3-Point Stance: Top Big Ten Defensive Backs, Overrated Teams, Predicting the Big XII

National Columnist Mike Farrell is here with the 3-Point Stance, ranking the top-tier defensive backs for next season in the Big Ten, the overrated teams in the first coaches poll and Matt Perkins Big 12 standings predictions.

Best Big Ten Defensive Backfields

— We round out the position rankings by Power Five with the Big Ten defensive backs. And neither Ohio State nor Michigan tops the list.

1. Penn State

— Kalen King is one of the best corners in the country, and this group is very deep. How deep? All-ACC transfer Storm Duck couldn’t make a dent and had to transfer out in a couple of months.

Penn State cornerback Kalen King (4) celebrates with Jaylen Reed (7) after intercepting a pass against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in State College. The Nittany Lions won, 35-16.

2. Michigan

— Will Johnson and Rod Moore are one of the best CB-S duos nationally, and this is a strength of the defense.

Michigan defensive back Rod Moore, right, celebrates with defensive back R.J. Moten after running back his interception against Colorado State quarterback Clay Millen during the first half on Saturday, Sept. 3 , 2022, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

3. Ohio State

— The Buckeyes oddly lack star power, but Denzel Burke has elite talent, and Lathan Ransom is an emerging star.

Oct 8, 2022; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke (10) goes up against Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jayden Reed (1) in the third quarter of the NCAA Division I football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium.

4. Iowa

— Cooper DeJean does it all for Iowa, and this will be yet another solid group under Phil Parker.

Iowa defensive back Xavier Nwankpa (1) celebrates his touchdown with Cooper DeJean (3) against Kentucky during the second quarter of the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.

5. Minnesota

— Tyler Nubin and his experience and leadership give Minnesota the slight nod here.

Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin celebrates after beating Michigan State on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

Overrated Teams in the Inaugural 2023 Coaches Poll

— The first coaches’ poll is loaded with overrated teams. Here are some.

No. 12 Texas

— I won’t believe in the Longhorns until they actually live up to some of their potential. The roster is loaded, the conference is weaker, but pushing the top 10 seems a bit high.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian talks to quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the first Texas Longhorns football practice of 2023 at the Frank Denius Fields on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Monday, March 6, 2023.

No. 16 TCU

— The run last year was epic, but they lose a lot, especially on offense. I don’t see the reason for pre-season top 20.

Oct 29, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes yells at an official during the first quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium.

No. 19 Oklahoma

— Why? They were awful last season, and I’m not sure we can expect a huge jump to 9-3 or so.

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables is seen before a Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Oklahoma won 28-13.

No. 20 North Carolina

— Until I see an improved defense, I’m not putting UNC anywhere near the top 25 despite QB Drake Maye.

Sep 10, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) drops back to pass against the Georgia State Panthers in the first half at Center Parc Stadium.

No. 25 Texas A&M

— This is a bit of a reach for a losing program. There is a ton of talent, but this team will quit on their coach if things don’t start off well.

Oct 22, 2022; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher directs his team against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Predicted Big XII Standings

— And finally, we have Matt Perkins’ Big 12 standings prediction.

Top of the League:

1. Texas

2. Kansas State

3. Oklahoma

4. Texas Tech

5. Kansas

6. UCF

7. TCU

Dec 3, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; Kansas State Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman holds up the Big 12 Championship trophy after the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at AT&T Stadium.

There’s an undeniable talent advantage in Austin this fall, and I would bet on the Longhorns to be far and away the most well-rounded team with a not-quite-darkhorse Heisman candidate leading the way in Quinn Ewers. Chris Klieman might be the best coach in the conference at maximizing the talent on his roster, and despite losing a couple of stars, they still will bully people with their OL led by Cooper Beebe, who is arguably the best lineman in the nation. Oklahoma has a very favorable schedule, with their toughest true road game probably being the last iteration of Bedlam. But last year’s performance gave me a lot of doubts about Brent Venables‘ in-game decision-making. Their defense allowed six yards per snap in 2022 which, even in an offense-heavy Big XII, is alarmingly high.

Sep 24, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire kisses his daughter Raegan as he hugs his wife Debbie after the Red Raiders defeated the Texas Longhorns in overtime at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field.

I’m all in on Joey McGuire and the potential of Tyler Shough and the Red Raiders’ offense. They’re my dark horse to make the conference title game. A healthy Jalon Daniels and Devin Neal give the Jayhawks a top-2 QB/RB duo in the league. They have a chance to beat anyone, anywhere. The Knights’ John Rhys Plumlee immediately becomes one of the most dangerous players in the conference, and there are potential stars on both sides of the ball. TCU loses an avalanche of talent from their miraculous 2022 campaign. To boot, their schedule is brutal, with trips to Manhattan, Norman, and Lubbock.

Sep 1, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights quarterback John Rhys Plumlee (10) runs the ball against South Carolina State Bulldogs linebacker Aaron Smith (11) during the second half at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Bottom of the League

8. Baylor

9. Iowa State

10. Cincinnati

11. Oklahoma State

12. Houston

13. BYU

14. West Virginia

Sep 3, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Blake Shapen (12) in action during the game between the Baylor Bears and the Albany Great Danes at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

A solid backfield between Blake Shapen and Richard Reese remains for Dave Aranda, but they’re behind an entirely new offensive line. I’m not betting on Iowa State to do anything of real note in the wake of Hunter Dekkers‘ suspension, but I’m really high on the future of the position with true freshman JJ Kohl. There’s still some outstanding talent – just look at Dontay Corleone – on Cincinnati, but there’s definitely going to be a dropoff between Luke Fickell and Scott Satterfield.

Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Dontay Corleone (58) tackles Indiana Hoosiers running back Shaun Shivers (2) in the first quarter of a college football game, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati.

The Cowboys are bereft of talent on the defense, and they lost a lot of key pieces on the offense, including QB Spencer Sanders. But they’ve got a favorable schedule avoiding a lot of the top teams and will get OU at home. Houston’s defense might be worse than Oklahoma State’s, as they’re only returning four players from a unit that gave up over 30 points a game in the AAC. BYU has one of the toughest schedules in their first year in the league, while West Virginia’s Neal Brown is a dead man walking.