Preseason College Football Rankings 2011: Big Ten Power Rankings

The Big Ten Conference may be a few lengths behind the SEC in the race for conference superiority, but they are still loaded with talent and a lot of solid teams going into the 2011 season.

The two newcomers who have made a splash this offseason are the Nebraska Cornhuskers and former North Carolina State quarterback Russell Wilson, who will play for the Wisconsin Badgers this fall. 

Wilson used three years of eligibility at NC State and left the school to play minor league baseball for the Class A Asheville Tourists after obtaining his degree. The second-team All-ACC quarterback announced he would transfer to Wisconsin instead of Auburn on June 27th.

The newest Badger might be the best athlete the program has ever had at quarterback and will fill the hole left by Scott Tolzein who graduated last year.

Wilson threw for 6,590 yards, 59 touchdowns, completed 59 percent of his passes and ran for 695 yards and 13 additional touchdowns in his sophomore and junior seasons with the Wolfpack.

Meanwhile, the Cornhuskers have returned from mediocrity under head coach Bo Pelini and are a healthy favorite to play in the first-ever Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis this season.

While the focus of these rankings will be who is playing in the Big Ten this season, the focal point of the conference's media day later this week will be on who is absent on the sidelines in 2011.

Ohio State received word this weekend the NCAA will not add charges of lack of institutional control or failure to monitor to the Buckeyes' original list of violations, but most of the damage in Columbus has already been done with Jim Tressel's forced resignation and the departure of star quarterback Terrelle Pryor for the NFL's supplemental draft.

But, without further ado, here are my preseason power rankings for the Big Ten, starting from the bottom and working toward the top.

There will only be brief details justifying the rankings of the respective teams, but look for more in-depth analysis and previews on each Big Ten team this week.

No. 12: Indiana Hoosiers

2010 Record: 5-7 (1-7 Big Ten, 11th Place)

The Hoosiers lost their three best skill players on offense to graduation and the NFL draft. Indiana will need big production from sophomore quarterback Eward Wright-Baker, who threw just 12 passes in relief of Ben Chappell in 2010. Their leading rusher Trea Burgess completed his final year of eligibility in 2010 and wide receiver Tandon Doss was the Baltimore Ravens' fourth-round draft pick.

The Indiana defense, which finished 102nd in points against and surrendered an average of 34 points per game in 2010, will not be much better either in 2011.

The Hoosiers appear poised to finish at the bottom of the Big Ten for the second year in a row (unless you count Ohio State's 0-1 record in conference play after vacating their wins from 2010).

No. 11: Minnesota Golden Gophers

2010 Record: 3-9 (2-6 Big Ten, T-Ninth Place)

Like the Hoosiers, Minnesota will also have to cope with the loss of their veteran quarterback. Adam Weber was the "do-it-all" guy for the Golden Gophers last year with over 2,800 total yards and 20 touchdowns. Junior Marqueis Gray, who was used primarily as a receiver in 2010, will take the reins for Minnesota this year.

What puts the Golden Gophers ahead of Indiana is their star senior wide receiver, Da'Jon McKnight, who is set to have a breakout season in the Big Ten.

Look for McKnight to have 1,000 yards receiving by the end of the year, but Minnesota's defense will still be atrocious in 2011 and not allow them to win more than four games.

No. 10: Purdue Boilermakers

2010 Record: 4-8 (2-6 Big Ten, T-Ninth Place)

The Boilermakers struggled last season both offensively and defensively. Purdue scored just 19.7 points per game (105th in NCAA) and gave up 28.8 points per game (74th in NCAA), but senior quarterback Robert Marve should help the Boilermakers come close to becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2007.

Marve suffered a season-ending knee injury in the fourth game of the season in 2010, but will be back and better then ever in 2011. The Boilermakers' soft schedule should allow them to win at least five games and if they can steal one they will have a chance to go bowling.

No. 9: Illinois Fighting Illini

2010 Record: 7-6 (4-4 Big Ten, T-Fourth Place)

It seems like Ron Zook has been on the hot seat for the past few years, but finds a way to save his job. Last year, the Fighting Illini knocked off the Baylor Bears in the Texas Bowl for their first bowl victory in 11 seasons.

Illinois returns their starting dual-threat quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, but they will need him to be an even bigger producer then he was last season with the loss of running back Mikel Leshoure, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. 

Jason Ford will also have to step up at the running back position, but the real question marks for Illinois are on defense.

Whether or not the Fighting Illini can find solid replacements for defensive tackle Corey Liuget and linebacker Martez Wilson will determine how high the team finishes in the Big Ten standings and whether or not Zook will keep his job.

No. 8: Penn State Nittany Lions

2010 Record: 7-6 (4-4 Big Ten, T-Fourth Place)

The Nittany Lions lost three of their last four games in 2010 and their all-time leading rusher, Evan Royster, to graduation. 

The biggest question marks for Penn State going into 2011 are at running back and quarterback. Robert Bolden and Matt McGloin will battle for the starting job under center, while sophomore Silas Reed is the fan favorite to win the running back job.

Penn State's defense was not as strong last year as it has been in years past, but I am sure a top-notch linebacker will emerge in their front seven and make improvements from last season. 

They fall below Iowa simply because they have been dominated by them the past three seasons.

No. 7: Iowa Hawkeyes

2010 Record: 8-5 (4-4 Big Ten, T-Fourth Place)

The Hawkeyes are much similar to Penn State and the rest of the Big Ten heading into the 2011 season because they are losing their top skill players, but many of Iowa's problems have been off the field.

All-time leading receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos was booted from the team before the Insight Bowl in 2010, but would have graduated anyway, and last season's leading rusher, Adam Robinson, was dismissed from the team in January following a marijuana-related arrest.

Iowa's mistake-free quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who threw 25 touchdown passes to just six interceptions last season, graduated as well.

The Hawkeyes will also take some lumps defensively due to inexperience. How quickly the young front seven of Iowa can develop will determine how many wins they accumulate in 2011.

No. 6: Michigan Wolverines

2010 Record: 7-6 (3-5 Big Ten, T-Seventh Place)

The Wolverines may be changing coaches and converting from a spread offense to a pro-style hybrid, but they return nine offensive starters in 2011.

Junior quarterback Denard Robinson may not tote the rock as many times as he did last season, but the Michigan offense will be just as potent this season under new head coach Brady Hoke. 

Michigan's defense will be aided by the return of safety Troy Woolfolk and cornerback J.T. Floyd from ankle injuries.

The Wolverines will also be moving Cam Gordon from the secondary and into a linebacker spot to bolster their depth at the position. Freshman cornerback Blake Countess will be expected to contribute early.

The defense will still struggle in 2011, but they will show improvement and win at least one more game than they did in 2010.

No. 5: Michigan State Spartans

2010 Record: 11-2 (7-1 Big Ten, T-First Place)

Many of the Big Ten teams lost their top offensive producers at the end of 2010, but Michigan State lost their standouts on the defensive side of the ball with the departures of All-American linebacker Greg Jones and cornerback Chris L. Rucker.

The good news for the Spartans is that they return offensive playmakers Kirk Cousins at quarterback and the tag team of Edwin Baker and Le'Veon Bell at running back.

Michigan State may have won 11 games last season, but that number was inflated by a weak schedule. The Spartans only played two teams that finished in the final Top 25 poll and were blown out by one of them. Do not expect the Spartans to be in Indianapolis in 2011.

No. 4: Northwestern Wildcats

2010 Record: 7-6 (3-5 Big Ten, T-Seventh Place) 

The Wildcats are my dark-horse pick to win the Big Ten Legends Division in 2011 for one reason: senior quarterback Dan Persa. Northwestern returns 15 other starters from 2010 as well and will start 16 seniors this season.

With Persa the Wildcats were 7-3 and contending for a Big Ten title, but their leader suffered a torn Achilles after throwing the game-winning touchdown pass against Iowa. Northwestern sputtered down the stretch and lost their final three games against Wisconsin, Illinois and Texas Tech in poor fashion without their star.

Look for the experienced Wildcats to make some noise in the Big Ten this season and if they can upset Michigan State or Nebraska, they will more than likely be heading to Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2011 Big Ten Championship Game.

No. 3: Ohio State Buckeyes

2010 Record: *12-1 (7-1 Big Ten, T-First place)

Turmoil has shaken the Buckeye program going into the 2011 season and they will be without seven players, including top running back Dan Herron and wide receiver Devier Posey, for the first five games of the season.

Freshman quarterback Braxton Miller is expected to take the reins for Ohio State, but do not be surprised if senior Joe Bauserman wins the starting job. 

The Buckeyes will get their top players back just in time for their toughest four weeks of the season when they play Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois and Nebraska, but will they perform at a high enough level to win three out of those four games is the biggest question. 

If they do not, the Buckeyes will not be making a trip to Indianapolis in December.

*Indicates all wins vacated

No. 2: Nebraska Cornhuskers

2010 Record: 10-4 (6-2 Big 12 North, Second Place in Big 12 Conference)

Nebraska has come up a touch short in the Big 12 Championship Game the past two seasons, but will look to change their luck in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2011.

The Cornhuskers boasted a top-10 rushing offense and scoring defense in 2010. If they can get the same production on both sides of the ball, Nebraska will not only have a great shot to win the Big Ten in their inaugural season, but contend for a national championship as well.

No. 1: Wisconsin Badgers

2010 Record: 11-2 (7-1 Big Ten, T-First Place)

The addition of Russell Wilson is enough to push the Badgers above the Cornhuskers in the preseason rankings. Wisconsin also returns the dynamic duo of Monte Ball and James White at running back.

The Badgers defense will be as strong as ever and they are my pick to win the first-ever Big Ten Championship Game.

Additionally, if Wisconsin is able to knock off the Cornhuskers and Buckeyes in mid-October they will be in the hunt for the program's first-ever national championship.