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VOLUME 25, ISSUE 6 87 paralleled," Dienhart said. "The Min- nesota staff knows what they're doing and they're not excuse guys. They're not silver spoon guys. They didn't get a job just because their last name was Kiffin. These are guys that have paid their dues and won at every level. "If I needed to win a game, I would like Jerry Kill and Tracy Claeys (asso- ciate coach/defensive coordinator) on my sideline to help me game plan and call plays." Still, most experts view Wisconsin or Nebraska as the favorite to make it to Indianapolis, despite both teams having to go to Minneapolis. But if the Gophers can hold serve at home (they also face TCU and Michigan at TCF Bank Stadium), it would be a season not experienced since the early 1960s in Gopherland. NEW BLOOD ON THE SIDELINES Three new coaches at three histor- ically prominent programs are major storylines for the 2015 season. Jim Harbaugh's return to Ann Arbor is a story in itself because Michigan, after failed attempts with Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke, finally got the man it wanted all along. At Wisconsin and Nebraska, it was a little different as there was as much discussion about the manner in which Gary Andersen and Bo Pelini departed their respec- tive schools as there was about the hiring of Paul Chryst and Mike Riley. If the OSU quarterback derby isn't the top story in college football's off- season, then Harbaugh's return to his college and boyhood stomping grounds is. The new Wolverine coach has been the focus of high-profile me- dia attention — the likes of HBO and Sports Illustrated — as fans have been introduced to the khakis-and-Michi- gan-blue combination more than once. But no doubt it will come down to winning for Harbaugh, and how fast the Wolverines return to national prominence will be worth watching over the next couple of seasons. "The challenge is can Harbaugh win the matchup games (against Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State), and I think they'll only do it if they have efficient quarterback play," DiNardo said. "They still have better players than most of the teams they face, so I can see them with eight wins this season. Yet, to be great, they have to have a great offense to go along The Crossovers A key factor in the conference race is cross-division opponents. Here's the list: Illinois: @Penn State, Ohio State Indiana: Iowa, @Purdue Iowa: Maryland, @Indiana Maryland: @Iowa, Wisconsin Michigan: Northwestern, @Minnesota Michigan State: Purdue, @Nebraska Minnesota: Michigan, @Ohio State Nebraska: Michigan State, @Rutgers Northwestern: @Michigan, Penn State Ohio State: Minnesota, @Illinois Penn State: Illinois, @ Northwestern Purdue: @ Michigan State, Indiana Rutgers: Wisconsin, @Nebraska Wisconsin: Rutgers, @Maryland Penn State A stout defensive tackle, Anthony Zettel hopes to help Penn State raise its game a notch in 2015.