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Schlabach's crystal ball: Here's how the 2016 CFB season will play out
by Mark Schlabach, ESPN.com
BIG TEN
Predicted Order of Finish
East
1. Michigan (11-1, 8-1)
1. Ohio State (10-2, 8-1)
3. Michigan State (9-3, 7-2)
4. Penn State (7-5, 5-4)
5. Indiana (6-6, 3-6)
6. Maryland (5-7, 2-7)
7. Rutgers (3-9, 1-8)
West
1. Iowa (11-1, 8-1)
2. Northwestern (9-3, 6-3)
3. Nebraska (8-4, 5-4)
4. Minnesota (7-5, 4-5)
4. Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5)
6. Illinois (3-9, 2-7)
7. Purdue (2-10, 0-9)
Champion: Michigan
Defensive POTY: DE - Malik McDowell, Michigan State
Offensive POTY: QB - J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Freshman of the Year: DT - Rashan Gary, Michigan
Comeback Player of the Year: RB - Corey Clement, Wisconsin
Coach on the Hot Seat: Darrell Hazell, Purdue
Coordinator on the Rise: Tim Drevno, Michigan (OC)
Team Most Likely to Rise: Nebraska
Team Most Likely to Fall: Wisconsin
Nonconference Game of the Year: Ohio State at Oklahoma (Sept. 17)
Conference Game of the Year: Michigan at Ohio State (Nov. 26)
Biggest Potential Upset: Michigan State over Michigan (Oct. 29)
Three Bold Big Ten Predictions
1. Michigan wins the Big Ten and makes the College Football Playoff. If the Wolverines make the CFP in Year 2 under coach Jim Harbaugh, they'll certainly earn it. They'll probably have to win two of three road games at Michigan State, Iowa and Ohio State. But Harbaugh has built a dominant defense, and he'll get enough from his quarterback to finish 11-1.
2. Iowa will be undefeated in November again. The Hawkeyes are sort of flying under the radar, much like last season, when they finished the regular season 12-0 before losing in the Big Ten championship game and Rose Bowl. This season, Iowa will win its first nine games before falling to Michigan twice, once in the regular season on Nov. 12, and again in the Big Ten championship game.
3. Wisconsin will start 2-5 but still make a bowl. After winning 10 games in coach Paul Chryst's first season, the Badgers are probably going to take a step back in Year 2. They open the season against LSU at Lambeau Field and then play Michigan State (road), Michigan (road), Ohio State (home), and Iowa (road) to open Big Ten play. After starting 2-5, the Badgers will win four of their last five games to finish 6-6.
Schlabach's crystal ball: Here's how the 2016 CFB season will play out
by Mark Schlabach, ESPN.com
BIG TEN
Predicted Order of Finish
East
1. Michigan (11-1, 8-1)
1. Ohio State (10-2, 8-1)
3. Michigan State (9-3, 7-2)
4. Penn State (7-5, 5-4)
5. Indiana (6-6, 3-6)
6. Maryland (5-7, 2-7)
7. Rutgers (3-9, 1-8)
West
1. Iowa (11-1, 8-1)
2. Northwestern (9-3, 6-3)
3. Nebraska (8-4, 5-4)
4. Minnesota (7-5, 4-5)
4. Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5)
6. Illinois (3-9, 2-7)
7. Purdue (2-10, 0-9)
Champion: Michigan
Defensive POTY: DE - Malik McDowell, Michigan State
Offensive POTY: QB - J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Freshman of the Year: DT - Rashan Gary, Michigan
Comeback Player of the Year: RB - Corey Clement, Wisconsin
Coach on the Hot Seat: Darrell Hazell, Purdue
Coordinator on the Rise: Tim Drevno, Michigan (OC)
Team Most Likely to Rise: Nebraska
Team Most Likely to Fall: Wisconsin
Nonconference Game of the Year: Ohio State at Oklahoma (Sept. 17)
Conference Game of the Year: Michigan at Ohio State (Nov. 26)
Biggest Potential Upset: Michigan State over Michigan (Oct. 29)
Three Bold Big Ten Predictions
1. Michigan wins the Big Ten and makes the College Football Playoff. If the Wolverines make the CFP in Year 2 under coach Jim Harbaugh, they'll certainly earn it. They'll probably have to win two of three road games at Michigan State, Iowa and Ohio State. But Harbaugh has built a dominant defense, and he'll get enough from his quarterback to finish 11-1.
2. Iowa will be undefeated in November again. The Hawkeyes are sort of flying under the radar, much like last season, when they finished the regular season 12-0 before losing in the Big Ten championship game and Rose Bowl. This season, Iowa will win its first nine games before falling to Michigan twice, once in the regular season on Nov. 12, and again in the Big Ten championship game.
3. Wisconsin will start 2-5 but still make a bowl. After winning 10 games in coach Paul Chryst's first season, the Badgers are probably going to take a step back in Year 2. They open the season against LSU at Lambeau Field and then play Michigan State (road), Michigan (road), Ohio State (home), and Iowa (road) to open Big Ten play. After starting 2-5, the Badgers will win four of their last five games to finish 6-6.
