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Top non-conference games for Big Ten in 2022

Top OOC games for the Big Ten in 2022:
  • Notre Dame at Ohio State in Week 1 is a Top 10 showdown to kickoff 2022
  • Oklahoma at Nebraska in Week 3, so will both programs be undefeated, when the Sooners visit Lincoln? OU first two games: UTEP and Kent State in 2022
  • Cincinnati at Indiana in Week 3 is a statement opportunity to reignite Tom Allen's Hoosiers program, but they also must weather Illinois, Idaho and WKU first!
  • Penn State at Auburn in Week 3 as the Nittany Lions won 28-20 last year in Happy Valley; "if he (Bryan Harsin) survives this, it will be the greatest trial by fire ever" as the Tiger nation is on fire in 2022
  • Rutgers at Boston College in Week 1, as Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights host both Iowa and Nebraska in the first half of Big Ten play in 2022
  • Iowa State at Iowa in Week 2. as the Cy-Hawk Game returns to Iowa City for the first time, since 2018 ... last year's game was the biggest game in the rivalry, since it began in 1977 in Iowa City
  • Michigan State at Washington in Week 3, as Mel Tucker took care of business at Miami-FL in Week 3 of 2021, winning 38-17, unlike the 49-7 loss in Week 3 of 2020 ... will it work in 2022?
  • Purdue at Syracuse in Week 3, as Jeff Brohm opens 2022 with a B1G showdown against Penn State in West Lafayette
  • Washington State at Wisconsin in Week 2, as Cougars head coach Jake Dickert (3-3) enters first full season, after replacing Nico Rolovich since Rolo wouldn't vaccinate in 2021
  • Maryland at Michigan in Week 4 to open Big Ten, though they do host SMU in Week 3 in College Park in OOC; for some odd and lowly reason the Terrapins are @ Charlotte in Week 2
  • Virginia at Illinois in Week 2 as Bret Bielema attempts to rebound in Year 2, after a 42-14 on the road, as part of a four game losing steak, after the upset win over Nebraska to open his era in Champaign
  • Miami-OH at Northwestern in Week 4, though some may ask, why isn't the P5 showdown between Duke in Week 2 not listed?
  • Colorado State at Michigan in Week 1, instead of UCLA (awful OOC, as well) in 2022, as the Wolverines host bottom 10 programs Hawaii and UConn, as well, before kicking off the Big Ten at home ... it was apparently the Wolverines decision to scratch the home and home with UCLA
  • Colorado at Minnesota in Week 3, as the Buffaloes lost 30-0 last year in Boulder ... this game could be higher on the list, assuming CU can take care of business with TCU and at Air Force ahead of Week 3
  • Jerry Kill returns to Big Ten for two B1G games for his new home New Mexico State: Week 1 at Minnesota and Week 3 at Wisconsin, as he faces both Paul Bunyan's Axe rivals in 2022
When we look at Oklahoma, the Sooners are the #3 program in the Big 12, behind Baylor and Oklahoma State, based on 2021 finish in the conference. The Sooners did finish 12-2, as Bob Stoops lead them to a solid bowl win to conclude the 2021 season.

Like Iowa State in 2021, will the Sooners be a Top 25 program at season's end in 2022? As one coach pointed out for the Sooners, "the best and most talented program in our league (Big 12) year in and year out, and now they're dealing with more change than they've seen in 20-son odd years." Some expect Brent Venables to have a transition year. We shall see. An excellent opportunity for the Huskers in Week 3 in Lincoln. The Sooners host UTEP and Kent State ahead of the showdown with their old rival, the Huskers!

Will Nebraska become one in 2022?

This will likely be a transitional year for the Huskers. For four seasons, since Scott Frost was hired in 2018, the Huskers are 15-29. As a head coach, Scott Frost has dropped two game below .500 in six years, as a head coach. New QB, new OC, new offensive staff, so it should be an interesting 2022 season throughout the Big Ten, in both the East and the West divisions. Likely, the division will be gone for 2023, and we will see a new slate of conference games and match ups.

First up, the 2022 season.

QB Casey Thompson (probable starter)
- now at Nebraska (3-9 in 2021), he started 10 games for Texas. Thompson was 4-6 as a starting QB, overcoming six straight losses, including a 30-7 loss at Iowa State, and a 57-56 OT loss at Kansas. Texas was 5-7 in 2021 (3 way tie for 7th) ahead of one-win Big 12 KU. The Longhorns don't play defense well. The likely next step in 2022:

 
real murderer's row LaughingLaughingLaughingLaughingLaughingRollingLaugh

won't keep B1G fans from touting its non-con "prowess" in December, just prior to getting blown out on Jan 1 and in the cfp (so long as the media can ensure the B1G's participation)
 
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real murderer's row LaughingLaughingLaughingLaughingLaughingRollingLaugh

won't keep B1G fans from touting its non-con "prowess" in December, just prior to getting blown out on Jan 1 and in the cfp (so long as the media can ensure the B1G's participation)

Who are the four powerhouses for the CFP this year, @king_kong_ ?

Alabama - is there offensive line a liability again?

Georgia - they lost some talent in the NFL Draft, so will they repeat?

Michigan isn't likely repeating in 2022, right?

Cincinnati - do they get by Houston again in 2022?

Houston took down Auburn, so does Bryan Harsin survive the regular season in 2022?

Texas A&M didn't even make the final Top 25 in 2021, so do they finally get over the hump?

USC and Texas are each seeking to get back to the Top 25?

Did I miss anyone?
 
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Jerry Kill returns to Big Ten for two B1G games for his new home New Mexico State: Week 1 at Minnesota and Week 3 at Wisconsin, as he faces both Paul Bunyan's Axe rivals in 2022


Minnesota is a 39 point favorite over this NMSU team that lost like 30 kids to the portal. There is nothing marquee about this matchup... Lol.
 
Who are the four powerhouses for the CFP this year, @king_kong_ ?

Alabama - is there offensive line a liability again?

Georgia - they lost some talent in the NFL Draft, so will they repeat?

Michigan isn't likely repeating in 2022, right?

Cincinnati - do they get by Houston again in 2022?

Houston took down Auburn, so does Bryan Harsin survive the regular season in 2022?

Texas A&M didn't even make the final Top 25 in 2021, so do they finally get over the hump?

USC and Texas are each seeking to get back to the Top 25?

Did I miss anyone?
Bama, Georgia, USC, Ole Miss, Clemson, Ok St

there will be 2 more SEC teams deserving of at least a look at a 3rd playoff spot for the SEC, but that will eventually go to ND or the B1G champ (I call this the 'money slot', which gets killed by 50 every year but generates lots of eyeballs leading up to it)

ohiost will probably lose a B1G game, which should eliminate them from playoff contention but won't because the media pays too much for B1G tv rights to have them not participate

Utah will be good again. Texas and OU will be interesting

pennst, mich, sparty, wisc all will be "B1G good" (8/9 wins and way too much discussion about how good they really are when they're perfectly average just like always)
 
Bama, Georgia, USC, Ole Miss, Clemson, Ok St

there will be 2 more SEC teams deserving of at least a look at a 3rd playoff spot for the SEC, but that will eventually go to ND or the B1G champ (I call this the 'money slot', which gets killed by 50 every year but generates lots of eyeballs leading up to it)

ohiost will probably lose a B1G game, which should eliminate them from playoff contention but won't because the media pays too much for B1G tv rights to have them not participate

Utah will be good again. Texas and OU will be interesting

pennst, mich, sparty, wisc all will be "B1G good" (8/9 wins and way too much discussion about how good they really are when they're perfectly average just like always)

Other than Alabama and Georgia, are there really any clear candidates who will likely go undefeated in the regular season in 2022?

Stanford won at USC, then in OT against Oregon to finish 3-9. Only other win was against Vanderbilt.

Utah is the "best program" in the Pac 12, but finished 10-4, with losses, at BYU, at San Diego State, at Oregon State (Purdue beat the Beavers last year) and in the Rose Bowl to Ohio State.

Oklahoma and USC will be interesting, but likely still lag against top programs in Big 12 and Pac 12, respectively.

Ohio State has had issues at LB dating back to Urban Meyer's departure. Oregon exposed that last year. Will former Okie State DC Jim Knowles pull a similar upgrade that Michigan one-year DC Mike McDonald did for the Wolverines last year?

Penn State is .500, since 2020 under James Franklin. Did win at Wisconsin and against Auburn last season, but sixth year QB Sean Clifford returns, unlike the Big Ten leading number of players to be drafted to the NFL.

The Big Ten is better than ACC, and Clemson will need to make a big jump to get back on top.

You are obviously buying Lincoln Riley and DC Alex Grinch. Riley is moving over from a third place Big 12 team and inheriting a 4-8 team, who were disrupted in 2020 conference wide by the covid-19 year.

Top 25 program - sure
College Football Playoff team - no

Oklahoma State at Oklahoma will be a huge game in 2022.

Is new DC Derek Mason ready to fully replace Knowles?

This still was a two loss team from 2022, though three non-conference games at home should all be manageable.

Baylor has two interesting September road games, but Big 12 home opener against Oklahoma State looms large.

Dave Amanda is a good head coach and was an outstanding DC.
 
Minnesota is a 39 point favorite over this NMSU team that lost like 30 kids to the portal. There is nothing marquee about this matchup... Lol.
Colorado won’t be much better.

The “bottom” OOC matchups must be truly unwatchable.
 
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