At an early glance, how is everyone thinking the Big 10 Conference is shaping up so far?
Ohio St and Wisconsin are definitely above the rest.
A few other notes
- Indiana and Maryland appear better than expected
- Penn St - was their 1 game vs App St just a blip or are they not as good as expected?
- Nebraska - can they improve in year 1 of the Frost era with only 1 scholarship QB?
Team reviews:
Illinois- Bau......probably better than last year, but it's not gonna show much on the win column
Indiana- Retaining their competitiveness developed over the last several years and also got a nice win over Virginia. Will probably be one of those pesky teams you can't sleep on if they're on your schedule, regardless of record.
Iowa- Better than your team......and that's all you need to know.
Maryland- Unlike last year, if they stay healthy they could be a very dangerous team....and motivated to boot. The East division grind may take its toll, but this is not a team to sleep on.
Michigan- Harbaughing is becoming BAU. And I love it.
They'll beat teams they're suppose to beat, and more than likely come up short against any highly ranked teams they face. The Penn State and MSU games will be revealing for this team.
Michigan State- Nelson "Ha Ha" for Sparty now that they know what it feels like to go to the desert for an early season night game, deal with all that that entails, and take the L. Good for Dantonio. So glad it happened to him.
Minnesota- They do have a couple of guys on both sides of the ball that can make plays, but for the most part I don't see anything different from last year's team and they have been very shaky to start the season. RB Rodney Smith is also out for the year.
Nebraska- So far after one game.........looks like your typical new coach rebuilding a currently mid-level program. It doesn't help that they were placing their hopes in a freshman QB....and he is now out with an injury. Colorado is better than they have been in the early part of this decade. I think they'll be a bowl-bound team in 2018. Nebraska is gonna need some serious improvement if they want to do the same in year one of Frost.
Northwestern- Pulls off the shootout win against Purdue and Fat Fitzy is all smug fist pumps.......and then they lay an egg against Duke, in the game of football. Ha Ha.
We really do need to beat them this year.
Ohio State- Sigh.........bau. I'd love it if when you upset a top ranked team, the way Iowa did to them last year, that they would just go away for a year or two and not go right back to dominating everyone and hogging the spotlight as the "only team good enough" to represent the Big Ten in the CFB playoff. That's really irritating.
Penn State- Already revealed that they will have the same problem as last year. Sporadic bouts of inconsistency will doom them in a game or two that keeps them from winning the East. McSorley will do everything he can, but they really will miss Barkley once the Big Ten season begins. Their RBs are good, but nothing that will make opponents forget about Barkley any time soon.
Purdue- 2012 Northwestern in wolf's clothing. Their hype train is coming off the tracks. They do have some good athletes (Moore is gonna be a bother until he leaves for the NFL), but they have some major defensive issues right now.
Rutgers- It's Rutgers. Btw, Rutgers, don't go getting good by the time we are scheduled to play you every year for those next 6 years or however long it is.......Thank you.
Wisconsin- Haven't needed to put the ball in Hornibrook's hands yet to win a game this year, and won't until the Iowa game.....and that's only if we can stop their run game. I do like that they trailed after the 1st qtr against New Mexico. It's minor and petty to laugh at that.........but f*** Wisconsin. That's why.
