ST. LOUIS - The national perception is hard to ignore: The Big Ten Conference is overrated, overexposed and will almost always underachieve.

Ohio State has become the most hated team in America, mainly because it failed to look worthy while losing each of the past two national championship games. Illinois only contributed to the perception when it got clobbered by Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl, 49-17. Heck, the Big Ten hasn't won a Rose Bowl game since Jan. 1, 2000.

"I'm sure nationally we've taken a little bit of a hit," Illini coach Ron Zook said this summer, acknowledging what coaches in the league all know. "That's why it's so important we go win some of these (high-profile, non-conference games).

"I've been fortunate enough to coach in two BCS conferences, and there is no question in my mind the Big Ten is a great, great conference. But it's important that we take care of business that way."

Well, Illinois doesn't have to wait until bowl season to improve the perception of the Big Ten. It can do so by making a bold statement tonight, when the 20th-ranked Illini collide with No. 6 Missouri in an ESPN game that will be the only coast-to-coast national telecast of the day.

Illini cornerback Vontae Davis was asked about the punt he blocked and recovered for a touchdown last year against Missouri, and he waved off the question, preferring not to talk about flashbacks.

"We're going into a game that is prestigious right now," Davis said, keeping the focus on the job at hand. "These are two nationally ranked teams, and this game could do a lot for both programs as far as how they are viewed in the country. We're looking at it as a very big game."

At the very least, it's a very big opportunity, and each team arrives feeling it should benefit by the season it enjoyed one year ago.

For the Tigers, it was a season of great achievement, even if it felt cheated by the level of the final reward.

Missouri beat Illinois 40-34 in the opener last season and used that as a springboard to an 11-1 season, the only loss being a 41-31 decision at Oklahoma. In fact, the Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the country, earning a rematch with Oklahoma in the Big 12 Conference championship game in San Antonio. But when Missouri lost again, this time 38-17, it was enough to cost the Tigers a chance at a BCS bowl bid.

Instead, Kansas and Oklahoma landed BCS bids, and Missouri settled for what felt like a booby prize, an invitation to the Cotton Bowl.

Perhaps motivated by the snub, Missouri capped its season in style, whipping Arkansas 38-7.

From that team, Missouri returns 17 starters, including quarterback Chase Daniel, fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting last year, electric wide receiver/kick returner Jeremy Maclin and a defense that should be among the country's best.

Despite the lopsided loss in the Rose Bowl, Illinois begins 2008 feeling as though it carries some momentum, too. The Illini posted the greatest turnaround in all of college football last year, improving from two victories in 2006 to nine in 2007. The performance that earned Illinois national attention was a 28-21 victory over then-No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus.

Back from that team is quarterback Juice Williams, who has been a work in progress as a passer but whose toughness and leadership are unquestioned within his own team.

"He's the guy we want to go to war with," linebacker Brit Miller said.

How each team deploys its most dangerous pass catcher will be worth watching.

Missouri likes to line up Maclin in the slot but will move him to create mismatches. Last season, he was the only player in the nation to score touchdowns as a receiver (9), rusher (4), punt returner (2) and kickoff returner (1).

"He's a fast guy," said Davis, who will be one of the players trying to keep tabs on Maclin. "He's an explosive player, one of the best all-purpose receivers in the country. I wouldn't mind covering him. That would be good competition. Whoever wins that battle gets the upper hand."

Illinois likes to use Arrelious Benn the same way, preferring him to line up as a slot receiver but shifting him into the backfield as a runner and using him to return both kickoffs and punts as well.

Davis said players who don't love this type of big-game atmosphere might as well stay home.

"This is just big-time football," he said. "That's what you ask for. You want to be on the field with some of the best players, the preseason All-Americans. You want to showcase your talents, and I'm sure they are saying the same about us.

"If you want to step up and be known as a player with big-time ability, this is the time to do it."

mtupper@herald-review.com|421-7983