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August is slowly turning into September, fall camp is ending, and school is about to start. This can only mean one thing; Football season is back. Usually I cover all things NFL, especially the Tennessee Titans, who I am very excited for this year, but this season I will dive into the chaotic realm of college football. With NIL, the transfer portal, conference realignment, and the new playoff system, the college football landscape has fully entered uncharted waters, which I plan to navigate throughout 2024.
Keep reading to see how the post-Jim Harbaugh Big Ten could shape up in 2024, with my Big Ten season preview and predictions. (Note: Ranked teams are ranked using ESPN’s post Spring Game top-25 rankings)
Title Photo: Barry Reeger / AP Photo
18. Purdue Boilermakers (2023 record: 4-8)
The Boilermakers kick off our list as the Big Ten’s cellar dwellers. In the middle of a rebuild, this program doesn’t have a lot of hope in 2024. QB Hudson Card flashed potential last year, but the team as a whole isn’t very special. It will take coach Ryan Walters a while to build up a successful team, especially in the new-look conference.
2024 Projected Record: 3-9
17. Indiana Hoosiers (2023 record: 3-9)
New coach Curt Cignetti has his work cut out for him after going 52-9 in 4 years at James Madison. Indiana is in major need of a rebuild, with extra focus necessary on the defense that surrendered 33.8 points per game in Big Ten play last year. Cignetti’s experience with offenses should help Ohio transfer QB Kurtis Rourke and the offense that averaged just 22.2 points a game last year get better. There is hope for the Hoosiers, but don’t expect a major improvement in 2024.
2024 Projected Record: 3-9
16. Northwestern Wildcats (2023 record: 8-5)
The Wildcats had a surprising 8-win season last year after going a combined 4-20 in the previous 2 years. Is this just lightning in a bottle, or is Northwestern a full thunderstorm in the middle of monsoon season? Only time will tell, but with a quarterback room filled with questions, the defense that returns 7 starters from last year's surprise team will have to carry the squad early in the year as the offense works out its kinks. Not a great plan for a team looking to take a leap in a much improved Big Ten. Combine that with a hard schedule, and I think Northwestern regresses back to its mean.
2024 Projected Record: 4-8
15. Illinois Fighting Illini (2023 record: 5-7)
Illinois was 8-5 in 2022, but fell to 5-7. The defense gave up just 12.8 points a game in ‘22, but that number more than doubled to 29.4 last campaign. Fixing the defense is the main concern for coach Bret Bielema to improve this season. The offense also has question marks, but has a lot of upside, led by QB Luke Altmyer and RB Kaden Feagin as well as an offensive line that returns three starters. A schedule loaded with 4 top-25 teams could be the teams downfall however.
2024 Projected Record: 4-8
14. UCLA Bruins (2023 record: 8-5)
The future for the Bruins looks quite bleak (at least for 2024). First, the transition to the Big Ten is a tough one, but on top of that, UCLA has just 9 total starters coming back. Add in a new coaching staff, a gutted front-7, and several question marks across the offense, the goal for the season should just be development of younger players with hopes that new OC Eric Bieniemy can instill life into the offense.
2024 Projected Record: 4-8
Michigan State's Nick Marsh warms up during the Spartans Spring Showcase.
Photo: Nick King / East Lansing Journal / USA
13. Michigan State Spartans (2023 record: 4-8)
Sparty’s in-state rivals are the defending champions. It’s not a good look for State, but how will they do in coach Johnathan Smith’s inaugural season? It will be a tough season in East Lansing, with the brand new staff overseeing the first season of a rebuilding program. QB Aidan Chiles from Oregon State followed Smith over from Beaver Land and has NFL potential. All eyes are on his development, and he has the upside to be a top signal caller in the conference.
2024 Projected Record: 4-8
12. Minnesota Golden Gophers (2023 record: 6-7)
Like many other middle/bottom of the pack teams in the Big Ten, the Golden Gophers are in a bit of a transition period. They have the talent to rebound from a losing season, but also have a tough schedule and a new QB in UNH transfer Max Brosmer. He will be a big reason for their success/failure this season. If he can adapt from the FCS level well, then the team can have a bounce back. However, if he struggles early, the team could fall into a hole that they can’t dig themselves out of late in the season.
2024 Projected Record: 6-7 (Bowl Loss)
11. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2023 record: 7-6)
Rutgers is in a similar position to Iowa, with a very good defense (the unit allowed just 21.2 points a game last year), but have an uninspiring offense that has to improve to become a better team. New QB Athan Kaliakmanis, a Minnesota transfer will have to steady the passing attack on an offense that already has one of the most underrated weapons in Kyle Monagani. If the offense gets better, how will the new lock conference treat the Scarlet Knights? That is the biggest question to the program's development. They do however have a pretty easy schedule considering how much better the conference got.
2024 Projected Record: 7-6 (Bowl Win)
Toughest Opponents: vs Washington, vs Wisconsin, at #25 USC
10. Maryland Terrapins (2023 record: 8-5)
Maryland has always been a middle of the pack type of team, and losing record setting QB Tualia Tagovailoa hurts a team with little star power to compete in the Big Ten. The schedule is by no means the toughest in the conference, but the Terps are just uninspiring to me. Taking the next step for a program with back-to-back 8 win seasons is very challenging in the loaded Big Ten.
2024 Projected Record: 6-7 (Bowl Loss)
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers (2023 record: 5-7)
There is a lot of hype surrounding the Cornhuskers this season, in a way that hasn’t happened in a long time. It’s all because of 5-star QB Dylan Raiola. The signal caller sent shockwaves around the college football world when he decommitted from Georgia last winter and flipped to Nebraska and enrolled early. He has impressed in his few true game-like actions, but he will have to live up to the 5-star pedigree. The rest of the team is unimpressive, but the defense has a lot of upside. The ceiling if everything goes right is 8 or 9 wins, but there is a lot of pressure on the 19 year old to deliver.
2024 Projected Record: 6-7 (Bowl Loss)
New Huskies QB, Will Rogers during a practice drill. He looks to pick up where Michael Penix Jr left off.
Photo: Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times
8. Washington Huskies (2023 record: 14-1, PAC-12 Champions, National Runner-Up)
Washington’s 2023 season should not be forgotten at all. They went all the way to the championship game, beat Oregon twice, and won the PAC-12 regular season and championship game all in the same year. But this isn’t 2023. This is 2024. The Huskies lost most offensive starters, including QB Michael Penix Jr, and WR’s Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk. Also, coach Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama. Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers is a good QB, but the team has lost too much. This is a transition year as the conference is too good for a gutted Washington team to compete.
2024 Projected Record: 7-6 (Bowl Loss)
7. Wisconsin Badgers (2023 record: 7-6)
The Badgers are primed to improve in coach Luke Fickell’s sophomore season, but an insanely tough schedule stands in the way. For an average team that lost talent to the NFL, and didn’t get all that better, it doesn’t bode well, especially in a now loaded conference. The record could very well be the same as last year, even if Fickell’s team improves their on-field product.
2024 Projected Record: 7-6 (Bowl Win)
6. #23 Iowa Hawkeyes (2023 record: 10-4)
Iowa’s in an odd position this year. Their offense was beyond horrible last year, averaging 15.4 points a game, but somehow the team pulled together 10 wins. Swiss Army Knife of the defense/return team, Cooper DeJean is now a Philadelphia Eagle, but the defense returns 8 starters, so that unit should be productive once again. It’s up to QB Cade McNamara to return from a torn ACL and lead the offense. If they can score 20+ points a game and not turn the ball over, they could win 11 games. The only question is if it can happen. One positive is that their schedule is easier than most teams in their position, the Hawkeyes just need to capitalize.
2024 Projected Record: 9-4 (Bowl Loss)
Toughest Opponents: at #2 Ohio State, vs Washington, vs Wisconsin
5. #25 USC Trojans (2023 record: 8-5)
This very well could be too high for the Trojans, but with new DC D’Anton Lynn to reshape a historically bad defense, I’m all in on them. We all know Lincoln Reily’s ability to produce amazing players at the quarterback position, and Miller Moss has the tools to be the next great one for USC. If Moss integrates well into the system and plays up to his potential, and the defense is just around average, USC could be a sneaky playoff team.
2024 Projected Record: 9-4 (Bowl Loss)
4. #10 Michigan Wolverines (2023 record: 15-0, Big Ten Champions, National Champions)
This feels odd putting the defending National Champs all the way at fourth in their own conference, but it is warranted. Losing Coach Jim Harbuagh was a massive blow, and on top of that, QB JJ McCarthy and many other key players left for the draft. New coach Sherrone Moore still has RB Donovan Edwards and CB Will Johnson, but the hole at QB has to be addressed early in the year. The two prominent options are the athletic Alex Orji and the experienced Jack Tuttle. The schedule is daunting as well, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Wolverines can’t make it back to the playoffs, especially with the new look (and absolutely loaded) SEC.
2024 Projected Record: 10-3 (Bowl Win)
Penn State's Drew Allar looks ahead during pregame warmups in 2023.
Photo: Matthew O'Haren / USA TODAY Sports
3. #12 Penn State Nittany Lions (2023 record: 10-3)
The Nittany Lions' whole season comes down to former 5-star QB Drew Allar. It’s time for him to live to those lofty expectations and deliver for a team that constantly underwhelms in big moments. I do believe that he will succeed in big moments this year, but I still don’t think Penn State can live up to the high expectations that are put on them year after year. Does coach James Franklin have the talent? Yes. Can they put it all together and go all the way? I don’t think so.
2024 Projected Record: 11-2 (11-1 Regular Season, First Round Loss in CFP)
2. #4 Oregon Ducks (2023 record: 12-2, PAC-12 Runner-Up)
The Ducks are one of the new teams in the conference, after nearly winning the PAC-12 championship last year. New QB Dillion Gabriel (Oklahoma) will have to play up to his Heisman level standards if Oregon wants to make some noise. Evan Stewart and Tez Johnson make his life easier at WR, as they form a dynamic duo ready to wreak havoc on opposing defenses. Coach Dan Lanning may be one of the best, if not the best in the whole nation. Keep an eye on the Ducks this year as they are primed for a deep run in the CFP.
2024 Projected Record: 12-2 (12-0 Regular Season, Big Ten Runner-Up, Semifinal Loss in CFP)
1. #2 Ohio State Buckeyes (2023 record: 11-2)
The Buckeyes have not beaten the team up North in 3 years. Coach Ryan Day has to beat them this year and there is no excuse. Ohio State reloaded with possibly the best transfer class in the country. Some headliners are QB Will Howard (Kansas State), RB Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss), DB Caleb Downs (Alabama) and QB of the future Julian Sayin (Alabama). The pieces are there, now it's up to Day to coach this team better, as they have the talent to make a deep playoff run.
2024 Projected Record: 13-2 (11-1 Regular Season, Big Ten Champion, Semifinal Loss in CFP)
Final Thoughts:
While no conference is as good as the SEC, the Big Ten is as close as any conference will get. It got significantly better during the offseason, has both teams from the National Championship game, and has 2 juggernauts at the top in Oregon and Ohio State. It will be exciting to see how the season plays out. I think that 3 teams will make the CFP (Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State), with Michigan just barely missing the cut. I hope these predictions are right (or at least somewhat right), but either way, this was a fun blog to research and write. Stay on the lookout for my coverage of the final two major conferences (RIP PAC-12) later this week.
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