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Big Ten College Football Preview Stuck

Posted on August 13, 2012 at 03:54 PM.

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This year's Big 10 football season may go down as one of the more confusing years in recent memory.

Ohio State could be the best in the B1G and go undefeated, but the Buckeyes won't have a shot at winning the conference thanks to sanctions carried forward from the Jim Tressel years. Penn State -- once thought of as one of the most respected programs in the nation -- is now a team that hasn't existed on paper since the 20th century. Worse yet, a team that isn't even a true-blood Big 10 squad may end up winning the whole thing.

This isn't your grandfather's Big 10 anymore. Spread offenses are (no pun intended) spreading throughout the league and B1G defenses are finally adapting -- somewhat. Typically boring on the field, the Big 10 has spiced things up away from it this offseason. Fans of the conference only hope the action on the gridiron helps to cover-up (pun intended) the distractions that have taken from everything great that is B1G football.

Leaders Division

1. Ohio State Buckeyes* 11-1 (7-1)
It's hard to think of Ohio State as being on a most-improved list, but a 6-7 campaign in 2011 has nothing but upside for this year. What may shock many, however, is just how good the Buckeyes can be. OSU is loaded with talent and experience, but will Urban Meyer and company be able to keep the squad focused and motivated without postseason possibilities?

*Ineligible for bowl games or the B1G Championship game

2. Wisconsin Badgers 10-2 (6-2)
Without a doubt, Montee Ball leads the best ground attack in the B1G -- perhaps in the country. The loss of Russell Wilson, however, begs serious questions about the offensive balance of the squad. Defensively the Badgers hope to finally pair a stingy turnout to go with the team's high-powered offensive attack. Wisconsin has one of the best linebacker tandems in the nation with Chris Borland and Mike Taylor, but the rest of the defense must step up for a chance at a BCS birth.

3. Illinois Fighting Illini 9-3 (5-3)
Experience and unproven talent will be the name of the game on offense for the Illini. Junior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase will be surrounded by plenty of quality receivers and capable pass blockers, but the squad may not be able to keep up in shootouts. That's where the defense steps in. Home to perhaps one of the best cornerback tandems in the entire nation, Illinois hopes to bring pressure in the box while allowing Terry Hawthorne and Justin Green to shut down opponents' passing attacks.

4. Purdue Boilermakers 5-7 (2-6)
If nothing else, Purdue may have the best quarterback group in the conference thanks to years of transfers, injuries, and redshirts. While they do have plenty of experience back on offense (8 returning starters) the problem is that they may not really have that much else in the way of talent. The defensive side of the ball looks much the same, but an improved defensive line may be just enough to boost the Boilermakers and give them a shot at a bowl game this year.

5. Penn State Nittany Lions* 5-7 (2-6)
There really isn't much to say about Penn State that hasn't already been said. Predicting this squad is pretty futile at this point considering the unpredictability of transfers, but the exodus thus far has been painful. A partial silver lining to all of this was that I didn't expect much from the Nittany Lions before the sanctions were levied by the NCAA. Realistically the chances of playing in a major bowl were pretty slim this year as it were, but with that out of the question it's a matter of how many wins they get -- and will they stay relevant?

*Ineligible for bowl games or the B1G Championship game

6. Indiana Hoosiers 2-10 (0-8)
When does basketball season start? All joking aside, the Hoosiers do bring some familiar faces back in 2011, but quantity doesn't do much good in a BCS conference -- quality is what you need. At least the Hoosiers miss Michigan and Nebraska on the schedule and a 3-0 start to the season is a possibility. But can they pull a couple upsets to put themselves in bowl contention?

Legends Division

1. Nebraska Cornhuskers 11-1 (7-1)
With seven starters returning on offense and defensive respectively, this is definitely a team flying under the radar in the Big Ten this year. Led by quarterback Taylor Martinez, the 'Huskers have a well-balanced and gifted offense as well as defense. The one scary thing for Nebraska, however, is a tricky schedule to start the year. BCS buster Southern Miss, followed by a trip to UCLA, and finally a contest with Arkansas State (see, Gus Malzahn offense) creates a slight trap that Nebraska must make it through to build confidence for the B1G slate.

2. Michigan Wolverines 8-4 (6-2)
How can such a highly rated team (see, ESPN's Top 10 Power ratings) be projected to win only eight games? Take that up with the athletic director. The Wolverines, in a fight to prove their place atop the nation's best, have decided the best way to do it is through a Notre Dame-like schedule. With Alabama to start the year and a week four trip to face the Fighting Irish, Michigan will be one of the most battle-tested teams in the conference. The Maize and Blue have experience, lots of talent on offense (Denard Robinson), and finally some quality guys on the defensive side of the ball as well. The season opener against the Crimson Tide will tell us a lot about what to expect from Michigan in 2012.

3. Iowa Hawkeyes 8-4 (5-3)
When you get done screaming at the schedule makers for Michigan, feel free to send a gift basket to the guys in charge of the cupcake lineup for the Hawkeyes this year. Led by the best passer in the league in James Vandenberg, Iowa will be testing out a new offense under new offensive coordinator Greg Davis (formerly Texas). Likewise, Phil Parker (no relation to former defensive coordinator Norm) will be the new man behind the scheme on defense. Regardless, Iowa's three toughest games are against Michigan State in October, and then a rough finish to the season against Michigan and Nebraska. Coach Ferentz and Hawks fans have to expect several wins this year -- good timing considering the program's fall to mediocrity as of late.

4. Michigan State Spartans 7-5 (4-4)
Sparty and the boys are actually a better squad than the Hawkeyes, but who you play can influence wins to skew standings much of the time. Michigan State looks to be one of the more exciting teams on defense in the league this year, led by defensive end William Gholston (6'7" 275-pounds). Halfback Le'Veon Bell will have to be the leader of the offensive group this year as the next solid quarterback emerges for the green and white. A season-opening contest with Boise State should equal a win, but false hope will be gushing through Lansing as the Broncos aren't what they used to be. The Spartans are in for a rough start and middle to the schedule, but must stay healthy to claim necessary victories at season's end for a shot at a New Year's bowl game.

5. Minnesota Golden Gophers 4-8 (2-6)
The first four games of the season are extremely important for the health of the Gophers this year. UNLV, New Hampshire, Western Michigan, and Syracuse (at home) are all winnable games. The rest of the schedule is filled with Big Ten foes where two wins may be a reasonable expectation. The electrifying MarQueis Gray should be improved at quarterback, but the defense will once again be the difference between a bowl season and cellar-dwellar for Minnesota.

6. Northwestern Wildcats 3-9 (1-7)
A new quarterback and a team lacking experience and talent awaits fans of the Wildcats in 2012. Only five men return as starters on offense and defense respectively, but it's the gap left by departed quarterback Dan Persa that has the future of Northwestern football looking uncertain. Offense will likely have to carry the team as the defensive front seven lacks any real punch, rendering the secondary as a weakness with the potential for B1G quarterbacks to pick the 'Cats apart.

Big Ten Championship Game
Nebraska Cornhuskers 45 - Wisconsin Badgers 31

Best Offense
Nebraska Cornhuskers

Best Defense
Ohio State Buckeyes

Offensive Player of the Year
Taylor Martinez, QB - Nebraska Cornhuskers

Defensive Player of the Year
William Gholston, DE - Michigan State Spartans

Coach of the Year
Urban Meyer - Ohio State Buckeyes

Coach on the Hot Seat
Danny Hope - Purdue Boilermakers

Team on the Rise
Illinois Fighting Illini

Team on the Decline
Penn State Nittany Lions

Toughest Schedule
Michigan Wolverines

Easiest Schedule
Iowa Hawkeyes

Teams Going Bowling
Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, Michigan, Iowa, Michigan State

Sound Off: What are your predictions for the Big Ten college football season?

Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @long_snapper.

Comments

# 1 msuhockeycj @ Aug 13

7-5 for a team that has back to back 10 win seasons and returns 8 starters of the B1G's best defense... Hmmm...

# 2 bjones16 @ Aug 13

Wow this list is a complete joke. Michigan has experience??? OSU is loaded with talent?? LOL

# 3 sarlndr @ Aug 13

How is the list a joke?

# 4 THE YAMA @ Aug 13

I expect Wisconsin to run away with this conference this year.

# 5 bjones16 @ Aug 14

@#3...he said Michigan has talent on defense. UofM lost all impactful players on defense.... Oh and he said Nebraska has a well balanced offense....My sister has a better arm than Taylor Martinez. Martinez makes D.Robinson look like John Elway! Nebraska averaged 160 passing yards per game. Almost last in all of NCAA.

# 6 tHurley2010 @ Aug 14

Perhaps maybe too high on Nebraska and Ohio State, and not high enough on Michigan or Michigan State. Taylor Martinez is a bit unproven, so speculation of his improvements is all we have.