College Football: Ranking The 10 Best Big Ten Matchups of the 2011 Season
Even though the Big Ten suffered through a nightmarish New Years' Day in bowl season, the conference still has plenty of excitement looming in its future.
Nebraska's arrival has not only added a conference championship game and divided the conference into two divisions, it has pushed the hype to another level this season.
The conference has plenty of storylines to play out, including new coaches at Minnesota, Michigan and Indiana, and the suspensions of five Ohio State seniors for the first five games of the season.
But these storylines will only play themselves out once these teams step onto the field.
Here are the ten games to watch in the Big Ten this season.
10. Michigan at Michigan State: October 15
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It seems weird to see Michigan State having the upper hand on big brother as they have done each of the last three seasons.
Now Brady Hoke gets his first crack at Michigan's in-state rival with a chance to put their little brother in their place.
The challenge for Hoke in his first season will be getting his defense to play better, although hiring former Ravens DC Greg Mattison will help to gradually improve the unit from where it was under Greg Robinson.
His defense will be tested early in East Lansing as Kirk Cousins is back along with backs Edwin Baker and LeVeon Bell.
If they can't stop the run, Michigan may be in for some deja vu, although brighter skies appear to be looming on the horizon.
9. Michigan State at Ohio State: October 1
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The matchup that would have cleared out some of the clutter atop the Big Ten should be even more intriguing because it is the last game that the "Suspended Five" for OSU will miss pending appeal.
OSU and Michigan State have not played since Terrelle Pryor's freshman season, and will once again face a QB with limited-to-no starting experience.
Ohio State will have to replace seven starters on defense and they will need to mature quickly in order to slow down Cousins and a very balanced Spartan offense.
If the Buckeyes get through this game and get to 5-0 before the "Suspended Five" return for a road trip to Lincoln, OSU has a great shot at another Big Ten title and a potential berth in the national championship.
But don't expect an Ohio State blowout win unless either the suspensions are reduced or their interim QB can lead the Buckeye offense to success.
8. Penn State at Ohio State: November 19
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The battle atop the Leaders Division could come down to what might possibly be Joe Paterno's last trip to Ohio Stadium, in what has been quite a series since Penn State joined the Big Ten.
Ohio State has won four of the last six games dating back to 2005, but Penn State has always given the Buckeyes a fight every time these teams meet.
And with a shot at the Big Ten Championship Game possibly at stake, these teams will be extremely hungry to take care of business.
Penn State's young team showed promise at the end of the season, and should be much better heading into 2011, making this matchup very intriguing.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Michigan at Illinois: November 12
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Last year, these teams met in Ann Arbor in a shootout that resulted in three OTs, and 132 points scored between them.
But the arrival of Brady Hoke and the departure of Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure may result in a dropoff of a few points.
This game should still be an entertaining contest between two good offenses as Illini QB Nathan Scheelhaase returns after a good first year as a starter.
Denard could still be Denard even though he is in Hoke's pro-style attack, so expect plenty of points again.
But probably not 67-65.
6. Iowa at Nebraska: November 26
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Nebraska's first appearance on this list is also the first meeting of a new Big Ten rivalry with the Huskers and Iowa.
Bo Pelini's squad has a gauntlet to go through in their first year since leaving the Big 12, and ends at home against Kirk Ferentz's Hawkeyes.
Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead are both back from one of the best rushing teams in 2010, especially when healthy.
Iowa will have to replace Ricky Stanzi at QB and three starters on the defensive line, not to mention the continuing RB troubles that leave that position with many question marks.
But Ferentz will have his team ready to play in a matchup that could decide who represents the Legends in Indianapolis.
5. Wisconsin At Michigan State: October 22
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The only team that beat Wisconsin in the regular season has to travel to Camp Randall in late October to prove that they are not a one-hit wonder.
Sparty had a breakout season, finishing at 11-2 despite a horrible showing against Alabama in the Capital One Bowl.
With key losses for both teams, it's highly unlikely that these teams will be playing for the Big Ten title in Indianapolis.
But there's no doubt that these two teams will have an impact on the races for first in their respective divisions.
4. Ohio State at Michigan: November 26
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Even though Michigan is not what it used to be, The Game is still must-see TV, especially with Brady Hoke getting his first crack at the Buckeyes in the Big House.
Ohio State is still going to be expected to win as Pryor goes for a 4-0 sweep against the Wolverines, but we all know from past history that anything can happen in this rivalry.
Hoke seems to get the importance of the rivalry, something that Rich Rodriguez never fully grasped.
But he doesn't yet have the talent to equal Jim Tressel's team just yet.
This game could be a good throwback to games of the past, although Michigan needs better talent to start reversing the trend of the rivalry.
3. Nebraska at Wisconsin: October 1
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For Nebraska, their welcome to the Big Ten comes against the conference's representative in the Rose Bowl and a near mirror image in Wisconsin.
Both teams pride themselves on physical defense and the running game, though Nebraska tried to use more of a zone read attack while the Badgers overpowered opponents.
The Huskers should have a healthy Martinez by the time they travel to Camp Randall for the first time to open up the first chapter of their Big Ten history.
Wisconsin's defense will need to be ready to shut down Martinez and Burkhead if they want to set the tone for a possible return to Pasadena.
Nebraska, on the other hand, will look to arrive with a bang before a big-time home showdown against Ohio State.
2. Wisconsin at Ohio State: October 29
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Wisconsin shocked Ohio State out of the No. 1 ranking in 2010 as quickly as it took David Gilreath to take the opening kickoff for a TD to pace the Badgers in Camp Randall.
In 2011, the Badgers will have to face a motivated, angry OSU team out to get revenge against the team that knocked them out of the national title picture.
Pryor and Co. should be back in football shape by this game, as a win will likely put either team in the driver's seat in the Leaders division.
The motivating factor for Wisconsin could be a second chance to not only keep Ohio State out of the national title picture, but to play in the first Big Ten Championship Game.
Ohio State might have everything to play for once again if they start off 5-0, and could have all the edge to avoid repeating history.
1. Ohio State at Nebraska: October 8
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Ever since Nebraska announced they would join the Big Ten, this game has been circled on the calendar as the new team on the block welcomes the flagship team of the conference into the Sea of Red.
Ohio State has never been to Nebraska, and has never faced Nebraska since 1957.
But this matchup could be a preview of what the Big Ten Championship Game might look like.
The first game of Terrelle Pryor's final season comes in what will be a very hostile Sea of Red hosting its first-ever Big Ten game.
Because of all the storylines on both sides, this game has to be the most intriguing game of the season in the Big Ten.
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