NCAA FOOTBALL
Big Ten 2023 Football Preview: The Remaining Teams
By Paul Garwood
Anticipate an exhilarating season for Big Ten Football. After exploring the top teams in the division, Michigan and Ohio State, we now turn our attention to the remaining conference contenders, offering a preview of their capabilities.
Penn State
Drew Allar, the highly rated five-star quarterback poised to take over from Sean Clifford, holds the key to Penn State’s ability to sustain its position in the upper tier. This roster, masterfully crafted by James Franklin, showcases exceptional talents such as Olu Fashanu, an offensive tackle prospect of the highest caliber, Nicholas Singleton, an outstanding running back, Kalen King, a top-notch cornerback, and Chop Robinson, a formidable edge rusher.
Having secured 11 victories in the 2022 season, the Nittany Lions find themselves in a promising position to become members of the prestigious first-time participants in the College Football Playoff. In order to achieve this, it is probable that they would need to surpass either Michigan or Ohio State, the two formidable opponents that emerged victorious over them in the previous year.
Wisconsin
Welcome back to the Big 10 Luke Fickell. In this age of transfer portal acquisitions, Fickell achieved great success by securing the services of Tanner Mordecai, a quarterback who exhibited remarkable prowess during his tenure at SMU. Mordecai’s outstanding performance included an impressive tally of 3,524 passing yards and 33 touchdowns, albeit somewhat marred by 10 interceptions, all achieved with a completion rate of 65 percent.
Furthermore, the Badgers have managed to retain their star receivers Chimere Dike and Skyler Bell, while simultaneously bolstering their receiving unit through astute portal selections. Phil Longo, the newly appointed coordinator, will be leading the team’s offensive strategies, striving to maintain the Wisconsin’s long-established dominance in the running game, albeit with an increased emphasis on speed and the implementation of his unique adaptation of the Air Raid system. Additionally, the talented running back Braelon Allen has chosen to continue his tenure with the team.
In light of Fickell’s transition from Cincinnati, defensive coordinator Mike Tressel also made the move. Tressel brings with him a defensive strategy reminiscent of Michigan State’s successful past units in the Big Ten over ten years ago.
However, the Badgers are faced with the daunting task of replacing key players at every level of their defense. The absence of Jim Leonhard, who was integral to their D unit’s success, must not be overlooked in terms of its significance.
Iowa
Kirk Ferentz returns for his 25th season. For Iowa the focus lies on offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, whose recent agreement mandates that Iowa must win a minimum of seven games and achieve a scoring average of 25 points per game – a 24 percent increase compared to the previous season.
In 2021, Michigan transfer Cade McNamara surpassed the number of touchdown passes thrown by Iowa quarterbacks in the previous season by more than double. If the offensive line can return to its usual performance, running back Kaleb Johnson is poised for a standout season. An influential player on the team is punter Tory Taylor.
Maryland
The return of quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa should position Maryland for a third consecutive bowl trip and what could be the Terrapins’ best season as a member of the Big Ten. How high they climb will depend on their play in the trenches, as the Terrapins gave up a league-high 43 sacks last season.
With the intention of bolstering its offensive line, Maryland has brought in three transfers and also recruited multiple defensive players from the portal. Among these acquisitions are Jordan Phillips, a defensive tackle from Tennessee, Avantae Williams, a safety from Miami, and Ja’Quan Sheppard, a cornerback from Cincinnati.
Illinois
Bret Bielema has undoubtedly gained the confidence of observers. It is anticipated that Bielema will apply the same approach that resulted in the transformation of Illinois into an accomplished team, winning eight matches within a span of two seasons. He possesses a successful methodology which proved effective during his time at Wisconsin and is equally fruitful in Champaign. Illinois adopts a robust style of play and exhibits an abundance of skill and talent that proved decisive in triumphing over Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in 2022.
In the ongoing quarterback competition between John Paddock and Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer, both players are vying for the opportunity to take the field. Additionally, the return of Isaiah Williams promises to bring an offensive boost to the team.
Minnesota
Over the past three complete seasons, the Gophers have achieved victories in 11, nine, and nine games respectively. However, their performance last season fell just short, resulting in the loss of the opportunity to secure the Big Ten West title.
As quarterback, Athan Kaliakmanis proved his capabilities last year when he substituted Morgan. Will the arrival of Sean Tyler (previously from Western Michigan) in the backfield, along with the addition of Corey Crooms (also from Western Michigan) and Elijah Spencer (formerly from Charlotte) as wide receivers, enable them to replicate last season’s outstanding productivity.
Leadership is provided by proven playmakers such as Chris Autman-Bell, a receiver, Brevyn Spann-Ford, a tight end, and Tyler Nubin in the secondary.
Michigan State
Following the conclusion of spring practice, Michigan State bid farewell to their two-year starting quarterback, Payton Thorne, as he transferred to Auburn. Consequently, the coaching staff seems to be placing their trust in Noah Kim, who had been competing with Thorne for the coveted starting position.
With the defense struggling throughout the 2022 season, the Spartans made substantial efforts to bolster their roster by bringing in a number of transfer players. Among these reinforcements, linebacker Cal Haladay is expected to play a crucial role in initiating a much-needed team resurgence.
Nebraska
With Matt Rhule implementing changes in gameday routines and achieving victories, it is evident that the Huskers are progressing towards a positive path. Methodical growth is his objective, commencing with a revitalized focus on physicality and resilience.
The resurgence of the fullback position has been witnessed in Nebraska, as they rely on the talented QB Jeff Sims, who, despite having a history of turnovers during his time at Georgia Tech, possesses exceptional skills and abilities.
With the aim of creating chaos, former Syracuse coordinator Tony White will enforce an aggressive style of play in the defense. A total of 40 players who did not complete the previous season with Nebraska have been added to the scholarship by Rhule. The base formation utilized will be a 3-3-5.
Purdue
Ryan Walters, the new coach, is warmly embraced by Purdue University. In comes Hudson Card, a highly praised former quarterback recruit who honed his skills at Texas for three seasons. With Devin Mockobee, previously a walk-on, dominating the field as a powerful running back, Purdue’s offensive line becomes formidable.
Under the guidance of the newly appointed coordinator, Graham Harrell, the team retains its fleet-footed wide receivers. Additionally, Coach Walters is committed to implementing an aggressive defensive style. Notably, rising talents like Yanni Karlaftis and Nic Caraway form the backbone of the team’s defensive prowess.
Indiana
Ever since Michael Penix Jr. suffered an injury and moved to Washington, the quarterback position in Indiana has been ever-changing. Tayven Jackson, a transfer from Tennessee is currently competing against Brendan Sorsby during training camp. Additionally, Dexter Williams II is gradually making his comeback from knee surgery.
In the quest for solutions regarding the defensive aspect of the game, Tom Allen, with a background in coaching defense, is exploring options. Last year, Allen’s attempt to assume responsibility for defensive play-calling proved unsuccessful. Consequently, the Indiana team has now decided to enlist the expertise of Matt Guerrieri, previously a defensive coordinator at Duke and originally intended for a position at Tulsa before being recruited by Indiana.
Rutgers
The passing game of the Scarlet Knights, which had the lowest completion percentage, yards per attempt, and yards per game in the Big Ten last season, is counting on offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca to assist quarterback Gavin Wimsatt in advancing and resolving the issue.
Northwestern
In the wake of Pat Fitzgerald’s dismissal, David Braun, the interim coach, is faced with a considerable challenge as Northwestern endeavors to put an end to their 11-game losing streak.
The performance of Coordinator Mike Bajakian’s offense proved to be lackluster in 2022, placing them at the 128th position nationally in terms of scoring offense, averaging a mere 13.8 points per game.
Assuming the responsibility, running back Cam Porter will bear the burden, accompanied by whichever quarterback emerges from a roster spearheaded by Cincinnati transfer Ben Bryant.
We hope you enjoyed our comprehensive preview of the remaining Big Ten football teams for the upcoming 2023 season. As football fans, it’s always exciting to analyze and anticipate the performance of each team, and we have provided in-depth insights into what to expect from the remaining Big Ten teams.
From roster changes to potential breakout players, we’ve covered it all. We can’t wait to see how these teams compete and exceed expectations on the field. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and news on AllNSportz. Let’s get ready for an unforgettable Big Ten football season!
