Joe Christensen breaks down the Big Ten's East and West divisions

BIG TEN WEST

GOPHERS

Coach: Jerry Kill (fifth year)

2014: 8-5, 5-3; lost to Missouri 33-17 in Citrus Bowl.

Starters returning: offense 5/defense 7

Top returners (2014 stats): DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun (five interceptions); QB Mitch Leidner (51.5 completion percentage).

Spring news: They installed a no-huddle offense and moved running back Jeff Jones to wide receiver.

Football fever temperature: 65. Coming off their first New Year's bowl game since 1962, they must replace running back David Cobb and tight end Maxx Williams. But they drew the biggest spring game crowd (10,100) since the Lou Holtz era and will face a top-three opponent when Texas Christian visits TCF Bank Stadium for the Sept. 3 opener.

Gophers QB Mitch Leidner completed 51.5 percent of his passes last season.

ILLINOIS

Coach: Tim Beckman (fourth year)

2014: 6-7, 3-5; lost to Louisiana Tech 35-18 in Heart of Dallas Bowl.

Starters returning: offense 8/defense 7

Top returners: RB Josh Ferguson (735 rushing yards); QB Wes Lunt (63.5 completion percentage).

Spring news: WR Mike Dudek, a freshman All-America last year, tore an ACL and is out until at least October.

Football fever temperature: 50. Beckman might have saved his job with late-season victories over Penn State and Northwestern. The Illini have won two, four and six games in his first three seasons. To take the next step, their defense must improve.

IOWA

Coach: Kirk Ferentz (17th year)

2014: 7-6, 4-4; lost to Tennessee 45-28 in Taxslayer Bowl.

Starters returning: offense 5/defense 7

Top returners: QB C.J. Beathard (56.5 completion percentage); DL Drew Ott (12 TFL).

Spring news: Jake Rudock transferred to Michigan, ending his battle with Beathard for the starting QB job.

Football fever temperature: 60. Iowa won 11 games in 2009 but is 26-25 over the past four seasons. Fans want more from Ferentz, who is one of the nation's 10 highest-paid coaches at $4 million per year. The Hawkeyes must replace NFL -bound linemen Brandon Scherff, Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat.

NEBRASKA

Coach: Mike Riley (first year)

2014: 9-4, 5-3; lost to USC 45-42 in Holiday Bowl.

Starters returning: offense 7/defense 8

QB Connor Cook helped lead Michigan State to an 11-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory over Baylor.

Top returners: QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. (53.3 completion percentage); DL Maliek Collins (10.5 TFL).

Spring news: Terrell Newby appears to be Ameer Abdullah's replacement at I-back after rushing seven times for 55 yards in the spring game. Wide receiver De'Mornay Pierson-El has been featured on the jet sweep and remains a dangerous punt returner.

Football fever temperature: 75. Bo Pelini's scowl is gone, and the affable Riley has endeared himself to fans. Will his pro-style offense do the same?

NORTHWESTERN

Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (10th year)

2014: 5-7, 3-5; no bowl.

Starters returning: offense 6/defense 8

Top returners: RB Justin Jackson (1,187 rushing yards); DB Nick VanHoose (59 tackles).

Spring news: With Trevor Siemian gone, Northwestern has a three-man quarterback battle. Fitzgerald said none of the three separated himself this spring, but observers have pegged redshirt freshman Clayton Thorson as the favorite.

RB Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 1,878 yards and helped Ohio State become the national champs.

Football fever temperature: 50. The Wildcats made five consecutive bowl games before getting shut out the past two years. With Jackson coming off a strong freshman year, better quarterback play could make this team tough again.

PURDUE

Coach: Darrell Hazell (third year)

2014: 3-9, 1-7; no bowl.

Starters returning: offense 8/defense 8

Top returners: QB Austin Appleby (52.9 completion percentage); WR Danny Anthrop (616 receiving yards).

Spring news: All members of an underrated offensive line return, and D.J. Knox is an up-and-coming running back.

Football fever temperature: 45. Purdue lost its final six games last year but could fight for a bowl berth this year with an improving young team. The Boilermakers need to replace Akeem Hunt and Raheem Mostert, but Knox and Keyante Green should be able to shoulder the load.

WISCONSIN

Coach: Paul Chryst (first year)

2014: 11-3, 7-1; defeated Auburn 34-31 in Outback Bowl.

Starters returning: offense 5/ defense 6

Top returners: QB Joel Stave (53.4 completion percentage); Corey Clement (949 rushing yards).

Spring news: With Stave entrenched as the No. 1 QB, Tanner McEvoy moved back to safety and might even play some receiver.

Football fever temperature: 80. Gary Andersen's sudden departure for Oregon State gave AD Barry Alvarez the chance to rehire former offensive coordinator Chryst, who went 19-19 at Pitt. Clement is a capable replacement for Melvin Gordon, though not as spectacular. The Badgers open against Alabama.

BIG TEN EAST

INDIANA

Coach: Kevin Wilson (fifth year)

2014: 4-8, 1-7; no bowl.

Starters returning: offense 8/defense 6

Top returners: QB Nate Sudfeld (60.5 completion percentage); S Antonio Allen (74 tackles).

Spring news: Sudfeld is back from the injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder and looks comfortable running the up-tempo offense.

Football fever temperature: 50. Quarterback injuries decimated this team, and the Hoosiers were still competitive, losing 13-7 to Penn State, for example. "The last four games showed we were really buying in," Wilson said. Jordan Howard, a transfer from Alabama-Birmingham, could help fill the huge void at running back left by Tevin Coleman.

MARYLAND

Coach: Randy Edsall (fifth year)

2014: 7-6, 4-4; lost to Stanford 45-21 in Foster Farms Bowl.

Starters returning: offense 6/defense 4

Top returners: QB Caleb Rowe (63.0 completion percentage); DB William Likely (six interceptions).

Spring news: Rowe missed spring practice but is expected back from ACL surgery this summer. He will likely replace C..J. Brown at quarterback.

Football fever temperature: 60. The Terrapins surprised many by going 4-4 last year in their first Big Ten season. The football team will get a new indoor complex, along with a nutrition and academic center with the $155 million renovation of Cole Field House.

MICHIGAN

Coach: Jim Harbaugh (first year)

2014: 5-7, 3-5; no bowl.

Starters returning: offense 10 /  defense 10

Top returners: RB Derrick Green (471 rushing yards); LB Joe Bolden (102 tackles).

Spring news: Harbaugh pegged Shane Morris as the front runner to start at quarterback, though true freshman Alex Malzone looked intriguing, too.

Football fever temperature: 70. Harbaugh Mania is in effect, even if the Wolverines are thin on offensive talent. Devin Funchess and Devin Gardner are gone. The defense should be solid, helping keep games close this fall, but the team Harbaugh inherited currently appears no match for Ohio State and Michigan State.

MICHIGAN STATE

Coach: Mark Dantonio (ninth year)

2014: 11-2, 7-1; defeated Baylor 42-41 in the Cotton Bowl.

Starters returning: offense 7/defense 7

Top returners: QB Connor Cook (58.1 completion percentage); DE Shilique Calhoun (12.5 TFL).

Spring news: Once Pat Narduzzi left to become Pittsburgh's head coach, MSU turned its vaunted defense over to co-coordinators Harlon Bennett and Mike Tressel.

Football fever temperature: 85. The Spartans need to replace RB Jeremy Langford, and the best bet might be L.J. Scott, a highly touted recruit from Ohio who arrives this summer. Aaron Burbridge is expected to replace Tony Lippett as the team's top receiver.

OHIO STATE

Coach: Urban Meyer (fourth year)

2014: 14-1, 8-0; defeated Oregon 42-20 for national championship.

Starters returning: offense 9/defense 7

Top returners: QB Cardale Jones (60.9 completion percentage); RB Ezekiel Elliott (1,878 rushing yards).

Spring news: Braxton Miller (shoulder) and J.T. Barrett (ankle) missed spring camp while recovering from injuries, while Jones continued to impress. August will bring a three-man QB battle for the ages.

Football fever temperature: 100. Other returning standouts include WR Michael Thomas (nine TD receptions), DT Joey Bosa (21 TFL), LB Joshua Perry (124 tackles), LB Darron Lee (7.5 sacks) and S Vonn Bell (six interceptions).

PENN STATE

Coach: James Franklin (second year)

2014: 7-6, 2-6; defeated Boston College 31-30 in Pinstripe Bowl.

Starters returning: offense 7/defense 7

Top returners: QB Christian Hackenberg (55.8 completion percentage); DL Anthony Zettel (17 TFL).

Spring news: After allowing 44 sacks last year, the first-team offensive line gave up five sacks in one half during the spring game. Protecting Hackenberg better is imperative.

Football fever temperature: 70. With its NCAA sanctions lifted, Penn State is ready to turn the page in year two under Franklin. "It's night and day," Franklin said. "It's like watching a different team."

RUTGERS

Coach: Kyle Flood (fourth year)

2014: 8-5, 3-5; defeated North Carolina 40-21 in the Quick Lane Bowl.

Starters returning: offense 5/defense 5

Top returners: WR Leonte Carroo (1,086 receiving yards); RB Paul James (363 rushing yards).

Spring news: Rutgers has uncertainty at quarterback with Gary Nova gone, but should be strong at running back with James recovering from ACL surgery.

Football fever temperature: 55. Rutgers had a respectable first Big Ten season and showed well in the bowl game. The Scarlet Knights need better offensive and defensive line play to compete in the East.