Midwestern football at it's best! (Big 10 and Notre Dame preview thread)

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Yes, it looks weird to put Notre Dame on a thread meant for Big 10 previews. But this thread IS all about the best of midwestern football, right? Right?!
...Well, at least until USC and UCLA gets into the conference. Ugh! Slight pause while I get ready...

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Notre Dame

Preview segment: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last season: Another brilliant year by Notre Dame standards! They went 11-2, spent almost the entire year ranked in the Top 10, and the only team that defeated them in the regular season (Cincinnati) went on to make the playoff. AND Notre Dame's success would be the #1 reason why Cincinnati made the playoff in the first place!
Thing is, before the Fiesta Bowl, Brian Kelly shocked the Irish faithful when he left to take the head coaching job at LSU. Now Marcus Freeman is in charge, and Notre Dame fans will be watching his first full year VERY closely.

Bad news: During fall camp, Marcus and his coaching staff HAS to find answers in the passing game; the WR position is pretty thin. And Tyler Buchner is the starting QB, but he was sidelined from spring ball due to injury and he's only seen limited action in actual games; can Tyler perform under the lights?

Good news: Working in Tyler's favor will be a strong O-line, some good running backs, and tight-end Michael Mayer on his side. The defense should be good again despite only returning 4 starters, with the D-line looking particularly nasty.

Key games:
9/3 @ Ohio State (The biggest game on the Week 1 slate by a mile. Just get your tickets now.)
10/8 vs. BYU [from Las Vegas] (This game should be brilliant. Not just because the game's in Las Vegas, but also because BYU looks loaded once again.)
11/5 vs. Clemson (Easily the biggest game Notre Dame will have against an ACC opponent this season. Remember what happened 2 years ago when the Irish hosted Clemson? Their first win over a #1 team for the first time in forever happened, that's what!)
11/26 @ USC (Notre Dame has been running roughshod over this rivalry as of late. But don't forget, USC hired Lincoln Riley last winter, and he'll have his team ready for the Irish this time.)

Bottom line: Wait. I was only able to come up with 4 "key games" for the Irish in 2022? Hmm, maybe Marcus Freeman will have an easier time adjusting to being the Notre Dame coach than I thought. Plus, he KNOWS what kind of pressure he's under, so that should help.
The Irish should be able to find another "New Year's Six" bowl in 2022. Anything beyond that, however, will all hinge on the quarterback and the passing game he will direct.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Nebraska

The first preview segment for the Big 10 Conference: The Nebraska Cornhuskers

Last season: There's a YouTuber out there called "PSC Highlights", and they made a video about all of Nebraska's close calls and tough losses in 2021. That video will tell the story of the season better than I can... and also sets up this upcoming season quite well.

Bad news: The special teams unit REALLY needs an upgrade, and the O-line is in a state of flux... once again. Oh, and their star QB Adrian Martinez transferred to Kansas State in the offseason.

Good news: But you know, maybe having a new starting QB and a new offensive coordinator won't be a bad thing for Nebraska. There are no big worries on the defense, as the linebackers are very good and Scott Frost still has some recruiting pull in the transfer portal.

Key games:
8/27 vs. Northwestern [from Dublin, Ireland] (This game might be in Dublin, but I don't think either Nebraska or Northwestern will care. They'll treat this opener as a potential launchpad for a better 2022.)
9/17 vs. Oklahoma (Last year's OU/Nebraska game was actually pretty good! Let's see if the Huskers can finish the job on their home field.)
10/7 @ Rutgers (Hopefully, Nebraska won't embarrass themselves in this contest.)
11/5 vs. Minnesota (The Gophers has now beaten Nebraska 4 of the last 5 years. This is not normal.)
11/19 vs. Wisconsin (Wisconsin is still the hurdle Nebraska has to clear in order to get back into division contention.)

Bottom line: Call me crazy, but the situation that Scott Frost and Nebraska is facing is just like when you hit 8 targets on a shooting game in "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time": The game operator [or athletic department] has looked at all of these close calls they went through and said "...Well, okay. I'll let you try this game again one more time for free. This time, you gotta do it!".
That's what it boils down to: Either Nebraska finally returns to the postseason in 2022, or it's "Game Over" for Frost.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Northwestern

Preview segment: The Northwestern Wildcats

Last season: Well, this was a stunner. Northwestern's numbers plummeted across the board and they finished 3-9. So over the last 4 years, Northwestern has been like a crazy roller coaster: From 9-5 to 3-9 to 7-2 to 3-9.

Good news: RB Cam Porter is back after an ACL injury robbed him of his 2021 campaign, and Evan Hull is also back in the run game. The front-7 on defense should be better than it was a year ago...

Bad news: ...but how much improvement can the dismal Wildcats offense REALLY make in 2022? The O-line is also a place where improvements must be made, and the new starting QB is not yet known.

Key games:
8/27 vs. Nebraska [from Dublin, Ireland] (See my previous post.)
10/22 @ Maryland (A swing game for Northwestern's postseason hopes.)
11/12 @ Minnesota (Ditto.)
11/26 vs. Illinois (Northwestern's 2021 season ended with a 6-game losing streak, including a loss to in-state rival Illinois to end things.)

Bottom line: Could the Wildcats' crazy roller-coaster ride continue this year? ...Nah, probably not; Northwestern needs to find some help on defense and fix the passing game. Let's shoot for the middle ground in 2022, and hope the Wildcats can find their way back to a bowl game.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Penn State

Preview segment: The Penn State Nittany Lions

Last season: Oh, it started out so wonderfully for Penn State in 2021! They continued their hot streak from the end of the 2020 season, and soon they were 5-0 and ranked #2 entering a game against Iowa. But they lost that game. No big deal; Penn State would recover and... lose to Illinois.
Then they lost to Ohio State, then Michigan... and the next thing you know Penn State was finishing a 7-6 season. So, can they recover?

Good news: The RB and WR positions are loaded with experienced playmakers, and the D-line looks to strong once again. QB Sean Clifford is also back...

Bad news: ...but his offensive line is still a major question mark for the Nittany Lions. Penn State must find some new bodies at linebacker, and they'll be one of the rare teams that'll miss their punter (Jordon Stout is now in the NFL).

Key games:

Big 10 East Gauntlet:
10/15 @ Michigan (You know, if Penn State had gotten a few more breaks they could have beaten Michigan last year. This should be another good one.)
10/29 vs. Ohio State (Come on, Penn State! You've lost 9 of your last 10 meetings with the Buckeyes. DO something about it!)
11/26 vs. Michigan State (You know, Penn State could be on a roll by the time Senior Day rolls around. I think they can beat the Spartans this time!)
Other big games:
9/1 @ Purdue (Wait. FOX is gonna carry this Thursday night game? Fine by me; this will be a important season opener for BOTH teams.)
9/17 @ Auburn (Penn State used the magic of a "White-Out" crowd to beat Auburn last year. Let's see them beat the Tigers again WITHOUT the "White-Out" crowd... and at Auburn.)
10/22 vs. Minnesota (This little-played rivalry game will be held right after the Michigan game... and before Penn State hosts Ohio State. I see a trip-up occurring.)

Bottom line: As you would expect, coach James Franklin is motivated to get Penn State back to Big 10 contention. But the Big 10 East isn't getting any easier to navigate, and the Lions can't rely on their defense forever. Survival for Penn State in 2022 will depend on the offensive line... and the players they will be trying to protect.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Michigan

Preview segment: The Michigan Wolverines

Last season: Just know that Michigan FINALLY defeated Ohio State for the first time in a decade in 2021. And that Michigan won the Big 10 title for the first time since 2004. AND that Michigan would make the playoff before losing to the eventual national champions. Happy days are here again! So Michigan only has one question entering the 2022 season: Can Jim Harbaugh and the team keep it going?

Good news: The Michigan offense took a good step forward in 2021, and expect that trend to continue with a great O-line and a strong balanced attack. The kicking game looks great, and the defense still has some talent.

Bad news: That being said, Michigan will face a herculean task in replacing people like Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo on the D-line.

Key games:
10/1 @ Iowa (Thankfully for Michigan's defense, the first 4 games will be pretty easy, which should give them time to jell. The Wolverines should easily be 4-0 entering this rematch of last year's Big 10 title game.)
10/15 vs. Penn State (See my previous post.)
10/29 vs. Michigan State (The Wolverines will get a bye week to prep for this rivalry game. And they're gonna need it; Mel Tucker is now 2-0 against Jim Harbaugh.)
11/26 @ Ohio State (Okay, Jim. There's only 1 more thing you need to do before EVERYBODY accepts your team as a national title contender: Win at Columbus for the first time since 2000.)

Bottom line: My mother LOVED the run that Michigan went on last season, and she could have even more fun with THIS season. Sure, the defense needs to replace some big playmakers, but the schedule is very kind. Expect Michigan to return to the "New Year's Six" in 2022, and if they somehow win in Columbus this time around, the playoff could beckon.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Indiana

Preview segment: The Indiana Hoosiers

Last season: Have you ever said something that you'd wish you can take back? The staff at Lindy's got a case of that last year when they said "Now hear this! Indiana is now a football school!". Oops, the Hoosiers would go from a preseason ranking to a 2-10 record.

Good news: The defense should carry the team with an experienced line and a proud secondary.

Bad news: On the contrary, the offense is a MESS with questions on the O-line and at the wide-receiver position.

2022 X-factor: Quarterback- Since Michael Penix Jr. transferred away to Washington, the starting QB spot could go to either Jack Tuttle or former Missouri starter Connor Bazelak. And whoever wins the job will have to do his part to jumpstart the Hoosier offense.

Key games:
9/2 vs. Illinois (Does this game sound good on paper? No, it doesn't. Is this an important season-opener for both of these teams? Darn tootin'!)
9/24 @ Cincinnati (...Hey! Indiana has the same non-conference schedule that it had last year! I hope this game against Cincinnati will go better for Indiana than last year's edition.)
10/15 vs. Maryland (Indiana's potent defense vs. Maryland's proud offense? That could be interesting to see.)
11/26 vs. Purdue (Expectations for the Boilermakers are soaring into the troposphere. Hoosiers fans are hoping that they can stop the craziness.)

Bottom line: In their preseason magazine, Lindy's is now saying this about Indiana: "Was 2019 and 2020 a mirage? Or was 2021 reality? Fascinating." Well, it WILL be fascinating to see what Indiana will do this season. Can the offense play up to par with their good defense? If it can't, the Hoosiers will once again be sitting in the basement of the Big 10 East.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Purdue

Preview segment: The Purdue Boilermakers

Last season: After 2 mediocre seasons, people were wondering if Jeff Brohm could get Purdue back on track. Well, with the emergence of QB Aidan O' Connell the Boilermakers had a great 2021! They would get 9 wins which includes these big triumphs: A win at then-#2 Iowa, a win against then-#3 Michigan State, and a Music City Bowl win over Tennessee. Now can Purdue turn around and challenge for the Big 10 West title this year?

Good news: Aidan O' Connell is back for one more year, and despite some losses (which I'll get to) the WR group looks deep. However, the defense may actually be the best part of the team with a lot of experienced players on it.

Bad news: Aidan will not have Milton Wright (who's academically ineligible) or David Bell (who's now in the NFL) to throw to this season. And George Karlaftis is also now in the NFL, so the defense will have to deal with that. Also, the coaching staff has 5 new assistants.

Key games:
9/1 vs. Penn State (See my Penn State preview.)
10/22 @ Wisconsin (15 straight losses to the Badgers. If Purdue wants to seriously contend for the Big 10 West, they'll NEED to get over the hump this time.)
11/5 vs. Iowa (The Boilermakers will have a bye week to prep for this big encounter. Don't forget what Purdue did at Iowa City last year!)
11/26 @ Indiana (It's a rivalry game on the road. Of COURSE I'm gonna put this game on the list!)

Bottom line: Expectations hasn't been this high for Purdue football since 2005 (when they were ranked #15 in the preseason rankings). And if you combine Aidan O' Connell with a good defense, the Boilermakers will be aiming for at least a sunny postseason destination in 2022.
People like David Bell and George Karlaftis don't grow on trees, however, so the coaching staff will be busy to make sure Purdue's grandiose plans don't get ruined.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Rutgers

Preview segment: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Last season: Okay, so the offense sucked. But Rutgers was able to improve itself to the point that they filled in for Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl. So 2021 counts as a "progress year" for Greg Schiano and his team.

Good news: Rutgers has their most talented crop of wide-receivers in several years, and they hit paydirt in the transfer portal to rebuild their O-line. Plus, Rutgers will be one of the rare team that can brag about their punter; Adam Korsak looks to destined for the NFL.

Bad news: The defense lost their top 2 tacklers from a year ago, and injuries claimed Moses Walker and Mohamed Toure during spring ball.

2022 X-factor: QB Gavin Wimsatt- This guy is considered a talent upgrade for Rutgers at the QB position, but we'll see if his lack of experience will trip him up this season.

Key games:
9/3 @ Boston College (Former Big East rivals go at it in the opener! And if Rutgers can pull off the upset, it'll be a big confidence boost for them.)
9/24 vs. Iowa (In the conference opener, Rutgers will try again to get their 1st-ever win over the Hawkeyes.)
11/5 vs. Michigan (You know, Rutgers almost shocked Michigan last year in Ann Arbor.)
11/26 @ Maryland (This game could decide a bowl berth... just like it did last season.)

Bottom line: Well, at least Rutgers is no longer a punching bag in the Big 10. That's a good first start! But if Rutgers wants to (legitimately) make a bowl game this year, the offense has to get MUCH better.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Maryland

Preview segment: The Maryland Terrapins

Last season: The fact that Maryland was playing football in the month of December shows that the Terps have gotten a bit better. The fact that Maryland crushed Virginia Tech in that Pinstripe Bowl made it all the more sweeter.

Good news: I just saw QB Taulia Tagovailoa in a commercial for "Muscle Milk"! He must be turning into a big superstar if that is happening, and he'll be the reason Maryland will have a chance in every game this season. Also here is a O-line that has experience and a LOT of quality receivers.

Bad news: Let's all hope that the injury bug (which Maryland had been fighting for years) doesn't get to Taulia or any of his receivers. The defense remains a work in progress, especially at safety and linebacker.

Key games:
9/17 vs. SMU (Maybe the first big test that Maryland's defense will face this season.)
10/1 vs. Michigan State (We could have an awesome QB duel in this Big 10 contest.)
10/8 vs. Purdue (See above game.)
11/12 @ Penn State (I think Maryland defeated Penn State the last time they went to "Happy Valley".)
11/19 vs. Ohio State (If Maryland's defense is any better, they could catch Ohio State looking ahead to the Michigan game.)

Bottom line: Buzz around the Maryland program is growing, all thanks to Taulia Tagovailoa and the aggressive recruiting the coaching staff has done. Maybe the positive trend will continue in 2022 with another bowl berth. But if Maryland wants to be a SERIOUS conference contender, they can't win every game 51-48; the defense HAS to get much better.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Wisconsin

Preview segment: The Wisconsin Badgers

Last season: Another very good season, as the Badgers got 9 wins and a win in the Las Vegas Bowl, all while sporting the #1-ranked defense in the country (I'm sorry, Georgia, but look at the stats!). But the lack of a coherent passing game would prevent Wisconsin from taking the Big 10 West title from Iowa, and now they're hoping they can fix that.

Good news: The defense should (once again) be great, especially at the linebacker position. The running game should be brilliant with Braelon Allen and a stout O-line working for it.

Bad news: QB Graham Mertz is back, but he NEEDS to take a major step forward in his decision-making and his timing. But a young and inexperienced wide-receiver group might stymie those plans for improvement.

Key games:
9/24 @ Ohio State (This series in the Big 10 ALWAYS draws a crowd... and ALWAYS seems to go the way of the Buckeyes. Can this batch of Badgers switch things up?)
10/15 @ Michigan State (Great! ANOTHER tough road game against a Big 10 East opponent!)
10/22 vs. Purdue (Here's the good news! Wisconsin hasn't lost against Purdue since 2004! Now here's the bad news: Purdue could be on a major roll by the time this game takes place.)
11/12 @ Iowa (Wisconsin has beaten Iowa 7 of the last 9 times they've met. If the Badgers do it again, the Big 10 West will be theirs once again.)
11/26 vs. Minnesota (Unless, of course, the Golden Gophers ruin everything by winning the "Paul Bunyan's Ax" rivalry... like they did last year.)

Bottom line: Even with them returning only 9 starters from a year ago, expect Wisconsin to challenge for the Big 10 West title... again. But if they want to win it this year (and/or beat a bigshot like Ohio State), that passing game HAS to show some form of improvement.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Illinois

Preview segment: The Illinois Fighting Illini

Last season: It was tough sledding for the majority of the season, but Illinois would start to show signs of life under new head coach Bret Bielema. The Illini would finish 5-7, with headline wins over Penn State and Northwestern to brag about.

Good news: RB Chase Brown, RB Josh McCray, and WR Isaiah Williams are the headline acts of the Illini offense, and the defense returns some experience.

Bad news: Linebacker is the major worry on the Illini defense, and the special teams unit is all new. And much like Wisconsin, Illinois needs a spark at the passing game; can either Tommy DeVito or Artur Sitkowski get it going at quarterback?

Key games:
9/2 @ Indiana (See my Indiana preview.)
9/10 vs. Virginia (Hopefully Illinois will do better against Virginia at home than they did last year in Charlottesville.)
10/15 vs. Minnesota (Illinois was able to beat the Gophers last year in Minneapolis.)
11/12 vs. Purdue (Maybe the Illini can catch Purdue tired out after their games against Wisconsin and Iowa.)
11/26 @ Northwestern (When Illinois defeated Northwestern last year, it was their first triumph against the Wildcats in 7 years.)

Bottom line: Illinois might have had a better-than-expected 2021, but depth problems and a new offensive coordinator doesn't bode well for them in 2022. Unless they can replace some key people, the Illini may be sitting in last place in the Big 10 West this season. At least Bret Bielema knows what he's doing.

 

[navamind]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Artur Sitkowski won't be the answer.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Minnesota

Preview segment: The Minnesota Golden Gophers

Last season: A relative high-water mark for the Gophers, as they got a 9-win season and a victory over West Virginia in their bowl game, all while sporting one of the top 5 defenses in the country. But the lack of a coherent passing game would prevent the Gophers from taking the Big 10 West title away from Iowa, and now they're looking to fix that.
(Wait... Minnesota was almost like Wisconsin last year! Cue the "Twilight Zone" theme.)

Bad news: Line play could be a BIG problem for Minnesota this season; both the offensive and defensive lines are missing a lot of starters from a year ago. QB Tanner Morgan is back, but has to do better in accumulating passing yards.

Good news: Fortunately, Kirk Ciarrocca is back as the Gophers' offensive coordinator, so maybe Tanner will do better. RB Mo Ibrahim is back after sitting out 2021 due to injury, and the secondary should be able to hold things together.

Key games:
9/17 vs. Colorado (Wow. Minnesota smashed Colorado in Boulder last year? By a score of 30-0?! I like Minnesota's chances to beat the Buffs again.)
10/1 vs. Purdue (Just a simple showdown in the Big 10 West. The Boilermakers have lost to Minnesota 4 straight times.)
10/22 @ Penn State (Just know what happened the last time Minnesota faced Penn State.)
11/19 vs. Iowa (All right! THIS is now the mental hurdle Minnesota must clear to win the Big 10 West title. Iowa has won the "Floyd of Rosedale" game 7 straight times, but I like the Gophers' chances to do it this time!)
11/26 @ Wisconsin (Uh oh. Suddenly, I don't like Minnesota's chances anymore.)

Bottom line: Admit it, guys. You like P.J Fleck as a head coach, don't ya? ...There we go!
Well, with that taken care of, Fleck is gonna be busy fixing those lines on his football team. AND he needs to make sure that his passing game can find a spark. I'm expecting a middle-of-the-road finish for the Gophers in the Big 10 West in 2022.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Ohio State

Preview segment: The Ohio State Buckeyes

Last season: Only on the Ohio State football team can you go 11-2, win a fabulous Rose Bowl and spend all season ranked in the Top 10, and STILL have your season being called "a failure". How the f--k does that happen?! Hmm, maybe Ohio State fans are just mad that Michigan got to go to the playoff and not them.

Good news: This offensive unit that Ohio State has now? It could be perhaps the best offense that Ryan Day has ever had; QB C.J. Stroud, RB TreVeyon Henderson, and WR Marvin Harrison Jr. instantly comes to mind.

Bad news: The Buckeyes defense is loaded as well, but last year it got gashed a few times (by Oregon, Michigan, and Utah; 2 of those were losses). Here's hoping that the new coordinator Jim Knowles can get the unit to be less predictable.

Key games:

Big 10 East Gauntlet:
10/8 @ Michigan State (You know, Ohio State's first 5 games of the 2022 season will be at home. But as a consequence, their first road game will be against an angry Michigan State team they clobbered last year 56-7.)
10/29 @ Penn State (This one can go a lot of ways. Either Ohio State will finish off a spent Penn State team, or the Buckeyes will have a tough fight against a battle-tested team.)
11/26 vs. Michigan (Look. Ohio State fans know what happened last year with these guys.)
Other big games:
9/3 vs. Notre Dame (As I said earlier this week, this will be the biggest game of Week 1. Jim Knowles' defense will be tested right away.)
10/22 vs. Iowa (Good news for Ohio State: They'll have a bye week to prep for this game! Bad news: So will Iowa.)

Bottom line: I actually see Ohio State taking care of Notre Dame in that Week 1 game. And once the Buckeyes clear that hurdle, they'll be no stopping them. If the defense plays with more consistency and the offense does it's part, Ohio State will take back their conference title... and maybe get the Big 10 their first national championship since 2014.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Michigan State

Preview segment: The Michigan State Spartans

Last season: Some people don't like Colin Cowherd. I get that. And I'll bet some of you guys poo-pooed Colin when he said "Mel Tucker knows what he's doing as a head coach". Well, guess what? Thanks to Mel's coaching and the arrival of RB Kenneth Walker III (from the transfer portal), Colin had his "smug face" on throughout the whole 2021 season.
Yep, Michigan State had a marvelous year! They beat teams like Miami, Michigan, and Penn State. And they defeated Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl. Yay! And to think they did all that while sporting the worst pass defense in the entire country.

Bad news: Welp... the portal giveth, the portal taketh away; Kenneth Walker is now in the NFL. The pass defense looks to be healthy again, but how much better will it REALLY be? But strangely, the biggest problem area is the offensive line; it got gutted by graduation and the NFL (over 130 starts between all of them).

Good news: At least QB Payton Thorne is still here. And at least he'll have a stockpile of weapons to throw to. Plus, thanks to an infusion of talent from that transfer portal, the linebacker group looks nasty.

Key games:

Big 10 East Gauntlet:
10/8 vs. Ohio State (All the coaching staff has to do to get Michigan State excited for this one is this: 56-7.)
10/29 @ Michigan (Wait. Michigan State gets the same bye week that Michigan will get for this game? Oooo, maybe Mel Tucker can go 3-for-3 against the Wolverines.)
11/26 @ Penn State (These guys have split their last 6 meetings.)
Other big games:
9/17 @ Washington (This should be the first major test for Michigan State's new offensive line.)
10/15 vs. Wisconsin (This is just a big challenge match in the Big 10. No more, no less.)

Bottom line: OK. So after one brilliant year, MSU gave Mel Tucker a $95 million contract extension? Either Michigan State have lost their minds, or they know that Mel can get them a national title in the future. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out. But that is for the future.
As for 2022, Mel and his team has a lot of talent left over from the previous year. But they got QUITE a few problems to fix (that darn O-line, no more Kenneth Walker), so I don't like the Spartans' chance to make another "New Year's Six" bowl this year.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Iowa

The last preview segment for the Big 10: The Iowa Hawkeyes

Last season: Iowa's 2021 season is one of these situations you look at from either a positive or a negative standpoint. If you're a positive person, you see that Iowa won their first division title since 2015 AND got a 10-win season to boot. But if you're a negative person, you'll note that Iowa had one of the slowest offenses in the country. And you'll ALSO note that Iowa got smashed in the Big 10 title game against Michigan. So... which side are YOU on?

Good news: Iowa might have the best defense in the Big 10 this season; the line is deep and strong, and so is the secondary. QB Spencer Petras is back to lead the offense.

Bad news: Of course, the offense (and Petras, for that matter) has to be better than it was a year ago. But that won't happen if the O-line struggles again.

Key games:
9/10 vs. Iowa State (Last year's "Cy-Hawk" trophy game was a battle of Top 10 teams. This year, Iowa is just looking to beat Iowa State again and move on with their lives.)
10/1 vs. Michigan (Let's all hope that Iowa's offense is ready to go for this one; Michigan SHOULD be 4-0 by this point.)
10/22 @ Ohio State (Iowa hasn't won in Columbus since 1991. But, hey! At least Iowa will have a bye week to prep for this road game.)
11/5 @ Purdue (Remember when Iowa was the #2 team in the country last year? Well thanks to Purdue, that thrill lasted only 1 week.)
11/12 vs. Wisconsin (See my Wisconsin preview.)
11/19 @ Minnesota (Just a fair warning to the Iowa Hawkeyes: Minnesota could be on a winning streak by the time the "Floyd of Rosedale" goes on the line again.)

Bottom line: Kirk Ferentz is entering his 24th season coaching in Iowa City, and he could win another Big 10 West title this year if the offense shows any form of improvement. But I just listed 6 "key games", so it clearly won't be easy to do.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Big 10 Predictions

Okay... Here are my predictions for the Big 10 this season:

East division:
1. Ohio State (Conference champs, Playoff)
2. Michigan ("New Year's Six" bowl)
3. Michigan State
4. Penn State
5. Maryland
6. Rutgers
7. Indiana

West division:
1. Wisconsin
2. Iowa
3. Purdue
4. Minnesota
5. Nebraska
6. Northwestern
7. Illinois

Coming up tomorrow, I'll be starting a new thread. And after a year's absence, I'll look at the Big 12... and do it RIGHT this time!

 

[Angry red]

Yes, it looks weird to put Notre Dame on a thread meant for Big 10 previews. But this thread IS all about the best of midwestern football, right? Right?!
...Well, at least until USC and UCLA gets into the conference. Ugh! Slight pause while I get ready...

I don't like your posts. I doubt I'd like you. You're not selling magazines or producing anything factual.

Say your piece, and the rest is dumb.