Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, August 30, 2016

Everyone loves a dark horse, a sleeper, a team that seemingly comes out of nowhere and has a terrific season. With the Big Ten season on our doorstep, I asked some media members who cover the conference which team they felt was a sleeper.

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Chris Childers, SiriusXM Radio
Minnesota. Love their defense and they bring back an abundance of skill players on offense.

Sean Callahan, HuskerOnline.com
My sleeper team is Nebraska. I know that's unoriginal because I cover them, but I think they are a team that could really shake up the Big Ten West and challenge Iowa. I also expect them to take a step forward in Year Two.

Marcus Fuller, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Penn State would be my pick. Lost Christian Hackenberg, but they return arguably the best running back in the Big Ten and a Heisman Trophy candidate with Saquon Barkley.

John Borton, TheWolverine.com
I'm going with Maryland. The Terps gave some opponents, including Michigan, a game last year. With DJ Durkin at the helm, they'll play a higher level of defense. Of course, in the Big Ten East, if Maryland is the best of "The Others," it means finishing fourth.

Marc Morehouse, Cedar Rapids Gazette
Minnesota. I still wonder if the passing game will be a struggle, but the guts of a physical team are there.

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