2011 Big Ten Football Preview

The Big Ten Conference made as much noise as any other conference in college sports in this offseason.

The addition of Nebraska and the problems in Ohio State stole many headlines during the break.

With that addition of Nebraska, there's now 12 teams in the Big Ten, so commissioner Jim Delaney separated the teams into two 6 team divisions (Legends and Leaders). Now that there are two divisions there will be a Championship Game for the first time. 

The game will take place on December 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and aired on Fox.

There will be four new head coaches in the Big Ten as well. 

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel resigned back on Memorial Day and named assistant Luke Fickell interim head coach.

Michigan fired Rich Rodriguez and hired former San Diego State and Ball State head coach Brady Hoke.

The two other schools that hired new coaches was Minnesota and Indiana. Minnesota hired Jerry Kill formerly the head coach of Northern Illinois, and Indiana hired former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson.

The following slideshow is the predictions for each division.

Division: Legends

The Legends' division includes Nebraska, the newest member of the Big Ten. This division is definitely stronger in football than in basketball.

Teams include: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern.

6. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Head Coach: Jerry Kill

Last Year's Record: 3-9

Home Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium (50,805 capacity)

2011 Prediction: 2-10 Overall- 0-8 Big Ten

2011 Schedule:

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time / Result
09/03/11	at USC	Los Angeles, Calif.	2:30 p.m. CT
09/10/11	vs. New Mexico State	TCF Bank Stadium	2:30 p.m. CT
09/17/11	vs. Miami (Oh)	TCF Bank Stadium	2:30 p.m. CT
09/24/11	vs. North Dakota State	TCF Bank Stadium	6:00 p.m. CT
10/01/11	at Michigan *	Ann Arbor, Mich.	TBA
10/08/11	at Purdue *	West Lafayette, Ind.	TBA
10/22/11	vs. Nebraska *	TCF Bank Stadium	2:30 p.m. CT
10/29/11	vs. Iowa *	TCF Bank Stadium	TBA
11/05/11	at Michigan State *	East Lansing, Mich.	TBA
11/12/11	vs. Wisconsin *	TCF Bank Stadium	TBA
11/19/11	at Northwestern *	Evanston, Ill.	TBA
11/26/11	vs. Illinois *	TCF Bank

It looks to be another rough season for the Golden Gophers. I don't think they will win a single Big Ten Game, and that the only wins on the year are against New Mexico State and North Dakota State.

5. Iowa Hawkeyes

Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz

Last Year's Record: 8-5 win in the Insight Bowl

Home Stadium:Kinnick Stadium (70,585 capacity)

2011 Prediction: 6-6 overall-3-5 Big Ten

2011 Schedule

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time
09/03/11	vs. Tennessee Tech	Iowa City, IA	11:00 AM
09/10/11	at Iowa State	Ames, IA	11:00 AM
09/17/11	vs. Pittsburgh	Iowa City, IA	11:00 AM
09/24/11	vs. ULM	Iowa City, IA	TBA
10/08/11	at Penn State *	University Park, PA	TBA
10/15/11	vs. Northwestern *	Iowa City, IA	6:00 PM
10/22/11	vs. Indiana (HC) *	Iowa City, IA	11:00 AM
10/29/11	at Minnesota *	Minneapolis, MN	TBA
11/05/11	vs. Michigan *	Iowa City, IA	TBA
11/12/11	vs. Michigan State (FW, FA, S) *	Iowa City, IA	TBA
11/19/11	at Purdue *	West Lafayette, IN	TBA
11/25/11	at Nebraska *	Lincoln, NE

The Hawkeyes will take a couple steps back, but will still make a bowl game for the fourth straight year. I think that they win all their non-conference games, and their conference games against Indiana, Minnesota, and Purdue. It will be a struggle against the rest.

4. Michigan Wolverines

Head Coach: Brady Hoke

Last Year's Record: 7-6

Home Stadium: Michigan Stadium (109,901 capacity)

2011 Prediction: 8-4- 5-3 Big Ten

2011 Schedule:

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time / Result
Sat., Sep. 3	vs. Western Michigan	Ann Arbor, Mich.	3:30 p.m. ET
Sat., Sep. 10	vs. Notre Dame	Ann Arbor, Mich.	8:00 p.m. ET
Sat., Sep. 17	vs. Eastern Michigan	Ann Arbor, Mich.	12:00 p.m. ET
Sat., Sep. 24	vs. San Diego State	Ann Arbor, Mich.	TBA
Sat., Oct. 1	vs. Minnesota *	Ann Arbor, Mich.	TBA
Sat., Oct. 8	at Northwestern *	Evanston, Ill.	6:00 p.m. CT
Sat., Oct. 15	at Michigan State *	East Lansing, Mich.	TBA
Sat., Oct. 29	vs. Purdue (Homecoming) *	Ann Arbor, Mich.	12:00 p.m. ET
Sat., Nov. 5	at Iowa *	Iowa City, Iowa	TBA
Sat., Nov. 12	at Illinois *	Champaign, Ill.	TBA
Sat., Nov. 19	vs. Nebraska *	Ann Arbor, Mich.	TBA
Sat., Nov. 26	vs. Ohio State *	Ann Arbor, Mich.

Michigan hired a new coach in Brady Hoke, and look to turn this storied program around. With a true Heisman threat in Denard Robinson, look for Michigan to make a bowl game again.

Look for Michigan to win all their non-conference games except against Notre Dame. Their other losses will be against Northwestern, Michigan State and Nebraska. Notice that I didn't say Ohio State.

3. Northwestern Wildcars

Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald

Last Year's Record: 7-6

Home Stadium: Ryan Field (49,256 capacity)

2011 Prediction: 10-2 Overall- 6-2 Big Ten

2011 Schedule:

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time
09/03/11	at Boston College	Chestnut Hill, Mass.	11:00 a.m. CT
09/10/11	vs. Eastern Illinois	Evanston, Ill.	2:30 p.m. CT
09/17/11	at Army	West Point, N.Y.	2:30 p.m. CT
10/01/11	at Illinois *	Champaign, Ill.	11:00 a.m. CT
10/08/11	vs. Michigan *	Evanston, Ill.	6:00 p.m. CT
10/15/11	at Iowa *	Iowa City, Iowa	6:00 p.m. CT
10/22/11	vs. Penn State - Homecoming *	Evanston, Ill.	6:00 p.m. CT
10/29/11	at Indiana *	Bloomington, Ind.	11:00 a.m. CT
11/05/11	at Nebraska *	Lincoln, Neb.	TBA
11/12/11	vs. Rice	Evanston, Ill.	TBA
11/19/11	vs. Minnesota *	Evanston, Ill.	TBA
11/26/11	vs. Michigan State *	Evanston, Ill.	TBA

Look for a breakout season for Northwestern. They will win all their non-conference games with losses against Nebraska and Michigan State.

2. Michigan State Spartans

Head Coach: Mark Dantonio

Last Year's Record: 11-2

Home Stadium: Spartan Stadium (80,401 capacity)

2011 Prediction: 9-3 overall- 6-2 Big Ten

2011 Schedule

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time / Result
09/02/11	vs. Youngstown State	East Lansing, Mich.	7:30 p.m. ET
09/10/11	vs. Florida Atlantic	East Lansing, Mich.	12:00 p.m. ET
09/17/11	at Notre Dame	Notre Dame, Ind.	3:30 p.m. ET
09/24/11	vs. Central Michigan	East Lansing, Mich.	TBA
10/01/11	at Ohio State *	Columbus, Ohio	TBA
10/15/11	vs. Michigan *	East Lansing, Mich.	TBA
10/22/11	vs. Wisconsin *	East Lansing, Mich.	8:00 p.m. ET
10/29/11	at Nebraska *	Lincoln, Neb.	TBA
11/05/11	vs. Minnesota *	East Lansing, Mich.	TBA
11/12/11	at Iowa *	Iowa City, Iowa	TBA
11/19/11	vs. Indiana *	East Lansing, Mich.	TBA
11/26/11	at Northwestern *	Evanston, Ill.	TBA

Michigan State will be one win away from two straight 10-win seasons. They won't be as much of a surprise this year though. Michigan State's only non-conference loss will be at Notre Dame. Their only two conference losses will be at Nebraska and Wisconsin.

1. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Head Coach: Bo Pelini

Last Year's Record: 10-4

Home Stadium: Memorial Stadium (81,067 capacity)

2011 Prediction: 11-1 overall- 7-1 Big Ten

2011 Schedule:

09/3/2011	Tennessee at Chattanooga	10	Memorial Stadium	2:30 p.m.
09/10/2001	Fresno State	-	Memorial Stadium	6 p.m.
09/17/2011	Washington	-	Memorial Stadium	2:30 p.m.
09/24/2011	Wyoming	-	at Laramie, Wyo.	6:30 p.m.
10/1/2011	Wisconsin *	-	at Madison, Wis.	7 p.m.
10/8/2011	Ohio State *	-	Memorial Stadium	7 p.m.
10/22/2011	Minnesota *	-	at Minneapolis, Minn.	2:30 p.m.
10/29/2011	Michigan State *	-	Memorial Stadium	TBA
11/5/2011	Northwestern *	-	Memorial Stadium	TBA
11/12/2011	Penn State *	-	at University Park, Pa.	TBA
11/19/2011	Michigan *	-	at Ann Arbor, Mich.	TBA
11/25/2011	Iowa *	-	Memorial Stadium	11 a.m.

Nebraska is the newcomer to the Big Ten. Look for them to have a strong season though behind the arms and legs of Taylor Martinez. The only loss on the Cornhuskers' schedule will be the Big Ten opener at Wisconsin.

Division: Leaders

This division is definitely top heavy. 

Three heavyweights with Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Penn State, and the bottom feeders of Purdue and Indiana. 

Illinois will be right there in the middle.

6. Purdue Boilermakers

Head Coach: Danny Hope

Last Year's Record: 4-8

Home Stadium: Ross-Ade Stadium (62,500 capacity)

2011 Prediction: 3-9 Overall- 1-7 Big Ten

2011 Schedule:

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time / Result
09/03/11	vs. Middle Tennessee	West Lafayette, Ind.	12:00 p.m. ET
09/10/11	at Rice	Houston, Texas	3:30 p.m. ET
09/17/11	vs. Southeast Missouri State (Band/Family)	West Lafayette, Ind.	12:00 p.m. ET
10/01/11	vs. Notre Dame (Gold & Black Game)	West Lafayette, Ind.	8:00 p.m. ET
10/08/11	vs. Minnesota	West Lafayette, Ind.	TBA
10/15/11	at Penn State	University Park, Pa.	12:00 p.m. ET
10/22/11	vs. Illinois (Homecoming/Varsity P Club Weekend)	West Lafayette, Ind.	12:00 p.m. ET
10/29/11	at Michigan	Ann Arbor, Mich.	12:00 p.m. ET
11/05/11	at Wisconsin	Madison, Wis.	TBA
11/12/11	vs. Ohio State	West Lafayette, Ind.	TBA
11/19/11	vs. Iowa	West Lafayette, Ind.	TBA
11/26/11	at Indiana	Bloomington, Ind.	TBA

It's going to be a long season for Boilermaker fans. They may start their third string quarterback once again with Rob Henry going out with an ACL injury and Robert Marve's Miami's trouble ties.

Purdue will split 2-2 in non-conference with wins against Middle Tennessee and Southeast Missouri State.  Their only Big Ten win will be against Minnesota.

5. Indiana Hoosiers

Head Coach: Kevin Wilson

Last Year's Record: 5-7

Home Stadium: Memorial Stadium (52,929 capacity)

2011 Prediction: 3-9 Overall- 1-7 Big Ten

2011 Schedule:

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time / Result
09/03/11	vs. Ball State	Indianapolis, Ind. (Lucas Oil Stadium)	7:00 p.m. ET
09/10/11	vs. Virginia	Bloomington, Ind.	7:00 p.m. ET
09/17/11	vs. South Carolina State	Bloomington, Ind.	3:30 p.m. ET
09/24/11	at North Texas	Denton, Texas	7:00 p.m. ET
10/01/11	vs. Penn State	Bloomington, Ind.	TBA
10/08/11	vs. Illinois	Bloomington, Ind.	TBA
10/15/11	at Wisconsin	Madison, Wis.	12:00 p.m. ET
10/22/11	at Iowa	Iowa City, Iowa	12:00 p.m. ET
10/29/11	vs. Northwestern (Homecoming)	Bloomington, Ind.	12:00 p.m. ET
11/05/11	at Ohio State	Columbus, Ohio	TBA
11/19/11	at Michigan State	East Lansing, Mich.	TBA
11/26/11	vs. Purdue	Bloomington, Ind.	TBA
12/03/11	Big Ten Championship Game	Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Ind.)	TBA

As much as the Hoosiers would like to start their season at Lucas Oil Stadium and end it there, it won't happen. This will be a rebuilding year with a new coach and losing their star quarterback and receiver to the NFL. The countdown to Gunner Kiel will start quick.

The Hoosiers will split the non-conference with wins against Ball State and South Carolina State. They will only win one Big Ten Game and that will be like last year against archrival Purdue.

4. Illinois Fighting Illini

Head Coach: Ron Zook

Last Year's Record: 7-6

Home Stadium: Memorial Stadium (60,670 capacity)

2011 Prediction: 6-6 Overall- 3-5 Big Ten

2011 Schedule:

 

2011-2012 SCHEDULE

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time
09/03/11	vs. Arkansas State	MEMORIAL STADIUM	2:30 p.m. CT
09/10/11	vs. South Dakota St.	MEMORIAL STADIUM	11:00 a.m. CT
09/17/11	vs. Arizona State	MEMORIAL STADIUM	6:00 p.m. CT
09/24/11	vs. Western Michigan	MEMORIAL STADIUM	TBA
10/01/11	vs. Northwestern (Homecoming) *	MEMORIAL STADIUM	11:00 a.m. CT
10/08/11	at Indiana *	Bloomington, Ind.	TBA
10/15/11	vs. Ohio State *	MEMORIAL STADIUM	TBA
10/22/11	at Purdue *	West Lafayette, Ind.	11:00 a.m. CT
10/29/11	at Penn State	University Park, Pa.	TBA
11/12/11	vs. Michigan (Dad's Day) *	MEMORIAL STADIUM	TBA
11/19/11	vs. Wisconsin *	MEMORIAL STADIUM	TBA
11/26/11	at Minnesota *	Minneapolis, Minn.	TBA

Look for Illinois to have almost the exact same season as last year.  The only non-conference loss will be to Arizona State.  The Big Ten wins will be against Indiana, Purdue, and Minnesota.

Will 6-6 be enough to keep Ron Zook's job safe?

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

Head Coach: Joe Paterno

Last Year's Record: 7-6

Beaver Stadium (106,572 capacity)

2011 Prediction: 7-5 Overall- 4-4 Big Ten

2011 Schedule:

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time / Result
09/03/11	vs. Indiana State	University Park, Pa.	12:00 p.m. ET
09/10/11	vs. Alabama	University Park, Pa.	3:30 p.m. ET
09/17/11	at Temple	Philadelphia, Pa.	12:00 p.m. ET
09/24/11	vs. Eastern Michigan	University Park, Pa.	TBA
10/01/11	at Indiana *	Bloomington, Ind.	TBA
10/08/11	vs. Iowa *	University Park, Pa.	TBA
10/15/11	vs. Purdue *	University Park, Pa.	12:00 p.m. ET
10/22/11	at Northwestern *	Evanston, Ill.	7:00 p.m. ET
10/29/11	vs. Illinois	University Park, Pa.	TBA
11/12/11	vs. Nebraska *	University Park, Pa.	TBA
11/19/11	at Ohio State *	Columbus, Ohio	TBA
11/26/11	at Wisconsin *	Madison, Wis.	TBA

The Nittany Lions will be a solid football team this year. The only non-conference loss will be at the hands of Alabama. 

They will start the Big Ten off great, but lose four of their last five to Northwestern, Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin.

It will still be a bowl season for Penn State.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Head Coach: Luke Fickell

Last Year's Record: 12-1

Home Stadium: Ohio Stadium ( 102,329 capacity)

2011 Predictions: 8-4 Overall- 4-4 Big Ten

2011 Schedule:

09/03/11	vs. Akron	Columbus, Ohio	12:00 p.m. ET
09/10/11	vs. Toledo	Columbus, Ohio	12:00 p.m. ET
09/17/11	at Miami	Miami, Fla.	7:30/8:00 PM ET
09/24/11	vs. Colorado	Columbus, Ohio	TBA
10/01/11	vs. Michigan State *	Columbus, Ohio	TBA
10/08/11	at Nebraska *	Lincoln, Neb.	8:00 p.m. ET
10/15/11	at Illinois *	Champaign, Ill.	TBA
10/29/11	vs. Wisconsin *	Columbus, Ohio	8:00 p.m. ET
11/05/11	vs. Indiana *	Columbus, Ohio	TBA
11/12/11	at Purdue *	West Lafayette, Ind.	TBA
11/19/11	vs. Penn State *	Columbus, Ohio	TBA
11/26/11	at Michigan *	Ann Arbor, Mich.	TBA

The 2011 season will be one of a transition for the Buckeyes. It could have been a championship season, but with all the scrutiny, loss of key players and coach Tressel it will be a difficult one.

It won't be all gloom and doom in Columbus. They will win all the non-conference games, but split the Big Ten with losses to Nebraska, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Michigan.

1. Wisconsin Badgers

Head Coach: Bret Bielema

Last Year's Record: 11-2

Home Stadium: Camp Randall Stadium (80,321 capacity)

2011 Prediction: 12-0 Overall- 8-0 Big Ten

2011 Schedule:

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time / Result
09/01/11	vs. UNLV	Camp Randall Stadium	7:00 p.m. CT
09/10/11	vs. Oregon State	Camp Randall Stadium	11:00 a.m. CT
09/17/11	vs. Northern Illinois	Chicago, Ill. (Soldier Field)	2:30 p.m. CT
09/24/11	vs. South Dakota	Camp Randall Stadium	TBA
10/01/11	vs. Nebraska *	Camp Randall Stadium	7:00 p.m. CT
10/15/11	vs. Indiana *	Camp Randall Stadium	11:00 a.m. CT
10/22/11	at Michigan State *	East Lansing, Mich.	7:00 p.m. CT
10/29/11	at Ohio State *	Columbus, Ohio	7:00 p.m. CT
11/05/11	vs. Purdue *	Camp Randall Stadium	TBA
11/12/11	at Minnesota *	Minneapolis, Minn.	TBA
11/19/11	at Illinois *	Champaign, Ill.	TBA
11/26/11	vs. Penn State *	Camp Randall Stadium	TBA

The jersey of Nick Toon in the picture says it all, the Badgers are clearly the No. 1 team. With the addition of transfer quarterback Russell Wilson, the Badgers could be bowling all the way to the BCS National Championship. A tough schedule in conference stands in the way, but the Badgers can benefit from that to propel themselves in BCS conversation.

Big Ten Championship Game

The first ever Big Ten Championship Game will be a rematch of the first week in the Big Ten Conference Schedule between Nebraska and Wisconsin. I predict Wisconsin will win this game and put their names in for a National Championship Game.