The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 119 league defense, but they have to find a way to scheme up something respectable offensively. Nobody will rush to put Schiano on the hot seat, but time is ticking on his attempt of a second reboot of the program. 7. Indiana (2-10 overall, 0-9 Big Ten) A few seasons ago, the job that head coach Tom Allen had done in Bloomington was the talk of the Big Ten. Things have leveled out in a major way over the last two years, with the Hoosiers going a combined 6-18 in 2021 and 2022. A lot needs to change for Indiana to get back to being a thorn in the side of the rest of the conference and in the bowl conversation. The Hoosiers could find ways to be more competitive in 2023, but the roster has only gotten worse and they face an uphill climb out of the Big Ten cellar. West Division 1. Wisconsin (9-3 overall, 7-2 Big Ten) Head coach Luke Fickell comes over from Cincin- nati and has a chance to lead the Badgers to a quick turnaround after a rough end to the Paul Chryst era. Wisconsin still wants to tap into its pedigree as a physical football team with an elite offensive line, but the program will have a fresh look offensively. Fickell wants to throw the ball more and has brought in former SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai to help shape his vision. Star running back Braelon Allen is back, and he could be the most important offensive player in the West Division. The Big Ten West is known for its chaos, but Fickell could have the Badgers in India- napolis quickly. 2. Iowa (9-3 overall, 6-3 Big Ten) Most believed that if the Hawkeyes had even a slightly below average offense last year, they would have made a second straight trip to the Big Ten Championship Game. Instead, Iowa fielded the sec- ond-worst offensive attack in the entire FBS. Head coach Kirk Ferentz knows the offense has to be better with his son, Brian Ferentz, calling the shots. Enter former Michigan signal-caller Cade McNa- mara, who is tailor-made for what Iowa wants to do offensively. His presence alone should raise the level of a program starved for competent quarter- back play. The former Big Ten champion signal-caller would love to get a shot at his former school at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis this December. 3. Nebraska (8-4 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) Nebraska is another Big Ten West school that swung for the fences and got its man in former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule. Like Fick- ell's hire at Wisconsin, this is one that could pay off quickly for the Cornhuskers. Rhule built Temple into a terrific team, then rebuilt Baylor in the wake of the Art Briles scandal. He is made for the college game. There is a lot of work to be done to undo the wrongs of Scott Frost, but there are pieces to like in Lincoln. Rhule wants to win quickly, and his staff is focused on honing in on the details. Competency could help the Cornhuskers reach heights they never did under Frost. T-4. Minnesota (6-6 overall, 4-5 Big Ten)* Head coach P.J. Fleck has built a big and physical program, and the squad could once again compete in the wide-open West Division. The biggest ques- tion is at quarterback, where sophomore Athan Kaliakmanis will step in for longtime starter Tanner Morgan. The loss of Morgan, running back Mohamed Ibra- him and elite center John Michael Schmitz is a lot to overcome. Fleck has gone 8-4 against Wisconsin and Nebraska since arriving in Minneapolis but is 0-6 against Iowa. Success against all three teams will be needed for the Golden Gophers to compete for a division crown. T-4. Illinois (7-5 overall, 4-5 Big Ten) Head coach Bret Bielema delivered Illinois' first winning season in 11 years in 2022. The trick now is finding ways to repeat it and push the program forward. Former Ole Miss quarterback Luke Altmyer comes in via the transfer portal and is likely the key to the Illini's hopes of contending for their first-ever Big Ten West crown. The defense has plenty of talent, led by defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton up front, but has new play- callers in Aaron Henry and Terrance Jamison. Illinois avoids both Michigan and Ohio State, so we will see if it takes advantage of its favorable schedule. 6. Purdue (4-8 overall, 3-6 Big Ten) The Boilermakers found their way to Indianapolis last year, then head coach Jeff Brohm bolted for Lou- isville. Former Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Wal- ters steps in as head man, but the talent is not what it was and this reboot will take some time for Purdue. Former Texas quarterback Hudson Card could helm an underrated offense, but a new defensive scheme might take some time to implement. Boiler- maker fans probably should not book another quick trip to the Big Ten title game this fall. 7. Northwestern (3-9 overall, 1-8 Big Ten) Pat Fitzgerald's program has had its share of ups and downs, but the downs are usually followed by seasons in which the Wildcats come out of nowhere to be competitive. They will need that to be the case after last year's 1-11 mark, the program's worst season since 1989. If Northwestern is to emerge out of the West Divi- sion cellar this year, it will likely be one of Fitzgerald's best coaching jobs. The Wildcats have lost their edge and desperately need to get it back to have a chance. * Minnesota beats Illinois head-to-head Michigan over Wisconsin: Should this scenario play out, it would be the third different opponent in three years for the Wolverines in their trip to Indianapolis. Such is the chaos that is the Big Ten's West Division. Nothing will come easy for U-M this season. It is difficult to go undefeated in consecutive years, especially with eyes on a bigger prize than simply winning the Big Ten. Road games at Nebraska and Minnesota early will test U-M before things get tougher in November with trips to Penn State and Maryland. It ends with The Game on Nov. 25 in Ann Arbor, and it is poised to be another showdown that decides the East Division win- ner. Once thought to be the heir to Urban Meyer's throne at Ohio State, Luke Fickell won at an impressive rate at Cincinnati before Wisconsin hired him to replace Paul Chryst. There is talent at Wisconsin, headlined by running back Braelon Allen, and the team brought in the perfect fit for its new-look passing game with former SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai. If the Badgers can push their offense into the future while also regaining their trademark edge in the trenches, this will be a quick reboot for the program. Given the topsy-turvy nature of the division it competes in, a trip to Indy in Year 1 under Fickell is in play. But it would likely end in a humbling defeat to the Wol- verines, who should be firing on all cylinders by this point in the season. This is a team on a mission, and Michigan has too much firepower on both sides of the ball. Prediction: Michigan 42, Wisconsin 24 Luke Fickell was named the head coach at Wis- consin after posting a 53-10 record in his last five seasons at Cincinnati. PHOTO COURTESY CINCINNATI ATHLETICS Big Ten Championship Game Prediction