Big Ten Power Rankings: How the conference’s 18 teams rank entering the spring

It’s been an eventful season in all of college football but especially in the Big Ten.

It was less than a month ago that the Michigan Wolverines won the national championship but yet it feels much longer. In an offseason that was already going to be historic thanks to conference realignment, the entire landscape of college football continued to change including Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan just a week after delivering a national championship to his alma mater.

Some Big Ten programs attacked the transfer portal in major ways, others saw their rosters raided by the portal and are having to start over this offseason. But now with the dust settling, how does the Big Ten’s 18 teams rank entering the spring?

Ohio State Buckeyes

Penn State Nittany Lions

Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

2023 Record: 10-3

Top Transfer Portal Addition: WR Julian Fleming

Perhaps No.3 is a little bullish for Penn State but the Nittany Lions have all the pieces to be a playoff team in 2024. Their biggest question is if offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki can unlock quarterback Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions offense. That will ultimately determine the course of their 2024 season.

Michigan Wolverines

© Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

2023 Record: 15-0 (National Champions)

Top Transfer Portal Addition:  LB Jalshawn Barham

The defending national champions enter at No.4. No one would be surprised if the Wolverines make the playoffs again in 2024 but as of right now, they simply lost too much talent-wise and on the coaching staff to put them higher.

USC Trojans

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

2023 Record: 8-5

Top Transfer Portal Addition: CB John Humphreys

The USC Trojans will have a quarterback competition this offseason but no matter who’s at quarterback, the Trojans will likely be fine in 2024 on offense. Can their defense take a step forward,…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-power-rankings-conference-101507776.html

Author : Cornhuskers Wire

Publish date : 2024-02-03 10:15:07

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