A Way Too Early Conference Prediction: B1G

By: Nate Murphy (@bigmurph23)

In part two of our conference predictions we will wander into the B1G conference. Just like in real life, the powers that be can’t count and there are not ten teams in the field. But we are going to let that slide and we are going to try and figure out where each of them fall one through seven. 

The B1G is an interesting conference to break down. It is hard to look back at last season’s standings because most of the teams in last season’s B1G aren’t in the same conference anymore. And in the B1G what was once old is new again. USC, Penn State, and Washington all make returns this season. And just like in real life the Pac 12 has joined the B1G. Any one of these three programs can make some noise in the conference this season. But only time on the recruiting trail will tell us how much noise they will make. I expect USC and Penn State to be big draws based on name and/or history alone. Washington may have the toughest time of the three, but I’m not going to count them out. 

While the three new schools are my bottom three, the top four spots are where it gets really interesting. Let’s start with Oregon. The Ducks flew south for the winter fairly quickly last season. Not based on talent but on depth. While the Oregon starters were just as talented as most that they lined up against, things began to get tougher on them as the games wore on. Vinny Mixon is coming in and I expect an influx of former Boomer Sooners to come with him. How good does this new talent make Nike’s golden boys? Time will tell, but I know they will be better than 0-8 in Season 19. 

This leaves the hated rivals Ohio State, Michigan, and Illinois to fill the top of the conference. The Buckeyes just missed out on the playoffs in Season 18 and were up and down all season long. They are only losing three players due to graduation BUT they will also have to replace their QB1 with the entry of Belov into the coaching portal. Does a freshman quarterback spell trouble in Columbus? Or the fact that they may need to look to improve the group the new quarterback is throwing to?

Now Michigan and Illinois. The Illini got the better of the Wolverines in the standings, but Michigan won the head-to-head battle last season. While they will have Josiah Henry to lean on in the running game they will lose QB Dylan Shumate. Defensively is where the Illini take the hardest hit. They will need to retool almost the entire unit, especially on the back end where they lose a staggering six members of their secondary.

Michigan on the other hand loses two seniors, though like rival OSU will need to replace their quarterback as he has departed in the coaching portal. Unlike OSU there should be enough talent on the current roster to support the freshman gunslinger. The Game in Week Eight just may decide the B1G.

Here is a look at my way-to-early prediction of the final standings:

Rank	Team
1	Michigan
2	Ohio State
3	Illinois
4	Oregon
5	USC
6	Washington
7	Penn State