Conference Preview 2023: big Ten
By Jordan Merritt
A team-by-team analysis of the Big Ten, the season ahead and final standings predictions.
WEST
1. Iowa Hawkeyes
2022: 8-5 (5-4)
If you have seen the 3 headed monster meme, then that was the best way to sum up the 2022 season for the Hawkeyes. Defensively they were as stout as ever, allowing 270 yards per game and 3.99 yards per play. Special teams were solid, which leaves the goofy looking monster, the offense. Averaging 251.6 yards per game and only 18.7 points per game against Big Ten teams, it was a difficult watch. Luckily the defense was top tier and managed to get them to a bowl game and close to competing for the Big Ten Championship again.
Things look a bit better on the offense for Iowa in 2023. Sophomore running back Kaleb Johnson returns after leading the team in touchdowns scored. Talented tight end Sam LaPorta is now in the NFL. However, Luke Lachey could be even better. Lachey hauled in 4 of the 7 passing touchdowns scored by Iowa in 2022. The team also got a boost at wide receiver with previous 4 star recruit Kaleb Brown transferring in from Ohio State. Possibly more important, another Big Ten transfer in QB Cade McNamara comes in, giving the QB position a boost in quality.
Iowa have some holes to fill around the defense, with some serious talent heading to the NFL. Linebacker Jack Campbell, defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness and Riley Moss from the secondary are huge voids. Luckily, defensive coordinator Phil Parker has been through this before. Players from within the team will be asked to make the step up. Joe Evans will play the opposite side of Deontae Craig, who led the team in sacks last season. Iowa has another talented corner in Cooper DeJean. Iowa didn’t hit the portal hard, but they did bring in linebacker Nick Jackson from Virginia, who could step in for the departed Campbell.
Verdict: 10-2 (7-2): Iowa could see their impressive defensive numbers drop off a little in 2023. That being said, the offense could steadily improve, maybe significantly. It can’t be as bad as last season and with Iowa avoiding the big two from the east side of the conference, don’t be surprised to see Iowa back in the Big Ten Championship game after a year hiatus.
2. Minnesota Golden Gophers
2022: 9-4 (5-4)
As in 2021, Minnesota had goals of reaching the Big Ten Championship game. Winnable games at home cost them again, losing to Pudue by ten points and Iowa by 3. QB Tanner Morgan was hurt for the second half of the season, which paved the way for inexperienced Athan Kaliakmanis, and it showed. Luckily running back Mo Ibrahim had 10 100+ yard games, 5 of them behind Kaliakmanis, resulting in another bowl game for the Golden Gophers. This season, is it realistic to be pushing for the championship game again?
Athan Kaliakmanis aka the “Greek Rifle” will be the full time starter, hoping the experience he gained in the second half of last season will set him up to be a focal point on offense. Good for Kaliakmanis is that the receivers he worked with last season are back. Including Chris Autman-Bell, who looked the part before an injury in week 3. All-American tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford is also a returner. A team who prides itself on its run game will have to fill the big shoes left by Mo Ibrahim, as well as 3 of the offensive line starters. Running Back Sean Tyler transferred in from Western Michigan, could he work in tandem with Senior Bryce Williams?
The defense was stingy last season, allowing just 13.8 points per game. This was mainly due to how the secondary performed. New faces will need to take the step alongside safety Darius Green and cornerback Justin Walley. Will FCS transfer Tre’Von Jones be able to transfer his outstanding 4 seasons at Elon to the FBS level? Linebacker Cody Lindenberg is a guy you need to put down on your must watch list in 2023. The defensive front needs to improve and help out the secondary if they want to make it a successful season on defense.
Verdict: 8-4 (6-3): Despite losing some key pieces on both sides of the ball, it’s not as bad as some may think. HC P.J. Fleck has some talented players on the roster. On offense, can they move the ball on the ground without Ibrahim? Also, can QB Kaliakmanis move the ball, while not causing too many turnovers? If the answer is yes to them both, then Minnesota will be okay. The Big Ten Championship game may be out of reach with a tough schedule.
3. Wisconsin Badgers
2022: 7-6 (4-5)
Wisconsin stuttered through the 2022 season, with painful effect. A week 5 loss to Illinois was the final straw for coach Paul Chryst who was fired. Jim Leonhard took over as interim HC and pulled it back enough to get to a bowl game, which they managed to win. The defense was good, but the offense was heavily reliant on a banged up running back. The team needed an overhaul and it’s got it, starting with new HC Luke Fickell. Will we see improvement instantly?
As mentioned, Wisconsin relied on talented running back Braelon Allen who was banged up. Allen played through the pain and still managed seven 100 yard rushing games. He is the focal point of the offense, but they will need to improve on pushing the ball down field. In comes SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai, who did just that for SMU in his last two seasons. Alongside new offensive coordinator Phil Longo, expect the weight to be taken off Braelon Allen. Leading receiver from 2022 Chimere Dike is joined by transfers C.J Williams and Will Pauling, all 3 should see a healthy target share. The offensive line returns a number of starters including Jack Nelson and Riley Mahlman at tackles.
Last season’s Interim head coach Jim Leonhard is gone, which also leaves open the defensive coordinator position. Fickell brings with him from Cincinatti Mike Tressel, who has some returning talent at his disposal. Isaiah Mullens was missed in the middle of the season due to his injury. Linebacker duo Maema Njongmeta and CJ Goetz could be key players. The secondary lost a handful of players, but safety transfer Jason Maitre was a big get for the Badgers. However, behind the starters at corner, the drop off in experience is drastic.
Verdict: 8-4 (6-3): Luke Fickell is a great hire for Wisconsin and has brought in some good coordinators. If they can take the load off running back Allen with the passing game, the offense should be fun and generally better this season. They can compete for the West title, but it could still be a year too soon with so much change.
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers
2022: 4-8 (3-6)
If games finished after the 3rd quarter, then Scott Frost may still be the Nebraska HC. Unfortunately, after the painful 45-42 loss to Georgia Southern, Frost was fired. Mickey Joseph took the interim role and didn’t fare that much better, but did manage a surprise win at Iowa in the final game. The team has some talented players, but the pieces were never put together. The powers at Nebraska believe Matt Rhule is the man to make the pieces fit, signing an 8 year contract. Can he help move the sleeping giant forward to greatness?
Matt Rhule has started to create a fun looking offense on paper with new OC Marcus Satterfield. It starts with players who remain with the team. Running backs Anthony Grant and Gabe Ervin Jr will spearhead the running game, alongside dual threat QB transfer Jeff Sims. The offensive line returns experienced starters with versatility. Tight end Thomas Fidone II is a talent and will hope to put his injury behind him that saw him play in just one game in 2022. Leading receiver Trey Palmer has gone, but Marcus Washington is a ready replacement. Also, don’t be surprised to see talented freshman Malachi Coleman through this season.
The defense returns plenty of starters, especially in the secondary. Quinton Newsome and Isaac Gifford are the leaders in the backfield. Keeping linebacker duo Luke Reimer and Nick Henrich will be key for the Cornhuskers defense. Reimer led the team in tackles last season, with Henrich leading in 2021. Injury derailed his 2022 season. The defensive line is inexperienced, but the coaching staff are excited about true freshman defensive end Princewill Umanmielen. Nebraska will need to improve in pressuring the opposition QBs from 2022.
Verdict: 8-4 (3-3): Matt Rhule has a very good college resume as head coach. Signing an 8 year contract shows he will be given a longer leash to improve this team. Getting back to a bowl game would be a start. Well, it should be the minimum requirement in 2023. A favorable schedule, avoiding Ohio State and Penn State, expect Rhule to get Nebraska fans quietly excited for the future.
5. Illinois Fighting Illini
2022: 8-5 (5-4)
A lot of media were made to eat humble pie when it came to Illinois in 2022. A first winning season since 2011 and only their second bowl appearance in 8 seasons. The best turnover defense in college football in 2022, the number 1 in scoring defense, while allowing just 12.8 points per game. They were nasty and a big reason why they got to 8 regular season wins. Changes are plenty this season, so can Illinois keep their head above the .500 win total again in 2023?
Another new quarterback takes the reins for the Fighting Illini. Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer comes in with very little experience on the field. What is positive news for the team and Altmyer is that all 4 starting receivers return, led by team leader in receiving yards and touchdowns Isaiah Williams. That being said, they have lost 1,643 yard rushing yard running back Chase Brown, who was a game winner along with the defense last season. Can Reggie Love III and Josh McCray combine to replace those yards?
On the defensive side of the ball, they also have holes to fill. Four of the DBs, including Sydney Brown and Devon Witherspoon have departed, taken with them 17 interceptions from last season. A problem for new defensive coordinator Aaron Henry who was promoted from within the team after Ryan Walters moved on. Juco transfer Kaleb Patterson and FIU transfer Demetrius Hill will look to compete in the secondary alongside stand out player Matthew Bailey. Watch out for top linebacker Gabe Jacas and defensive tackles Jer’Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph Jr, who will cause havoc up front.
Verdict: 6-6 (3-6): There are a lot of changes on the Illinois roster, losing playmakers on both sides of the ball, especially that impressive defense that ranked number 1 in numerous fields. Achieving what they did last season should not be expected. However, they still should have enough quality to make it back to back consecutive bowl games.
6. Purdue Boilermakers
2022: 8-6 (6-3)
A hard fought effort through the 2022 season for Purdue was rewarded with a Big Ten Championship game. The first time the team had made it to said game. Though the fairytale ending was shut down by Michigan, the Boilermakers should feel proud of their accomplishments. The blow-out bowl loss to LSU can be quietly swept under the carpet and put down to a draining season. They were involved in 7 one score games across the season, winning 5 of them. Remember the good times Purdue fans, as 2023 could be a bumpy ride.
A new offensive coordinator in Graham Harrell, who had success at West Virginia last season. Veteran QB Aidan O’Connell has left. However, they grabbed a guy from Texas with potential. Hudson Card stepped in at Texas when injuries hit and performed well. Some of the receivers who played small roles last season will need to thrust themselves into major roles, with leading 1,000 yard receiver Charlie Jones departed. They do have former walk-on RB Devin Mockbee returning. He was a big surprise for the team and will hope to emulate that in 2023.
6 year HC Jeff Brohm headed to the ACC, with first time head coach Ryan Walters taking charge. A defensive mind who got the Illinois D playing at top tier levels last season. Reports coming from camp are it will be a scheme change for Purdue, going to a 3-4 defensive front. A new look defense led by a star with a new name. Nic Scourdon, previously Nic Caraway is a talented linebacker who will bring the boom from the outside. The safety positions have starting returners, while Walters will need to find a replacement for departed corner Cory Trice. Purdue also brought in two defensive lineman from SEC schools. Malik Langham and Jeffrey M’Ba should contribute straight away.
Verdict: 5-7 (2-7): A new HC with a different defensive scheme makes the season more difficult. They have turnover on the roster and a schedule that isn’t the kindest. That being said, I think Ryan Walters will have Purdue playing hard like teams previously. It still might not be the record they want, but I guarantee they won’t be a push over either.
7. Northwestern Wildcats
2022: 1-11 (1-8)
If only Northwestern could have played in Dublin all 12 weeks. A 31-28 win over Nebraska in Ireland was followed by 11 straight losses. Some were close, but losses to Miami (OH) and especially Southern Illinois were inexcusable. They did only allow explosive offenses like Ohio State and Penn State to score 21 points or less in losses. Just a whole bunch of head scratching. Even more so, the off field problems in the off-season led to long term HC Pat Fitzgerald being bfired due to hazing allegations. Anyway, the Big Ten West champions of 2020, now find themselves in an almighty huge hole.
Mike Bajakian continues as the OC, which may be a surprise to some after a poor showing last season. The passing game was messy, but a fresh look with two QBs fighting for the starters job. Brendan Sullivan looked like he had something about him in certain moments at the back end of last season. However, Cincinnati transfer Ben Bryant has experience that could see him take the job. The receiver room is in need of players to outperform their previous efforts for the offense to help win games. Top RB Evan Hull carried the offense for the most part, as a runner and as a pass catcher. Cam Porter is talented, while also having some younger guys with potential behind him. The offensive line has experience despite losing a first round draft pick in Peter Skoronski.
Interim HC David Braun will still look after the defense as planned when appointed in January. He has some experienced heads across the team return, which could be a blessing. The secondary brings back the most experience. Safeties Coco Azema and Devin Turner return, alongside nickel Rod Heard II. The defensive line will need to create a lot more pass rush than last season, more so with departed Adetomiwa Adebowale. Linebacker Bryce Gallagher is going into his 4th season looking to add to his 273 tackles for the Wildcats.
Verdict: 2-10 (0-9): With so much off field drama and a string of players transferring out, it’s going to take a lot of work for Braun to repair the cracks that have surfaced. On top of that, he will need to get a mediocre roster overachieving. If they can better last season’s record it will be a small achievement.
EAST
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2022: 11-2 (8-1)
Despite 11 straight wins in the regular season, Ohio State came unstuck in the decider for the West, losing to Michigan. The second straight year they have lost to their rivals, with the Buckeyes being overpowered in the second half. Despite missing out on the Big Ten Championship game, they did get voted into the College Playoffs as the number 4 ranked team. They were edged out by eventual Champions Georgia, having the lead until conceding a TD with 54 seconds left. Still, close to success isn’t good enough for HC Ryan Day. Time to reload and try to reach the top again.
CJ Stroud heads to the NFL, so next QB up. Usually, Ohio State knows who that would be, but this time they have 2 guys pushing for the job. Kyle McCord seems the favourite, but don’t count out Sophomore Devin Brown who is hot on the heels from reports coming out of camp. Whoever is named starter will have the best of the best catching their catches. Marvin Harrison Jr is undoubtedly the best receiver in college, alongside him Emeka Egbuka has shown he isn’t too shabby. Both are coming off 1,000 yard seasons, this alongside a talented run game. TreVeyon Henderson missed a handful of games with persistent injuries and niggles, but still was a driving force alongside Miyan Williams. The offensive line lost both starting tackles, but look to have ready replacements that will see if they can stand the test of Big Ten Conference play.
The defense was good enough, until they were broken by Michigan and Georgia. A number of players gained valuable experience which should benefit them going into the new season. JT Tuimoloau, Michael Hall Jr and Jack Sawyer will have said experience and look for them to cause havoc in the backfield. Tommy Eichenberg is another guy who likes getting into the backfield and his experience will be key at linebacker marshaling the defensive front. The Buckeyes have lockdown corner potential in Denzel Burke. However, they did dip into the transfer portal to strengthen the secondary. Syracuse transfer Ja’Had Carter and Notre Dame WR turned DB Lorenzo Styles Jr. should add competition to the position group.
Verdict: 12-0 (9-0): Ohio State is a rotating door of talent. Top players leave and high recruits come in, with every season expectations the same. With no Big Ten Championship win in 2 seasons after 4 in a row, it’s starting to hurt seeing their rivals as winners of the East. Experience and talent on the defense could see them get back to the top in the Big Ten.
2. Michigan Wolverines
2022: 13-1 (9-0)
Michigan made it back-to-back champions of the East and also the Big Ten. Dispatching rivals Ohio State with a second half domination was also another tip of that hat moment. The ground game pulverized anybody who stepped on the field. Despite the first 3 out of conference games where starters were rested early in the game, Michigan had a 100 yard rusher in every game. Ranked number 2 in the AP Poll, Michigan came up short in a thriller against TCU, losing 51-45. Can they continue the bullying of the Buckeyes in 2023?
The ground game that was the focal point of the offense returns, including QB JJ McCarthy. Along with RB pair Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards all combined for 2,760 rushing yards. Getting Corum back is a big boost. He had 1,463 yards himself and missed both the championship game and Fiesta Bowl after picking up an injury early in the Ohio State game. Despite leaning on the run, Michigan still have a pair of receivers in Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson that made big plays in 2022. TE Luke Schoonmaker is now with the Dallas Cowboys, which leaves a hole that should be filled by Colston Loveland. The Wolverines raided the Pac-12 for offensive line help. Drake Nugent and Myles Hinton from Stanford and LaDarious Henderson from Arizona State. Zak Zinter returns as one of the best guards in college.
The defense was one of the best in the country in 2022, but did ship 51 points to TCU in the College Football Semi-Final. The defensive line looks to continue its regular season dominance from 2022, despite leader in sacks Mike Morris now in the NFL. The line is full of 4+ year guys, with Braiden McGregor looking to replace Morris at DE. The secondary has Will Johnson who was a true freshman starter last season, with WR now CB Amorion Walker potentialy set to start opposite him. The linebacker group is a strength and got stronger by adding Ernest Hausmann from Nebraska.
Verdict: 11-1 (8-1): Despite the shaky start to the Jim Harbaugh era, the faith has been restored with now Michigan looking like a college football giant again. They just need to find that little bit more to make it to a playoff final and maybe a natty. Ohio State will likely be the only reason for them not making it back to a 3rd Big Ten Championship. Can Harbaugh push them to greatness in 2023?
3. Penn State Nittany Lions
2022: 11-2 (7-2)
Penn State was near perfect in all games not featuring Michigan and Ohio State last season. Finishing 3rd again in the East but with an end of season AP rank of 7 is frustrating, but also something to be proud of. A Rose Bowl win over Utah was nice. However, HC James Franklin has had a taste of Big Ten Championship play and the flavour is wearing thin. After 6 seasons without a East title, can the Nittany Lions finally reel in the big 2?
Penn State also boasts a pair of talented running backs in Nicholas Singleton and Kytron Allen. The two combined for over 300 carries and 1,928 rushing yards, with just the 22 touchdowns on the ground. The impressive part being they were both true freshmen. Another true freshman from last season was 5 star QB Drew Allar, who will take over from Sean Clifford, now in the NFL. Allar had a small sample size last season and looked to have the qualities, though still very raw. Another key piece to the offense was left tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu who decided to extend his college career for one more year. Music to the ears from Franklin and the offense.
The first season under Manny Diaz was excellent for the defense. Lots of the playmakers are back so don’t expect anything less than full throttle D in 2023. Abdul Carter showed the world his name will be remembered, with an outstanding true freshman season, leading the team with 6.5 sacks. The OLB has talent around him in Chop Robinson and Curtis Jacobs. The secondary is also stacked with NFL talent. Kalen King and Johnny Dixon are one of the finest CB pairings in college.
Verdict: 10-2 (7-2): Everything should run fine for Penn State outside the QB and receivers, which is a strong unknown. The defense will stop most teams from scoring too many points. The question is, can they get past Michigan and Ohio State? They have the capabilities on the team, but is it mental? This feels like the season they could do it if it all clicks.
4. Maryland Terrapins
2022: 8-5 (4-5)
Mike Locksley has improved Maryland’s record in all 4 seasons he has been the HC, including the 2022 8-5 record. They beat the teams they should be beating, but couldn’t get past the ones they were less favored in.
They failed to break the AP top 25, but knocked off 23 ranked NC State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.Stuck between a rock and a hard place, do Maryland have the ability to improve again or do they settle for what they are?
QB Taulia Tagovailoa managed to sneak past 3,000 passing yards for the second straight season. Younger brother of Tua, Tailia chose to stay with the Terrapins despite some lucrative offers from other schools. This was a blessing as most of the offense will go through significant changes. Leading rusher Roman Hemby returns, but the receiver corp gets nearly a full makeover. Jeshaun Jones is joined by transfers Kaden Prather and Tyrese Chambers, both guys coming off productive seasons with their previous teams. The offensive line is a concern for Locksley, with Delmar Glaze the only returning starter.
Luckily the offense was free scoring in most games as the Terps defense gave up 25.7 points per game. Defensive coordinator Brian C.Williams has a lot of change to deal with, for good or bad we will see. Jordan Phillips was a key get in the transfer portal from Tennessee. He will start at NT alongside Tommy Akingbesote and potentially Quashon Fuller. The secondary struggled last season. However, they do bring back Tarheeb Still who was the stand out DB last season. Maryland hit the transfer portal again, bringing in Ja’Quan Sheppard to likely play on the outside with Corey Coley Jr.
Verdict: 7-5 (4-5): In a conference where your side boasts OSU, Michigan and Penn State, it’s always going to be difficult. HC Mike Locksley does what he can to good effect. The amount of change on the roster is a concern. However, Maryland has the ability to make nestle in just behind the top 3 with a winning record again.
5. Michigan State Spartans
2022: 5-7 (3-6)
After the highs of the 2021 season, nobody expected the drop off to be quite as bad last season. The Spartans only managed 3 conference wins, with the losses not being that close outside of the Indiana game. Coach Mel Tucker had a leaky defense and a run game that couldn’t get going after the loss of Kenneth Walker. More turnover on the roster this season means Tucker will have his work cut out to get them even close to “being back”.
The offense has lost key parts since spring ball, which didn’t come at ideal times for Mel Tucker. Payton Thorne left for Auburn after 4 seasons with the Spartans. Noah Kim finally gets his shot and has shown he may be a ready replacement in the small sample size we have seen. He will not have the top 2 receivers from 2022 in Keon Coleman and Jayden Reed. Tre Mosley and Montorie Foster Jr. could be the guys to step up. It also wouldn’t be right if I didn’t mention Antonio Gates Jr. (no guesses who his father is), who should have a bigger role this season. It could be tight end Maliq Carr who could be the leading receiver in 2023. The running back room has a couple of transfers who could help out leading rusher from last season Jalen Berger. The offensive line crumbled last season but the experience should make them at least a tad better.
The defense was a bigger mess than in 2021, only this time the offense couldn’t dig them out of trouble. DC Scottie Hazelton’s seat must be getting hot and being ranked outside the 100 again won’t sit well. Khris Bogle will team up with Texas A&M transfer Tunmise Adeleye from the ends of the defensive line. Linebacker Jacoby Windman was the leader in sacks and will have Cal Haladay alongside him. The secondary looks inexperienced but could be a surprise. Malik Spencer, Jaden Mangham and Dillon Tatum could help exceed expectations for the Spartans.
Verdict: 4-8 (2-7): Michigan State has a lot of inexperienced players across the board. If the majority of them feel the moment is too big for them this year, it could be a long season ahead. Even with a losing record, if the team plays well in games, it could set them up well for a bigger season next year. Either way, it won’t be terrible or outstanding this season.
6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2022: 4-8 (1-8)
Three years under HC Greg Schiano, and it all feels very similar by the end of each one. Schiano has tried to rejuvenate the Scarlet Knights in his second stint, unfortunately it’s a lot harder than back then. Aside from the Nebraska and Michigan State losses, the rest were never close. They had 3 different QBs start across the season and averaged just 3.6 yards per rush attempt from 431 carries. With the teams they come up against in the East, nobody expects too much, just maybe a little more than previous.
After 2 QBs before, the season ended with Gavin Wimsatt, who is likely the starter heading into 2023. Wimsatt wasn’t great in those games, but he has a new OC that could help improve on that. Kirk Ciarrocca has been at Rutgers before and has a more simplified offense. At wide receiver they will need to find guys to step up. Chris Long is the most productive receiver to return with only 15 catches for 200 yards. Transfer Naseim Brantley had over 900 yards for Western Illinois in the FCS and will be one of the main targets. The offensive line lost a few bodies which will be replaced from within. The RBs are also some of the same guys who will need to improve on last season’s efforts.
The defense returns a number of key contributors from last season. Two players that will feel like fresh blood are Mohamed Toure and Moses Walker. Both linebackers had season ending injuries with Toure being a big miss. Rutgers struggled to pressure the opposing QBs, but did return Wesley Bailey who led the team with 3.5 sacks. At the back end, a couple of transfers should help the team. Eric Rogers and Michael Dixon should compete for starters jobs. Robert Longerbeam will be key again at cornerback.
Verdict: 5-7 (2-7): It will be difficult again for Greh Schiano to get to 6 wins. The 3 out of conference games should be wins, with Indiana and Northwestern potentially wins also. They do get Michigan State and Maryland at home. If they can churn out one of those into a win, that could tip them to 6 wins and a bowl game. For all of that to fall right, they will need the QB play to be better and a solid running game. The defense should hold their own.
7. Indiana Hoosiers
2022: 3-7 (1-7)
HC Tom Allen goes into his 7th full season looking to light the fire again. It started well, but the last two seasons have been anything but. They were the worst team in the Big Ten in a handful of categories, including pass defense and yards per completion. They managed a OT win over Michigan State and showed a little fight in a few other games they lost. Allen has to deal with a lot of change. However, they could have a better team than last season if it clicks.
Indiana lost a bit on offense, but did manage to get high quality potential in Tennessee QB transfer Tayven Jackson. Jackson has high end arm talent and will be throwing to a potentially good receiver room. Cam Camper led in receiving yards despite his season ending early due to injury. DeQuece Carter was a nice pickup. The receiver had over 1,000 receiving yards in the FCS last season. The offensive line will need to drastically improve, but return a handful of starters and a new offensive line coach in Wisconsin’s Bob Bostad.
The Hoosiers had to go heavy in the transfer portal on defense. Andre Carter, Phillip Blidi and Trey Laing are welcome transfers to the defensive line. Blidi especially, having experience with a power 5 team in Texas Tech. The linebacker position also gets a new face in Stanford transfer Jacob Mangum-Farrar, while both outside corner positions could be manned also by transfers in Jamier Johnson and Nic Toomer. Indiana do have returners in safety Josh Sanguinetti and linebacker Aaron Casey.
Verdict: 3-9 (1-8): With so many transfers out, then in, it’s not going to be easy to get everything in sync early in the season. Getting Ohio State week 1 might not be the best thing under those circumstances. The second half of the season of the schedule is more favourable than the first. If coach Allen can get it clicking by week 7, then Indiana has a chance of not finishing rock bottom in the Big Ten East.
JORDAN MERRITT
College Football Analyst
Ever since he entered Husky Stadium in 2017, Jordan has been a huge fan of College Football. Over the past 3 years he has covered the PAC-12 at 5 Yard College, While recently becoming a contributor at FanSided for The Husky Haul. Follow Jordan @jordm87!