College Football Preview: Big Ten Conference

By Andrew Musur on August 31, 2015

The Big Ten has been the punchline to many jokes over the past couple of years, but with Ohio State’s National Title run last season, the Big Ten is on the rise.

Many have picked the Buckeyes to repeat as National Champions, but how will they fare in a much tougher Big Ten Conference? Let’s take a look.

East Division

No. 1 Ohio State

2014 Record: 14-1 (8-0)

2015 Prediction: 13-0 (8-0)

The Skinny: Few thought the Buckeyes would be able to rebound after a 14 point home loss to Virginia Tech. However, Ohio State picked up their play and strung off 11 straight wins, including a blowout win against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship.

The Buckeyes were then selected as one of the top four teams in the country and played in the first College Football Playoff. There Ohio State used their third string quarterback and shocked the world as they beat number 1 seed Alabama and 2 seed Oregon.

The biggest reason why I think the Buckeyes will be successful again this year is because they return almost everyone on both sides of the ball. Running back Ezekiel Elliott will be back and will have an opportunity to play himself into the Heisman conversation. Elliott ran for a whopping 1,878 yards scoring 18 touchdowns including four in the National Title game.

The junior tailback will be accompanied by one of the two exceptionally talented Ohio State quarterbacks. Either Cardale Jones or J.T. Barrett will be leader of this Buckeye team next season. Both are very capable of leading this team to their second consecutive National Title, but they may feel their wide receiver corps will be thin.

Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson, two standout wide receivers, are suspended for Ohio State’s opening game, due to marijuana and academic team violations. Not only will Ohio State be without Marshall and Wilson, but they also lose Noah Brown to a broken leg.

With no Marshall, no Wilson and no Brown there will be ample opportunities for former QB, Braxton Miller, to step up. Ohio State has all the tools to run the table this season, but with a road game in Blacksburg, Virginia to start the season off, things may get dicey.

No. 2 Michigan State

2014 Record: 11-2 (7-1)

2015 Prediction: 10-2 (7-1)

The Skinny: If there was a year that Michigan State could give Ohio State a run for their money, this would be that year. The Spartans are led by third year starting quarterback Connor Cook. Cook threw for more than 3,000 yards last season and 24 touchdowns.

The Michigan State offensive line will also play a crucial role in Cook’s success this season. Jack Conklin, a soon to be first round draft pick, will anchor an offensive line that only allowed 11 sacks last season. Questions still loom on who will step up at the wideout and halfback positions, but Coach Mark Dantonio has plenty of options.

On the other side of the ball is where the Spartans thrive. Dantonio has made this defense his work of art. The Spartans front four should dominate most Big Ten offensive lines this season. Defensive end, Shilique Calhoun, recorded eight sacks last season and as a senior this year may prove to be even bigger for Calhoun. The 6-foot-5 monster will have to keep this Spartan defense in check as they hope to win their first conference title since 2013.

No. 3 Penn State

2014 Record: 7-6 (2-6)

2015 Prediction: 8-4 (4-4)

The Skinny: The James Franklin inaugural season went a lot better than many expected. Franklin led a tattered and torn Penn State team to seven wins, including a victory in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.

The undeniable leader of this Nittany Lion team is their quarterback, Christian Hackenberg. Hackenberg was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school. The Virginia native had scholarship offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida, Miami (FL) and Tennessee.

Hackenberg has already been projected as a top five pick in next year’s draft. In his two years at Penn State, Hackenberg has thrown for more than 5,900 yards and 32 touchdowns. The 6-foot-4 pocket passer will have a ton of expectations going into next season, but there is no reason the Nittany Lions shouldn’t pass their win total from a season ago.

No. 4 Michigan

2014 Record: 5-7 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 6-6 (3-5)

The Skinny: Michigan finally nabbed their coach, Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh was a quarterback at Michigan back in the mid ’80s. He threw for more than 5,000 yards and 31 touchdowns. There is no doubt that Harbaugh has his work cut out for him, but many think he will be able to make Michigan a contender in just a couple of years.

The Wolverines need as much help as they can get; last season their offense bottomed out at number 112 nationally. There is still some questions surrounding who will be the Wolverines quarterback. The battle right now is between junior Shane Morris and Iowa fifth-year transfer Jake Rudock.

On the defensive side of the ball Michigan should be set. The Wolverines return almost everyone on their defensive depth chart, and will be key in keeping Michigan in close games this season.

No. 5 Maryland

2014 Record: 7-6 (4-4)

2015 Prediction: 6-6 (3-5)

The Skinny: Maryland’s first full season in the Big Ten conference was a huge success. The Terrapins held their own winning half of their Big Ten games and even were victorious in a postseason bowl game. Senior Caleb Rowe will step in to be the Terrapins next starting quarterback.

Rowe hasn’t had much college experience, but he has thrown for more than 1,700 yards. Rowe will have a substantial role in the offense next season. Maryland has struggled with their run game the past couple of seasons, so it is crucial for Rowe to step in and start slinging.

No. 6 Indiana

2014 Record: 4-8 (1-7)

2015 Prediction: 5-7 (1-7)

The Skinny: Indiana has a huge part of their offense that they need to replace. Star running back Tevin Coleman elected to test the NFL waters after his three seasons in Bloomington. Coleman ran for more than 2,000 yards and scored 27 touchdowns in hist last two seasons.

Even with a 2,000 yard rusher, Indiana struggled mightily winning only one conference game. Quarterback Nate Sudfeld suffered a season ending shoulder injury through six games last season. Sudfeld will hopefully remain healthy this season as he tries to will the Hoosiers to a bowl game for the first time since 2007.

2007 was the last time Indiana finished the season above .500 since 1994. It’s been a long and tiring run for Hoosier fans.

No. 7 Rutgers

2014 Record: 8-5 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 5-7 (1-7)

The Skinny: Rutgers had what many would call a successful season in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights rattled off eight total wins including three in conference play. The big question for Rutgers at this point is who will be their starting quarterback?

As of now LSU transfer, Hayden Rettig, will be the starter for the Scarlet Knights opening game. Coach Kyle Flood said he trusted Rettig enough to let him start in the season opener, but wouldn’t commit to Rettig as the long-term starting quarterback.

The biggest weapon Rutgers has returning next season is wideout Leonte Carroo. Carroo is a 6-foot-1 receiver from New Jersey. The senior caught more than 50 passes for 1,086 yards a season ago. If Rettig can hook up with Carroo this season, Rutgers may surprise a few people.

West Division

No. 1 Wisconsin

2014 Record: 11-3 (7-1)

2015 Prediction: 9-4 (6-2)

The Skinny: There is no question that the East division is a much tougher test for Big Ten teams. Although Wisconsin and Nebraska are talented teams, the last time the Badgers won a conference championship was in 2012. That was a surprise year for Wisconsin given they went a lowly 4-4 in conference.

The Badgers will have to rely on fifth-year senior Joel Stave. Stave was adequate last season, but he struggled as he only threw for 1,300 yards. The Wisconsin native also threw more interceptions than touchdowns. This Wisconsin team will not be nearly as brilliant as it has been in the past, but first year coach, Paul Chryst, will have the opportunity to build the Badgers into a Big Ten powerhouse.

No. 2 Nebraska 

2014 Record: 9-4 (5-3)

2015 Prediction: 8-4 (5-3)

The Skinny: It will be a brand new year for Nebraska as the Cornhuskers parted ways with infamous head coach, Bo Pelini. Pelini went 67-27 in his seven years, and went to a bowl game in every single season.

As an Illinois fan having those numbers over the past seven seasons would be extremely impressive. Heck, there is no way we would have fired Pelini if he coached us, but unfortunately the people in Lincoln are a little more particular when it comes to winning.

New coach, Mike Riley, will inherit a stud at quarterback in Tommy Armstrong Jr. Armstrong has thrown for 3,661 yards and 31 touchdowns in his two years at Nebraska, but he did a majority of his damage on the ground. The Texas native has ran for 907 yards and eight touchdowns thus far in his career.

There will be a lot of pressure on Armstrong to hit his stride early, and I think we may be calling him one of the better quarterbacks in the league when it’s all said and done.

No. 3 Minnesota

2014 Record: 8-5 (5-3)

2015 Prediction: 8-4 (5-3)

The Skinny: Minnesota has seen a great deal of bright spots in Jerry Kill’s first four years in Minneapolis. Kill has been just under .500 in his four seasons, but has sent the Gophers bowling for the past three seasons.

The only way Minnesota shocks people this year is if their defense steps up. With a secondary full of seniors, there will be no excuses for the Gophers to lock down their opponents.

Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Eric Murray are two returning All Big Ten players and will be the captains to this team. Kill has proven his defense can compete with some of the best in the Big Ten, but the real question is how will his offense fare? It will be essential for Minnesota to replace new NFL running back, David Cobb.

No. 4 Iowa 

2014 Record: 7-6 (4-4)

2015 Prediction: 7-5 (4-4)

The Skinny: It is crazy to think that head coach Kirk Ferentz is entering his 17th season. Ferentz is one of the many Big Ten coaches with their buns rested on the hot spot. The Iowa offense will rely heavily on junior quarterback, C.J. Beathard.

Beathard not only has a head full of luscious hair, but he also has shown a small amount of promise for the Hawkeyes. If Beathard has a tough time getting accustomed to the offense, it will be an extremely long year for Iowa. Many of the lower teams in the Big Ten think they have a fantastic opportunity to knock down the lowly Hawkeyes this season. It’s his 17th season, and for some reason I think it will be one of the last for Ferentz.

No. 5 Illinois

2014 record: 6-7 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 7-5 (3-5)

The Skinny: I have heaps of confidence in this year’s Illinois team, maybe a tad bit too much. The Illini will have to rely on junior quarterback Wes Lunt. Lunt was a highly touted transfer from Oklahoma State. The Illinois native struggled with injuries in his first season with the Illini. Hopefully a slightly improved offensive line can keep Lunt healthy all season, because a healthy Lunt is a deadly quarterback.

Along with Lunt, running back Josh Ferguson is expected to have a huge year. Ferguson was one of the best receiving running backs in the NCAA last season. If the senior can make some noise on the ground too, it should take off a great deal of pressure from Lunt.

Freshman All American Mike Dudek will be missed but could return as early as October. On the defensive side of the ball, the Illini have been hit by the injury bug. Defensive end and NFL prospect Jihad Ward was posed for his best season in college. Ward had surgery on an unidentified part of his body, but should be back by the Illini’s third and crucial non-conference game against North Carolina.

Besides Ward the Illini will have to rely on their experience. They have one of the most experienced secondaries and linebacker cores in the Big Ten. Lucky for Illini fans, I have faith that the Illini will make it to a second consecutive bowl game.

No. 6 Northwestern

2014 Record: 5-7 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 5-7 (3-5)

The Skinny: I watched as Northwestern was denied bowl eligibility in their season finale at home against Illinois. Last year marked the second time that coach Pat Fitzgerald was unable to lead his Wildcats to a bowl game. After five straight bowl games prior to this slump, it may be a sign that Fitzgerald is on the decline.

Sophomore running back Justin Jackson was one of the few offensive bright spots. Jackson rushed for more than 1,100 yards and scored 10 touchdowns as a freshman. There will be a great deal of pressure on Jackson to repeat the success he had last season.

No. 7 Purdue

2014 Record: 3-9 (1-7)

2015 Prediction: 2-10 (1-7)

The Skinny: Darrell Hazell has had a rough first two years at Purdue. Hazell has won a total of four games in the last two seasons. Junior quarterback Austin Appleby had a tough time last season, but with another year under his belt Purdue fans are hoping he can doing something … anything.

Appleby threw for 1,449 yards in nine games last season. He did struggle with accuracy though throwing 11 interceptions compared to only 10 touchdowns and only completed 52 percent of his passes.

Purdue also struggled to stop anyone on defense; they will have to improve immensely if they want a chance to go to their first bowl game since 2012.

———

Conference Championship: Ohio State Vs. Wisconsin

Conference Champion: Ohio State

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