Hard not to put the rematch against Michigan #1, as the Wolverines come to Kinnick Stadium in October for a huge Big Ten home opener for the Hawks. Though, the Wisconsin game often is just as B1G, for anyone in the West division?
Interesting question, and two troublesome foes for the Hawkeyes aren't even listed.
Does Iowa get the monkey off their backs with both Northwestern and at Purdue in 2022?
- Iowa hasn't beat the Wildcats in Kinnick Stadium, since 2014
- The Hawkeyes haven't won at Purdue, since 2016
I like the old Western Conference (1896-1899) a/k/a the Big Ten Conference going to 16 programs in 2024.
But, in 2022, excited to see how the upcoming season plays out for the Hawkeyes and Conference as a whole.
- at Ohio State - clearly the front-runner, with Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan coming to the old Horseshoe in 2022. And, they only play four B1G road games: at Michigan State, at Penn State, at Northwestern, and lastly at Maryland. From October 8 to November 5, the Buckeyes lone home date is with Iowa. Clearly, the Ohio State has the top game(s) of the season: including the season opener against Notre Dame.
- Michigan - is it hard to see a repeat in the Big Ten title game here, right? Clearly, the defending champions have an interesting schedule with Penn State and Michigan State in back to back games in the Big House. Cross-overs are favorable at Iowa, then home dates in November with Nebraska and Illinois in between road dates at Rutgers and the Ohio State, all after opening September with four home games, with the B1G opener with Maryland the only P5 program. What will Michigan be rated heading into Iowa City in 2022?
- Wisconsin - always the team to beat in the West, though Purdue and the Badgers each have beat Iowa four out the last 5 games, with lone wins in Kinnick in 2019 and 2020, respectively. At Ohio State, at Northwestern, at Michigan State, at Iowa and at Nebraska, with another huge showdown with Minnesota to close 2022. For the first time, since the West was won, beating Wisconsin wasn't required for a team to break into the title game from the West in 2021. Don't count on that in 2022 as a road to Indianapolis.
- at Purdue - definitely a little high on the list for 2022, but how can one suggest otherwise, based on the past five seasons, under Jeff Brohm? The Boilermakers are coming off a 9-4 season with important wins at Iowa, at Nebraska, against Michigan State and a huge bowl win over Tennessee. The 2022 opener is in West Lafayette against James Franklin and his Penn State teams, who have been .500 over the pandemic.
- IOWA - the Hawkeyes have been third in cross-over games, since the West was won, and are the defending West winners, so Kirk Ferentz has been trending in the right direction, since both Paul Chryst and Brohm arrived, respectively, in the West, right? Playing strong in Kinnick is much needed in 2022, after 12 years of ups and downs, since the 2010 debacle with the Badgers and heartfelt loss in 2018, as well.
- Michigan State - the Spartans, like Iowa were 7-2 in the Big Ten, last year, as Mel Tucker is 2-0 against Jim Harbaugh, since arriving, 0-1 vs. Kirk Ferentz. Challenging schedule, with at Washington replacing at Miami-FL, in 2022. Open B1G play vs. Minnesota in 2022, coming off their first road game. Last year, huge win over Nebraska, as Tucker opened last year 8-0, until their first loss at Purdue.
- at Minnesota - PJ Fleck's best seasons have been 2019 and 2021, but the Gophers haven't beaten Iowa, since the 51-14 blowout in 2014. Cross-overs are the B1G opener at Michigan State, at Penn State and a home date vs Rutgers to close out October, then the West finally 4 at Nebraska, Northwestern, Iowa and at Wisconsin. October 1 date against Purdue in B1G home opener is a key game again for momentum. The Gophers had ugly home losses against Bowling Green and Illinois in 2021. They finished 9-4, like Purdue, with a bowl win over West Virginia.
- at Illinois - Bret Bielema went 4-5 last year in the conference, lost four straight games after season opening win over Nebraska at home. The Illini did win four of their last seven games, including wins at Penn State and at Minnesota, games at Indiana, at Wisconsin, at Nebraska, with their final two a games at Michigan and at Northwestern will be interesting. The lllini host Iowa and Minnesota between UW and UNL road dates. Bielema looks to be a spoiler in the B1G West again.
- Nebraska - yes, we know the Huskers were 1-8 last year, and only 3-5 in 2020, but UNL was highly competitive all eight losses. Note the Huskers did win at Rutgers (Friday night) and at Purdue in 2022, and will face back to back road games there in 2022. Later games at Michigan and at Iowa likely will be highly competitive. OOC game against Oklahoma may set tone for 2022. B1G home opener is vs. IU, after opening three of first five on road in 2021. In 2022, four of first five are in Lincoln.
- Penn State - James Franklin has been .500 over the last two seasons. Open 2022, at Purdue, at Auburn Week 3, with two MAC opponents in Happy Valley, so do they remain a .500 team or better? The Nittany Lions enter 2022 having lost six of last eight games played, since 23-20 loss at Iowa.
- Maryland - the Terps were 7-6 last year under Mike Locksley and won back to back games to close out season at Rutgers and in bowl over VA Tech. Open two of first four games on road at Charlotte and at Michigan in 2022. Purdue, at Indiana, Northwestern and at Wisconsin will be important B1G games. Only 3-6 last year, including 1-2 in cross-over games.
- Northwestern- the Wildcats open in Dublin against Nebraska, in a huge game for Pat Fitzgerald, who went 1-8 in both 2019 and 2021, after winning the B1G West in both 2018 and 2020. The streak likely ends in 2022, but the Wildcats have taken care of Iowa and Wisconsin, since 2014 and 2016, respectively, in these venues on their schedule. Cross-overs at Penn State, at Maryland and hosting Ohio State is certainly a challenge, so the Wildcats must take care of business in B1G West, which they haven't, since 2020, when the Wildcats missed at Minnesota due to pandemic.
- at Rutgers - the Scarlet Knights picked up two B1G road wins in 2021, but lost at Northwestern. Greg Schiano enters his 14th season overall, and opens 2022 with two OOC road dates at BC and at Temple, ahead of the B1G opener hosting Iowa. Will the Iowa offense resemble last year's opener at Maryland or the 2016 opener in New Brunswick on 9/24?
- Indiana - the Hoosiers topped Iowa State as most hyped team heading into 2021, as they benefited greatly due to the pandemic in 2020. Tom Allen saw his team fall from the Top 20 to 0-9 in the Big Ten last year. Huge season opener vs. Illinois, who open in Week 0 hosting Wyoming. Week 4-5, at Cincinnati and at Nebraska, with Michigan back at home is baby stretch compared to November early slate of Penn State, at Ohio State, then at Michigan State. The Hoosiers have a challenging 2022 ahead Allen who is now 26-32 in 5+ years at the helm.
ESPN FPI rankings;
- Ohio State - who will be the Buckeyes regular season loss in 2022?
- Michigan - 6-3 in Big Ten, depending on how you round?
- Michigan State - no longer getting Northwestern W from West, lost at Iowa in 2020, and Purdue last year .... host Minnesota in opener 🤔 Nebraska gave them a challenging game LY
- Penn State - not buying, lost to Iowa last two seasons and Illinois last season, and look at 2022 schedule, projected 8-4?
- Wisconsin - team to beat in B1G West is projected 8-4?
- Nebraska - talent doesn't always translate to Ws here, but could they bounce back with a winning season at 7-5?
- Iowa - they have Iowa at 7-5 or 6-6 depending how your round it?
- Maryland - ditto record to IA?
- Minnesota - does a win at MSU and/or against Iowa get the Gophers off the 7-5 line?
- Purdue - Jeff Brohm looking 7-5 with that schedule, with Penn State, at Maryland and at Indiana as cross-overs?
- Indiana - Tom Allen saves his job at 4-8 in 2022?
- Illinois - this certainly could be a tough year 2 for Bret Bielema, like his old head coach Hayden Fry
- Northwestern - 4-8 doesn't cut it for Pat Fitzgerald, as back to back bad seasons haven't been common lately?
- Rutgers - 4-8 for Scarlet Knights?
I know one Nebraska poster on the Huskers Board doesn't have much positive to say, for a basketball league. Odd, the Big Ten has two national titles in Football, compared to zero in basketball over the past 20 seasons plated.
Outside of 2014, the CFB Playoff has been Alabama, Clemson and two other SEC teams that stepped up and won once.
And, Clemson and Iowa have B1G questions on offense heading into 2022. Does anyone see Iowa > Clemson offensively this coming season?
Both teams should be salty on defense, along with Alabama. How solid will Ohio State be on defense, under new DC Jim Knowles?
Defense has cost Ohio State dating back to Iowa (2017), Purdue (2018), less in 2019 (lone loss to Clemson), but first-year DC Jeff Hafley bolted to BC as HC, then Alabama (2020) and Oregon (2021) and Michigan (2021.
Ryan Day and USC coach Lincoln Riley: who will get into CFB Playoff next, and who will either finally get a win in it?
The dog days of summer are truly upon us today 😎
