Will we see a roller coaster in the Big Ten in 2022?
First, how many teams around College Football can get through the season unblemished?
Georgia and Cincinnati did it during the regular season in 2021, but we all know who won the SEC Championship game.
Turning to the Big Ten, Michigan first road game of the season is at Iowa in Week 5. The Wolverines also have to go to Ohio State, but the only other two road dates are at Indiana and at Rutgers. The only other B1G road game is at Northwestern in 2022.
That showdown at Kinnick is huge in 2022.
Ohio State hosts Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan in Columbus in 2022. Michigan State, Penn State and Maryland are all on the road.
Like last year, Michigan State plays Week 3, a Power 5 program on the road. The Spartans parlayed a solid road win into momentum for the Big Ten, and another win over Michigan. This year, the game is at Washington.
Mel Tucker is 2-0 against Jim Harbaugh and Michigan for the Spartans. The Spartans have won 3 of last 4 in Ann Arbor during the Harbaugh era. Harbaugh's lone win was 2019 in Ann Arbor. He got Iowa there, as well.
Michigan State has five road games in 2022: at Washington and at Maryland, with a home game with Minnesota; at Michigan and at Illinois in back to back weeks, with a bye week ahead of back to back home games with Ohio State and Michigan. The Spartans final B1G road game of 2022 is at Penn State to close the regular season, with Rutgers and Indiana at home.
Penn State opened September last year with two B1G road games. In 2022, the Nittany Lions open again in B1G play at Purdue, as opposed to Wisconsin, last year. However, week 3 is at Auburn, and James Franklin gets Central Michigan, Northwestern and an open date before his road date at Michigan. Minnesota and Ohio State both come to Happy Valley to close out October. Final road dates are at Indiana and at Rutgers with a home date with Maryland sandwiched in.
It will be an interesting season to watch the B1G 4 in the Big Ten West.
That play blew open the 2021 Big Ten Championship Game for the Wolverines. If there is one thing DC Phil Parker wants to eliminate in 2022, it will he the explosive plays Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan and Kentucky pulled off in route to those 4 losses.
For Iowa, in the West, the Hawkeyes must:
- Improve in both the offensive and defensive lines
- Reverse the redzone issues on offense; something QB Nate Stanley was far better at as a starter from 2017-19
- Improve rushing game (2020 was good)
- Iowa hasn't been above 60% completion percentage, since Jake Rudock and C.J. Beathard each threw for over 60% in 2014 and 2015, respectively
- Iowa was second in scoring in the Big Ten in 2020
Iowa played complementary football the final six games of 2020 with QB Spencer Petras. We saw again to open 2021. The Hawkeyes will need to reach higher levels in both offense and defense in 2022, and maintain the competitive edge on special team.
Michigan was the best special teams B1G program in 2021. They parlayed that with solid offense and defense to win the Big Ten.
Wisconsin has always been the team to beat in the West. However, Iowa hasn't beat Northwestern in Kinnick, since 2014.
- Three straight losses to Northwestern at Kinnick
- Purdue has won 4 of last 5 played, Iowa hasn't won in West Lafayette, since 2016
- Iowa has beat every Big Ten team, since 2017, except for Michigan, who Iowa beat last, 14-13, in 2022
