The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 119 West Division 1. Wisconsin (10-2 overall, 7-2 Big Ten) The Badgers lost three of their first four to start last season and looked dead in the water before rattling off seven straight victories down the stretch. A loss to Minnesota in the season finale kept them out of Indianapolis, but they will once again have a shot to win the West in 2022. Wisconsin has talent to replace on the nation's top-ranked defense (239.1 yards per game allowed in 2021), but coordinator Jim Leonard has the pieces to keep the train rolling. The Badgers' ceiling will be dependent on sophomore running back Braelon Allen's steps forward and junior Graham Mertz finally taking that next, consistent step at quarterback. T-2. Iowa (9-3 overall, 6-3 Big Ten) Last year's Big Ten West champion returns 17 starters from that team and will be squarely in the mix to make another trip to Indy. The Hawkeyes get one of the best tight ends in the country back in Sam LaPorta (670 yards receiving in 2021) and hope senior passer Spencer Petras can keep managing the offense. Defensive stars return in linebacker Jack Campbell and defensive back Riley Moss. Iowa figures to be near the top of the nation in defense and turnover margin again but needs more from its offense. The Hawkeyes have their formula but must be better than 121st in total offense to be a true Big Ten threat. T-2. Minnesota (9-3 overall, 6-3 Big Ten) The Gophers are not the sexy pick to make a run out of the West Division, but head coach P.J. Fleck normally finds a way to have his team outperform expecta - tions. Minnesota hopes it can tap into its 2019 form with the return of offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, when it went 11-2 and just missed out on a trip to Indianapolis. The Gophers finished 9-4 last season, but they want more, and Fleck claimed he "failed as a head coach." The key to their turnaround seems to be improving the passing game, which ranked 118th in the nation last year. Getting quarterback Tanner Morgan back to productivity and the return of running back Mohamed Ibrahim (2020 Big Ten Run - ning Back of the Year and a third-team All-American that season) could help them push Wisconsin and Iowa at the top of the division. 4. Purdue (8-4 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) Head coach Jeff Brohm enters his fifth season in West Lafayette with plenty of expectations. The Boilermakers went 9-4 last season and tied for second in the division, headlined by upsets of Iowa and Michigan State. Quarterback Aidan O'Connell is back for a sixth season and could be the best non-Ohio State quarterback in the conference. His stable of receivers will look dif - ferent with David Bell (NFL) and Milton Wright (academically ineligible) gone, but Iowa transfers Tyrone Tracy and Charlie Jones look to be capable replacements. This team will not sneak up on anyone, and its games against the class of the division will be worth watching. 5. Nebraska (6-6 overall, 4-5 Big Ten) It is make-or-break time for Scott Frost, who has been given another opportunity to inject life into his alma mater. Last season was a disaster with a 1-8 mark in Big Ten play, but seven of those losses came by a touchdown or less. Some new blood on the coaching staff and at quarterback in Texas transfer Casey Thompson could be beneficial moving forward. There are still questions about the offensive line, but this team was better than its record indicated. Frost will have a final chance to put Nebraska on the right track. 6. Northwestern (3-9 overall, 1-8 Big Ten) The Wildcats have played in the last two Big Ten title games that have taken place in even-numbered years. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald specializes in quick turnarounds, but fighting for a bowl berth might be the ceiling this fall. If they can find a way to grab the opener in Ireland against Nebraska, it could spark a season of outplaying expectations. To do that, though, the Wildcats must improve the 125th-ranked scoring offense (16.6 points per game) and 101st total defense (429.5 yards allowed per game) from last season. 7. Illinois (3-9 overall, 1-8 Big Ten) Bret Bielema's first year at Illinois ended with a 5-7 record and a 4-5 mark in confer - ence play, which was more than what most expected. The Illini build their identity around running the football with 1,000-yard rusher Chase Brown and Josh McCray (549 yards last year), which is not surprising considering Bielema's history at Wisconsin. He was not satisfied, though. The program changed offensive coordinators and hired Barry Lunney Jr. from the University of Texas at San Antonio in hopes he can help improve the nation's 122nd-ranked passing game (156.2 yards per contest). Syracuse transfer quarterback Tommy DeVito should help in the team's pursuit to throw the ball down the field more. We predict Ohio State and Wisconsin will meet for the conference crown for the fourth time in the last nine years. The Buckeyes (5-1) and Badgers (2- 4) are tied for the most Big Ten title game appearances, at six apiece. OSU will have to earn its way back, though. Michigan proved last season it was done being a pushover for its rival to the south, while Michigan State will have revenge on its mind after experiencing a blowout loss in Columbus. Penn State has also challenged the Buckeyes in the past. Wisconsin will likely find itself in another slugfest out West. That side of the Big Ten looks like it could go as many as five deep without much separat- ing each team. Iowa will always be a threat, while Minnesota, Purdue and Nebraska could stake their claims to the throne. Historically, Wisconsin's defense has limited the damage the Buckeyes bring to the table. The Badgers held OSU to 27 points in 2017, while 2019's game saw the Bucks score 34. Wisconsin's biggest issue was that it could only score 21 points each time. There is not a ton of reason to suggest the situation would be much differ- ent this year, though OSU could be as explosive as ever on offense. Wisconsin might be able to hang around for a bit, but the Buckeyes have too much firepower. They feel they have the goods to win it all and will not cede to whichever team emerges from the West Division. Prediction: Ohio State 38, Wisconsin 23 Iowa defensive back Riley Moss was named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year in 2021. Entering his fifth season with the Hawkeyes, he has 10 career interceptions. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN The Wolverine's Big Ten Championship Game Prediction