The Big Ten has been so wide open in recent years that even college football fans might have a tough time remembering the 2001 conference champion.

This is the case for several reasons: First, with the Rose Bowl pitting Nebraska against Miami (Fla.) for the national title, tradition went by the boards as the Big Ten and Pac-10 champs were forced to other venues. Second, the eventual Big Ten champion, Illinois, fell by a decisive 45-20 count to Michigan early in the season, then lost to LSU, 47-34, in the Sugar Bowl.

So while Illinois captured their first outright Big Ten championship since 1983, it certainly could be argued that the Illini's accomplishments last season were underappreciated.

Just how critical Kurt Kittner's loss turns out to be will ultimately dictate the Illini's success in 2002.

To change that, the Illini need to gain the necessary year-to-year consistency. In '99, they turned things around under the direction of astute head coach Ron Turner, finishing with an 8-4 record that included victories at Michigan and at Ohio State (plus a 63-21 walloping of Virginia in the Micronpc.com Bowl). But in 2000, the Illini slipped to 5-6, including a 2-6 record in the Big Ten. So after a huge bounce-back year in 2001 that saw Turner's squad win the Big Ten championship, it will be looking for a repeat performance or at least another postseason opportunity in '02. However, making things difficult is the fact that the Illini will have to do so without the leadership, poise and veteran experience of QB Kurt Kittner, who has moved on to the Atlanta Falcons.

The other graduation losses on offense aren't nearly as severe: versatile tailback Rocky Harvey, TE Brian Hodges and center Luke Butkus.

OFFENSE
Who will open 2002 as the starting quarterback? Turner has to decide between fourth-year junior Dustin Ward and Iowa transfer Jon Beutjer. Ward has seen some minimal action during his stay with the Illini, earning one start in the 2000 season finale against Northwestern when he completed 20-of-37 passes for 246 yards and two TDs (plus a rushing TD).

Beutjer, who has two years of eligibility remaining, showed some promise with the Hawkeyes in 2000, displaying a fairly live arm when he threw for more than 800 yards. At the time, Beutjer was forced into action because of injuries to Scott Mullen and Kyle McCann. Then, prior to the 2001 season, after Kirk Ferentz named McCann Iowa's starter, Beutjer opted to transfer. Maybe not this year, but in 2003, there will be another name to throw into the mix: highly regarded freshman Chris Pazan.

The new Illini QB will have plenty of talent at the skill positions. Senior RB Antoineo Harris was expected to be the feature back, but he's being challenged for playing time by speedy and deceptively strong redshirt freshman Morris Virgil, who displays game-breaking potential. Virgil was reportedly the talk of spring practice. Junior FB Carey Davis provides solid all-around play.

Standout junior WR Brandon Lloyd is the big-time No. 1 receiving option, while a triumvirate of seniors -- Walter Young, Aaron Moorehead and Greg Lewis -- will force opponents to focus on others than only Lloyd. At tight end, sophomore Anthony McClellan figures to open as the starter, but keep an eye on highly regarded freshman Melvin Bryant.

Despite the loss of Butkus, the Illini are in decent shape on the O-line, due mainly to the return of senior RT Tony Pashos and RG Patrick Babcock, already a standout as a third-year sophomore.

DEFENSE
The strength of the defense rests with the back seven, particularly battle-tested senior MLB Jerry Schumacher and the tandem of athletically gifted cornerbacks, senior Eugene Wilson and junior Christian Morton. Despite their struggles against LSU in the Sugar Bowl, Wilson and Morton are arguably the Big Ten's top returning pair of corners.

The safeties are new but should be good. Junior Marc Jackson, who missed the 2001 season with a shoulder injury and was limited in the spring, is now back at full strength and ready to compete with Jamaal Clark for the starting job. During the 2000 campaign, Jackson earned a few starts, so he has already proven himself in the Big Ten.

Heralded junior-college recruit James McGill (of Bakersfield, Calif.) hasn't yet showcased his skills at the major-college level but could be a difference-maker this season. The defensive player of the year from the juco ranks last season, McGill will report in August and must beat out sophomore Taman Jordan for the starting SS position.

OVERVIEW
The pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Ward/Beutjer to not allow a major dropoff in production and leadership at QB. Remember, while Kittner tossed 14 interceptions, a number of which occurred early in some games, he always demonstrated the poise and a short memory to shake off the mistakes and rally the troops. The key here is the ability of the new QB to get the ball in the hands of the highly skilled Lloyd early and often. On defense, the Illini have star power with Schumacher, Morton and Wilson, but the front four must make up for the graduation loss of Brandon Moore and Terrell Washington, while the new-look safety tandem presents some interesting possibilities with Jackson coming off the injury list and the highly regarded juco transfer, McGill. While the Illini definitely have some key pieces to the puzzle in place, the one missing link, Kittner, is huge. Just how critical his loss turns out to be will ultimately dictate the Illini's success in 2002.