The Big Ten conference is set to look a lot different in 2024. That is quite literally, welcoming Oregon, USC, Washington, and UCLA into the fold. With those new additions, everyone is anxious to see just what the program looks like this season.
Along the way, several teams have a chance to rise up the ranks. With the transfer portal the way it is, programs now have the opportunity to flip their roster over incredibly quickly. Here are some Big Ten programs that could surprise some folks this fall.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
For the most part, we have seen PJ Fleck get the most out of the Golden Gophers during his tenure. The problem is that while the formula is always the same, the materials to work with can vary heavily. In three of his seven years, we have seen Minnesota finish with nine or more wins. In the other four years, we have seen just seven wins or less, including three losing seasons. The results have been very hit or miss. Will this be good Minnesota, or bad Minnesota in 2024?
Based on the roster, it feels like this could be the former, especially after a lot of younger players getting opportunities last season. The Golden Gophers quietly return a very good offensive line, led by All-Big Ten left tackle Aireontae Ersery. That should bolster the running game led by sophomore tailback Darius Taylor, fresh off of an impressive first season. Just how good the offense will be in 2024 will depend on former New Hampshire quarterback Max Brosmer transitioning smoothly. He will have a very underrated wide receiver in Daniel Jackson to work with.
Despite the team having to replace Joe Rossi as defensive coordinator, that side of the ball has a chance to be strong once again. Their defensive line will lead that unit. Keep an eye out for defensive end Jah Joyner, who is oozing with NFL talent. Danny Striggow is also a very productive player up front.
Greg Schiano led the Scarlet Knights to their first winning season since 2014 last year, ending with a 31-24 bowl victory against Miami. Things are trending in a very good direction. Rutgers is a physical team that has several NFL players on the defense. Keep an eye on defensive ends Aaron Lewis and Wesley Bailey, a physically impressive pairing with upside to tap into. Linebackers Tyreem Powell and Mohamed Toure, as well as safety Flip Dixon should also make their fair share of plays. This unit has a chance to be very good.
On offense, it is the Kyle Monangai show. The senior running back is coming off of a season where he ran for 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns. He was the team’s main catalyst in their biggest games. Rutgers is going to have to get more out of their passing attack. They brought in Athan Kaliakmanis from Minnesota this offseason, a player with a huge arm but needs to be a lot more consistent. The Scarlet Knights also brought in former Monmouth pass catcher Dymere Miller this offseason, hoping he can make a seamless jump from the FCS level.
This is a pure wildcard pick. Indiana needed an injection of something different this offseason, and they got in when former James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti. He has made a career of rebuilding programs and maximizing talent. Bloomington will be his biggest challenge to date, trying to turn around a Hoosiers program that is not used to winning.
Cignetti came in and turned that roster over in a hurry. That included getting former Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke in the portal, a player who is one of the better passers in college football when healthy. They also brought in former James Madison wide receiver Elijah Sarratt and tight end Zach Horton, as well as former Wake Forest running back Justice Ellison to compliment star pass catcher Donovan McCulley. The offensive line also has three new projected starters that they got from the portal.
On defense, it is more of the same. The Hoosiers are projected to have seven new starters on that side of the football, including defensive tackles CJ West (Kent State) and James Carpenter (James Madison), and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds (James Madison). The defense is the side of the ball you worry most about right now. If they get just solid play from that unit, they have a chance to get a lot more competitive quickly with what the offense can do.
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