Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1505736
4 2 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M East Division 1. Michigan (13-1 overall, 9-0 Big Ten in 2022) The two-time defending champs have what may be their best roster of the Jim Harbaugh coaching era, and they also have a nonconference schedule that ESPN has dubbed the easiest in the Power Five this year (East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green, all at home). The Wolverines do finish with visits to Penn State and Maryland, followed by The Game. If everyone stays healthy, they will most likely have built up a full head of steam by that point. With a pair of legitimate Heisman Trophy con- tenders — quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum — leading the way, it'll be tough for anyone in the East to keep Michigan out of Indianapolis. 2. Ohio State (11-2, 8-1) For most of the past quarter century, the con- ventional wisdom has been that the Buckeyes are the Big Ten favorites until somebody beats them. Well, somebody has beaten them — two years in a row, in fact. If they're going to reclaim the throne from the maize-and-blue usurpers, they're going to need their new quarterback — most likely junior Kyle McCord — to pick up where C.J. Stroud left off. They're also probably going to need a victory in Ann Arbor on the final day of the regular season. Easier said than done. 3. Penn State (11-2, 7-2) It's hard to be a dark horse when you're also a preseason top-10 team, but that's how stacked the East Division is. While this looks to be one of coach James Franklin's most talented squads, it's difficult to make a case for the Nittany Lions as divisional favorites given their combined 4-14 record against Ohio State and Michigan during the James Franklin era. 4. Maryland (8-5, 4-5) The Terrapins have the Big Ten's most experienced quarterback in Taulia Tagovailoa, who has started every game (29 in all) since transferring from Alabama ahead of the 2020 season. Coming off its winningest campaign since 2010, Maryland is looking for a breakthrough this fall. The question is the same as always, though: Who are the Terps going to jump in this top-heavy division? 5. Michigan State (5-7, 3-6) The Spartans are attempting to bounce back from a 2022 season that was beset by troubles on and off the field. The transfers of quarterback Payton Thorne and receiver Keon Coleman following spring practice didn't help, nor does a schedule that deals up a nonconference game against resurgent Washington in Week 3. 6. Rutgers (4-8, 1-8) No one will be happier than the Scarlet Knights to see the Big Ten's cur- rent divisional structure blown up next year. They've finished fifth or lower in the East standings in eight of their nine seasons as conference mem- bers. They'll likely do so again if their offense isn't drastically improved from last year, when they averaged 17.4 points per game. 7. Indiana (4-8, 2-7) After 21 players departed via the transfer portal, including quarterback Jack Tuttle and standout tight end A.J. Barner, both of whom are now at Michigan, the Hoosiers are going to be hard-pressed to turn around their waning fortunes. West Division 1. Wisconsin (7-6, 4-5) The Badgers scored one of the bigger recruit- ing coups in recent college football history when they lured coach Luke Fickell to Madison after six years at Cincinnati. Fickell went 57-18 with the Bearcats, including a trip to the CFP in 2021. His arrival, coupled with the acquisition of transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai, for- merly of SMU, could return Wisconsin to the top of the West Division in short order. 2. Iowa (8-5, 5-4) The arrival of former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara should bolster an offense that last year ranked last in the Big Ten and 130th in the FBS with an average of 251.6 yards per game. The defense, led by ball-hawking cor- nerback Cooper DeJean, figures to be as tough as ever. 3. Minnesota (9-4, 5-4) The Gophers have to replace Big Ten rushing leader Mohamed Ibrahim and five-year starting quarterback Tanner Morgan. Redshirt sopho- more Athan Kaliakmanis got a head start on winning the latter job when he filled in for an injured Morgan last year, completing 60 per- cent of his attempts for 946 yards and leading Minnesota to wins in three of his five starts. 4. Illinois (8-5, 5-4) Led by All-Big Ten defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, the Illini should continue to shine on defense after surrendering an FBS-low 12.8 points per game last year. The Illini's offensive hopes will likely hinge on how well Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer develops at quarterback. 5. Nebraska (4-8, 3-6) Matt Rhule didn't find much success in the NFL, lasting less than three full seasons with the Carolina Panthers. But he has a well-deserved reputa- tion as a turnaround specialist at the college level, and boy, do the Corn- huskers need one after going 16-31 under Scott Frost. 6. Purdue (8-6, 6-3) The Boilermakers are under new management, with former Illinois de- fensive coordinator Ryan Walters taking over as head coach following Jeff Brohm's departure for Louisville. Quarterback Aidan O'Connell is also gone after leading the Big Ten with 3,490 passing yards, meaning that Walters has some rebuilding to do in the wake of last year's West Division champi- onship season. 7. Northwestern (1-11, 1-8) Anything is possible in the wild West, but it's tough to picture the Wild- cats bouncing back aggressively from last year's disastrous finish after see- ing the Pat Fitzgerald coaching regime come crashing down in July. Predicted Order Of Finish Jim Harbaugh has gone 74-25 in eight seasons at Michigan, including a 25-3 record the past two years. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL