Look for the Spartans to take a wee bit of a step back in 2022. 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. It was a strange 2021 campaign for Bret Bielema in his The defense will still be feisty, but there still needs to be O-line improvement, as well as more consistency from quarterback Graham Mertz. The Buckeyes return quarterback C.J. The Buckeyes have won 25 straight conference games at home by an average of 30.9 points per game. Not since 2010-13 has OSU gone Big Ten football order of finish predictions for 2022 season from Phil Steele. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports) Projected finish: T-4th in Big Ten East. Washington State quarterback Cam Ward has opted to return to school in 2023, and this should be a down-to-the-wire fight in Pac-12 country. (soft launch) Air Force Falcons. Wins: at Boston College, Wagner, at Temple, Nebraska, Indiana, Losses: Iowa, at Ohio State, at Minnesota, Michigan, at Michigan State, Penn State, at Maryland. In the history of the Big 12, 2023 will always stand as an outlier. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said those schools can help "carry some weight" for the Big Ten. Michigan will have a tough test there in the finale. There are enough soft spots to get this team back to bowl eligibility it looks like and the Boilermakers could push for seven or eight wins, if they're able to knock off one of the better teams on the schedule, but expecting this team to win the division will be a lot to ask. Are you ready for a playoff rematch? It's a new QB for Frost, and it might just work this time. New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will bring a more aggressive scheme to Ohio State, and Hicks (Archbishop Alter, Dayton, Ohio) is a five-star linebacker that could work into the middle two-linebacker rotation with Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg. 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 opener against Notre Dame could be worrisome as well. Mohamed Ibrahim basically missed all of 2021, but Minnesota's standout back has 3,003 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in his career. Michigan won the league last year, but Ohio State enters the 2022 college football season as the overwhelming Big Ten favorite. Here are the 10 players I think are primed for breakout seasons in 2023. Washington State quarterback Cam Ward has opted to return to school in 2023, and this should be a down-to-the-wire fight in Pac-12 country. Greg Schiano has improved this team greatly, but the schedule is brutal in 2022. 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. They miss Penn State and Ohio State but have to play Wisconsin, Nebraska and Michigan on the road along with home dates versus Iowa and Michigan State. But you try herding these Wisconsin should be the preseason favorite out west, but Iowas defense and Minnesotas offense will have legitimate questions to ask. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports. Clifford returns, and a road game at Auburn is daunting, as is playing at Michigan. 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. Mel Tucker expects it. #GoBucks. It would somewhat surprising if Northwestern made a push in 2022, because it feels about another year away. The questions on offense surround the quarterback position. The offensive line led the way last year, and while there will be some losses, it still should provide enough push for whoever ends up carrying the ball, given what we saw last year. 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. 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. Everything sets up for the Wolverines to defend their crown, and ultimately, it will likely come down to Michigan and Ohio State, once again. Its time to predict the entire Big Ten, not just the Iowa Hawkeyes! There is always an above-average squad, but there's rarely a national contender. Will that allow a school such as Purdue or Minnesota to sneak up the standings this year? Florida was very lucrative to the Oklahoma Sooners in the class of 2023. The defense improved last season and will have to continue that upward trajectory. Michigan State and Penn State will stay in the mix in the Big Ten East, but it still comes down to the Buckeyes and Wolverines. This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. Will it be Tommy DeVito or Artur Sitkowski under center when Week 1 rolls around? C.J. Iowa Hawkeyes players Ryan Gersonde (2) Riley Moss (33) quarterback Spencer Petras (7) wide receiver Max Cooper (19) and defensive back Jack Koerner (28) get pumped up before an NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Indiana, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. How we are betting the Michigan Wolverines as they look to oust the Iowa Hawkeyes. Spring ball is on for most teams, and if it hasnt already, its on the horizon. Here is a look at the spring way-too-early bowl projections for Big Ten teams from 247Sports. 247Sports writer Kevin Flaherty joined Athlon Sports in predicting Texas to finish first in the Big 12 conference. Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports. Expect Indiana to find its neutral level after extremes in either direction over the past two seasons. And Penn State has some good bowl history against the Vols. The offense will reset the Big Ten record book in several areas. Michigan won the Big Ten, beat Ohio State, and finished with a 12-2 record and a No.3 finish in the AP poll. But predicted standings, records, and everything else for the Big Ten in 2022. Wisconsin at Iowa (Nov. 12) These Big Ten West rivals have traded three-score wins in each The Spartans defeated their crosstown rivals, won 11 games, and had one of the best running backs in the country in Kenneth Walker III. This is a major chance at redemption after the Cougars took down the Badgers at Camp Randall in 2022. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports. Credit: USA TODAY Sports. 2022 Summary Casey Thompson turned in a season-long performance worthy of mixed reviews. Wins: Northwestern (Dublin, Ireland), North Dakota, Georgia Southern, Indiana, at Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Losses: Oklahoma, at Rutgers, at Michigan,at Iowa. Quarterback Aidan OConnell is back in the fold as the Boilers try and fill holes at receiver. 3. Honestly, if everything clicks, the Gophers have what it takes to be in Indy in December. Spring ball is kicking off for most teams, and if it hasnt already, its on the horizon. After an upstart 2020 campaign, Indiana fell flat in 2021 as the Hoosiers failed to win a conference game. 17: Penn State at Auburn; Michigan State at Washington. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. We saw some improvement from Illinois during the season, but it was an inconsistent one at best. That's the next step. Can Harbaugh erase the heartaches of 2016 and 2018 in The Shoe? Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports. Michigan and Michigan State shocked everyone and finished well Day repeatedly used the word "edgy" at Big Ten Media Days to describe the team's mindset in the offseason. Penn State losing to Purdue is his upset pick of the year in the Big Ten. They'll likely need to split those two contests and get help elsewhere to advance. Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports. The lone remaining ranked team in the preseason AP poll, Michigan State is attempting to build on an impressive year. He's also a valued NFL prospect, should he turn pro following his junior campaign this fall. This article was gathered automatically by our news bot. Fleck's team intends on toppling Iowa and Wisconsin down the stretch to advance to the Big Ten Championship Game. Itll have to show that it can win big games before we can place the Cornhuskers higher. Late Kick Live Ep. 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. The RP Predictor calculates the final score of each game based on each team's offense, defense, The Big Ten sent two teams to the CFB Playoff in 2022 for the first time in conference history. By Sam Marsdale Aug 11, 8:56 AM. The Hawkeyes play cross-over games against Ohio State and Michigan. 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. Was that an indirect shot at the rest of the competition? The defense has to be better, especially against the pass. 2022 Maryland Prediction, Spring Football Version: 7-5 CFN 2021 Spring Prediction: 5-7 Maryland 2021 Final Record: 7-6 Maryland 2022 Schedule & Analysis 9 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The word: Can quarterback Tanner Morgan return to the 2019 form for the Golden Gophers? 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. Pretty much everywhere youll look, Ohio State will be atop the early power rankings. There is a good chance this is the next top-10 perhaps top-five showdown in the series. The Boilermakers lost their best overall player in defensive end George Karlaftis and wide receiver David Bell to the NFL draft. This team could surprise some people. Looking ahead to next season, there are a lot more question marks. Here are the way-too-early game-by-game predictions for Michigan in 2022. The maize and blue will be relying heavily on the offense, which returns eight starters, including quarterback Cade McNamara. Maryland will play arguably the five top teams in the conference this season which will mark a considerable challenge for Taulia Tagovailoa and company. What the Hoosiers get out of the quarterback position and how they develop a lot of the youth that will be stepping up for a veteran team last season will determine if this team can sniff a bowl appearance or not. And while quarterback Spencer Petras will be better with another year of seasoning, hes not the type that is going to put the team on his shoulders and win games against the more athletic and talented teams out there. Iowa will go as far as its offense can carry it. See College Football News stories in your feed, 2022 College Football Schedules By Teams: All 131 Schools, College Basketball Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Wednesday, March 1, Auburn at Alabama Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, DePaul at UConn Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Pitt at Notre Dame Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Oklahoma at Kansas State Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Chicago State at Gonzaga Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Vanderbilt at Kentucky Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Xavier at Providence Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Texas at TCU Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Privacy Notice / Your California Privacy Rights. The season opener against Penn State will set the tone, and thats the only top team from the East that Purdue faces. follow. Crossovers against Nebraska and Minnesota certainly dont lessen the blow, either. 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. The hiring of Luke Fickell by Wisconsin is expected by many to lead the Badgers quickly back to the top of the Big Ten West. The Wolverines are the spring way-too-early pick to take on Georgia in the national championship on the 247Sports bowl projections. 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. If quarterback Sean Clifford remains healthy and can be the star he was at the beginning of the year, the rest of the roster is talented enough to surprise and contend for the Big Ten championship. That connection with Stroud will continue, and Alabama's DeVonta Smith opened the door for more receivers to win the Heisman two years ago. No other Big Ten coach that begins the season is in imminent danger, though a nine-loss record certainly could change that. #GoBlue, Cant wait to see what he does in his first year at #Michigan! By: Pete Fiutak, College Basketball Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Sunday, February 26, NCAA Tournament Bracket Projections, 68 Team Predictions, Bubble Teams February 27, AP Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17, AP Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17, College Basketball Rankings: Top 68 Teams February 27. The 6-foot-6, 220 pound athlete committed to Wisconsin in late January, becoming the first pass-catcher to join the program for 2024. The running back room will lead the way as Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi return to form a duo with unlimited potential. Last season was a dream campaign for Mel Tucker and Michigan State. Wisconsin has a new offensive coordinator in Bobby Engram, as Graham Mertz looks to put it all together at quarterback. Indiana we had ranked third. Will Luke Fickell have tremendous success in his first year at Wisconsin? It starts with taking full advantage of a slate that misses Penn State and Michigan from the other side of the conference and taking care of business in the 50-50 games. This will no doubt be a Big Noon Kickoff Game and it could be a conference championship preview. MORE:SEC predictions| Big 12 predictions |Bowl projections|2022 All-America team. March 1, 2023 12:56 pm CT. College football writers are taking notice of the Longhorns loaded returning roster. The reigning Big Ten champions could theoretically have a difficult time holding onto their crown. But Artur Sitkowski isnt exactly the ideal quarterback, and this is a roster mostly bereft of talent. The offense will be one of the best in the country again with C.J. Phil Steele predicts preseason AP college football top 10. 2022 Big Ten Football Predictions. While that was just our projections, we were pretty in-line with mainstream thought. For the first time in nearly a year, Penn State adds another commitment to the board for the Class of 2024. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports) Projected finish: T-4th in Big Ten East. Iowa will be Iowa and beat teams it shouldnt, yet play with teams it should be better than. Following a 5-0 start last season, Penn State tumbled to six losses in the last eight games. Wins: Western Michigan, Akron, at Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, at Illinois, Rutgers, Indiana. 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. The word: Will Iowa get back to the Big Ten Championship Game in the black-and-blue division? To beat the Buckeyes, you have to keep up as best you can. The question is: can the Boilermakers sustain that success in 2022? Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports. If the third times the charm, then Michigan could be celebrating a national championship. Can any of those other schools disrupt that? 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. Projected Big Ten Champion: Ohio State Buckeyes. 29: Ohio State at Penn State. Wisconsin is the pick to win the division, but the Badgers are going to earn it. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports. in 2017. It will be difficult to repeat last years magic. Will Nebraska finally go bowling? It was part of a ridiculous season where Smith-Njigba had 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine TDs. 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