Big Ten football in the spotlight

Big Ten media days kick off Tuesday in Indianapolis. Beat writer Scott Richey puts the spotlight on the six teams that will be center stage on day one of the three-day event:

How will Illinois fare in close games?

A legitimate question given the Illini are certainly going to play in several this season. That’s simply been the trend during the Bret Bielema era, with Illinois posting an 8-10 record the past three years in games decided by a touchdown or less. Eight of those 18 games happened last season, with the Illini winning five games (all of their wins in 2023) by a total of 15 points and losing three (all in the final month of the season) by a total of nine points.

Is Rutgers on the rise?

It took Greg Schiano five seasons to get Rutgers to a bowl game in his first stint as coach in the early 2000s. Discounting the 2021 Gator Bowl (the five-win Scarlet Knights were a COVID fill-in), Schiano is ahead of schedule in his second stint after last year’s Pinstripe Bowl appearance — and win. Does that mean a double-digit win season is next just like last time? Maybe so. Rutgers has a favorable schedule, and Schiano has steadily added talent to his roster.

What will be Wisconsin’s offensive identity?

The refrains of “Run the dang ball!” from the Camp Randall Stadium seats last season were Wisconsin fans adapting to a new era of Badgers football. Offensive coordinator Phil Longo, as an “Air Raid” aficionado, was a departure from the Wisconsin norm. This year’s Badgers do have a pair of run game options in Chez Mellusi and Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker, but don’t be surprised to see Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke slinging it at quarterback.

Was last year a fluke for Northwestern?

David Braun was named Northwestern’s coach in the wake of Pat Fitzgerald’s firing amidst hazing allegations in the program just weeks before last year’s Big Ten media days. Then Braun went on to lead the Wildcats to an 8-5 record with a Las Vegas Bowl win. Several key players on both sides of the ball from that team, however, have moved on, and expectations remain low. But Northwestern wildly exceeded similar circumstances last season.

Can Ryan Walters get Purdue going in year two?

Purdue winning two of its last three games in 2023 apparently didn’t resonate with the voters in the Big Ten preseason polls. The Boilermakers were picked to finish a consensus (of two) last. The 18th-best team in an 18-team league. Walters will need to better channel his top-ranked 2022 Illinois defense given Purdue was tied for 98th in scoring defense last fall giving up at least 30 points in eight of 12 games, which included those two late-season wins.

Will Ohio State be legitimate national title contenders?

Buckeyes coach Ryan Day clearly believes his team’s path to the top of the College Football Playoff heap runs through its offense. Hence a new offensive coordinator in former UCLA coach Chip Kelly, a new quarterback in Kansas State transfer Will Howard, a dynamic new running back in Mississippi transfer Quinshon Judkins and two more five-star freshmen wide receivers. Then, of course, there’s last year’s top-three defense that returns mostly intact.