Coaches might not like to admit it publicly, and across the country they prefer to stick to a "next man up" message, but there is always at least one player a program can’t afford to lose.
This week, the Big Ten reporters are trying to identify the guys across the league who would be hardest to replace between now and the start of the season if they suffered an injury, were lost to suspension or were forced to miss time for any other reason. Whether it’s based on individual talent or lack of depth at a position, the goal is to find the true most valuable player on every roster in the conference as the march toward the season continues.