BTN.com staff, September 1, 2011

Week 1 kicks off tonight, with reigning co-Big Ten champ Wisconsin hosting UNLV, so it's time to get you some stats before you watch all the action. The following 12 stats are some of the latest tweets from my twitter account, @BTNStatsGuy. Check me out on Twitter to get all of my Big Ten stats and come back here every week for this feature. Enjoy!

ILLINOIS

Illinois gave up 6.7 points per game fewer in 2010 than the previous season. That was the #B1G's biggest scoring defense improvement

INDIANA

Ben Chappell threw for 300+ yards 6 times last season. No other #B1G player did it more than 4 (Dan Persa).

IOWA

Iowa's average loss margin in 11 defeats since 2008 is 3.6. Only Boise State (2.0) is smaller among FBS teams in this

MICHIGAN

Michigan did not beat a team ranked in AP poll last season. That was the first time that happened since 1987.

MICHIGAN STATE

The last time #MichiganState was ranked this high (No. 17) in the initial coaches' poll was when it debuted at 14 in 1988.

MINNESOTA

Troy Stoudermire has 2,929 career kickoff return yards – 97 to pass David Gilreath for #B1G  record.

NEBRASKA

Taylor Martinez was the only FBS freshman to have at least 1,600 passing yards and 900 rushing yards last season.

NORTHWESTERN

Northwestern has won its last six openers, the program?s longest run of 1-0 starts since the 1958-64 teams won all seven.

OHIO STATE

Ohio State had 67 offensive plays of at least 20 yards last season, leading the #B1G

PENN STATE

Derek Moye's 23 career receptions of 25+ yards is the most among returning #B1Gplayers. DeVier Posey is 2nd at 19.

PURDUE

#Purdue's defense recorded 33 sacks and its offensive line only allowed 18 last season.

WISCONSIN

The last five QBs to start for Wisconsinare 4-1 in debuts: Stocco (W), Donovan (W), Evridge (W), Sherer (L), Tolzien (W).