Huge Ten preview: Oppositions line up to deal with Michigan, Ohio

however Stewart might fill a clear need there. The undersized edge(6-foot-1, 237 pounds )set a Coastal Carolina single-season record with 12.5 sacks in 2021 before being restricted to 3.5 last season.– Rittenberg Wisconsin QB Tanner Mordecai: The SMU transfer and projected starter is among several significant imports brought in to run the Air Raid offense under coordinator Phil Longo, a dramatic departure from Wisconsin’s standard system.– Rittenberg Three key positions to fill Kalen King returns at corner for a Penn State secondary that lost key players to the NFL. Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire Ohio State quarterback: C.J. Stroud was the No. 2 total pick in this year’s NFL draft and leaves a big hole for the Buckeyes to fill on offense. Kyle McCord and Devin Brown are contending for that beginning function in 2023.– Tom VanHaaren Penn State secondary: The Nittany Lions lost Joey Porter Jr. and Ji’Ayir Brown to the NFL, however they already have some good alternatives to step in. Kalen King returns at

corner, as does Zakee Wheatley and Keaton Ellis among others who must keep Penn State’s defense stout.– VanHaaren Wisconsin quarterback: The Badgers have a new coaching personnel with a new offensive

system and lost Graham Mertz and Chase Wolf to the transfer portal. The coaches brought in Mordecai, Nick Evers and Braedyn Locke to assist fill that void, with Mordecai leading the way for this season.– VanHaaren Three instant-impact freshmen

Nebraska WR Malachi Coleman: The Cornhuskers will need playmakers at receiver with a new staff can be found in, and Coleman has a shot to make an impact. Coleman is a 6-foot-4, 190-pound receiver who will be a big target for new quarterback Jeff Sims.– VanHaaren

Editor’s Picks

1 Related Ohio State WR Carnell Tate: The Buckeyes have a deep receiver space, with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka ranked as a number of the top receivers in the conference and the country. Tate was a highly hired possibility, though, and has been drawing rave reviews this offseason.– VanHaaren

Rutgers WR Famah Toure: Rutgers lost the top 3 receivers from last season and is going to need to discover replacements this season. Toure is a 6-4, 200-pound receiver and has every opportunity to make an impact for the Scarlet Knights.– VanHaaren

Three must-see September games

Ohio State at Notre Dame, Sept. 23: The Buckeyes ‘new quarterback(McCord or Brown)gets his first significant test against a Notre Dame group that restricted Ohio State to 21 points last season and has an outstanding cornerback tandem in Benjamin Morrison and

Webcam Hart.– Rittenberg How they’ll finish: Big Ten RITTENBERG VANHAAREN

1. Ohio State 1. Michigan 2. Michigan 2.

Ohio State 3. Penn State 3. Penn State 4. Iowa 4. Iowa 5. Wisconsin 5. Wisconsin 6 . Maryland 6. Minnesota 7. Minnesota 7. Illinois 8 . Illinois 8 . Maryland 9. Michigan State 9 . Michigan State 10. Nebraska 10. Nebraska 11. Purdue 11 . Purdue 12. Rutgers 12. Rutgers 13 . Indiana 13. Indiana 14. Northwestern 14. Northwestern Iowa at Penn State, Sept. 23: This series has produced several close, engaging matchups(not 6-4; get your minds out of the gutter), and these groups job as the most reasonable oppositions to Michigan and Ohio State. Both defenses task very well, however Iowa’s offense should manage the Whiteout environment and discover methods to rating.– Rittenberg Nebraska at Colorado, Sept. 9: The phenomenon likely will exceed the quality of groups as the Deion Sanders era starts in Stone with a competition renewal versus Nebraska, which is trying to find stability and success under its own noteworthy brand-new coach in Matt Rhule.– Rittenberg MVP choice Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is among the favorites to win Huge 10 MVP. John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports Rittenberg: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison might end up as the very best in a run of elite-level Buckeyes wide receivers, and he will reduce the shift for Ohio State’s brand-new quarterback after taping 77 receptions for 1,263 backyards and 14 goals last season. Harrison had five or more

receptions in all but 2 games in 2022.

Tom VanHaaren: Michigan RB Blake Corum I concur the league MVP is likely going to be Harrison, however Corum is going to be in the mix. He was hurt at the end of last season and spurned the NFL to return to Michigan for another season. The run game will constantly be included in this offense and Corum has another truly good offensive

line to run behind. He had 1,463 yards and 18

goals in 2022 and there’s no factor he can’t have similar success in 2023. On the hot seat After leading the Hoosiers to a No. 12 ranking in 2020, Indiana coach Tom Allen is 6-18 the past 2 seasons. Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire Adam Rittenberg: Tom Allen, Indiana(kind of)There really aren’t any real hot-seat prospects in the Big Ten this season. Allen would be if Indiana’s recent performance doesn’t turn around, as he’s 6-18 the past two seasons after a No. 12 surface in 2020. But Indiana still would owe Allen more than$20 million if it fires him this year. Tom VanHaaren: Allen I concur there aren’t actually any coaches on the hot seat, including Allen. If we need to respond to, then I ‘d go with him for all the reasons Adam stated. However considering this question takes into point of view where the Big Ten is at

as a whole. There are

a lot of positives for the conference going forward.Sleeper team Taulia Tagovailoa’s quarterback play has Maryland in position to amaze some groups. Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports Adam Rittenberg: Maryland The Terrapins may have shed sleeper designation when coach Mike Locksley announced at Big 10 media days they’re all set to compete. However Maryland has among the league’s few veteran quarterbacks(Taulia Tagovailoa), a powerful overall offense and adequate talent to make a push, especially while avoiding Iowa and Wisconsin in crossover games. Tom VanHaaren: Iowa Can we think about Iowa a sleeper offered they remain in the West division? I’m going to call them a sleeper since of how bad the offense was last season and the low expectations for the Hawkeyes nationally.

Adding quarterback Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All from Michigan need to assist this offense ended up being proficient at a minimum, and if the defense can continue to be as suffocating as usual, the Hawkeyes could have a great season.Conference title game Adam Rittenberg: Ohio State 35, Iowa 17 I’ve gone back and forth a lot with Michigan and Ohio State, but the Wolverines have never won three straight outright conference titles and the Buckeyes still boast so much high-end talent. Iowa may have the league’s best overall defense and merely needs non-terrible quarterback play to end up being a respectable-ish offense. Tom VanHaaren: Michigan 35, Iowa 17 I flipped a coin in between Michigan and Ohio State, and Michigan won finest two out of 3.

I could see arguments for both groups with Ohio State focusing this offseason on competitors since of the 2 losses to end the season and wanting to precise revenge on Michigan. But the Buckeyes are breaking in a brand-new quarterback, and Michigan returns a ton of beginners from last season. I’m going with the Wolverines taking their third straight Huge Ten title for the very first time in their history.