few coaches are better. Chryst's offense isn't a gimmicky spread, either. It's based on the power running game with the ability to adapt to defensive game plans. I think his philosophy will go over big in blue-collar Steel City, which knows a little something about smashmouth football.

I covered Pitt as the Big East blogger and know it can be a great job with the right leadership. Although fans there can be a bit fickle, they also haven't been given a consistent winner in decades. The facilities, which the team shares with the Pittsburgh Steelers, are top-notch, and there is plenty of high school talent to be mined in western Pennsylvania. Dave Wannstedt had the program on the verge of doing some great things, getting the Panthers to within a last-minute touchdown of winning the Big East in 2009, but he could never quite push the ball across the goal line.

Pitt would have been better off keeping Wannstedt than entering into a disastrous chain of events that started last December when it replaced Wannstedt with Mike Haywood, only to fire him a couple of weeks later after Haywood was charged in a domestic assault issue. Then Graham came in preaching loyalty before showing he was loyal only to himself. Chryst will have to win over a team that probably isn't too eager to trust any head coach, and Pitt's head-coaching foibles and changing styles have badly damaged recruiting.

In time, though, Chryst should be a good fit for that program and doesn't seem like someone who'll jump to the next job at his first chance. It will be interesting to see whether Chryst brings any Wisconsin assistants along with him. Surely, Bret Bielema will want to hold on to offensive line coach Bob Bostad, who simply keeps churning out All-Americans up front. Where will Bielema turn for his next offensive coordinator, and will the Badgers be able to keep up their impressive performance on that side of the ball?

We know this: Wisconsin is becoming a place where assistants turn into head coaches. Bielema did it himself while succeeding Barry Alvarez. Defensive coordinator Dave Doeren got the Northern Illinois job last year and led the Huskies to a bowl game. And now Chryst.

Chryst will stay on to coach in the Rose Bowl, just as Doeren did a year ago. Wisconsin fans ought to appreciate him for one last game.

All offseason, they thought about it.

All spring, they thought about it.

All summer, they thought about it.

Northern Illinois had to get back to the MAC title game, had to make up for the heartbreak of last season.

The Huskies were on a nine-game winning streak and riding high with a Top 25 ranking when they faced Miami (Ohio) in the championship game in 2010. They were a big favorite to win, with Chandler Harnish at quarterback and league MVP Chad Spann at running back.

But somehow, the RedHawks pulled out an improbable 26-21 win after Austin Boucher threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Armand Robinson with 33 seconds left. Linebacker Pat Schiller admitted earlier this week the Huskies flat-out underestimated the underdog.

"After we lost," Schiller said, "I realized to never underestimate your opponent, especially in a championship game."

Now the Huskies are back in the MAC title game, facing Ohio tonight (7 p.m., ESPN2) with lessons learned from 2010.

"This is what it all comes down to, this is where my legacy's going to be left," Harnish said earlier this week. "We have a lot of unfinished business. We're trying to avenge some bad demons that happened to us last year. This is what we've been focused on all year, as a senior class this is what it's all riding on."

First-year coach Dave Doeren said he never mentioned Detroit -- site of the title game -- to his team. But he did not have to, because his players mentioned it for him. Their primary motivation this season has been to win a ring.

"Last year in one word it was a heart breaker," Harnish said. "We can look back and say we didn't run the ball very well and running the ball is a big part of our offense and we weren't able to do that. I don't think we were ourselves. We didn't play with that normal energy. We gave Miami a chance to play with us and they took advantage. We need to be ourselves and bring that energy and not take anything for granted."

Indeed, "heart breaker" is the word to describe what has happened to Northern Illinois in the MAC title game. In its only other appearance in the game, Akron beat the Huskies 31-30 on a 36-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds remaining in 2005.

So the Huskies not only have something to prove for themselves, but for the program. They have got to find a way to win a championship.

"If we can do something like that, expectations for this university will definitely increase and it helps with recruiting and things like that," Harnish said. "We feel like we have a direct impact on history but we have to go take it. It's not going to be given to us. We have to play our best football, but we can definitely have a great impact on the future of this program."

Harnish already has, with his record-setting senior season. He won the Vern Smith Leadership Award and MAC Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,351 yards and passing for another 2,692 yards this season to set a single-season school record for total offense. He will finish his career with 13 school career offensive records.

But his leadership was huge after Northern Illinois dropped to 2-3 following a 48-41 loss to Central Michigan -- one of the worst teams in the MAC. Doeren told the players that from then on, they needed to view the season as a playoff. They took those words to heart, especially Harnish, who nearly quit the team last season after he lost his starting job.

The wins that followed may not have been pretty, but a 63-60 victory over Toledo essentially allowed them to win the West. They closed the season with seven straight wins.

In the East, the Bobcats closed the season with five straight wins and also rely heavily on their running quarterback, Tyler Tettleton, who has 3,444 total yards and 34 touchdowns this season. Ohio set nine team records this season, including scoring, total offense and passing yards.

With the way Harnish and Tettleton are playing right now, this one may end up being decided by one of them. After what happened last season, Harnish would relish that opportunity.

When Wisconsin linebacker Mike Taylor studied film of himself during the offseason, he didn't like what he saw.

"I saw myself maybe take some plays off," he told ESPN.com. "Not necessarily taking plays off, but not finishing to the ball."

It's not that Taylor had an effort issue or a motivation problem. The redshirt junior reflects the no-frills, workmanlike approach Wisconsin wants all of its players to have on the field. Growing up in Ashwaubenon, Wis. -- practically in the shadows of Lambeau Field -- the 6-2, 230-pound Taylor has been a football fanatic from a very young age.

He doesn't say much. He just does his job.

But even the more consistent Big Ten defenders downshift for a play here and there and commit "loafs," as former Badgers defensive coordinator/linebacker coach Dave Doeren would call them.

Taylor wanted to make sure his loafs went away.

"You could be jogging to the ball, thinking the guy's going to get tackled or it's going to be an incomplete pass, but before you know it, the ball's up in the air," he said. "You can get a pick. You can pick up a fumble, or a guy can cut back and you can tackle him. So when you run to the ball, things can happen."

Good things have happened for Taylor throughout a breakout 2011 season.

He leads the Big Ten and is tied for seventh nationally with 108 tackles, six ahead of the Big Ten's No. 2 tackler, fellow Badgers linebacker Chris Borland. In nine games Taylor has nearly doubled his tackles total from 12 games last season (58). He has recorded double-digit tackles in five games and nine stops in two others, twice earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts.

Part of Taylor's production spike can be attributed to being healthy. After a promising start to the 2009 season, he suffered a season-ending ACL tear against Iowa. While he played in the final 12 games last year, Taylor wasn't at full speed.

He has performed in fifth gear throughout this fall.

"The most improvement I've had is just running to the ball," he said.

No game better reflected this than an Oct. 29 contest at Ohio State, where 105,511 fans in the Horsehoe got to know the name Mike Taylor. That's because Taylor recorded 22 tackles in the game, the most for a Wisconsin player since 1998 and the fourth-highest total in the FBS this season.

Taylor had 2.5 tackles for loss against the Buckeyes and added a pass breakup.

"You just play and play, and before you know it, those tackles can add up," he said. "I credit just running to the ball and never giving up on a play."

Taylor's most important contribution that night, however, might have come after the game. Wisconsin suffered its second consecutive heartbreaking loss, and for the second straight week the defense was on the field for the decisive play.

In a deflated locker room, the man of few words decided to speak up.

"Keep your head up," he remembers telling his teammates. "The only thing you can do is just move forward. The past is the past. We've still got good things to come."

Taylor's message struck a chord.

"The best leaders, a lot of times, are the guys that say very little and do a lot on the field," coach Bret Bielema said days after the Ohio State game. "But when they speak, a lot of people listen. So I think Mike's in a position to really say some great things and have our guys pay attention."

It helps when the speaker backs up his words, as Taylor did the following week with nine tackles and an interception against Purdue. He recorded a team-high 13 stops in last week's win at Minnesota.

Wisconsin's high-powered offense gets most of the publicity, as quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Montee Ball are candidates for national awards. The Badgers defense, meanwhile, quietly ranks in the top six nationally in pass yards allowed, points allowed and total yards allowed. It has been called a no-name unit. Taylor likes it that way, though his numbers suggest he deserves more recognition.

"We’re just a bunch of guys who like to have fun out there on the field and play for each other," Taylor said.

Every single snap.

Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren knows Wisconsin's personnel intimately from serving as the Badgers' defensive coordinator before this year.

That doesn't mean he knows how to stop the Badgers' offense. He also didn't experience slowing down down Russell Wilson, and it shows.

Any concern that familiarity would breed competitiveness has so far proven unwarranted. The Badgers are motoring right along just as they have the first two weeks, leading the Huskies 28-7 at halftime at Soldier Field.

Wilson has been his usual brilliant self, completing 15-of-19 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. His receivers have mostly been wide open, and Wilson almost never misses the open guy. Northern Illinois has held Montee Ball and James White to a combined 67 yards, but they each have a touchdown run, and Wilson has run for 36 yards. And if you play to stop the run, Wisconsin can beat you with the pass.

Give Doeren credit for being aggressive. After Northern Illinois scored its lone touchdown in the first quarter, he called an onside kick that the Huskies very nearly recovered.

They're going to need a lot more than that to have a chance in the second half against a Wisconsin team that's in another offensive groove.

Ten items to track throughout the Big Ten on Saturday.

1. The Ineligi-Bowl: Even if you hate Ohio State and Miami, you'll have a tough time turning away from Saturday night's game at Sun Life Stadium. Two programs dealing with personnel losses, first-year coaches, NCAA investigations and uncertain futures meet in a game that, if nothing else, should be very compelling. Ohio State hits the road for the first time after a narrow escape against Toledo, and the Buckeyes are still trying to survive without several of their best players. Miami regains the services of quarterback Jacory Harris from suspension and tries to generate some good news after a very rough month.

2. A Champaign test: Illinois looks like a good team, but there's a hesitancy to buy into the Illini. Whether it's a lack of faith in coach Ron Zook or a program that has teased us many times before, national respect has been hard to come by. The Illini have an excellent opportunity to prove themselves against No. 23 Arizona State. Zook's crew looks for its first win against a ranked opponent since stunning then-No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus in 2007. The Ohio State win spurred Illinois to a Rose Bowl appearance. A victory Saturday night could be the start of something special.

3. Spartans' rough road begins: Michigan State's taxing road schedule will provide a perfect gauge of the program's position under coach Mark Dantonio. "The championship's going to run through how we play on the road," Dantonio has told his team this year. The road stretch begins Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium, where Michigan State has won six of its last seven games. Notre Dame likely won't be Michigan State's toughest road opponent, but the Spartans might not face a more desperate team than the Fighting Irish, who have played better than their 0-2 record indicates.

4. Huskers-Huskies, Round 3: Nebraska and Washington played two very different games with two very different results last season. In Week 3, Taylor Martinez and the Huskers obliterated Washington 56-21 in Seattle, a statement win that built hype around T-Magic and Big Red. But Martinez wasn't the same player in the Holiday Bowl, and Washington humbled the Huskers 19-7. After the bowl loss and an inconsistent performance last week against Fresno State, Bo Pelini's squad has no shortage of motivation as Washington visits Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

5. Reunion in the Windy City: Wisconsin players will see a familiar face across the field Saturday at Chicago's Soldier Field. Former Badgers defensive coordinator Dave Doeren leads Northern Illinois against the nation's No. 7 team. Doeren knows Wisconsin's personnel well and will have his team prepared, but NIU's young defense needs to grow up quickly to contain Russell Wilson & Co. Although Doeren is a defensive coach, the Northern Illinois offense is the unit to watch. Wisconsin's secondary depth could be tested without starting cornerback Devin Smith.

6. High-Octane Hawkeyes: Iowa's struggles to keep the lead late in games have spilled over from the 2010 season into the current campaign. Do the Hawkeyes have a conditioning problem or just a finishing problem? We should learn more Saturday against a Pitt team that lives by the motto "High-Octane Football." Panthers coach Todd Graham wants his spread offense to operate at warp speed and wear down opposing defenses with its tempo. Iowa's defense has struggled against spread teams as of late, and the Hawkeyes face the nation's leading rusher in Ray Graham.

7. Penn State's QB saga heads to Philly: I'm not sure what Joe Paterno needs to see to settle on one quarterback, but he gets another chance to evaluate both Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin on Saturday at Temple. Penn State's top two quarterbacks reportedly are pacing one another in practice, but game day proves the opportunity to separate yourself. Although Temple isn't Alabama, Paterno thinks this Owls team is the best he's seen. Temple has allowed just 10 points in victories against Villanova and Akron.

8. Purdue's quarterback quandary: Robert Marve is medically cleared to play after dealing with knee soreness, which could be very good news for Purdue. On the other hand, coach Danny Hope wants to create some continuity at quarterback with Caleb TerBush, who has started the first two games and performed decently. Hope has talked extensively about getting two quarterbacks ready and using them in games. Hope gets his wish, and it'll be interesting to see how he works in Marve on Saturday against Southeast Missouri State.

9. Northwestern's unique challenge: Army's triple-option offense and double-eagle flex defense created quite a preparation headache for Northwestern this week. Pat Fitzgerald had his team practice on two separate fields to get ready for the Black Knights, who are 0-2 but have shown promise and will be playing at home Saturday. Army's defense will crowd the line and dare Northwestern to pass, which it avoided for much of last week's game against Eastern Illinois. Quarterback Kain Colter has been a brilliant ball-carrier so far, but he likely needs to show a greater willingness to pass on Saturday, as Northwestern's talented receivers should be utilized.

10. Gophers, Hoosiers look for Ws: The Big Ten's two winless teams try to get off the mat Saturday. Minnesota likely will have coach Jerry Kill back for Saturday's game against Miami (Ohio), as Kill's recovery from a sideline seizure has gone well. Indiana must rebound from a heart-breaking loss to Virginia against FCS South Carolina State. After admitting to taking New Mexico State too lightly, Minnesota must be more polished on both sides of the ball against the defending MAC champions. Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson looks for quarterback Ed Wright-Baker to be more of a difference-maker this week.

Before we get to pad our stats (hopefully) in Week 4, it's time to forecast an intriguing slate of Week 3 games.

Thus far, neither of us has had anything resembling perfection. Will it change this week?

Let's get to the picking ...

EASTERN MICHIGAN at MICHIGAN

Brian Bennett: Michigan's biggest problem will be adjusting to the weirdness of playing during the day. Other than that, former Wolverines defensive coordinator Ron English's team has no answer for Denard Robinson. ... Michigan 42, Eastern Michigan 10

Adam Rittenberg: I see the Wolverines starting off a bit slowly against the 2-0 Eagles, but Robinson and the running backs will get going in this one and coordinator Al Borges can stick to his system more. Don't see Brady Hoke running up the score on English and Mike Hart. ... Michigan 36, Eastern Michigan 14

PENN STATE at TEMPLE

Adam Rittenberg: Penn State's ongoing indecision at quarterback concerns me, especially against a Temple defense playing well. Like last year's game, this contest will be low scoring but Silas Redd and Brandon Beachum come up big in the second half with touchdowns. ... Penn State 23, Temple 16

Brian Bennett: I agree Temple will keep it close behind the running of Bernard Pierce at home. Penn State does just enough to win on a late TD pass to Derek Moye -- just don't ask me who throws it. ... Penn State 21, Temple 17

PITTSBURGH at IOWA

Brian Bennett: I covered Pitt closely the past three seasons and have no confidence in the Panthers to win a tough road game, especially the way quarterback Tino Sunseri has played. Iowa's defense rebounds after a rough day in Ames and grounds the High Octane. ... Iowa 28, Pitt 19

Adam Rittenberg: No love for the Big East? I hereby revoke your Primanti Bros. privileges. Pitt takes an early lead against a reeling Hawkeyes defense, but Iowa rallies in the second half behind running back Marcus Coker (last chance, Marcus). ... Iowa 27, Pitt 20

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE at PURDUE

Adam Rittenberg: The heat is rising on coach Danny Hope, but Purdue should get through the fourth quarter without tension for the first time this year. Both Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve play at quarterback, but Purdue's run game makes the big difference in this one. ... Purdue 34, SE Missouri State 17

Brian Bennett: Just what Purdue needs after two shaky performances: a highly beatable FCS team. No field goal blocks needed this time. ... Purdue 35, SE Missouri State 10

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE at INDIANA

Brian Bennett: And just what Indiana needs, too. Finally a big offensive performance for Kevin Wilson's club against an overmatched FCS squad. ... Indiana 41, SCSU 17

Adam Rittenberg: Wilson can be as reckless as he wants to with big decisions and still get his first win as IU's coach. Matt Perez and the Hoosiers' run game show some signs of life for the first time this season. ... Indiana 30, SCSU 17

NO. 15 MICHIGAN STATE at NOTRE DAME

Adam Rittenberg: Las Vegas isn't giving Michigan State any respect, and the Notre-Dame-is-actually-good-honest-to-God rhetoric is getting tiresome. The Spartans typically play well in South Bend and win another close one against a desperate Irish team that doesn't know how to close. ... Michigan State 27, Notre Dame 24

Brian Bennett: How can anyone pick Notre Dame at this point? I wouldn't pick the Irish in an intrasquad scrimmage. The Spartans get a big step up in competition, but Kirk Cousins leads them to the first of what they hope are many road wins. ... Michigan State 31, Notre Dame 28

MIAMI (OHIO) at MINNESOTA

Brian Bennett: A tough game to predict, not knowing how the players will respond to the Jerry Kill situation. I'm thinking Kill returns to the sidelines and they play inspired to give their coach a dramatic first victory with the Gophers. ... Minnesota 21, Miami 20

Adam Rittenberg: I thought Minnesota would lose this game before the season, and then felt differently after the Gophers' gutsy performance at USC. But last week's clunker against New Mexico State soured me on Minnesota, and Miami has had two weeks to prepare. ... Miami 27, Minnesota 21

WASHINGTON at NO. 11 NEBRASKA

Adam Rittenberg: After a week of enduring Bo Pelini's wrath, the Blackshirts respond against young quarterback Keith Price as Nebraska pulls ahead in the fourth quarter. ... Nebraska 28, Washington 16

Brian Bennett: The defense simply has to get better, and I think it will slow down Washington's Chris Polk. Taylor Martinez atones for the bowl game as Huskers-Huskies III goes the home team's way. ... Nebraska 31, Washington 14

NORTHWESTERN at ARMY

Brian Bennett: If Dan Persa doesn't play, will either team pass the ball more than five times? Army's unique style will give the Wildcats fits, but they pull it out in the end. ... Northwestern 24, Army 20

Adam Rittenberg: Northwestern has to show more willingness to throw the ball with Kain Colter, as the Wildcats boast great weapons at receiver and tight end and Army struggles against the pass. Coordinator Mick McCall opens up the offense and the Wildcats' defensive line plays well enough for a win. ... Northwestern 27, Army 21

NO. 7 Wisconsin vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS (at Chicago)

Adam Rittenberg: There will be no shutout this week as Northern Illinois' Chandler Harnish makes some plays against Wisconsin. While former Badgers defensive coordinator Dave Doeren will improve the Huskies' defense eventually, NIU's youth and inability to stop the run proves costly against Montee Ball and James White. ... Wisconsin 45, Northern Illinois 31

Brian Bennett: Doeren's knowledge of the personnel makes this one interesting, and Northern Illinois is better offensively than Oregon State. Russell Wilson is the difference as Doeren sells out against the run. ... Wisconsin 38, Northern Illinois 24

NO. 22 ARIZONA STATE at ILLINOIS

Brian Bennett: Illinois is out to prove itself, but Arizona State is a little more battle tested after beating Missouri last week. Brock Osweiler throws the game-winning pass in overtime of a wild shootout. ... Arizona State 51, Illinois 48

Adam Rittenberg: This is the type of game both of these programs tend to lose. But I'm buying into Illinois and think the Illini rise to the occasion and notch a statement win at home. Vontaze Burfict introduces himself to Nathan Scheelhaase a few times, but Scheelhaase scores a touchdown in the final minute for the game winner. ... Illinois 33, Arizona State 31

NO. 17 OHIO STATE at MIAMI

Adam Rittenberg: This will be a slog for the Buckeyes, who remain shorthanded at key positions. Both Ohio State quarterbacks play and Jordan Hall helps in his return, but the main reason I'm picking the Buckeyes is because I simply don't trust Jacory Harris to limit mistakes. Ohio State 20, Miami 17

Brian Bennett: I'd rather purchase snake oil in bulk from a traveling salesman than pin my hopes on Harris. And yet ... I just don't think Ohio State can make enough explosive plays on offense after that Toledo showing. The Fightin' Shapiros pull the upset. ... Miami 21, Ohio State 16

SEASON RECORDS

Bennett: 19-5 (.792)

Rittenberg: 17-7 (.708)

A potential reunion with the Wisconsin Badgers crossed Dave Doeren's mind even before he became Northern Illinois' coach.

As he mulled NIU's offer in December, Doeren, then the Badgers' defensive coordinator, called his boss and friend, Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema.

"Bret and I were talking about whether I should or shouldn't take it, the pros and cons, this and that," Doeren recalled. "And I started laughing. I said, 'One of the deals is I've got to play two schools where I've worked, Kansas and Wisconsin. That sucks.' That's the negative to it when you look at being friends."

Bielema knew it would "put an interesting spin on everything."

"I still called the AD, did everything I could to help him get that job," he said. "It was something Dave had earned."

The positives of the NIU job won out, and Doeren accepted. After facing Kansas last week, he'll lead his Huskies team against Bielema and the seventh-ranked Badgers on Saturday afternoon at Chicago's Soldier Field.

Doeren's familiarity with Wisconsin's players and coaches could help Northern Illinois as it prepares for the game. Then again, the Badgers aren't known for tricky schemes. They do what they've always done, and they do it well.

"They're playing so well right now, I don't know if being there [previously] really helps," Doeren said. "They're a really talented football team. Obviously, I have some insight into their players, so that does help, but schematically, whether you were there or not, when you play Wisconsin, you're going to know what they're going to be in.

"You've just got to be able to stop it, and they take pride in that."

While Doeren saw Wisconsin's offense every day in practice the past few years, he's not as familiar with the man calling signals for the Badgers. Quarterback Russell Wilson, who transferred from NC State this summer, has been brilliant in his first two games for Wisconsin, ranking second nationally in passer rating (237.6) and completing 27 of 34 attempts (79.4 percent).

Doeren says Wilson is "like having Tolzien who can run," referring to former Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien, who completed 72.9 percent of his passes in 2010 but wasn't known for his foot speed.

"You've got that extremely confident, intelligent leader that knows how to manage the game," Doeren said, "but now when things break down, he can run for touchdowns. ... The athletic dimension he brings when things break down is something they haven't had since Tyler Donovan."

Wisconsin's ground game remains its M.O., and Northern Illinois' young defense ranks near the bottom of the FBS against the run, allowing 556 rush yards and six touchdowns in its first two games against Army and Kansas. If the Huskies can't stop Wisconsin's run attack Saturday, they'll have "no chance," Doeren said.

What gives NIU hope is an explosive offense led by senior quarterback Chandler Harnish. The Huskies have scored 91 points in their first two games and Harnish ranks among the top 10 nationally in both passer rating (197.96) and total offense (339.5 ypg).

Although Wisconsin comes off of a shutout against Oregon State, it lost starting cornerback Devin Smith to a season-ending foot injury. The Badgers lack depth at corner and could be vulnerable against the pass.

"Our skill is very good, our quarterback is playing well, tailbacks are all running hard when they're in there and we have a veteran O-line," Doeren said. "To me, that is where we match up well."

Doeren recruited Badgers defenders like safety Aaron Henry and linebacker Kevin Claxton. He considers Bielema and co-defensive coordinators Chris Ash and Charlie Partridge among his best friends.

"It's part of the deal," Doeren said. "You're going to run into guys that you're friends with and coach against them. You recruit against your friends all the time.

"It's not the most fun thing to do, but it's something you do quite a bit."

The good: No.5 Boise State thoroughly and convincingly beat Georgia 35-21, picking up a critical first win over the SEC. But the Broncos were not the only to win a non-AQ vs. AQ game. Houston beat UCLA 38-34; BYU beat Ole Miss 14-13; Hawaii beat Colorado 34-17 and Ball State beat Indiana 27-20. The MAC now has eight wins over the Big Ten in the last three years. The Cardinals have also beaten Indiana twice since 2008, a huge first win for new coach Pete Lembo.

Speaking of firsts ... New Temple coach Steve Addazio picked up his first win, 42-7 over Villanova. Bernard Pierce ran for 147 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. New Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren also picked up his first win when the Huskies beat Army 49-26.

The great escape: UTEP barely escaped Stony Brook, 31-24 in overtime. The Miners trailed 24-10 in the third quarter but Nick Lamaison keyed the comeback -- throwing three late touchdown passes, including the winner in overtime. Lamaison ended with 365 yards in his first career start. ... Wyoming also needed a last-second touchdown to escape Weber State. Brett Smith threw a touchdown pass to Robert Herron with 22 seconds left to give the Cowboys a 35-32 win. Weber State led for most of the fourth quarter before seeing its upset bid slip away.

The heartbreak: Utah State and Middle Tennessee felt all sorts of heartbreak after their down-to-the-wire games came up just short for them on Saturday. The Aggies had the defending national champions down for nearly the entire game. But Auburn scored twice in the final 2:07, thanks in part to an onside kick the Tigers easily recovered. Utah State lost 42-38, but if anything came out of the loss -- the nation got its first glimpse of poised true freshman Chuckie Keeton, who impressed everyone with his play in the game. You can beat Auburn won't soon forget him. Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee had its game-tying 47-yard field goal attempt against Purdue blocked and lost 27-24. The Blue Raiders led 24-17 with 9:26 left in the game, but could not hold on long enough to win. Purdue scored 17 points and gained 192 yards in the fourth quarter. "It kicks you in the gut right now, you're sick to your stomach that you lost the game," Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill said. ... New Mexico hung with Colorado State for the entire game but lost 14-10 because a familiar foe came back. Turnovers. The Lobos had three of them. Last season, New Mexico finished the season with a minus-12 turnover margin. ... Western Kentucky gave it a valiant effort against Kentucky, putting a scare into the Wildcats before losing 14-3. The Hilltoppers had more first downs and more total yardage, but also committed more penalties and turnovers in the loss. ... TCU also saw its win over Baylor evaporate when Aaron Jones kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:04 left for a 50-48 win. Casey Pachall threw an interception to end the game. Much already has been made of the uncharacteristic defense TCU played. But contrast the end of this game with the Rose Bowl. TCU got a huge defensive play to help win the game when Tank Carder batted down the 2-point conversion attempt late in the game. But the Horned Frogs could not make one stop on Baylor's game-winning drive.

The young guns: In the week leading up to the opener against Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes was asked who reminded him of his 17-year-old starting quarterback, Nick Isham. “Greg Brady,” Dykes said. Isham, a true freshman born in 1993, asked the Bulldogs sports information director, “Who’s Greg Brady?” Isham might be young, but he gained his first game experience against Southern Miss, going 20-of-36 for 176 yards in a narrow 19-17 loss. Keeton, Brett Smith of Wyoming and Rakeem Cato of Marshall were the two other non-AQ true freshmen to make starts and both looked poised behind center despite their teams' losses. Keeton went 21-of-30 for 213 yards, while Cato was 15-of-21 for 115 yards in a rain-shorted day against West Virginia. Smith went 27-of-41 for 294 yards and three touchdowns, but the first pass of his career was intercepted.

Helmet stickers

Boise State defense. The Broncos absolutely dominated up front in a win against Georgia. The defensive line had six sacks and constantly harassed Aaron Murray. The Bulldogs had just 13 first downs and were never much of a threat.

Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois. The Huskies quarterback threw a career-high five touchdown passes and ran for another in a 49-27 win over Army.

T.Y. Hilton, FIU. Hilton opened a win over North Texas with a 62-yard kickoff return that he almost broke for a touchdown. On the next drive, he scored on a 60-yard reception on the first play. He had 180 all-purpose yards in the first quarter and finished the game with 283 all-purpose yards, 12 shy of his own school record.

Case Keenum, Houston. In his return from an ACL injury, Keenum looked like he was back to his old self, throwing for 310 yards and two touchdown passes in a win over UCLA. He went past the 300-yard mark for the 26th time in 38 career starts.

Bryant Moniz, Hawaii. Moniz threw for 5,000 yards last season but he helped the Warriors beat Colorado with his legs. Moniz ran for 121 yards and three touchdowns -- the most rushing yards by a Hawaii quarterback since Glenn Freitas had 122 yards and four touchdowns against UTEP in 1995.

Kriss Proctor, Navy. Much was made over what Proctor would face this season -- taking over for Ricky Dobbs at quarterback. But he did more than fine against Delaware, running for 176 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-17 win. He also threw his first career touchdown pass.

Shortly after Dave Doeren was hired as head coach at Northern Illinois, he had a meeting with several athletic department officials to brainstorm ways to bring attention to the football program.

One of the ideas appealed to him. Doeren would try out different adventures across the state, with a video crew in tow. Mini webisodes would be created and placed on the school’s athletics Web site for all to see.

Thus “Doeren Discovers” was born, six weekly webisodes taking fans behind the scenes with Doeren. The videos not only allow fans to get to know their new coach, they also give a different perspective on their favorite team.

So far, Doeren has gotten in front of the crowd at Wrigley Field to sing “Take Me Out To the Ballgame,” and raced in a car at the Richard Petty Speedway at Chicagoland Speedway. This week’s new webisode shows him taking the team to Larson Farms in Maple Park, Ill. Doeren drives a tractor as part of the visit.

In upcoming adventures, he sky dives and practices with the Kane County Cougars in Geneva, Ill.

“To a point, I’d do about anything to get people in the stands for our guys,” Doeren said in a phone interview. “I wanted to do stuff that I thought would generate interest. All the events have been different and every one of them tests your fortitude.”

I asked him a few questions about each adventure.

AA: What was the most nerve wracking?

DD: Until I did it, probably singing because I’ve never done that in front of people before. I’ve stood in a booth on game day, but when they hand you the mic and the lights come on and you see everybody in the stadium does a 180 and looks at you, it’s like, ‘OK this is real right here.'

AA: More than driving on the race track?

DD: Driving the race car was exhilarating. It wasn’t scary. They put a pace car in front of you, so it’s not like you hit the pavement and go as fast as you can go. There’s somebody in front of you, so you can’t go out of control. My fastest lap was 127 mph, but the average on the straightaways was well above that.

AA: Sky diving seems to be a popular choice among head coaches this summer. Eastern Michigan coach Ron English and West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen have done it, too.

DD: Well, it’s nothing I have a passion for doing on a weekly basis, but it’s something that I’ve been intrigued about for a long time. I’ve bungee jumped before, so when they presented the opportunity to me to go sky diving, I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll never get another chance to do it.’ So it seemed like the right thing to do.

AA: What has been the reaction to your webisodes so far?

DD: Now that it’s out there, people are send me emails, texts, and calling to tell me how much they are enjoying it. Most are wondering, ‘Why are you doing that?’ If people are reading it, watching it, spreading it, that means they are talking about NIU football. We’re trying to get as much attention for the players and our community as we can. The last school I was at (Wisconsin) had a great home advantage. We need to fill our stadium every week, and that’s the goal.

2010 overall record: 11-3

2010 conference record: 8-0 (West champs, lost in MAC title game)

Returning starters

Offense: 9, defense: 4, punter/kicker: 1

Top returners

QB Chandler Harnish, DE Sean Progar, DB Tommy Davis

Key losses

RB Chad Spann, DE Jake Coffman, LB Alex Kube

2010 statistical leaders (* denotes returners)

Rushing: Spann (1,388 yards, 22 TDs)

Passing: Harnish*(189-of-292 for 2,530 yards, 21 TDs, 5 INT)

Receiving: Willie Clark* (602 yards, 7 TDs)

Tackles: Kube (81)

Sacks: Coffman (9.5)

Interceptions: T. Clark* (four)

Spring Answers

1. Depth at receiver: Four of the team’s five leading receivers return, giving Harnish plenty of options. Perez Ashford had a nice spring, catching six passes for 70 yards in the spring game. Martel Moore caught the long pass of the game, a 57-yarder from Harnish. Da'Ron Brown and even converted quarterback DeMarcus Grady add plenty more.

2. Jasmin Hopkins atop the running back depth chart: The Huskies have some big shoes to fill with the departure of Spann, the MAC player of the year. There are plenty of candidates between Hopkins, Jamal Womble, Akeem Daniels and Leighton Settle, but Hopkins was the most consistent in the spring.

3. Harnish looks good: The Huskies didn’t implement their entire offense in the spring, but Huskies fans shouldn’t worry even if there is more of a no-huddle look under new coach Dave Doeren. Harnish picked up where he left off last season and had the spring everyone expected. He goes into the fall as the top choice for preseason offensive player of the year.

Fall Questions

1. Doeren adjusts: No matter how much talent returns to the team, how it will play under a new coach and coaching staff will be a question mark until the season begins. Doeren has never been a head coach before, so there could be some bumps along the way.

2. Running back rotation: The Huskies have always been a team that relied on their running game. There is plenty of depth without Spann, but there are still questions about how Doeren is going to balance that depth. Will there be one player consistent enough to take the majority of the carries or will the Huskies be employing a running back by committee?

3. Defensive line, middle linebacker still undecided: With Devon Butler sidelined for the season, expect tough competition for the starting job between Mike Hellams, Cameron Stingley and Victor Jacques. The Huskies also have to replace their sack leader and emotional leader in Jake Coffman. Joe Windsor, Alan Baxter and Stephen O'Neal are in the mix.