With Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and USC garnering most of the preseason headlines, there’s not much buzz about Big Ten football media days, which begin today in Chicago.

Terrelle Pryor’s a year away from dominance, Michigan’s still rebuilding, and Joe Paterno’s been on the verge of retiring for so long that eyes roll when the subject comes up.

With that in mind, here’s five storylines I’ll be following the next two days. Check in frequently for updates from my colleague Michael Rothstein and me.

1. Rich’s reasons for hope. Michigan is coming off its worst season (3-9) in school history and the pressure’s on Rich Rodriguez to turn things around. Rodriguez has a history of second-year success, but the Wolverines have a killer conference schedule and likely will be starting a freshman quarterback.

2. Who’s No. 3? Ohio State and Penn State are clearly tops among Big Ten teams. Can Iowa, Illinois, Michigan State, Wisconsin or someone else make it a three-team race?

3. Juice and Benn. For one reason or another, most of the league’s top players are not at media day. Pryor, Michigan’s Brandon Graham and Penn State’s Evan Royster and Navorro Bowman are among those left home. Illinois bucked the trend by bringing QB Juice Williams and WR Arrelious Benn to Chicago. Their interview tables will be full Tuesday.

4. The commish. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has an hour-long question and answer scheduled for today. Among the topics sure to come up: expansion, the BCS and why the Big Ten’s struggled so badly on the national stage.

5. Guess who? And your preseason Big Ten Player of the Year is … suspenseful for once. Pryor and Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark are both legitimate picks. Who’ll get the nod this morning? (My guess - and my pick - is Clark.)