Big Ten spring football: a tour around the conference

Coach: Tracy Claeys (first year); 2015 record: 6-7 overall, 2-6 Big Ten; defeated Central Michigan 21-14 in Quick Lane Bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 6, defense 6.

Top returners (2015 stats): QB Mitch Leidner (59.5 completion percentage), RB Shannon Brooks (709 rushing yards).

Spring news: Leidner recovered from Dec. 30 foot surgery but was held out of 11-on-11 drills.

Football fever temperature: 60. This is a prove-it year for Claeys. The schedule is considerably easier with no TCU, Michigan and Ohio State. The Gophers have talent, and if they can stay healthier, fans should expect an 8-4 regular season and a challenge for the Big Ten West title.

Coach: Lovie Smith (first year); 2015 record: 5-7, 2-6; no bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 4.

Spring news: WR Mike Dudek, a former freshman All-America, suffered another torn ACL.

Football fever temperature: 65. Illinois had the Big Ten's worst scoring defense two years ago and improved to eighth last year. Smith is a defensive guy, but his team lost three starting linebackers from last year. Illinois will run a pro-style offense. A fifth-year senior, Lunt said this is the first time he's ever huddled in college.

Coach: Kirk Ferentz (18th year); 2015 record: 12-2, 8-0; lost to Stanford 45-16 in Rose Bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 6, defense 7.

Top returners: QB C.J. Beathard (61.6 completion percentage), CB Desmond King (eight interceptions).

Football fever temperature: 85. Iowa looks like the team to beat again in the Big Ten West. Beathard, LeShun Daniels, Akrum Wadley, Matt VandeBerg and several others return from a squad that started 12-0 last year. But the schedule will be tougher, with interdivision games against Michigan and Penn State.

Coach: Mike Riley (second year); 2015 record: 6-7, 3-5; defeated UCLA 37-29 in Foster Farms Bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 9, defense 7.

Top returners: QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. (55.2 completion percentage), WR Jared Westerkamp (918 receiving yards).

Spring news: Armstrong (36 career interceptions) looks more comfortable in the offense.

Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (11th year); 2015 record: 10-3, 6-2; lost to Tennessee 45-6 in Outback Bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 6.

Top returners: RB Justin Jackson (1,418 rushing yards), LB Anthony Walker Jr. (All-America).

Spring news: Sophomore QB Clayton Thorson is clear No. 1 after three-way battle last year.

Football fever temperature: 65. Northwestern won 10 games last year despite being the only Big Ten team that averaged fewer points (19.5) than Minnesota (22.5). Thorson, Jackson and four starting offensive linemen return. The imposing defense is led by Walker, who could become the school's best linebacker of all time, Fitzgerald said.

Starters returning: Offense 10, defense 9.

Top returners: QB David Blough (57.7 completion percentage), RB Markell Jones (875 rushing yards).

Spring news: Co-defensive coordinators Marcus Freeman and Ross Els have replaced Greg Hudson, who also held that job for the Gophers.

Football fever temperature: 45. Hazell also fired offensive coordinator John Shoop, replacing him with tight ends coach Terry Malone. These changes better spur improvement this season or Hazell's own job could be on the line. He is 6-30 in three seasons at the Boilermakers helm.

Coach: Paul Chryst (second year); 2015 record: 10-3, 6-2; defeated USC 23-21 in Holiday Bowl.

Top returners: RB Corey Clement (limited to 221 rushing yards in four games because of injuries), LB Vince Biegel (14 tackles for loss).

Spring news: With Joel Stave gone, fifth-year senior Bart Houston and redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook are battling for the QB job.

Football fever temperature: 75. The Badgers lost defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to LSU, replacing him with USC's Justin Wilcox, who also runs a 3-4 scheme. The running game should thrive behind a blossoming offensive line, but the schedule is murder, with LSU, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa all by Week 7.

Coach: Kevin Wilson (sixth year); 2015 record: 6-7, 2-6; lost to Duke 44-41 in Pinstripe Bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 8, defense 8.

Spring news: New defensive coordinator Tom Allen is trying to fix Big Ten's worst defense.

Football fever temperature: 55. The Hoosiers return 16 starters from a team that reached their first bowl game since 2007. But two of the departures — QB Nate Sudfeld and RB Jordan Howard — were among the best players in the Big Ten. Junior Zander Diamont, redshirt sophomore Danny Cameron and junior college transfer Richard Lagow are battling for the starting QB job.

Coach: D.J. Durkin (first year); 2015 record: 3-9, 1-7; no bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 9, defense 5.

Top returners: CB Will Likely (All-Big Ten), LB Jermaine Carter Jr. (103 tackles).

Football fever temperature: 50. After firing Randy Edsall last fall, the Terps start anew with Durkin, who was the defensive coordinator at Michigan (under Jim Harbaugh) and Florida (under Will Muschamp) before this. Durkin will let QB competition between Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe carry into fall camp.

Coach: Jim Harbaugh (second year); 2015 record: 10-3, 6-2; defeated Florida 41-7 in Citrus Bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 8, defense 6.

Top returners: TE Jake Butt (All-America), DB Jabrill Peppers (All-Big Ten).

Spring news: Wilton Speight appears to have the edge over Shane Morris and John O'Korn in the competition to replace Jake Rudock at QB.

Coach: Mark Dantonio (10th year); 2015 record: 12-2, 7-1; lost to Alabama 38-0 in national semifinals.

Starters returning: Offense 3, defense 6.

Top returners: DT Malik McDowell (13 tackles for a loss), LB Riley Bullough (106 tackles).

Spring news: Replacing QB Connor Cook won't be easy, but fifth-year senior Tyler O'Connor is the likely choice.

Football fever temperature: 90. Besides Cook, the Spartans must replace top-flight WR Aaron Burbridge, DE Shilique Calhoun and LT Jack Conklin. Dantonio has quietly become a potent recruiter, landing elite prospects such as McDowell. But with only nine starters returning, Michigan State's depth will be tested.

Starters returning: Offense 3, defense 3.

Top returners: QB J.T. Barrett (63.3 completion percentage), LB Raekwon McMillan (119 tackles).

Spring news: Former Cretin-Derham Hall standout Jashon Cornell is one of the Buckeyes on the rise at defensive tackle.

Football fever temperature: 90. The Buckeyes have six potential first-round draft picks, but all must be replaced: RB Ezekiel Elliott, DE Joey Bosa, LB Darron Lee, LT Taylor Decker, CB Eli Apple, S Vonn Bell. The revamped Buckeyes get an early showdown at Oklahoma on Sept. 17.

Coach: James Franklin (third year); 2015 record: 7-6, 4-4; lost to Georgia 24-17 in TaxSlayer Bowl.

Top returners: RB Saquon Barkley (1,076 rushing yards), WR Chris Godwin (1,101 receiving yards).

Spring news: Matt Limegrover, the former Gophers offensive coordinator, is a Pittsburgh native who said he is thrilled to be coaching the offensive line in Happy Valley.

Football fever temperature: 70. Sophomore Trace McSorley is the favorite to replace QB Christian Hackenberg. Franklin has a new offensive coordinator (Joe Moorhead) and defensive coordinator (Brent Pry) heading into what might be a critical year for the head coach.

Coach: Chris Ash (first year); 2015 record: 4-8, 1-7; no bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 7.

Spring news: Laviano appears to have the lead in a three-way QB competition.

Football fever temperature: 50. After going 8-5 two years ago, the Scarlet Knights had a nightmarish 2015 because of injuries and off-field issues. Rutgers fired coach Kyle Flood and AD Julie Hermann. New AD Patrick Hobbs hired Ash, who spent two years as a co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State. Meyer called him "one of the best coaches I've ever had."