Illinois Football and the Big Ten's 4 Worst Teams Headed into 2012

Illinois football will be the Big Ten's biggest disappointment in 2012.

But the Fighting Illini will not have the conference's worst record.  There are three other Big Ten teams that will join them in the conference basement.

Want to know why those teams will be there?  I'll give you a hint: The scheduling gods were merciless this year.  

So, which Big Ten teams will end up at the bottom of the conference's 2012 standings?  

Illinois Football Fighting Illini Will Disappoint in 2012

The Fighting Illini will field a decent team in 2012, but their schedule will ruin the team's season.

Illinois' football schedule includes road trips to Arizona State (Sept. 8), Wisconsin (Oct. 6), Michigan (Oct. 13), Ohio State (Nov. 03) and Northwestern (Nov. 24).  

Because Northwestern plays best at home, Illinois will probably lose all five of those games.

The Fighting Illini also face Penn State (Sept. 29) and Purdue (Nov. 17) at home. Penn State is still a tough team and Purdue will be surprisingly good this season. Illinois will likely lose those games as well.

Even if Illinois comes up with a few upsets, an 8-4 record is their best possible outcome.  More likely, the Fighting Illini will go 6-7.

Either way, Illinois football will not be a big-time factor in the Big Ten this season. 

Purdue Football Boilermakers Are Good, but Not Good Enough

The Purdue Boilermakers are an interesting team, but they will disappoint in 2012 because there are not enough winnable games on the schedule.

Last year, Purdue football went 7-6 in head coach Danny Hope's third season.  Quarterback Caleb TerBush is talented and the Boilermakers look like a team on the rise.

But once again, the scheduling gods will get in the way.

In 2011, Purdue won seven games, including a 26-23 OT victory over Ohio State and a home win against Illinois. They beat their cupcakes and lost to powerhouses Notre Dame, Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa.

In 2012, the Boilermakers play those powerhouses again and will have a hard time winning.  Worse, the play Illinois on the road and Ohio State will be much better under Urban Meyer.

With a lack of slack in their schedule, those changes will likely turn what could have been an encouraging 8-4 season into a 6-7 or 5-7 disappointment.  

Golden Gophers and Minnesota Football Are Still Rebuilding

The Golden Gophers will suffer from both lack of talent and a punishing schedule in 2012.

Last year, new head coach Jerry Kill arrived after turning around the Northern Illinois football program, producing a 10-3 season in 2010.  

The Golden Gophers went 3-9, but did post impressive wins over Illinois, Iowa and a good Miami (OH) team.  Sadly, those were their only wins.

In 2012, Minnesota football could improve statistically as Marqueis Gray grows into the dual-threat role.  But the schedule will put them in the conference basement.

The Golden Gophers face Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Wisconsin on the road. The team did not have a road win last season.

They will also have to beat powerhouses Michigan and Michigan State at home.  Plus, if that was not enough, they also face tough teams from Western Michigan and Purdue.

Needless to say, Minnesota football's rebuilding project will continue for another year.  

Indiana Football Hoosiers Are Still the Big Ten's Worst Team

Indiana football is headed for another bleak year in 2012.

Want to know a fascinating statistic?  No Hoosiers football coach has posted a winning record across their tenure since Bo McMillin from 1934-1947.  I wonder: Did FDR watch those games?

Last year, the Hoosiers went 1-11 in head coach Kevin Wilson's first season on the job.  The one team they did was South Carolina State.

Indiana football's young players, including quarterback Edward Wright-Baker, could improve, but there won't be much change in their record.  Across their whole schedule, they have two winnable matchups: against Indiana State (Sept. 1) and UMass (Sept. 8).

So, chalk it up as another rebuilding season.  Perhaps in 2050 or so, another coach will lead Indiana football to a winning record.

But it sure won't be in 2012.