1 Whereas we have seen loads of groups win the title of “offseason champions” solely to fall flat on their face throughout the season, it is not possible Ohio State will undergo such a destiny. It’s extremely a lot Massive Ten title or bust in Columbus. Hell, it is most likely extra nationwide title or bust. Ohio State retained most of its key items from final season and added to the roster by touchdown massive names within the portal resembling Alabama’s Caleb Downs and Ole Miss’ Quinshon Judkins. Will Howard transferred in at QB however has not formally gained the beginning job as a result of Ohio State has enviable depth on the QB spot. The one questions are on the offensive line. 2 Talking of packages which have had an important offseason, Oregon enters its first season within the Massive Ten as a respectable contender to win the league. Bo Nix has been changed by left-handed Bo Nix (extra generally often known as Dillon Gabriel), and he is simply one of many spectacular transfers Dan Lanning has landed. There is a robust argument that the Geese are the second-most gifted group within the league and might be essentially the most gifted Oregon group of all time. 3 It might appear unfair to have the reigning nationwide champions ranked third just a few months faraway from the parade, however rather a lot has modified since then. Jim Harbaugh and a big chunk of the teaching workers are gone, as are J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum and practically each offensive lineman within the 734 space code. Nonetheless, there’s loads of expertise on the roster coming into Sherrone Moore’s first season because the full-time head coach, and the Wolverines have been in a position to maintain onto a number of big defensive items whom some speculated may depart within the portal. There will not be a repeat nationwide title within the playing cards, however a fourth straight Massive Ten title is extra possible than many consider. 4 We might be on the precipice of a brand new period at Penn State — one the place the Nittany Lions are not in the identical division as Ohio State and Michigan and will attain the School Soccer Playoff with out successful the Massive Ten. In fact, even with that being the case, they’re nonetheless solely fourth in these energy rankings behind a brand new incoming powerhouse program! For essentially the most half, the 2024 model of Penn State will not look all that dissimilar to the 2023 model. The hope is a yr of progress from Drew Allar below new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki shall be sufficient to take this group to the following stage. 5 Final season was a catastrophe for the Trojans. The group completed 8-5 regardless of having the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and eventual first choose of the NFL Draft, Caleb Williams. Irrespective of what number of miracles Williams pulled off, he at all times wanted yet another to beat a horrific protection. Lincoln Riley has fully overhauled the defensive workers, so we should always see enchancment there (it might be laborious to be worse), however now the query is: How do the Trojans exchange Caleb Williams? 6 I am placing the Huskies right here as a nod to successful the Pac-12 and reaching the School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship, however there is a robust argument to be made that is too excessive. This system has been gutted since that loss to Michigan. Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama and took the whole lot that wasn’t leaving for the NFL Draft with him. Jedd Fisch comes from Arizona, the place his Wildcats shocked many final season, but it surely’s one other transition on high of the transition to life within the Massive Ten. It looks like a reset season in Seattle. 7 We have reached the portion of those rankings the place you may toss these groups right into a lottery ball machine, choose a random order and practically all could be defensible. I am placing Nebraska on the high not as a result of it is an annual custom to get Husker followers’ hopes up, however as a result of the addition of Dylan Raiola provides this offense a ceiling I am unsure anyone else on this group has. Quite a bit must go proper for that to be the case. True freshman QBs sometimes do not come out weapons blazing, but when Raiola lives as much as his potential, this group might shock. At a minimal, it ought to lastly get again to a bowl recreation. 8 Most years, I take a look at Iowa questioning practically the whole lot concerning the roster and offensive philosophy earlier than deciding it would not matter as a result of the Hawkeyes will work out a solution to win not less than eight video games anyway. Satirically, I am not practically as assured now that Iowa has changed offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz with Tim Lester. This isn’t due to Lester, reasonably it is as a result of final yr’s third-string quarterback, Marco Lainez, is the one wholesome quarterback on the roster proper now. There’s hope Iowa can land a switch quickly, however for essentially the most half, the QBs remaining within the portal come Might are there for a cause. Oh, and celebrity punter extraordinaire Tory Taylor is gone. 9 That is an attention-grabbing spot for the Badgers. The primary season below Luke Fickell had the anticipated ups and downs that have been solely intensified by accidents on the QB spot. This season, the Badgers are hoping their offense can take one other step with both switch Tyler Van Dyke or Braedyn Locke. In fact, there’s additionally the query of whether or not merely being higher shall be sufficient as a result of the Badgers have a frightening schedule. They’re set to play Alabama, USC, Penn State and Oregon this yr with street journeys to Iowa and Nebraska additionally on the slate. 10 Is Rutgers a sneaky darkish horse within the Massive Ten this season? Many are asking! OK, possibly it is solely me and some others asking, however the Knights flew below the radar final season ending 7-6 and successful the Pinstripe Bowl. And so they did it with no passing recreation of which to talk. Minnesota switch Athan Kaliakmanis gained the beginning QB job this spring, and whereas he will not be an enormous improve on the place, any manufacturing within the passing recreation may see this program attain the postseason in consecutive years for the primary time since 2013-14. 11 I am of two minds in terms of the Terps in 2024. One a part of my mind is worried about Maryland not having the Massive Ten’s all-time chief in passing yards, Taulia Tagovailoa. However the different half says possibly that is not the worst factor? Tagovailoa was a unstable commodity. Maybe discovering a bit extra consistency on the place will assist. Nevertheless, whether or not NC State switch M.J. Morris is the participant to ship it stays to be seen. 12 It has been an offseason of change in East Lansing, Michigan. There was an exodus of gamers, as is usually the case when there is a regime change, however the Spartans misplaced some key contributors on protection to the portal this spring. There is a distinction between shedding backups and gamers anticipated to begin. That mentioned, Jonathan Smith has introduced rather a lot with him from Oregon State, together with QB Aidan Chiles. As issues stand proper now, I can see the 2024 season stepping into any variety of instructions for Sparty. t13 Illinois hopes to bounce again from what was a disappointing season internally in 2023 because it didn’t get again to a bowl recreation. Surprisingly, the Illini had one of many higher offenses within the Massive Ten final yr (their 24.2 factors per recreation in convention play ranked fifth), however the protection let the group down. Illinois enters the summer season optimistic that the offense can enhance on final yr, however there are nonetheless questions on the opposite aspect of the ball because the unit misplaced its greatest participant, Johnny Newton, to the NFL. 14 David Braun pulled off probably the most beautiful debuts within the nation final season, main a Northwestern group that was left for useless to an 8-5 document. Whereas Braun acquired a full offseason to construct this system in his picture this winter, I’m wondering how practical it’s to anticipate an encore. The QB scenario is unsettled, and the Wildcats shall be taking part in their house video games on their apply discipline as they await the development of a brand new soccer stadium. We’ll see if this group continues to thrive amidst the chaos. 15 Final yr was the primary time Minnesota did not seem within the AP Prime 25 or CFP Rankings not less than as soon as because the 2018 season because the Gophers completed 6-7. Was it a one-off after regular enchancment below P.J. Fleck or the beginning of a development? The hope is switch QB Max Brosmer can reignite an offense that averaged solely 18.8 factors per recreation in Massive Ten play final season. On the defensive aspect of the ball, defensive coordinator Joe Rossi left to affix Jonathan Smith’s workers at Michigan State, including a little bit of thriller about what we will anticipate from the Gophers in that division this yr. 16 Historical past means that transitioning to a brand new league is troublesome for many, and whereas there are questions on every Pac-12 newcomer, UCLA is the one by which I’ve the least confidence. Chip Kelly left to change into Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and Deshaun Foster is a first-time head coach, although one with loads of familiarity with the UCLA program. This program misplaced quite a lot of key personnel — on and off the sphere — this offseason, and there are too many questions needing solutions earlier than rating the Bruins any increased. 17 Ryan Walters’ first season did not go in addition to hoped. He went 4-8 after inheriting a group that had gone 8-6 in 2022. Then he needed to watch as a few his greatest gamers — receiver Deion Burks and edge rusher Nic Scourton — left through the portal. The excellent news is that Hudson Card is again for his second season as quarterback, and there is perception {that a} second go-around in Walters’ defensive scheme will result in enchancment from a protection that allowed 30.4 factors per recreation. 18 There’s cause to be optimistic about Indiana soccer. Curt Cignetti’s observe document at IUP, Elon and James Madison suggests he is aware of find out how to construct a program. He is introduced loads of key gamers from James Madison, and the Hoosiers landed one of many MAC’s most prolific QBs in Ohio’s Kurtis Rourke. There are sufficient substances in Bloomington to make you ponder whether the Hoosiers might be a shock bundle this season, but it surely nonetheless looks like a longshot. Someone needs to be ranked on the backside for now.