Crossword puzzle clue "n c state's group"

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin

Article of tropical apparel ... whose start is a state nickname for the state indicated by the circled squares

Unlikely state of a state?

Secretariat's mother, for one ... whose start is a state nickname for the state indicated by the circled squares

State made up of two state postal abbreviations

Emergency worker ... whose start is a state nickname for the state indicated by the circled squares

Biblical idol ... whose start is a state nickname for the state indicated by the circled squares

State with the first state-funded public school system