Complete 2023 Big Ten Football Preview
Spring practice has concluded. The transfer portal bustle has slowed down. Recruits are slowly taking their official visits to different schools. Summer workouts are just starting to get underway across the country. The NFL Draft if weeks behind us.
It is officially the quietest time of the College Football calendar.
For the most part, 2023 rosters are finalized and we have gotten a sneak preview of what these teams will look like from the spring games.
Armed with this knowledge, The Floor Slap has compiled it’s first edition of the 2023 Big Ten Football Power Rankings.
Strengths, weaknesses, schedule breakdowns, and projected records for every Big Ten team this season can be found below.
1) Ohio State
Reason for Optimism
Whether it’s Devin Brown or Kyle McCord, it’ll be tough for Ohio State’s new QB to fill CJ Stroud’s shoes. But he’ll have some NFL-caliber best weapons around him, highlighted by the nation’s best receiving duo in Marvin Harrison Jr and Emeka Egbuka. With plenty of talent behind them (like Julian Flemming, Jayden Ballard, swiss-army-knife Xavier Johnson, and true freshman Carnell Tate), Ohio State firmly has the best WR room in the country.
Cade Stover – a great blocker and dangerous with the ball in his hands – is one of the most versatile tight ends in the country. Former 4-star receiver Gee Scott could emerge as another dangerous pass-catcher from the tight end position. The embarrassment of riches at receiver will make life for Ohio State’s new quarterback a little easier.
Ohio State has perhaps the deepest running back room in the nation. TreVeyon Henderson – who exploded onto the scene as a freshman in 2021 before injuries held him back last season – returns as the top dog. Miyan Williams, who has a 6.7 career yards per carry average, also returns as the primary backup. Former top-100 recruit Evan Pryor is finally fully healthy. Chip Trayanum and Dallan Hayden also proved to be more than capable when called upon late last season. Depth like this should allow the Buckeyes to be nice and fresh come November.
Although the offensive line took a hit with the loss of both starting tackles and their center from last season, the interior line appears to be strong with the return of All-Big Ten guards Donovan Jackson and Matthew Jones return. OSU also picked up a key transfer in San Diego State tackle Josh Simmons.
Ryan Day has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. What makes Ohio State truly dangerous is how good this defense should be in 2023.
The Buckeyes boast perhaps the nation’s fiercest defensive front. JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, and Caden Curry lead a strong group of pass-rushers, while Michael Hall and Ole Miss transfer Tywone Malone lead an incredibly deep interior line.
Ohio State may be hurt by the fact that they usually only play two linebackers at a time because the unit is so deep. Last year’s top tacklers Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers both return as well as one of 2021’s top tacklers Cody Simon, who missed most of last year due to injury. CJ Hicks was a top-10 player in the 2022 class and looks primed for a bigger role in this defense.
The safety position is about as deep as linebacker highlighted by Lathan Ransom and Josh Proctor. Sonny Styles is another highly-rated player from that ’22 class that looks to have a breakout season.
Although cornerback is a little thin, Denzel Burke looks to have made tremendous strides in the off-season and is primed to be a lockdown cornerback. Ole Miss transfer Davison Igbinosun also impressed in the spring and will challenge for a starting job.
Top to bottom, Ohio State’s defense looks to have few – if any – weaknesses. The offense may take some time to take form, but a Ryan Day offense with a top-10 defense should be scary for the rest of college football.
Reason for Concern
As weird as it is to say, the quarterback looks to be Ohio State’s biggest question mark. Ryan Day hoped to name a starter after the spring, but a Devin Brown thumb injury and a lackluster spring game by Kyle McCord has left this battle still open. Regardless of the weapons at their disposal, one of these quarterbacks is going to have to step up and take command of this offense.
It also does not help that pass protection is Ohio State’s second-biggest question mark. Josh Fryar was the Buckeyes’ first offensive lineman off the bench and got one start at tackle last season. He’s been a favorite to become the next LT since before the season ended, but has yet to secure the starting job. Ohio State may lean on SDSU transfer Simmons at the other tackle spot, but he is still a raw prospect who had problems with penalties last season.
Defensively, Ohio State could see more issues with their pass defense if the injury bug hits the cornerbacks. It looks like OSU fans should expect much better production out of their starters, but it is not a very deep group.
Projected 2023 Record: 11-1
With games against Indiana, Youngstown State, and Western Kentucky to open the season, Ohio State has a perfect opportunity to iron out its offense before traveling to South Bend to face Notre Dame. That’ll likely be an ugly, close game with a couple great defenses facing off, but I have a hard time seeing the Irish scoring enough points to take that win.
Ohio State gets an early bye week right after that game before hosting Maryland. With the Terps likely looking to finish last year-s near-upset, the Buckeyes are fortunate to get this matchup at home.
A road trip to Purdue the week before hosting Penn State is a classic trap game, but I think Ohio State knows better by know than to overlook Purdue. Penn State should be a close game as always, but it’s hard for me to envision a new quarterback winning in Columbus until I see it with my own eyes.
Traveling to Wisconsin the week after Penn State is an incredibly tough ask though. Looking at that stretch of Maryland, Purdue, Penn State & Wisconsin, I have a really hard time seeing Ohio State escape that without a loss. It’s a bit too much to ask for an unproven quarterback.
Ohio State then faces Rutgers, Michigan State, and Minnesota before their finale against Michigan – a game that will certainly have a hand in deciding the Big Ten East champion.
Ohio State beat themselves against Michigan last year, largely dominating the game aside from a handful of broken plays by the defense and miscues on offense. The schedule sets up nicely for Ohio State to be playing it’s best football at the end of the season, while Michigan will be coming off of a couple brutal matchups.
I think Ohio State overcomes an early-season loss to finish 11-1 and take the East crown.
2) Michigan
Reason for Optimism
JJ McCarthy appears to the be consensus top QB in the conference and is accompanied by the electric running back duo of Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. With the additions of T LaDarius Henderson and C Drake Nugent via the portal, the offensive line should overcome its two losses just fine and once again be among the best lines in the country.
To be honest, Michigan could probably win nine games this season without ever throwing the ball more than five times in a game. With McCarthy’s mobility, that’s how dominant this ground game should be this season.
But the Wolverines have a formidable receiver duo in Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson. Add in a deep tight end room led by Colston Loveland and AJ Barner, and McCarthy should have plenty of options in the passing game to make this a truly versatile offense.
Linebacker is looks solid again this year with All-Big Ten Junior Colson returning along with Michael Barrett. They also added Earnest Hausmann from Nebraska, who started seven games as a freshman for Nebraska last year. Michigan also boosted the defensive line with the addition of Josaiah Stewart, who’s had 16 sacks over the past two seasons for Coastal Carolina.
The strength of this defense is undoubtedly the secondary, highlighted by one of the best cornerbacks in the nation in Will Johnson. Rod Moore and Makari Paige lead a thinned-out safety room due to some transfers, but that also tells you a lot about how they’ve played this spring. Mike Mainstrill is also one of the best nickle backs in the country.
Reason for Concern
Michigan failed to get after the quarterback in it’s closest games of the season, and it all came crumbling down in the playoff against TCU. They were picked apart. Unfortunately, there aren’t signs of the Michigan pass-rush improving a whole lot thanks to the departure of Mike Morris and Eyabi Anoma.
The addition of Stewart helps, but he took a major step back in production in 2022 and I don’t believe he has the physical tools to be a true alpha pass-rusher in the Big Ten. The back-end of this defense looks as good as any in the conference, but they can certainly be exposed – especially the second corner position. Amorion Walker just switched from safety to corner and figures to be the week 1 starter.
Offensively, Michigan is going to sorely miss the presence of senior receiver Ronnie Bell. He was by far their most productive and versatile receiver last season. Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson are a fine receiving duo. But with virtually no experience behind them, I’m not sure this pass attack has what it takes to truly build on last year and make this offense truly complete.
It also doesn’t help that OC and QB Coach Matt Weiss was let go earlier this winter. He had been the QB coach since 2021 – the year Michigan finally turned everything around – and took over as OC after Gattis left for Miami. The impact Weiss had on this offense can’t be understated. Harbaugh has proven throughout his time at Michigan that he can’t develop a quarterback on his own, so it will be interesting to see how this departure impacts McCarthy’s growth.
Projected 2023 Record: 10-2
The Wolverines once again face a cake-walk of a non-conference schedule with East Carolina, UNLV, and Bowling Green on the docket. They then follow that up against Rutgers, paving the way for an effortless 4-0 start.
Back-to-back road trips to Nebraska and Minnesota make for a couple intriguing tests for Michigan. But they should be able to overwhelm both of those teams along the line of scrimmage.
I don’t really see Michigan getting tested until their final three games of the season when they travel to Penn State and Maryland before hosting Ohio State in the finale. Penn State will be battle-tested by this point in the season, unlike Michigan. They will also be out for blood after last year’s thrashing.
A road trip to Maryland the week after is also no joke. As you’ll read on later, Maryland is very capable of upsetting Ohio State, Penn State, or Michigan this season.
I don’t believe Michigan escapes those road games without a loss. They’ll also be a little worn-down when they face an Ohio State team that should be playing its best football of the season. I think Michigan stumbles down the stretch to finish 10-2.
3) Penn State
Reason for Optimism
Much-hyped quarterback Drew Allar will have plenty of the weight off his shoulders this year with running back duo Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The sophomores each averaged better than five yards per carry and combined for nearly 2,200 total yards and 24 total TDs last season.
Allar will also have plenty of help through the air with the return of KeAndre Lambert-Smith and the arrivals of Malik McClain and Dante Sephas via the portal. The 6’4″ receiver was a 4-star receiver in the 2021 class before enrolling at Florida State. In addition to being an immediate redzone threat, McClain has good speed and the ability to pick up yards after the catch. Sephas is a smaller, shiftier receiver who can also go deep on the outside. He piled up 132 receptions for nearly 2,000 yards and 12 TDs over the past two seasons.
An offensive line that made major strides in 2022 largely stays in tact this season. Though Allar isn’t quite the scrambler Clifford was, he has an NFL-caliber arm and should be able to lead a dynamic offensive attack.
Penn State should also boast one of the nation’s best defenses. Kalen King is the next lockdown corner in replacement of Joey Porter Jr and could be a 1st-rd pick in next year’s draft. Johnny Dixon started six games last year and should have no problem filling in at the other cornerback spot.
Abdul Carter, Curtis Jacobs, and Kobe King all return at linebacker, forming one of the fiercest trios in the entire country. With Adisa Isaac and Chop Robinson at DE, opposing quarterbacks should have a miserable time trying to operate their offense.
Reason for Concern
In his 6th year, returning starter Keaton Ellis will be tasked with leading a largely unproven group of safeties. And no one appears to have truly stepped up in replacement of PJ Mustipher at DT either. These are small holes to poke in an otherwise fantastic defense, but this side of the ball is not without it’s question marks.
Offensively, a lot of expectations are being put on Drew Allar’s shoulders. To be fair, he hasn’t made a start yet and is only in his second year of college. James Franklin and company have not proven to be great QB developers, either. It may be a little idealistic to think Allar can come in and immediately elevate this offense to the point of surpassing Ohio State or Michigan.
As good as the trio of Lambert-Smith, Sephas, and McClain appear to be at receiver, there doesn’t appear to be a consistent security blanket for Allar to rely on. Sephas and Lambert-Smith are both burners and McClain has yet to take on a big role in an offense. Behind these three guys, there are also a lot of question marks.
With a reliable offensive line, a couple of explosive backs, and a great defense, the passing attack doesn’t have to be earth-shattering in order for Penn State to win a lot of games this year. But if they want any chance of taking down Ohio State and Michigan and competing for the Big Ten or maybe even the playoff, Allar will have to grow up fast.
Projected 2023 Record: 10-2
West Virginia is a tricky opener, but Penn State should be 2-0 before traveling to Illinois and returning to play Iowa. For a new quarterback, this is certainly a tough month to open the season. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Penn State drop a game early in the year.
The Nittany Lions then travel to Northwestern before hitting their bye. Penn State fans would certainly hope to be 5-0 at that point, but 4-1 wouldn’t be completely shocking. Illinois and Iowa are tough draws out of the West.
The regroup against UMass before facing Ohio State where they hope to pick up their first win in Columbus since 2011. They follow that game up against Indiana. Heading into November, Penn State is almost certain to have at least one loss.
Back-to-back games on the road against Maryland and at home against Michigan seem tough to come out of undefeated. Luckily, Penn State finishes the season with Rutgers and Michigan State.
With a new quarterback, a couple new receivers, and not much depth from the pass-catchers, I’m not just convinced the passing attack will develop to the point it needs to get to compete for a national championship.
4) Iowa
Reason for Optimism
Iowa’s historically-bad offense gets a massive upgrade with former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara. While he isn’t an incredibly dynamic athlete and won’t put up the gaudiest numbers, McNamara is the most reliable QB in a muddied Big Ten West.
Iowa also got a big upgrade at receiver with the addition of Kaleb Brown from Ohio State. The speedster and former top-100 prospect will likely be paired with last year’s top wide receiver Nico Ragaini in most sets. The loss of tight end Sam LaPorta hurts, but Iowa once again has a deep room led by Luke Lachey and Michigan transfer Erick All. All has Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2021 with McNamara as his QB. All in all, Iowa should expect to see better production from its receiving core.
In the backfield, last year’s top two rushers in Kaleb Johnson and Leshon Williams both return. Johnson really took hold of the backfield and found his groove toward the end of the season, racking up over 500 rush yards on 7.4 yards per carry over his final four regular season games.
Iowa also returns almost everyone from their offensive line and also adds a couple transfers in Rusty Feth from Miami OH and Daijon Parker from Saginaw Valley State. This unit struggled mightily in 2022, but improved throughout the year and finished season on a high note in the Music City Bowl against Kentucky.
All signs point to up for the Iowa offense.
Though the defense might not be quite as dominant, the Hawkeyes figure to once again boast one of the best defenses in the Big Ten. Safety Riley Moss is certainly a tough loss for any secondary to endure. But led by the likes of Cooper DeJean & Jermari Harris at CB and Sebastian Castro & Quinn Schulte at S, Iowa’s pass defense could be even better in 2023.
At linebacker, Iowa made another impact transfer move by plucking Nick Jackson out of Virginia. The 5th-year senior racked up 314 tackles over the past three seasons.
Joe Evans, Noah Shannon, and Deontae Craig lead what should one of the best and deepest defensive lines in the entire country. This will be another elite defense which could be scary for the rest of the Big Ten if it is paired with a competent offense – which it appears to be.
Reason for Concern
Jack Campbell is truly an irreplaceable talent. One of the best linebackers in Iowa history, Campbell leaves a massive hole to fill in the middle of the defense. Jackson was a nice pickup in the portal and Jay Higgins played well last year when called upon. But everyone else in this unit is largely unproven.
As elite as their defensive line and secondary may be, Iowa will need linebackers who can make plays north-to-south and sideline-to-sideline if they want to win the Big Ten or compete for a playoff spot.
Offensively, the coaching staff still leaves a lot to be desired. Experience and a few nice transfer additions can only do so much with incompetent coaching. Will Kirk Ferentz finally learn how to get the ball to some of its play-makers?
Projected 2023 Record: 9-3
Although a road trip to Iowa State in week 2 poses a big obstacle, Iowa should be 3-0 heading into the white out in Happy Valley. They come back home against Michigan State and Purdue before traveling to Madison for a pivotal Big Ten West showdown. They then follow that game up with Minnesota at home before finally getting their bye week.
That is truly a tough stretch to open the season for Iowa. I don’t see them getting to their bye week with a record any better than 5-2.
Luckily, they have home games against Northwestern and Rutgers to get things right and hit their stride heading into a tough two-game stretch to end the season. Iowa hosts their third-straight home game when they play Illinois before heading to Lincoln for the season finale.
Having to play against Penn State in the whiteout is a tough break, but drawing Rutgers and Michigan State out of the East makes up for it. Even though I think Iowa is the better team right now, it’s a tough ask to go travel to Wisconsin in a game that could decide the division.
I wouldn’t be surprised with anything from a 7 to 10 win season for Iowa, but I predict 9-3.
5) Wisconsin
Reason for Optimism
The arrival of Luke Fickell and coordinators Phil Longo from UNC & Mike Tressel from Cincy already has Badger fans thinking Big Ten Championship appearance. But it’s more than just the coaching that offers reason for hype around this team in 2023.
Wisconsin loses two starters on the offensive line from last season and another projected starter to the transfer portal, but Fickell brought in two linemen from Cincinnati. Joe Huber started every game at RT last year and can be used at multiple positions. Jake Renfro was an All-AAC center during Cincy’s playoff run before an injury cost him all of 2022. Those two additions plus potential All-BIG tackle Jack Nelson and All Big Ten Honorable Mention interior lineman Tanor Bortolini make me believe the 2023 Badger offensive line will perform closer to the standard they’ve set over the past several decades.
The offensive line will be blocking for Braelon Allen – a running back who deserves to be mentioned right alongside Nick Singleton, Blake Corum, Donovan Edwards, and the other elite backs in this conference. He’s accumulated over 2,500 rush yards and 23 TDs over the past two seasons.
Wisconsin returns its top three receivers in Chimere Dike , Skyler Bell, and Keontez Lewis. They also bring in transfers former 4-star CJ Williams from USC, Will Pauling from Cincinnati, and Bryson Green from Oklahoma State. It’s as deep of a receiver group as Wisconsin has had in years.
Led by Kamo’i Latu, Hunter Wholen, and BC transfer Jason Maitre, Wisconsin’s safety room looks to be much improved from last season. They also return the core of their linebackers in Maema Njongmeta, Jordan Turner, and CJ Goetz.
The defensive coaching staff Fickell brought in looks primed to help bring Wisconsin back to one of the best defenses in the country. Combined with a deep group of skill position players on an offense that might actually run tempo and push defenses down field, Wisconsin should be a contender once again in 2023.
Reason for Concern
QB Tanner Mordecai was brought in to lead a new offense for the Badgers. But after an up-and-down spring and a disastrous spring game performance, his position as the starter seems anything but secure. I actually really liked what I saw from redshirt freshman and Mississippi State transfer Braedyn Locke in the spring. But no matter who starts, expecting a big jump in QB production this season might be a tad optimistic.
As deep as their receiver room appears to be, there isn’t an alpha #1 WR that jumps out to me. Not knowing who the starting quarterback will be until a few weeks before the season also won’t do any favors for chemistry. I think the Badger passing attack may take a while to fully develop.
Wisconsin also has a big question mark at cornerback. Back in the winter, they brought in Jay Shaw from UCLA, Cedrick Dort from Kentucky, and Justin Clark from Toledo. But none of them seem ready to secure a starting job. This is a coaching staff that has developed great secondaries in the past. But this is also a secondary that finished in the bottom half of the conference in pass yards allowed, pass touchdowns allowed, and opponent completion percentage. It might take more than a season to get the pass defense back on track.
Projected 2023 Record: 9-3
Wisconsin starts off the season with Buffalo, Washington State, Georgia Southern, Purdue, and Rutgers. With two revenge games against WSU and the Boilers squeezed in there, a 5-0 start seems more than possible.
The Badgers then have a tough three-game stretch of Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio State. If they can somehow only manage one loss in that span, they could be 9-1 after games against Indiana and Northwestern. But considering games against Washington State and Purdue aren’t shoe-ins, I think an 8-2 start is most likely with 7-3 also very possible.
Wisconsin then finishes with Nebraska – a team that should be finding its footing towards the end of the season – and on the road against their rival Minnesota, who they’ve dropped two straight against.
There is still a lot to fix from last year’s disappointing campaign: poor offensive line play, an ineffective pass game, porous pass defense, and sub-par pass rush. With so much to improve upon, I see a 10-win season just out of reach.
But the Big Ten West crown will likely be decided on October 14th when Wisconsin plays Iowa. Luckily for the Badgers, that game is in Madison, Wisconsin.
6) Maryland
Reason for Optimism
Taulia Tagovailoa made a surprise return to College Park, immediately giving Maryland one of the most dynamic offenses in the conference. Tagovailoa completed 67% of his passes last year for over 3,000 yards and 22 total TDs to 8 INTs. If he can stay healthy for the entire year, he could very well finish the 1st team All-Big Ten quarterback.
Freshman All-American running back Roman Hemby also returns. He is one of the Big Ten’s most underrated backs after finishing last year with over 1,200 total yards and 11 total TDs. On top of Hemby, the Terps have a deep group of pass-catchers headlined by last year’s leading receiver Jeshaun Jones. They also return Tai Felton, Octavion Smith, and perhaps the Big Ten’s best tight end in Cory Dychess. Not to mention key transfer additions in receivers Kaden Prather from West Virginia and Tyrese Chambers from FIU. Taulia will certainly have loads of talent at his disposal.
Their offensive line has a ton of turnover from last season, but transfer additions Corey Bullock, Gottlieb Ayedze, and Marcus Dumervil will, at the very least, provide solid depth for the Terps. Bullock was 1st-team All-MEAC the past two seasons and Ayedze was 1st-team All-MEC the past three seasons – both should compete for starting jobs along the interior line. And Dumervil transfers from LSU after earning a 4-star grade in the 2020 class. It may take some time for this unit to gel, but there is reason to believe the offensive line can improve their play from last season.
Defensively, Maryland has some all-conference caliber players at linebacker and safety led by LB Jaishawn Barham (one of the most underrated at his position in the entire country) and safeties Beau Brade and Dante Trader Jr.
The Terps lose some studs at cornerback to the NFL, but they added a key transfer in Cincinnati’s Ja’Quan Sheppard. He earned a 4-star grade as a transfer after finishing last year with 10 PBUs and 5.5 TFLs – good enough for 1st team All-AAC.
The combination of returning experience and talent influx via the portal, Maryland has a chance to surprise a lot of people in 2023.
Reason for Concern
As much as the transfer portal may have mitigated the losses along the offensive line, Maryland still has to replace essentially every starter from last season. With some great defensive fronts in Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, and Illinois on their schedule, the Terrapin offensive line will need find its rhythm early.
Taulia has proven to be as fragile as any QB in the country over the past few seasons. Billy Edwards is a reliable backup with his mobility, big frame, and good decision-making. But this offense won’t be nearly as dynamic if they have to rely on Edwards to step up for multiple games.
Defensively, Maryland lacks any proven pass-rushers. Transfers Henry Chibueze from Liberty, Donnell Brown from St Francis, and Jordan Phillips from Tennessee will be counted on to make major contributions in 2023. But each of them either hasn’t seen much play time in their career, or is going to be experiencing a drastic increase in on-field competition. There do not appear to be obvious replacements for DE Dureel Nchami or DT Mosiah Nasili-Kite.
And as much optimism there is for Maryland to replace several NFL departures in the secondary, this is still a pass defense that was 10th in the Big Ten in pass yards allowed and 11th in interceptions. If Maryland wants to build on last year, they will have to count on improved play from a lot of new faces in the back-end of the defense.
Projected 2023 Record: 8-4
Maryland’s schedule lines up very well, opening with games against Towson, Charlotte, Virginia, Michigan State, and Indiana. They could very well be 5-0 and ranked heading into their trip to Columbus at the beginning of October.
Back-to-back games against Ohio State and Illinois are tough, but they then get their bye week before a road trip to Northwestern. Maryland shouldn’t be any worse than 6-2 entering November.
November offers road trips to Nebraska & Rutgers and home matchups against Penn State and Maryland. I think Maryland has what it takes to potentially knock off one of the three juggernauts in East this season. After all, they were close to beating Ohio State and Michigan last season.
This could very well end up being a special season in College Park if they take care of business in September and manage to pull off an upset against Ohio State, Penn State, or Michigan. In fact, a 10-win season is not out of the question.
But I am not sold on the offensive or defensive lines. I also have to assume Taulia will miss at least parts of a handful of games due to undersized stature. If he can stay healthy and the offensive line additions prove to be reliable starters, watch out for Maryland. But until I see it with my own eyes, I think 8 wins is a fair estimation for 2023.
7) Illinois
Reason for Optimism
Led by linemen Jer’Zhan Newton & Keith Randolph Jr and last year’s top four linebackers in Calvin Hart Jr., Alec Bryant, Tarique Barnes, and Gabe Jacas, Illinois boasts one of the fiercest defensive fronts in the entire country. And although they have some key pieces to replace in the secondary, the Illini brought in three transfers at safety to mitigate their losses. Nonetheless, Illinois should be able to navigate the Big Ten West without a dominant pass defense.
Reggie Love and Josh McCray return at running back to fill the massive hole left by star Chase Brown. Love proved he can shoulder the workload in the run game over the last two games of the season, combining for 138 yards rushing on 6 yards per carry. The more-powerful McCray missed nine games due to injury last season, but piled up nearly 549 yards on the ground in 2021 on nearly 5 yards per carry. The duo should do a fine job of replacing Brown’s production.
Illinois also returns four of last year’s top five pass-catchers in receivers Isaiah Williams, Pat Bryant, & Casey Washington and tight end Tip Reiman. This is great news for new starting QB Luke Altmyer.
Altmyer transfers from Ole Miss after having only 54 pass attempts over the past two seasons. He was a 4-star prospect in the 2021 class and a top-10 QB prospect in this year’s transfer class. Although he hasn’t yet been named the starter, Altmyer should offer Illinois improved accuracy and pocket presence compared to what they had last season.
Between a dominant defensive front, an improvement at QB, and vast depth at the skill position players, there is plenty of reason Illini fans can expect their team to match last year’s 8-win total.
Reason for Concern
As much optimism as there is for running backs Love and McCray, it can’t be understated how much Chase Brown meant to this offense last season. Brown accumulated over 1,900 total yards last season and accounted for 75% of the team’s rushing yards. No matter how well Love and McCray play this season, it’s hard to imagine them topping that production.
Although the arrival of Altmyer brings some optimism, he has yet to truly showcase his talents on the field. He’s completed just 52% of his passes with an event TD:INT. He saw extended play time in 2021’s bowl game against Baylor after Matt Corrall went down. Altmyer struggled, going 15-28 for 174 yards, a TD, and 2 INTs.
Their offensive line is also a massive question mark with only two returning starters. Julian Pearl and Isaiah Adams could be All-BIG candidates on the left side of the line and they added some depth along the interior in Saddleback College transfer Will Leys. But after missing out on a few transfer targets, the right side of the line seems completely up in the air. This does not have the makings on an overwhelmingly dominant group.
With massive question marks along the line and needing to break in a brand new QB, it’s hard to imagine Illinois’ offense improving a whole lot from last season. In 2022, they finished 9th in the Big Ten in points, 7th in yards, 10th in yards per play, and 8th in turnovers committed.
Although the Illini have a talented DB group, they will have to hope a lot of guys elevate their game and step up with several NFL losses. Tahveon Nicholson looked great last season before a wrist injury took him out for the year. Will he fully recover and effectively fill Devon Witherspoon’s vacancy? The other corner spot also appears to be up in the air.
Projected 2023 Record: 7-5
Illinois will have another great defense – there’s little doubt about that. But two of their East draws are Penn State and Maryland. It’s hard to envision this offense keeping up with those high-powered machines.
Luckily, Illinois’ non-conference schedule is more than manageable with games against Toledo, Kansas, and FAU. Their other September games are Penn State and Purdue, so a 4-1 start could be likely. Home November matchups against Indiana and Northwestern should ensure Illinois gets to at least 6 wins in 2023.
But that still leaves road games against Maryland, Minnesota, & Iowa and home matchups against Wisconsin and Nebraska in the back half of their schedule. I’m just a little too concerned about Altmyer adjusting in his first year as a starter behind a questionable offensive line to think Illinois can have a winning record in those five games.
8) Minnesota
Reason for Optimism
Probably the best tight end in the Big Ten, Brevyn Spann-Ford leads a deep group of skilled receivers in 2023. Last year’s leading receiver Daniel Jackson also returns along with Chris Autman Bell – 2021’s top target before an early-season injury took him down for the rest of 2022. On top of that, the Gophers also brought in transfers Corey Crooms from Western Michigan and Elijah Spencer from Charlotte, both of whom are talented and experienced. All in all, Minnesota has one of the deepest receiving cores in the conference.
Although Minnesota loses a lot along their offensive line, they have consistently proven to pick up the pieces and reload under PJ Fleck. And even though the loss of Gopher-great Mohamad Ibrahim stings, Western Michigan transfer Sean Tyler seems to have the job on lock. His spring performance was strong enough to force Trey Potts to transfer. Tyler has piled up over 2,100 rush yards and 19 total TDs on 5.6 yards per carry over the past two seasons.
Long-term starting QB Tanner Morgan finally graduated, meaning Minnesota will have to rely on a first-year starter. But Athan Kaliakmanis brings high hopes after earning a 4-star grade in the 2021 class. He started the season finale against Wisconsin – a 23-16 Gopher win – and performed admirably, going 19-29 for 319 yards and 2 TDs.
Cody Lindenberg and Ryan Selig should both elevate their game at linebacker and contend for all-conference spots. Safety Tyler Nubin made a surprise return to school and corner Justin Walley figures to be their lockdown guy, giving the Gophers a couple of great foundational players in the secondary.
Though the 2023 edition of the Golden Gophers isn’t without it’s question marks, PJ Fleck has proven to have this program in a steady position and should be able to reload in most areas.
Reason for Concern
Kaliakmanis’ lone start was against a beat-up and struggling Badger secondary. He largely struggled outside of that game, finishing the year with a 54% completion percentage and a negative TD:INT. The loss of four-year starting center John Michael Schmitz also doesn’t help. All in all, it is hard to imagine Minnesota’s offensive line performing even close to as well as they did in 2022.
Although Sean Tyler brings some impressive stats with him from WMU, he stands at just 5’8″ 185lbs. I’m not sure he will be able to the bell cow running back for Minnesota all season long and expect to hold up against these tough Big Ten defenses. Considering they are breaking in an unproven quarterback, Minnesota will need to rely on ground production from at least a couple other guys. The question is, who?
Defensively, the Gophers have a massive question mark along the defensive front. The defense performed especially well last year considering the lack of pressure generated by this line. Unfortunately, the defense will likely have to perform without much help from this group yet again. Former 4-star Jah Joyner seems to be generating the most buzz after earning Spring Game MVP. But even he generated just 13 pressures last season.
There is a similar problem behind Lindenberg and Selig at linebacker – an overwhelming lack of raw talent and experience. The duo they have here is solid, but not athletic enough to make up for the holes elsewhere. The loss of defensive tackle Trill Carter to Texas only makes matters worse up front.
With the loss of Beanie Bishop to the portal, cornerback also looks incredibly thin behind Justin Walley. And even though the safety position largely looks solidified, a shutdown secondary is not what is going to win you games in the Big Ten West. You need a deep, though defensive front. And I am not so sure Minnesota has that this season.
Projected 2023 Record: 6-6
It’d be fair to give PJ Fleck the benefit of the doubt when it comes to reloading along the offensive and defensive fronts this season. But their schedule certainly does them no favors.
After a likely 2-0 start, Minnesota has to travel to Chapel Hill to face the Tar Heels. Even with a loss, they should be 4-1 entering October. But that is when the real challenge starts. Minnesota opens up the month with games against Michigan and Iowa.
November features road games against Purdue & Ohio State and home matchups again Illinois and Wisconsin. I do not think Minnesota matches up very well against the top teams in the West this year – namely Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Anything better than a 1-3 finish might be optimistic.
If Kaliakmanis steps up and proves to be one of the best quarterbacks in the West, Minnesota could certainly hit eight or even nine wins again this season. But from what I’ve seen so far, I am a little skeptical.
9) Purdue
Reasons for Optimism
New head coach Ryan Walters is a defensive guy and should immediately help turn around a defense that was 9th in the Big Ten last year in points per game, 10th in yards allowed per game, and 13th in yards allowed per play. An overhaul of his defense will likely be led by a strong linebacker room.
5th-year senior OC Brothers exploded onto the scene for the Boilermakers last year and should lead the middle. He’ll be paired with the athletic Nic Caraway – who will likely play a DE/OLB hybrid position – to anchor this position group. Caraway was a 4-star in 2022 and has big expectations heading into his sophomore season. With experienced guys like Kydran Jenkins, Jacob Wahlberg, and Yanni Karlaftis (younger brother of Purdue standout George Karlaftis), Purdue should have a deep group of guys at linebacker.
With the return of Sanoussi Kane and Cam Allen in the secondary, the Boilers figure to improve from last year when they finished 11th in pass yards allowed. Although the scheme change and vast number of coaching changes will likely make this defensive overhaul a multi-year process, the back-seven offers a point of strength for Purdue in 2023.
Although the Boilers will surely miss Aidan O’Connell next year, they bring in new OC Graham Harrell who runs a QB-friendly offense based on Mike Leach’s air-raid. The new QB figures to be Texas-transfer Hudson Card. He played well when given an opportunity, completing nearly 70% of his passes for 928 yards, 6 TDs, and only 1 INT. Card is a polished passer and should put up solid numbers for Purdue next season.
They also return Devin Mockobee who was a surprise at running back last year, finishing with nearly 1,200 total yards at over five yards per carry. Mockobee will likely shoulder the running game in 2023.
Purdue picked up a key transfer in Marshall wide receiver Corey Gammage. the 6’4″ 220lb 5th-year has been consistent over the pass three seasons, totaling 165 receptions for over 2,000 yards and 12 TDs.
Reasons for Concern
In addition to Gammage, Purdue has TJ Sheffield and Mershawn Rice as their top two returners at wide receiver. The duo combined for 763 yards and 5 TDs last year. But I don’t see anyone on this roster who can make up for Charlie Jones’ and Payne Durham’s ridiculous production. And outside of those three guys, Purdue has a lot of question marks at receiver which is not optimal for a team with a brand new QB, new OC, and new scheme.
Although Purdue’s offensive line boasts plenty of depth, I’m not sure there is a lot of NFL talent in that room who can push around some of the great defensive fronts the Big Ten boasts. Even though I like Hudson Card as a new QB, he doesn’t have the experience O’Connell had nor the weapons he had at his disposal. With the passing game likely taking at least a small step back, defenses will be able to key in on the run game more and slow down Mockobee.
The same appears to be true for the defensive line. Although depth doesn’t seem to be a massive issue, Kydran Jenkins is the only proven pass-rusher returning. Especially in the Big Ten West, you need to be able to clog the offensive line and stop run games. I’m not sure Purdue will have the bodies necessary to do so.
There are certainly a lot of things to like about Purdue this year and I think Ryan Walters was a great hire. However, there is so much change going on with this football program at the moment. Compounded with question marks along both lines of scrimmage, I have a hard time seeing Purdue emerge from a muddied Big Ten West again.
Projected 2023 Record: 6-6
Although manageable, Purdue does not have a cakewalk of a non-conference schedule. They face Fresno State, Virginia Tech, and Syracuse in the first three games. For a team that might take some time to truly find its footing, Purdue might start off 1-2.
They follow those games up with matchups against Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Ohio State – four teams that, unlike Purdue, boast very strong lines of scrimmage – before finally getting their bye week. A 2-5 or even 1-6 start is not out of the question.
It doesn’t get a whole lot easier coming out of the bye week, as Purdue has to travel to Nebraska and Michigan in back-to-back weeks. Getting both Ohio State and Michigan in addition to their annual matchup against Indiana is just a brutal draw.
Luckily, the Boilermakers finish with Northwestern and Indiana. I think Purdue will be playing its best football in November which will catapult them into the post-season after a tough start to the year. A bowl win could generate a lot of hype for this team in 2024. But between the QB change, thin wide receiver room, question marks on the offensive and defensive line, and the coaching changes along both sides of the ball, I just see too much for this Purdue team to overcome.
10) Nebraska
Reasons for Optimism
The hire of Matt Rhule should be enough reason for optimism for most Husker fans. People can say what they want about his failure with the Panthers, but rebuilding a college team is an entirely different job than rebuilding an NFL team. Rhule has done it at Temple and Baylor and plans to do it again for Nebraska.
Under new OC Marcus Satterfield, Jeff Simms is the man for the QB job after impressing in the spring. At 6’4″ 220lbs, Jeff Simms is a load to bring down and should be effective in this new options and RPO-heavy offense – something Simms has plenty of experience in over the past three seasons at Georgia Tech.
Long-time Virginia starter Billy Kemp will be a nice security blanket in the slot. Marcus Washington should fill in Tre Palmer’s role nicely as the Husker’s outside threat after finishing second on the team in yards and receptions last season. Kemp, Washington, and a deep tight end room should offer plenty of options for their new quarterback.
Jeff Simms will also have the help of both a deep running back core, lead by last Anthony Grant, and offensive line room which Rhule said is more talented than any he’s been around at the college level. should allow Rhule and Satterfield to immediately turn around an offense that was 11th in the Big Ten in points per game, yards per rush, and turnovers committed last year.
Tony White brings his 3-3-5 which worked so well at Syracuse to turn around the Nebraska defense – one that was an absolutely train wreck in 2022. Last year’s leading tackler Luke Reimer and Georgia transfer MJ Sherman should lead a long list of experienced players at linebacker. Nebraska also returns virtually everyone in their secondary and brings in transfer S Omar Brown from Northern Iowa and CB Tommi Hill from Arizona State.
As mentioned with Purdue, scheme changes usually taking more than a year to fully implement. But two changes that Rhule and the coaching staff can immediately make are physicality on defense, and fewer mistakes on offense. I believe they will successfully make both of those changes this season.
Reasons for Concern
Simms is still far from a polished passer with a career 57% completion percentage and a sub-2:1 TD:INT. Behind Simms and Washington, there is not a whole lot of experience. This offense could very well end up being one-dimensional and incapable of overcoming the deficits their defense is likely to put them in.
As much as I love the hiring of Tony White to fix this defense along with Matt Rhule, this is a defense that was outside the top 100 nationally in total yards allowed and rush yards allowed. Nebraska does have a strong linebacker core to build this defense around. But massive question marks still remain in the secondary and along the defensive line.
Rhule has said he wants to consistently rotate six to nine guys along the defensive line. Unfortunately, that means Nebraska will likely have to rely heavily on true freshmen Princewill Umanmielen and Cameron Lenhardt due to lack of returning production. This is also a defensive line that got pushed around a lot in 2022, finishing 13th in the Big Ten in yards per carry allowed and 100th nationally with just 21 sacks.
The secondary, although experienced, has a massive responsibility in the new 3-3-5. They will be relied on to make tackles in the open field, blitz, and cover every skill position on the field. As we saw with Ohio State late last season – a team much more talented than Nebraska – it can take a long time to figure out assignments and work as a cohesive group.
The future of Nebraska is certainly brighter since the hiring of Matt Rhule and I am excited to see Nebraska back competing for conference championships again soon. But expectations needs to be tempered in his first season. There is quite a mess to clean up and lot of player & coaching overturn to manage. I think Nebraska fans would agree that a bowl appearance (and win) would be a successful step in the right direction.
Projected 2023 Record: 6-6
Nebraska doesn’t exactly get the easiest start, having to travel to Minnesota and Colorado in their first two games. Even if they start off 0-2, they get Northern Illinois and LA Tech to figure things out before getting into the meat of their schedule.
They play Michigan next, but their other two cross-over games are Maryland and Michigan State – both winnable. They have a tough stretch to finish the season with a road trip to Madison and a visit from Iowa in the finale. But with a mid-season stretch of Northwestern, Purdue, and Michigan State (two of which are at home), the Huskers could be hitting their stride come November.
If Nebraska manages to beat Minnesota and Colorado – both of which are also enduring significant change – to start 2-0, I see a path to a big season in Rhule’s first year. But I think an 0-2 start might be more likely. Even so, Nebraska’s schedule is manageable and I actually think they have a better shot at surpassing six wins than Purdue or Minnesota despite being ranked below them in the power rankings.
11) Michigan State
Reason for Optimism
After finishing 12th in the Big Ten in rushing in 2022, the return of leading-rusher Jalen Berger and transfers Jaren Mangham from USF & Nathan Carter from UConn should reinvigorate a run game that was truly special in 2021. Returning three starters on the offensive line and adding one of the top JUCO prospects in the country in interior lineman Keyshawn Blackstock should help too.
They also have an incredibly deep tight end room filled with versatile players who can both block and catch passes. the 6’5″ 255lb monster Maliq Carr returns and hopes to live to his full potential in what may be his final year. They also added three transfers and a 4-star freshman.
Defensively, Michigan State should have one of the conference’s better defensive fronts. Cal Haladay, Aaron Brule, Jacoby Windom, and Kris Bogle highlight an elite group of linebackers/edge-rushers that should get after the quarterback more effectively than they did in 2022.
They also add one of the top transfer prospects in the entire country in Texas A&M DT Tunmise Adeleye. Although he didn’t see the field a ton in his two years with the Aggies, Adeleye was a 5-star and top-20 player in the 2021 class. At 6’4″ 290lbs, the Texas-native has the versatility to line up at various spots along the defensive line.
Reason for Concern
The Spartan secondary has been among the nation’s worst over the past two seasons. With four of their top guys from 2022 gone, Michigan State will need to rely on major development and improvement from younger guys like Charles Brantley, Jaden Mangham, Dillon Tatum, Malik Spencer, and Caleb Coley. CB Semar Melvin was a solid pickup from Wisconsin, but he has struggled to break through as a starter over the past four seasons.
As good as the Spartan front may be, none of that may matter if it’s too easy to take the top of this defense. As mentioned with Rutgers, there are a lot of great receivers to worry about in this division.
Offensively, Michigan State lost it’s best weapon by far in receiver Keon Coleman who transferred to Florida State. Now MSU’s top receiver is likely senior Tre Mosley. Mosley has been a solid contributor since 2019 with over 1,100 career yards and 8 TDs, but he is hardly a #1 receiver. The Spartans will have to hope unproven youngsters Tyrell Henry, Antonio Gates Jr., or Jaron Glover can step up and be a legitimate receiving threat.
Michigan State also loses QB Payton Thorne who has been their starter over the past two seasons. Although Thorne took a step back in nearly every statistic in 2022, there was optimism he could find his ’21 form this seasons. But after finding himself in a QB battle with Noah Kim and being unable to separate himself after the spring, Thorne hit the portal.
Now Michigan State will have to break in a brand new quarterback with a very thin receiver room. Not to mention the offensive line may struggle in pass protection. LG JD Duplain leads a relatively strong interior line, but the tackle positions are anything but secure.
Projected 2023 Record: 5-7
I think Michigan State will be a better team in 2023 than they were in 2022. But they didn’t get an easy win from their cross-over games of Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska (two of which are road games). They will also have to host Washington in the third game of the year – a game in which they were thoroughly dominated last season.
I think a 7-5 season would be a real success and a good stepping stone for Mel Tucker to get this program back on track. Unfortunately, the question marks surrounding their QB, receivers, pass protection, and secondary may be too much to overcome.
12) Rutgers
Reason for Optimism
Rutgers returns all of their skill position players from 2022 with the exception of receiver Aaron Cruickshank. Their 2023 recruiting class was littered with wide receivers and they also brought in Naseim Brantley who had over 1,100 receiving yards with Western Illinois last season.
Kyle Monangai and Samuel Brown make up a very underrated RB duo in a conference filled with elite backfield duos. Brown was a 4-star prospect and the Scarlet Knights’ leading rusher until he went down for the rest of the season in October. Monangai stepped up in his place, finishing with 445 rushing yards. Considering virtually no defense had to respect Rutgers’ passing game, their 8th-place finish in rush yards in the Big Ten was actually pretty impressive.
Although the passing attack has a ton of room to grow, Rutgers does return all three QBs who saw significant play time last season: Gavin Wimsatt, Evan Simon, and Noah Vedral. With a new OC & QB Coach Kirk Ciarrocca, some improvement should be expected at the very least. Ciarrocca was Minnesota’s OC & QB Coach last season and helped Tanner Morgan finish with the best passer rating of his career.
Rutgers also returns nearly their entre defensive front. CB Max Melton is perhaps the most underrated corner in the Big Ten. Although they have other some pieces to replace in the secondary, the Scarlet Knights should pose a formidable defense in 2023.
After all, their defense was much better than most stats indicate in 2023. Blowouts against Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and Maryland certainly didn’t help. But when the offense scored more than a measly 16 points, Rutgers went 4-2.
Reason for Concern
The quarterback situation at Rutgers is perhaps the most dire in the entire conference. The trio of Wimsatt, Simon, and Vedral combined for a 10:14 TD:INT ratio last year and a completion percentage that was almost precisely 50%. Rutgers finished 2022 dead last in the Big Ten in completion percentage & passing yards and second-to-last in turnovers committed.
Scarlet Knight fans can hope for development and improvement all they want, but the fact of the matter just might be that there is no talent in this room. I think Rutgers desperately needed to bring in a transfer to at least give this QB competition some juice, but it appears it will be the same three faces in the QB room once again.
It doesn’t help that there appears to be a lack of a true #1 receiver, either. Brantley is a great addition to the receiver room at 6’4″, but is there enough time for him to gain rapport with the jumbled mess of quarterbacks?
Although Johnny Langan is a solid piece at LT and a potential NFL starter, the rest of the offensive line has a lot of questions. I’m not positive the unit can overcome the struggles they saw in pass protection last year.
CB Max Melton and S Desmond Igbinosun are the lone returners in the secondary. Although Rutgers’ defense shouldn’t be an Achilles heel, they’ll have a tough time matching up against some great receivers at Ohio State, Penn State, Maryland, Michigan, and even Indiana.
Despite some optimism for the run game and defense in 2023, the quarterback situation is still a massive question mark and the most likely reason Rutgers will miss out on a bowl game again this season.
Projected 2023 Record: 5-7
Rutgers opens with Northwestern, Temple, Virginia Tech, Michigan, and Wagner. A 3-2 start should be expected for Scarlet Knight fans, but they’ll likely need to start 4-1 if they want a shot at reaching 6 wins.
Matchups against Michigan State and Indiana are likely their only winnable games outside of September. Their November slate is absolutely brutal, having to face Ohio State, Iowa, Penn State, and Maryland.
I see six winnable games on Rutgers’ schedule. With the massive question marks they have at football’s most important position, I have a hard time seeing them winning all. But I like the rest of this roster enough to pick them to win five.
But who knows – Rutgers’ season finale is at home against the Terps. If that win is all they need to reach a bowl game, anything can happen.
13) Northwestern
Reason for Optimism
The addition of Cincinnati quarterback Ben Bryant gives the Wildcats an answer at quarterback that they haven’t had over the past two seasons. In a division littered with first-year starters and transfers, Northwestern might actually have a leg up on other teams at the game’s most important position.
They also added Michigan transfer AJ Henning in the portal, giving the offense an exciting weapon with an ability to line up all over the field. He’ll need to elevate his game as the team’s likely number one receiver, but his game-breaking speed gives him a chance.
Cam Porter has shown flashes at running back when given the opportunity and figures to step up in a work-horse role in replace of Evan Hull.
Defensively, they return a few key pieces in cornerbacks Rod Heard III & Jeremiah Lewis and safety Coco Azema – both are experienced starters with All Big-Ten potential. The duo hopes to lead one of the conference’s best secondaries and feast on the many questionable passing attacks in the Big Ten West.
Although the defensive front has plenty of question marks, Northwestern had little off-season turnover in the transfer portal. Pat Fitzgerald has retained the majority of his defensive depth and will need to prove he is still the developmental coach he has been for so long.
Reason for Concern
As talented as the back-end of the Northwestern defense is, their front is awfully concerning. Their linebacker crew stays largely in tact, headlined by Bryce Gallagher and Xander Mueller. But neither were particularly impressive last year.
Along the defensive line, there are even more question marks. With the loss of Adebawore to the NFL, no one returning had more than a sack last season. Northwestern wasn’t particularly active in the portal on the defensive side of the ball either, so I have a hard time seeing the Wildcat defensive front improving much this season.
In 2022, Northwestern was last in the Big Ten in rush defense with 191 yards given up a game at 4.6 yards per carry. They were also 114th in the country with only 18 sacks on the season. That spells trouble for Northwestern in 2023.
Offensively, the additions of Ben Bryant and AJ Henning are certainly exciting. But outside of those two, there is a whole lot of unknown as far as offensive weapons. New starting running back Cam Porter averaged only 3.3 yards per carry last year. Their leading returner is Bryce Kirtz who had just 212 yards last season. Kirtz’s game is very similar to Hennings which doesn’t give this offense much in terms of a vertical threat who can make contested catches.
Not to mention the offensive line – which struggled for the most part in 2022 – loses LT Peter Skoronski to the NFL. Once again, little activity in the portal offers little hope for this offensive line to make major strides against some of the country’s best defenses.
Projected 2023 Record: 4-8
Northwestern fans will know fairly early in the season whether or not they will be in contention for the post season. They open with Rutgers and follow that up with games against UTEP and Duke. But they get no favors in also drawing Maryland and Penn State from the East.
They’ll almost certainly have to start the season 3-0 in order to finish 6-6. I have a hard time seeing that considering the massive amount of player turnover on the offensive side of the ball and the coaching turnover on the defense.
I do expect Northwestern to improve over the course of the season. With one of the best secondaries in the conference and one of the most experienced & proven quarterbacks in the division, the Wildcats certainly has what it takes to pull off an upset or two. But I ultimately see too many question marks for a team that must navigate a tough schedule.
14) Indiana
Reason For Optimism
Indiana has been dominated thoroughly on both the offensive and defensive lines over the past two seasons. They also have lacked game-changing talent at the offensive skill positions. But in an off-season when many were expecting an exodus of Hoosier players, Tom Allen actually managed to bring in some key pieces to address their biggest weaknesses.
The biggest addition came earlier this month in Oregon transfer Anthony Jones. At 6’5″ 240lbs, Jones has the ability to play at both OLB and along the defensive line. They also brought in WMU’s Andre Carter who was 2nd-team All MAC last season with 13.5 TFLs and 7 sacks.
In total, Indiana brought in seven defensive linemen and four linebackers from the transfer portal.
They also brought in a couple key additions at receiver in EJ Williams and DeQuece Carter. Williams was a 4-star and top-100 prospect in the 2020 class. He was a major contributor for Clemson his freshman year, hauling in 24 receptions for 306 yards and a couple touchdowns. But the 6’3″ receiver has caught only 16 passes over the past two seasons. Nonetheless, Williams is a big target who should make an immediate impact on this offense. DeQuece Carter – a shiftier receiver – accumulated 176 receptions, 3,035 yards, and 31 TDs over his four-year career at Fordhmam.
Williams and Carter playing opposite returner Cam Camper – one of the most underrated receivers in the Big Ten – all of a sudden makes up a WR trio that defenses will have to respect.
With a more dynamic offense and a deeper, (hopefully) more talented defensive front, Indiana has the potential to pull off an upset or two that no one sees coming.
Reason For Concern
The Hoosiers are going to have to rely on a couple second-year players in Brendan Sorsby and Tennessee transfer Tayven Jackson at QB. At least until Dexter Williams returns from a knee injury he suffered in last season’s finale against Purdue. Williams is dynamic with his legs but still a raw passer, going 13-38 through the air last season. He reportedly just started running again in April, so he likely won’t be available until mid-season if at all.
Despite the potential Indiana boasts at wide receiver, QB production is absolutely a major question mark. To make matters worse, so is the offensive line. One of the country’s worst offensive lines graduates two starters and loses a key backup to the portal. The Hoosiers did add three players in the portal -highlighted by TCU guard Noah Bolticoff – but they are still very young players who need to be developed.
Freshman All-American Jaylin Lucas should see an expanded role on offense this year and be a dynamic weapon. But at 5’9″ 185lbs, he hardly has the capacity to shoulder the entire workload. There is a question of production behind Lucas, especially with the departure of Shaun Shivers.
As much as their front-seven may have improved, their secondary loses essentially every starter (albeit from a secondary that was last in the Big Ten with 274 pass yards allowed per game). Texas Transfer Jamier Johnson showed some promise at corner in the spring, but this unit is razor thin.
Projected 2023 Record: 3-9
I really like some of the additions Indiana has made in the portal. But scathing weaknesses in some of the most important areas make it hard to see this team competing in college football’s toughest division. Also drawing Illinois and Wisconsin out the West, it’s hard to see where many wins can come from.