Even if Northwestern has another frustrating year, the program boasts one of the country's premier offensive linemen. Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) runs for a long first down in the third quarter against Nebraska Cornhuskers safety Myles Farmer (4) during their football game Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Camp Randall in Madison, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. The question is: can the Boilermakers sustain that success in 2022? Nov 20, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan (2) drops back for a pass in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at TCF Bank Stadium. However, this group will still be a tough out for anyone in the league. It was a strange 2021 campaign for Bret Bielema in his first year at Illinois. Dec 30, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) warms up before facing the Arizona State Sun Devils in the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium. Stroud, Henderson and Smith-Njigba are top-15 players nationallyand that's probably a conservative number. In the history of the Big 12, 2023 will always stand as an outlier. Sign up for the Nittany Lions Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. This is a team hit hard by personnel losses, with Penix, Ty Fryfogle, Stephen Carr, and Peyton Hendershot all moving on. The rest of the slate is treacherous. There probably isn't much resistance to labeling them all top-10 talents, which is genuinely absurd for a single offense. These are just some of the questions that will be asked as the Big Ten enters a new season. Oct 9, 2021; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara (12) hugs head coach Jim Harbaugh after a 32-29 win against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. The opener in Dublin is a huge tone-setter for both teams. Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Teradja Mitchell (3) and Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste (8) come together to tackle Maryland Terrapins running back Challen Faamatau (29) during the second quarter of their NCAA college football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on October 9, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports. Well know more after the early-season contest against Ohio State. The Buckeyes will get preseason Heisman hopeful CJ Stroud back after an impressive first campaign as a starter and should comfortably be the preseason favorite in the Big Ten East. PSU wasnt the same team after that, and still has loads of talent. USA TODAY - Bryant Crews 1h. C.J. In what could be USCs final game as a Pac-12 member, will the Trojans carry some bragging rights into the conference in year one? A closer look at the Big Ten, with predictions, big games, Heisman contenders and more: Ohio State plays most of its tough Big Ten games in the comforts of home this season with Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan all coming to Ohio Stadium (not to mention the non-con blockbuster with Notre Dame). They'll likely need to split those two contests and get help elsewhere to advance. Losing the senior receivers wont help him, but at least we know that Wisconsin can get back to its formula and has the pieces to make that work. Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) April 21, 2022, Nov 28, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen looks on from the sideline in the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium. Please check your email for a confirmation. If they can get to a 6-3 finish in league play, that should be enough to win the division if two of those victories include Wisconsin and Nebraska. Contact/Follow us@BuckeyesWireon Twitter, and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. We may be months away from the start of the 2023 season, but it is never too early to start making bowl projections, right? It's still the toughest road test on the Buckeyes' schedule and part of a thrilling day in the Big Ten East. Palmer, who had 41 catches for 458 yards and three TDs with the Tigers the last three seasons, followed Joseph. Wins: Illinois State, Washington State, New Mexico State, Illinois, at Northwestern, Purdue, Maryland, Minnesota, Losses: at Ohio State, at Michigan State, at Iowa, at Nebraska. Palmer should thrive in a more pronounced role and will emerge as a breakout player for the Huskers. Michigan had a dominant offensive line last season, and Oluwatimi should help that trend continue. But the offense generally hasnt been the issue for the Terps its been the defense. Michigan and Michigan State shocked everyone and finished well 29: Ohio State at Penn State. The Hawkeyes play cross-over games against Ohio State and Michigan. Taulia Tagovailoa returns as one of the best quarterbacks in the conference, and he should be getting some help back in Dontay Demus and Rakim Jarrett. C.J. To get there, James Franklin's squad will need to beat Auburn and Minnesota, whom we consider to be the toughest matchups after Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State. How it will unfold: Arguably the toughest team to project in 2023, Maryland does travel to Ann Arbor in Week 4, but it will face a rebuilding Michigan defense, which could help matters. Maryland is coming off a bowl win in 2021, but the Terps are 4-21 against the Big Four in the division since joining the Big Ten in 2014. Three Big Ten teams appeared earlier this month in our preseason bowl projections in the New Year's Six and Playoff, so we expect another banner year from the nation's most competitive league. 0:00-1:26 Introduction 2022 Summary Casey Thompson turned in a season-long performance worthy of mixed reviews. Credit: USA TODAY Sports. But dont be deceived. Here's a game-by-game look at every team's schedule in 2022 and final predictions for every program in the Big Ten. Nebraska also brought in a new passing game coordinator in Mickey Joseph from LSU. Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports. Ohio State got punched in the mouth a few times last year, and while itll try to respond better in 2022, its not so easy as to say that it will. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports. Stroud and his weapons abounding. Running back TreVeyon Henderson totaled 1,567 scrimmage yards and 19 scores as a true freshman. It helps that Iowa gets Michigan at home, but facing the Wolverines and Buckeyes in one season isnt exactly cause for celebration. December 27, 2023 12:00 am Mike Margittai. The Huskers revamped the coaching staff this offseason, and the conference season kicks off Aug. 27 when Nebraska and Northwestern meet in Dublin, Ireland. Will Luke Fickell have tremendous success in his first year at Wisconsin? That's Wisconsin (.745), Iowa (.693), Michigan (.680), Penn State (.643) and Michigan State (.643). The road to Indianapolis and the Big Ten Championship Game goes through Columbuseven though it technically starts in Ireland. If new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles can do anything with the defense, we could be talking about national title aspirations again. The Boilermakers lost their best overall player in defensive end George Karlaftis and wide receiver David Bell to the NFL draft. Be more involved in the big games. Will Ohio State earn revenge? Despite being the fourth team in the Both coordinators exited for new opportunities, while Michigan lost five draft picks and a half-dozen more pro signings. The defense has the potential to be in the upper half of the conference, but solving an offensive that sputtered last season will be the question. The home game with Iowa and battle at Minnesotaare two potential spots for wins if the Scarlet Knights out-execute the opposition. Please check your email for a confirmation. Sign up for the Badgers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Can the defense hold up alongside an offense that put together multiple massive games last season? Jermari Harris will play opposite him at corner. The giant-killers now know what they have at quarterback, with Aidan OConnell leading the charge. However, it did well in a similar stretch in 2021, so dont count the Spartans out. We help YouTubers by driving traffic to them for free. Michigan State Spartans. Phil Steele predicts preseason AP college football top 10. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, the result will flip in 2022. The lone remaining ranked team in the preseason AP poll, Michigan State is attempting to build on an impressive year. Spring ball is kicking off for most teams, and if it hasnt already, its on the horizon. These Big Ten West rivals have traded three-score wins in each other's houses the last three years, and the series moves back to Kinnick Stadium in 2022. The 6-foot-6, 220 pound athlete committed to Wisconsin in late January, becoming the first pass-catcher to join the program for 2024. Losing Kenneth Walker III is going to be huge, but with Payton Thorned back and a talented wide receiving corps, the offense will still be able to move the ball. Florida was very lucrative to the Oklahoma Sooners in the class of 2023. Michigan won the league last year, but Ohio State enters the 2022 college football season as the overwhelming Big Ten favorite. The thing about college football is that its entirely impossible to pin down. While we are still a few months away from the 2022 Granted, he was a major one (15 tackles for loss), but the Hawkeyes have unleashed a different player with 10-plus TFLs in every season since 2013. Oh, what a division. Last season, Ohio State lost to However, Penn State has a lot of returning talent and plays Ohio State, Michigan State, and cross-division Minnesota at home. It's a safe bet to project next season's Big Ten champion back in the College Football Playoff, given the expectation the conference will produce several elite teams in 2022. The defense has to be better, especially against the pass. Broussard (Colorado) and Berger (Wisconsin) are tasked with replacing the production from Kenneth Walker III, who rushed for 1,636 yards and 18 TDs last season. The word: Can quarterback Tanner Morgan return to the 2019 form for the Golden Gophers? This offseason included an aura of bitterness despite the team posting an 11-2 record and Rose Bowl victory last year. Jackson was a top-15 recruit in the 2021 class according to On3 Sports consensus. Way-too-early Big Ten football power rankings for 2022 Share this article 3.9k shares Phil Harrison January 14, 2022 2:53 pm ET Now that the college football Kaevon Merriweather is back at safety, so the only new starters are the Cash hybridlikely Cooper DeJeanand safety Quinn Schulte. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports. Over/under: 11. Getting one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country back is going to make a huge difference for Purdue. Penn State losing to Purdue is his upset pick of the year in the Big Ten. There are still question marks at quarterback, the defense was less than stellar, the offense stagnant, and key pieces will need to be replaced. 3. Stec is a multiple sport athlete, playing both football and basketball at Jacobs High School back home and his junior season was his first with the football team. Purdue played for the Big Ten championship this past season but the Boilermakers will have to settle for a bowl game in a baseball stadium according to 247Sports spring bowl projections. That is what 247Sports has done with a spring edition of its way-too-early bowl projections for the 2023 season. Itll have to show that it can win big games before we can place the Cornhuskers higher. https://badgerswire.usatoday.com/lists/predicting-every-big-ten-football-teams-2022-record/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. After a solid 2021 season, Purdue will be looking to fill massive holes on either end of the football. By Kevin Flaherty 5 hours ago. Up and down puts it mildly when talking about the 2021 Illini. WebAll that plus Josh revisits 5 more bold predictions from the preseason. Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports. Ryan Hilinski is the expected starting quarterback, but reports from spring football are that redshirt freshman QB Brendan Sullivan could push him for the job: #Northwestern redshirt freshman QB Brendan Sullivan has put himself in position to push Ryan Hilinski for the starting job after a strong spring, per coach Pat Fitzgerald. Michigan State rallied from a 16-point third-quarter deficit in 2021, and Harbaugh who is 3-4 against the Spartans can't lose another one at the Big House. Iowas defense could make for a scrappy game in this bowl matchup as neither team has had much of a dangerous offense. And then, when it comes to the Michigan game, while OSU acolytes will act confidently, remember: the last time that Ohio State beat the Wolverines was in 2019. So, though college football media tends to be quite reactionary (we include ourselves in that estimation) were taking yet another too-early stab at the complexion of the Big Ten conference, now taking into account personnel losses, the schedule, and overall trajectory for each team. https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/lists/too-early-big-ten-power-rankings-winter-2022-edition-college-football/, Notable Michigan football position switches under Jim Harbaugh, Who could be next? But you try herding these Will that allow a school such as Purdue or Minnesota to sneak up the standings this year? Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports. Wisconsin has a new offensive coordinator in Bobby Engram, as Graham Mertz looks to put it all together at quarterback. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports. You can view the entire list of bowl projections here. What about the Big Ten West? Nov 6, 2021; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Scott Frost (right) looks onto the field during the second quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium. Highs will include a home win over Iowa while the lows could feature a road loss to Illinois for Jeff Brohm's group. Sep. 24: Wisconsin at Ohio StateOct. + Show More. The word: No team in the Big Ten faces a more brutal four-game stretch in November to close out the regular season than the Terrapins, who take on a likely nationally-ranked Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State over three consecutive weeks before the finale versus Rutgers. The Nittany Lions lost a lot of talent in the NFL draft, and will have to restructure a defense that was in the bottom third of the conference last season. The Scarlet Knights went bowling for the first time in forever, and while it didnt go well against Wake Forest, things are shaping up for improvement in Piscataway and New Brunswick. PJ Mustipher made it clear who he things should be Penn State's next defensive line coach. Wisconsin is expected to bounce back, but the pressure is on veteran quarterback Graham Mertz to make that happen. Ferentz just re-upped his contract and will have a talented, veteran team this upcoming season. Its time to predict the entire Big Ten, not just the Iowa Hawkeyes! If you've followed the sport recently, you knew Scott Frost would be prominently featured in this section. This marks the third straight season Penn State has opened a college football season on the road against a Big Ten opponent. After sending two teams to the College Football Playoff in the 2022 season, could the Big Ten be preparing to send a pair of teams back to the playoff next season? Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. The thing about college football is that its entirely impossible to pin down. Stroud | Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Peter Skoronski | Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Jim Harbaugh | Michael Hickey/Getty Images, Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Payton Thorne | Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Scott Frost | Steven Branscombe/Getty Images, Blake Corum | Gregory Shamus/Getty Images, Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Harry How/Getty Images, Riley Moss | Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Nick Herbig and Dean Ingram | Patrick McDermott/Getty Images, TreVeyon Henderson | Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Gophers could take on an interesting South Carolina team in the ReliaQuest Bowl, the new namesake of the old Outback Bowl. Wins: Illinois, Idaho, Western Kentucky,Maryland, Losses: at Cincinnati, at Nebraska, Michigan,at Rutgers, Penn State, at Ohio State, at Michigan State, Purdue. They'll figure it out. It's a new QB for Frost, and it might just work this time. The offense should be really good with Tanner Morgan deciding to come back for one more season under center, and running back Mohamed Ibrahim back from injury, but there are still issues to address. On the final weekend of September, division favorites Wisconsin and OSU square off in Columbus. Mertz and Spencer Petras will be on the spot at quarterback. You have to believe that hyped-up quarterback Gavit Wimsatt will be given the keys at some point, but itll take time to get everything in sync. Michigan and Michigan State shocked everyone and finished well above their projections. Here are the way-too-early game-by-game predictions for Michigan in 2022. The Buckeyes have a tough opener against Notre Dame, but that's only going to help down the line in the College Football Playoff. And if these projections prove to be accurate, there will be a good number of Big Ten teams taking part in a bowl game next season, and it could be another year with two playoff bids. #GoBlue. But, in general, if the Terrapins cant stop anybody, it still is, at best, a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team. He also gets book-end big stage games at The Shoe against Notre Dame and Michigan. USA TODAY - Bryant Crews 1h. Peter Skoronski, a two-year starter for the Wildcats, was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded left tackle in the conference last season. The Boilermakers are an interesting sleeper, but they have the Badgers and Gophers on the road this season. There is a good chance this is the next top-10 perhaps top-five showdown in the series. Nebraska lost nine games by nine points or less last season, and Northwestern is trying to bounce back after its own nine-loss season. Here is a look at the spring way-too-early They are 6-7 in New Year's Day Six Bowls, and the Spartans and Wolverines were routed in their lone CFP appearances. Projected Big Ten Champion: Ohio State Buckeyes. Out east, the usual suspects lead the way in the projections. That defense returns much of the same personnel and will once again be near the top of the Big Ten. Will Michigan defend their crown? Yes, we know the first Big Ten games have already kicked off. They will have to if Scott Frost wants to stay in Lincoln. This might be more of a tandem effort, but you know Mel Tucker is going to rely on that strong running game around quarterback Peyton Thorne. The Wolverines rushed for a league-best 214.4 yards per game last season. Stroud finished fourth in the Heisman voting last season after putting up 4,435 passing yards and 44 TDs as a first-year starter. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound cornerback has the versatility to play either in the slot or safety think Dax Hill and that could lead to early playing time for new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. The new receivers include Marvin Harrison Jr, who caught three touchdowns in the Rose Bowl, and former top prospects Julian Fleming and Emeka Egbuka. Ohio State and Michigan each received a spot in the playoff field last season, and the Buckeyes and Wolverines could be set to make another playoff run in 2023 after being tossed in the semifinals last season. 2022 Big Ten Football Predictions. Bret Bielema certainly improved the Illini in his first year in Champaign, and Illinois did somehow manage to beat Penn State on the road. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: Stacy Revere / Contributor, Getty), (Photo: Matthew OHaren, USA TODAY Sports), (Photo: Nikos Frazier / Journal & Courier, USA TODAY Sports), (Photo: Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports), (Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports), at Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, at Minnesota, Nebraska, (Photo: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire, Getty), in our preseason bowl projections in the New Year's Six and Playoff. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Consequently, it's more fiscally responsible for Nebraska to not pull a USCwhich ditched Clay Helton after two games last season. Nov 20, 2021; College Park, Maryland, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh speaks with quarterback Cade McNamara (12) after during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Thank you for visiting Win Big Sports Network and wbsnsports.com. Michigan State beat Michigan and finished with an 11-2 record and a No.9 finish in the AP poll with a Peach Bowl victory. Henderson grabbed national attention as a freshman with a 277-yard outburst against Tulsa last season, and he's yet another home-run hitter in Ohio State's loaded offense. Ohio State is 93-11 in the College Football Playoff era, an .894 winning percentage. Illinois won't be favored in any of those and the see-saw non-league battle versus Virginia will be a considerable challenge given the strength of quarterback Brennan Armstrong. Mohamed Ibrahim basically missed all of 2021, but Minnesota's standout back has 3,003 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in his career. Spring ball is on for most teams, and if it hasnt already, its on the horizon. The 2021 Big Ten season was filled with surprises based on preseason expectations. Indiana severely underperformed in 2021 despite having a lot of key pieces back. Ohio State was as close to beating Georgia as anyone came last season but a missed field goal haunted the Buckeyes all offseason. Michigan looks to repeat but Ohio State is coming back with a vengeance. Aidan Hutchinson going No. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! Iowa will be Iowa and beat teams it shouldnt, yet play with teams it should be better than. The sophomore began to live up to the hype this year in his first season as a starter. Wins: Duke, Southern Illinois, Miami (Ohio), Losses: Nebraska (Dublin, Ireland), at Penn State, Wisconsin, at Maryland, at Iowa, Ohio State, at Minnesota, at Purdue,Illinois. in 2017. We saw in the Big Ten Championship Game how far away the Hawkeyes were from the Wolverines, so itll be interesting to see if they can even the scales a bit this upcoming year. Predicting every team's final record this far out is next to impossible, but peeking at matchups this early is whatevery staff does this time of year in prep for the new season. Starting off the New Years Day bowl lineup could be the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who are expected to have a solid season once again in the Big Ten West. The offense has to show more explosion and the defense more consistency. And why not take Bret Bielema out to Las Vegas for a bowl game matchup with the Pitt Panthers. He's a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, and that with a 85% catch percentage. The Wildcats did win the Big Ten West in 2018 and 2020. However, the appeal isn't solely about the Buckeyes' superstar trio. Minnesota was another team that made a big jump from 2020 to 2021, and with Tanner Morgan returning, yet again, theres an opportunity for the Gophers to continue that ascent. The defense improved last season and will have to continue that upward trajectory. Most notably, Zach VanValkenburg was the lone departure on the line. Akron Zips. Outbursts in those games keeps the national attention. Based on our own way-too-early top 25 at 247Sports, it appears Michigan will take on four nationally-ranked teams in its quest to return to the College Football Playoff. Nebraska needs more consistency on both sides of the football next fall, but missing Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State from the other side of the conference is a schedule blessing. This is a major chance at redemption after the Cougars took down the Badgers at Camp Randall in 2022. They open with Notre Dame, play Wisconsin and Iowa, to go along with the rest of the schedule. Kicking off the Big Ten bowl season could be Iowa, who is paired up with the Florida Gators in the Music City Bowl in a Big Ten vs. SEC bowl matchup. Four-star safety Kye Stokes (Armwood, Seffner, Fla.) also was impressive in the spring game. Wisconsin should be the preseason favorite out west, but Iowas defense and Minnesotas offense will have legitimate questions to ask. Look for Wisconsin to be a problem this season. The Vols are coming off a strong season in 2022 and could be in for another good season. The Illinois Fighting Illini look poised for another positive season that could lead to a spot in a bowl game. Singleton has good size at 6-0, 210 pounds, and the high-school highlight reel is predictably amazing. Iowa has several key pieces to replace, but every unit of the defenseone that ranked seventh nationally in yards allowed per play last seasonreturns a couple of starters. Fleck waves to the University of Iowa Childrens Hospital after the first quarter against Iowa during the NCAA Big 10 conference football game on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. All eyes are now off the rearview mirror and onto the horizon with 2023 approaching. Heres our too-early 2022 game predictions now that the schedule is set. Isaiah Hole. Stroud will be near the top of preseason Heisman conversations, and despite losing star wide recievers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in the NFL draft, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is back to torture Big Ten defenses. The quarterback controversy will be a fascinating story to follow in the months leading up to the season. The schedule is a bit more daunting for the Buckeyes. Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports. There's incredible talent on Ohio State's offense. The first showdown on the listonly the seventh all-time meeting of Notre Dame and OSUdoubles as the best nonconference game of the 2022 season. The word: The reigning Big Ten champions play four consecutive home games prior to their first road affair at Iowa and should be favored in 11 of 12 regular-season games in 2022. 1. Will it be Tommy DeVito or Artur Sitkowski under center when Week 1 rolls around? Iowa, Wisconsin and Northwestern are 0-8 in the Big Ten championship game since the conference switched to the East and West division setup. This might not be giving Minnesota enough credit here. There is always an above-average squad, but there's rarely a national contender. Are you ready for a playoff rematch? They get Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin at home, have the best offense in college football, and are coming off of a Rose Bowl victory in 2021. Add the typical defense we usually see in Madison, and this looks like the best team in the West, with the game against Ohio State early in the year having huge implications nationally or so we think. https://nittanylionswire.usatoday.com/lists/big-ten-spring-football-bowl-projections-from-247sports/, Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Michigan State vs. Texas Tech, ReliaQuest Bowl: Minnesota vs. South Carolina, Sugar Bowl, College Football Playoff: Ohio State vs. Georgia, Rose Bowl (College Football Playoff): Michigan vs. USC, College Football Playoff National Championship: Michigan vs. Georgia, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. But predicted standings, records, and everything else for the Big Ten in 2022. In our 2021 too-early power rankings, eventual Big Ten champion, the hometown Michigan Up front, OSU returns three starters plus Matthew Jonesa very regular player over the last two seasons. Nebraska was the best 3-9 football team in the history of the sport last season. Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports. March 1, 2023 12:56 pm CT. College football writers are taking notice of the Longhorns loaded returning roster. Nov 6, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Aidan OConnell (16) drops back to pass the ball in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at Ross-Ade Stadium. Sep. 24: Minnesota at Michigan StateOct. The talent level still isnt where it needs to be for the Illini to jump up too far, and we can probably expect another season where Bret Bielema would be happy to squeak into a bowl. This is a major chance at redemption after the Cougars took down the Badgers at Camp Randall in 2022. 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Defense and Minnesotas offense will have to continue that upward trajectory but there 's rarely a national contender matchup! 6-0, 210 pounds, and if it hasnt already, its on the road a! Of 2023 and opinion the Cornhuskers higher, with Aidan OConnell leading the charge Ten in... Superstar trio Minnesota enough credit here is: can quarterback Tanner Morgan return to the season can quarterback Tanner return! Looks to repeat but Ohio State news, notes and opinion Outback bowl Michigan had dominant. And missed the Big Ten in 2022 surprises based on preseason expectations premier linemen. But Minnesota 's standout back has 3,003 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in his first year at?. Frustrating year, but Ohio State enters the 2022 college football top 10 weball that plus Josh revisits 5 bold!