Last year was a little crazy for the Big 10. They were coming off the Penn State and Ohio State scandals. The Leaders division was a mess with Ohio State and Penn State being the top two teams but couldn't qualify for the conference championship game. So we got a rematch between a 10 win Nebraska team against a 7 win Wisconsin team. However it was Wisconsin blowing out the Huskers to a 70-31 win. Talk about crazy. Will we have another crazy year?
Here are my predictions for the upcoming season!
Legends
1. Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-2 7-1)
The Huskers are loaded on offense with speed, play making and experience and is one of the best in the nation. They'll need the points because their defense will be young and inexperienced. Luckily for them they have one of the easiest schedules and should cruise to ten wins. Their road game at Michigan should be for the Legends title.
2. Michigan Wolverines (9-3 6-2)
Everybody is saying Michigan is back, but I'm not buying them to be fully back quite yet. QB Devin Gardner gives them a pro style QB for their West Coast Offense, but he still has a lot to prove. I'm also not a big fan of their skill positions which holds them back. All that said, they still have a shot at the Legends Title, but they'll need to beat Nebraska at home to do so.
3. Northwestern Wildcats (10-2 6-2)
The sleeper in this division, the Wildcats could realistically win Legends. QB/WR Cain Colter is dynamic and RB Venric Mark is a home run threat. The downfall for the Wildcats is that they drew both Ohio State and Wisconsin out of the Leaders. They'll need to pull an upset or two, but as we've seen in past years they can do it.
4. Michigan State Spartans (8-4 5-3)
Much like last year, the Spartans will field a very strong defense and look to have a physical running game. However if the Spartans want to make a run at the division, they'll need to become more dynamic offensively. QB Andrew Maxwell returns looking to prove that last years struggles are a thing of the past. If he can't they could turn to Connor Cook who dazzled in limited duty in their bowl game. If not, then it could be another long year.
5. Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-6 2-6)
With 16 starters back and 10 of them on offense it sets the Gophers up for a chance to make a second straight bowl trip. However the Gophers lack a lot of top tier talent, only DT Ra'Shede Hageman is all Big 10 worthy. Jerry Kill is a good coach, but he needs to find some gems on the recruiting trail or his tenure at Minnesota isn't going to last very long.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes (4-8 1-7)
I don't know what's worse, the fact that the Hawkeyes have regressed so much since their Orange Bowl victory in 2009 or the complete apathy over it all? Iowa will enter the season with a starting QB who took zero snaps last year (Vandenburg took all the snaps even with struggles) and no play makers on the team. If it wasn't for Kirk Ferentz's enormous contract, he could be on the hot seat. Look for the Hawkeyes to struggle again and maybe another four win season will get people enraged.
Leaders
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1 7-1)
After going undefeated last year and unable to play for a National Title you have to know that the Buckeyes are looking to repeat and get back where they feel they belong. Chances are pretty good. QB Braxton Miller returns and should be even better. The problem is their defense is razor thin and gave up a lot of points to inferior teams. But they are the class of the division and should win the conference.
2. Wisconsin Badgers (9-3 6-2)
With new coach Brian Anderson coming over from Utah State it should be pretty interesting to see what the Badgers look like this year. Anderson has long been a spread guy, but the Badgers are built for a power running team. Either way, they return 14 starters and have the talent to contend with the Buckeyes.
3. Indiana Hoosiers (7-5 4-4)
When people think of Indiana football, not much is thought of. However under Kevin Wilson the Hoosiers are getting better and have an offense that can score on anybody. QB Tre Robinson returns after injury and gives the Hoosiers a dual threat. Their offense alone should help the Hoosiers get back to a bowl game for the first time since 2007.
4. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-6 2-6)
What a coaching job Bill O'Brien did last year. He took a team ravaged by transfers and sanctions against them and got the team motivated and playing like the second best team in the conference. But don't look for that success to carry over this year. They'll still be tough, but they lost a lot of defensive talent that was the heart and sole of the team. Add in that they have to replace QB Matt McGloin and that is a lot to overcome.
5. Purdue Boilermakers (3-9 2-6)
How different would have their season been last year if they could have finished games against Ohio State and Notre Dame? Those wins could have kept Danny Hope's job. Instead he's gone and Darrell Hazell comes from Kent State. Hazell did well there, but it's going to be an uphill climb in this division. Expect some growing pains.
6. Illinois Fighting Illini (3-9 0-8)
Six years ago Ron Zook lead the Illini to the Rose Bowl and it looked like the sleeping giant could finally be awaken. However they never repeated that same magic and Tim Beckum was brought in to rejuvenate the program. But things got even worse for Beckum. Illinois needs QB Nate Scheelhaase to return to his old form if they want to even contend for a bowl game. It's so bad that Beckum might not make it to a third year.
All Conference Team
QB: Braxton Miller, Ohio State
RB: Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
RB: Venric Mark, Northwestern
WR: Kenny Bell, Nebraska
WR: Jared Abbredris, Wisconsin
TE: Jacob Pederson, Wisconsin
OT: Taylor Lewan, Michigan
OG: John Urschel, Penn State
C: Brandon Vitabile, Northwestern
OG: Spencer Long, Nebraska
OT: Rob Havenstein, Wisconsin
DL: Marcus Rush, Michigan State
DL: Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota
DL: Beau Allen, Wisconsin
DL: Tyler Scott, Northwestern
LB: Chris Borland, Wisconsin
LB: Ryan Shazier, Ohio State
LB: Max Bullough, Michigan State
CB: Bradley Roby, Ohio State
S: Isaiah Lewis, Michigan State
S: Greg Heban, Indiana
CB: Ciante Evans, Nebraska
Offensive Player of the Year: Braxton Miller QB Ohio State
Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Borland LB Wisconsin
Newcomer of the Year: Randy Gregory DE Nebraska
Coach of the Year: Kevin Wilson, Indiana
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