The Big Ten

As I was compiling the data for this one, there were A LOT of local commercials supporting Nebraska with the fight song playing in the background of the commercial and I may have shed a tear of nostalgia hype or two. Safe to say football season is coming quickly and I. AM. PUMPED.

But the story for the Big Ten is an interesting one. Defending national champions Ohio State came out of the blue last year, and they seem to have an endless supply of QBs as they look to defend their title (and they look extremely poised to do so). Meanwhile, Michigan State is behind them trying to upset that bid (the Spartans are more likely not national contenders, but if they can get Ohio State, they can be Big Ten champs at the least). And then there is a slew of average teams (8-9 wins) that can vie for the Big Ten West spot while hopefully getting cracks to upset either or both the Buckeyes and Spartans. Am I being generous for this division? For some teams perhaps, but it’s about time the Big Ten steps up all together.

Last Year’s Standings:

Big Ten East:

1) Ohio State 14-1, 8-0 (National Champions)

2) Michigan State, 11-2, 7-1

3) Maryland 7-6, 4-4

4) Rutgers 8-5, 3-5

5) Michigan 5-7, 3-5

6) Penn State 7-6, 2-6

7) Indiana 4-8, 1-7

Big Ten West:

1) Wisconsin 11-3, 7-1

2) Minnesota 8-5, 5-3

3) Nebraska 9-4, 5-3

4) Iowa 7-6, 4-4

5) Illinois 6-7, 3-5

6) Northwestern 5-7, 3-5

7) Purdue 3-9, 1-7

Ohio State annihilated Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten Championship game

Illinois (Image Source: Bleacher Report)

Projected: 4-8, 1-7

Best Case: 5-7, 2-6

Worst Case: 2-10, 0-8

Toss Up Games: Middle Tennessee, Purdue (Wins), Northwestern (Loss)

Off the heels of just firing their head coach – one week before the season starts – this Illinois squad can be dubbed into the “rebuilding” phase. A bold move nonetheless though, let’s see how it plays out.

Indiana (Image Source, Indystar.com)

Projected: 8-4, 4-4

Best Case: 10-2, 6-2

Worst Case: 5-7, 1-7

Toss Up Games: Penn State (Loss), Rutgers, Iowa, Michigan (Wins), Maryland (Loss)

A bit generous? Verily. Indiana showed a lot of promise last year, some of the offense comes back from last years’ surprising squad. But what seals the deal is the generous schedule and the parity of the Big Ten. Will they get 10? Nah. But I’m going to be like “Ha, told you Indiana will be decent this year” after picking off some wins.

Iowa (Image Source, BTN)

Projected: 9-3, 5-3

Best Case: 10-2, 6-2

Worst Case: 6-6, 2-6

Toss Up Games: Northwestern, Maryland (Wins), Indiana (Loss), Minnesota (Win)

Iowa has been on the up and up lately. They will surely miss Jake Rudock transferring, and some of the offense graduating into the NFL, but what gets Iowa is their defense (and their scheduling…and the parity…man it’s almost like a broken record in here). However, it will still be a while before Iowa will ever be a legit Big Ten contender, if at all.

Maryland (Image Source, Bleacher Report)

Projected: 8-4, 5-3

Best Case: 10-2, 6-2

Worst Case: 4-8, 1-7

Toss Up Games: West Virginia (Loss), Penn State (Win), Iowa (Loss), Wisconsin, Indiana, Rutgers (Wins)

Maryland is the mystery team of the Big Ten (along with Wisconsin and Michigan, but more so because there is always potential here). A reloaded offense and a defense that can be explosive at times always makes Maryland a team that can screw another team over if they’re not careful.

Michigan (Image Source, Bleacher Report)

Projected: 4-8, 2-6

Best Case: 8-4, 5-3

Worst Case: 3-9, 1-7

Toss Up Games: BYU, Maryland, Minnesota (Losses), Rutgers (Win), Indiana (Loss)

Oh boy, where do I begin. The always entertaining Harbaugh is in town to try to turn around this program…but he’s going to have to settle for a rebuilding year. Despite inheriting Iowa transfer Rudock, Michigan will have a sizeable uphill battle to conquer this year as the new era begins in Ann Arbor. Last years’ squad wasn’t terribly impressive, and with the schedule Michigan has with the parity of the Big Ten, being bowl eligible might be a win for Harbaugh this year.

Michigan State (Image Source, Grantland)

Projected/Worst Case: 10-2, 7-1

Best Case: 12-0, 8-0

Toss Up Games: Oregon, Ohio State (Losses)

Elsewhere in the state of Michigan, the Spartans still look pretty damn good. A very manageable schedule given their current squad (I usually give them crap for being slightly overrated on offense, and I’ll still hold that opinion), but what’s also cool is that Michigan State has a schedule that could land them in the national championship mix. They get to play two of the pre-season national championship favorites (Oregon and Ohio State), if they can just beat one of them while still losing to one in a tight game (preferably beating Ohio State so they can be in the Big Ten title game), I’d vouch for Michigan State to be national title contenders.

Minnesota (Image Source, Bleacher Report)

Projected: 9-3, 6-2

Best Case: 10-2, 7-1

Worst Case: 4-8, 2-6

Toss Up Games: Colorado State, Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan (Wins), Iowa (Loss), Wisconsin (Win)

Minnesota has been scrappy lately, but we’re not sure what kind of a team will show up this year. Again, benefiting from a favorable schedule, Minnesota has the potential to be the representative of the Big Ten West as long as they can hold 2 of the 3 (Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin) over. The offense will look a bit different, but shouldn’t be that drastic that the Gophers can still contend with.

Nebraska (Image Source, imgur)

Projected: 9-3, 6-2

Best Case: 11-1, 7-1

Worst Case: 7-5, 5-3

Toss Up Games: BYU (Win), Miami (Loss), Wisconsin (Win), Minnesota (Loss)

(Yes I specifically searched for that picture, because I'll miss Kenny as we'll see later)

When I first heard of Pelini’s firing, I was shocked, much like the reaction of everyone else. I mean, who fires someone for winning? Consistently even?! Nebraska is one of four schools to record at least 9 wins in the past 6 seasons (the tenure of Pelini). So from the “normal fan expectations” standpoint, that’s ridiculous. But that’s behind them now. It’s time to usher into the Mike Riley era, and here’s the thing: If Riley doesn’t get 9 wins (which is what I have slated actually), the fans will still be happy because of a thing called “progress”. Nebraska has a feasible schedule for them to accomplish this task, but they need to see Riley field a quality team that can step up and not make mistakes.

Northwestern (Image Source, Huffington Post)

Projected: 4-8, 2-6

Best Case: 10-2, 6-2

Worst Case: 3-9, 1-7

Toss Up Games: Stanford, Duke, Minnesota, Iowa, Penn State, Wisconsin (All losses), Illinois (Win)

Northwestern is always scrappy, so it’s tough to say that they’ll be extremely bad. But again we have this thing called the parity within the Big Ten that we could see Northwestern scrap up a bowl eligible record. The offense will look different, but Fitzgeralds’ defenses always show up on game day.

Ohio State (Image Source, Huffington Post)

Projected/Best Case: 12-0, 8-0

Worst Case: 10-2, 7-1

Toss Up Games: Virginia Tech, Michigan State (Wins)

I still don’t truly believe that Virginia Tech will put up a fight against Ohio State, but I’ll cater to the media, as well as the Buckeyes sanctioning some key suspensions that might make that game closer than it should have been, we’ll see Monday night I suppose. Otherwise, with everyone seemingly being freakishly athletic for the Buckeyes, they are in the driver’s seat for a national championship berth, as long as they get over Michigan State.

Penn State (Image Source, Bleacher Report)

Projected: 9-3, 5-3

Best Case: 10-2, 6-2

Worst Case: 7-5, 3-5

Toss Up Games: Indiana (Win), Maryland (Loss), Northwestern (Win)

Penn State is definitely on the up and up now after the unfortunate scandal that developed a few years back. Watch for Heisman hopeful Hackenburg to ring up some big numbers again. Unfortunate that they get the Buckeyes and Spartans on the road, if they get one of those though, oh man will that make things interesting.

Purdue (Image Source, BTN)

Projected: 2-10, 0-8

Best Case: 3-9, 0-8

Worst Case: 1-11, 0-8

Toss Up Games: Marshall (Loss), Bowling Green (Win)

Where’s the next Drew Brees? And boy, what if Randy Gregory went to Purdue after all?

Rutgers (Image Source, nj.com)

Projected: 4-8, 0-8

Best Case: 7-5, 3-5

Worst Case: 3-9, 0-8

Toss Up Games: Indiana, Michigan (Losses), Army (Win), Maryland (Loss)

Despite the return of their big-time running back Paul James, they will surely miss Gary Nova in a tough schedule for the Scarlet Knights. But if the running game can be settled with all of that talent in the backfield (Desmon Peoples was a…man of the people you might say in filling in for James), maybe Rutgers has a chance.

Wisconsin (Image Source, Huffington Post)

Projected/Worst Case: 8-4, 5-3

Best Case: 11-1, 8-0

Toss Up Games: Nebraska, Maryland, Minnesota (Losses)

Each year I always say Wisconsin is overrated, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Each year they have a break out running back that basically gives me a giant “F U” from Wisconsin. For Wisconsin, they do get the quiet part of the Big Ten, so making the championship game is more than feasible, they just need to get through their tough road games.

P.S: Obligatory rekt video (And another reason why I'll miss Kenny. Also the only thing worth watching from this abomination of a game)

 

Outcome: Ohio State beats Minnesota in the Big Ten Championship game, on their way to a chance at a title defense.