A new era of Big Ten football begins this fall with four powerful brands joining the conference. No more Big Ten East and West divisions and no more Midwest-centric geography. Now the Big Ten reaches coast-to-coast and contains some of the biggest brands in the sport.
What this means for business has been discussed at length. What it means for competition within the conference is clear: the inventory of great games is expanding significantly, which also means tougher paths for nearly every member team.
Related: Power ranking all 18 Big Ten football programs after the 2023 season
A good sample: Oregon joins the Big Ten as one of the top three teams from the onset — especially given its recruiting pedigree and recent performance under head coach Dan Lanning. The Ducks’ first year in the conference includes contests against UCLA, Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Washington. That is a tough path regardless of the program’s strength.
Related: Looking ahead to Wisconsin’s 2024 football schedule
So as we prepare to see the new era of Big Ten football — and especially where the Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska-type programs fall — here are our way-too-early record predictions for every team in the conference:
Indiana Hoosiers
Sep 2, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Brendan Sorsby (15) scrambles during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Indiana University Memorial Stadium. Ohio State won 23-3. Credit: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
Projected Record: 3-9 (0-9 Big Ten)
Record in 2023: 3-9 (1-8 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games
vs Washington
vs Michigan
at Ohio State
Projected Wins: Florida International, Western Illinois, Charlotte
Projected Losses: UCLA, Maryland, Northwestern, Nebraska, Washington, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/way-too-early-record-predictions-124030628.html
Author : Badgers Wire
Publish date : 2024-02-04 12:40:30
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