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2015 Big Ten football guides, from Indiana to Ohio State
The 128-team countdown by Bill Connelly is breaking down the conference of the defending national champions, one team at a time. Follow along!
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August 22, 2015
Iowa's massive overhaul (just kidding)
Kirk Ferentz has crafted a high-floor, low-ceiling program, seemingly incapable of either collapsing or returning to an elite level, and there's little reason to assume anything other than another seven or eight wins against a weak schedule.
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August 19, 2015
If Edsall survives 2015, Maryland can thrive
Randy Edsall continues to not get fired at Maryland and might have the pieces to make a hell of a run in 2016-18 if he can simply tread water and survive 2015 without major setbacks.
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August 19, 2015
Nebraska has an opportunity
Mike Riley has brought infinite good vibes to a Nebraska program that needed them this offseason. But now he has to win, and the goodwill will expire if he misses out on an opportunity to make noise with a manageable Big Ten schedule this fall.
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August 18, 2015
Repeating is hard. Ohio State has a great chance.
Ohio State must battle complacency, ego, and one of the most impressive quarterback battles ever, but there are 127 FBS teams that would love to have what the defending national champs bring to the table.
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August 17, 2015
Is Minnesota ready for a real division title run?
Jerry Kill hasn't completely built his Minnesota program yet, and the offense could likely take a step backwards. But a stout defense and a potentially home-friendly schedule could give the Gophers a shot at the Big Ten West crown.
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August 17, 2015
What's Rutgers' Big Ten standard?
The last decade of Rutgers football has raised the bar considerably, but 2015 could end up a lot like 2013 and 2014 for Kyle Flood and his Scarlet Knights: fine, but failing to meet a higher standard.
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August 17, 2015
Indiana's make-or-break year
After significant improvement in 2012-13, Indiana veered off-course, and the Hoosiers now might face a make-or-break campaign in Kevin Wilson's fifth year.
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August 17, 2015
Was Northwestern's 10-win season a total outlier?
Northwestern has been basically the same team for five of the last six years, and close-game luck has turned over the last two; can a retooled offense help the Wildcats rebound and maintain trajectory for a solid 2016?
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August 17, 2015
Purdue is clearly improving
Purdue showed promise in 2014 before fading because of injuries. Steady quarterback play and better health could mean a truly dangerous Boilermaker squad this fall.
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August 17, 2015
Illinois has bad, bad vibes
If you ignore the bad vibes, Tim Beckman and Illinois have some things going for them, but it's going to take a couple of breaks for Beckman to survive and the Illini to thrive in 2015.
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August 17, 2015
Michigan State has killed 'SPARTY, NO'
Michigan State is in the wrong division to make a serious conference title run, but the Spartans will once again be awesome, with great quarterback play and maybe the best run defense in the country.
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August 17, 2015
Harbaugh at Michigan is gonna be so fun
Michigan should have a stout defense and its best run game in quite a while, and the schedule should create infinite close games; just a slight shift in quality could create the difference between 6-6 and 10-2.
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August 17, 2015
Badgers still the West's best bet
Identity creates continuity even when the coaches change, and Wisconsin's steady identity could make the Badgers the West's safest bet despite changing coaches and losing Melvin Gordon.
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June 8, 2015
Big Ten power rankings get fun after top 2
There's no question about which teams you should consider the Big Ten's best. After that ... let's just say this is gonna be a fun season.
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June 1, 2015
10 wins are on the table for Penn State
The Penn State offense still has a ton of questions to answer, but a great defense and soft schedule could mean 10+ wins for the Nittany Lions in James Franklin's second season.
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May 18, 2015
The Big Ten is Ohio State's to lose
Let's figure out the Big Ten's biggest stories, risers and fallers, under-the-radar players, and huge games ahead of the 2015 season.