[2023] Quick B1G Preview

[tsweezy]

The B1G is notoriously hard to project, as they lack a "top dog" but have a lot of teams that could breakout

 

Big Ten West

 

Team	2022 Record	Talent Rank	Best Player	2nd Best	3rd Best	1st round talents	Projected Draft Picks	Predicted Conference finish	Division Finish
Wisconsin	6-6	17	WisconsinDTDenverLittonBalancedJr5A	WisconsinOGA.J.KanterBalanced(So)5A	WisconsinOTMattFultonRun BlockingSr4A	0	3	3	1
Illinois	8-4	21	IllinoisCBSamVothMan CoverageSr4A	IllinoisOTDa'NorrisWhiteRun BlockingSr4A	IllinoisRBGabrielAdeboyejoPowerSr4A	1	2	4	2
Northwestern	8-5	42	NorthwesternKBenFrareAccuracySr5A	NorthwesternOLBDerrickVasquezPass RushSr4A	NorthwesternWRAnthonyKochRoute RunnerJr4A	0	1	6	3
Purdue	4-8	64	PurdueCTrayvonWadleyPass BlockingSr4A	PurdueRBMikeBatesBalancedSr4A	PurdueCBDominiqueMillerZone CoverageSr4A	0	1	7	4
Nebraska	5-7	77	NebraskaRBRichaunAlsadekBalancedJr4A	NebraskaOGHunterFamiliaBalancedSr5A	NebraskaOTChrisDiazRun BlockingSr4A	0	3	8	5
Iowa	6-6	129	IowaDEDeiondre'MoralesSpeed RusherJr4A	IowaOGArdenNiangBalancedJr4A-	IowaQBCoreyBrownPocketSr4A-	0	0	13	6
Minnesota	0-12	95	MinnesotaILBAliSandovalSpeedSr4A	MinnesotaOTDelanieJohnsonRun BlockingJr4A	MinnesotaDTRobertMorontaBalancedSr3A	0	1	14	7

 

Big Ten East

 

Team	2022 Record	Talent Rank	Best Player	2nd Best	3rd Best	1st round talents	Projected Draft Picks	Predicted Conference finish	Division Finish
Michigan State	11-2	15	Michigan StateDECoreyReidSpeed RusherSr4A	Michigan StateOTMicahPricePass BlockingSr4A	Michigan StateWRPedroMazzaroPossessionSr4A	0	3	1	1
Ohio State	7-5	6	Ohio StateRBWayneHughesReceivingSr4A	Ohio StateDTJavyAxelrodNose TackleSr4A	Ohio StateQBDylanGomesField GeneralSr3A	0	3	2	2
Penn State	8-4	103	Penn StateWRNickJonesRed Zone ThreatSr4A	Penn StateOTJonathonCallahanRun Blocking(So)4A	Penn StateCDariusKontosRun BlockingSr4A	0	2	5	3
Rutgers	5-7	88	RutgersPTroyJacksonPowerSr5A	RutgersRBJeffHolleySpeedSr5A	RutgersWRSebyBazardoPossessionJr5A	2	3	9	4
Michigan	4-8	53	MichiganOTDaVonteLoganRun BlockingSr5A	MichiganCBSealverNkemdicheMan CoverageJr4A	MichiganDTDevinPerkinsPass RusherSr4A	0	1	10	5
Maryland	5-7	119	MarylandQBIsaiahLewisScrambler(Jr)4A	MarylandOGAndrewTolesRun BlockingSr4A	MarylandSSVernonMackZone Coverage(So)4A-	0	1	11	6
Indiana	6-6	100	IndianaDETyBogdanovicSpeed RusherSr4A	IndianaCBStephenHernandezZone CoverageSr3A	IndianaRBGeoffAlburquerqueReceivingJr4A-	1	2	12	7

 

Super interesting to see how this shakes out. The talent of these teams is almost inversely correlated to how good the coaches are, so tough to tell which will win out. I think Michigan State (10) and Ohio State (11) will lead the way on the national scene, and the West will have Wisconsin (24) and Illinois (25) fighting for a breakout season. The West in general is anyone's game while I think there is more of a distinct pecking order in the East. Either way, I think the B1G will notch a few more OOC wins but beat each other up in conference play.