Athlon Spring Big Ten Rankings & Preview

Saunders

Saunders

Heisman Trophy Winner
The Big Ten closed the gap with the SEC last year in the race to be college football’s No. 1 conference, and the league is in great shape as spring ball opens for 2017. Ohio State and Penn State should be among the nation’s frontrunners to win it all next year, while Michigan and Wisconsin will also rank in many preseason top 10 lists. There’s depth in the league with the improvement of Maryland under coach DJ Durkin, while Nebraska, Iowa and Northwestern form a solid group of teams behind Wisconsin in the West Division. New coaches at Minnesota (P.J. Fleck), Indiana (Tom Allen) and Purdue (Jeff Brohm) will be worth watching in 2017.

Spring practice is set to begin around the nation for all 130 teams over the next few weeks. While spring ball is just practice sessions and it’s hard to glean much information, it’s never too early to look at some of the biggest storylines facing teams this offseason.

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/big-ten-2017-spring-football-preview-and-power-rankings
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West Division

1. Wisconsin

2. Nebraska

Key Spring Goal: Settle the Quarterback Battle

The transition to a 3-4 defense under new coordinator Bob Diaco is also worth monitoring this spring in Lincoln, but the Cornhuskers have an interesting quarterback battle set to unfold. Redshirt freshman Patrick O’Brien – the No. 204 recruit in the 2016 247Sports Composite – will compete with Tulane transfer Tanner Lee for the starting job. In two years with the Green Wave, Lee threw for 23 scores and 21 interceptions. After a redshirt year, Lee should be up-to-speed on Nebraska’s system and is his pro-style background is a good fit for the offense. True freshman Tristan Gebbia will also have a chance to make an impression this spring.


3. Northwestern
4. Iowa
5. Minnesota
6. Purdue
7. Illinois
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mnhusker said:
Looks about right to me, I'd probably put Iowa ahead of NW as much as that pains me.
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It pains me more to put iowa at 2. Going into next year we have more question marks than any of the top 4. After spring I could put us above them but right now I would go

1. Wiscy

2. Iowa

3. Nw

4. Nebraska

 
Until we beat Iowa and Wisky, we should be no higher than 3. We have a lot to prove. A lot of issues to correct.

 
The sun can shine on a dog's a$$ anyday.

No one thought PSU would do what they did but it happened.

 
I am in love with the kool aid in the off-season. Feel like there is a buzz around the program that hasn't been around. It could slowly burn out with another average or worse season in 2017, but I do think we may be primed for a breakout season as well.

 
Nebfanatic said:
I am in love with the kool aid in the off-season. Feel like there is a buzz around the program that hasn't been around. It could slowly burn out with another average or worse season in 2017, but I do think we may be primed for a breakout season as well.
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I agree.

Maybe I am reaching here, but this off-season kinda reminds me of the transition from the old 5-2 in 1992, to the 4-3 in 1993.

Let's hope in this specific case history repeats itself.

 
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