The contenders, pretenders in the 18-team Big Ten

The Buckeyes come into the season as one of the best teams in college football with national title aspirations. You’d be hard-pressed to find a team with better talent and depth at the offensive skill positions, and the Ohio State defense is no slouch either.

The other key contender for the Big Ten title, Oregon has recruited and played like a national powerhouse under head coach Dan Lanning. Thanks to the high-level play of quarterback Dillon Gabriel, that status quo is likely to continue.

Is this the year that head coach James Franklin guides the Nittany Lions into the College Football Playoff? The expanded 12-team field will give Penn State hope, as will the growth of quarterback Drew Allar and running back Nicholas Singleton.

A program like Michigan has no shortage of talent, but an adjustment period may be needed as the Wolverines replace the majority of last year’s championship-winning team. Can the Michigan defense help support an unproven offense?

It’s a similar story for USC entering the 2024 season as the Trojans are excited about their offense with question marks on the other side of the ball. A season-opening contest against LSU represents one of the most difficult Week 1 matchups across the country.

In spite of a lackluster offense, the Hawkeyes just keep on winning. An elite defense and favorable schedule will once again keep Iowa among the Big Ten’s better programs, though its quarterback play could again be a weakness.

A well-rounded Wisconsin team should keep the Badgers in position for another bowl game appearance. Transfer quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is a standout, and the Wisconsin defense appears formidable once again.

Nebraska will go as far as its freshman quarterback can take it. Dylan Raiola will lead a new-look Husker offense which only needs to limit takeaways so that a veteran-heavy defense can go to work and flip games in NU’s favor.

It’s a rebuilding year for first-year Washington head coach Jedd Fisch, who quickly rebuilt Arizona at his last coaching stop. Quarterback Will Rogers is talented, but there are too many unknowns about the Huskies at this point in the season.

Rutgers returned to the postseason last fall and can now look to make the next step of continued winning success. The Scarlet Knights’ run game and all-around defense are notable strengths.

With multi-year starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa graduating, it’ll be an uphill battle for Maryland to get its offense firing on all cylinders. The Terrapins appear strong defensively with eight returning starters.

Minnesota has a proven strategy of controlling the ball on offense and will now rely on FCS transfer quarterback Max Brosmer to get the job done.

In wide receivers Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin, Illinois has difference-makers capable of making big plays, but can quarterback Luke Altmeyer come up with a season’s worth of consistent performances?

After overachieving in 2023, Northwestern might be in for a reality check this time around thanks to a challenging schedule and several holes on defense.

The Bruins went through a major roster overhaul in the offseason and may struggle on the defensive side of the ball because of it.

Head coach Curt Cignetti has a reputation for turning programs around, and he’ll rely on transfer quarterback Kurtis Rourke to immediately elevate the Hoosiers’ play.

Quarterback Hudson Card leads an offense that needs to keep Purdue competitive as the Boilermakers try to improve from a dismal 2023 performance on the defensive side of the ball.

The Spartans open the year at rock bottom having suffered a coaching scandal and struggled on the gridiron last fall. Quarterback Aidan Chiles, who followed head coach Johnathan Smith from Oregon State, will seek to improve the Spartans’ fortunes.