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Big Ten Preview 2017: Reasons to be excited, skeptical for every team
by Colleen Thomas, Sporting News
The Big Ten has put a team in the College Football Playoff for three consecutive years, and the conference is in good shape to send its champion to the playoff in 2017.
The conference's best teams have plenty of reasons to be excited for the fall, and there's a lot of optimism about the mid- and low-tier teams. But this is college football, and nothing's guaranteed — there are plenty of questions surrounding each team.
Here's why we're excited (and skeptical) about each Big Ten team:
(I'll post the West Division teams......East Division teams included in link to full article)
WISCONSIN
Reason to be excited: The Badgers' 2017 schedule is much friendlier than in 2016, and that'll favor a team with 15 returning starters, including quarterback Alex Hornibrook and their two leading receivers (Jazz Peavy, Troy Fumagalli).
Reason to be skeptical: The Big Ten's best secondary is taking a huge hit. Vince Biegel, T.J. Watt, Leo Musso and Sojourn Shelton are all leaving for the NFL Draft. That leaves Jack Cichy, who was injured halfway through the season, as the main returner.
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NEBRASKA
Reason to be excited: In his third season, Mike Riley gets a chance to prove that the Huskers can play with the Big Ten big boys. Nebraska has road games at Oregon and Penn State, and home dates with Ohio State and Wisconsin. With the improvement shown from Year 1 to Year 2, there's a lot to like about Riley's system and the Huskers' chances moving forward.
Reason to be skeptical: Losing Tommy Armstrong Jr. is going to be a big blow for the Huskers' offense. Tulane transfer Tanner Lee and Patrick O'Brien will compete for the starting job and both have little in-game experience.
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IOWA
Reason to be excited: Akrum Wadley is one of the Big Ten's best rushers, and he's back after a 1,081-yard season. He'll be the focal point of the offense in 2017.
Reason to be skeptical: Kirk Ferentz has had one 10-plus win season in the past seven years (12-2 in 2015), and thanks to a large pay raise and contract extension through 2025, he'll be around a lot longer. History says 2017 will be another middling year.
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MINNESOTA
Reason to be excited: P.J. Fleck injected life into a Western Michigan program that was 1-11 in 2013. Imagine what he can do to a Minnesota team that went 9-4 with a bowl win in 2016 and a slew of talented coordinators.
Reason to be skeptical: What will happen to the players involved in the alleged sexual assault in 2016? The team seems fractured over the university's role in the suspensions, and plenty of them are upset at Tracy Claey's firing. Fleck will have his hands full trying to put together a unified team.
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NORTHWESTERN
Reason to be excited: The core of this team — quarterback Clayton Thorson and running back Justin Jackson — had impressive years in 2016, putting their names in the Wildcats' record books. Nine offensive starters will return, so there's a lot to like about Northwestern's experience in 2017.
Reason to be skeptical: Can the Wildcats be consistent? They had impressive wins over Pitt and Duke, took Ohio State to the very end, but dropped games to Western Michigan (which doesn't look so bad now) and Illinois State. The 2017 schedule has its challenges, but Northwestern could easily drop a game or two that they shouldn't lose, such as to Bowling Green or a road game at Maryland.
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ILLINOIS
Reason to be excited: Lovie Smith is bringing in a solid recruiting class, with several JUCO players who could contribute right away. The non-conference schedule is tame and the Big Ten East crossover games aren't as terrible as they could be (Rutgers, Indiana, Ohio State).
Reason to be skeptical: The Illini still have a ways to go to catch up with the rest of the Big Ten. The last time Illinois beat Michigan or Ohio State was in 2009, and the last win over a ranked Big Ten team since 2007. It'll be a while for Lovie.
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PURDUE
Reason to be excited: The offensive-minded Jeff Brohm will bring excitement to the Boilermakers' offense and has a track record with developing record-setting quarterbacks. His work with David Blough will be fun to watch.
Reason to be skeptical: Purdue's schedule does it no favors, with non-conference games against Louisville and Missouri. Year 1 will be rough for Brohm regardless of the miracles he works on offense.
Big Ten Preview 2017: Reasons to be excited, skeptical for every team
by Colleen Thomas, Sporting News
The Big Ten has put a team in the College Football Playoff for three consecutive years, and the conference is in good shape to send its champion to the playoff in 2017.
The conference's best teams have plenty of reasons to be excited for the fall, and there's a lot of optimism about the mid- and low-tier teams. But this is college football, and nothing's guaranteed — there are plenty of questions surrounding each team.
Here's why we're excited (and skeptical) about each Big Ten team:
(I'll post the West Division teams......East Division teams included in link to full article)
WISCONSIN
Reason to be excited: The Badgers' 2017 schedule is much friendlier than in 2016, and that'll favor a team with 15 returning starters, including quarterback Alex Hornibrook and their two leading receivers (Jazz Peavy, Troy Fumagalli).
Reason to be skeptical: The Big Ten's best secondary is taking a huge hit. Vince Biegel, T.J. Watt, Leo Musso and Sojourn Shelton are all leaving for the NFL Draft. That leaves Jack Cichy, who was injured halfway through the season, as the main returner.
------------------------------------------------------
NEBRASKA
Reason to be excited: In his third season, Mike Riley gets a chance to prove that the Huskers can play with the Big Ten big boys. Nebraska has road games at Oregon and Penn State, and home dates with Ohio State and Wisconsin. With the improvement shown from Year 1 to Year 2, there's a lot to like about Riley's system and the Huskers' chances moving forward.
Reason to be skeptical: Losing Tommy Armstrong Jr. is going to be a big blow for the Huskers' offense. Tulane transfer Tanner Lee and Patrick O'Brien will compete for the starting job and both have little in-game experience.
------------------------------------------------------
IOWA
Reason to be excited: Akrum Wadley is one of the Big Ten's best rushers, and he's back after a 1,081-yard season. He'll be the focal point of the offense in 2017.
Reason to be skeptical: Kirk Ferentz has had one 10-plus win season in the past seven years (12-2 in 2015), and thanks to a large pay raise and contract extension through 2025, he'll be around a lot longer. History says 2017 will be another middling year.
------------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA
Reason to be excited: P.J. Fleck injected life into a Western Michigan program that was 1-11 in 2013. Imagine what he can do to a Minnesota team that went 9-4 with a bowl win in 2016 and a slew of talented coordinators.
Reason to be skeptical: What will happen to the players involved in the alleged sexual assault in 2016? The team seems fractured over the university's role in the suspensions, and plenty of them are upset at Tracy Claey's firing. Fleck will have his hands full trying to put together a unified team.
------------------------------------------------------
NORTHWESTERN
Reason to be excited: The core of this team — quarterback Clayton Thorson and running back Justin Jackson — had impressive years in 2016, putting their names in the Wildcats' record books. Nine offensive starters will return, so there's a lot to like about Northwestern's experience in 2017.
Reason to be skeptical: Can the Wildcats be consistent? They had impressive wins over Pitt and Duke, took Ohio State to the very end, but dropped games to Western Michigan (which doesn't look so bad now) and Illinois State. The 2017 schedule has its challenges, but Northwestern could easily drop a game or two that they shouldn't lose, such as to Bowling Green or a road game at Maryland.
------------------------------------------------------
ILLINOIS
Reason to be excited: Lovie Smith is bringing in a solid recruiting class, with several JUCO players who could contribute right away. The non-conference schedule is tame and the Big Ten East crossover games aren't as terrible as they could be (Rutgers, Indiana, Ohio State).
Reason to be skeptical: The Illini still have a ways to go to catch up with the rest of the Big Ten. The last time Illinois beat Michigan or Ohio State was in 2009, and the last win over a ranked Big Ten team since 2007. It'll be a while for Lovie.
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PURDUE
Reason to be excited: The offensive-minded Jeff Brohm will bring excitement to the Boilermakers' offense and has a track record with developing record-setting quarterbacks. His work with David Blough will be fun to watch.
Reason to be skeptical: Purdue's schedule does it no favors, with non-conference games against Louisville and Missouri. Year 1 will be rough for Brohm regardless of the miracles he works on offense.
