Big Ten football predictions 2023: Conference standings, best game, conference champions
The Big Ten will be heavily impacted by conference realignment in 2024 as the Oregon Ducks, UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans and Washington Huskies are all set to join the conference. 2023 will mark the final season where only 14 teams will compete in the conference as well as the final season of divisional play.
Take a look at our predictions for the upcoming season below.
Big Ten standings
Big Ten East
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Michigan Wolverines
3. Penn State Nittany Lions
4. Michigan State Spartans
5. Maryland Terrapins
6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
7. Indiana Hoosiers
The Big Ten East race will likely come down to three teams once again this season. The No. 2-ranked Michigan Wolverines, No. 3-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 7-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions are expected to compete for the top spot and will all face each other.
The Buckeyes will also face the No. 13-ranked ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish and No. 19-ranked Wisconsin Badgers. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions will take on the No. 25-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes. Ohio State and Penn State represent the only two ranked opponents that Michigan will play this season.
The result of the Big Ten East will likely come down to the final game of the season. Look for the Buckeyes to avenge their back-to-back losses to the Wolverines, which followed an eight-game win streak, to head to the conference championship.
Big Ten West
1. Wisconsin Badgers
2. Nebraska Cornhuskers
3. Iowa Hawkeyes
4. Purdue Boilermakers
5. Minnesota Golden Gophers
6. Illinois Fighting Illini
7. Northwestern Wildcats
The Big Ten West lacks the firepower that the other side of the conference possesses, as made evident by its 10 straight losses in the Big Ten championship game. Furthermore, the division is wide open and has not been won by the same team in back-to-back years since the Wisconsin Badgers did so in 2016 and 2017.
The Badgers, who enter this season ranked 25th, may not be able to overcome the No. 3-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. They will likely be the favorites in every other game on their schedule, however, setting up a path to the conference title.
Look for Wisconsin to earn a rematch with the Buckeyes as they represent the division in the conference championship game.
Best Game: Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines
The Penn State Nittany Lions will play both the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. While the Nittany Lions deserve some love, those games will mark the seventh and 10th games on their schedule.
The Buckeyes and Wolverines, as always, will meet in the final game of the regular season. If both teams, or even one, enter the game undefeated, there will be plenty on the line, including a spot in the College Football Playoff. It is hard to argue against a rivalry game in "The Big House" with conference championship and postseason implications.
Big Ten champions
The winner of the Big Ten East has won the last 10 conference championships. Look for the Ohio State Buckeyes to extend that streak as they reach the College Football Playoff for the sixth time in 10 seasons.