Hoosier Huddle’s Big Ten Power Rankings: Preseason

Written by Evan McShane

It’s a late start for Big Ten football, but better late than never. Here at Hoosier Huddle we bring you our weekly conference power rankings. In this preseason edition we’ll take a look at each team’s opening matchup and outlook for the year.

1. Ohio State

The Buckeyes will once again tout the most talented team in the conference. A seamless transition from former head coach Urban Meyer to new coach Ryan Day saw OSU go undefeated last year before losing to Clemson in the college football playoff. The Buckeyes will try to defend their conference title, but first face off against Nebraska. Can OSU sweep the B1G for a second straight year?

2. Penn State

James Franklin and the Nittany Lions are right on the cusp of college football’s upper echelon, with three 11-win seasons in the past four years. Penn State hopes to steal the Big Ten title from the Buckeyes and they think they have the talent to do it. Quarterback Sean Clifford and an elite defense will be tasked with carrying this team in 2020. The Lions were dealt some bad news as it seems like starting running back Journey Brown could be lost for the season. The Nittany Lions will travel to Bloomington to face the Hoosiers for the first game of the season.

3. Wisconsin

The Badgers have some uncertainty heading into 2020, but they’ll be favorited to repeat as Big Ten West champs until proven otherwise. In their first season in several years without running back Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin will need some new faces to step up. Quarterback Jack Coan was reportedly injured during camp, which adds another layer of questions about this team. The Badgers first game comes at home on Friday night against Illinois where they are favored by nearly three touchdowns.

4. Minnesota

Minnesota returns one of the better QBs in the conference in Tanner Morgan and after a surprisingly dominant 2019 season, the Gophers hope to repeat that success in 2020. PJ Fleck proved he can win with the big guys last year, but now he has to prove he can sustain it. The Gophers will not have to play Ohio State or Penn State this season, but their season opener against Michigan looms large. If Minnesota can emerge victorious after week one, they may leap ahead of Wisconsin as the favorites to win the Big Ten West.

5. Michigan

Michigan is coming off another solid season that still failed to meet high expectations. Jim Harbaugh’s tenure has seen mixed results with three 10-win seasons in five years. Michigan has lost four straight bowl games and hasn’t beaten Ohio State since 2011. Now in Harbaugh’s sixth season, the Wolverines hope to finally get over the hump. Michigan lost a few key players this offseason but still return one of the most talented rosters in the conference. A season opening contest against Minnesota will show us who this team could be in 2020.

6. Iowa

Iowa had another typical successful season last year, going 6-3 in the conference en route to a 10-win season. This year, the Hawkeyes will look to build on that success and take the Big Ten West. A season-opener against Purdue may prove to be an important game for both teams. A win and Iowa will position themselves for a potential conference title while a loss could have them behind the eight ball.

7. Indiana

The Indiana Hoosiers are coming off one of their most successful seasons in school history. An 8-win regular season included a 5-4 conference record. A one-point last-second loss to Tennessee in the Gator Bowl was the only thing keeping IU from a nine-win campaign. Now in 2020, the Hoosiers return several key players including promising young quarterback Mike Penix, who is now healthy. Can Indiana build on last year’s storied season? A bowl berth should be expected, but Tom Allen and the Hoosiers are hungry for more than that.

8. Michigan State

Michigan State is another question mark, albeit a talented question mark. Sparty struggled in 2019, going just 4-5 in conference including a five-game losing streak in the middle of the season. The Spartans still managed to make a bowl game where they beat Wake Forest 27-21. This year, Michigan State hopes to make 2019 a distant memory. A week one contest against Rutgers should be a confidence builder for the Spartans.

9. Nebraska

All of Scott Frost’s whining about the schedule earned the Cornhuskers a road game against Ohio State to start the year. Frost is just 9-15 in his first two seasons with Nebraska, going 3-6 in the Big Ten both years. Once again, Nebraska will try to change the narrative around their football program and return to the success they had years ago. An opening win against Ohio State would surly help, but the Buckeyes are favored by an astonishing 27 points at the moment.

10. Illinois

Illinois was one of the bigger surprises in the Big Ten last year with upset wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State. The Fighting illlini clawed their way to a 6-6 regular season, earning them their first bowl berth since 2014. Illinois returns several key players and will look to build on the success they found last year. The Fighting Illini will have to repeat their magic from last year as they’ll open the season against Wisconsin. It was an upset win over the Badgers that changed their 2019 season. Will they be able to do it again in 2020?

11. Purdue

After head coach Jeff Brohm’s first season where Purdue went 7-6 and won a bowl game, it’s been downhill for the Boilers. Last year’s 4-8 injury-laden disaster of a season was a step back for the Boilers. Not to mention, it’s been a rocky offseason for Purdue as star wide receiver Rondale Moore announced his departure from the university only to recommit to the Boilers for the 2020 season. This week Jeff Brohm appears to have tested positive for Covid-19. In any event, Purdue is slated to start the season against Iowa in what should be a close game.

12. Maryland

Maryland started 2-0 and was ranked by week three of last year. They sputtered to a 3-9 record, going just 1-8 in Big Ten play. The Terrapins hope to recapture that magic from early last season and put together a more successful 2020 campaign. Maryland will start the year off against a Northwestern team that also had a tumultuous 2019 season.

13. Northwestern

Northwestern struggled to a 1-8 conference record last season and had one of the worst offenses in college football. This year, Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats hope to turn things around. A week one game against Maryland will give Northwestern an opportunity to start 2020 with a much-needed win.

14. RutgersRutgers hasn’t won a Big Ten game since defeating Maryland in November of 2018. The bar is so low for the Scarlet Knights that winning one game in 2020 would be a step up from the prior two seasons. Rutgers first opportunity will come against Michigan State this Saturday.