What is the landscape of the Big Ten West in 2023?
The Big Ten is drastically different than it was a year ago but before Oregon, USC, UCLA and Washington all join the conference next season, the Minnesota Golden Gophers have plenty to worry about in 2023.
This season will represent the final year of divisional play for the Big Ten and the West Division has plenty of its own changes from a year ago. With new coaches, new players, and other storylines brewing throughout the division, it figures to be as wide open as it was last season giving the Gophers a realistic chance at their first appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game.
MINNESOTA
2022 record: 9-4 (5-4 Big Ten)
What has changed: Minnesota will see major changes on offense as quarterback Tanner Morgan and running back Mohamed Ibrahim leave for graduation. The Gophers also lost starting center John Michael-Schmitz to the NFL and replaced offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca with Greg Harbaugh Jr. and Matt Simon after Ciarrocca left for the same position at Rutgers.
What's the same: Cornerback Justin Walley and safety Tyler Nubin are some of the key returners on defense and Brevyn Spann-Ford is considered to be one of the nation's top tight ends.
With an offensive line that figures to be strong again, the Gophers should have an excellent chance to compete in the West – even with crossover games against Michigan and Ohio State.
WISCONSIN
2022 record: 7-6 (4-5 Big Ten)
What has changed:Â The bottom fell out for the Badgers in 2022, who fired Paul Chryst after a 2-3 start. Things were better under Jim Leonhard, who went 4-3 as interim head coach, but Wisconsin opted to hire Luke Fickell, who led Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff two years ago.
Fickell and new offensive coordinator Phil Longo bring an up-tempo, air-raid style to Madison and the Badgers. Wisconsin also netted sixth-year senior Tanner Mordecai (3,524 yards, 33 TD, 10 INT with SMU in 2023) and redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke (Mississippi State) in the transfer portal to run the new scheme and replace Graham Mertz, who was recently named the starting quarterback at Florida.
What's the same: Even with the emphasis on the passing game, Braelon Allen should still be a factor in the backfield. Allen has eclipsed 1,200 yards and scored double-digit touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Badgers and he won't turn 20 until next January.
Mix in an offensive line anchored by tackle Jack Nelson and a defense led by linebacker Maema Njongmeta and it might not take long for the Badgers to find their footing under Fickell.
IOWA
2022 record: 8-5 (5-4 Big Ten)
What has changed: Iowa's offense was a problem last year, ranking 12th in the conference with 17.7 points per game. In an effort to jumpstart the unit, the Hawkeyes added a pair of Michigan transfers in quarterback Cade McNamara (2,576 yards, 15 TD, 6 INT in 2021) and tight end Erick All (38 catches, 437 yards, 2 TD).Â
Iowa also added Ohio State receiver Kaleb Brown in the transfer portal, who would have been the Hawkeye's highest-rated recruit in program history out of high school according to 247Sports' composite score.
What's the same: Despite the additions, the Hawkeyes retained embattled offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz and head coach Kirk Ferentz spent a portion of his media day press conference discussing the "importance" of punting.
𝙋𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙨 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) July 26, 2023
When Kirk Ferentz talks punting, something he learned was a big part of the game way back in 1981, we listen.#B1GMediaDays x @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/AHQXV8HNFz
When the Hawkeyes aren't giving "Old Man Yells At Cloud" vibes on offense, their defense is pretty good, ranking second in the conference with 13.3 points allowed per game last season. Although Iowa lost first-round draft picks Lukas Van Ness and Jack Campbell, Quinn Schulte, Cooper DeJean and Nick Jackson should be able to give the Hawkeyes a solid floor this season.
PURDUE
2022 Record: 8-6 (6-3 Big Ten)
What has changed:Â Jeff Brohm left the Boilermakers to take the head coaching job at Louisville and quarterback Aidan O'Connell graduated as a sixth-year senior. Purdue replaced Brohm with Ryan Walters, who was the defensive coordinator at Illinois last season and will have Texas transfer Hudson Card at quarterback.
Purdue will also switch to a 3-4 defense under Walters, who will take over a defense that ranked ninth in the Big Ten with 27.4 points allowed per game.
What's the same: The quick answer is that the Boilermakers will look much different after winning the division last season but starting running back Devin Mockobee is returning and should benefit from a balanced approach under new offensive coordinator Graham Harrell.
ILLINOIS
2022 Record: 8-5 (5-4 Big Ten)
What has changed: Losing Walters was a blow on the defensive side of the ball and it's amplified by losing several key defenders including first-round pick Devon Witherspoon.
The Illini also lost quarterback Tommy DeVito and running back Chase Brown to graduation but are hoping the arrival of Mississippi transfer Luke Altmyer can help ease any transition on offense.
What's the same: The Illini return top target Isaiah Williams and three starting offensive linemen from last year's team and the defensive line remains strong with the return of Keith Randolph Jr. and Jer'Zhan Newton.
Bret Bielema has done a great job turning around the program, but all the changes will make it difficult to sustain success after the Illini posted their first winning season since 2011 and their best record since 2007.
NEBRASKA
2022 record: 4-8 (3-6 Big Ten)
What has changed: Scott Frost was college football's first casualty last season and he's been replaced by Matt Rhule, who led rebuilding efforts at Temple and Baylor before bombing in the NFL.
With a new coach comes plenty of changes as starting quarterback Casey Thompson transferred to FAU and was replaced by Georgia Tech transfer Jeff Sims. New offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield also brings an old-school approach, telling reporters he's "on a crusade about the huddle" and describing his passion for the fullback position.
What's the same: There weren't many positives for Nebraska a year ago but the backfield should have some continuity as Anthony Brown returns after leading the Huskers with 915 rushing yards last season.
Tight end Thomas Fidone II described himself as a Mackey Award candidate as the nation's top player at the position and the defense has plenty of experience with the top three tacklers – linebacker Luke Reimer (86), defensive back Myles Farmer (73) and nickel Isaac Gifford (70) – returning from last season.
NORTHWESTERN
2022 record: 1-11 (1-8 Big Ten)
What has changed: A rough 2022 season became dreadful last month when a reported hazing scandal and several other accusations resulted in the firing of Pat Fitzgerald after 17 seasons with the program.
The Wildcats hired David Braun from North Dakota State to revamp a defense that ranked 12th with 28.3 points allowed per game but recent events have made him the interim head coach, tasking him with overhauling an offense that ranked 128th nationally in scoring last season.
Northwestern also lost offensive lineman Peter Skoronski and running back Evan Hull to the NFL, but the addition of Cincinnati transfer Ben Bryant should provide competition for Brendan Sullivan at quarterback.
What's the same: In short? Not a whole lot.
Northwestern was a program in transition prior to Fitzgerald's firing and that hits another gear just as the team is set to play at Wrigley Field in 2024 while Ryan Field undergoes an $800 million reconstruction.
The Wildcats do have Bryce Gallagher and Xander Mueller returning at linebacker but with just five starters returning, it could be a long year in Evanston.
