Big Ten media days, a two-day event in Chicago, kick off Thursday. Until then, we'll be getting you prepared for what to expect by running down some of the biggest questions each program will face at the lectern and as the regular season gets started.

Up next is Minnesota. Gophers coach Jerry Kill will be bringing quarterback Mitch Leidner, defensive end Theiren Cockran and cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun. Here are some of the questions they could face:

Can this team win the West? The Gophers have been one of the conference's biggest surprises the past two seasons: They exceeded expectations with back-to-back eight-win seasons for the first time in more than a decade. But can they take the next step? For the past two years, they've had some trouble against the best in the West -- Nebraska, Wisconsin -- and have gone 1-1 against those teams both seasons. Earning a spot in the B1G title game, obviously, is the next big step for Kill's squad, but those two division foes both are standing in their way. Minnesota will have a slightly easier path this season, as it plays the Badgers and Huskers at TCF Bank Stadium, so you can bet the Gophers will be asked plenty about how they're planning to reverse their fortunes.

Can Mitch Leidner improve his accuracy and make this more than a one-dimensional offense? No Big Ten team threw less than Minnesota last season, and no Big Ten quarterback completed passes at a lower rate than Leidner's 51.5 percent (min. 200 pass attempts). In other words, it's clear that Leidner can run and that he's tough. But can he truly be a threat in the passing game? Leidner will be on hand to answer that question himself. He'll likely point out that Minnesota doesn't pad his numbers with bubble screens or short passes, and he'll almost certainly be improved -- thanks to another offseason of training and a couple of days at the Manning Passing Academy. But by how much? If Minnesota is going to take a step in the right direction, then Leidner needs to, as well.

How will Minnesota replace offensive playmakers David Cobb and Maxx Williams? Cobb accounted for 38 percent of the Gophers' entire offense last season (1,626 rushing yards; 162 receiving yards), while Williams caught twice as many passes (36) as the next-leading target. Minnesota doesn't have similar playmakers waiting in the wings, so the question becomes: How can they win without those two? Leidner and Kill are sure to be asked how the offense will operate differently this season, and they'll both likely be asked about wideout K.J. Maye, who might be the closest thing the Gophers have to "explosive" at the receiver position. At running back, Minnesota won't be able to rely on just one threat, so expect plenty of chatter regarding the stable of running backs and how they differ (Berkley Edwards, Rodrick Williams, Rodney Smith).