Biggest question for every Big Ten school

The two teams that played for a national title last season are now in the Big Ten. And while Washington is adjusting to an entirely new league, Michigan has a new coach and a new QB. Oregon appears to be in contention for a title, and Ohio State has re-entered the transfer portal.

Here are the biggest questions facing every Big Ten football team this season, as asked by writers who cover the league for USA TODAY Sports Network.

ILLINOIS: Will Illini survive B1G opening?

How will the Illini approach opening the Big Ten season with back-to-back road games against Nebraska and Penn State? — Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal star

INDIANA: Who will fill the holes in the defense?

Curt Cignetti and his staff have added some interesting, potentially significant signings to the defense, but the Hoosiers are still dangerously thin (or inexperienced) in a number of key spots. Bryant Haines in particular — IU’s first multimillion-dollar coordinator — will need some best-case scenarios along his defensive line and in his secondary, where even a handful of injuries would be cause for concern. Haines built remarkably disruptive defenses during his time with Cignetti at James Madison. He’ll need the very best from a number of key players to replicate that performance in Bloomington. — Zach Osterman, IndyStar

IOWA: Is the Hawkeyes offense improving?

The Hawkeyes have turned the page on a new era at offensive coordinator with the hiring of ex-Western Michigan coach Tim Lester this offseason. Much of the lead-up to the season will revolve around how that unit looks after multiple seasons of terrible production. —Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register

MARYLAND: Who will start at QB now that Taulia Tagovailoa is gone?

Billy Edwards Jr. is back after appearing in eight games and leading the Terps to a Music City Bowl victory over Auburn last year. But Maryland also added former North Carolina State quarterback M.J. Morris via the transfer portal this offseason, and he was named the team’s spring game MVP. Redshirt sophomore Cameron Edge is also in the running for the starting job heading into the preseason. — Mark Giannotto, USA TODAY Network

MICHIGAN: Who is the starting quarterback?

The days of a top-10 NFL draft pick in JJ McCarthy are over, and the Wolverines appear primed for a QB battle heading into fall camp. It’s largely between junior Alex Orji, senior Davis Warren and grad Jack Tuttle, with junior Jayden Denegal on the outside of the mix and freshman Jadyn Davis not locked into the competition for the starting job. Orji is the favorite to play the position, but in his two years in Ann Arbor he’s caught one pass, which went for five yards. He has tantalizing leg power — he’s rushed for 21 times for 123 yards and three scores in his career — but as he said earlier this summer, “it’s tough to play quarterback without throwing the ball.” His teammates have faith he can do it, but he’ll have to win the job first. —Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press

Quarterback, of course.

The Wolverines need to replace first-round pick JJ McCarthy, and they don’t have a proven passer among the five candidates running to replace him. The starter they choose will likely determine Michigan’s fate. — Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press

MICHIGAN STATE: Michigan State’s defensive line.

What was a strength earlier this year is now a weakness after defensive tackles Derrick Harmon and Simeon Barrow left via the transfer portal in the spring. Their departures leave big holes in a defense that new coordinator Joe Rossi will try to revive. — Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press

MINNESOTA: Was the Gophers’ fall just an incident?

At the start of last season, the Golden Gophers appeared to be on the rise, having posted a 32-14 record in their previous three seasons. In 2023, however, they’ve struggled to a 6-7 mark. Was last season an aberration marred by a subdued offense? Or was it a sign of things to come for a program that no longer has the advantage of competing in the noticeably weaker Big Ten West Division? — Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Network

NEBRASKA: Can the Huskers return to winning tradition?

The Cornhuskers haven’t had a winning season since 2016 and haven’t won more than three conference games since that season. Even with an improved roster, Nebraska faced a tough road in Year 2 under Matt Rhule in a vastly improved conference that included the additions of USC, UCLA, Oregon and defending national runner-up Washington. — Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY Network

NORTHWESTERN: What does the Wildcats’ offense look like in its second year under David Braun?

In 2023, Northwestern ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten in offensive production for the second straight season. The Wildcats finished 10th in the Big Ten in total offense (3,951 yards) and 13th in rushing offense (1,325 yards). —John Leuzzi, USA TODAY Network

OHIO STATE: Offensive line.

The line and quarterback are really the only position groups with big questions. Ohio State’s line should be better than last year. Tackles Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar are experienced now. Seth McLaughlin should be an upgrade at center as a transfer from Alabama. Donovan Jackson has All-American potential at left guard. Right guard is a question mark, with Carson Hinzman (last year’s center), Luke Montgomery and Tegra Tshabola leading the pack. —Bill Rabinowitz, Columbus Dispatch

Quarterback.

Will Howard, a veteran transfer from Kansas State with 27 career starts, is the favorite to replace Kyle McCord after his transfer to Syracuse. If he wins the league in August, he’ll have to lead a talented supporting cast. —Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch

OREGON: How quickly can the Ducks get things in order?

Oregon returns a significant amount of talent, but must replace its top passer, rusher and receiver from last season, along with three of its top DBs and its top pass rusher. The talent is there to compete with the Big Ten’s best, it’s just a matter of how well Dan Lanning and company can mesh the new pieces in the short term. — Alec Dietz, The Register Keeper (Eugene)

PENN STATE: How much can Nittany Lions improve a stunning offense?

There appears to be some real talent for new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, especially in the backfield and at tight end. This turns into a Big Ten championship and a top playoff contender if QB Drew Allar can finally unlock the downfield passing game. — Frank Bodani, York (Pa.) Daily Report

PURDUE: Will Hudson Card take the next step?

There are a lot of ways to get here. Can Purdue stay healthy (a concern after the way 2023 went)? How is this coaching staff better in its second year? Purdue is, of course, known for its quarterback pedigree, so the biggest question mark is: Can Hudson Card take the next step? Card played through last season with rib and shoulder injuries and was limited as a result. It wasn’t until he sat out the game against Northwestern that it became clear how much pain Card was in, something he admitted after the season. Card showed glimpses of what we’d heard in spring camp and early in the 2023 season. If Card’s good performances continue to be more consistent, the Boilermakers could surprise some teams against a loaded schedule. — Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier

Purdue has averaged just 13.3 points per game in six Big Ten losses in 2023. It will need a higher level of consistent performance against one of the nation’s toughest schedules. Hudson Card can help in his second season as the starting quarterback. He finished eighth among Big Ten quarterbacks in passing efficiency last season. He has bulked up in an effort to stay healthy and has some additional receiving weapons via the transfer portal and Jahmal Erdine’s return from injury. — Nathan Baird, IndyStar

RUTGERS: Can Scarlet Knights Deliver More Quarterback Performance?

That task now falls on the shoulders of Minnesota transfer Athan Kaliakmanis, who has been reunited with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca. Rutgers will need Kaliakmanis to be more accurate than his predecessor Gavin Wimsatt to revive its weak passing game. — Chris Iseman, The Bergen Record/NorthJersey.com

UCLA: New coach. New conference. Lots of questions.

Many of the questions facing the Bruins are larger, more existential, from the athletic department’s financial woes to adjusting to a conference where the vast majority of opponents are thousands of miles away. Going into the 2024 season, the biggest uncertainty may be coach DeShaun Foster, who was promoted to the role after Chip Kelly left to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator. Foster is a former UCLA star who spent the past seven seasons as the Bruins’ running backs coach and was beloved by his players. But how will a first-time head coach who has never been more than a position coach fare in one of college football’s toughest conferences? — Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Network

USC: Can D’Anton Lynn Improve Trojans Defense?

USC’s defense was torched all 2023 and now has a new defensive coordinator in D’Anton Lynn from UCLA. Can Lynn, along with a slew of defensive transfers, compete in a physical conference like the Big Ten? —Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Network

WASHINGTON: Can Jedd Fisch keep the program’s momentum going?

Not only will Fisch be starting his first season at a new program, he will also have to lead the Huskies to a new conference. Washington also lost a wealth of talent, including 10 players to the NFL draft. —Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Network

WISCONSIN: Who will take on OL?

UW had to replace five offensive linemen, including two who transferred to Big Ten schools (Indiana, Penn State) and one who transferred to the Big 12 (Iowa State). The Badgers brought in five freshmen to compensate, but the result was a stunning lack of depth in the spring. UW can’t afford injuries on the line because of the lack of veteran depth. — Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Big Ten Football Media Days will be held July 23-25 at Lucas Oil Stadium.