The Big Ten has been one of the best conferences in college football for the last two decades. They’ve added four new teams, making this arguably the toughest conference in all of collegiate sports. I am beyond excited to see how this Big Ten season plays out. With that being said, here are my predictions for the 2024 Big Ten football season.
The Big Additions First Run
Oregon Ducks (10-2)
The Oregon Ducks are going to be a top team in the Big Ten in 2024. Last year, this Ducks’ offense was one of the most explosive in the country. This year, I believe they can be even better with transfer Dillon Gabriel stepping in as their starting quarterback. Oregon returns Tez Johnson, the program’s single-season reception leader, and they snagged Evan Stewart in the transfer portal to help maintain their explosive offense. They also bring back a strong offensive line, which is key to success in winning Big Ten football.
Defensively, this team made some strides last season. They lost a lot from their defensive line, but they have young talent ready to grow and make their presence known. Oregon likely has one of the most athletic linebacker duos in the country with Jestin Jacobs and Jeffrey Bassa. The Ducks brought in experienced transfers in the secondary to bolster a talented group. Watch out for this Oregon team—they’re going to make a big impact in their first year in the Big Ten.
UCLA Bruins (4-8)
First-year head coach DeShaun Foster has his hands full in his first season at UCLA. With Chip Kelly leaving to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State, Foster was left with the task of assembling the team for their first run in the Big Ten. He brings in Eric Bieniemy as the team’s new offensive coordinator. They have some talent at the skill positions with J. Michael Sturdivant and a deep group at the offensive line position. However, Ethan Garbers needs to cut down on turnovers if this Bruins offense wants a chance to succeed in the Big Ten.
On the defensive side of the ball, they lost their defensive coordinator and key players like Laiatu Latu, Darius Muasau at linebacker, and a significant part of their secondary. This defensive group will face many questions throughout the season about how good they can be. Two big transfer names to watch are safeties Bryan Addison (Oregon) and Ramon Henderson (Notre Dame). The struggles will be real in their first year in the Big Ten. I don’t see UCLA making a bowl game in 2024.
USC Trojans (7-5)
The Trojans have the talent to potentially make the College Football Playoff, but with the schedule they face in their first year in the Big Ten, the struggle will be real. Losing a dual threat like Caleb Williams is going to hurt, but I think Miller Moss is good enough to bring USC back to being contenders. Moss has some weapons offensively, with a big name like Zachariah Branch leading the group. However, the biggest question mark about this offense is their offensive line. They are super thin and young at the tackle and guard positions, which could create some problems in their Big Ten schedule.
Defensively, they bring in D’Anton Lynn, who comes from UCLA, where he helped an average defense achieve above-average results, as they finished 11th in total defense last year. This Trojans group has questions about their talent level and depth at every position. They have a good group of coaches on the defensive side that can definitely help the progression of this defense. However, they remain the biggest question mark of this team. I see them making a bowl game, but they won’t have much success against the talented Big Ten schools on their schedule.
Washington Huskies (8-4)
A new era is upon us at the University of Washington. Jedd Fisch comes from Arizona to replace Kalen DeBoer, who left for Alabama. This Washington squad looks completely different after making it to the National Championship game last year. The Huskies are replacing all five starters on the offensive line, their starting quarterback, and their top two wide receivers from a season ago. Will Rogers, one of the all-time passing leaders in college football history, comes in to take over this offense. They added Jeremiah Hunter from California to be Rogers’ new threat in 2024. This offense will make an impact, even though the chemistry could be a little off to start the season. The biggest question mark is how this offensive line group will perform together.
Defensively, they brought in Steve Belichick to run their defense, and he’ll get some talented pieces that are returning. The biggest area he’ll need to improve is the team’s pass rush, as they lost all four starters to the NFL Draft. Washington’s big names on defense are safety Kamren Fabiculanan and linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala. I am excited about Belichick’s first run as a defensive coordinator. This Huskies team has question marks, but they should win eight games.
The Don’s Win Total Bets
Northwestern Over 4.5 -122
This Wildcats team won eight games a season ago. With their win total set as low as it is, it’s hard for me not to absolutely hammer this number. I understand there’s a question mark at their quarterback position, but they have talent at running back with Cam Porter and Joseph Himon II. They also have talent at wide receiver with Bryce Kirtz and A.J. Henning. This offense should be good enough to get the job done in 2024.
Defensively, this group looks to build off last season’s success. They lost three key players in the secondary, which hurts their pass defense, ranked 15th in the nation last year. In their front seven, they have some talent, and it was a surprising strength last year. If this team is going to be a solid group in the Big Ten, they need their defense to be as good as last year. They have a favorable schedule and should easily go over this win total for a one-unit play.
Nebraska Over 7.5 -114
Matt Rhule and company are going to make some noise in 2024. This group looks like they are going to cause some issues in the Big Ten this season. Highly talented freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola is going to take the league by storm. He is behind an experienced offensive line, and he has some talent at the receiver position to succeed here.
Defensively, the Cornhuskers were a top-fifteen-ranked defense overall. They return three of their top four leading tacklers from a season ago. This 3-3-5 base alignment that they use is going to cause some issues for opposing Big Ten offenses. This team is going to a bowl game for the first time since 2016, and they should go over this win total this year for a one-unit play.
Michigan Under 8.5 +122
The Championship hangover is going to be in full effect this year. With JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, Jim Harbaugh, and company leaving, this group is going to look different. It looks like Alex Orji will be the starting quarterback, but he doesn’t have much experience as a starter at the collegiate level. They will also have an entirely new offensive line, which is going to be a big issue for the Wolverines in 2024.
Defensively, Michigan will shine. They return two of the best defensive tackles in the Big Ten in Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Michigan also has All-American corner Will Johnson, who is going to anchor the secondary. Looking at their schedule, they have tough road games with Washington and Ohio State. They also have to play Texas, Oregon, and USC this season. I believe Michigan finishes with eight wins, which will put them under their win total. This is a one-unit play for me with low risk and high reward.
Big Ten Championship Prediction
I think this is a potential three-team race between Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State. However, I am taking Ohio State +135 as my Big Ten Champion. The Buckeyes are the deepest team in the conference. They have a good schedule that will give them competitive looks throughout conference play. I believe the Big Ten title game will be between Ohio State and Oregon, with the Buckeyes coming out on top. Ride the Buckeyes this year because they will be a wagon.