Until last season, the Badgers hadn't had a drought longer than two seasons since the conference split in 2011. Was that an indirect shot at the rest of the competition? Though the frontline talent is at a level that Maryland can win games against some quality teams, Im still not sold on the depth and physicality the program will need to be consistently competitive in the Big Ten. Penn State These Big Ten West rivals have traded three-score wins in each other's houses the last three years, and the series moves back to Kinnick Stadium in 2022. 17: Penn State at Auburn; Michigan State at Washington. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports. Wins: Illinois State, Washington State, New Mexico State, Illinois, at Northwestern, Purdue, Maryland, Minnesota, Losses: at Ohio State, at Michigan State, at Iowa, at Nebraska. Big Ten football predictions 2022: Conference standings, impact transfers, best games, Michigan restores rivalry with Ohio State with dominant win. Looking ahead to next season, there are a lot more question marks. While the Hoosiers have some young talent, and running back GiBran Payne certainly could be a beast, with oft-injured quarterback Michael Penix Jr. having departed for Washington, its hard to envision things turning around in a hurry for IU. The word: Bowl hopes for Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights may come down to the regular-season finale at Maryland, unless Rutgers is able to beat a Big Ten rival as an underdog in the previous weeks. The Big Ten sent two teams to the CFB Playoff in 2022 for the first time in conference history. Heres our too-early 2022 game predictions now that the schedule is set. Which teams can take a big step forward? They lost to both teams at home in 2021. One key contract detail to know: Frost's buyout drops from $15 million to $7.5 million after Oct. 1. That stretch included some truly awful offensive days, something that may appear occasionally again in 2022. He's the next elite back off the Wisconsin assembly line. That connection with Stroud will continue, and Alabama's DeVonta Smith opened the door for more receivers to win the Heisman two years ago. They open with Notre Dame, play Wisconsin and Iowa, to go along with the rest of the schedule. Oh, what a division. Iowa will go as far as its offense can carry it. 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. But the offense generally hasnt been the issue for the Terps its been the defense. The word: Purdue might be the conference's most difficult-to-project team in 2022. Oct 30, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Both coordinators exited for new opportunities, while Michigan lost five draft picks and a half-dozen more pro signings. Bill Bender is a national college football writer for The Sporting News. Indiana severely underperformed in 2021 despite having a lot of key pieces back. But predicted standings, records, and everything else for the Big Ten in 2022. And while quarterback Spencer Petras will be better with another year of seasoning, hes not the type that is going to put the team on his shoulders and win games against the more athletic and talented teams out there. Now that the Badgers know they have a workhorse in Braelon Allen, it changes things in Madison. Thats the question that holds they key to Iowas potential in 2022. Henderson grabbed national attention as a freshman with a 277-yard outburst against Tulsa last season, and he's yet another home-run hitter in Ohio State's loaded offense. Wins: Colorado State, Hawaii, UConn, Maryland, at Iowa, at Indiana, Penn State, at Rutgers, Nebraska, Illinois. Sign up for the Nittany Lions Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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. Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) runs for a long first down in the third quarter against Nebraska Cornhuskers safety Myles Farmer (4) during their football game Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Camp Randall in Madison, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. The Huskers also have a new offensive coordinator in Mark Whipple, who worked with Heisman Trophy finalist Kenny Pickett at Pitt last season. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound cornerback has the versatility to play either in the slot or safety think Dax Hill and that could lead to early playing time for new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Ryan Day's team still finished 11-2 last year and returns All-American quarterback C.J. That's the next step. MORE: Futures odds and best bets for Big Ten. Big Ten football order of finish predictions for 2022 season from Phil Steele. Although the schedule is tough, the redemption-minded Buckeyes appear built for the challenge. Washington State quarterback Cam Ward has opted to return to school in 2023, and this should be a down-to-the-wire fight in Pac-12 country. How can the sophomore improve his chances? Maryland does travel to Ann Arbor in Week 4, but it will face a rebuilding Michigan defense, which could help matters. MOST RECENT. The defense has the potential to be in the upper half of the conference, but solving an offensive that sputtered last season will be the question. That hopeful rise starts with a September victory in East Lansing. The road game at Iowa probably determines which one of those two squads reaches the conference championship game. Fleck's team intends on toppling Iowa and Wisconsin down the stretch to advance to the Big Ten Championship Game. Wins: New Mexico State, Western Illinois, Colorado, Purdue, at Penn State,at Illinois, Rutgers, Northwestern, Losses: at Michigan State, at Nebraska, Iowa, at Wisconsin. Wolverines' fans always get excited about five-star cornerbacks, and Johnson (Grosse Pointe South, Mich.) is the next in line. The best news is MSU returns quarterback Payton Thornewho seemed a bit underappreciated with 3,233 yards and 27 touchdowns to 10 pickslast season. It wouldnt be a surprise if there are some missteps along the way. 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 . Ohio State was as close to beating Georgia as anyone came last season but a missed field goal haunted the Buckeyes all offseason. Ohio State The path to a Big Ten title should go through Columbus in 2022. Look for a season similar to what we just saw in 2021. Minnesota might rival Illinois for the strangest season in 2021. The Spartans defeated their crosstown rivals, won 11 games, and had one of the best running backs in the country in Kenneth Walker III. Stroud, and Ohio State has a favorable schedule with most of the tough games at home. The defense, however, was as good as any unit in the country. A QB competition is the highlight of the offseason, as Noah Vedral brings experience while Gavin Wimsatt and Evan Simon await an opportunity. Highs will include a home win over Iowa while the lows could feature a road loss to Illinois for Jeff Brohm's group. Stroud and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Stroud and his weapons abounding. 36:46-38:23 Conclusion, #collegefootball #ohiostatefootball #michiganfootball #nebraskafootball #michiganstatefootball #pennstatefootball #wisconsinfootball #collegefootballrecruiting #football. Wisconsin has a new offensive coordinator in Bobby Engram, as Graham Mertz looks to put it all together at quarterback. 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. 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. Itll have to show that it can win big games before we can place the Cornhuskers higher. Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports. After a solid 2021 season, Purdue will be looking to fill massive holes on either end of the football. Michigan 3. But you try herding these Grant Stec, a four-star tight end and class of 2024 Badger commit from Algonquin, Illinois was ranked as the fourth best at his position in the country by ESPN. Will Ohio State earn revenge? The word: For the first time in Scott Frost's tenure, the Huskers will appear in a bowl game in 2022 with the collective backs against the wall in the Big Ten. They get Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin at home, have the best offense in college football, and are coming off of a Rose Bowl victory in 2021. The question is: can the Boilermakers sustain that success in 2022? Expect Indiana to find its neutral level after extremes in either direction over the past two seasons. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said those schools can help "carry some weight" for the Big Ten. Sean Clifford returns for his fifth season in Happy Valley after he threw 21 touchdowns in 2021. If quarterback Sean Clifford remains healthy and can be the star he was at the beginning of the year, the rest of the roster is talented enough to surprise and contend for the Big Ten championship. Here's an early look at which teams from the SEC and Big Ten are in the mix to play in the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 31, 2022. The RP Predictor calculates the final score of each game based on each team's offense, defense, Well, that could be entertaining. The sophomore began to live up to the hype this year in his first season as a starter. But Ohio State could be right back in the playoff mix and paired up with the two-time defending national champions in the Sugar Bowl. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports) Projected finish: T-4th in Big Ten East. Fleck waves to the University of Iowa Childrens Hospital after the first quarter against Iowa during the NCAA Big 10 conference football game on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. 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). Factor in Ryan Day's proven offensive system, and the Buckeyes seem destined for another powerful year. Palmer should thrive in a more pronounced role and will emerge as a breakout player for the Huskers. Ohio State is 93-11 in the College Football Playoff era, an .894 winning percentage. The schedule doesn't let up at any point once the non-conference slate is over and there are a few 50-50 games that may not going in the Wildcats' direction. That's Wisconsin (.745), Iowa (.693), Michigan (.680), Penn State (.643) and Michigan State (.643). Please check your email for a confirmation. This is a team hit hard by personnel losses, with Penix, Ty Fryfogle, Stephen Carr, and Peyton Hendershot all moving on. 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. Rutgers was on the wrong end of lopsided losses to the Big Tens best a year ago, although the Scarlet Knights found themselves in a last-minute bowl game against Wake Forest. Day repeatedly used the word "edgy" at Big Ten Media Days to describe the team's mindset in the offseason. Michigan is the lone, scary crossover from the East, but it hosts Oklahoma and opens the season in Ireland against Northwestern. Given the brutal cross-over schedule both teams have, this is a gotta-have-it-game if you want to make it to Indianapolis. Nebraska makes a bowl this year and gains some much-needed momentum. Will Cade McNamara comfortably retake his starting job or can former five-star talent J.J. McCarthy make a push? The Ohio State Buckeyes will look to get back into the College Football Playoff this season. Here is a look at the spring way-too-early Ohio State is the runaway favorite. 1:27-18:11 Big Ten West #GoBlue. The Wolverines rushed for a league-best 214.4 yards per game last season. They'll likely need to split those two contests and get help elsewhere to advance. The word: The reigning Big Ten champions play four consecutive home games prior to their first road affair at Iowa and should be favored in 11 of 12 regular-season games in 2022. It will be tough, but there is talent in Happy Valley. It's not going to be easy in 2022. It feels like a run the table year for Ohio State in 2022. By Kevin Flaherty 5 hours ago. The Spartans and Texas Tech may not be the sexiest matchup, but it does feel like one Michigan State could benefit from in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Arizona. 247Sports writer Kevin Flaherty joined Athlon Sports Not to mention two elite defensive pieces in linebacker Harold Perkins and edge rusher Maason Smith, who will be back after his injury-shortened 2022 effort. Stroud could change that. He recorded 17 catches for 300 yards and three touchdowns while playing in six games this year. The defense is good enough, but losing George Karlaftis will certainly set it back. Nov 6, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Aidan OConnell (16) drops back to pass the ball in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at Ross-Ade Stadium. Its difficult seeing a path for the Hoosiers to get back onto the winning side of things, at least this year. And with Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State expected to rank as Favorites. Yes, we know the first Big Ten games have already kicked off. How we are betting the Michigan Wolverines as they look to oust the Iowa Hawkeyes. No team is probably more anxious to get the season started than the Ohio State Buckeyes. Apr 17, 2021; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback CJ Stroud (7) during the annual spring game at Ohio Stadium. B/R's preview of the Big Ten includes star players, top storylines, key games and just about everything short of USC and UCLA. Well this would be a dream scenario for the Big Ten. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports. Michigan football might not go back to the playoff in 2022, but dont expect a big dropoff from the Wolverines. Theres no doubt Greg Schiano has shifted the culture in a good way at Rutgers. It should be a good season, but can the Wolverines repeat? Alex Padilla and Spencer Petras both got time under center last season as the Iowa offense struggled to find consistency. Credit: USA TODAY Sports. Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports. Everything sets up for the Wolverines to defend their crown, and ultimately, it will likely come down to Michigan and Ohio State, once again. Maryland will play arguably the five top teams in the conference this season which will mark a considerable challenge for Taulia Tagovailoa and company. Michigan football makes top four for 2024 four-star cornerback. Where is Ohio State? You bet. And why not take Bret Bielema out to Las Vegas for a bowl game matchup with the Pitt Panthers. Jackson was a top-15 recruit in the 2021 class according to On3 Sports consensus. The schedule is no breeze. 29: Ohio State at Penn State. However, the appeal isn't solely about the Buckeyes' superstar trio. Wisconsin is the pick to win the division, but the Badgers are going to earn it. The Huskers revamped the coaching staff this offseason, and the conference season kicks off Aug. 27 when Nebraska and Northwestern meet in Dublin, Ireland. And their opponent being USC, who is set to join the Big Ten in 2024, is icing on the cake. If new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles can do anything with the defense, we could be talking about national title aspirations again. Still, a return to Indianapolis would be a welcomed sign for Wisconsin. And crossovers against Penn State and Ohio State certainly dont help matters. This is a team and program hoping to get back to winning the Big Ten East and competing for playoff spots. Stroud will be near the top of preseason Heisman conversations, and despite losing star wide recievers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in the NFL draft, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is back to torture Big Ten defenses. Early Big Ten Football Predictions for 2022 East Division 1. ESPN FPI Predicted Record. Contact/Follow us@BuckeyesWireon Twitter, and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. 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? But will Penn State have what it takes to make another New Years Six berth after winning the Rose Bowl last season? 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 Michigan State we had ranked 10th. The Wildcats have several possible quarterbacks, but dont necessarily have an obvious starter. It was a strange 2021 campaign for Bret Bielema in his first year at Illinois. Ohio State is 7-3 in New Year's Day Six bowls, too. PJ Mustipher made it clear who he things should be Penn State's next defensive line coach. Wisconsin was red hot after the loss to Michigan before the loss to Minnesota. Minnesota was another team that made a big jump from 2020 to 2021, and with Tanner Morgan returning, yet again, theres an opportunity for the Gophers to continue that ascent. However, Penn State has a lot of returning talent and plays Ohio State, Michigan State, and cross-division Minnesota at home. The Boilermakers are an interesting sleeper, but they have the Badgers and Gophers on the road this season. 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. 2022 Summary Casey Thompson turned in a season-long performance worthy of mixed reviews. TRENDING. We're expecting a winner-take-all showdown in the regular-season finale at Ohio State. 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). Wins: Northwestern (Dublin, Ireland), North Dakota, Georgia Southern, Indiana, at Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Losses: Oklahoma, at Rutgers, at Michigan,at Iowa. The hiring of Luke Fickell by Wisconsin is expected by many to lead the Badgers quickly back to the top of the Big Ten West. This marks the third straight season Penn State has opened a college football season on the road against a Big Ten opponent. Mertz and Spencer Petras will be on the spot at quarterback. USA TODAY - Bryant Crews 1h. The defense has to be better, especially against the pass. Otherwise, the remainder is focused on key trips for Michigan and Ohio Statewhich both enjoy an 8:4 home/road split this season. 2022 Summary Casey Thompson turned in a season-long performance worthy of mixed reviews. What PFF Says. Ohio State and Michigan each received a spot in the playoff field last season, and the Buckeyes and Wolverines could be set to make another playoff run in 2023 after being tossed in the semifinals last season. There is always an above-average squad, but there's rarely a national contender. His 76.7 grade was a top-10 mark among Power Five guards this year while his nine big-time blocks were tied for sixth. No other Big Ten coach that begins the season is in imminent danger, though a nine-loss record certainly could change that. If the Nittany Lions create one break and catch a fortunate bounce, they'll be in the picture. The quarterback battle between Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy is ongoing and very likely makes its way into the regular season. Illinois Fighting Illini: 5-7, 2-7 BIG. 7 of 14. Meaningful? Then in November, the main contenders in the West and East divisions, respectively, meet for potentially decisive games. Score Prediction: Wisconsin 27, Washington State 24. Michigan State Spartans. No other Big Ten team has averaged 500 yards per game. The featured image in this article is the thumbnail of the embedded video. The giant-killers now know what they have at quarterback, with Aidan OConnell leading the charge. Riley Moss, the league's 2021 Defensive Back of the Year, headlines the secondary. Wins: at Purdue, Ohio, at Auburn, Central Michigan, Northwestern, Minnesota, at Indiana, Maryland, at Rutgers, Michigan State, Losses: at Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State. The schedule sees the Scarlet Knights land Minnesota, Oct 2, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Brandon Peters (18) hands the ball off to running back Chase Brown (2) in the second half against the Charlotte 49ers at Memorial Stadium. In our 2021 too-early power rankings, eventual Big Ten champion, the hometown Michigan Mohamed Ibrahim basically missed all of 2021, but Minnesota's standout back has 3,003 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in his career. We help YouTubers by driving traffic to them for free. Jermari Harris will play opposite him at corner. Can either Padilla or Petras develop into a consistent starter this 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. Five other schools in the conference have a winning percentage better than 60% in the CFP era. Once again, ESPN FPI is high on the Badgers as we enter the 2022 season. 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 Mel Tucker expects it. According to the 247Sports bowl projections, Wisconsin just barely gets into the Orange Bowl ahead of Penn State. At linebacker, Iowa has a pair of 100-tackle returners in Jack Campbell (143) and Seth Benson (105). Add the typical defense we usually see in Madison, and this looks like the best team in the West, with the game against Ohio State early in the year having huge implications nationally or so we think. This should be a bowl team, but we saw how the team fell apart last year in every single game. Peter Skoronski, a two-year starter for the Wildcats, was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded left tackle in the conference last season. By Sam Marsdale Aug 11, 8:56 AM. The opener in Dublin is a huge tone-setter for both teams. The Scarlet Knights went bowling for the first time in forever, and while it didnt go well against Wake Forest, things are shaping up for improvement in Piscataway and New Brunswick. Allen is the top returning Big Ten rusher with numbers that are on par with Henderson. The offensive line led the way last year, and while there will be some losses, it still should provide enough push for whoever ends up carrying the ball, given what we saw last year. HIGHEST RATED. follow. The Illinois Fighting Illini look poised for another positive season that could lead to a spot in a bowl game. Northwestern went 3-9 that season, then surged to 7-2 with a West Division crown in 2020. The offense has to show more explosion and the defense more consistency. 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. 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. Although the West will continue lagging behind the East overall, both divisions should have a tense race into the final weekend. What the Hoosiers get out of the quarterback position and how they develop a lot of the youth that will be stepping up for a veteran team last season will determine if this team can sniff a bowl appearance or not. These are just some of the questions that will be asked as the Big Ten enters a new season. For the first time in nearly a year, Penn State adds another commitment to the board for the Class of 2024. Four-star running back Kaytron Allen (IMG Academy) also will be in the mix for carries. Record prediction: 10-2. I am much higher on Luis Robert Jr. than most analysts, Son of former Michigan offensive lineman Mike Sullivan. Knowles will bring a more aggressive defense, and sophomores Jack Sawyer and J.T. Wins: Illinois, Idaho, Western Kentucky,Maryland, Losses: at Cincinnati, at Nebraska, Michigan,at Rutgers, Penn State, at Ohio State, at Michigan State, Purdue. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. That's what it'll take for Minnesota to be a serious factor in the division, if P.J. February 22, 2023 12:24 pm ET. There are plenty of questions across the Big Ten Conference in the final season before USC and UCLA join the fray. 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. Phil Steele predicts preseason AP college football top 10. Here are the 10 players I think are primed for breakout seasons in 2023. The 6-foot-6, 220 pound athlete committed to Wisconsin in late January, becoming the first pass-catcher to join the program for 2024. Will Nebraska finally go bowling? 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. 7566. 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? 3. Quarterback Aidan OConnell is back in the fold as the Boilers try and fill holes at receiver. Three Big Ten teams appeared earlier this month in our preseason bowl projections in the New Year's Six and Playoff, so we expect another banner year from the nation's most competitive league. Three Big Ten teams appeared earlier this month in our preseason bowl projections in the New Year's Six and Playoff, so we expect another banner year from the Michigan and Michigan State shocked everyone and finished well He also gets book-end big stage games at The Shoe against Notre Dame and Michigan. Penn State womens basketball wins first Big Ten tournament game since 2018. Wins: Western Michigan, Akron, at Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, at Illinois, Rutgers, Indiana. That defense returns much of the same personnel and will once again be near the top of the Big Ten. But the 2022 schedule sets up quite nicely, with three breezy nonconference games before opening up the conference slate with Maryland at home. Will Luke Fickell have tremendous success in his first year at Wisconsin? The running back room will lead the way as Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi return to form a duo with unlimited potential. He completed 63 percent of his passes in 10 games for 2,407 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. 247Sports writer Kevin Flaherty joined Athlon Sports in predicting Texas to finish first in the Big 12 conference. Maryland is coming off a bowl win in 2021, but the Terps are 4-21 against the Big Four in the division since joining the Big Ten in 2014. 247Sports writer Kevin Flaherty joined Athlon Sports in predicting Texas to finish first in the Big 12 conference. MORE:SEC predictions| Big 12 predictions |Bowl projections|2022 All-America team. 2022 CFN College Football Preview of Every Team Big Ten Preseason Predictions: East Big Ten East Predicted Finish 1. 1: Michigan at IowaOct. Quarterback Tanner Morgan and running back Mohamed Ibrahim are back in the Twin Cities as the offense will have familiar personnel. Athlon Sports Early Big Ten Predictions: Like and subscribe for more amazing content! Since returning to his alma mater in 2018, the former Nebraska quarterback is 15-29 overall with a 10-25 conference record. That's the game that turns the Spartans' season one way or the other. All eyes are now off the rearview mirror and onto the horizon with 2023 approaching. The word: Perhaps one of the more surprising teams in the Big Ten next season could be the Nittany Lions, who underachieved in 2021, but will be on a mission to get to double-digit wins in 2022. Nebraska lost nine games by nine points or less last season, and Northwestern is trying to bounce back after its own nine-loss season. Stroud will likely be heading back to New York as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, too. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports. After sending two teams to the College Football Playoff in the 2022 season, could the Big Ten be preparing to send a pair of teams back to the playoff next season? Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Teradja Mitchell (3) and Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste (8) come together to tackle Maryland Terrapins running back Challen Faamatau (29) during the second quarter of their NCAA college football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on October 9, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports. USA TODAY - Bryant Crews 1h. Minnesota head football coach P.J. Will there be another shakeup this season? If MSU is going to contend, itll need to really excel during that brutal stretch. 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