gophers/ncaa

NEBRASKA

Coach: Bo Pelini, 30-12 in fourth year.

2010: 10-4 (6-3 Big 12), lost Holiday Bowl to Washington, 19-7.

Returning starters: six offense, seven defense.

QB situation: Huskers lived with Taylor Martinez's freshman mistakes because of his frequent flashes of brilliance, not to mention his impressive running ability.

Outlook: Wisconsin-Ohio State matchup to open Big Ten schedule means they could dominate their division and still not win it. But Huskers allowed 23 points or fewer in 12 of 14 games last year, and that's the sort of defense that should win games in their new league.

MICHIGAN STATE

Coach: Mark Dantonio, 33-19 in fifth year.

2010: 11-2 (7-1 in Big Ten), lost Capital One Bowl to Alabama, 49-0.

Returning starters: seven offense, six defense.

QB situation: The job is in good hands with fifth-year senior Kirk Cousins, who might have best passing arm in the league.

Outlook: Edwin Baker is the Big Ten's top returning rusher, and Cousins is behind only Northwestern's Dan Persa as a passer, so the offense is in good shape. But the pass rush that made the Spartans so fearsome defensively has moved on, so a lot depends on the development of sophomores, particularly defensive end William Gholston.

NORTHWESTERN

Coach: Pat Fitzgerald, 34-29 in sixth year.

2010: 7-6 (3-5 Big Ten), lost Ticket City Bowl to Texas Tech, 45-38.

Returning starters: nine offense, seven defense.

QB situation: It's Dan Persa's team, but nobody knows if he's the same dazzling scrambler after a torn Achilles' ended his season. The Wildcats were 0-3 without him.

Outlook: The absence of their quarterback is largely blamed for the Wildcats' disappointing finish, but Northwestern allowed 163 points in those final three games. Chief culprit was the lack of a pass rush, which Fitzgerald hopes senior defensive end Vince Browne can help restore. Without Ohio State or Wisconsin on the schedule, they're an intriguing dark horse.

MICHIGAN

Coach: Brady Hoke, first year.

2010: 7-6 (3-5 Big Ten), lost Gator Bowl to Mississippi State, 52-14.

Returning starters: nine offense, nine defense.

QB situation: Denard Robinson had breakout 32-TD season -- he led Big Ten in rushing -- but Hoke ditched spread offense for a pro-style setup that might limit Robinson's scrambling.

Outlook: Hoke has restored Michigan's confidence, but he's taking a big gamble by asking Robinson to pass more and run less. The Wolverines' defense was the Big Ten's worst by far last year, and while it should improve under his defensive expertise, if the offense doesn't remain explosive, it could be another long year.

IOWA

Coach: Kirk Ferentz, 89-60 in 13th year.

2010: 8-5 (4-4 Big Ten), won Insight Bowl over Missouri, 27-24.

Returning starters: five offense, five defense.

QB situation: Ricky Stanzi isn't an easy act to follow, but junior James Vandenberg's success in occasional fill-in role gives Hawkeyes confidence he can handle the task.

Outlook: Iowans like to recite the fact that the Hawkeyes were within a touchdown of winning every game last year, but this looks like a rebuilding year. The offense might survive the loss of Stanzi and dismissal of TB Adam Robinson, particularly if RB Marcus Coker repeats his 219-yard bowl outburst. But the Hawkeyes' brilliant defense has mostly moved on.

MINNESOTA

Coach: Jerry Kill, first year.

2010: 3-9 (2-6 Big Ten)

Returning starters: six offense, eight defense.

QB situation: MarQueis Gray is the Gophers' best athlete and will be difficult to contain when he tucks the ball and runs. But his passing ability is a huge unknown.

Outlook: Kill might have already achieved his biggest turnaround of 2011 by creating excitement and optimism over a team that crash-landed a year ago. Restoring a winner takes more than one offseason, though simply not fumbling away winnable nonconference games would represent big progress. They should be better, but it's just the first step.

PHIL MILLER