Penn State Football: Way too early Big Ten win predictions, including Nittany Lions
By Nick Kreiser
Big Ten West
*NOTE: 2021 records include postseason games, 2022 predictions will just be regular-season records.*
Illinois Fighting Illini
2021 record: 5-7
The Illini return a very productive duo at running back in Chase Brown and Josh McCray, as well as a solid offensive line, which is Bret Bielema’s specialty. They also welcome an experienced transfer quarterback from Syracuse, Tommy Devito. However, a tricky non-conference game against Virginia, and also two tough crossover games against Michigan and Michigan State are doing the Illini no favors as they try to reach bowl eligibility.
2022 prediction: 4-8
Iowa Hawkeyes
2021 record: 10-4 (Big Ten West champions)
The Hawkeyes return a lot of production from a season ago, including quarterback Spencer Petras, tight end Sam LaPorta, and cornerback Riley Moss. They face Ohio State and Michigan as crossover games, but could potentially run the table in the west. A November 5th trip to West Lafayette to take on a sneaky-good Purdue team could be the game that decides the division.
2022 prediction: 10-2 (Big Ten West division champions)
Minnesota Golden Gophers
2021 record: 9-4
PJ Fleck’s Golden Gophers will be led by veteran quarterback Tanner Morgan and star running back Mohamed Ibrahim, who was injured in week one last year and missed the rest of the season. On defense, they lose a lot of production in their front-seven. Trips to East Lansing and State College won’t be easy for Minnesota, and they’ll have to navigate back-to-back games against Iowa and Wisconsin at the end of the season if they want to make it to Indianapolis.
2022 prediction: 8-4
Nebraska Cornhuskers
2021 record: 3-9
The Huskers should see improvements at the quarterback position, as Scott Frost landed transfer from Texas, Casey Thompson. They played a lot of close games against good teams last season, with their largest margin of defeat being by only nine points against Ohio State, so we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt in some coin-toss matchups this year, such as Indiana and Rutgers.
Nebraska has to face Oklahoma in an early-season non-conference showdown, but could still start the year 6-2, before running into a four-game gauntlet of Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa to wrap up the season. However, that would still be enough for them to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2016.
2022 prediction: 6-6
Northwestern Wildcats
2021 record: 3-9
Pat Fitzgerald typically has his Wildcats ready to play against anyone, but it could be another long season in Evanston.
After opening up the season in Dublin, Ireland against what projects as a much-improved Nebraska team, the Wildcats should be able to navigate their non-conference slate of Duke, Southern Illinois, and Miami (OH). However, that may be the extent of their winning, as they are arguably the least talented team in their division, plus they have to face Penn State Football and Ohio State in two of their crossover matchups.
2022 prediction: 3-9
Purdue Boilermakers
2021 record: 9-4
Led by sixth-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell, the Boilermakers open up with a tough matchup, hosting a talented, but potentially inconsistent Penn State Football team. If they can escape that game with a win, they are in very good shape, as they don’t have to face Ohio State, Michigan, or Michigan State in any of their crossover games.
Their bye game is sandwiched between matchups against Wisconsin and Iowa, and they’ll need to at least split those games if they hope to carry the momentum of their thrilling Music City Bowl win over Tennesse into this season, and potentially make a run at winning the Big Ten West.
2022 prediction: 9-3
Wisconsin Badgers
2021 record: 9-4
After likely starting 3-0 with an easy non-conference schedule, Wisconsin runs into a trip to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes to begin conference play. They’ll also need to win at least 2 out of 3 against Purdue, Iowa, and Minnesota if they hope to win their division and get back to Indianapolis for the first time since 2019.
They benefit from a tremendous sophomore running back in Braelon Allen, as well as veteran quarterback Graham Mertz, but ultimately, their lack of experience at many spots on both sides of the ball will hurt them in big games, and prevent them from winning the Big Ten West.