Big Ten Football Forecast: Phil Steele high on Wisconsin, Iowa to top West

Phil Steele released his annual college football preview with predictions for every team in the Big Ten. Northwestern took the West by storm this past season, winning the division after a 3-9 finish the year prior. The Wildcats lost to Ohio State in the conference championship but finished No. 10 in the final AP poll. They’ll look to defend their division title against tough competition from Wisconsin and Iowa. Who does Steele think will come out on top?

7. Illinois Fighting Illini: First-year coach Bret Bielema brings back quarterback Brandon Peters as well as 16 other starters. They battled injuries in 2020, so take that into account before judging their 2-6 finish.

6. Purdue Boilermakers: One of the top receivers in the country, David Bell, returns. He finished with 1,035 receiving yards as a freshman and would have surpassed that mark in 2020 if not for a shortened season. The Boilermakers were bowl eligible in Jeff Brohm’s first two seasons and will look to continue that trend.

T4. Minnesota Golden Gophers: Minnesota returns 20 total starters ― 10 on each side of the ball. That includes running back Mohamed Ibrahim, fresh off of a 1,000-yard season. The Gophers finished 3-4 in 2020 after going 11-2 and claiming a victory against Auburn in the Outback Bowl in 2019.

T4. Nebraska Cornhuskers: This is a pivotal season for coach Scott Frost, who is 12-20 over three seasons at Nebraska. Dual-threat quarterback Adrian Martinez gives the Cornhuskers a dangerous offensive threat. Leading receiver Wan’Dale Robinson transferred to Kentucky; so establishing a top target will be key for the offense.

3. Northwestern Wildcats: The defending division champs bring back the fewest starters (eight) in the Big Ten. The Wildcats have a favorable schedule, drawing Iowa at home and avoiding Ohio State, Indiana and Penn State. This gives them a good chance at finishing as a top-three team in the Big Ten West.

2. Iowa Hawkeyes: Iowa’s final two opponents opted not to play in 2020 as the Hawkeyes finished 6-2. They bring back 14 total starters, including center Tyler Linderbaum, a former defensive lineman who now plays on offense. Tyler Goodson should have plenty of room to run, and is a candidate for a 1,000-yard rushing season. Kirk Ferentz’s team has an excellent chance to win the division according to Steele.

1. Wisconsin Badgers: Graham Mertz should finish as one of the best quarterbacks in Big Ten football, and Wisconsin will need him to play at that level. The Badgers were a running back by committee team in 2020, devoid of the Melvin Gordon and Jonathan Taylor type of players that Badgers’ fans are accustomed to seeing in the backfield. Linebackers Jack Hansen and Leo Chenal headline a defense that has a chance to be one of the best in Big Ten football and the nation.