This isn’t your father’s Big Ten Conference.

The era of Legends and Leaders commences with the inauguration of Nebraska, Big Ten Member. Beyond the institution of divisions, a new member and a championship game, the conference returns some of the nation’s top quarterbacks. Three-yards-in-a-cloud-of-dust no longer defines the Big Ten’s style, with five of the nation’s top 40 scoring offenses in 2010.

By no means does that mean the Big Ten is becoming the CFL South. Defenses like Nebraska, Wisconsin and Penn State will maintain the standard synonymous with the conference for decades.

Good conference preview:

OnsideKick Big Ten 2011 Conference Preview