Big Ten Football: 3 Teams I am Not Sold On Just Yet

After winning two-straight conference championships and returning more production than anyone in the conference, you’d think the Michigan Wolverines are favored to win another title this fall. Some outlets are still high on Michigan’s odds to win a National Championship, though many still are in love with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Regardless, many other Big Ten football teams are expected to make noise in 2023, though I am not sold on these three just yet.

Big Ten Football Teams With High Expectations

Right off the bat, many Big Ten football teams enter the season with massive expectations, namely, the big three teams in the east division: Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. Additionally, Mel Tucker and the Michigan State Spartans will be looking to bounce-back after a 5-7 season in 2022, and teams like Wisconsin and Iowa are looking better equipped to make a run.

I think Penn State will be good, Michigan State will be better than it was in 2022, and per usual, the Buckeyes will be a threat, though three teams in particular need to prove it to me this fall.

The Penn State Nittany Lions

Now, don’t get me wrong here, I am high on the Penn State Nittany Lions heading into 2023; after all, James Franklin & Co. just finished 11-2, No. 7 in the polls, and won a Rose Bowl title — the programs fourth 11-win season and significant championship in the last six full seasons.

That said, I think the media and fans could be asking a bit too much of Penn State this fall — the Nittany Lions have a first-year starting quarterback, many young players, and a demanding schedule coming into the year. Additionally, I would argue that PSU had a better roster with Barkley and McSorley in 2017, and they could not get the job done either.

I think Penn State is a legitimate New Year’s Six contender, though I am not sold on the Lions being a true player for the College Football Playoff or Big Ten Championship race just yet.

The Wisconsin Badgers

I get it, Luke Fickel is coming from Cincinnati with some vast expectations — Wisconsin fans are excited, and frankly, can you blame them? The Badgers finished the 2022 season 6-6 before claiming a bowl victory and ending the year above .500 — Wisconsin has subtly been one of the nation’s best and most consistent programs of the past two decades. However, they have not seen much major success since the divisions split east and went.

USA Today predicts that the Badgers will finish the 2023 season with a 10-2 record and win the west in year one of Luke Fickell, and quite honestly, I just don’t see it yet. Yes, the west is as weak as ever, but I am not too high on the Badgers heading into the season.

The Iowa Hawkeyes

The last Big Ten team that I am not sold on just yet is the Iowa Hawkeyes, who finished 2022 with an 8-5 record somehow. A season ago, the Iowa offense seemed to break records for how piss-poor it was; in fact, though the first few weeks of the season, the Hawkeyes’ offense was out-scored by its defense. In Week 1 of last season, Iowa beat an FCS school 7-3… with two safeties and a field goal.

This year, I am not confident that Iowa’s offense will get that much better. Sure, the Hawkeyes added two former Michigan Wolverines to their offense — QB Cade McNamara and TE Erick All — but will either make that much of a difference? I doubt it. Additionally, Brain “Thanks For The Job, Dad!” Ferentz will still be calling plays in Iowa City, so things are not looking too bright right now.

Per usual, the Big Ten West is anyone’s to win — a large part of me wants to see a team like Northwestern or Purdue win it again, I have grown tired of watching Wisconsin and Iowa get blown out or choke in the conference title game.

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