Summer is approaching fast, isn’t it? In just a few weeks, Big Ten football will return to the field in all its glory. Need a tissue to wipe the tears from your eyes? Take a moment to recover from the good news, we’re waiting.
Good Good.
As the college football season approaches, several networks are releasing their final 2024 preseason predictions. This week, ESPN released its Big Ten preview, which also included the preseason power rankings.
Ohio State and Oregon being in the top two spots isn’t really a surprise, as many expect the Buckeyes and Ducks to meet in the Big Ten Championship Game on December 7. Where do the other teams rank?
Here’s a look at ESPN’s Big Ten preseason power rankings as the conference enters its first year with 18 teams:
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Oregon Ducks
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Michigan Wolverines
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- USC Trojans
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Washington Huskies
- Minnesota Golden Gophers
- Maryland turtles
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Northwestern wildcats
- UCLA Bruins
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Michigan State Spartans
- Purdue University Boilermakers
Illinois’ Cole Rusk suffers season-ending injury
This week, some unfortunate news came out of Champaign. Tight end Cole Rusk, who transferred to Illinois from Murray State, suffered a season-ending injury.
“After a great offseason and a lot of excitement to pursue a lifelong dream this season, I’m sad to announce that I have suffered a season-ending knee injury,” Rusk wrote on X. “I’m excited to come back even better than before and I’m in good hands here. I’m trusting in God’s timing and I’m still incredibly excited for our team to do great things this year. I came here to help us win and I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Rusk is in his first season with the Fighting Illini. He was selected to the 2023 FCS All-American third team after catching 39 passes for 507 yards and six touchdowns at Murray State.
Harbaugh’s punishment is irrelevant: The NCAA has punished Jim Harbaugh for improper contact with recruits and players during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it is too little, too late. CLICK HERE
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