CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: medinabuckeye1 on August 18, 2023, 11:22:48 PM
-
Actual real live college football starts on Saturday and our first B1G game (UNL@MN) is less than two weeks away.
So, rank them!
-
UM
PSU
OSU
Wisky
Iowa
Indiana
the rest of them
-
Ugh, my pre-season rankings are always a miserable failure, but like Kirk Ferentz, I stubbornly refuse to change my strategy. Based on nothing except my vague memory of how teams did last year and what I remember has changed since then
1. Ohio St - my old rule that OSU always gets the benefit of the doubt until they lose has been tested recently. Still, OSU was one missed FG from a national championship last year
2. Mich. - logic says Mich should be #1 but part of me still questions Harbaugh's ability to sustain success. But if I see OSU struggle early, I won't hesitate as much to move Mich up.
2.1 USC - Just for fun I am going to throw in the future 2024 teams too
3. PSU - potential dark horse. PSU finally got its stuff together in 2022 after a couple of mediocre seasons. Can they take it to the next level in 2023?
3.1 Oregon
3.2 Washington
4. Iowa - Defense probably will drop off a little but should still be strong. Special teams will be strong. Offense will still suck but might improve just enough to grab the division. Schedule is easier this year except for trip to PSU
5. Wisc - may be the strongest team in West at end of season but I expect it will take time to incorporate Fickell's new system.
5.1 UCLA
6. Minn - PJ Fleck's always close but never quite gets over the top. Tough cross-over schedule.
7. ILL - same coach but lost key players
8. MD - still feel that MD has the worst coach in Big Ten.
9. MSU - Big Ten's Jeckyl and Hyde team. Which version will show up in 2023?
10. Neb - New coach, it will take time to turn it around.
11. Purdue - I expect a big drop-off after Brahm's leaving
12. Rut
13. IND
14. NW
-
1. Michigan
2. Penn State
3. Ohio State
4. Wisconsin
5. Iowa
6. Illinois
7. Minnesota
8. Purdue
9. Maryland
10. Michigan State
11. Nebraska
12. Rutgers
13. Indiana
14. Northwestern
-
1. Michigan - returning almost everyone from back to back B1G title teams, this is Harbaugh's best team ever at Michigan entering a season, have an OOC creampuff schedule. JJ should take that 2nd year starting jump...if he does sky is the limit..Epic battle brewing in Ann Arbor to end the season vs #2 on this list....winner takes all the marbles in that one....
2. Ohio State - bit of a tough schedule with @ND, @Wisc, and @M, returning a ton on defense- breaking in a new QB and rebuilding the OL a bit- but clear cut #2 pre-season imo.
3. Penn State - will this be their year? they get Michigan at home but have to go on the road to Columbus. Breaking in a new QB, some questions at WR, but in all this is one of Franklin's best teams ever entering a season
4. Wisconsin - bit of projection here- but buying Fickell stock right now and trusting Braelon Allen to carry them to W's. I have them winning the West.
5. Iowa - here almost by default, have to think the special teams and defense will be top notch, but team going through a bit of a scandal and the offense will.....suck...again...the curse of Brian Ferentz continues.
6. Maryland - little bit underrated imo- really like what they bringing back on offense at QB/RB/WR- they've got some talent on that side of the ball and Locksley can scheme up some offense now.
7. Minnesota - seems about right where PJ Fleck has them every year....middling B1G team....
8. Illinois - they're bound to take a step back this year with all the personnel losses imo.
9. Michigan State - here almost by default...not a good sign that they lost their best player on offense to the portal to FSU in WR Keon Coleman and their starting QB Peyton Thorne to Auburn- who was just named the starter at Auburn- and this was an offense that struggled last year- expect them to struggle again this year.
10. Nebraska - here by default. Matt Rhule should have them playing a lot better ball this year- but that might be a 2-3 year turnaround job before they are in the top tier of the league. I do like the transfer QB Jeff Sims- he's got lot of talent.
11. Purdue - new coach, new everything- probably gonna be a tough year 1.
12. Indiana - it's Indiana....this is about where you'd expect them.
13. Rutgers - it's Rutgers.....yeah, they are going to stink.
14. Northwestern - lost the head coach, scandal brewing, 'croots and players jumping ship, stick a fork in them- they dead.
-
1 Michigan
2 OSU
3 Iowa
4 Minnesota
5 PSU
6 Ill
7 Wisconsin
8 Maryland
9 Purdue
10 MSU
11 Neb
12 Rut
13 NW
14 Ind
-
1. Michigan
2. Ohio State
3. Penn State
4. Wisconsin
5. Iowa
6. Illinois
7. Maryland
8. Purdue
9. Minnesota
10. Michigan State
11. Nebraska
12. Indiana
13. Rutgers
14. Northwestern
-
1. Michigan - returning almost everyone from back to back B1G title teams, this is Harbaugh's best team ever at Michigan entering a season, have an OOC creampuff schedule. JJ should take that 2nd year starting jump...if he does sky is the limit..Epic battle brewing in Ann Arbor to end the season vs #2 on this list....winner takes all the marbles in that one....
2. Ohio State - bit of a tough schedule with @ND, @Wisc, and @M, returning a ton on defense- breaking in a new QB and rebuilding the OL a bit- but clear cut #2 pre-season imo.
3. Penn State - will this be their year? they get Michigan at home but have to go on the road to Columbus. Breaking in a new QB, some questions at WR, but in all this is one of Franklin's best teams ever entering a season
4. Wisconsin - bit of projection here- but buying Fickell stock right now and trusting Braelon Allen to carry them to W's. I have them winning the West.
5. Iowa - here almost by default, have to think the special teams and defense will be top notch, but team going through a bit of a scandal and the offense will.....suck...again...the curse of Brian Ferentz continues.
6. Maryland - little bit underrated imo- really like what they bringing back on offense at QB/RB/WR- they've got some talent on that side of the ball and Locksley can scheme up some offense now.
7. Minnesota - seems about right where PJ Fleck has them every year....middling B1G team....
8. Illinois - they're bound to take a step back this year with all the personnel losses imo.
9. Michigan State - here almost by default...not a good sign that they lost their best player on offense to the portal to FSU in WR Keon Coleman and their starting QB Peyton Thorne to Auburn- who was just named the starter at Auburn- and this was an offense that struggled last year- expect them to struggle again this year.
10. Nebraska - here by default. Matt Rhule should have them playing a lot better ball this year- but that might be a 2-3 year turnaround job before they are in the top tier of the league. I do like the transfer QB Jeff Sims- he's got lot of talent.
11. Purdue - new coach, new everything- probably gonna be a tough year 1.
12. Indiana - it's Indiana....this is about where you'd expect them.
13. Rutgers - it's Rutgers.....yeah, they are going to stink.
14. Northwestern - lost the head coach, scandal brewing, 'croots and players jumping ship, stick a fork in them- they dead.
Pretty much would guess this to start.
-
- Michigan
- Penn State
- Ohio State
- Wisconsin
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Michigan State
- Purdue
- Indiana
- Rutgers
- Northwestern
-
1. Michigan
2. Penn State
3. Ohio State
4. Wisconsin
5. Iowa
6. Illinois
7. Minnesota
8. Maryland
9. Michigan State
10. Purdue
11. Nebraska
12. Rutgers
13. Indiana
14. Northwestern
-
1. Michigan
2. Ohio State
3. Wisconsin
4. Penn State
5. Iowa
6. Minnesota
7. Maryland
8. Michigan St
9. Illinois
10. Nebraska
11. Purdue
12. Rutgers
13. Indiana
14. Northwestern
My preseason rankings are notoriously inaccurate. I am moving a west team ahead of Penn State at my peril, but am doing so because Penn State does not have a returning starting QB, and will be relying on sophomore QB Drew Allar who has limited collegiate experience in mop-up duty. That said, he is a 5* recruit.
-
1. Michigan
2. Penn State
3. Ohio State
4. Illinois
5. Iowa
6. Wisconsin
7. Purdue
8. Nebraska
9. Minnesota
10. Maryland
11. Michigan State
12. Rutgers
13. Indiana
14. Northwestern
-
1)Michigan
2)tOSU still not sold on the QB position others have too many questions also still room to slide :o
3)The Fighting Franklins
4)UW
5)Iowa
6)Minny
7)Illini would move them higher but not sure who they lost
8)Terps
9)'Skers
10)Spartans
11) Rutger
12)Indiana
13)Purdue
14)NU - say it ain't so
-
2)tOSU still not sold on the QB position others have too many questions also still room to slide :o
with those WRs and RBs and Ryan Day's coaching/system- someone will emerge and play well at QB. Day has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to QB play. And seriously....the skill positions are stacked. Marv + Egbuka are the best 1-2 punch at WR in the nation and OSU has tons of talent in the wings behind them- wouldn't be surprised to see Carnell Tate or Brandon Innis emerge as true frosh as a lethal #3 guy- they are loaded at WR. Williams and Henderson both had some injuries last year- doubt they both go through that this year- they'll be set at RB. I expect Henderson to really have a bounce back season- especially since this might be a team that leans on the run often early while they are breaking in a new QB.
It's a QBs dream scenario in terms of WRs and RBs and play-caller. Only thing that might slow them down is if the tackles aren't up to par and just really suck- but I don't really see that being a problem at a place like Ohio State. They seem to have at least good offensive lines most years.
-
this is a great podcast, college football nerds....they are previewing Penn State here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWScHHc82mw
-
Ohio State:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWe_QiAcENY
-
Michigan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3ZxMDEAFtc
-
One place where Ohio State easily beats Michigan (https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/toughest-and-weakest-nonconference-schedules-entering-the-2023-college-football-season/amp/).
For each conference they list the toughest and weakest OOC schedules. For the B1G:
"Big Ten
Toughest schedule -- Ohio State: The showdown with the Fighting Irish gives the Buckeyes the nod here. Other than Michigan State's home game with No. 10 Washington and Minnesota at North Carolina, there is little in terms of marquee matchups for the league this season. Honorable mention goes to Purdue for being the only Big Ten team to schedule two Power Five opponents. The Boilermakers' third game is against reigning Mountain West champion Fresno State.
Weakest schedule -- Michigan: The No. 2 Wolverines are not just champions of the Big Ten on the field, they're also champions of soft nonconference scheduling. This season, they host East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green. Michigan is the only Big Ten team without a Power Five opponent on its nonconference schedule."
It is pathetic that our two-time defending Champions and favorite to win the league have one of the worst OOC schedules in the country.
-
- Ohio State
- Michigan
- Penn State
- Wisconsin
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- Illinois
- Michigan State
- Purdue
- Nebraska
- Maryland
- Indiana
- Rutgers
- Northwestern
-
1) Michigan
2) Ohio State
3) Penn State
4) Wisconsin
5) Iowa
6) Illinois
7) Minnesota
8) Maryland
9) Nebraska
10) Michigan State
11) Purdue
12) Rutgers
13) Indiana
14) Northwestern
-
I think Penn State is going to be really good, but they just have to prove it and go win the B1G by beating M/OSU. With regards to OSU/Mich- Franklin is at where Jeem was at in regards to facing Ohio State- no benefits of the doubt given- nobody had any reason to believe- just have to prove it and stfu and just go do it before anyone will actually believe it.
Franklin is 1-8 vs Ohio State and 3-6 vs Michigan- and one of those wins vs Michigan was that f'd up COVID year when Jeem went 2-4 and had by far the worst team he's ever had at Michigan...if you take that one out and Franklin is 2-6 vs M....which is not great...and half those losses were smack downs.... 49-10 (2016), 42-7 (2018), and 41-17 (2022- honestly should've been even worse- like 55-7).
They absolutely have the talent to do it, but should anyone really believe it until they actually you know...actually go do it?
-
1. Michigan
2. Ohio State
3. Penn State
4. Wisconsin
5. Purdue
6. Maryland
7. Illinois
8. Iowa
9. Minnesota
10. Nebraska
11. Michigan State
12. Rutgers
13. Indiana
14. Northwestern
-
Phil Steele on the B1G race .... worth a watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beOzLz29ae0
-
- MICHIGAN - This is their all in year. They get OSU at home, roster is loaded, with a lot of turnover (including coach?) after the year
- OHIO STATE - really nothing Ryan Day can do to win back the doubters until the Saturday after Thanksgiving
- PENN STATE - could really use a divisionless format this year
- WISCONSIN - not quite RichRod replacing Carr, but still interested to see what the offense looks like
- IOWA - the Brian Ferentz ppg chase at least gives you something to watch for
- MINNESOTA - with the divisions going away, probably their last chance to play for a conference title
- MARYLAND - certainly the offensive coaching room of fallen stars
- ILLINOIS - pretty low ceiling, but impressive what good coaching can do with nominal talent
- MICHIGAN STATE - finally have some returning talent in the trenches, we'll see if it matters
- PURDUE - time to see how important Brohm was to the gameday operation, Hudson Card might be the most underrated transfer
- NEBRASKA - still can't believe Frost didn't work out
- INDIANA - Tom Allen has to fix the defense, which allowed 30+ points to 9 of 11 FBS opponents
- RUTGERS - well, at least they aren't the ones getting all the negative headlines
- NORTHWESTERN - that would be this school, which has also lost 17 in a row on American soil
-
- MICHIGAN - This is their all in year. They get OSU at home, roster is loaded, with a lot of turnover (including coach?) after the year
could Jeem & JJ be back in '24? was thinking no way....starting to think both might come back.
-
NEBRASKA - still can't believe Frost didn't work out
Ditto had all the makings
-
had to be the Fearless Frankie Solich curse
lucky for Rhule, Frank was welcomed back for the spring scrimmage
hopefully, the football Gods are appeased
-
Ohio State:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWe_QiAcENY
Thanks for the link. I like CFB Nerds and watched this last night. They had an interesting take.
-
Massey composite rankings (49 rankings)
- Georgia
- OHIO STATE
- MICHIGAN
- Alabama
- PENN STATE
- Tennessee
- LSU
- Clemson
- Texas
- Utah
- USC
- Oregon
- Florida State
- Notre Dame
- Kansas State
- TCU
- Washington
- Oregon State
- Ole Miss
- Oklahoma
- Mississippi State
- IOWA
- WISCONSIN
- Texas Tech
- MINNESOTA
- 37. Illinois
- 41. Maryland
- 52. Purdue
- 55. Michigan State
- 68. Nebraska
- 82. Indiana
- 98. Rutgers
- 102. Northwestern
-
Massey composite rankings (49 rankings)
- Georgia
- OHIO STATE
- MICHIGAN
love that Michigan is returning 9 starters on defense (DT Mason Graham and LB Makari Paige for some reason aren't considered returning starters in FPI/Phil Steele....newsflash: they are) and are going into Year 2 with DC Jesse Minter, brought in the #4 player overall and the highest rated transfer portal LB in 247Sports portal rankings in Ernest Hausmann- and they are so rock solid at ILB he's not even starting, return their starting QB (who btw was a 19 year old true soph first time starter who didn't have an off-season at all going into '22 bc of a shoulder injury and was splitting #1 reps all fall-camp in a QB battle- meaning- kid was green and inexperienced last year and it showed at times- he has TONS of room for growth), are legit 10-deep at OL with 150 combined P5 starts with their top 7 OLs, return the best RB duo in the country, are back to back B1G champs with two back to back drubbings of Ohio State, get Ohio State at home in Ann Arbor- and Ohio State is breaking in a brand new QB and rebuilding the OL- and all the composite polling and almost all of the media are picking Ohio State over Michigan.
Love it. I've been seeing everyone on ESPN/CBS/247 - all picking Ohio State to beat Michigan and win the B1G. Hope Jeem puts that all over the locker-rooms and plays up the disrespkt angle. Hope these guys feel the disreskpt and don't rest on their laurels.
-
love that Michigan is returning 9 starters on defense (DT Mason Graham and LB Makari Paige for some reason aren't considered returning starters in FPI/Phil Steele....newsflash: they are) and are going into Year 2 with DC Jesse Minter, brought in the #4 player overall and the highest rated transfer portal LB in 247Sports portal rankings in Ernest Hausmann- and they are so rock solid at ILB he's not even starting, return their starting QB (who btw was a 19 year old true soph first time starter who didn't have an off-season at all going into '22 bc of a shoulder injury and was splitting #1 reps all fall-camp in a QB battle- meaning- kid was green and inexperienced last year and it showed at times- he has TONS of room for growth), are legit 10-deep at OL with 150 combined P5 starts with their top 7 OLs, return the best RB duo in the country, are back to back B1G champs with two back to back drubbings of Ohio State, get Ohio State at home in Ann Arbor- and Ohio State is breaking in a brand new QB and rebuilding the OL- and all the composite poll and most of the media are picking Ohio State over Michigan.
Love it. I've been seeing everyone on ESPN/CBS/247 - all picking Ohio State to beat Michigan and win the B1G. Hope Jeem puts that all over the locker-rooms and plays up the disrespkt angle. Hope these guys feel the disreskpt and don't rest on their laurels.
You sure get worked up. Lol. And making shit up.
Like everyone else I have seen- I just watched Mark Ingram not only pick UM to win the Big- but to win it all. And- the sentiment On Fox was that their biggest threat is Penn State.
-
for some odd ass reason B1G Network has employed analyst Jake Butt to make a top 30 players in the B1G list??? Why not do a top 25 or top 50? Wtf is up with a top 30? Uh. Ok. Anyways, here's his top 30....
1) WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State (duh)
2) RB Blake Corum, Michigan (not even the best RB on his own team, but OK)
3) OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
4) DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
5) RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan (flip with Corum and I'm cool)
6) WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
7) CB Kalen King, Penn State (Will Johnson is better, but ok)
8) RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
9) OG Zak Zinter, Michigan (finally some guards getting some love)
10) QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan (too high going into the season imo, could be there at the end)
11) EDGE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
12) LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
13) CB Will Johnson, Michigan (there are not 12 better players in the B1G)
14) DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
15) OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
16) RB Nick Singleton, Penn State
17) FS Rod Moore, Michigan
18) EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State (should be higher imo)
19) RB TreVeyeon Henderson, Ohio State
20) QB Taulia Tagovaiola, Maryland
21) TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota
22) LB Abdul Carter, Penn State (should be higher imo)
23) LB Junior Colson, Michigan
24) LB Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin
25) S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
26) DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan (there are not 25 better football players in the B1G)
27) WR Isaiah Williams, Illinois
28) DT Keith Randolph, Illinois
29) TIE: Iowa TE's Erick All & Luke Lachey (ummmm wtf?....ok?)
30) LB Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State
list kinda sucks. imo.
-
You sure get worked up. Lol. And making shit up.
Like everyone else I have seen- I just watched Mark Ingram not only pick UM to win the Big- but to win it all. And- the sentiment On Fox was that their biggest threat is Penn State.
guess you must've missed ESPN College Football Live special where Kirby, Pat McAfee, Finebaum, Matt Barrie, and basically everyone on ESPN picked Ohio State to win the B1G except for Desmond Howard. But Des doesn't count- he's always gonna pick Michigan dude is a homer- and not the brightest bulb.
-
for some odd ass reason B1G Network has employed analyst Jake Butt to make a top 30 players in the B1G list??? Why not do a top 25 or top 50? Wtf is up with a top 30? Uh. Ok. Anyways, here's his top 30....
1) WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State (duh)
2) RB Blake Corum, Michigan (not even the best RB on his own team, but OK)
3) OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
4) DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
5) RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan (flip with Corum and I'm cool)
6) WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
7) CB Kalen King, Penn State (Will Johnson is better, but ok)
8) RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
9) OG Zak Zinter, Michigan (finally some guards getting some love)
10) QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan (too high going into the season imo, could be there at the end)
11) EDGE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
12) LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
13) CB Will Johnson, Michigan (there are not 12 better players in the B1G)
14) DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
15) OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
16) RB Nick Singleton, Penn State
17) FS Rod Moore, Michigan
18) EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State (should be higher imo)
19) RB TreVeyeon Henderson, Ohio State
20) QB Taulia Tagovaiola, Maryland
21) TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota
22) LB Abdul Carter, Penn State (should be higher imo)
23) LB Junior Colson, Michigan
24) LB Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin
25) S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
26) DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan (there are not 25 better football players in the B1G)
27) WR Isaiah Williams, Illinois
28) DT Keith Randolph, Illinois
29) TIE: Iowa TE's Erick All & Luke Lachey (ummmm wtf?....ok?)
30) LB Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State
list kinda sucks. imo.
Jake Butt is a pretty face, who could have been a great NFL TE, except he elected to play in a bowl game, which cost him his pro career. But he sucks as an analyst.
-
guess you must've missed ESPN College Football Live special where Kirby, Pat McAfee, Finebaum, Matt Barrie, and basically everyone on ESPN picked Ohio State to win the B1G except for Desmond Howard. But Des doesn't count- he's always gonna pick Michigan dude is a homer- and not the brightest bulb.
My only problem with your earlier rant:
I'm not so sure that Michigan has the best two running backs in cfb. They certainly have the best O-Line, and that can make even average backs look good.
I do think Corum is excellent. I'm not sold on Edwards though.
-
Jake Butt is a pretty face, who could have been a great NFL TE, except he elected to play in a bowl game, which cost him his pro career. But he sucks as an analyst.
Lmao. Facts. Butt was probably a 2nd rd NFL draft pick. That is until he tore his acl, mcl, and meniscus 3 or 4 months before the NFL draft playing in a meaningless bowl game vs Florida State. I believe he re-tore the same ACL twice in the NFL and basically never played.
Case study why I'd never fault a kid who is going to be a 1st or 2nd rd draft pick for deciding to opt out of a bowl game.
-
My only problem with your earlier rant:
I'm not so sure that Michigan has the best two running backs in cfb. They certainly have the best O-Line, and that can make even average backs look good.
I do think Corum is excellent. I'm not sold on Edwards though.
I said they have the best RB duo. Best 1-2 punch.
Edwards is RB1 in the next NFL draft, and he is the best RB in the country. Kid is a fkng freak show.
-
My only problem with your earlier rant:
I'm not so sure that Michigan has the best two running backs in cfb. They certainly have the best O-Line, and that can make even average backs look good.
I do think Corum is excellent. I'm not sold on Edwards though.
I'm the opposite. Corum is a very good college RB, whose OL makes him look great. He's got great vision. But I think that's why the NIL kept him. I don't think he would have done well with the combine.
Edwards is a goddamn cheat code. He's what LeVeon Bell became once he shed some weight, and got in an NFL system. If you made Edwards a pure WR, he'd be the best slot WR in the Big Ten. Instead he's a top 5 college RB, with NFL receiving ability. Corum returning is whatever, I think Michigan has a 4* recruit who can fill those shoes. Edwarsd is special
-
I'm the opposite. Corum is a very good college RB, whose OL makes him look great. He's got great vision. But I think that's why the NIL kept him. I don't think he would have done well with the combine.
Edwards is a goddamn cheat code. He's what LeVeon Bell became once he shed some weight, and got in an NFL system. If you made Edwards a pure WR, he'd be the best slot WR in the Big Ten. Instead he's a top 5 college RB, with NFL receiving ability. Corum returning is whatever, I think Michigan has a 4* recruit who can fill those shoes. Edwarsd is special
Agree 100%. Corum is a great college RB with great vision. But he's 5'8 at best and probably not running any better than 4.45-4.5 at the combine. He has put on like 20 pounds of muscle since being at Michigan and he actually looks like he got slower. Kid used to be a bit faster straight line as a 190 pound true freshman. He is not a better RB than Edwards, he just gets more usage than Edwards. He's probably a 3rd rd pick at best. Nothing wrong with that. That's still a great player with a legit chance at an NFL career.
Edwards had a freaking club on his right hand the end of the season and missed 3 games last year with a broken right hand (he's right handed) and played with a torn patella the whole season- and he still did what he did. Edwards is a legit 6'+, 210 pounds and is running 4.4 at worst. Not to mention he could legit play WR- he runs routes and catches the football that well. Edwards like you said is special though- has a legit shot at being 1st rd. Kid is a freak show.
-
guess you must've missed ESPN College Football Live special where Kirby, Pat McAfee, Finebaum, Matt Barrie, and basically everyone on ESPN picked Ohio State to win the B1G except for Desmond Howard. But Des doesn't count- he's always gonna pick Michigan dude is a homer- and not the brightest bulb.
I did miss that.
Anyway- I am already on record here- Michigan is my pick to win it all.
-
I did miss that.
Anyway- I am already on record here- Michigan is my pick to win it all.
I am not even really picking Michigan-just more or less pointing out that they really aren't getting respect from ESPN at least- and in that composite poll of 49 combined polls- they were behind OSU- which Jeem and those coaches absolutely should be blasting up all over the locker room and telling those players no one believes in them- we aren't getting respect from media and polls- NCAA is out to bring me down over BS- he ain't doing his job if he ain't selling all that to his team imo. Play up the disrespkt, play up the us against the world- that shit works imo.
As far as the conference goes, legit think any of the top 3 can win the conference. they are all gonna be really good this year. only thing that gives me pause on PSU- not sure I trust Franklin as a coach though and PSU is breaking in a new inexperienced QB. Yeah, OSU is too- but consider McCord has been in Day's system longer- Day is a QB whisperer and well James Franklin is not- and OSU is f**king LOADED at WR. QB should be A-OK there. I have a lot less questions in my mind about OSU breaking in a new inexperienced QB than I do Penn State.
-
Michigan is #2 in the two major polls. I'm not sure how motivating it is to point to more obscure polls or that ESPN doesn't respect them.
-
Michigan is #2 in the two major polls. I'm not sure how motivating it is to point to more obscure polls or that ESPN doesn't respect them.
nah. f that. those guys all watch ESPN. for sure. and they need to play the videos of everyone at ESPN like Finebaum saying their luck is gonna run out this year- yes he actually said that and called them lucky- and show that enitre College GameDay crew picking Ohio State over them....guarantee that'd piss those Michigan players off if they saw it. And it should. They've smacked Ohio State straight in the mouth last two years in a row- they get them at home, they return f'ing EVERYBODY while OSU is rebuilding the OL and replacing the #2 pick in the NFL draft at QB...I'd bet those guys on that team would 100000% feel slighted, disrespected, and like Ohio State is getting all the love while they are getting none.
-
Lmao. Facts. Butt was probably a 2nd rd NFL draft pick. That is until he tore his acl, mcl, and meniscus 3 or 4 months before the NFL draft playing in a meaningless bowl game vs Florida State. I believe he re-tore the same ACL twice in the NFL and basically never played.
Case study why I'd never fault a kid who is going to be a 1st or 2nd rd draft pick for deciding to opt out of a bowl game.
I wonder where the "meaningless game" line moves to in the future, with the way things are going now. I mean, any regular season games for a 2-5 Maryland team are even more meaningless than a bowl game. How soon will any of their players with a legit shot to be drafted decide the risk isn't worth it?
This isn't a new question; I just don't know the answer. I doubt I'll be interested in college athletics much longer anyway, given the current landscape...
-
Well post again the Terps looked good last season
-
I wonder where the "meaningless game" line moves to in the future, with the way things are going now. I mean, any regular season games for a 2-5 Maryland team are even more meaningless than a bowl game. How soon will any of their players with a legit shot to be drafted decide the risk isn't worth it?
I've said that before. When Kenneth Walker skipped the Peach Bowl, I questioned why he played in the Penn State game. MSU was eliminated from Big Ten/CFP contention with the loss to OSU the prior week. So all that was on the line was a NY6 Bowl, that he was skipping. If the non-CFP bowls are meaningless, then why are the games that have no impact on the CFP meaningful?
-
I wonder where the "meaningless game" line moves to in the future, with the way things are going now. I mean, any regular season games for a 2-5 Maryland team are even more meaningless than a bowl game. How soon will any of their players with a legit shot to be drafted decide the risk isn't worth it?
This isn't a new question; I just don't know the answer. I doubt I'll be interested in college athletics much longer anyway, given the current landscape...
I wonder if the wonks are paying attention to this message board. Of course, they are not. But if they were, they'd be worried.
-
nah. f that. those guys all watch ESPN. for sure. and they need to play the videos of everyone at ESPN like Finebaum saying their luck is gonna run out this year- yes he actually said that and called them lucky- and show that enitre College GameDay crew picking Ohio State over them....guarantee that'd piss those Michigan players off if they saw it. And it should. They've smacked Ohio State straight in the mouth last two years in a row- they get them at home, they return f'ing EVERYBODY while OSU is rebuilding the OL and replacing the #2 pick in the NFL draft at QB...I'd bet those guys on that team would 100000% feel slighted, disrespected, and like Ohio State is getting all the love while they are getting none.
Ok, I'm going to defend my team. First, let me preface all of this by saying that yes, I watched the last two iterations of The Game and that being the case, when making a League Power Ranking nearly all of our local fans had Michigan at #1.
That being said, national guys are inherently going to focus more on the big, national games, particularly the postseason and especially the CFP games. That makes sense and if you look only at the last few postseasons, it is honestly hard to come up with a rationale for putting Michigan ahead of Ohio State:
2019:
Ohio State:
The Buckeyes made the CFP and lost a very close game against Clemson.
Michigan:
The Wolverines went to an also-ran Citrus Bowl and got thumped by the Tide.
2020:
Ohio State:
The Buckeyes made the CFP again, thumped Clemson, and got drilled by the Tide. Getting drilled by the Tide obviously isn't good but they proved they belonged with the big win over Clemson nonetheless.
Michigan:
No post-season.
2021:
Ohio State:
The Buckeyes missed the CFP and went to a consolation Rose Bowl where I frankly expected them to get drilled. The motivation gap was humongous. For Utah it was a chance to win the school's first ever Rose Bowl and one of the VERY few major bowls in school history. For Ohio State it was a consolation game. They spent all season in the thick of the NC discussion and lost that in the last game of the year. So Ohio State proceeded to rewrite the Rose Bowl record book in a win.
Michigan:
The Wolverines made the CFP and got thumped by eventual-champion Georgia.
2022:
Ohio State:
The Buckeyes made the CFP and lost to eventual-champion Georgia on a missed FG as time expired. They looked to be the equal or at least near-equal of the Champions.
Michigan:
The Wolverines made the CFP and somehow lost to a joke of a CFP entrant, TCU. That same TCU squad that Michigan lost to turned around and lost by about 100 points to the very same UGA team that tOSU pushed to the absolute limit.
In the last four years tOSU has three CFP appearances and a 1-3 record in CFP games. More importantly, they "looked like" they belonged in all three CFP's and their "off year" was a Rose Bowl win.
In the last four years Michigan has two CFP appearances and an 0-2 record in CFP games while frankly "looking like" they didn't belong either time. Their two off years included getting thumped by the Tide in an also-ran bowl and missing the post-season entirely due to a disastrous COVID year.
I'm not saying that tOSU is/was better than Michigan but I am saying that Michigan has a post-season problem. They haven't won a post-season game since they beat Florida in the Citrus Bowl at the end of the 2015 season. Since then:
- 33-32 loss to FSU in the Orange Bowl, 2016 season
- 26-19 loss to USCe in the Outback Bowl, 2017 season
- 41-15 loss to Florida in the Peach Bowl, 2018 season
- 35-16 loss to Bama in the Citrus Bowl, 2019 season
- no postseason in the COVID year
- 34-11 loss to Georgia in the CFP, 2021 season
- 51-45 loss to TCU in the CFP, 2022 season.
Compare Ohio State:
- 31-0 loss to Clemson in the CFP, 2016 season
- 24-7 win over USC in the Cotton Bowl, 2017 season
- 28-23 win over Washington in the Rose Bowl, 2018 season
- 29-23 loss to Clemson in the CFP, 2019 season
- 49-28 win over Clemson in the CFP, 2020 season
- 52-24 loss to Bama in the CFPCG, 2020 season
- 48-45 win over Utah in the Rose Bowl, 2021 season
- 42-41 loss to UGA in the CFP, 2022 season.
So in the seven seasons since Michigan last won a bowl game they are 0-6 with three close losses (FSU, USCe, and TCU) and three blowout losses while Ohio State is 4-4 with:
- Two bad losses (Clemson-16, Bama)
- Two close losses (Clemson-19, UGA)
- Two close wins (UW, Utah)
- Two blowout wins (USC, Clemson-20)
Also note that tOSU played substantially better opponents in all but one of the years that Michigan made the post-season and played CFP opponents when Michigan didn't:
- 2016: FSU was good but Clemson was CFP.
- 2017: USCe was ok, USC is the real USC, PAC Champ.
- 2018: Florida was ok, UW was the PAC Champ.
- 2019: Bama was having an off year, Clemson was CFP.
- 2020: No bowl for M, CFP for tOSU.
- 2021: Michigan played a better opponent.
- 2022: tOSU's opponent beat M's opponent by what was it, 70?
So in the last seven post-seasons tOSU is .500 while playing five CFP opponents and three PAC Champions. Michigan is 0-6 while playing two CFP opponents and four also-rans.
-
your team doesn't need much defending
-
your team doesn't need much defending
And therefore MSU didn't defend them much
-
And therefore MSU didn't defend them much
😂😂
Wearing my Sparty shirt and hat right now ( for daughter #2)
-
Power rankings are somewhat subjective, as is my analysis, but today, Ohio State did not seem to me to be a Top 2 Big Ten team. We can't judge a season by opening week.
Ohio State looked a bit like Iowa today; good defensively; bad offensively; that said, Ohio State will probably be better than 8-5.
-
Power rankings are somewhat subjective, as is my analysis, but today, Ohio State did not seem to me to be a Top 2 Big Ten team. We can't judge a season by opening week.
Ohio State looked a bit like Iowa today; good defensively; bad offensively; that said, Ohio State will probably be better than 8-5.
I would agree. Based on one game I might put PSU at 1 and UM at 2 for now.
I do find it interesting how much we as fans put into the first game. I saw this yesterday on a Buckeye forum:
(https://i.imgur.com/PNtfJkL.jpg)
One a home game v a MAC level team, the other a conference road game. It’s all relative.
-
Edwards is a goddamn cheat code. He's what LeVeon Bell became once he shed some weight, and got in an NFL system. If you made Edwards a pure WR, he'd be the best slot WR in the Big Ten. Instead he's a top 5 college RB, with NFL receiving ability. Corum returning is whatever, I think Michigan has a 4* recruit who can fill those shoes. Edwarsd is special
That's a stretch since he was making catches out of the backfield - and prolly covered more by LBs in space quite different,the potential is there and he may even play there on Sundays
-
I would agree. Based on one game I might put PSU at 1 and UM at 2 for now.
I do find it interesting how much we as fans put into the first game. I saw this yesterday on a Buckeye forum:
(https://i.imgur.com/PNtfJkL.jpg)
One a home game v a MAC level team, the other a conference road game. It’s all relative.
IMHO, there are way too many unknowns with one game:
- Most of us think ECU will suck like last year but maybe they'll get the G5 NYD Bowl.
- Most of think Indiana will suck like last year but what if Tom Allen has that program ready to contend in the B1G-E.
- Maybe this was just a particularly good/bad game by ECU/IU.
- Maybe this was tOSU's or M's best/worst game of the year.
-
IMHO, there are way too many unknowns with one game:
- Most of us think ECU will suck like last year but maybe they'll get the G5 NYD Bowl.
- Most of think Indiana will suck like last year but what if Tom Allen has that program ready to contend in the B1G-E.
- Maybe this was just a particularly good/bad game by ECU/IU.
- Maybe this was tOSU's or M's best/worst game of the year.
can't really glean much if anything from Michigan.
ECU didn't score until literally the very last seconds of the entire game- and it was a FG at that- vs a bunch of 3rd and 4th stringers on D. Instead of just running the ball and clock out they kept trying to go all out to move the ball and get in FG range all so they could get a bullshit garbage time FG with 5 seconds left in a game all so they wouldn't be shut out on the scoreboard. Michigan's defense dominated them- even with a bunch of starters out- but that was to be expected- can't really learn anything from that- some individual performances flashed though- NT Kenneth Grant, LB Ernest Hausman, CB Josh Wallace, and S Keon Sabb all looked terrific in their first real action. The transfer portal LB Hausman might already be their best LB, all due respect to Junior Colson. Sabb looked like all that coaches hype and his recruiting hype on him might wound up being legit. Wallace looked like he belonged- made the play of the game that didn't count for some reason. Grant was literally unblockable and outplayed Mason Graham and Kris Jenkins- albeit they got less snaps than he did.
Their 1st team O with JJ had 6 possessions. They scored TD's on 4 of them, a FG on one, and the final one they moved the ball right down to the 1 yard line and then flubbed up near the goal-line and had a turnover on downs. That's why they only had 30 points. The return teams and defense didn't generate points- which you'd typically expect vs an inferior opponent like this- and their 2nd string O was conservative mode- their backup QB David Warren attempted 1 pass. Their only scoring at all was with the 1st team on 5 of their 6 drives.
Really only thing you can glean from their offense at all is that JJ looked extremely in command of the offense and huddle and was extremely accurate throwing dimes- his ball placement and accuracy is the best he's ever displayed. Competition caveats can apply- but at the same time not really- because a perfect throw to a perfect spot is a perfect throw to a perfect spot- and that'll beat any competition level- and he was basically throwing those on all his drives. His accuracy was on fire- best he's ever been. You can tell he's put in the work. He also seems to have a budding connection with Roman Wilson and Colston Loveland brewing. They were on the same page and JJ was putting balls right on the money to them before they were even out of their breaks in spots only they could catch them...and they flat out weren't doing that last season. JJ had a sweet throw where he froze a defender with a little look and fake pump flick and then turned his head and fired a dart to the end zone to Wilson- that was sh*t he just wasn't doing last year. My hope is they spend these next 3 games allowing JJ to throw it 30+ per game and keep working on those little details and working on the chemistry with Wilson and Loveland.
-
No Week 1?
-
No Week 1?
I never even compiled the preseason.
There aren't enough voters to feel like it is even worth it.
-
There may be enough now. Lots of old faces showing up.
-
(https://i.imgur.com/o60yXX1.png)
Medinabuckeye1 can give the above a QA check and do his thing. Just trying to help and encourage.
How does one attach a spreadsheet?