It's time to wake up from your spring football comas with some early summer college preview action. Although it is still early in the process, here is a snapshot of each Big Ten team with their schedule, returning starters, and a breakdown of their offensive and defensive outlook. As of now, Ohio State is head and shoulders above everyone else. Teams like Wisconsin and Penn State have talent and their share of question marks.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Record: 12-0 (8-0)
Head Coach: Urban Meyer
Returning Starters: 9 Offense, 4 Defense
Schedule
vs. Buffalo (Aug. 31st)
vs. San Diego St (Sept. 7th)
@ California (Sept. 14th)
vs. Flordia A&M (Sept. 21st)
vs. Wisconsin (Sept. 28th)
@ Northwestern (Oct. 5th)
vs. Iowa (HC, Oct. 19th)
vs. Penn St (Oct. 26th)
@ Purdue (Nov. 2nd)
@ Illinois (Nov. 16th)
vs. Indiana (Nov. 23rd)
@ Michigan (Nov. 30th)
Offensive Preview
Urban Meyer wasted little time putting all his eggs in the Braxton Miller basket and was rewardeded with one of the nation’s best players. There might not have been a better dual-threat quarterback in the country than Miller, who lead the Big Ten in rushing with over 1,200 yards on the ground while tossing up over 2,000 yards in the air. Combined with 13 touchdowns with his feet and another 15 with his arm Miller is a heavy favorite to not only be a Heisman Finalist but help lead his team to another undefeated season, and he’s got great talent around him to help him achieve both of those goals.
Ohio St. has one of the most cohesive offensive lines in the conference, led by tackle Jack Mewhort and guard Andrew Norwell. They will help pave the way for returning senior running back Carlos Hyde. Hyde, who was OPOW last year in Week 3 vs. Nebraska (140 yards and four touchdowns) has bulked up to 242lbs this offseason to fit his power running style.
Lastly Ohio State’s receivers the past couple years have lacked explosiveness and big play ability, however, starters Devin Smith and Corey Brown are building off good seasons last year where they both doubled their statistics from the year prior and hope to continue to build their rapport with Miller in what should be another high scoring Buckeye season.
Defensive Preview
The Buckeyes only have four returning defensive starters this year, losing big names like Jonathan Hankins to the NFL Draft. However, their four best statistic starters are all returning. Leading the way is weak-side linebacker Ryan Shazier (who led the team with 115 tackles and five sacks) and Cornerback Bradley Roby (who led the Big 10 with 19 pass deflections and who might be the fastest guy on the team). Roby is already being mocked in the top 15 in next year’s draft, so expect him to shine in his final season.
Behind him are Safeties Christian Bryant and CJ Barnett who both played key roles in Ohio State’s defense and make one of the better safety tandems in the conference.
Special Teams Preview
Urban Meyer puts an emphasis on his punt block team which he’s nicknamed “The Freakshow” and plays many of his starters but only ranked 56 in the special teams category nationally. Punt returner Corey Brown was good but not great last year, averaging 12.3 yards per return with two touchdowns. Kicker Drew Basil was 8-11 with a long of 52 yards and has the faith and confidence of his head coach in pressure situations.
Overview
Had it not been for a bowl ban handed down from the NCAA last year, Ohio State would have been playing in the National Championship game. They dominated their schedule going 12-0 behind star newcomer quarterback Braxton Miller. Miller is a threat to beat you with his arm and feet on any play and the junior should only get better under Urban Meyer’s offense with another year under his belt.
When it’s all said and done, he should be the favorite to hold up the Heisman trophy at the end of the season. The defense lost some key starters but should be able to maintain just enough for the offense to win their games with leading tackler linebacker Ryan Shazier and stud Cornerback Bradley Roby.
Top Newcomer
Cornerback Eli Apple is entering his first season possessing sharp instincts, fluid hips, and a knack for the ball. While other freshman will play some, expect to see and hear Apples names everyday as he’s ready to play from Day 1 and learn behind one of the nation’s best; Bradley Roby.
Key Games
1. Northwestern: This is an opportunity for Northwestern to catch the Buckeyes off guard in front of their home crowd in what could be regarded as a “landmine” game for Ohio State. If they don’t come prepared and fresh this could be the game that sours the buckeyes chances for a national title.
2. Michigan: Ohio State’s season will be ending with fireworks as they travel to Ann Arbor Michigan to play their biggest rival. Hoping at that point they're still undefeated, the Buckeyes will have to seal the deal against a hungry Wolverine team that will be ready to finish their season strong by eliminating the Buckeyes from any hope of playing for the championship.
Projected Record: 12-0, BCS Bowl Eligible
Wisconsin Badgers
Last Years Record: 8-6 (4-4)
Head Coach: Gary Anderson
Returning Starters: 8 Offense, 6 Defense
Schedule
vs. Massachusetts (Aug. 31st)
vs. Tennessee Tech (Sept. 7th)
@ Arizona St (Sept. 14th)
vs. Purdue (Sept. 21st)
@ Ohio St (Sept. 28th)
vs. Northwestern (HC, Oct. 12th)
@ Illinois (Oct. 19th)
@ Iowa (Nov. 2nd)
vs. BYU (Nov. 9th)
vs. Indiana (Nov. 16th)
@ Minnesota (Nov. 23rd)
vs. Penn St (Nov. 30th)
Offensive Preview
The biggest question head coach Gary Anderson will need to answer this fall is who is going to be under center for the Badgers and can that quarterback play all 12 games for them while being able to take control of the offense. Wisconsin was one of nine schools that had at least 3 different starting quarterbacks throughout the season in 2012.
Sophomore Joel Stave seems to be the favorite over senior Curt Phillips with senior Danny O Brien as the wild card. The offense's points per game jumped from just 16.3 under Obrien to 34.2 under Stave until he was injured. However, Phillips has the most run potential and would give Wisconsin more flexibility in their offensive game plan. Whoever is throwing the ball will have good targets. Wide Receiver Jared Abbrederis is the clear cut No. 1 receiver for the Badgers. He led the team with 837 yards which was more than double of the teams No. 2 receiver. He also put up three straight 100-yard games last year; the first Badger to do that since Lee Evans.
Tight end Jacob Pedersen is one of the better all-around players for his position in the conference. He is a solid blocker in the run game with good hands that is a great target in the red zone. Throw in sophomore tail back Melvin Gordon who averaged 10.0 yards per catch which led the team and who coaches are saying is the best running back on the roster. (Even over James White who scored 12 times.)
Defensive Preview
With linebacker Chris Borland back for his senior year, the defense should be in good shape. Borland is the quarterback of the defense making sure everyone is lined up in the right position before the snap. Borland posted 104 tackles last year but more impressive was how much he was able to penetrate in the backfield. He has 4.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss causing havoc for opposing offenses. He gets help from senior Beau Allen: the team’s nose tackle who is a block eater and helps open lanes for his roaming linebackers.
The Badgers lost three of their four starters in the secondary, so expect them to take a step backwards this year and be more inconsistent than we're used to seeing. However, the lone returning safety Dezmond Southward was the secondary's leading tackler so he should be able to help soften the blow and smooth the transition for the newcomers.
Special Teams Preview
Kyle French should take over the kicking duties for another year after beating out Jack Russell last year. French was 10-16 with a long of 46 yards. As far as the return game, receiver Kenzel Doe outshined Abbrederis from a statistical standpoint. He averaged over 12 yards per punt return with a touchdown compared to Abbrederis’s putrid 6.5 yards per return. All in all almost all the special team’s starters are returning so I expect them to take another step forward this year.
Overview
Wisconsin played much better than their 8-6 record would indicate. The Badgers had four tough losses by single digit points and still went on to play in the Rose Bowl in which they lost to Stanford. With 14 returning starters Wisconsin is in a good position to have a shot at the Big Ten Title. Their schedule is soft as they manage to avoid Nebraska, Michigan, and Michigan State and get Penn State at home.
Their season will most likely come down to their September 28th showdown with Ohio State in Columbus. Still with their solid defense and playmakers on offense like Jared Abbrederis and Jacob Pedersen, the Badgers should get a couple of those nail biters back that went the wrong way for them last year.
Top Newcomer
Defensive end Alec James is a hometown boy and Wisconsin’s best recruit. He has a non-stop motor and excels at getting to the quarterback. Coaches may move him to linebacker to take advantage of his athletic ability but no matter where he plays you should hear his name a lot this year on which should be a stout defense for the Badgers
Key Games
1. Ohio State: At the end of the season this is going to be the game Badgers' fans look back on and say was the critical turning point for the Badgers for good or bad. Beat the Buckeyes in Columbus and not only is the Big Ten Conference title a good chance but playing in a major bowl game will be in their grasps as well. However, a loss to them sends them on the bus home with their head down and most likely crushes their hopes for the conference title and hopefully doesn’t send their confidence spiraling downwards for the rest of the season being such an early game in the year on their schedule (September 28th).
Projected Record: 10-2, Bowl Eligible
Penn State Nittany Lions
Last Years Record: 8-4 (6-2)
Head Coach: Bill O’Brien
Returning Starters: 8 Offense, 6 Defense
Schedule
@ Syracuse (Aug. 31st)
vs. Eastern Michigan (Sept. 7th)
vs. UCF (Sept. 14th)
vs. Kent State (Sept. 21st)
@ Indiana (Oct. 5th)
vs. Michigan (HC, Oct. 12th)
@ Ohio State (Oct. 26th)
vs. Illinois (Nov. 2nd)
@ Minnesota (Nov. 9th)
vs. Purdue (Nov. 16th)
vs. Nebraska (Nov. 23rd)
@ Wisconsin (Nov. 30th)
Offensive Preview
After overachieving last year, Bill O’Brien has his work cut out for him to try to duplicate his success again in 2013. He will have to do this with freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Hackenberg will have weapons around him though that should help alleviate some pressure off his shoulders.
Standout wide receiver Allen Robinson who broke out for 1,013 yards and 11 touchdowns should continue to get better and be the Nittnay Lions main weapon on offense.
Zach Zwinak is the Lions' leading rusher who is returning for his junior season. He ran for 1,007 yards and six touchdowns and fits the style of Penn State’s “ground and pound” offense. Ultimately, the offense will only go as far as the freshman quarterback’s arm will let them.
Defensive Preview
“Linebacker U” is bringing in its new crop of talent after losing Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti to the NFL. What helps is the defense behind them is returning all four starters in the secondary and should be able to help the cohesiveness of the defense until their new linebackers gets acclimated with the defense.
Penn State may lack the star power on defense but has great depth in their front seven and is very solid all the way around. With guys like Deion Barnes and DaQuan Jones on the defensive line and Glenn Carson and Mike Hull playing linebacker Penn State should have one of the better defenses again when it comes to yards and points allowed.
Special Teams Preview
Kicker Sam Ficken started the 2012 season out horribly but just like the Nittnay Lions, he overcame a lot of adversity and nailed his last 12 of 13 field goals and is primed to ride that momentum into the upcoming season. Jesse Della Valle is one of the better returners in the conference yardage wise and will look to get into the end zone for the first time this year.
Overview
Bill O’Brien has recruited a good core and has healed what was a school in dire need of a fresh start and a new direction. Fueled by last year’s unexpected success and standout receiver Allen Robinson, Penn State will look to improve off last year’s record and having 14 starters return will help.
Their schedule is bittersweet as they draw both Michigan and Nebraska but are fortunate to play them at home. However, they will play their toughest rivals Ohio State and Wisconsin on the road. The Lions will have to have the “to be the best we have to beat the best” mentality during the season to have a chance week in and week out.
Top Newcomer
Quarterback Christian Hackenberg will compete for the starting job early in the season. None of the new faces on the roster will play a bigger role in the Lions' season than Hackenberg and Bill O’Brien has put all his trust in the freshman from Virginia.
Key Games
1. Ohio State: The Big Ten Conference runs through Columbus and the Lions will get their shot to shock the football world on October 26th
2. Nebraska: The Lions end their season against the Cornhuskers and the Badgers. If they can take care of Nebraska at home they could carry the momentum into their season finale and have a shot to upset Wisconsin the following week.
Projected Record: 7-5 Bowl Eligible
Indiana Hoosiers
Last Years Record: 4-8 (2-6)
Head Coach: Kevin Wilson
Returning Starters: 10 Offense, 9 Defense
Schedule
vs. Indiana St (Aug. 29th)
vs. Navy (Sept. 7th)
vs. Bowling Green (Sept. 14th)
vs. Missouri (Sept. 21st)
vs. Penn St (Oct. 5th)
@ Michigan St (Oct. 12th)
@ Michigan (Oct. 19th)
vs. Minnesota (HC, Nov. 2nd)
vs. Illinois (Nov. 9th)
@ Wisconsin (Nov. 16th)
@ Ohio St (Nov. 23rd)
vs. Purdue (Nov. 30th)
Offensive Preview
Cameron Coffman and Nate Sudfeld will battle each other again for the starting quarterback position. Coffman, the junior, played more last season throwing for more than 2,700 yards but Sudfeld seemed to be the coaches’ choice and played better until a concussion ended his season.
Whoever is chucking the rock has some nice weapons to throw to, starting with Cody Latimer who put up 805 yards and averaged over 15 yards per catch. Tailback Stephen Houston wasn’t explosive but still found the end zone 12 times and with another year of experience along with almost all the offensive line starters returning the offense should continue to gel and get better.
Defensive Preview
The team said goodbye to three senior defensive linemen this year and that hurts. Although their linebacking corps and secondary should continue to progress the guys up front will have new faces and be learning on the go under Coach Wilson. It’s a change for a fresh start however, as the defensive line took a step backwards last year in both yards per rush and sacks.
The secondary gets to keep all their starters which is a huge plus for a unit that has gotten better in each of the last two seasons.
Special Teams Preview
There are nothing but high expectations in this category for the Hoosiers. Senior kicker Moitch Ewald has been Mr. Consistent his whole college career, so no time to think otherwise now. Punter Erich Toth won’t wow you with anything but has another year of experience under his belt and should only get better. The return game will leave you wanting more, but Nick Stoner has big play capability if he can continue to get opportunities.
Overview
The optimistic Hoosier fan will tell you to be excited for the Hoosiers this year. They have 19 returning starters which is phenomenal as everyone should be progressing and getting better. The cohesiveness of the team will continue to grow and if they can find a permanent quarterback who can make plays when needed, this team could finish in the top half of the conference.
The realistic Hoosier fan will tell you that although they have 19 returning starters there’s not many who possess star quality and can dominate or take over a game. Their quarterback position is still a mess and until they figure that out the team will continue to struggle. Hoosiers are a boom or bust team this year so keep a close eye on them. If they can win a couple close games against good opponents they might have the confidence to shock some people, even the realists out there.
Top Newcomer
Defensive tackle Darious Latham is a four star recruit who withdrew his commitment with Wisconsin and decided to go play for Coach Wilson. With the Hoosiers losing a lot of depth of the defensive line Lathtam will have every opportunity to step in day one and make an impact.
Key Games
1. Penn State: The Hoosiers first real test on their schedule is at home. If they can beat the Lions and get some momentum going into a tough road schedule they may be able to make some noise this year.
2. Wisconsin: The Hoosiers could be 6-3 at this point and if they could pull off an upset in Madison they could have a chance for a bowl game later on. It won’t be easy but they will have to pass this road test.
Projected Record: 7-5, Bowl Eligible
Purdue Boilermakers
Last Year’s Record: 6-7 (3-5)
Head Coach: Darrell Hazell
Returning Starters: 5 Offense, 8 Defense
Schedule
@ Cincinnati (Aug. 31st)
vs. Indiana State (Sept. 7th)
vs. Notre Dame (Sept. 14th)
@ Wisconsin (Sept. 21st)
vs. Northern Illinois (Sept. 28th)
vs. Nebraska (Oct. 12th)
@ Michigan State (Oct. 19th)
vs. Ohio State (Nov. 2nd)
vs. Iowa (Nov. 9th)
@ Penn State (Nov. 16th)
vs. Illinois (Nov. 23rd)
@ Indiana (Nov. 30th)
Offensive Preview
Tailback Akeem Hunt is primed for a great season. The small, shifty tailback was explosive in his limited playing time last year with five plays for more than 45 yards in just 55 touches. He also contributes on special teams and a kick returner. The Boilermakers will lean on him a lot this year as they try to find a long term solution at their quarterback position.
Newcomer Danny Etling is in a great position to take the starting spot. He was the team’s top recruit and new head coach Darrell Hazell thinks he can lead his team to a bowl game.
Defensive Preview
Purdue is known for churning out top defensive end talent year in and year out. However, last year they seemed to plateau in that category. Although their best defensive player may be on the defensive line at the tackle position in Bruce Gatson, their pass rush was lacking from what we’re used to seeing. Newcomers Jalanmi Phillipps and Jules Williams both showed flashes in being a consistent pass rush force for Purdue if they can continue to progress.
Their linebacking corps should be in good shape as it returns two starters and cornerback Ricardo Allen is one of the best shut down corners in the conference.
Special Teams Preview
Returners Akeem Hunt and Raheem Mostert are explosive and have big play potential. Hunt took a 100 yard kick-off return to the house against Ohio State last year in his limited role and Mostert averaged 33.5 yards a return back in 2011. They still need to figure out their full time kicking duties with Sam McCartney and Paul Griggs returning. Both only attempted seven field goals but Griggs' long was 10 yards further nailing a 46 yarder during the season.
Overview
Its rookie head coach Darrell Hazell's first year for the Boilermakers and if he wants to turn this program around he needs to get off to a quick start and get his team on his side. He had a good recruiting class come in, lead by Danny Etling.
There will probably be some first year bumps in the road but Hazell has a good core of guys returning to make some noise in the conference. If they can find consistency at their quarterback spot this is a team that could be fun to watch.
Top Newcomer
Quarterback Danny Etling is the top-ranked prospect in the class and Purdue’s quarterback job is wide open as of now. If he can get into practice and show coaches he’s the real deal expect him to be on the field this fall.
Key Game
Notre Dame: This is an early test for Purdue as they get the losing team in last year’s championship game. If they can beat the Irish at home they will have plenty of confidence for their rivals Wisconsin and Penn State later on.
Projected Record: 6-6
Illinois Fighting Illini
Last Year’s Record: 2-10 (0-8)
Head Coach: Tim Beckman
Returning Starters: 8 Offense, 4 Defense
Schedule
August 31st vs. Southern Illinois (Aug. 31st)
September 7th vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 7th)
September 14th vs. Washington (Sept. 14th)
September 28th vs. Miami, Oh (Sept. 28th)
October 5th at Nebraska (Oct. 5th)
October 19th at Wisconsin (Oct. 19th)
October 26th vs. Michigan State (Oct. 26th)
November 2nd at Penn State (Nov. 2nd)
November 9th at Indiana (Nov. 9th)
November 16th vs. Ohio State (Nov. 16th)
November 23rd at Purdue (Nov. 23rd)
November 30th vs. Northwestern (Nov. 30th)
Offensive Preview
Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase needs to find a way to get the offense back on track. After an embarrassing performance last season, the Illinois offense was ranked 122nd in the nation. They need to start by taking a step forward no matter how big the step. Showing general improvement is going to help rally the team back together as they hope to get back to respectability.
Tailback Donovan Young and wide receivers Ryan Lankford and Spencer Harris all have good talent and the ability to make plays, it’s just a matter of getting them the ball consistently and putting them in a position to succeed.
Defensive Preview
Jonathan Brown is the lone bright spot on this team. He was an absolute animal in 2011 as a sophomore, dominating his competition with the range to move sideline to sideline and a knack for making plays in the backfield. He, along with the rest of his team, seemed to take a big step backward last year however. Brown needs to take charge of his defense and be the vocal leader not just for his defense but for his whole team. With only four returning defensive starters Brown will have a lot of new faces to show the ropes.
Special Teams Preview
Both kicker Taylor Zalewski and punter Justin Duvernios are back for another season and should be able to bring some consistency to the special teams unit. Zalewski was 4-7 last year with a long of 54 yards and tacked on 23 touchbacks on 43 kickoffs. The return game was horrendous though. They need to have Josh Ferguson step up in a big way this season to add a spark to the team.
Overview
Things couldn’t have gone any worse for Illinois last year. They only won two games and went zero for eight in the conference. Second year head coach Tim Beckman is in a critical turning point with his team. After last season he probably doesn’t have a lot of faith in the locker room so he needs to get off to a good start early in the season so they have some momentum and confidence as they go.
After one of the worst seasons in a decade for Illinois, the question is if they can steal a road win from Indiana or Purdue if it’s going to be enough to save Beckman’s job for another season.
Top Newcomer
Defensive back Darious Mosely is someone who could see the field early. He’s got speed and talent that along with the other young cornerbacks on the roster could help boost the defense back to respectability.
Key Games
1. Nebraska: This is Illinois' first road game and it doesn’t come until Week 6. If they can get a couple wins early they could be 2-2 and already matching their win total from last year. This would then set up a big game for them to make some noise in the conference early in the year.
2. Michigan State: Although this is going to be a very difficult game for Illinois, it’s important for the fan base to put up a good performance. This is their homecoming game and it’s important to play good football in front of the home crowd who is patiently waiting to see some improvement from their football squad.
Projected Record: 3-9, Not Bowl Eligible