Illinois
2018 PROJECTION: 7th place, West
HE GONE: Tre Watson. But the former Illini linebacker isn't gone from the Big Ten. He'll play his final season at Maryland after transferring following an injury-plagued 2017 at Illinois where he still put up 65 tackles in nine games.
WELCOME BACK: Ricky Smalling — and also a slew of other young players. Smalling, who has put on some noticeable muscle after being one of 22 true freshmen to play last fall, returns as Illinois' leading receiver after racking up 501 yards in 2017.