Some of the preseason pollsters have even chosen the Hawkeyes in their Top Five nationally. While that may seem like a wild stab – especially when seeing how Iowa lost so many quality players to graduation - it's not inconceivable that they still succeed when considering two winners like Drew Tate and Kirk Ferentz.

Purdue is our Big Ten sleeper team in terms of having a realistic chance of actually winding up on top. With all 11 starters back on defense combined with Joe Tiller’s offensive frame of mind, Purdue could be in the mix as other teams are beating on each other into November as Purdue cruises with a lighter load to close.

When talking straight up sleeper, look for Penn State to head into October as a Top 25 team with the league's best defense. Joe Paterno is primed for a turn-around season, but will an 8-3 scenario be good enough to take the heat off of Joe Pa? His only problems are still the same ones as before, at QB and WR.

Minnesota makes our Top 25, but we see little realistic chance that they will be able to stand up to their slate and come out on top. With Indiana and Michigan State as their easiest league match-ups, the other six opponents should render the Gophers somewhere near a .500 conference record.

Wisconsin’s last three 2004 tilts, all losses, were the season’s only games in which they allowed 20 points (or more). It was an unfortunate sign of the times to come, as seven starters have been lost on D. Along with an unsettled QB situation and an almost (entirely) new line, the Badgers won’t be their usual selves.

As with most year’s Big Ten breakdowns, any of the top nine teams have the ability to win any league tilt in any given week. As already stated, this is the tightest conference to call. Some prognosticators are taking a chance by claiming Michigan or Ohio State has a shot at the Rose Bowl, only this time its the national championship game. This scenario is only possible if a Big Ten team with one-loss gets to play for all the marbles. Ergo, finding an undefeated (or even one-loss) team after this week-to-week grindstone has played out is highly unlikely here, so you’ll have to follow the bouncing ball as to the Big Ten’s eventual, unpredictable finish.

ILLINOIS
STRENGTHS: RB (Halsey and Thomas as good a duo as any in conference); Safety (secondary has to lead one of the nation's worst ‘04 defenses)
CONCERNS: LBs (undersized and inexperienced); QB (again, no experience - find one and stick with him in this new spread offense, or else)

INDIANA
STRENGTHS: Offensive Line (tons of experience, getting Isaac Sowells and Chris Mangiero back from injury), DE (pass rush should be disruptive)
CONCERNS: QB (not sure if a D-I prospect even exists here); DT/LB (can’t stop the run, not good in this conference); Secondary (getting beat deep with 102nd pass defense)

IOWA
STRENGTHS: QB (before Tate, last all-Big Ten First Team sophomore here was Chuck Long in '83); WR (deep, and maybe the best Iowa has ever fielded); LB (NationalChamps.net No. 1 unit for ‘05)
CONCERNS: Defensive Line (all four big-timers gone); RB (injury carousel of ‘04 leaves still unproven pack)

MICHIGAN
STRENGTHS: Offensive Line (NationalChamps.net No. 1 unit, but the big uglies need to get healthy by August); Defensive Line (harassed the offense all spring, underrated unit); WR (no Braylon Edwards, no problem - plenty of talent); Running Back (see young Michael Hart behind this line again, and with other options as well…)
CONCERNS: Secondary (shaky last year, but lost good ones; depth is not a plus; watch out for Leon Hall); LB (thin on starting talent as Lawrence Reid's career ends through injury, but not a major concern)

MICHIGAN STATE
STRENGTHS: QB (Drew Stanton is a potential superstar, has to stay healthy with no worthy back up), Offensive Line/left side (if the right side comes through, a bonus in the Big Ten); LB (not superstars, but play-makers)
CONCERNS: Defensive Line (lack of a pass rush and mediocre run stoppers in '04); Secondary (only one starter back in Jaren Hayes; only two INTs carrying over from last season; this unit is their biggest concern)

MINNESOTA
STRENGTHS: RB (Laurence Maroney's time to shine solo); Offensive Line (will continues to dominate, two top NFL ballers in next years draft - Setterstrom and Eslinger)
CONCERNS: Secondary (coaches losing sleep here with 109th-rated bunch); LB (underachieving group now with new faces); QB (Cupito's 47% completion rate; a new passing philosophy would not hurt)

NORTHWESTERN
STRENGTHS: QB (Basanez conference's best unsung hero; second in Big Ten passing yards and completions/game), WR (four steady vets); Defensive Stars (three big-time seniors in McGarigle, Howard and Cofield)
CONCERNS: Secondary (DBs killed this team the last few years); QB depth (Basanez struggled with dislocated shoulder but still had to play); Kicker (no one who can hit beyond 30)

OHIO STATE
STRENGTHS: LB (A.J "Butkus" Hawk, Schlegel and Carpenter, oh my!); WR (formations/philosophies changed to utilize group’s full potential for spreading field); Both Lines (solid, with potential to be great)
CONCERNS: RB (not a great since Clarett; lacking any impact, no superstar); QB (not a concern if suspended Troy Smith keeps learning and/or Justin Zwick fulfills his prep expectations)

PENN STATE
STRENGTHS: The Entire Defense (nation's fifth best scoring D, with ten starters back; incredible impact considering the lack of offense and field position); LB (Linebacker U. is back, with stereotypical smash-mouth talent); Secondary (extremely "pass efficient" - nation's No. 4)
CONCERNS: The Entire Offense (until proven otherwise; QB (touted newcomer Morelli could not beat out sub-par passer Robinson this spring); WR (None to be had; this position has almost cost Joe Paterno his job)

PURDUE
STRENGTHS: Defensive Line (deep front makes being aggressive easy; led Big Ten in sacks); LB (solid tacklers; this front seven is just what's needed in this league); QB (torch was passed from Orton to more-mobile and very sharp Kirsch); TE (Charles Davis all-Big Ten, great target)
CONCERNS: Offensive Line Depth (Coach Tiller accused group of being soft; need to improve 31 sacks), Secondary (experienced but shaky, too many big plays allowed); Kicker (Ben Jones needs to find ‘03 form)

WISCONSIN
STRENGTHS: LB (all three starters back, led by Dontez Sanders; need to keep offenses honest until front four gets feet wet); RB (Colorado transfer/speedster Brian Calhoun takes over; suspended Booker Stanley in the mix? Wisconsin produces great RBs, ‘05 no exception)
CONCERNS: Secondary (gutted; only Brett Bell returns, but from a torn ACL); Defensive Line (Like the secondary, all starters gone...a ton of freshman and sophomores fill the void)