Welcome back to my college football blog, where today we take a quick glance at the conference that has produced the last 3 National Champs, and 3 different teams by the way. Just as I did with the SEC, I am not predicting anything like a pre season poll does. I am simply giving information before the season gets here using the media polls.
The 18 team league has some excellent teams and several teams that are very good. Unfortunately this conference also has some of the worst Power 4 teams in the country. The first paragraph tells you what you need to know. The last 3 years, the National Champion has came from this league, Michigan, Ohio State, and last year Indiana. That is correct, Indiana. Notice none of those teams are named Oregon, who gets over ranked every year. This year is no different.
I will use the polls as a guide to discuss each team in the league. Most “experts” list these 3 teams with the best chance to win the conference championship. Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana. The next tier comes in with Michigan, Southern Cal, Penn State, Washington, Iowa, and Nebraska. After this half of the league, there seems to be a drop off in talent and expectations. The next group consists of 3 teams with a slim shot of upsetting one of the “big boys” on a given Saturday if at home. They are Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The final 6 teams will again battle rach other for respectability , a winning season, and a minor bowl game. Those teams are Northwestern, Maryland, Rutgers, UCLA, Michigan State, and Purdue.
Let’s start with Ohio State. They are the same Buckeyes they are every year. They reload. They do have a more difficult schedule this year with road games at Iowa, at Indiana, at Southern Cal (the Trojans have that game circled), and at Nebraska. This team will be very formidable again this year. Turning to the Oregon Ducks, while good almost every year, they can’t seem to get over the hump and win a title. Their defense return 9 starters from a unit that was stingy last year. The other side of the ball may be more of a problem this year. Yes QB Dante Moore is back, but only 5 other offensive starters return. Coach Dan Lanning is a defensive minded coach by trade and his outstanding OC Will Stein packed his bags to become head coach at Kentucky. Only time will tell if this slows the “quack attack” down. They travel to Southern Cal, to Illinois, and to Ohio State. Now to the defending Champs, The Indiana Hoosiers. Coach Cignetti has done an amazing job in just 2 years taking this team from laughing little brother to the natty. He will again have a very capable team with another excellent transfer quarterback in Josh Hoover. They do have a much more difficult schedule this season than the last 2. They travel to Rutgers and the have a 3 game stretch of at Nebraska, host Ohio State, and at Michigan. Then still have a game hosting Southern Cal before traveling to Washington in November. That is tough.
The next tier are all good teams very capable of coming in first or second in the Big. These teams are Michigan and new coach Kyle Whittingham coming over from Utah. Talk about an upgrade. They have manageable road games at Minnesota and at Rutgers. The other 2 road games are at Oregon and at Ohio State. Those appear to be losses here in August, but not impossible if the Wolverines gel. The next team is my surprise team that I think could win the Big and go to the playoffs. That is correct, Southern California Trojans. Lincoln Riley has finally learned it takes both sides of the line of scrimmage to compete for titles. His defenses have gotten better each year and this year with 8 returning starters should be his best. The Trojans host both Oregon and Ohio State which is huge. Southern Cal does travel cross country to Rutgers, to Penn State, to Winconsin, and to Indiana. If they are to compete in this league, they have to win on the road. Last year the LA boys slept walked to an 0-5 road record and have now lost 9 consecutive games East of The Mississippi River. I do think they finally break through. Now to Penn State and new head coach Matt Campbell coming from Iowa State. He takes over for James Franklin who won plenty here in State College, just not the right games. Campbell was the winningest head coach in Iowa State history. He beings his all everything quarterback with him and looks to get The Nittany Lions back on track this year. They dodge the 3 favorites of Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana. Talk about a break. They travel to Northwestern, Michigan, Washington and Maryland. Next up. The Washington Huskies. This is coach Jedd Fisch’s third year and his most talented team. They do travel to Southern Cal, Purdue, Nebraska, Michigan State, and Oregon. Don’t bet against this team getting someone good on the road. The Iowa Hawkeyes and the Dean of coaches, Kirk Ferentz. All this guy does is win. He has had more wins than anyone that has ever coached in this league. That is impressive. They will travel to Michigan, Washington, Minnesota, Northwestern, and to Illinois. Ferentz and Iowa are always good for at least one upset a year, and this year will be no different. The last team in this group is Matt Rhule’s 4th edition of Nebraska Football. The fan base is looking for a break through this season. Their toughest conference games this season are at home with the exception of a trip to Oregon. They also go on the road for manageable games at Michigan State, at Illinois, at Rutgers, and close out at Iowa. They also host Indiana and Ohio State. If they can win one of those two, then the critics will go silent.
The next 3 teams to mention will all play hard because of their coaches, and one of these teams may surprise, but getting to 8 wins and a decent bowl may be a tall order. Coach P. J. Fleck starts his 10th season at Minnesota “hold the rope” is getting old. The early success Coach Fleck had has the fans getting restless. They travel to Washington, to Purdue, to Indiana, to Penn State, and finish at Wisconsin. Illinois comes off a 9 win season and upper tier finish in the Big. Duplicating that may be a tall order. The Illini lost a lot on both sides of the ball. Coach Bret Bielema developes players and he hopes this group grows up quickly. They travel to Ohio State, to Michigan State, Maryland, UCLA, and to Northwestern. The schedule is not brutal and with an upset at home, this team may build toward next year with maybe 8 wins. Luke Fickell enters his 4th season at the helm of Wisconsin and after consecutive losing seasons, the Badgers will fight to save his job. The conference road slate is manageable going to Penn State, at UCLA, Iowa, Maryland, and at Purdue. They do open with a neutral site non conference game against Notre Dame. If this team can get to 8 wins and be more competitive against the better teams; they might keep Fickell on the sideline for a 5th season.
The bottom 6 teams have no way to go but up. Their combined record was an awful 25 and 49 and Northwestern had a 7-6 record among them. Northwestern may be the best of the group again but we will see. UCLA has a new coach in Bob Chesney and he brings new hope but after The Bruins went 3 and 9 and blown out of several games; he has a tough task. Michigan State has a proven winner in new coach Pat Fitzgerald, but it is year one. Greg Schiano returns at Rutgers but the schedule is brutal, so improving on the 5 and 7 record may be hard to do. Mike Locksley will have to improve from 4 wins to at least make a bowl or his 8 year tenure at Maryland will come to an end. Barry Odom enters year 2 at Purdue and is coming off a 2 and 10 season that included losing the final 10 games and going winless in conference play. The schedule is brutal again so 4 wins would be an accomplishment.
This completes the look at the Big Conference. Check back on this blog in a couple of days for a look at The ACC Conference.
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