It’s the beginning of a new era in Big Ten football. Four new teams, all former Pac-12 members from the West Coast, are now part of the battle in the conference, making this an exciting season. The divisions are also gone, as the two overall leaders battle it out in Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship, and that’s before we even talk about an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
The conference has more or less belonged to Ohio State for the past few decades, aside from Michigan, which has led it for the past three years. But what will it look like with Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington now part of the conference? All four have spent their time in the college football spotlight, and one has to wonder how strong the league will be in the future.
To get things rolling, we can do our best to figure out what it might look like with all 18 teams this season. That’s a daunting task and difficult to accomplish given the many styles, cultures and travel considerations that could all come into play, but we never shy away from a challenge.
Here’s our take on the Big Ten football preseason rankings as we all keep an eye on fall camp and the eventual start of the 2024 college football season.
18
Indiana Hoosiers
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
Indiana has brought in a lot of players from the transfer portal with a new coach, but things don’t usually go very well after a dismal season and so much turnover. New head coach Curt Cignetti is facing a major rebuild and there will be some bumps and bruises this year.
17
Northwestern wildcats
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
I know, I know, Northwestern surprised everyone last season by making it to the bowl despite so much upheaval and change, but some of those wins were extremely close at home. There is still a talent problem in Evanston and the Wildcats won’t have much of a home field advantage due to stadium renovations and the smaller venue they will be playing in.
16
Michigan State Spartans
USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
Mel Tucker left the Michigan State program in a mess and showed last year that it won’t be an easy rebuild to get things back in order. The quarterback situation might be a little better with the transfer of Aidan Chiles, but there’s not much around him, including a poor defense that has lost its best players.
15
Illinois Fighting Illini
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
If the honeymoon isn’t over for head coach Bret Bielema, the plane is already back on the tarmac after a “Hangover”-like adventure. Things have been downhill since Bielema’s arrival, and a lot of that has to do with the ability to lure talent to Champaign. The defense will be good, but will the offense be able to score enough points with a lack of options at the skill positions?
14
Purdue University Boilermakers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
I think Purdue is on the right track under Ryan Walters, but there isn’t enough in place to expect a bowl game or even much more than the potential of a .500 season. The Boilers could scare some teams, even though they shouldn’t, but the program still needs some sharpening.
13
UCLA Bruins
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
It seems like UCLA is just content to build for the future this season. There’s a new, somewhat untested head coach, and the recruiting classes haven’t been great. The offense should be a little better, but losing 9 of 11 starters doesn’t bode well for the other side of the ball. A bowl game could be a tall order in 2024.
12
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
Doesn’t it seem to you like Minnesota has reached the maximum of what it can do under PJ Fleck? While it looks much better than it did before they “pulled the rowboat up” in Minneapolis, it doesn’t seem to be squeezing much juice out of the Twin Cities anymore. Still, Minnesota has been looking for transfer opportunities and may have done enough to fill some holes and play a moderately winning season with the schedule it has.
11
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
There are people who rate the Cornhuskers higher, but I don’t see that happening. Yes, the offense will get better at some point if Dylan Raiola turns out to be as good as everyone thinks, but we have to remember he went to high school homecoming last year. The defense should be good, but Matt Rhule might be a year or two away.
10
Maryland turtles
Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
Losing one of the best quarterbacks in program history won’t exactly hurt Maryland’s chances of slowly climbing into the upper echelons of the Big Ten. The schedule isn’t bad, but no one knows who the quarterback will be. Talent is there, but depth is still lacking.
9
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
I really feel like Rutgers is going to surprise some people this year. I’m not calling for the Scarlet Knights to compete for the Big Ten title, but the talent level has slowly increased, a culture is taking hold, and the league’s rushing leader is returning to the backfield to partner with some underrated offensive weapons.
8
Wisconsin Badgers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
I think Wisconsin will be better in year two under Luke Fickell, but the whole “Air Raid” thing with a rushing twist is still an experiment I have to put into practice. On paper and talent-wise, this team should be pretty good, but the schedule is brutal.
7
Washington Huskies
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
The Washington Huskies have lost not only their quarterback, who was competing for the Hesiman Trophy, but a ton of other players as well – and the head coach. There was a decent raid in the transfer portal to help absorb some of that, but such sweeping changes don’t usually lead to anything special. Talent on the roster will most likely still lead the Huskies to a bowl, but that’s about it for this season.
6
USC Trojans
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
I admit, it’s hard to really say what we can expect from USC this season. There’s a good feeling about Lincoln Riley’s offense, which is rushing a ton of yards and scoring a ton of points. There’s also a good feeling about Lincoln Riley’s defense, which is allowing a ton of yards and allowing a ton of points. How the defense plays under new leadership will determine how happy the folks in LA are this season.
5
Iowa Hawkeyes
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
Death, taxes, and Iowa’s defense scoring almost as many points as the offense. I know Hawkeyes fans and coaches are hoping that’s a thing of the past given the changes in the offense this offseason, but we’ll have to see it to believe it. Still, there’s a lot of positivity about the defense’s potential, so maybe the punt can help this team to nine or 10 wins.
4
Michigan Wolverines
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
I know many think Michigan has enough talent left in the tank to keep the machine running, but the team has lost a lot of experienced and talented players at key positions. When you add in the coaching changes, the tough schedule, and all the things off the field, I see a bit of a regression in 2024.
3
Penn State Nittany Lions
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
If there’s one team that’s flying a little under the radar as a Big Ten title contender, it’s Penn State. The schedule isn’t too challenging overall, and the defense should once again be a nuisance. If the offense can find a way to not rely on the backfield and get some explosive plays from the outside and through the air, this team could surprise a lot of pundits.
2
Oregon Ducks
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
It feels like Oregon and Ohio State’s rosters are better than the rest of the league. If Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel can do what we think he can at quarterback, we could have not just a Big Ten title contender in Eugene, but a national title contender. Reminder: Ohio State travels to Oregon. Set your DVR now.
1
Ohio State Buckeyes
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking
Ohio State has a strong team on both sides of the ball. The defense has a chance to be the best in the country and the offense has plenty of weapons. Many veteran players have come back to score rather than reap NFL riches. It all comes down to whether Will Howard can be the distributor the offense needs. If so, this team will be a beast and has a very good chance to get back to the top of the Big Ten and make a run at the national title in the College Football Playoff.
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