Do you like running the ball? How do you feel about defenses? What are your thoughts on teams who value offensive lineman more than defensive backs? Well, if any of those questions tickled your fancy, then do I have a conference for you. Home to halfback dives and three yards and a cloud of dust, the Big Ten Conference is where real football is played. And while it may lack the flash of the ACC, there is more than enough to offer come Saturdays in the fall.
Let’s get ready to dive into the 2018 Big Ten Conference.
Team to Watch: Nebraska
Everyone is going to be watching Nebraska this year. Golden boy Scott Frost returns to Lincoln after building one of the most exciting teams of all of college football last season at UCF. After winning a National Title as a quarterback for Nebraska, Frost returns to his alma mater with hopes to return this storied program back to dominance. This scares the literal shit out of me. It may not be this season, or next, but soon, very soon, Nebraska will be in the National spotlight on a consistent basis. (To be quite frank with you, this is probably the best thing for the conference, because establishing some legitimacy in the Big Ten West outside of Wisconsin and Iowa means good things as a whole).
Game to Watch: Wisconsin at Michigan (10/13)
Everyone likes to say that Michigan-Ohio State is going to be the game to watch. And maybe they’re right. But depending on what side Michigan comes out of Ann Arbor on in this game, the last game of the season may mean very little. If both Wisconsin and Michigan head into this game undefeated, this could very well have very important ramifications heading into the latter half of the season.
Potential Contenders
East: Ohio State
With Coach Urban Meyer’s three game suspension handed down this week, Ohio State’s season is very well in good shape. (Don’t get me started on that topic.) Ohio State will obviously have a tough road heading into Indianapolis and the Big 10 Conference Championship game, but from a pure talent perspective, there is no one in that conference who will probably come close to hanging an “L” on the Buckeyes in the regular season.
West: Iowa
While Nebraska will be the team to watch, Iowa will be at the forefront of the West Division for most of the season. Returning Starting QB Nate Stanley will definitely help as will their terrifying defensive line. With a game against Bucky in Iowa City plus no Ohio State, Michigan or Michigan State, the Hawkeyes have a favorable schedule.
Conference Winner: Wisconsin
Okay, I’m going to try and keep this as unbiased as possible. Nah…fuck it! IT’S THE BADGERS YEAR BABY!!!! I think I should have seriously had one of the other guys write. Because I don’t know if it’s my undying love for the team that plays literally four blocks from my apartment. Or maybe the fact that this is shaping up to be one of the best teams the Badgers have ever put onto the field. There is just something about this team. Jonathan Taylor (Thomas) is coming off a freshman season where he was very much in Heisman consideration. If Alex Hornibrook can be the QB we saw in the Orange Bowl, this offense is shaping up to be very VERY good, returning 9 starters . Madison, buckle up. We’re going to be in this one all season. And it’s going to be AMAZING!