What a year it was for the Big Ten! Who besides the most optimistic of fans in Ann Arbor and in the Harbaugh household had the Michigan Wolverines taking home the title?
Both Ohio State and Michigan State appeared in New Year’s Six bowl games, and don’t forget for a time it looked like then-No. 2 in the nation Iowa would be a College Football Playoff contender before a 10-4 finish.
Will the Big Ten offer more surprises in 2022? Can Michigan keep their claim of the conference, or will Ohio State make them another casualty on their war path to the national championship?
Maybe in-state rival Michigan State will usurp them, taking back the crown as the king of the Great Lakes. Will Penn State stop being mediocre and finally return to glory? Is there a new challenger out there looking to make a name for themselves in 2022?
CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli recently shared his win total predictions for every Big Ten team.
Illinois: Over 4.5 wins
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With a change at offensive coordinator, the Illini hope to improve by at least one win to reach a bowl game. I think that’s more likely to happen than the team finishing 4-8 or worse. The first four games will be massive. – Fornelli, CBS Sports.
Around the five-win mark seems to be the sweet spot for this Illinois squad. They don’t necessarily have the talent of some of the other teams in the Big Ten, but they play hard on defense and can run the ball.
They are definitely a pick to steal a game against a bigger team, as they do on this list grabbing wins against Minnesota and Purdue. There is certainly a ceiling for the Illini, though, unless their passing attack has been rejuvenated over the offseason.
Indiana: Over four wins
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
I don’t think Indiana was as bad as its record suggested last season, and a friendlier schedule should help the Hoosiers take a step forward in 2022. There are winnable…
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