With the 115th annual season of Big Ten football getting under way this weekend, here are a few things to keep an eye on throughout the remainder of the 2010 season:

Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi has been a model of consistency for the 17th-ranked Hawkeyes (3-1), who open Big Ten play when they play host to No. 22 Penn State (3-1) Saturday night.

Associated Press

The short term Ohio State has captured at least a share of the Big Ten title for five consecutive seasons, and there’s no reason to think that will change in 2010.

The race to finish second in the conference is wide open, but it could quickly take shape this weekend.

No. 17 Iowa (3-1) has made a habit of upsetting No. 22 Penn State (3-1) in recent years, winning eight of the last 10, but this is the first time in a while the Hawkeyes haven’t enjoyed underdog status.

This year, with a senior quarterback and playing at home, the burden is on them. Win, and they're in a prime position, especially since they host the Buckeyes on Nov. 20.

No. 24 Michigan State doesn’t have the favorite tag - the Spartans are a two-point underdog despite the fact they host No. 11 Wisconsin. But they have the same degree of urgency as the Hawkeyes.

If the Spartans intend to make any noise in the Big Ten this year, it starts this weekend, with a featured matchup of all-American linebacker Greg Jones versus all-American tailback John Clay.

Big question marks The Big Ten regained some credibility with its 4-3 record in bowl games last season. All four wins came against top-15 opponents, including two in BCS bowl games.

With Michigan seemingly bowl bound and top-10 program Nebraska en route to joining the conference, things are looking up for a conference that people kicked when it was down only two years ago.

Struggles a distant memory? Not so fast. The Big Ten has endured its share of ugly defeats - South Dakota over Minnesota, Toledo over Purdue, Alabama destroying Penn State - this nonconference season.

Not saying the Big Ten is football’s Rodney Dangerfield - not getting any respect - but there’s still a lot to prove. The midterm Looking ahead a bit, the best big test after this weekend should come in two weeks, when Ohio State travels to Wisconsin for a game that could - and should - decide the Big Ten title.

Note for Spartans fans: Michigan State enjoys the luxury of not facing Buckeyes on this year’s conference slate, so a win Saturday over Wisconsin, coupled with a Badgers win in two weeks over the Buckeyes, could put Michigan State on top of the Big Ten.

Improbable? Of course. But it’s not completely out of the real of possibility either, and the start of the conference season is the perfect time for what-if scenarios.

Underrated and overrated

Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan sacks Toledo quarterback Austin Dantin and forces a fumble on Sept. 25.

Associated Press

He’s registered 4.5 sacks, forced three fumbles and already has 12 tackles for loss. If he keeps it up in conference play, he could be a sleeper candidate for defensive player of the year.

Meanwhile, Penn State running back Evan Royster was expected to contend with John Clay to be the conference’s best tailbacks.

Instead, Royster started slow, gaining 110 yards in his first three games before carrying 26 times 187 yards against Temple. Royster averaged 5.2 yards per carry his firs three seasons. In his first three games, it was 3.6 ypc.

Penn State must get Royster back on track if it intends to stay in the Big Ten's top three this year. Up against Iowa's stout run defense this weekend seems like a poor time to try and get him going.

The grand finale The Big Ten toyed with the idea of moving Ohio State-Michigan from the season’s final Saturday earlier this summer. If conference officials ever needed a reminder of why it should stay put, they’ll get it this year.

Circumstances could change, but right now, there’s a possibility the Heisman Trophy race could come down to this game.

Right now, Michigan’s Denard Robinson is the nation’s leading rusher, with 688 yards, six TDs and an 8.7 yards-per-carry average. Throwing the ball, Robinson’s completed 71.2 percent of his passes averaged 182.8 passing yards per game and thrown four TDs to one interception.

Terrelle Pryor, leader of the No. 2 Buckeyes, has 269 rushing yards, but is averaging 234.8 passing yards per game, with a Big Ten-high 10 touchdown passes.

Should they be neck and neck down the stretch, the game might be the series’ best since No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan met in 2006. Pete Bigelow is the college football beat reporter for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2556, via e-mail at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.