2009 Big Ten Conference Football Season - Preseason

Preseason

In a given year, each Big Ten team will play eight of the other Big Ten teams. Thus for any given team in a given year, there are two others which will not be competed against. Below is the breakdown of each team and its two "no-plays" for 2009:

  • Illinois: Iowa, Wisconsin
  • Indiana: Michigan State, Minnesota
  • Iowa: Illinois, Purdue
  • Michigan: Minnesota, Northwestern
  • Michigan State: Indiana, Ohio State
  • Minnesota: Indiana, Michigan
  • Northwestern: Michigan, Ohio State
  • Ohio State: Michigan State, Northwestern
  • Penn State: Purdue, Wisconsin
  • Purdue: Iowa, Penn State
  • Wisconsin: Illinois, Penn State

The Big Ten Conference announced on July 27 that the big ten media had elected Ohio State as the preseason favorite for the 2009 football season. It had ranked Penn State second and Michigan State third. It chose Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

In the Preseason Coaches' Poll released on August 7, the Big Ten was one of only three conferences with multiple teams ranked in the top ten.

The College Football Hall of Fame has selected Iowa's Larry Station (1982–85), Ohio State's Chris Spielman (1984–87) and Penn State's Curt Warner (1979–82) for December induction. 28 Big Ten athletes were selected in the 2009 National Football League Draft in late April, including four first-round picks. Two additional players were selected in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.

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