East
1. Ohio State - Featuring an unknown at quarterback is a lot easier when you have the best WR corps in the country, and Stroud will be a beast. Cream of the crop in the B10
2. Indiana - Indiana goes from being the hunter to the hunted after a surprising 2021. If Penix gets through 12 games, they can be the second best team in the East.
3. Penn State - Coming off a disappointing season after a rough start, expectations are still high in Happy Valley. Clifford looks for a bounce back year in year 3.
4. Michigan - The Wolverines are coming off their worst year in the Harbaugh era, and the defense is changing schemes. I see 4-7 as a big step back between 1-3.
5. Maryland - Deciding between 5 and 6 as I believe they’re similar, but Maryland has the better QB between the 2.
6. Rutgers - Rutgers is coming off a decent year under Schiano, but the team still lacks talent.
7. Michigan State - Michigan State has a large number of “super seniors” but they were the worst team in the B10 last year and don’t see much to change that fact in 2021.
West
1. Wisconsin - Much like Iowa, Wisconsin has a tough start to the year schedule wise. They have the best defense in the B10, and Mertz showed flashes before all the COVID issues last season.
2. Iowa - We all know where the Hawks stand. The defense should be fantastic, and the run game will be good. There are questions for both lines, and the team will go as far as Petras takes them.
3. Northwestern - Much like the first two teams, NW features a stout defense. However, they lack weapons and have a transfer QB at the helm in former 5 star Hunter Johnson.
4. Purdue - Purdue has one of the best weapons in the B10 in David Bell, and have an extremely effective passing game despite below average QBs. The defense is likely bad, but the offense can keep them in shootouts.
5. Minnesota - Minnesota starts off with an L against OSU Thursday night, but rhen has a fairly soft schedule until their last 3 games against Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Expect them to shoot up many power rankings during the mid-season, but I’m not sold on a defense that gave up 6.3 YPC last year.
6. Illinois (1-0, 1-0) - Illinois was up 30-9 against Nebby, but ended up winning by only 8. Brandon Peters left the game with an injury, but the offensive line settled down in the second half and controlled the game.
7. Nebraska - (0-1, 0-1) - Typical Nebraska game. Bad special teams, bad Quarterbacking, and an undisciplined defense. Martinez is a good runner, but can’t do anything with his arm. The defense looked bad against a backup QB and Frost was our coached by someone coaching for the first time in 3 years.
Overall
1. Ohio State
2. Wisconsin
3. Iowa
4. Indiana
5. Penn State
6. Northwestern
7. Michigan
8. Purdue
9. Minnesota
10. Maryland
11. Rutgers
12. Illinois
13. Nebraska
14. Michigan State
1. Ohio State - Featuring an unknown at quarterback is a lot easier when you have the best WR corps in the country, and Stroud will be a beast. Cream of the crop in the B10
2. Indiana - Indiana goes from being the hunter to the hunted after a surprising 2021. If Penix gets through 12 games, they can be the second best team in the East.
3. Penn State - Coming off a disappointing season after a rough start, expectations are still high in Happy Valley. Clifford looks for a bounce back year in year 3.
4. Michigan - The Wolverines are coming off their worst year in the Harbaugh era, and the defense is changing schemes. I see 4-7 as a big step back between 1-3.
5. Maryland - Deciding between 5 and 6 as I believe they’re similar, but Maryland has the better QB between the 2.
6. Rutgers - Rutgers is coming off a decent year under Schiano, but the team still lacks talent.
7. Michigan State - Michigan State has a large number of “super seniors” but they were the worst team in the B10 last year and don’t see much to change that fact in 2021.
West
1. Wisconsin - Much like Iowa, Wisconsin has a tough start to the year schedule wise. They have the best defense in the B10, and Mertz showed flashes before all the COVID issues last season.
2. Iowa - We all know where the Hawks stand. The defense should be fantastic, and the run game will be good. There are questions for both lines, and the team will go as far as Petras takes them.
3. Northwestern - Much like the first two teams, NW features a stout defense. However, they lack weapons and have a transfer QB at the helm in former 5 star Hunter Johnson.
4. Purdue - Purdue has one of the best weapons in the B10 in David Bell, and have an extremely effective passing game despite below average QBs. The defense is likely bad, but the offense can keep them in shootouts.
5. Minnesota - Minnesota starts off with an L against OSU Thursday night, but rhen has a fairly soft schedule until their last 3 games against Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Expect them to shoot up many power rankings during the mid-season, but I’m not sold on a defense that gave up 6.3 YPC last year.
6. Illinois (1-0, 1-0) - Illinois was up 30-9 against Nebby, but ended up winning by only 8. Brandon Peters left the game with an injury, but the offensive line settled down in the second half and controlled the game.
7. Nebraska - (0-1, 0-1) - Typical Nebraska game. Bad special teams, bad Quarterbacking, and an undisciplined defense. Martinez is a good runner, but can’t do anything with his arm. The defense looked bad against a backup QB and Frost was our coached by someone coaching for the first time in 3 years.
Overall
1. Ohio State
2. Wisconsin
3. Iowa
4. Indiana
5. Penn State
6. Northwestern
7. Michigan
8. Purdue
9. Minnesota
10. Maryland
11. Rutgers
12. Illinois
13. Nebraska
14. Michigan State
