We’re just under 100 days from college football’s resumption, and there are great expectations for several Big Ten teams.
From the defending Michigan Football champions, to the awaited 2022 Ohio State champions, to Penn State, an up-and-coming state of Wisconsin and Michigan, and more, the conference is deep and relatively top-heavy.
However, those who have long lingered at the bottom — like Rutgers and Maryland — are rising in the eyes of advanced analytics.
ESPN has released its preseason SP+ Advanced Analytics rankings, and the low end is certainly rising, while the high end continues to get muddled with numerous teams vying for conference and college football dominance.
Here, each Big Ten ranks independently and also against the others.
14 Northwestern Wildcats
Photo: Isaiah Loch
In total: 85
offense: 105
Defense: 60
13 Illinois fights against Ilini
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
In total: 82
offense: 103
Defense: 51
12 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Photo: Isaiah Loch
In total: 78
offense: 98
Defense: 46
11 Indiana Hoosiers
Photo by: Isaiah Hole
In total: 72
offense: 90
Defense: 52
10 Maryland Turtles
Photo: Isaiah Loch
In total: 47
offense: 15
Defense: 83
9 Purdue Boilermakers
(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
In total: 35
offense: 38
Defense: 34
8 corn shellers from Nebraska
Photo: Isaiah Loch
In total: 29
offense: 34
Defense: 35
7 Iowa Hawkeyes
Photo: Isaiah Loch
In total: 27
offense: 76
Defense: 4
6 Minnesota Golden Squirrels
Photo: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports
In total: 21
offense: 50
Defense: 9
5 Michigan State Spartans
Photo: Isaiah Loch
In total: 16
offense: 33
Defense: 16
4 Penn State Nittany Lions
Photo: Isaiah Loch
In total: 13
offense: 53
Defense: 5
3 Wisconsin Badgers
Photo: Isaiah Loch
In total: 10
offense: 58
Defense: 1
2 Michigan Wolverines
Photo: Isaiah Loch
In total: 4
offense: 6
Defense: 20
1 Ohio state horse chestnuts
Photo: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
In total: 1
offense: 1
Defense: 13
