Heading into the 2019-20 season, the Big Ten had one clear favorite: Michigan State.
However, as conference play resumes on Thursday, the Spartans are joined by a host of contenders at the top of the league, including Ohio State, Michigan and Maryland, to name a few.
While most of the Big Ten has played well out of conference, the grind of playing in a deep and competitive league could take a serious toll on a few of the expected contenders.
With two conference games in the books, here are three storylines to monitor heading into the second week of Big Ten play.