The timing is bad for our weekly trip around the Internet to catch up with news about future Michigan football opponents. Every media outlet in Big Ten country is loaded with stories about last night’s announcement on the conference’s divisional alignments.

(On a side note, HawkCentral’s “Farmageddon” -- referencing Iowa and Nebraska becoming divisional rivals -- wins the headline of the day award.)

Anyway … since AnnArbor.com’s Kaleb Roedel already compiled the division stories from around the Big Ten - and we covered the alignment ourselves here and here and here and here … and here - what’s left to talk about?

Fortunately, there was no divisional realignment in the Big East, so we can focus heavily on Michigan’s season-opening opponent, Connecticut. Seems timely, right?

Plus, there is actually some big news out of Penn State, where a Michigan kid has won the battle to be the Nittany Lions’ starting quarterback.

And two future Michigan opponents open their seasons tonight when Ohio State hosts Marshall and Indiana hosts Towson. Minnesota, which is not on Michigan’s schedule this year, is the other Big Ten team opening tonight, traveling to Middle Tennessee.

There had been talk of UConn’s Greg Lloyd Jr. (95) redshirting this season. Instead, he'll be in the starting lineup against Michigan Saturday hoping to produce more hits like this one on Notre Dame’s Armando Allen Jr., last November.

Associated Press file photo

The first stop is on our own pages, where AnnArbor.com’s Michael Rothstein features UConn quarterback Zach Fraser, a one-time Michigan recruit who’s taken the long road to be the Huskies’ leader.

UConn began training camp expecting Greg Lloyd Jr., would sit out this season while he recovered from a knee injury. Then, during one of the first days of camp, unbeknownst to coach Randy Edsall, Lloyd snuck onto the field and into a play with the third-string defense.

As much as it concerned Edsall, the Norwich Bulletin reports, it got the ball rolling on Lloyd not only proving he can play this season, but resuming duties as the Huskies’ starting middle linebacker.

Lee Lewis from the Waterbury Republican-American says Edsall isn’t creating much pre-game hype. He writes that after Tuesday’s press conference, Edsall “actually had you convinced walking out of the room that this was indeed no different than a season opener against Rhode Island.”

But Lewis responds by saying “a win on that field in full view of a football-loving nation on a long holiday weekend could firmly plant the Huskies in the next level of college football’s hierarchy.”

Finally, ESPN.com calls Michigan vs. Connecticut “one of the more intriguing opening-week matchups.” Bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett debate the game, with Rittenberg taking Michigan to win (28-27) and Bennett picking UConn (31-28).

Notre Dame The addition of BYU to the independent ranks has brought on rumors of a long-term contract with Notre Dame … and the South Bend Tribune says that could help ensure the Fighting Irish can avoid joining a conference.

It looks like former Irish wide receiver Shaquelle Evans, who informed the coaching staff on Monday that he’ll transfer, will end up at UCLA.

ESPN.com says the Irish “are boiling with excitement” as their season-opening game with Purdue approaches.

UMass John Connolly of the Boston Globe answers the five biggest questions facing the Minutemen this season. He says the UMass offense will be “plenty potent,” but notes there are obstacles to overcome for a Minutemen team picked to finish eighth in the 10-team Colonial Athletic Conference preseason poll.

Bowling Green Woody Hayes had his “three yards and a cloud of dust” philosophy. John Wagner of the Toledo Blade writes that in Bowling Green, Ohio, Falcons’ first-year coach Dave Clawson found himself rooting for three-yard gains in practices heading up to Saturday’s season opener at Troy.

Indiana The Indianapolis Star reports that the Hoosiers’ starting quarterback, Ben Chappell, started his football career as a striper. (Yes, only one ‘P’) He weighed too much by youth football rules to run the ball, so with black stripes on his helmet, Chappell was an offensive lineman.

The Star also previews tonight’s Towson at Indiana game.

Michigan State Greg Johnson of the Grand Rapids Press says the Spartans’ triple-threat Keshawn Martin is “a game changer.” Martin was the only player in college football's top division (Football Bowl Subdivision) who had scores of over 80 yards in three different ways - receiving, running and kick return.

In the Lansing State Journal’s preview of the Spartans, they note the following: “The fourth and fifth years of a college football program are generally accepted as the time of fair judgment and accurate prognosis. Starting in 2010, we find out about Dantonio's upside as a coach.”

Iowa The Hawkeyes’ defense was good last year, finishing eighth in the nation in points allowed (15.4 per game) and 10th in yards allowed (277). The Des Moines Register’s Mark Emmert wonders aloud if - with eight starters back - the defense could be even better in 2010.

True freshman Robert Bolden (1) will start at quarterback for Penn State against Youngstown State on Saturday.

Courtesy of The Patriot-News

Robert Bolden, a true freshman from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in Michigan, has been named the starting quarterback for the Nittany Lions’ opener Saturday against Youngstown State.

Bob Flounders of The Patriot-News says “the 6-3, 221-pound Bolden didn't arrive in State College until late June but was a standout in August practice sessions, displaying a big arm and solid running skills.”

ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg writes today that the quarterback situations at Penn State and Michigan, two of the league’s traditional powers, is the No. 1 thing to watch in Week 1 of the Big Ten’s season.

“True freshman Robert Bolden was named a surprise starter for the Nittany Lions, but sophomores Matt McGloin and Kevin Newsome are also likely to get some work,” Rittenberg writes.

Sound familiar?

Illinois A Fighting Illini defensive backfield riddled with injuries appears to have found a new leader in Tavon Wilson, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Purdue The Boilermakers’ defensive backs are earning praise heading into the season, the West Lafayette Journal reports.

Wisconsin Offseason surgeries on both ankles caused reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year to miss the entire spring, limited his work in preseason camp and have some people wondering how much of a load the running back can handle in the first few games.

“I’m just ready to prove a lot of people wrong,” Clay tells Madison.com in a story published today. “Last year, I had the same concept. But this year, after the ankle surgeries, people really doubt that I’m ready.”

Ohio State The Columbus Dispatch’s Tim May writes that the Buckeyes’ Cameron Heyward has “made no secret of his intention to bull-rush his way to being the best defensive lineman in college football this year.”

How good? “I want to be better than (Ndamukong) Suh,” Heyward said of the Detroit Loins’ No. 1 draft pick out of Nebraska.

In its preview of tonight’s game against Marshall, the Dispatch says coach Jim Tressel and his staff have been scrambling to find out whatever it can about the Thundering Herd’s mostly-new coaching staff.