Buckeyes favored in final year of Big 10

It's the end of the Big Ten as we know it.

With Nebraska joining in 2011 - not to mention the possibility of others also climbing aboard the expansion train - the Big Misnomer puts its 11-team alignment on the field for one final time this fall.

"It's truly an end of an era," said Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. "A new era will begin in '11."

A look at the league in projected order of finish:

OHIO STATE - Key players: QB Terrelle Pryor, DE Cameron Heyward, LB Ross Homan, WR DeVier Posey, OG Justin Boren. Returning starters: 9 offense, 5 defense.

Notes: Buckeyes can match Big Ten record (Ohio State, 1972-77) with sixth straight league title. ... Tressel enters 11th season in Columbus at 94-21 (.817) overall and 59-13 (.819) in Big Ten games. ... He's second only to Michigan's Bo Schembechler (.850 from 1969-89) in Big Ten winning percentage among coaches with at least a decade on job.

IOWA - Key players: QB Ricky Stanzi, WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, DE Adrian Clayborn, SS Tyler Sash. Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense.

Notes: Sophomore RBs Jewel Hampton, Brandon Wegher and Adam Robinson battle for time. Coach Kirk Ferentz likely won't name a starter until the week leading up to Sept. 4 opener against Eastern Illinois, though Hampton is suspended for that game.

WISCONSIN - Key players: RB John Clay, QB Scott Tolzien, LT Gabe Carimi, LB Chris Borland. Returning starters: 10 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: Clay was Big Ten offensive player of year and Borland was league's top freshman. ... Wisconsin went 10-0 when rushing for at least 150 yards.

MICHIGAN STATE - Key players: LB Greg Jones, QB Kirk Cousins, WR/KR Keshawn Martin, DT Jerel Worthy. Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: Jones was only Big Ten player named a first-team AP All-American last season, ranking third in the nation in tackles per game.

PENN STATE - Key players: RB Evan Royster, WR Derek Moye, OL Stefen Wisniewski, DE Jack Crawford. Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense.

Notes: JoePa begins his record 45th season looking for a new QB. Sophs Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin are top candidates to replace graduated Daryll Clark.

MICHIGAN - Key players: QBs Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson, WR Junior Hemingway, LB Obi Ezeh, CB Troy Woolfolk. Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense.

Notes: Rodriguez needs a good season to keep his job after losing school-record nine games in his debut and flopping to 5-7 last season with only one Big Ten win.

NORTHWESTERN - Key players: QB Dan Persa, WR Sidney Stewart, DT Corbin Bryant, LB Quentin Davie. Returning starters: 8 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: The Wildcats have big holes to fill (DE Corey Wootton, QB Mike Kafka, CB Sherrick McManis) after an 8-5 season that ended with a wild 38-35 overtime loss to Auburn in Outback Bowl.

ILLINOIS - Key players: QB Nathan Scheelhaase, RB Mikel LeShoure, LBs Ian Thomas and Martez Wilson. Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense.

Notes: Scheelhaase steps in for graduated Juice Williams and, though he's never played a college down, coaches already talking up his leadership.

PURDUE - Key players: QB Robert Marve, RB Ralph Bolden, WR Keith Smith, DE Ryan Kerrigan. Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: Bolden tore ACL in right knee and had surgery in May. His status is uncertain. He ran for 935 yards last season. ... Former QB Justin Siller, suspended last season, returns. He could see time at every offensive skill position.

MINNESOTA - Key players: QB Adam Weber, RB DeLeon Eskridge, WR/KR Troy Stoudermire, S Kim Royston. Returning starters: 9 offense, 2 defense.

Notes: Fifth-year senior Weber plays for his fourth offensive coordinator, Jeff Horton, after failing to find a rhythm in '09 with a weak running game and an unstable OL. Weber won the job over MarQueis Gray.

INDIANA - Key players: DT Larry Black Jr., QB Ben Chappell, WR Tandon Doss, LB Tyler Replogle. Returning starters: 6 offense, 4 defense.

Notes: Doss was second in Big Ten with 80.2 yards receiving per game. ... Mitchell Evans, a WR who lined up at QB in Hoosiers' version of wildcat formation last season, is moving to the secondary.