AUGUST 2024 | 27
HUSKERS PREVIEW
CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
Setting the scene The Big Ten became the biggest conference with 18 teams after the league o cially added USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington on Aug. 2. Larger footprint, ditching divisions and six new head coaches headline the changes. However, traditional powers Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State will run the conference until they’re dethroned. How will the Wolverines respond after winning a national title and losing Jim Harbaugh? Can Oregon contend for the title in Year 1? 3 A-list players to watch Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon: The Ducks had an explosive o ense last season and added the arm of Gabriel to the mix. The Oklahoma transfer completed nearly 70% of his passes for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns. If Oregon is go- ing to win the Big Ten, he’ll be reason No. 1. Ohio State’s backfield: The lethal RB duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Mississippi transfer Quinshon Judkins will be scary in the cold months. Henderson racked up 926 yards and 11 TDs, while Judkins had 1,158 yards and 15 scores. Add in K-State transfer QB Will Howard or any other five-star behind him, and the Buckeyes will hit the ground running ... literally. Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa: In a league that requires stopping the run, Higgins answers the call. He led the Big Ten with 171 tackles a year ago and will be a key piece again in an Iowa defense that willed the team to 10 wins and a title game appearance in 2023. 3 blockbuster games OHIO STATE AT OREGON: Oct. 2 – This has all the makings to
PENN STATE AT USC: Oct. 12 – The Nittany Lions failed to make any of the four-team playoffs and now have a real shot at hosting a game in the 12-team field. That’ll likely require Penn State to make it through the USC game un- defeated, leaving Ohio State as its final hurdle. Lincoln Riley’s Trojans have a chance to cause chaos in the league while battling a tough schedule of LSU, Michigan, PSU and Notre Dame. MICHIGAN AT OHIO STATE: Nov. 30 – Self-explanatory. The Wolverines have won three straight and brought home a CFP title last season. Ryan Day has done every- thing he can to get the Buckeyes back to the top of the Big Ten, which won’t be complete without a win over Michigan. BONUS: Texas at Michigan (Sept. 7) – A chance for two 2023 playoff teams to earn a statement win; Michigan at Washington (Oct. 5) – Rematch of last season’s national championship; Oregon at Wisconsin (Nov. 16) – How will the Ducks respond in cold weather at Camp Randall Stadium?; USC at UCLA (Nov. 23)/Washington at Oregon (Nov. 30) – Longtime rivalries enter a new era; Nebraska at Iowa (Nov. 29) – Can either team compete for a league crown without divisions? And the nominees are ... (Projected order of finish) 1. Ohio State, 2. Oregon, 3. Penn State, 4. Michigan, 5. Iowa, 6. Nebraska, 7. USC, 8. Wisconsin, 9. Rutgers, 10. Washington, 11. Maryland, 12. Minnesota, 13. Michigan State, 14. UCLA, 15. Illinois, 16. Northwestern, 17. Indiana, 18. Purdue.
TREVEYON HENDERSON
be a preview of the Big Ten championship game. The Buckeyes can flex their muscles and prove they’re the team to beat early in the conference schedule. The Ducks have an opportunity to show they belong at the top and get home-field advantage. Two high-powered o enses will sell the tickets, but it’ll be up to the defenses to walk away with a win.
BIG TEN BUZZWORDS
West Coast: The four newcom- ers have been the talk of the town since conference expansion was announced. Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA will make a big leap in 2024, and competing in a new conference won’t come easy. Throw in long road trips like the Huskies’ Friday night meeting at Rutgers on Sept. 27 (2,828 miles) to highlight the major shift in the college land- scape. NIL: Players’ compensation has
will be crucial in a new system. That way there is a clearer idea of what is actually taking place. Ohio State: The Buckeyes have all the talent to hold firm at the top of the league and Ryan Day’s addition of o ensive coordinator Chip Kelly gives OSU a new edge. However, don’t expect Ohio State to just air it out because its backfield is bound to make noise. The list of goals is sim- ple: beat Michigan, win the Big Ten and earn a top-four spot in the CFP.
been a roller coaster in the NIL era. Collectives have poured money into
Divisionless: A new-look conference comes with a modified regular sea- son as the Big Ten ditches divisions for the first time since 2010. Expan- sion in 2011 brought on divisions and a championship game. Now, the top two teams in the league earn spots in Indianapolis. The likelihood of a rematch in the title game is even higher. If the same format was in place last season, Michigan and Ohio State would’ve met in consecutive weeks. The downside is that the for- mer West schools will have a tougher
road to be in contention. Playo : Change is the theme across college football, including a 12-team College Football Playo . Given the most recent round of realignment, it seems clear that the Big Ten and SEC will have multiple teams in the field each season. So the question isn’t necessarily about how many, but which ones. Could the conference grab three or more spots in the first iteration? Can a team like Penn State finally break through?
recruits and trans- fers, with seemingly no restrictions. Now schools may be able to pay players directly, cutting out the middleman, and even the play- ing field. A legal decision should be
Petitti
coming soon and Big Ten Commis- sioner Tony Petitti says oversight
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