By Matt Perkins
Let’s run down how the Big Ten will shake out in the last year of divisional play before the west coast contingent of USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington join the conference.
East:
1. Michigan
2. Penn State
3. Ohio State
4. Maryland
5. Michigan State
6. Rutgers
7. Indiana
Michigan has the most complete roster in the conference, and they should be able to 3-peat in the conference and make it back to the CFP. Drew Allar is a better option at quarterback than either Kyle McCord or Devin Brown, and because of that, I’ll take the Nits over the Buckeyes.
Maryland is the best of the rest, with a proven quarterback in Taulia Tagovailoa and a very good running back in Roman Hemby. The Spartans are in disarray after the departures of some key players this spring but still have enough talent to stay in front of Rutgers and Indiana. That being said, the Hoosiers are intriguing, with Tennessee transfer Tayven Jackson getting rave reviews out of camp.
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West:
1. Wisconsin
2. Illinois
3. Iowa
4. Purdue
5. Nebraska
6. Minnesota
7. Northwestern
A new-look Badgers offense under Luke Fickell and OC Phil Longo should push the Badgers over the top in the weaker of the two divisions. Illinois and Iowa both return strong defenses and questionable offenses but should be competitive in every game. I’m really high on Purdue’s ability to move the ball under new OC Graham Harrell and transfer quarterback Hudson Card.
Matt Rhule‘s inaugural season at Nebraska will bring a lot of intrigue and a potential return to the postseason, something they didn’t achieve under Scott Frost. Minnesota is thinner this season than they have been in recent years under PJ Fleck, while Northwestern is an absolute dumpster fire. It would be shocking to see them win a conference game this fall.
