2021 CFP SEASON PREVIEW AUTUMN 11

Projected Final 2021 Big Ten Standings
East B1G OVR West B1G OVR
1 Ohio State 9-0 12-0 1 Wisconsin 8-1 10-2
2 Penn State 8-1 10-2 2 Iowa 6-3 8-4
3 Indiana 6-3 10-2 3 Minnesota 5-4 8-4
4 Michigan 5-4 7-5 4 Nebraska 5-4 7-5
5 Michigan State 3-6 5-7 5 Northwestern 3-5 6-6
6 Rutgers 2-7 5-7 6 Illinois 2-7 4-8
7 Maryland 0-8 2-10 7 Purdue 1-8 2-10
SPIN
Rosemont, IL – Since splitting into East/West divisions, the East has won all six conference
championships. 2020 marked Ohio State’s fourth straight Big Ten Championship win. Two against
Wisconsin and two against Northwestern. Ryan Day is yet to lose a Big Ten game. This season, it does
not look like that will change. Ohio State will win the Big Ten and play in the College Football Playoff.
Wisconsin has lost eight in a row to Ohio State, including three losses in the Big Ten Championship.
Wisconsin’s two other losses will be the opener against Penn State and Notre Dame in Chicago. Iowa
beat Wisconsin by 21 last season but that was a Badger team without Jalen Berger. Iowa has lost key
players on the defensive line and at receiver which is why the Hawkeyes will not finish on top of the
West, and the reason they will lose their winning streaks to Iowa State and Nebraska. However, when
the Big Ten’s best running backs meet to play for Floyd of Rosedale, Iowa’s Tyler Goodson will get the
win over Minnesota’s Mo Ibrahim. Minnesota and Nebraska have the same record but Minnesota will
have the head to head win. Minnesota will be a better team than the record will show, only losing to
Ohio State on their way to an 8-1 record before losing three close games to close out the regular season.
Northwestern is a team that is always underrated because they rarely standout on paper in the
preseason. This year, there were more departures than usual and for the first time in five years, the
Wildcats will be without linebackers Paddy Fisher and Blake Gallagher who combined for 733 career
tackles. Pat Fitzgerald will still get Northwestern to a bowl game. Indiana will come up short against
Ohio State again but they will still be in the mix for a NY6 Bowl even if they are 10-2 at the hands of Iowa
or PSU. Penn State will have a better outing this year but are still a step below OSU. Indiana vs PSU is a
toss up game, that could go State’s way, but the game at Iowa is looking like a loss, especially if it is
under the lights. Michigan will have a lot of talented young players who will set up the program nicely
going forward. I want to believe in the Rutgers magic but the Scarlet Knights will barely miss out on bowl
season. Maryland is loaded at receiver but nothing else about the Terps jumps out.
Twitter @Autumn_Eleven