Over the past two months I have previewed seven of the 11 teams in the Big Ten: Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern and Ohio State. Following are shorter looks at three more Big Ten schools -- Wisconsin, Purdue and Indiana. I plan to write a preview of Penn State next week.

WISCONSIN
Lee Evans is the big story for the Badgers. When will their star receiver return from knee surgery? The target date is Oct. 5, when Wisconsin opens the Big Ten season against Penn State.

	Wisconsin RB Anthony Davis rushed for 1,466 yards last year.

Evans was arguably college football's best receiver last year, when he caught 75 passes for 1,545 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Badgers are hoping that sophomore Darrin Charles (6-foot-6, 205 pounds) can help pick up the slack in Evans' absence. They also plan to work sophomore tight end Bob Docherty (6-6, 265) into the receiving mix. Docherty is potentially one of the Big Ten's budding stars.

At quarterback, Brooks Bollinger has the edge over Jim Sorgi for the starting job. With his ability to run the option and scramble, Bollinger gives the Badgers more versatility, while Sorgi is strictly a drop-back passer.

The running game is the strength of the offense and will take the pressure off Bollinger. Sophomore Anthony Davis rushed for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. And the Badgers' entire offensive line returns to lead the way for one of the nation's top backs. The top two linemen are left tackle Ben Johnson and center Al Johnson, who are cousins.

Defensively, the player to watch is sophomore defensive tackle Anttaj Hawthorne, who needs to solidify the interior. The Badgers also have four defensive ends who can get after the quarterback. Meanwhile, the spotlight is on junior Jeff Mack, who has to replace Nick Griesen at middle linebacker. Griesen, who had 335 career tackles, led the Big Ten with 146 as a junior and led the nation last year with 167. The secondary should be a strong suit, particularly at cornerback where sophomore Scott Starks is an emerging standout.

The Badgers enter the season with a scheduling edge because they don't have to play either Purdue or Northwestern and five of their first six are at Camp Randall Stadium. Plus, they can exact revenge in the opener against Fresno State.

PURDUE
With Brandon Hance transferring at USC, Kyle Orton is the Boilermakers' starting quarterback. The sophomore had a solid spring, and his offensive line returns four starters. Purdue also has an excellent 1-2 punch at running back with Montrell Lowe and Joey Harris.

One player on the spot will be sophomore tight end Mike Rhinehart, who must replace Tim Stratton. Purdue likes to get the ball to the tight end, and Stratton caught 59 passes last year after catching 58 in 2000. Rhinehart is considered a more physical performer than Stratton and likely will be used more as a blocker than as a receiver. One junior-college transfer to watch is wide receiver Anthony Chambers. Freshman wide receiver Ray Williams also could be an impact performer.

On defense, Purdue has been third in the Big Ten in total defense the past two years. The Boilermakers return some strong pieces, including defensive end Shawn Phillips (72 tackles, six sacks and 15 tackles for loss), outside linebacker Landon Johnson (second-leading tackler in 2001) and Joe Odom, their quickest linebacker who will move from the middle to the strong side. Taking over the middle is Niko Koutouvides, who is more physical than Odom.

Purdue's best defensive player is junior free safety Stuart Schweigert, who has been the leading tackler the past two years. He also has 11 career interceptions, which ties a school record.

The Boilermakers' biggest overall loss to graduation was Travis Dortsch, who did it all as a place-kicker, punter and on kickoffs. It will take three players to replace Dortsch.

INDIANA
The big news is that Jeremi Johnson, the 5-11, 270-pound senior fullback, will no longer play for the Hoosiers. Johnson received his release from new head coach Gerry DiNardo late last week and will transfer to a Division I-AA program. Losing Johnson, one of the Big Ten's better backs, is a big blow to the Hoosiers' offense.

The Hoosiers are transitioning to a West Coast style of offense, with some power football, under new coordinator Al Borges. Tommy Jones, a drop-back passer, will be the starting QB. Jones started early last year before giving way to Antwaan Randle El after the Hoosiers ended Randle El's experiment at wide receiver. Jones has a chance to excel in Borges' system.

Indiana is big and athletic up front, led by right tackle A.C. Myler, who played left tackle a year ago. Junior Brian Lewis, who was hotly recruited when he came to Indiana, and redshirt freshman Yamar Washington are the two running backs.

Defensively, senior defensive tackle Kris Dielman is the key player up front because the Hoosiers have few returning starters. Dielman, considered one of the Big Ten's toughest players, was a tight end last season.

Indiana's special teams must improve. The Hoosiers finished with a 5-6 record last year, but they would have won seven if the kicking game had not been so atrocious.