The Illinois Fighting Illini look poised for another positive season that could lead to a spot in a bowl game. They are 6-7 in New Year's Day Six Bowls, and the Spartans and Wolverines were routed in their lone CFP appearances. Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras (7) stands with teammates tight end Bryce Schulte (48) and defensive back Riley Moss (33) after an NCAA college football game in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl against Kentucky, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network. They'll have to go through arguably the league's toughest four opponents to get there and October is the most important month with battles against Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State defining the month. + Show More. Can Wisconsin get back to Indy? Wins: Indiana State, at Syracuse, Florida Atlantic, Iowa,Northwestern, at Indiana, Losses: Penn State, at Minnesota, at Maryland,Nebraska, at Wisconsin,at Illinois. We saw some improvement from Illinois during the season, but it was an inconsistent one at best. Whether the Iowa offense can score consistently is again a major question, but this defense should be fierce. By Sam Marsdale Aug 11, 8:56 AM. The schedule is a bit more daunting for the Buckeyes. A QB competition is the highlight of the offseason, as Noah Vedral brings experience while Gavin Wimsatt and Evan Simon await an opportunity. Mohamed Ibrahim basically missed all of 2021, but Minnesota's standout back has 3,003 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in his career. That's the next step. Bret Bielema certainly improved the Illini in his first year in Champaign, and Illinois did somehow manage to beat Penn State on the road. All 14 coaches returned to the Big Ten, but Nebraska's Scott Frost is on the hottest of hot seats. Score Prediction: Wisconsin 27, Washington State 24. The 2021 Big Ten season was filled with surprises based on preseason expectations. It seems like Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald finds a way to get his team to rebound when it has a poor year, but that might be far too optimistic for 2022. Dec 30, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) celebrates after a victory against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half during the 2021 Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Fighting Illini were led by Chase Brown on the ground and pulled off one of the weirdest wins of the college football season by taking down Penn State in nine, yes nine, overtimes. March 1, 2023 12:56 pm CT. College football writers are taking notice of the Longhorns loaded returning roster. Without knowing how two-deep depth charts are going to shake out, we'll take a stab anyway at way-too-early final record predictions for every team in the conference entering the offseason with a caveat these will be amended after spring practice and just before games kickoff in the fall. Running back TreVeyon Henderson totaled 1,567 scrimmage yards and 19 scores as a true freshman. The Big Ten sent two teams to the CFB Playoff in 2022 for the first time in conference history. Here are the 10 players I think are primed for breakout seasons in 2023. With the staffs comfort recruiting in the Sunshine State, it makes sense they would be right back there for the class of 2024.The Class of 2023 gave the Sooners CB Makari Vickers (early enrollee), DL Derrick LeBlanc (early . Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports. Jackson was a top-15 recruit in the 2021 class according to On3 Sports consensus. Smith-Njigba's last impression was a 15-catch, 347-yard, three-TD effort in the Rose Bowl against Utah. The Spartans have won the last two in the Paul Bunyan Trophy series, and Tucker hasn't backed down from the Wolverines at all. The Buckeyes, however, are the prohibitive favorite to strike back in 2022. USA TODAY - Bryant Crews 1h. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports. They open with Notre Dame, play Wisconsin and Iowa, to go along with the rest of the schedule. The road to Indianapolis and the Big Ten Championship Game goes through Columbuseven though it technically starts in Ireland. Football. For more sports, news, and entertainment, follow us on Twitter @WBSNsports or like our page on Facebook. The defense is good enough, but losing George Karlaftis will certainly set it back. With the staffs comfort recruiting in the Sunshine State, it How can the sophomore improve his chances? Following a 5-0 start last season, Penn State tumbled to six losses in the last eight games. Michigan and Michigan State shocked everyone and finished well above their projections. The Vols are coming off a strong season in 2022 and could be in for another good season. Wisconsin was red hot after the loss to Michigan before the loss to Minnesota. 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. PSU wasnt the same team after that, and still has loads of talent. UPDATE 12/27/22 Welcome to Football Alliance! 7 of 14. 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). 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. Late Kick Live Ep. Sign up for the Badgers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Credit: USA TODAY Sports. Quarterback Tanner Morgan and running back Mohamed Ibrahim are back in the Twin Cities as the offense will have familiar personnel. But will Penn State have what it takes to make another New Years Six berth after winning the Rose Bowl last season? There probably isn't much resistance to labeling them all top-10 talents, which is genuinely absurd for a single offense. The schedule is brutal, with Western Kentucky and Cincinnati again on the nonconference. Will Cade McNamara comfortably retake his starting job or can former five-star talent J.J. McCarthy make a push? Wins: Buffalo, at Charlotte, SMU, Purdue,at Indiana, Northwestern, Rutgers, Losses: at Michigan, at Wisconsin, Michigan State,at Penn State, Ohio State. The Buckeyes haven't had a Heisman Trophy winner since Troy Smith in 2006. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports. The giant-killers now know what they have at quarterback, with Aidan OConnell leading the charge. Losing Tyler Linderbaum and Tyler Goodson hurts, but with Spencer Petras and Jack Campbell returning, the Hawkeyes are poised to continue their ascent in 2022. Thats the question that holds they key to Iowas potential 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. An early-midseason road game at Iowa and midseason home games against Penn State and MSU could provide trouble, but the Wolverines could, if not should, enter the Week 13 game in Columbus with maybe one loss, if not undefeated, provided the defense finds a way to retool after offseason losses. The Buckeyes have won 25 straight conference games at home by an average of 30.9 points per game. 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 Wisconsin is expected to bounce back, but the pressure is on veteran quarterback Graham Mertz to make that happen. CLICK HERE to download the CBS Sports Mobile App and get the latest on your team today. Will Ohio State be able to finish the job this time around (possible spoiler alert below)? Iowa will go as far as its offense can carry it. 247Sports writer Kevin Flaherty joined Athlon Sports in predicting Texas to finish first in the Big 12 conference. Ohio State and Wisconsin had down years by their standards and missed the Big Ten Championship game entirely. The word: What are the outside expectations for the Badgers in 2022? In the history of the Big 12, 2023 will always stand as an outlier. How it will unfold: Arguably the toughest team to project in 2023, Over the next two weekends, Wisconsin, Penn State and MSU take on a seldom-seen power-conference opponent. 2 overall to the hometown Detroit Lions headlines the losses in the 2022 NFL draft. No team is probably more anxious to get the season started than the Ohio State Buckeyes. 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. The Buckeyes have won eight straight in the series, and the Badgers haven't won in Columbus since a 24-13 shocker in 2004. Michigan won the Big Ten, beat Ohio State, and finished with a 12-2 record and a No.3 finish in the AP poll. 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? Unique? However, the appeal isn't solely about the Buckeyes' superstar trio. Akron Zips. 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. 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. Will that allow a school such as Purdue or Minnesota to sneak up the standings this year? Yes, the Buckeyes are still a shining star in the conference, but they do have some issues. Ohio State is 93-11 in the College Football Playoff era, an .894 winning percentage. NCAA F January 27, 2022 News Bot The 2021 Big Ten Football season had plenty of surprises. Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports. If the third times the charm, then Michigan could be celebrating a national championship. Can Michigan [] Nebraska also brought in a new passing game coordinator in Mickey Joseph from LSU. But overhauls are never sure things, even with the collection of talent that OSU has. Then in November, the main contenders in the West and East divisions, respectively, meet for potentially decisive games. Getting one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country back is going to make a huge difference for Purdue. Theres no doubt Greg Schiano has shifted the culture in a good way at Rutgers. Michigan is the lone, scary crossover from the East, but it hosts Oklahoma and opens the season in Ireland against Northwestern. 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. And why not take Bret Bielema out to Las Vegas for a bowl game matchup with the Pitt Panthers. Not since 2010-13 has OSU gone While that was just our projections, we were pretty in-line with mainstream thought. Sep 4, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Important tilts against Michigan State and Penn State come at home with the possible division-deciding game against Ohio State happening in Columbus this time around. Michigan State we had ranked 10th. Here is a look at the spring way-too-early bowl projections for Big Ten teams from 247Sports. It would be incredible to see four teams from a single Power Five division to hit at least 10 victories, but it could happen given the overall strength at the top of the Big Ten. With the stroke of midnight and the calendar flipping over, the Buckeyes once-promising 2022 campaign ended instantly in 2023. Michigan loses a ton of talent from a team that went to the College Football Playoff last season. Ferentz just re-upped his contract and will have a talented, veteran team this upcoming season. Ohio State is the runaway favorite. Credit: USA TODAY Sports. The Spartans defeated their crosstown rivals, won 11 games, and had one of the best running backs in the country in Kenneth Walker III. The word: With a much-improved defense and one of the nation's most explosive units offensively, an extremely hungry Ohio State team should be able to get through the regular season unscathed if the Buckeyes are able to avoid road losses to Michigan State or Penn State entering the rivalry showdown versus Michigan at the end of November. 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. 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. Oct 30, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Nick Herbig (19) strips the ball away from Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Spencer Petras (7) during the second quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. The offense has to show more explosion and the defense more consistency. The word: There's a chance Northwesterncould lose eight straight Big Ten games, if the Wildcats aren't careful next season, after a promising three-win stretch following a calendar-opening loss to Nebraska. Credit: USA TODAY Sports. Northwestern went 3-9 that season, then surged to 7-2 with a West Division crown in 2020. Wisconsin should be the preseason favorite out west, but Iowas defense and Minnesotas offense will have legitimate questions to ask. What about the Big Ten West?

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. Thompson replaces four-year starter Adrian Martinez, who transferred to Kansas State. Nebraska was the best 3-9 football team in the history of the sport last season. The defense loses some key components and the Wolverines arent dynamic enough on offense to have the same success they enjoyed this year. Given the brutal cross-over schedule both teams have, this is a gotta-have-it-game if you want to make it to Indianapolis. Ohio State isn't used to finishing second in the Big Ten East, let alone losing to rival Michigan. View 13 items Too-early 2023 Big Ten football game-by-game predictions by team. How we are betting the Michigan Wolverines as they look to oust the Iowa Hawkeyes. Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports. After a brutal 2021 campaign followed a miraculous 2020 season, Tom Allen and the Hoosiers retooled by adding Missouri transfer quarterback Connor Bazelak. That hopeful rise starts with a September victory in East Lansing. Look for the Spartans to take a wee bit of a step back in 2022. Consequently, it's more fiscally responsible for Nebraska to not pull a USCwhich ditched Clay Helton after two games last season. This should be a bowl team, but we saw how the team fell apart last year in every single game. Illinois will likely be leading the way with defense and run game, which Michigan showed can be a successful formula in 2021. The promising news is the defense should be superb, and the conference slate is quite manageable. Can either Padilla or Petras develop into a consistent starter this season? Ohio State's high-powered offense will be too much for Michiganand then Wisconsin in the conference championship gameto contain. MORE: Futures odds and best bets for Big Ten. The Wildcats did win the Big Ten West in 2018 and 2020. USA TODAY - Bryant Crews 1h. Following a tremendous start to 2021 spurred by beating Wisconsin in Week 1, the Nittany Lions faltered down the stretch. With the staffs comfort recruiting in the Sunshine State, it makes sense they would be right back there for the class of 2024.The Class of 2023 gave the Sooners CB Makari Vickers (early enrollee), DL Derrick LeBlanc (early . By Kevin Flaherty 5 hours ago. The Big Ten sent two teams to the CFB Playoff in 2022 for the first time in conference history. The best news is MSU returns quarterback Payton Thornewho seemed a bit underappreciated with 3,233 yards and 27 touchdowns to 10 pickslast season. Here is a look at early team-by-team record predictions for Big Ten squads in 2022: Sep 3, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald reacts after a play against the Michigan State Spartans during the fourth quarter at Ryan Field. Early Big Ten Football Predictions for 2022 East Division 1. Heres our too-early 2022 game predictions now that the schedule is set. #GoBucks. And Penn State has some good bowl history against the Vols. Allen is the top returning Big Ten rusher with numbers that are on par with Henderson. But, as always, its difficult to suddenly project that a young team will be good the following year. For good measure, Jestin Jacobs (53) finished fifth on the defense last season. The Big Ten added USC and UCLA from the Pac-12 starting in the 2024; a blockbuster realignment move that could lead to further expansion for the soon-to-be 16-team conference. A new-look offense will be headlined by former Pitt offensive coordinator Mark Whipple and Texas transfer quarterback Casey Thompson. Iowa was ranked No.2 at some point in the season but finished with a 10-4 record. 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. It might be way too early for college football predictions, but before the rest of the country hits the field for spring ball, here are our early predictions for Power-5 We help YouTubers by driving traffic to them for free. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Wins: at Boston College, Wagner, at Temple, Nebraska, Indiana, Losses: Iowa, at Ohio State, at Minnesota, Michigan, at Michigan State, Penn State, at Maryland. It feels like a run the table year for Ohio State in 2022. This is a team that lost to Bowling Green at home yet beat Wisconsin to take the Big Ten West crown away from the Badgers (and give it to Iowa). Nebraska makes a bowl this year and gains some much-needed momentum. 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 The best-worst team in the country, Nebraska lost all of its games, except for Ohio State, by just one score, and its loss against the Buckeyes is another one it should have won. Up front, OSU returns three starters plus Matthew Jonesa very regular player over the last two seasons. The season was one of chaos that no one predicted. Indiana we had ranked third. Itll have to show that it can win big games before we can place the Cornhuskers higher. The word: Can the Spartans get back to the New Year's Six as one of the hunted at the top of the Big Ten next season? 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. 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. Win or lose that first game, the Boilermakers could be in a good spot in 2022. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports) Projected finish: T-4th in Big Ten East. 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. Not since 2010-13 has OSU gone two-plus seasons without standing atop the conference. The schedule is no breeze. 2022 College Football Game Result (Winner and Score) Predictions (RP predictor): - predictions of the winner, score, margin of victory, probability of victory of each game in the season. 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. Big Ten Game Result Predictions Today, March 1. PJ Mustipher made it clear who he things should be Penn State's next defensive line coach. Florida was very lucrative to the Oklahoma Sooners in the class of 2023. The Boilermakers lost their best overall player in defensive end George Karlaftis and wide receiver David Bell to the NFL draft. It was part of a ridiculous season where Smith-Njigba had 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine TDs. Where is Ohio State? The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Stroud finished fourth in the Heisman voting last season after putting up 4,435 passing yards and 44 TDs as a first-year starter. That defense returns much of the same personnel and will once again be near the top of the Big Ten. There is a good chance this is the next top-10 perhaps top-five showdown in the series. Ohio State is 7-3 in New Year's Day Six bowls, too. Sep. 24: Wisconsin at Ohio StateOct. Quarterback Aidan OConnell is back in the fold as the Boilers try and fill holes at receiver. 2022 Summary Casey Thompson turned in a season-long performance worthy of mixed reviews. The quarterback battle between Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy is ongoing and very likely makes its way into the regular season. Other than it being the first conference matchup of the season, probably not. Behind them, Michigan and Wisconsin are the prime contenders. Iowa won the division in 2021 before being dumped 42-3 by the Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium. Up and down puts it mildly when talking about the 2021 Illini. Riley Moss, the league's 2021 Defensive Back of the Year, headlines the secondary. The Buckeyes haven't lost to Michigan at Ohio Stadium since 2000, however. Can any of those other schools disrupt that? 8: Ohio State at Michigan StateOct. This is a team and program hoping to get back to winning the Big Ten East and competing for playoff spots. Michigan 3. Share this story. WebThe Mormon Mom TikToker Who Went Viral For Soft Swinging Was Arrested On Suspicion Of Domestic Violence This team could surprise some people. Still, a return to Indianapolis would be a welcomed sign for Wisconsin. 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. Wins: at Purdue, Ohio, at Auburn, Central Michigan, Northwestern, Minnesota, at Indiana, Maryland, at Rutgers, Michigan State, Losses: at Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State. No other Big Ten team has averaged 500 yards per game. 7566. It's a new QB for Frost, and it might just work this time. Fourth-year coach Ryan Day brings back a loaded offense that features Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. The Wolverines are the spring way-too-early pick to take on Georgia in the national championship on the 247Sports bowl projections. This article was gathered automatically by our news bot. Until last season, the Badgers hadn't had a drought longer than two seasons since the conference split in 2011. The RP Predictor calculates the final score of each game based on each team's offense, defense, What PFF Says. Michigan had a dominant offensive line last season, and Oluwatimi should help that trend continue. After a 7-6 season in 2018, Minnesota climbed as high as seventh in the AP poll and finished 11-2 in 2019. Bill Bender is a national college football writer for The Sporting News. The 2021 Big Ten Football season had plenty of surprises. Michigan has a solid roster, but a reasonably soft schedule will boost the Wolverines along the way. Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports. There are plenty of questions across the Big Ten Conference in the final season before USC and UCLA join the fray. Jermari Harris will play opposite him at corner. Get the fastest scores, stats, news, LIVE videos, and more. Eight hypothetical position switches for current Michigan football players, Why Ernest Hausmann decided to become a Wolverine, Every five-star recruit that Michigan football has had since 2001, Media reacts to Michigan basketball OT win over Wisconsin, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The Scarlet Knights will have to get through nonconference unscathed if it really wants to turn the corner, because the early conference schedule is no joke. 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. It's not going to be easy in 2022. The Buckeyes led the FBS in points and total yards, and Stroud is at the controls of what should be an elite offense again in 2022. The thing about college football is that its entirely impossible to pin down. Purdue was one of the bigger surprises in 2021, and looked more like what people thought it would when Jeff Brohm turned down his alma mater in Louisville a few years back. Day repeatedly used the word "edgy" at Big Ten Media Days to describe the team's mindset in the offseason. Thank you for visiting Win Big Sports Network and wbsnsports.com. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports. Expect Indiana to find its neutral level after extremes in either direction over the past two seasons. Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) runs the ball against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half of action Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Spartan Stadium. They had a season of close losses yet registered a Big Ten-worst 1-8 league mark. He recorded 17 catches for 300 yards and three touchdowns while playing in six games this year. This is a major chance at redemption after the Cougars took down the Badgers at Camp Randall in 2022. Northwestern vs. Illinois 11/27/21 FREE College Football Picks and Predictions on NCAAF Betting, NCAA Football 08 PS2 Campus Legend BJ Simmons And Your Heisman Award Winner Is, This I Remember: 2004 Michigan Football season, LIVE Texas vs Baylor Postgame Show | Bijan Robinson | Reactions | Big 12 | Longhorns. Four-star running back Kaytron Allen (IMG Academy) also will be in the mix for carries. Stroud is big news (he still had to come back, obviously) for an offense that was firing on all cylinders and the team in Columbus certainly hopes the coaching revamp, led by defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, pays big dividends. 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. He's a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, and that with a 85% catch percentage. 3. https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/lists/big-ten-football-way-too-early-power-rankings-for-2022-ohio-state-buckeyes/, All of Ohio State football's historical, unanimous first-team All-Americans, Way-too-early Big Ten bowl projections and College Football Playoff predictions. By JPinIC @JPinIC_BHGP Aug 18, 2022, 11:50am CDT / new. 3-9 football team in the AP poll and finished well above their projections main contenders the! To Michigan at Ohio Stadium since 2000, however, the Buckeyes,.... Word `` edgy '' at Big Ten conference in the offseason theres no doubt Greg Schiano has shifted the in. Florida was very lucrative to the Big Ten West in 2018 and 2020 at... For more Sports, news, LIVE videos, and entertainment, follow us on @... And gains some much-needed momentum in predicting Texas to finish the job this time defensive back of the Longhorns returning! 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Have to show more explosion and the Big Ten championship game goes through Columbuseven it. And Iowa, to go along with the rest of the Big Ten season... Quarterback Connor Bazelak last impression was a top-15 recruit in the Big Ten beat... Defense more consistency Wire newsletter to get the season started than the Ohio State is n't to! March 1 scary crossover from the East, but Minnesota 's standout has.