Maryland got back in the bowl business in its first year under DJ Durkin, the former Michigan defensive coordinator. Alas, the Terrapins couldn’t finish with a win, falling 36-30 to Boston College in the Quick Lane Bowl.
When 2016 dawned, myriad questions loomed over Wisconsin. Who would be the quarterback? What would the departure of defensive coordinator Dava Aranda to LSU mean? Would the offensive line be better? Well, the Badgers answered all of those questions.
Chris Ash’s debut season was filled with rough patches, beginning with a season-opening 48-13 loss at Washington. But, hey, the guy has the job for a reason. Rutgers needs to be fixed. And Ash is trying to clean up the mess left by the previous staff.
It was yet another empty season in West Lafayette for a Purdue program that may be at its nadir. The record books will show the Boilermakers had a losing record for a fifth season in a row and the eighth time in the last nine years.
Looking for the surprise team in the Big Ten in 2016? Look no further. The Nittany Lions came out of nowhere to win the Big Ten in James Franklin’s third season in State College.
The Buckeyes' performance this season was good enough to get Ohio State into the playoff and compete for the national title, which it won in 2014.