1. Ohio State

Coach: Jim Tressel

Last year: 10-2, 7-1

Key Returners: QB Troy Smith, WR Ted Ginn Jr., RB Antonio Pittman

Key Losses: WR Santonio Holmes, LB A.J. Hawk, LB Bobby Carpenter, LB Anthony Schlegel

What’s up: No team ended the 2005 season hotter than Ohio State. Buckeye fans have to be wondering what could have been if Troy Smith were given the starting quarterback job from day one. Smith, Pittman and Ginn give the Buckeyes a potent offense – something that hasn’t been said much about the Buckeyes in the Tressel Era.

What’s down: The Buckeyes say goodbye to a lot of their edge on defense with the loss of Hawk, Carpenter and Schlegel.

2. Iowa

Coach: Kirk Ferentz

Last year: 7-5, 5-3

Key Returners: QB Drew Tate, RB Albert Young

Key Losses: LB Chad Greenway, LB Abdul Hodge, WR Clinton Solomon

What’s up: The Hawkeyes again are a talented team with a veteran signal-caller in Tate. Ferentz is a top-flight coach and the kicking game will be rock solid with PK Kyle Schlicher. Iowa only has one tough road game, at Michigan