2024 Big Ten Football Conference Preview

2024 Big Ten Football Conference Preview

With the College Football season set to get underway this weekend, Vendetta Sports Media will be bringing you full conference previews for all Power Five (four, really) conferences as well as some of the Group of Five. Hanifan grabbed the MAC and the Sun Belt, and I did the SEC, and as you can tell by the title we will be taking a look at the Big Ten in this one. With the addition of a number of teams from the Pac-12 this off-season, this conference should be entertaining to watch unfold week after week. Who comes out on top, and what do the full rankings look like? Let’s talk about it in my 2024 Big Ten preview!

*Record predictions at the bottom*

1. Oregon

Oregon might be the most complete team in the country, with one of, if not, the best Head Coach as well. Dan Lanning has completely revamped this Ducks program into a powerhouse, and their first season in the Big Ten should be fruitful. Dillon Gabriel should seamlessly take over for Bo Nix, they are loaded at receiver, and the defense has retooled after losing a number of players to the draft. If Gabriel can limit the silly mistakes, this Oregon team should be primed for a run at a National Championship.

2. Ohio State

On paper, there is no more loaded team in the country than Ohio State. This defense should be a top-five unit, headlined by their pass rushers. Landing Caleb Downs from Alabama will be huge for their secondary as well, as he should elevate the guys around him. However, it is hard to put full trust in Will Howard. We can’t sit here and act like Howard was a world-beater at Kansas State last season. 10 interceptions and a completion percentage of 61.3 is not ideal, but the talent around him is SIGNIFICANTLY better now than before. If you want to put all your eggs in his basket, be my guest.

Oh, also Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith will end the year as the best-receiving duo in College Football. Both guys are otherworldly.

3. Penn State

Drew Allar might not be the player some thought he might have been, myself included, but that’s not to say that he can’t turn it around in 2024. He’s got all the talent in the world, but this offense struggled in 2023. 2,600 yards simply won’t cut it. However, with new OC Andy Kotelnicki coming in to revamp this offense, the entire unit should look much better. Nick Singleton is still a monster, the defense is going to be very good this year, but I believe the real question mark will be Allar and this offensive line.

4. Iowa

I’m not sure what to say about the Iowa Hawkeyes in this 2024 Big Ten preview, other than to brag about their defense. That’s the calling card of Kirk Ferentz, after all. Cade McNamara just doesn’t do it for me. Nothing about his game really pops on the screen, and I believe he will hold this Iowa team from being real contenders for a College Football Playoff berth. Hammer the unders every week and watch the profits flow in.

5. Michigan

Michigan is almost turning over an entirely new starting unit on both sides of the ball. The defending National Champions lost a huge number of key players and their former HC Jim Harbaugh. All hope is not lost for the Wolverines, however, as they have arguably the best DT and CB in the country in Mason Graham and Will Johnson. The defense is still going to be legit, but can the offense score enough points to keep games close? We shall soon find out.

6. Wisconsin

The first year for Luke Fickell may have left some to be desired, but this Badgers team is potentially primed for a rise up the ranks in this 2024 Big Ten preview. They’ll be spearheaded by an excellent defense, in typical Wisconsin fashion, and they will be hoping incoming transfer QB Tyler Van Dyke is the answer to their recent woes at the position. Van Dyke played well last season, but with a lackluster receiving corps, the offense could struggle again. Can the defense keep this team in games?

7. USC

The story with the USC Trojans has been that the defense always finds a way to cost this team games. Luckily for Trojans fans, Alex Grinch is finally gone, and they seem to have found a potential gem in D’Anton Lynn. Lynn led UCLA to eighth in expected points per play on defense, which is worlds better than the 111th they were the year before. The offense will be led by Miller Moss, and while that unit is very young, they have shown high-end potential. USC is a trendy pick to be towards the top of the Big Ten, but in this 2024 Big Ten preview, they fail to meet those expectations.

8. Nebraska

Matt Rhule struggled in year one last year, finishing 5-7. However, True Freshman Dylan Raiola has Cornhuskers fans over the moon excited, and with good reason. He is Nebraska’s first five-star recruit in 19 years and their highest QB commit ever. He was slated to attend Georgia, so that makes this recruitment an even bigger deal. The defense will be the calling card for this team, as they return nine players who played 300+ snaps a year ago. If Raiola can hit the ground running, look for Nebraska to flirt with eight to nine wins this season.

9. Rutgers

Is it crazy to say that I believe Rutgers will be one of the harder outs in this 2024 Big Ten preview? This Scarlet Knights team won a bowl game for the first time in nine years, and they have star running back Kyle Monangai to thank for that. The defense last season exceeded expectations, and they returned 10 players who played over 300+ snaps, meaning they should be even better than 2023.

10. Washington

So much has changed for the Washington Huskies in six months time. Head Coach? Gone. Star quarterback? Gone. Trio of top receivers? Pass rushers? Secondary playmakers? Sensing a trend here? With that being said, life may be hard for the Huskies in 2024. Jedd Fisch and Brennan Carrol will attempt to revive an offense with a ton of turnover and on paper is set to struggle adjusting to Big Ten defenses. 

11. Maryland

The Terrapins are looking for their fourth straight winning season, but it won’t be easy as they are bringing in a new QB for the first time in four years. The defense, specifically the secondary, should continue their good play in 2024, but it’s the skill players on offense that I like, specifically Roman Hemby. The schedule is very favorable for Maryland early, which should create a ton of confidence. Don’t be surprised if Maryland earns an upset win this season on the heels of potential early success. 

12. Northwestern

I don’t know, something about the lakeside stadium could play into the favor of the Wildcats favor. David Braun doesn’t get enough credit for the job he did last season after taking over for a fired Pat Fitzgerald. The run defense took a major step forward, and they return a key number of players, but Northwestern has the sixth-hardest schedule in the country. For those reasons, they land 12th in my 2024 Big Ten preview. 

13. Minnesota

Darius Taylor is the player to keep an eye on for Minnesota in 2024. The true freshman running back popped a few times last season and is set to have a great 2024. He and Jordan Nubin may be leaned upon pretty heavily this season, as they have a transfer quarterback coming in from the FCS. The Golden Gophers haven’t done much in terms of receiving help, as this unit was brutal last season and did not get much better in the offseason. 

14. Illinois

I’ll be honest, I’m kind of surprised Bret Bielema still has a job, but not my monkey, not my circus I suppose. The Fighting Illini came back down to earth after an 8-5 finish in 2022 by going 5-7 in 2023, and the offense played a key part in their demise. Four receivers and their leading rusher are gone, the offensive line didn’t get better, and losing star DT Johnny Newton will be very noticeable in the run game. Don’t be shocked if they finish lower than their projection in this 2024 Big Ten preview. 

15. Indiana

The James Madison Hoos- I mean Indiana Hoosiers are looking to rebuild a program that has struggled for years. New Head Coach Curt Cignetti is bringing 12 players with him from James Madison, where he went 19-5 in the last two seasons. 30 players in from the transfer portal will bring a ton of new faces to the fans, but failure to address the Offensive Line will be their undoing. 

16. UCLA

DeShaun Foster is way over his head. Did anyone else see that press conference? Yikes. Zero confidence in this program. Nine starters gone from the defense, including the DC, third hardest schedule in the country, AND 22,000 miles traveled which will be the second most in FBS? Take the under on wins for the Bruins. 

17. Michigan State

I actually really like Jonathan Smith. He did a very good job rebuilding Oregon State and will look to do the same here. QB Aidan Chiles comes over as TE Jack Velling. The defense last year was less than stellar, and the Spartans will be relying on a number of transfer portal players to make an impact right away. 

18. Purdue

Yawn at all three levels. A cupcake on everyone’s schedule. That’s it. 

• Oregon: 12-0
• Ohio State: 11-1
• Penn State: 10-2
• Iowa: 9-3
• Michigan: 9-3
• Wisconsin: 8-4
• USC: 8-4
• Nebraska: 8-4
• Rutgers: 8-4
• Washington: 7-5
• Maryland: 7-5
• Northwestern: 6-6
• Minnesota: 5-7
• Illinois: 4-8
• Indiana: 4-8
• UCLA: 3-9
• Michigan State: 3-9
• Purdue: 1-11

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