Total takeaways: The Boilermakers get a great warm-up at the beginning of the season by welcoming Iowa to West Lafayette however have a stretch of video games in November that includes journeys to Wisconsin and Minnesota. There is a home game versus Rutgers, however the schedule isnt the most beneficial.
General takeaways: Indiana opening versus Penn State appeared like a bad draw on first impression, however after seeing the rest of their schedule, it might have been a favor. Theyll get rather of a breather as they invite Maryland but then go on the road to deal with Wisconsin before closing the season against Purdue.
Ohio StateFirst game: 10/24 vs. NebraskaMost crucial video game: 10/31 at Penn State.
The Big Ten football schedule is out, with play start Oct. 24, led by Nebraska at Ohio State and Michigan at Minnesota. A few highlights on the calendar: Ohio State at Penn State on Oct. 31, Wisconsin at Michigan on Nov. 14 and a big Ohio State-Michigan ending on Dec. 12. Our professionals break down what you require to know, including impressions, title-game forecasts and team-by-team analysis.
Maryland
Which weekend are you most eagerly anticipating viewing?
Costs Connelly: Week 2. “Whatever week has Ohio State-Penn State” was likely to be my answer regardless, but when you add Michigan State-Michigan and Wisconsin-Nebraska to the mix, youve got a winner. We wont need to wait long to find out the hierarchy in both departments. Include Auburn at LSU from the SEC and we might have our first real “Yeah, college football season is rolling now” weekend.
At one point after the Big Ten at first chose to delay its season, the Huskers were considering not playing in the league to play games during the pandemic. Now the Huskers have been rewarded with an opening game versus Ohio State.
Tom VanHaaren: I concur with Bill, Ohio State-Penn State is going to be a lot of enjoyable. Im opting for Michigan-Ohio State, though. Although this is a weird year and there have actually been unusual obstacles, nobody is going to offer Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh a pass in this competition. If his offense cant set up much better numbers versus the Buckeyes and Don Browns defense cant slow Justin Fields and Ohio States offense, concerns around Harbaughs failure to beat Ryan Day will grow even louder.
Which individual clash is currently on your radar?
MichiganFirst game: 10/24 at MinnesotaMost crucial game: 12/12 at Ohio State.
NebraskaFirst video game: 10/24 at Ohio StateMost essential game: 10/31 vs. Wisconsin.
RutgersFirst game: 10/24 at Michigan StateMost crucial game: 11/7 at Ohio State.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields responds to the Big Tens schedule statement and assures that the security precautions will be followed entering into the season.
If Ohio State can come out of that game untouched, it will just have a few other games that might trip them up. If all goes right, this might be a special season for the Buckeyes.
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Total takeaways: P.J. Flecks Gophers are considered the most significant challenger to Wisconsin in the Big Ten West. Theyre going to be losing the schools all-time all-purpose yardage leader in Rodney Smith, however star wide receiver Rashod Bateman has actually re-enrolled and intends to play in 2020. The very best news schedule-wise for Minnesota is that Ohio State is no place to be seen on it.– Lyles.
Penn StateFirst video game: 10/24 at IndianaMost crucial game: 10/31 vs. Ohio State.
A couple of highlights on the calendar: Ohio State at Penn State on Oct. 31, Wisconsin at Michigan on Nov. 14 and a huge Ohio State-Michigan ending on Dec. 12. The offense is going to be tested rather a bit, starting in Week 2 versus Minnesota and continuing throughout a hard consecutive stretch of Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana and Michigan. In the very first 4 weeks, the Huskers will play Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State, sandwiching in a Northwestern video game that practically always goes down to the wire. General takeaways: Since 2016, Penn State has actually generally measured itself by its video game against Ohio State. General takeaways: The Scarlet Knights are going to be challenged early with games at Michigan State and Ohio State.
IndianaFirst video game: 10/24 vs. Penn StateMost important video game: 11/21 at Ohio State.
Total takeaways: Michigan has an excellent test in the season opener against Minnesota before taking on in-state competing Michigan State in Week 2. There will be no shift into the season for presumptive beginning quarterback Joe Milton, who will be beginning his first season if he wins the job. No matter what takes place early on, Michigans season is going to boil down to what occurs versus Ohio State. Harbaugh and his staff, specifically the defense, require to have their finest showing versus what might be among the better Ohio State teams they have dealt with at Michigan.– VanHaaren.
IllinoisFirst video game: 10/24 at WisconsinMost crucial video game: 12/12 at Northwestern.
NorthwesternFirst game: 10/24 vs. MarylandMost essential video game: 10/24 vs. Maryland.
MinnesotaFirst game: 10/24 vs. MichiganMost important game: 11/28 at Wisconsin.
PurdueFirst game: 10/24 vs. IowaMost crucial video game: 11/21 at Minnesota.
The group went 3-9 in 2019 and is going to be breaking in a brand-new quarterback in either Alabama transfer Taulia Tagovailoa or redshirt freshman Lance Legendre. Last seasons starter, Joshua Jackson, opted out of the season, which will bring some difficulties after a distinct offseason. The offense is going to be tested quite a bit, beginning in Week 2 against Minnesota and continuing throughout a difficult successive stretch of Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana and Michigan.
General takeaways: Northwestern must again have a strong defense, while its redesigned offense only requires to be proficient enough to either become a competitor in the West or score a big win or more and help to figure out the winner. In that regard, they could not have actually been handed a much better first challenger. The Terps defense will likely be challenged itself, and well quickly learn what Northwestern may have to use this fall and early winter season.– Connelly.
Thats as light as youre going to get (without including Rutgers), and it might provide the Hawkeyes a chance to figure out what theyve got before a substantial mid-November matchup with Minnesota.– Connelly.
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Overall takeaways: If you are a believer in sports conspiracy theories, you d believe this schedule informs you that the Big Ten wasnt all that delighted with Nebraskas loud problems over the past month. In the first four weeks, the Huskers will play Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State, sandwiching in a Northwestern game that nearly constantly goes down to the wire.
IowaFirst video game: 10/24 at PurdueMost essential game: 11/14 at Minnesota.
MarylandFirst video game: 10/24 at NorthwesternMost essential game: 11/7 at Penn State.
WisconsinFirst game: 10/24 vs. IllinoisMost crucial game: 11/28 vs. Minnesota.
Overall takeaways: The Badgers are going to have another shot at the Big Ten championship after a 10-4 season in 2019 that resulted in a loss versus Ohio State in the conference title video game and a loss to Oregon in the Rose Bowl. The season is going to get tough in Week 4, when Wisconsin plays at Michigan and then hosts Minnesota in Week 6.
Total takeaways: The Fighting Illini had among the most shocking upsets of the 2019 season when they beat No. 6 Wisconsin 24-23. Now they get to open up this season with a journey to Camp Randall, with Wisconsin as a favorite to represent the Big Ten West in the conference title video game. As far as the remainder of the schedule, its good they get to host Minnesota, Ohio State and Iowa, however without any fans in the stadium, those video games wont get any easier.– Lyles.
Connelly: The Nebraska vs. the Big Ten front office match has been pretty rewarding of late, however well go with something that may decide the West– Minnesotas offensive line versus Wisconsins protective front. The Gophers might get Rashod Bateman back, however even if they do not, theyre going to have a experienced and enormous line. If they can out-physical the physical Badgers, they might lastly leap into the motorists seat in the West.
Lyles: Im taking a look at Nov. 7, when Rutgers goes to Columbus to play Ohio State. I really wish to see what Justin Fields does against Rutgers defense. Normally you d like a competitive video game in this area, however I can always value a good blowout and enjoy one player impose his will on an entire system. Fields will do that, and Ill enjoy it until coach Ryan Day chooses the Scarlet Knights have actually had enough.
It will be a tough task for brand-new Michigan State coach Mel Tucker, who has to go to Ann Arbor and face his in-state competitor so early in the season. Having this match so early in the season is going to be an opportunity for Michigan to set the tone within that rivalry and Tuckers period.
Forecasts for the conference title matchup? Which team wins?
Connelly: Ohio State and Wisconsin. A strong, creative pick, I understand. Ohio State may have the best mix of experience and talent in the nation. And while there will be 3 or four West teams entertaining title thoughts at the start, Wisconsin is the steadiest, best-known entity. The Badgers most significant enigma tend to be, “Will a star RB emerge?” and “Will they discover a brand-new playmaking LB?” Wisconsin tends to respond to those concerns well.
Lyles: Ohio State and Wisconsin. Sorry, everyone. I desired to pick a group that wasnt Wisconsin, but its tough for me to see a world where another team crashes this match. Ohio State is easily among the top teams in the country, and Im delighted to see simply how well Fields plays now that hes being given the opportunity. For Wisconsin, I dont see any other group in the West offering them a hard enough obstacle. Obviously, with the way 2020 has gone, it wont be either Ohio State or Wisconsin.
VanHaaren: Ohio State and Wisconsin. Ohio State will when again win the conference with Fields at quarterback; he will have an even much better season than last year, with some of the young, skilled receivers stepping up to keep this offense ranked as one of the countrys finest.
Team-by-team analysis.
Huge Ten commissioner Kevin Warren says he reversed his choice on postponing fall 2020 sports after evaluating new testing protocols that appeared.
General takeaways: Coach Mel Tucker will get to ease into his very first season at Michigan State, opening against Rutgers. Facing your in-state rival in the second week of your first season, after one of the weirdest offseasons weve ever seen, is not perfect for Tucker and his personnel.
Overall takeaways: The Scarlet Knights are going to be challenged early with games at Michigan State and Ohio State. In a reduced, conference-only season, its going to be harder to find a lane for a triumph, with their 2019 wins coming at home against UMass and Liberty. The lone possibility might be Nov. 14, when Rutgers hosts Illinois.– Lyles.
Michigan StateFirst game: 10/24 vs. RutgersMost important video game: 10/31 at Michigan.
Overall takeaways: Since 2016, Penn State has actually essentially determined itself by its game against Ohio State. With the OSU game falling in Week 2, they will have plenty of time to reset expectations after a loss; however if they win, theyll have to keep their focus for rather a while to get to the conference title game.
