2008 Big Ten Conference football season

The 2008 Big Ten Conference football season is the 113th season for the Big Ten. Ohio State has been the outright Big Ten Champion the past two seasons and looks for an unprecedented three time outright Big Ten championship. The Buckeyes are also looking for their fourth conference championship after sharing the championship with Penn State in 2005. In conference play, the Buckeyes were undefeated in 2006 and lost to only Illinois in 2007. Currently, the Michigan Wolverines have the most Big Ten Championships with 42.

Preseason

Ohio State was selected as the preseason favorite to win the conference with Wisconsin and Illinois second and third, respectively by the Media. Ohio State running back Chris Wells was chosen as the Preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the year while fellow Buckeye linebacker James Laurinaitis was named the Preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the year.

Purdue Head Coach Joe Tiller will enter his final season, while Michigan's Rich Rodriguez will begin his first in Ann Arbor.

Each year, two Big Ten teams do not meet. Below is the breakdown of "no-plays" for 2008:Team -- Does not play
*Illinois -- Michigan State, Purdue
*Indiana -- Michigan, Ohio State
*Iowa -- Michigan, Ohio State
*Michigan -- Indiana, Iowa
*Michigan State -- Illinois, Minnesota
*Minnesota -- Michigan State, Penn State
*Northwestern -- Penn State, Wisconsin
*Ohio State -- Indiana, Iowa
*Penn State -- Minnesota, Northwestern
*Purdue -- Illinois, Wisconsin
*Wisconsin -- Northwestern, Purdue

tandings

Key matchups

Trophy Watchlists

Doak Walker Award

*RB Javon Ringer, Michigan State
*RB Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
*RB Chris Wells, Ohio State
*RB Kory Sheets, Purdue
*RB P.J. Hill, Wisconsin

Walter Camp Award

*WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois
*RB Javon Ringer, Michigan State
*CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
*LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
*RB Chris "Beanie" Wells, Ohio State
*TE Travis Beckum, Wisconsin
*RB P.J. Hill, Wisconsin

Butkus Award

*LB Martez Wilson, Illinois
*LB Marcus Freeman, Ohio State
*LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
*LB Anthony Heygood, Purdue
*LB Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin

Outland Trophy

*OL Xavier Fulton, Illinois
*C Ryan McDonald, Illinois
*DT Mitch King, Iowa
*DT Matt Kroul, Iowa
*DT Terrance Taylor, Michigan
*OT Alex Boone, Ohio State
*G Steve Rehring, Ohio State
*DT John Gill, Northwestern
*OT Gerald Cadogan, Penn State
*C A.Q. Shipley, Penn State
*OT Sean Sester, Purdue
*OL Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin

Davey O'Brien Award

*QB Juice Williams, Illinois
*QB Todd Boeckman, Ohio State
*QB Curtis Painter, Purdue

Johnny Unitas Award

*QB Brian Hoyer, Michigan State
*QB C.J. Bacher, Northwestern
*QB Todd Boeckman, Ohio State
*QB Curtis Painter, Purdue

John Mackey Award

*TE Jeff Cumberland, Illinois
*TE Tony Moeaki, Iowa
*TE Andrew Quarless, Penn State
*TE Travis Beckum, Wisconsin

Bronko Nagurski Trophy

*DB Vontae Davis, Illinois
*DE Greg Middleton, Indiana
*DT Mitch King, Iowa
*DT Terrance Taylor, Michigan
*DT John Gill, Northwestern
*DB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
*LB Marcus Freeman, Ohio State
*LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
*DE Maurice Evans, Penn State
*DE Matt Shaughnessy, Wisconsin

=Rotary Lombardi Award=

*DE Greg Middleton, Indiana
*DL Mitch King, Iowa
*LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
*DE Maurice Evans, Penn State
*C A.Q. Shipley, Penn State
*TE Travis Beckum, Wisconsin

Rimington Trophy

*C Ryan McDonald, Illinois
*C Alex Perry, Indiana
*C Jim Cordle, Ohio State
*C A.Q. Shipley, Penn State

Lott Trophy

*LB Brit Miller, Illinois
*DE Greg Middleton, Indiana
*DT Mitch King, Iowa
*CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
*LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
*LB Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin

Ray Guy Award

*P A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State

Maxwell Award

*WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois
*RB Javon Ringer, Michigan State
*RB Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
*QB Todd Boeckman, Ohio State
*WR Brian Robiskie, Ohio State
*RB Chris "Beanie" Wells, Ohio State
*WR Derrick Williams, Penn State
*QB Curtis Painter, Purdue
*TE Travis Beckum, Wisconsin
*RB P.J. Hill, Wisconsin

Chuck Bednarik Award

*CB Vontae Davis, Illinois
*DE Greg Middleton, Indiana
*DL Mitch King, Iowa
*DL Terrance Taylor, Michigan
*LB Marcus Freeman, Ohio State
*LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
*CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
*DE Maurice Evans, Penn State
*LB Anthony Heygood, Purdue
*DE Matt Shaughnessy, Wisconsin

Lou Groza Award

*K Austin Starr, Indiana
*K K.C. Lopata, Michigan
*K Brett Swenson, Michigan State
*K Ryan Pretorius, Ohio State
*K Kevin Kelly, Penn State

Jim Thorpe Award

*CB Vontae Davis, Illinois
*CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State

Ted Hendricks Award

*DE Will Davis, Illinois
*DE Greg Middleton, Indiana
*DE Brandon Graham, Michigan
*DE Tim Jamison, Michigan
*DE Maurice Evans, Penn State
*DE Matt Shaughnessy, Wisconsin

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