MICHIGAN
Coach: Rich Rodriguez
Last season: Capital One Bowl win over Florida
Outlook: The Rodriguez era begins with an offensive overhaul. Redshirt freshman Steven Threet, a transfer from Georgia Tech, could take over at QB in the new spread-option offense.
Players to watch: WR Greg Mathews, Jr.; DL Terrance Taylor, Sr.; DE Tim Jamison, Sr.
Returning starters: 3 offense, 7 defense
2008 schedule
Home games in CAPS
* Aug. 30 UTAH
* Sept. 6 MIAMI (OHIO)
* Sept. 13 at Notre Dame
* Sept. 27 WISCONSIN
* Oct. 4 ILLINOIS
* Oct. 11 TOLEDO
* Oct. 18 at Penn State
* Oct. 25 MICHIGAN STATE
* Nov. 1 at Purdue
* Nov. 8 at Minnesota
* Nov. 15 NORTHWESTERN
* Nov. 22 at Ohio State
PURDUE
Coach: Joe Tiller
Last season: 8-5 (3-5), Motor City Bowl win over Central Michigan
Outlook: The school is hyping Painter as a Heisman Trophy candidate, complete with the Web site, curtispainter12.com. Tiller is two victories shy of becoming Purdue’s all-time winningest coach.
Players to watch: QB Curtis Painter, Sr.; RB Kory Sheets, Sr.
Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense
2008 schedule
Home games in CAPS
* Sept. 6 NORTHERN COLORADO
* Sept. 13 OREGON
* Sept. 20 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
* Sept. 27 at Notre Dame
* Oct. 4 PENN STATE
* Oct. 11 at Ohio State
* Oct. 18 at Northwestern
* Oct. 25 MINNESOTA
* Nov. 1 MICHIGAN
* Nov. 8 at Michigan State
* Nov. 15 at Iowa
* Nov. 22 INDIANA
MICHIGAN STATE
Coach: Mark Dantonio
Last season: 7-6, Champs Sports Bowl loss to Boston College
Outlook: The Spartans hope to ride the momentum of last year’s bowl appearance, their first since 2003.
Players to watch: QB Brian Hoyer, Sr.; RB Javon Ringer, Sr.; LB Greg Jones, So.
Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense
2008 schedule
Home games in CAPS
* Aug. 30 at California
* Sept. 6 EASTERN MICHIGAN
* Sept. 13 FLORIDA ATLANTIC
* Sept. 20 NOTRE DAME
* Sept. 27 at Indiana
* Oct. 4 IOWA
* Oct. 11 at Northwestern
* Oct. 18 OHIO STATE
* Oct. 25 at Michigan
* Nov. 1 WISCONSIN
* Nov. 8 PURDUE
* Nov. 22 at Penn State
IOWA
Coach: Kirk Ferentz
Last season: 6-6 (4-4)
Outlook: Mitch King and Matt Kroul could be one of the best DT duos in country.
Players to watch: QB Jake Christensen, Sr.; DT Mitch King, Sr.; DT Matt Kroul, Sr.
Returning starters: 7 offense, 5 defense
2008 schedule
Home games in CAPS
* Aug. 30 MAINE
* Sept. 6 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
* Sept. 13 IOWA STATE
* Sept. 20 at Pittsburgh
* Sept. 27 NORTHWESTERN
* Oct. 4 at Michigan State
* Oct. 11 at Indiana
* Oct. 18 WISCONSIN
* Nov. 1 at Illinois
* Nov. 8 PENN STATE
* Nov. 15 PURDUE
* Nov. 22 at Minnesota
MINNESOTA
Coach: Tim Brewster
Last season: 1-11 (0-8)
Outlook: The offense appears to be in good hands with Adam Weber, who passed for a school record 2,895 yards and 24 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. Still, the Gophers went 0-8 in conference last year.
Players to watch: QB Adam Weber, So.; WR Eric Decker, Jr.
Returning starters: 8 offense, 7 defense
2008 SCHEDULE:
Home games in CAPS
* Aug. 30 NORTHERN ILLINOIS
* Sept. 6 at Bowling Green
* Sept. 13 MONTANA STATE
* Sept. 20 FLORIDA ATLANTIC
* Sept. 27 at Ohio State
* Oct. 4 INDIANA
* Oct. 11 at Illinois
* Oct. 25 at Purdue
* Nov. 1 NORTHWESTERN
* Nov. 8 MICHIGAN
* Nov. 15 at Wisconsin
* Nov. 22 IOWA
INDIANA
Coach: Bill Lynch
Last season: 7-6 (3-5), Insight Bowl loss to Oklahoma State
Outlook: Kellen Lewis is back with the Hoosiers after being suspended by Lynch for undisclosed reasons.
Players to watch: QB Kellen Lewis, Jr.; DE Greg Middleton, Jr.
Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense
2008 schedule
Home games in CAPS
* Aug. 30 WESTERN KENTUCKY
* Sept. 6 MURRAY STATE
* Sept. 20 BALL STATE
* Sept. 27 MICHIGAN STATE
* Oct. 4 at Minnesota
* Oct. 11 IOWA
* Oct. 18 at Illinois
* Oct. 25 NORTHWESTERN
* Nov. 1 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
* Nov. 8 WISCONSIN
* Nov. 15 at Penn State
* Nov. 22 at Purdue
BIG TEN BY THE NUMBERS
3-5 Record last year in bowl games
0-2 In BCS bowls
372 Penn State’s Joe Paterno’s win total is one behind only Florida State’s Bobby Bowden for most among major college football coaches.
800 Two Big Ten schools could join Michigan (869) in the 800-win club in 2008: Ohio State (798) and Penn State (789).
![An extra-alarm fire destroyed a home and damaged two others on the near West side Wednesday night, though fire officials said no one was injured in the blaze. The fire broke out around 8:30 p.m. on the 1300 block of West 16th Street in the Pilsen neighborhood, according to a social media update from the Chicago Fire Department. Officials quickly upgraded the blaze to a 2-11 fire. Neighbors who clustered around the scene Wednesday night said the home had been under construction and appeared to be vacant. Although the fire was declared struck out at 9:30 p.m. in a social […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ctc-l-structure-fire-041724-06.jpg?w=525 "An extra-alarm fire destroyed a home and damaged two others on the near West side Wednesday night, though fire officials said no one was injured in the blaze. The fire broke out around 8:30 p.m. on the 1300 block of West 16th Street in the Pilsen neighborhood, according to a social media update from the Chicago Fire Department. Officials quickly upgraded the blaze to a 2-11 fire. Neighbors who clustered around the scene Wednesday night said the home had been under construction and appeared to be vacant. Although the fire was declared struck out at 9:30 p.m. in a social […]")
