2022 Preseason Big Ten Power Rankings
College football’s annual media days are set to begin on July 13 when the Big 12 kicks off the show, and each of the Power 5 conferences will host their own media days in the following two weeks. Today, we continue our power rankings for each of the Power 5 conferences, focusing on the 2022 preseason Big Ten power rankings, where the middle of the league likely to be highly contested in 2022.
As coaches and players hit the stage to discuss the upcoming 2022 season, we’ll get a better pulse on where things stand for each program as the offseason nears an unofficial end. Though there may be some changes over the ensuing months as fall camps begin, On3 has a pretty good handle now on how each team looks heading into the fall.
Today, we continue our power rankings for each of the Power 5 conferences. We go forward with the Big Ten power rankings, with the middle of the league likely to be highly contested in 2022.
Ohio State is the clear front-runner at the top of the Big Ten power rankings after Michigan surprised with a playoff appearance last year. Will the league be in for further surprises in 2022? Let’s drill it down.
Of note: Our Big Ten power rankings are not meant to be predictive of future outcomes but reflect On3’s view of the current talent and potential of each team at this point in time. It does not take into account 2022 schedules.
2022 Preseason Big Ten Power Rankings
1. Ohio State
No one else in the league can match the Buckeyes on sheer talent or star power. CJ Stroud, TreVeyon Henderson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba might be the best quarterback-running back-receiver tandem in the nation. The offensive line has two of the best tackles in the country. The defense must get better, but it certainly has the talent to do so.
2. Michigan
How the Wolverines will manage their quarterback situation will be interesting, but regardless of how the snaps get divvied up, running back Blake Corum will make life easy to a certain extent. There’s no replacing pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson on the other side, but the Wolverines play tough defense and will be led by an excellent linebacking corps.
Mel Tucker’s style of roster management has been quite unique, and once again he is relying heavily on the transfer portal for production. But so far so good on that front for the Spartans. Replacing Kenneth Walker III won’t be easy, but the passing game looks to be quite solid. The pass defense has to improve after an abysmal year, but there is a ton of experience returning defensively.
4. Wisconsin
The Badgers are back to having a bulldozer in the backfield with Braelon Allen back. He and quarterback Graham Mertz form one of the better offensive backfield duos in the league. The back seven on defense has some significant retooling to do, but Jim Leonhard is one of the top defensive coordinators in the country and he’ll have the luxury of using elite edge rusher Nick Herbig to threaten offenses.
5. Penn State
The Nittany Lions are just .500 over the last two seasons but the talent level remains high, which is why they appear here in the Big Ten power rankings. Quarterback Sean Clifford is back but must improve consistency. It’s the defense, though, that will give the Nittany Lions a chance to get back into Big Ten contention. A few players returning from injury should bolster the D-line and Joey Porter Jr. leads what should be a quality secondary.
6. Minnesota
The offensive line is the big question mark for the Golden Gophers, who otherwise should benefit from the return of quarterback Tanner Morgan, running back Mohamed Ibrahim and receiver Chris Autman-Bell. Meanwhile, a defense that was outstanding in 2021 has some tinkering to do on the defensive line but should be stout in the back seven.
7. Purdue
The Boilermakers lose receiver David Bell but coach Jeff Brohm gets quarterback Aidan O’Connell back and should once again have one of the league’s best passing attacks. The run game is a question mark, though. There’s some experience at every level on defense, but the unit was just so-so a year ago.
8. Iowa
The Hawkeyes always seem to be able to rely on their defense, and that shouldn’t change in 2022 with a slew of veterans back in the front seven. Can Iowa get more out of its offense this fall, though? That’s the key question that could slide the Hawkeyes up or down in future Big Ten power rankings. Quarterback play and offensive line play must improve.
9. Nebraska
It’s put up or shut up time for Scott Frost in 2022. The Cornhuskers almost certainly weren’t as bad as their record last year, but parlaying production into finishing off wins is key. Texas quarterback transfer Casey Thompson takes over an offense that has to find some new playmakers, while the defense will rely on a veteran linebacker corps as the defensive line settles in.
10. Maryland
Unlike Iowa, Maryland should have no issues on offense. Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa returns and has loads of weapons at his disposal, including his top two receivers from a year ago and the addition of leading Florida receiver Jacob Copeland. Expect a lot of fireworks from the Terps. If the defense surprises, Maryland could spoil some of the bigger programs’ seasons.
11. Northwestern
After falling off in 2021, the Wildcats could bounce back behind a strong running game and a veteran offensive line. Former South Carolina transfer Ryan Hilinski is back at quarterback and should improve. But the defense must get significantly better – it will be relying on a handful of transfers to do so — for Northwestern to see any notable turnaround.
12. Indiana
The Hoosiers came crashing down to earth hard last year and they’ll be counting on transfers to get things back on track. Former Missouri quarterback Connor Bazelak and former Auburn running back Shaun Shivers are the two most noteworthy additions, and they must produce. Indiana should field a strong secondary but there are major questions in the front seven.
13. Illinois
Bret Bielema is continuing to put his stamp on the Illini program, building a bulky offensive line with the intent to pound the rock. That should be Illinois’ strength this fall with 1,000-yard rusher Chase Brown back. Defensively, Illinois took a major leap last year and there are experienced players back at every level.
14. Rutgers
Greg Schiano has done an admirable job breathing some life into the program, but the Scarlet Knights still aren’t very talented. Worse, there’s not much experience returning. Quarterback remains a question and Rutgers’ defense was pretty bad last year. The secondary has some experience but the front seven is short on it.