BTN.com staff, September 1, 2015
Kickoff week is here.
[ MORE: Pick Week 1 winners | Power Rankings | See new 2015 uniforms ]
Michigan (at Utah) and Minnesota (vs. No. 2 TCU) kick off the Big Ten football season Thursday night, and the games continue every day through Monday night.
Before the season starts, "BTN Live" is airing its one-hour long Big Ten East and West preview shows.
On Monday night, Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith put the spotlight on the Big Ten West Division.
Now, it's the Big Ten East's turn.
Check out BTN.com's Big Ten East preview below:
Best team: Ohio State. No surprise here. The defending national champ brings back plenty of big-time playmakers in all facets of the game, including two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Braxton Miller, who you've probably heard has made the move to receiver/Hback.
Best offensive player: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State. All college football fans witnessed his unforgettable postseason. In fact, it was almost impossible to ignore. Add it all up, and in three games, the talented running back amassed 696 yards rushing and eight touchdowns vs. the likes of Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon. Not bad.
Best defensive player: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State. The Big Ten East is loaded with supremely talented defensive stars, and the reigning sack leader and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year is the best of the bunch, a likely top pick in the NFL draft.
Best non-conference game: Oregon at Michigan State, Sept. 12. There will be a lot of green when these two teams meet for the second time in as many seasons. This time, though, the game that features two programs with playoff aspirations is at Spartan Stadium. Oh, and Oregon no longer has Marcus Mariota, who engineered the second-half comeback last season on his way to winning the Heisman.
Best game: Michigan State at Ohio State, Nov. 21. Arguably the top game in the nation this year, Michigan State's visit to Ohio State will have so much on the line, including Big Ten East title and playoff implications. A season ago, the Buckeyes went into East Lansing and took down the Spartans, something the latter has not forgotten.
Bold prediction: Indiana will go bowling. The Hoosiers haven't reached the postseason since the 2007 season, when they honored late coach Terry Hoeppner's "Play 12" mantra by making the Insight Bowl. The postseason drought should end this year, behind one of the Big Ten's most underrated offensive lines and a healthy Nate Sudfeld.
— Brent Yarina
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BEST CASE/WORST CASE
Best case: The offensive line is as good as advertised, setting the stage for a balanced and dynamic go-go Hoosier offense that ranks among the best in the league. Even more vital: The defense takes the proverbial next step in Year Two under coordinator Brian Knorr and his 3-4 scheme. Add it all up, and Indiana goes bowling for the first time since the ?Play 13? 2007 season inspired by the late Terry Hoeppner, so the destination doesn?t really matter, right? OK. Let?s say the Zaxby?s Heart of Dallas Bowl.
Worst case: The defense is a sieve, offering little resistance vs. the run-which leads to the secondary getting torched often by the pass. Sound familiar? The offense is rendered inept once again after QB Nate Sudfeld goes down with injury. Sound familiar? Even worse–no reasonable facsimile for departed stud RB Tevin Coleman emerges. All together now: ?no bowl.?
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Best case: The offensive line finally comes together, providing the foundation for a strong running attack. And QB Perry Hills is slinging the ball down field to a surprisingly solid and revamped wideout corps. The 4-3 defense of new coordinator Keith Dudzinski proves to be a good fit for a unit led by a strong secondary. Pack your bags, Terrapins-you are headed for the Pinstripe Bowl-or maybe the TaxSlayer.
Worst case: The offense sputters with no consistent push up front for a line that for too long has disappointed. And the lack of playmakers on the edge makes this a predictable offense with little explosiveness. The questions up front on defense never are answered, as opponents run with aplomb on a Terps? defense that couldn?t stop anyone late last year. Good thing the hoops team is supposed to be dominant.
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Best case: Jim Harbaugh?s 100cc injection of swagger pays off in a boffo debut behind the spirited play of the defense. And that troublesome quarterback spot? It?s smooth sailing under center for a once-dysfunctional offense that?s purring behind one of the Big Ten?s top lines as the Wolverines play in the TaxSlayer or Holiday Bowl. If you thought the Harbaugh hype was overblown this offseason, wait until you experience 2016. We all will be wearing khakis, ball caps, acting kooky and loving it.
Worst case: The tornado of attention generated by Harbaugh?s arrival won?t match the results. Why? Talent. It?s getting better in Ann Arbor-but it?s not championship-caliber, especially on offense. An anemic ground game will continue to cough and wheeze. And the quarterback spot will be a roulette wheel from week to week. Who are the playmakers on this attack? Michigan squeezes out a 6-6 mark and is ushered to nearby Detroit for the Quick Lane Bowl. Hey, it?s a start.
https://twitter.com/BTNLive/status/638842628935565312***
Best case: The ever present chip on Mark Dantonio?s shoulder is bigger than ever with Jim Harbaugh becoming a national darling and Urban Meyer?s legend growing. You can see the steam coming from Dantonio?s ears as he unleashes his arsenal of freaky defenders. Who is gonna block these guys? The offense? It is among the Big Ten?s best, thanks to QB Connor Cook and a Fort Knox line, helping Michigan State win the Big Ten and earn a playoff bid. Bravo!
Worst case: Can it get any better than it has been? Probably not. Has MSU peaked? Maybe. The Spartans have won at least 11 games four times in the last five years. The loss of star defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi takes the edge off this perennial stout defense, which has been among the nation?s best, and the offense never finds a consistent running attack. The fall won?t be far for Michigan State. Say ?hello? to the Citrus or Outback Bowl.
How big is the gap between Michigan St. Ohio St.? "If they both played today, you could flip a coin" - @Gerrydinardo http://t.co/J2Zqh6unpO
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 1, 2015
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Best case: The Buckeyes pick up where they left off last season, continuing the mojo from a national title run by ripping off an unbeaten march to another national championship. The quarterback spot works itself out to spur the offense and Joey Bosa leads the charge for the best defense yet under Urban Meyer. Ezekiel Elliott, or whoever wins the quarterback job, takes hom the Heisman Trophy. Take a bow, Brutus. And head to Glendale, Arizona, for the title tilt.
Worst case: That stay-hungry desire isn?t burning in the belly of the fat-and-happy Buckeyes. Been there, done that. And the worm finally turns in close games for Urban Meyer, who has lived a charmed life in Columbus en route to going 38-3 overall and 24-0 in the Big Ten in three absolutely fabulous seasons. Oh, the bowl destination is still delightful ? but it?s not the playoffs. So, the season isn?t a success for this high-standard program.
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Best case: Wanna dream big? How does 10-2 sound? Yep, it could happen. The line comes together-finally-helping establish a physical rushing attack that sets up QB Christian Hackenberg?s play-action passes. This offense is rocking. And the defense solidifies areas of concern in the front seven to reprise its excellent results from 2014. A trip to the Holiday, Outback or Citrus Bowl is the perfect landing spot for this fast-rising program under James Franklin.
Worst case: Just like 2014, Hackenberg is running for his life during another 40-something sack season. The defensive line struggles to get a consistent push, unhinging the offense and putting too much pressure on a strong defense that struggles to get production from the end spot. And the new kicker fails in clutch situations. How does the Foster Farm?s Bowl sound?
https://twitter.com/BTNLive/status/638845537064628224***
Best case: New offensive coordinator Ben McDaniels proves to be a quick study, giving the Scarlet Knights a varied attack with run-pass balance, something they'll need with a daunting schedule. Chris Laviano eventually wins the QB job and makes fans forget Gary Nova. And the defense is led by an underrated line and strong secondary that is up for the challenge. Enjoy your trip to the Foster Farms or Pinstripe Bowl.
Worst case: Neither Chris Laviano nor Hayden Rettig is the panacea at quarterback for an offense with its sixth different coordinator in six seasons. And an offensive line that lacks depth spring leaks, which proves ruinous to a strong stable of running backs. An undersized defensive line is run over and over and over. By Thanksgiving, RU will be wishing it still was in the AAC. No bowl.
— Tom Dienhart
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BREAKOUT PLAYERS
LB Tegray Scales. He had just-add-water impact last year as a true freshman, making 46 tackles with two sacks and 4.5 TFLs. Scales also tallied three picks. The 6-0, 220-pound sophomore plays the pass and run with equal aplomb. He?s a future star for a defense that needs stars.
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OT Derwin Gray. The 6-5, 315-pound redshirt freshman is coming off spring shoulder surgery but is expected to be ready. He better be, as the Terps need Gray to hold down the key left tackle spot. Maryland also needs Gray?s bookend-redshirt freshman right tackle Damian Prince–to excel and give the Terps a strong rushing attack to take pressure off new QB Perry Hills.
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SS Jabrill Peppers. The 6-1, 205-pound Peppers got his feet wet as a freshman last year-playing in three games with a start–but ultimately was redshirted because of leg injuries. Peppers is an uber athlete who has converted from cornerback. He?s a frightening combination of speed and size who flashed his potential in the spring. Peppers is primed to live up to the massive hype that accompanied him to Ann Arbor.
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SS Montae Nicholson. He?s the next star of the Spartans? famed ?No Fly Zone? secondary. The 6-2, 216-pound Nicholson flashed great closing speed as a true freshman last year. He?s a big hitter who also can cover. Watch his star rise.
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HB Jalin Marshall. America got a glimpse of his playmaking skills last season as a true freshman. And Marshall finished No. 2 on the team with 38 catches for 499 yards and six TDs. Only Cris Carter caught more passes as a freshman at OSU than the prep quarterback. Now, with Devin Smith and Evan Spencer gone, the 5-11, 205-pound Marshall could see an expanded role and become one of the Big Ten?s most deadly weapons.
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DE Carl Nassib. Yes, the 6-6, 270-pounder is a senior, but he has played a reserve role his entire career after arriving on campus as a walk-on and adding 60 pounds. With holes to fill at end with Deion Barnes and C.J. Olaniyan gone, Nassib is primed to start and play a big role. He impressed in the spring after showing flashes off the bench last year.
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DE Kemoko Turay. The rangy Turay made a mark last year as a redshirt freshman as a pass rusher and kick blocker. He?s an athletic 6-6, 235-pound freak who tied for the national lead with three blocked kicks. Turay also was seventh in the Big Ten with 7.5 sacks. Not bad for a guy who played just two years of high school football.
— Tom Dienhart
