OUTLOOK - Coach Swellvermin makes his return to the Big Ten after a one-year coaching stint at Northwestern. This time out, he takes over an Illinois team that has hopes of being a spoiler in a suddenly expanded 18-team league. It’s a tough challenge though as the Illini have not had a winning season in the NDL since Season 21, while last year’s team finished at 4-8 overall.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - There’s no doubt the strength of this team is on the passing attack, with a pair of outstanding WRs in Zakhari Franklin and Pat Bryant, if Luke Altmyer can get them the ball. Meanwhile on defense, they have a strong corp of cornerbacks looking to slow down the offensive attacks in the B10.
SEASON PREDICTION - This is a big step up for Swellvermin after a 2-win year at Wyoming. Facing much tougher competition and more talented rosters, the Illini open the season with home games against Boise State and Nebraska before opening up against Penn State, part of a four-game homestand to start the year. With eight home games on the slate, the pressure will be on to make a bowl game this season.
17. UCLA (jamesthecarmen)
OUTLOOK - Coach jamesthecarman makes the move to the UCLA Bruins after a rough season at the Sam Houston State Bearcats. Coach jamesthecarmen has historically been a .500 or better coach and looks to make the Bruins a competitive program again under his tutelage.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Wideout Michael Sturdivant leads the offense along with tailback T.J. Harden with Ethan Harbors pulling the trigger on offense. DB Devin Kirkwood will lead the defense that will have their work cut out in the B1G.
SEASON PREDICTION - Coach jamesthecarmen is another OG coach in the NDL. With the talent disparity and challenging schedule, it will take all of Coach carmens experience and expertise to finish in the top half of the B1G.
16. MINNESOTA (taruncheel)
OUTLOOK - They looks to be a tough task for new coach taruncheel, as the Golden Gophers managed just one win in season 29 under their former coach. Now he comes in after a year at Louisiana-Monroe looking to bring a new style to a team in desperate need of some optimism.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Darius Taylor in the backfield and Darius Jackson as the top wide receiver will pace the team offensively, but they will need some to step up on the defense to have success this year.
SEASON PREDICTION - We’ll look to see how Coach tarhuncheel does in his third appearance in the Big 10 after coaching at Washington (Season 13) and Northwestern (Season 21).
15. NORTHWESTERN (footballkelly31)
OUTLOOK - The longtime Temple coach, footballkelly31 made his first appearance in the Big 10 last season with Penn STate but suffered the same fate as the Oregon coach, which led to a redraft situation that found him right back in the league again but this time with a Northwestern squad. This is a team that’s been in turmoil the past few years with coaching changes, stadium changes, but they experienced a breakthrough in Season 29 with a 10-3 finish.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - Lacking talent at the quarterback position, look for the Wildcats to gain their offense on the ground behind RB Cam Porter. NW does boast a strong defense though led by middle linebacker Xander Mueller.
SEASON PREDICTION - It’s been proven before that the Wildcats can succeed, will Footballkelly31 be able to bring the Wildcats back to the same level of success? Not facing any ranked teams for the first nine weeks will help the team find a chance for some success before the schedule really picks up.
14. WASHINGTON (dub6582)
OUTLOOK - Coach dub6582 makes the jump to the Washington Huskies after a successful one year stint with the Purdue Boilermakers. The fans and admin have high hopes for a B1G title run after the hiring of dub6582 and his high octane offense.
PLAYERS TO WATCH - With Will Rogers making the jump from Mississippi State he will lead Coach dub6582’s offense. Rogers is surrounded by a talented group of wideouts but RB Jonah Coleman is a playmaker in the backfield. Safety Kamren Fabiculanan and LB Carson Bruener will lead the defensive attack.
SEASON PREDICTION - Coach dub6587’s move to the west coast was a shock to Purdue admin and fans. But the upgrade in talent will no doubt give a lot of B1G coaches sleepless nights game planning for the Huskies on their quest for their first B1G conference title.
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