It’s truly astounding how rapidly Big Ten football ‘s reputation has changed. Last September, the league embarrassed itself during non-conference season. Yet by January, the league was able to boast of a dominant New Year’s Day bowl performance, the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, and college football’s most high profile coach.
The Big Ten’s kickoff event was split into two days this year; presumably so that each media circus could have its own day. The media swarm around Urban Meyer the first day was ridiculously large, but the horde of reporters surrounding Jim Harbaugh was even more of an overgrown mosh pit.
Here’s 14 things we know about Big Ten football; one for which team. This is in no particular order. This is not a power ranking, we already did that, here’s the link to the east, and here’s the link to the west.
Click where highlighted for more on each of these story lines.
1. Michigan State
MSU Offensive Tackle Jack Allen said the poker chip sewn on their workout shirts this season (embodying the proverbial chip on the program’s shoulder) features the Spartan head logo and the words “Michigan State Strength and Conditioning.”
The Spartans have won 11 games in three of the past four seasons. While the Buckeyes reside in the Big Ten penthouse, the Spartans are just one floor below. MSU’s only losses last season were at the hands of the two teams who played for the national title.
2. Ohio State
Of course, Big Ten football conversation begins and ends with the Buckeyes. Ohio State took 62 of 64 first place votes in the coaches’ poll with TCU and Alabama each securing one vote apiece. However, the AP pollsters selected the Ohio State Buckeyes as the unanimous #1 with all 61 first-place votes. The AP preseason poll dates back to 1950 and this is the first time it has ever had a unanimous preseason No. 1 team.
3. Penn State
The talent level in Happy Valley now seems fully restored to pre NCAA sanctions years.
“I’m a very open person and I kind of like to put people in uncomfortable positions where I know they’ll be kind of uncomfortable,” said DT Anthony Zettel at Media Day.
Zettel then recalled a story in which he told his Head Coach James Franklin he was getting bigger in the belly. Franklin then became really self-conscious and didn’t eat for a couple days, as Zettel tells it. Good times!
4. Indiana
They’ll score points and be fun to watch, but no one is optimistic about the defense however.
5. Wisconsin
Big fat white guys blocking for speedy tailbacks, the circle of life repeats itself. Hasta luego Melvin Gordon, Rob Havenstein and Kyle Costigan. Buenos Dias Corey Clement, Tyler Marz and Ray Ball.
6. Illinois
As an alum, fan, and member of a family with a very long history of alumni and fandom, I need to say something serious and sobering:
General interest in Illini football, Illini basketball and Illinois athletics has never been this low since I’ve been alive. I’ve spent my childhood and much of my adulthood with a general mindset that every Illini hoops and Illini football game was truly “an event.” That’s evaporated now.
I’ve never seen apathy, from fans and media alike, at such an alarming level.
How long will the school let this degeneration continue before they make some real changes?
7. Michigan
Regime change left something to be desired in recruiting, and it will take time for Harbaugh to get things turned around. Seven wins should be your minimum expectation, but nine is probably the ceiling. By the way, Harbaugh is completely correct about Twitter trolls.
8. Purdue
Seven years ago, Curtis Painter was the last Purdue QB to start back to back season openers. That fact perfectly underscores what’s happened in West Lafayette since it was the “cradle of quarterbacks.” There hasn’t been the level of consistency, continuity and talent at Purdue in the 2010s that we saw under Joe Tiller. Appleby and Blough will not be a Painter or a Kyle Orton or a Drew Brees.
However, not one expects them to be. Substantial improvement, real legitimate progress, is what the Purdue football community wants to see.
9. Northwestern
Have they declared Clayton Thorson the starting QB yet? If they want to keep it stealth for the Stanford game in opening week, it’s understandable. That’s a smart idea too, but again, this is like a geometric proof. If A equals B and B equals C and so forth.
10. Maryland
The next time Coach Randy Edsall says something interesting in a press conference or media availability, it will be the first time. Finding something quotable from him is like trying to find an episode of Inside Amy Schumer without a sex joke.
11. Nebraska
Coach Mike Riley is probably the most positive, warm and friendly human being on the planet. You know how Eminem has feuded with every single person who has a pulse? Riley is the polar opposite.
12. Iowa
Kirk Ferentz’s buyout is approximately $13.3 million, so what’s the demarcation point for inspiring the University of Iowa to spend that mad cheddah? If Iowa goes 5-7 this season, maybe, 4-8 probably, 3-9 or worse, definitely. If he goes 6-6 or better, I think we’ll have to wait a year to revisit this narrative.
13. Minnesota
In the Big Ten West, the Golden Gophers could just as easily finish second as they could fifth; and/or everything in between. They open up against #2 TCU. Hey, thanks for coming!
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/635637817096409088
14. Rutgers
RU has this interesting idea that they’re going to be the Big Apple’s Big Ten team. Good luck with that. The Capital of the World has never been a college football town, so why should that change now?
So there you have it, one thing to watch this season for every Big Ten football team. Agree? Disagree? Comment below!
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN Omaha.
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