Who is #2 in the Big Ten in 2021?
After all, we know Ohio State is ahead of everyone else in the conference and it really isn't too close. Nationally, the Buckeyes are the most consistent P5 program, since 2014, finishing in the Top 5 each and every season, despite only winning one CFP during that inaugural year (2014).
theathletic.com
As Stewart Mandel put it from The Athletic: "The Buckeyes are still the Buckeyes, and while it’s asking a lot of redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud to step in for Justin Fields, it’s asking even more of the other 13 teams to dethrone a program that has become the Alabama or Clemson of its conference. That being said — Wisconsin could be really, really good. Quarterback Graham Mertz gives the Badgers the type of legit vertical passing threat they’ve been lacking for a decade to go with their usual strong run game and stingy defense. And if Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras makes strides, the Hawkeyes aren’t far behind Wisconsin, if at all."
My take at this point, based on preseason,schedule for 2021 and being a Hawkeye fan:
1. Ohio State: the Buckeyes have won the B1G for four straight seasons, with only two B1G losses being against two teams from the West, Iowa (2017) and Purdue (2018), on the road. All it did was cost them an invite to the CFP, which Stewart doesn't see in 2021, but he is calling for a third B1G loss over five seasons.
2. Wisconsin - the Badgers have 2 of the last 4 B1G West divisions and Iowa, Nebraska and Northwestern all must come to Madison in 2021. However, the last time Iowa won the B1G West, the loss for the Badgers did come in Madison.
3. Iowa - the Hawkeyes have the 2nd best Big Ten schedule in the Big Ten the past three seasons, but Northwestern has 2 of the division titles and Iowa hasn't beat both UW and NW in the same year, since winning the division in 2015. By the way, the wins that year, were both on the road.
4. Penn State - the Nittany Lions host Michigan and Indiana in 2021, but must travel to Wisconsin and Iowa in cross-over games giving James Franklin some early tests for QB Sean Clifford, and the new starters for his 2021 team. Penn State has beat Wisconsin four straight, so something to remember in the season opener in Madison.
5. Michigan - the Wolverines have a lot of questions, after the struggles lately impacting Jim Harbaugh, but the Wolverines do have the third best record, over past three seasons in Big Ten games, and Indiana and Northwestern come to Ann Arbor, but they must play at Penn State. This may be a tough spot to hold in 2021?
6. Northwestern - Pat Fitzgerald has a young team, and he says the talent is there, and he has two super sophomores to anchor OL at LT and the secondary at S. Does he have playmakers in the passing game? The Hawkeyes are going for third win in four outings in Evanston, despite have lost 4 of last 5 in series.
7/8. Minnesota at Indiana in Game #11 - these two programs both come to Kinnick Stadium in 2021.
IU is rated #17 ahead of #18 Hawkeyes, and we all remember the undefeated Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2019, when they finished 0-2 against Iowa and Wisconsin!
These two programs are hoping to find way to Indianapolis in 2021. Some in the media agree with the fan noise. Seems more artificial then likely, when you look at overall play of defense under PJ Fleck and Tom Allen. Which culture gets W in 2021, though?
9. Michigan State - can Mel Tucker open with a third straight win in Northwestern series for Spartans, in his second season? Doesn't hurt the Hawks any though it gives the "West is inferior crowd" more to talk about.
10. Purdue - Jeff Brohm has been a thorn for Iowa with 3 wins in 4 seasons, but Hawks did win at Kinnick in 2019, and should win Homecoming Game again in 2021, against Boilermakers.
11/12. Nebraska at Illinois, where Huskers are 6-2, since both became conference foes, but Lovie Smith did pull out his last B1G win in Lincoln last year, but Bret Bielema takes over and hosts Scott Frost, who enters Year 4 at 12-20 overall (9-17 in B1G) for a Week 1 showdown.
13. Maryland - Iowa lost the one road game in the series in 2014, but is 2-0 since at home, including 2015 win against interim HC Mike Locksley, who enters Year 3 in College Park. Iowa's Friday night record is on the line here.
14. Rutgers - Greg Schiaro was 3-6 last season to equal Chris Ash's win total and best B1G season in four seasons there. Iowa travels to New Brunswick next season, as annual PSU cross-over comes to an end this season.
Stewart has Iowa 10-2, which is what I put down for 2021's pool. Stewart has Iowa winning Week 2. We all can hopefully agree to wanting that to be the case in 2021.
Dochterman likes Iowa over Wisconsin. Overall, I think that is possible, but Iowa needs to go earn it again, as last season doesn't count any longer.
Iowa's last win in Madison turned out to he pretty special, as a season under Kirk Ferentz. Here's to another special season, with two Top 25 teams right out of the gate, like 1974.
My first season in Kinnick. Looking forward to my season back in Kinnick in 2021.
On Iowa!
After all, we know Ohio State is ahead of everyone else in the conference and it really isn't too close. Nationally, the Buckeyes are the most consistent P5 program, since 2014, finishing in the Top 5 each and every season, despite only winning one CFP during that inaugural year (2014).
Stewart Mandel's Big Ten conference predictions: Ohio State is still Ohio State but watch out for Wisconsin
Wisconsin and Iowa could make a run at the Big Ten title if their quarterbacks have big seasons.
theathletic.com
As Stewart Mandel put it from The Athletic: "The Buckeyes are still the Buckeyes, and while it’s asking a lot of redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud to step in for Justin Fields, it’s asking even more of the other 13 teams to dethrone a program that has become the Alabama or Clemson of its conference. That being said — Wisconsin could be really, really good. Quarterback Graham Mertz gives the Badgers the type of legit vertical passing threat they’ve been lacking for a decade to go with their usual strong run game and stingy defense. And if Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras makes strides, the Hawkeyes aren’t far behind Wisconsin, if at all."
My take at this point, based on preseason,schedule for 2021 and being a Hawkeye fan:
1. Ohio State: the Buckeyes have won the B1G for four straight seasons, with only two B1G losses being against two teams from the West, Iowa (2017) and Purdue (2018), on the road. All it did was cost them an invite to the CFP, which Stewart doesn't see in 2021, but he is calling for a third B1G loss over five seasons.
2. Wisconsin - the Badgers have 2 of the last 4 B1G West divisions and Iowa, Nebraska and Northwestern all must come to Madison in 2021. However, the last time Iowa won the B1G West, the loss for the Badgers did come in Madison.
3. Iowa - the Hawkeyes have the 2nd best Big Ten schedule in the Big Ten the past three seasons, but Northwestern has 2 of the division titles and Iowa hasn't beat both UW and NW in the same year, since winning the division in 2015. By the way, the wins that year, were both on the road.
4. Penn State - the Nittany Lions host Michigan and Indiana in 2021, but must travel to Wisconsin and Iowa in cross-over games giving James Franklin some early tests for QB Sean Clifford, and the new starters for his 2021 team. Penn State has beat Wisconsin four straight, so something to remember in the season opener in Madison.
5. Michigan - the Wolverines have a lot of questions, after the struggles lately impacting Jim Harbaugh, but the Wolverines do have the third best record, over past three seasons in Big Ten games, and Indiana and Northwestern come to Ann Arbor, but they must play at Penn State. This may be a tough spot to hold in 2021?
6. Northwestern - Pat Fitzgerald has a young team, and he says the talent is there, and he has two super sophomores to anchor OL at LT and the secondary at S. Does he have playmakers in the passing game? The Hawkeyes are going for third win in four outings in Evanston, despite have lost 4 of last 5 in series.
7/8. Minnesota at Indiana in Game #11 - these two programs both come to Kinnick Stadium in 2021.
IU is rated #17 ahead of #18 Hawkeyes, and we all remember the undefeated Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2019, when they finished 0-2 against Iowa and Wisconsin!
These two programs are hoping to find way to Indianapolis in 2021. Some in the media agree with the fan noise. Seems more artificial then likely, when you look at overall play of defense under PJ Fleck and Tom Allen. Which culture gets W in 2021, though?
9. Michigan State - can Mel Tucker open with a third straight win in Northwestern series for Spartans, in his second season? Doesn't hurt the Hawks any though it gives the "West is inferior crowd" more to talk about.
10. Purdue - Jeff Brohm has been a thorn for Iowa with 3 wins in 4 seasons, but Hawks did win at Kinnick in 2019, and should win Homecoming Game again in 2021, against Boilermakers.
11/12. Nebraska at Illinois, where Huskers are 6-2, since both became conference foes, but Lovie Smith did pull out his last B1G win in Lincoln last year, but Bret Bielema takes over and hosts Scott Frost, who enters Year 4 at 12-20 overall (9-17 in B1G) for a Week 1 showdown.
13. Maryland - Iowa lost the one road game in the series in 2014, but is 2-0 since at home, including 2015 win against interim HC Mike Locksley, who enters Year 3 in College Park. Iowa's Friday night record is on the line here.
14. Rutgers - Greg Schiaro was 3-6 last season to equal Chris Ash's win total and best B1G season in four seasons there. Iowa travels to New Brunswick next season, as annual PSU cross-over comes to an end this season.
Stewart has Iowa 10-2, which is what I put down for 2021's pool. Stewart has Iowa winning Week 2. We all can hopefully agree to wanting that to be the case in 2021.
Dochterman likes Iowa over Wisconsin. Overall, I think that is possible, but Iowa needs to go earn it again, as last season doesn't count any longer.
Iowa's last win in Madison turned out to he pretty special, as a season under Kirk Ferentz. Here's to another special season, with two Top 25 teams right out of the gate, like 1974.
My first season in Kinnick. Looking forward to my season back in Kinnick in 2021.
On Iowa!
