2023 College Football Predictions: Big 10

Photo by Junfu Han from USA Today

And for the first time in our season previews, we actually have divisions!

Well, for now.

Next year, when USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon join, I don’t think the divisions will stick around.

But for one more time, let’s dive into the Big 10 East and West.

East

1. Michigan Wolverines

The top 2 in the Big 10 feel pretty much guaranteed most years.

It’s either going to be Michigan, or it’s going to be Ohio State.

Michigan may not have Harbaugh for the first four games, but those games are against ECU, UNLV, Bowling Green and Rutgers.

They’ll be fine.

Playing Penn State on the road will be very, very tough, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Wolverines once again run the table.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Playing Michigan on the road and a new quarterback starting for the Buckeyes.

If they couldn’t beat them with CJ Stroud, I’m not sure they’ll beat them with whoever Ohio State determines the starter will be.

But believe me, the Buckeyes will still be fine.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State is going to be really, really good this year.

It just sucks for them that they have to deal with Michigan and Ohio State being at as high of a level as they are.

I could easily see Penn State going 10-2 with the only two losses being to those two.

Tough luck.

4. Maryland Terrapins

The top half of the Big 10 East is very, very good.

The bottom is…less good.

And then we have Maryland, who will likely start September and early October very, very good before it all goes down the drain.

Such is life.

5. Michigan State Spartans

I’m very, very interested to see how Mel Tucker responds to a horrid season after having a fantastic one two years ago.

Well, two years ago the Spartans dominated due to transfers, and they have quite a few of them this year as well!

But I doubt they get that lucky again, considering Kenneth Walker was a spark point of the 2021 offense.

6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Greg Schiano has Rutgers playing about the same way they did when he was first there.

The issue is, when he was first there, they were in the Big East and didn’t have to deal with Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State every year.

Bummer.

7. Indiana Hoosiers

Tom Allen brought in loads of transfers to try and bring back 9 Windiana, but I just can’t see the defense taking the next step to find that success again.

But maybe they make some baby steps back to that success.

West

1. Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin has always had the talent, but the later years of Paul Cryst just weren’t working.

Now, they have Luke Fickell, who takes over after having loads of success from his time at Cincinnati.

The other big problem with Wisconsin was their lack of quality quarterback play, which they have hopefully fixed with transfer Tanner Mordecai from SMU.

Will Wisconsin be perfect in year 1 under Fickell? Probably not.

But in a weak West, do they need to be?

2. Iowa Hawkeyes

Alright. Alright. I hear you.

Iowa’s offense is an absolute tire fire, and there’s no reason to expect that to change.

But they have former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara joining the fold, and Brian Ferentz has a new contract with extra incentives if the Iowa offense scores 25 points per game.

That’s not a lot in modern college football, but that defense is so good that 25 points per game will be enough to get some wins.

I mean, their offense was putrid last year, and they still went 8-5.

So I don’t think they’ll suddenly be a modernized, high powered offense.

But I think they’ll be enough.

3. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota’s wide receiver room is absolutely fantastic, and the defense is good as it usually is under PJ Fleck.

But a new quarterback and new running backs will likely stifle the offense at the start of the year, and I just don’t think there’s truly enough talent to win the division.

4. Illinois Fighting Illini

Both Illinois and Purdue lost huge, crucial pieces of their squad last year.

It’ll be a transition year for both, but likely not as bad as the bottom feeders.

Illinois gets the edge because they kept their coach.

5. Purdue Boilermakers

And Purdue did not, as Jeff Brohm left for Louisville.

But Purdue’s new coach is, oddly enough, former Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters!

I think Ryan Walters will be successful at Purdue, and I like the Graham Harrell hiring for offensive coordinator.

But patience is a virtue, here. Purdue normally is patient.

6. Nebraska Cornhuskers

One school who is not quite as patient, but really needs to be in this scenario, is Nebraska.

Matt Rhule takes over at Nebraska, his 3rd ever college head coaching job.

First was Temple, where he spent his first season going 2-10 before an immediate turnaround saw the Owls go 6-6, followed by back to back 10 win seasons and a coaching job at Baylor.

Year one at Baylor? You guessed it! Garbage!

The Bears went 1-11 and looked abysmal. Year 2, they upgraded to 7-6 and followed that up with an 11 win season which got Rhule a spot in the NFL.

Now he’s back in college, and odds are year 1 isn’t going to be good.

But it’s ok, Huskers.

Patience. He’ll get it fixed.

7. Northwestern Wildcats

Northwestern was already not going to be very good this year.

Then, head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired after reports of horrible hazing allegations embedded the football program into scandal.

It was going to be bad.

It’s somehow going to be even worse…

Big 10 Championship: Michigan vs Wisconsin

I like Wisconsin this year, but c’mon now.

This title matchup is always a blood bath headed in one direction.

Michigan wins the Big 10 Championship