** 2021 Previews: 247 Sports Big Ten Predictions **

[Saunders]

247Sports projects Big Ten order of finish, champion, player of year
Storylines are aplenty across the conference, especially as we test whether the pandemic-shortened 2020 season was just a fluke for several teams.

Is Penn State in position for a huge rebound this fall?

Was Minnesota's subpar showing in 2020 a sign of things to come?

Has Indiana done enough on the recruiting trail to become a legitimate threat after nearly knocking off Ohio State last season?

Will Nebraska get off the mat?

We try to answers those questions (and more) in 247Sports' preseason projections. Below you will see how our 18 reporters voted for conference champion and other superlatives such as player, coach and game of the year.

https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/Big-Ten-2021-football-projected-order-of-finish-championship-prediction-player-of-the-year-game-of-the-year-167765934/#167765934_1

BIG TEN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

East Division

1. Ohio State, 126 (18)
2. Penn State, 102
3. Indiana, 92
4. Michigan, 73
5. Rutgers, 41
6. Maryland, 37
7. Michigan State, 33

West Division

1. Wisconsin, 126 (18)
2. Iowa, 101
3. Minnesota, 74
4. Northwestern, 76
5. Nebraska, 61
6. Purdue, 37
7. Illinois, 23

Teams with a first-place vote earn seven points, second-place votes earn six points, etc.

Big Ten champion

Ohio State (18)

 

[admo]

West Division
1. Nebraska
2. Iowa
3. Wisconsin
4. Minnesota
5. Northwestern
6. Purdue
6. Illinois

East Division
1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Penn State
4. Michigan
5. Rutgers
6. Maryland
7. Michigan State

 

[Hilltop]

Trying to be realistic...

West Division

1. Wisconsin

2. Nebraska

3. Iowa

4. Minnesota

5. Purdue

6. Northwestern

7. Illinois

I think very little separates Iowa and Nebraska right now.  I think Nebraska takes over second place with the head to head win.   Wisconsin at camp Randall is too much to ask this season but it will be a game.  Minnesota will be "ok" and Purdue will perform slightly better than predicted.  Northwestern lost too much and will be close to terrible.  Illinois will be full of roster flip rookies and will struggle to win a league game.