Did you notice the swagger the Illinois players carried onto the field Saturday at California?

Did you notice the air of confidence the Illini displayed in their ridiculously easy 44-17 victory?

Did you notice how the Illini looked more like the 1999 team that ripped Virginia by 42 points in the Micronpc.com Bowl to finish 8-4 rather than the timid crew that slumped to a 5-6 finish last season?

	Bradndon Lloyd caught eight passes for 178 yards and two TDs against Cal.

Did you notice that sophomore wide receiver Brandon Lloyd was back in the lineup after missing all of the 2000 season with a broken leg?

Did you notice that he started the day before kickoff by stoking the Illini fans who made the trip to Berkley and ended the day by smoking California's secondary?

In case you haven't noticed, the Illini swagger with Lloyd in the lineup, as they did Saturday when he had eight catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Without him, they stagger, as they did in 2000.

"Brandon has a great personality," said Illinois coach Ron Turner, whose team plays host to Northern Illinois on Saturday. "He talks a lot. He has got a lot of confidence and that tends to rub off on other people in a positive way."

Much of the Illini's confidence died last summer when Lloyd suffered a broken leg during preseason camp. In 1999, he set freshman school records for receptions (30) and yards (511) and helped the Illini to a remarkable turnaround. With Lloyd on the sidelines last season, quarterback Kurt Kittner had no go-to receiver. The Illini had no charismatic leader.

"He's a big, deep threat and he's a great athlete," Kittner said. "He can get up and jump over DBs and catch balls.

"What that is going to do for us is stretch defenses vertically and that's going to open up routes underneath for him and the other receivers and the running game."

Against California, Lloyd had four catches for 88 yards in the first quarter alone. That doesn't include a 46-yard touchdown pass that was called back because of a holding penalty or the twisting 15-yard catch he made in the back of the end zone that was ruled incomplete because his foot was on the end line.

"He was the difference-maker," California coach Tom Holmoe said after the loss. "It wasn't a surprise. We knew that going in. But he just dominated situations."

Lloyd began by dominating the pre-game warmups. He found his way over to the Illini fans and held his hand up to his ear. He did the same after each of his touchdowns.

"I think all that's good," Turner said of Lloyd's demonstrative nature. "Yet once the ball is kicked off, you'd better back it up. You better play well. And that was good to see that he did.

"And I think if any of the young guys had any doubts -- Is this guy all talk or is he going to actually do something? -- I think all those were erased very quickly.

"I don't think any of the veterans did," Turner said. "They have seen him. Some of the young guys may have (wondering) if he ever shuts up. He's done a lot in practice and he went out and did it in the game."

Just as he did as a freshman in 1999. After missing all of last season, Lloyd is back. And so is Illinois' swagger.

"I was so excited to be out there," he told reporters after the game. "I was more anxious than nervous, and I think that helped me have a good game. I feel like I'm a go-to guy and I'm glad I have (Kittner's) confidence."

Around the Big Ten

Indiana

	Indiana's Antwaan Randle El will start at wide receiver against N.C. State.

Coach Cam Cameron insists he plans to use quarterback Antwaan Randle El at wide receiver this season, beginning Thursday night at North Carolina State. Senior Tommy Jones is expected to start at quarterback. "Tommy Jones is going to start the game at quarterback," Cameron said. "Or at least will be in the huddle the first play of the game. (Antwaan) will play a significant time at quarterback, a significant time at receiver and we're just going to see how it goes from there." ... With 195 more passing yards and 69 more rushing yards, Randle El will become the first player in Division I-A history to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards. ... North Carolina State rallied for a 41-38 victory over Indiana last season. Cameron saw his team blow leads of 21-3, 28-13 and 38-26 and questioned the work of the officiating crew. However, he said this week that game will have no role in what happens on Thursday "This is a new football team, led by a new group of seniors," Cameron said. "Last year is last year. It is this year that matters." ... Pay attention to how well Indiana's defense plays. The Hoosiers scored an average of 30.6 points per game last season and have scored at least 30 points in 13 of their last 22 games. However, they have lost 15 of those games because their defense hasn't been able to stop anyone.

Iowa
Just one game into the 2001 season, life is already noticeably better for Kirk Ferentz and his players. By whipping Kent State 51-0, they won their season opener for the first time since 1998. A victory over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday would give the Hawkeyes a 2-0 mark for the first time since the 1997 season. The Hawkeyes clearly are improved from last season, when they lost their first five games and finished 3-9. Of course it helps that they didn't have to play Kansas State, Iowa State and Nebraska in three of their first four games. "From Thursday on this was the best I have seen the team in terms of focus and concentration level," Ferentz said. "It indicates we are a team that is maturing and really coming around." ... No one had more fun than sophomore running back Aaron Greving. He carried just three times but scored on each carry to tie an NCAA record for touchdowns on consecutive carries. ... Sophomore kicker Nate Kaeding set the school's single-game record for points by a kicker with 15. Kaeding made field goals from 37, 31 and 30 yards to extend his streak to 10 in a row and added six extra-points. ... The point total was Iowa's best since a 62-0 victory over Indiana on Oct. 25, 1997.

Michigan
Go West young man? Michigan quarterback John Navarre is heading back to the Left Coast, whether he is ready or not. Last season as a redshirt freshman, Navarre was thrust into the starting lineup after Drew Henson suffered a broken foot late in preseason camp. After leading the Wolverines to convincing home victories over Bowling Green and Rice, Navarre was No. 1 in the nation in passing efficiency. Then he completed just 8 of 28 passes for 111 yards in a 23-20 loss at UCLA. When he struggled early the next week against Illinois, he was pulled in favor of Henson. "I did OK in the leadership role," Navarre said after completing 19 of 32 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown in a 31-13 victory over Miami (Ohio). "I think there's room to improve. Every game is a challenge. It will be one when we go to Seattle." ... Michigan, already the victory leader in Division I-A football, will be going for the most victories in any division. The victory over Miami (Ohio) gave the Wolverines 806, tying Yale. ... Carr, a died-in-the-wool traditionalist, loathes the explosion of college football games to touch virtually every night of the week. "As long as I am here Michigan will never play a game on Friday night," he said. "I think that decision is against the best interests of the game. If I had my druthers, we'd play at one o'clock every Saturday afternoon."

Michigan State

Sophomore Jeff Smoker has been designated the Spartans' starting quarterback for the opener Saturday against Central Michigan. But will be able to keep the job? Michigan State coach Bobby Williams rotated Smoker and Ryan Van Dyke at times last season, to the detriment of the offense, and on Tuesday said he wouldn't mind playing three quarterbacks this weekend. Van Dyke is expected to replace Smoker at some point and Williams would like to give redshirt freshman Damon Dowdell some playing time. "If we get an opportunity we're going to get Dowdell involved," he said. "Last year we went into the season in a tough situation. We only had one quarterback with experience. Now we have two. Then you've got another guy to develop." ... Senior tight end Chris Baker, who had 33 catches for 461 yards and two touchdowns last season, remains questionable for the opener. Baker underwent surgery Aug. 22 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. However, he returned to practice last week and was in full pads on Monday. Baker has started 35 consecutive games. ... The Spartans will be without senior cornerback Cedric Henry, who led the team in interceptions with five last season. He has been declared academically ineligible.

Minnesota

Playing college football has become akin to child's play in Minneapolis. Minnesota coach Glen Mason isn't revealing whether senior Travis Cole or sophomore Asad Abdul-Khaliq will start at quarterback Saturday against Louisiana-Lafayette. On Monday at practice, Cole and Abdul-Kahliq reportedly determined who would take the first snap of each practice period by playing rock-paper-scissors. The idea was the brainchild of Tony Petersen, the team's co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. "I won about half the time and Asad won the other half," Cole told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I'd go one rep, he'd go one rep, I'd go one rep, and so on. So who knows what's going to happen." If Mason knows, he isn't saying. "(They) will know when I know," Mason said. ... After dissecting the Gophers' 38-7 loss to Toledo last week, it appears Minnesota might have more problems on defense this season. Toledo embarrassed the Gophers, who feature just one defender who returns to the same position from last season and have a new defensive staff. Minnesota surrendered 512 yards, including 363 rushing in 50 attempts, an average of 7.3 yards per carry. ... Some Minnesota fans have already given up on their team. A poll in the Minneapolis Star Tribune asked this question: Is there any hope for the Gophers this season? Of 1,151 respondents, 336 (or 29%) selected response B, "The only hope we have is false hope." The second-most popular response was E, "The U has a football team?" A total of 249 readers (22%) chose that answer.

Northwestern
Is any team in America more anxious to get back onto the field than Northwestern? The death of safety Rashidi Wheeler, the subsequent lawsuit against the school and the criticism of coach Randy Walker's conditioning drills have hung over the program for the last month. Now the Wildcats get to play football, meeting host UNLV on Friday night. "It is difficult to say where we are psychologically," Walker said. "I think time will tell." ... Northwestern was the picked by the media covering the Big Ten as the preseason favorite to win the conference title. The last time that happened was 1949, when the Wildcats were coming off an 8-2 season that included a 20-14 victory over California in the Rose Bowl. ... The last time the Wildcats opened with a road victory was 1995, when they stunned Notre Dame, 17-15. That team won the Big Ten title with an 8-0 mark but lost to USC in the Rose Bowl. Coincidentally, USC's coach that day was John Robinson, who is now the coach at UNLV. ... Northwestern and UNLV have met just once. The Wildcats crushed the Rebels, 41-7, in the 1998 opener in Evanston.

Ohio State

	Ohio State and coach Jim Tressel finally open the season Saturday against Akron.

Jim Tressel certainly will feel a bit of pressure Saturday when the Buckeyes play host to Akron. Even John Cooper wouldn't find a way to lose this game. Yet no one on the Ohio State sideline will be under more scrutiny than senior quarterback Steve Bellisari. His record in two seasons as a starter is just 13-9 and he has thrown nearly as many interceptions (22) as touchdown passes (25). He isn't exactly a fan favorite and opponents generally believe Bellisari will never lead the Buckeyes to a title of any kind. While naming Bellisari as his starter, Tressel added he wanted to look at sophomore reserve Scott McMullen against Akron and San Diego State. "Steve has had a great camp," Tressel said. "His spring was focused and I thought he showed progress and I think his preseason camp has followed that. He is focusing in on what role he needs to play on this football team and what we need from the quarterback position. I'm rooting for Steve Bellisari to have one of those storybook years." ... Tressel showed on Monday he isn't afraid to shake up his personnel when he tinkered with the offensive line. Sophomore Bryce Bishop was inserted at right guard and sophomore Shane Olivea was shifted from right guard to right tackle to replace sophomore Adrien Clarke. Clarke started 10 games at left tackle last season and was the No. 1 right tackle throughout spring practice and all of pre-season camp. ... The Buckeyes are expected to breeze past Akron this weekend. Does Tressel plan to schedule games against such in-state foes in the future? Yes. "I think it is a good situation for a lot of people," he said. "It is a great opportunity for a lot of young people to get a chance to play in Ohio Stadium. It rotates to various parts of the state. It is a great opportunity for us to always have an extra home game."

Penn State

This is not the way Penn State fans hoped to start the season. An ugly 33-7 home loss to Miami (Fla.), during which the Nittany Lions trailed by 30-0 at halftime. Disgruntled fans heading to their cars long before the final seconds had ticked off the clock. An elbow injury to starting quarterback Matt Seneca. A knee injury to sophomore linebacker Derek Wake, who was making his first start. The news was good on Seneca, who is expected to return in time for the Nittany Lions' game at Virginia on Sept. 13. Wake, however, will need surgery and will miss the rest of the season. Rehabilitation could take nine months to a year. Senecca, who suffered nerve damage near his right elbow, completed just 1 of 7 passes for 1 yard in the loss. If he is unable to play against Virginia, freshman Zack Mills will get the start. Mills completed 12 of 24 passes for 240 yards, a single-game record for a Penn State freshman, with a touchdown and two interceptions. "As I said going into the season," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said, "our quarterback situation is in pretty good shape." ... Thanks to the $93 million expansion of Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions set a school attendance record of 109,313. That was the largest crowd in NCAA history to see a game not hosted by Michigan.

Purdue

The Brandon Hance era has begun. Hance, who has the unenviable task of following Drew Brees, made his debut Sunday in the Boliermakers' 19-14 victory at Cincinnati. Hance, a redshirt freshman, fashioned a workmanlike effort and completed 14 of 25 attempts for 117 yards. He didn't throw a touchdown pass but he didn't throw an interception, either. "He did things well enough for us to win," said Purdue coach Joe Tiller, whose team is off this week. "And he didn't do anything that would result in us getting beat. And that usually goes a long ways toward winning any game." ... Cincinnati's coaches and players discovered why Big Ten offensive coaches fear Purdue defensive end Akin Ayodele. The senior recorded a career-high 11 tackles, including six for 26 yards in losses. He made three huge plays on the Bearcats' final drive, which ended in an interception in the end zone. Ayodele batted down a pass and threw Cincinnati runners for losses of 3 and 9 yards. ... Through 50 games at Purdue, Tiller's record is 34-16, a winning percentage of .680. That is the No. 3 mark among Purdue coaches through their first 50 games, behind Noble Kizer (37-11-2) and Jim Young (35-14-1).

Wisconsin

Sophomore Jim Sorgi's record as the Badgers' starting quarterback is 0-2. Barring a rapid recovery by junior Brooks Bollinger, Sorgi should get an opportunity to improve upon that record Saturday when the Badgers play host to a white-hot Fresno State team. Bollinger, who sat out the three-point loss to Oregon because of a bruised liver, still has not been medically cleared to play, according to coach Barry Alvarez. "The doctor has to say he is ready to play," Alvarez said. "Medically I'm not going to get involved. It is a day-to-day thing and I haven't asked where he is. They'll tell me when he is 100 percent ready. And I'm not going to take any chances until he is 100 percent." ... Anyone with any ideas on how to convert third-down situations into first downs should mail their ideas to the Wisconsin staff. Through two games this season, the Badgers have converted only 6 of 30 opportunities (20 percent). "You're not going to win very many ball games like that," Sorgi said. Wisconsin converted on at least 40 percent of its third-down chances in each of the last three seasons. "That has been a strength of ours," Alvarez acknowledged. "I can't put my finger on one thing or another, other than we haven't been good in short-yardage (situations). Why? I'm not sure of that yet. But that's something we're going to have to rectify." ... When freshman cornerback Scott Starks arrived on campus earlier this summer, he requested uniform No. 2, which was worn for three seasons by Jamar Fletcher, the 2000 Thorpe Award winner. Starks followed Fletcher at Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis and now he has followed Fletcher into the starting lineup at UW. Starks, who had a crucial interception against Oregon's Joey Harrington last week, has moved ahead of junior B.J. Tucker.

Jeff Potrykus covers the Big Ten for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.