Big Ten Reset: Key offseason storylines for Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and more
The Big Ten has a new commissioner and most teams have new coaches. Jim Harbaugh is interested in the NFL, but he could be retained by Michigan. Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud has until Monday to declare if he stays at the school. The Big Tens West has many changes, including a possible new full-time starting quarterback. The divisional games in November are important. There are no substitutes for punters. It's a good thing the league doesn't have to change its rules. “In the Bigten you’ve got to be able to run the football because you can”t just throw the ball all over the field.
Nebraska is 8-5 overall, 5-4 in the Big Ten in 2022.
Ryan Walters, Tommy DeVito, Chase Brown, Devon Witherspoon, Sydney Brown and Daniel Barker are leaving the Big Ten.
Nebraska signed TE Tanner Arkin from Colorado State and QB Luke Altmeyer from Ole Miss. Malik Elzy was signed by high school.
The Illinois team had a breakout season under coach Bret Bielema but lost their best coach, quarterback and best defensive skill players.
Illinois returns enough offensive and defensive linemen to feel decent about the trenches in 2023.
Illinois has a tricky trip to Kansas and a difficult game against Penn State in the Big Ten opener in 2023.
Key Departures: LB Jack Campbell, WR Keagan Johnson, LB Jestin Jacobs, RB Gavin Williams, QB Alex Padilla.
Michigan signed Cade McNamara and Erick All.
McNamara's arrival is designed to help Iowa turn the page. The Hawkeyes had their usual stingy, opportunistic defense and one of the worst offenses in Big Ten history.
Brian Ferentz is the son of coach Kirk Fereck. Brian will be the offensive coordinator for his father.
Iowa is stable for now, but the defense is going to be tough even with Campbell's departure.
Mo Ibrahim, Kirk Ciarrocca, Tanner Morgan, Mariano Sori-Martin, and Michael Dixon are leaving the team.
Elijah Spencer and Sean Tyler were signed by Charlotte and Western Michigan.
The players who helped Minnesota win nine games in 2021 and 2022 are leaving. The Gophers will break in new offensive linemen and new defensive playmakers.
The offense stunk after the opening month. Fleck moved on from playcaller Kirk Ciarrocca and hired Tyler from WMU.
Minnesota has a real road game at North Carolina in 2023. Ohio State and Michigan are both on the schedule.
Key Departures: DE Garrett Nelson, LB Ernest Hausmann, WR Trey Palmer, DT Colton Feist, TE Travis Vokolek.
Jeff Sims, Billy Kemp and Ben Scott were signed this summer.
Matt Rhule is trying to overhaul a program that hasn't posted a winning season since 2016.
Nebraska's defense needs to improve to support the offense.
The Huskers have back-to-back road games to start the year. Five of the next six games are at home.
Peter Skoronski, Evan Hull, Malik Washington, A.J. Hampton are leaving the Big Ten.
Nigel Glover and David Braun were signed by the Big Ten schools.
Pat Fitzgerald fired three coaches after the worst year of his tenure.
Northwestern has had seasons of 3-9, 7-2, 3,9 and 1-11 since the transfer portal opened.
2023 schedule notes: No OSU or UM, and Penn State visits Ryan Field. The Wildcats struggle in non-conference play and visit Duke.
Jeff Brohm, Aidan O'Connell, Charlie Jones, Jack Sullivan, Branson Deen and Lawrence Johnson are leaving the Big Ten.
Hirther Walters and Hudson Card were added to the Big Ten this summer.
Jeff Brohm left Purdue for Louisville. Aidan O'Connell and Charlie Jones went to the NFL. The best defensive linemen went away to USC, Miami and Auburn.
Purdue insiders will appreciate the creative friction in the department under Jeff Brohm more in three years.
2023 schedule is brutal. Fresno State, at Virginia Tech and Syracuse are the opening games. There's a long stretch between Iowa and Michigan. Purdue is probably going to be a four-win team in 2023.
Key players are leaving the team, including Isaac Guerendo, Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton, Graham Mertz and Jim Leonhard.
Luke Fickell, Phil Longo, Tanner Mordecai, Darian Varner, Jason Vaitre and Daryan Varster were added to the Cincinnati roster.
Wisconsin's 38-22 record over the last five years led to the firing of Paul Chryst and the hiring of Luke Fickell. The Badgers are embracing a no-huddle, Air Raid spread coordinated by Phil Longo.
Wisconsin's defense is stingy, but it's not going to be as good as it was at Cincinnati.
2023 schedule notes: Washington State visits Ohio State before Halloween.
Dasan McCullough, Connor Bazelak, AJ Barner, Tiawan Mullen, Devon Matthews, and Terence Bower are leaving the Big Ten.
Key Additions: DE Andre Carter (Western Michigan), RB Christian Turner (Wake Forest), WR E.J. Williams (Clemson).
IU needs a new quarterback and a better secondary.
IU has to play the Big Ten East one more year. Tom Allen will be on the hot seat if the Hoosiers post another four-win season.
2023 schedule notes: At Michigan and Penn State, with a neutral site game against Louisville.
Jaelyn Duncan, Deonte Banks, Mosiah Nasili-Kite, Rakim Jarrett, Dontay Demus, CJ Dippre, and Rakims are leaving the Big Ten.
Kaden Prather, Tyrese Chambers, Jordan Phillips, Marcus Dumervil and Marcus Grumervill were added to the roster.
Mike Locksley and Taulia Tagovailoa have back-to-back winning seasons. The transfer portal is bringing good players and Lock's 2020, 2021 and 2022 recruiting classes are about to bloom.
Maryland needs to win nine games to reach the Top 25.
Nebraska is expected to be a contender in the Big Ten West. Michigan and Penn State are going to play each other at home in 2023.
Key Departures: C Olu Olwojuwatimi, G Zak Zinter, QB Cade McNamara, DL Mike Morris, Mazi Smith, TE Luke Schoonmaker.
Key additions include TE AJ Barner, DE Josaiah Stewart, LB Ernest Hausmann, OLs Myles Hinton, Drake Nugent and LaDarius Henderson.
The Wolverines have won the last two Big Ten titles. Coach Jim Harbaugh is flirting with the NFL.
There are key offseason storylines for Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and more.
2023 Schedule Notes: UM spends the first month at home before a trip to Nebraska. November trips to Penn State and Maryland seem tough.
Jayden Reed, Jacob Slade, Daniel Barker, Germie Bernard are leaving the Big Ten.
Nathan Carter, Jaren Mangham and Tunmise Adeleye were signed by college football teams.
MSU keeps turning the transfer portal to find a new defense.
MSU's future success will depend on its running game.
2023 schedule notes: Tough Washington visit, crossovers at Iowa and Minnesota.
Paris Johnson, Dawand Jones, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zach Harrison, Ronnie Hickman, and Ronnie Johnson are leaving the Big Ten.
S Ja’Had Carter, Brandon Inness, Noah Rogers, Carnell Tate and Noah Innes were added to Syracuse's roster.
CJ Stroud is not guaranteed to play for Ohio State next season. If he does, the Buckeyes will be a clear favorite for the national title.
Ryan Day's Ohio State team almost beat Georgia in the final game of 2022. The team is preparing for 2023.
2023 schedule notes: A game at Notre Dame, crossover games vs. Wisconsin, Purdue and Minnesota, and Michigan at season's end.
Key Departures: S Ji’Ayir Brown, QB Sean Clifford, WR Parker Washington, CB Joey Porter, OL Juice Scruggs, TE Brenton Strange.
Key additions: DB Storm Duck (North Carolina), P Riley Thompson (FAU), J’Ven Williams (HS) and Alex Birchmeier (H).
Penn State will play for the Rose Bowl trophy in 2022.
Sean Clifford played for 96 seasons with Drew Allar at quarterback. Clifford was a consummate gamer, but Allars has more pure passing talent.
West Virginia comes to Happy Valley in 2023. Michigan and Iowa play there too.
Aron Cruickshank, Noah Vedral, Christian Izien and Christian Braswell are leaving the Big Ten.
JaSire Petersen and Eric Rogers were signed by Nebraska and Northern Illinois.
Greg Schiano has had six offensive coordinators and six quarterbacks in three seasons.
Gavin Wimsatt is a dual-threat quarterback. Schiano has to decide if he wants to embrace a QB run game.
2023 schedule notes: Four of the first five games are in Piscataway. Trips to Iowa and Wisconsin are tough. Rutgers is rebuilding.
