Big 10 Football Preview
By Mike Wynn Sports
With football season just around the corner its time to start previewing some of the power conferences in college football and I thought I’d start with the Big Ten Conference. Ohio St looks to have the edge on the rest of conference again this season but they’ll have a coouple of teams nipping at their heels. So here are my Big Ten rankings for 2010 season and why.
When you talk about Big Ten football you have start with the Ohio St Buckeyes. Ohio St figures to be the top dog in the conference again this season with the return of 9 starters on the offensive side of the ball including their very athletic QB Terrelle Pryor. Defensively the Buckeyes return just 6 starters but they’ll be solid led by star Cameron Heyward on the defensive line and this group will once again be among the best stop units in the conference. Buckeyes will have tough road trips to Wisconsin and Iowa to contend with this season, but the pre conference schedule should get Ohio St off to a 4-0 start with all 4 games being played in Columbus. Ohio St will once again expect and should contend for Big Ten title and National Championship.
Iowa Hawkeyes look like their poised to give Ohio St a run for their money this season. Iowa just may have the best defense in the Big Ten this season led by a defensive line that returns all 4 starters including stud Adrain Clayborn. Look for Iowa’s defense to put tons of pressure on opposing QB’s and force numerous turnovers with their ball hawking secondary led by safety Tyler Sash. Hawkeyes have 6 starters back on offense including QB Ricky Stanzi and he will have help in the backfield with 3 quality running backs. Iowa does have to replace 3 starters on the offensive line but head coach Kirk Ferentz always seems to be able to do so and the Iowa schedule is very favorable getting Ohio St, Wisconsin, and Penn St at home. Expectations will be high in Iowa City and we’ll have to see if the Hawkeyes can live up to them.
As long as the Wisconsin Badgers can run the ball they’ll contend and they should be able to run the ball this season. Badgers have all 5 starters back on the offensive line which should be the best in the Big Ten this season and they’ll be opening holes for John Clay who’s coming off a 1500 yard season in 2009. Last year’s top scoring team figures to be potent again this season with Clay and the return of QB Scott Tolzien but it’s the defense that will have to be better this season. Badger defense allowed 28 or more points in 6 games last season and must be better if Bucky is going to contend.
Michigan St is going to be a team to be reckoned with this season. Last year the Spartans finished 6-7 but 4 of those losses were by a combined 12 points. Michigan St returns Kirk Cousins at QB and he has weapons in RB Larry Capers and wide outs Cunningham and Dell. Spartans should be OK on the offensive side of the ball and word is they will be better defensively this season with a solid front 7. The schedule makers did give Sparty a break not facing Ohio St this season but tough road tests at Iowa, Penn St, and instate rival Michigan will not be easy. Keep an eye on Michigan St as they could make some noise this season.
It could be a less than happy season in Happy Valley for the Penn St faithful this season as the Nittany Lions have to deal with the departure of QB Daryll Clark. Kevin Newsome looks to be the man under center for Joe Pa this season and he has a terrific RB in Evan Royster to hand the ball to, but the Nittany Lions will have to do a much better job of run blocking this season for the offense to be effective. Defensively Penn St has holes to fill at linebacker but fortunately for them they will have a tremendous and deep defensive line to anchor what should be a solid defense again. Don’t usually worry much about special teams but it was a sore spot for Penn St last season and will have to be better if Penn St wants to contend. Tough road trips to Ohio St and Iowa will probably keep Penn St from a Big Ten title but Paterno’s teams are always competitive and not to be underestimated.
There’s probably nobody under the microscope more in the Big Ten this season than Rich Rodriguez at Michigan. Wolverine fans simply aren’t accustomed to finishing last in the conference and the 8-16 record over the last 2 seasons has Rodriguez on a short leash. Fortunately for Rodriguez he has 15 starters returning from last year’s squad, but unfortunately he has a QB controversy before the season even begins. Tate Forcier had magical moments last season but was inconsistent. Denard Robinson could be a Pat White type QB for Rodriguez but has to be more efficient in the passing game, and you throw in super recruit Devin Gardner and you have a mess that will cause controversy and inconsistency on offense. Michigan should be improved with 4 starters back on the offensive line and they have talent at the skill positions. Defensively Michigan is switching to a 3-3-5 alignment this season and will hope to improve on last year’s unit that gave up 27.5 points per game. A tough schedule ending in Columbus will not make things easy for Rodriguez this season and he’ll have to make a bowl or beat Ohio St to keep his job in 2011.
Northwestern Wildcats will look to be competitive once again this season. Last year the Wildcats relied heavily on the passing attack due to injuries in the running game but that should change in 2010. Northwestern will have a solid offensive line and a number of quick backs to run the ball and QB Dan Persa has more mobility than last year’s QB Kafka. Defensively look for the Northwestern front 7 to be decent against the run and quick to the ball led by junior Kevin Watt. Northwestern does miss Ohio St this season in conference play and should get enough wins to go bowling again this season.
Purdue Boilermakers ended the 2009 Big Ten campaign 4-4 with wins over Ohio St and Michigan and they’ll be looking to carry over some of that momentum in 2010. Miami-Fla transfer Marve should be the signal caller in West Lafayette this season and he’ll be joined in the backfield by last year’s leading rusher Ralph Bolden and highly touted high school prospect Al-Terek McBurse. 1,100 yard receiver Keith Smith is back for his senior season, but Purdue will have to replace 3 starters on the offensive line this season. Offense should be OK but it’s the defense that’ll have to improve if Purdue’s wants to be serious contenders. Purdue defense allowed 29 points per game last year and a whopping 191 yards per game on the ground and that’s not going to get it done in a rushing league like the Big Ten.
If Rich Rodriguez isn’t the coach most in danger of losing his job this season than its Ron Zook at Illinois. After taking Illinois to the Rose Bowl in 2007 the floor has dropped out on the Illini program with a 5-6 2008 and a 3-9 2009. With Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn gone 2010 figures to be a rebuilding season and that’s not what the Illini faithful are wanting right now. Redshirt freshmen Nathan Scheelhaase looks to be that starter this season and he has some talented RB’s to work with, but they’ll all be working behind a young offensive line that lost start Jon Asamoah. Defense does return 8 starters but last year’s unit was last in the Big Ten in tackles for a loss and sacks, and the secondary was picked apart. It could be a long year for Illinois fans this season.
If you like high scoring games keep your eyes on the Indiana Hoosiers this season. Hoosiers actually have one of the better receiving corps in the Big Ten this season with Doss, Belcher and Turner and QB Ben Chappell can deliver the rock. Without much of a running game expect Indiana to air it out with the passing game and they should put plenty of points on the board. The problem for Indiana is the lack of a defensive talent and depth. Only 4 starters back on the defensive side of the ball and this undersized unit will no doubt look bad at times. Indiana will surprise a couple of teams this season but won’t be a factor in the Big Ten title chase.
It could be a long season for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Yes Minnesota does have senior QB Adam Weber back under center but they lose their best player in wide out Eric Decker and he works behind an offensive line that gave up 41 sacks last year which ranked 113th in the nation last year. Minnesota has a couple of experienced RB’s back but the Gophers were last in the Big Ten in Rushing last year. Defensively it could be a nightmare for Minnesota with only 2 returning starters and 1 of those Kim Royston broke his leg in April practices. Minnesota schedule is also very rough and 2010 sets up as a long one for Minnesota fans.