Bret Bielema did a great job with the Wisconsin Badgers football program. Wisconsin has won a lot of games the last few years. Bielema decided to head to the SEC and Arkansas in the offseason, which left the Badgers looking for a new coach. Gary Andersen from Utah State was the guy the Badgers hired, and I believe that was a very good hire.
Darrell Hazell did an amazing job of turning around the Kent State program in just two years. The Golden Flashes went 11-3 and almost went to a BCS bowl game last year. Hazell spent the 2004 through 2010 seasons working as an assistant at Ohio State, so he has plenty of experience in the Big Ten.
To say that Tim Beckman’s first-year as head coach of the Illinois football program was a disappointment is a massive understatement. It was a disaster!
The 2012 season was a massive improvement from 2011 for the Indiana Hoosiers. Kevin Wilson’s team piled up the points last year, and they were able to come out on top in four games. While this team certainly still has lots of room to grow, they are definitely on the right path.
After the massive 11-2 season in 2011, the Michigan Wolverines 8-5 season in 2012 had to be seen as a disappointment. Still, it’s obvious that Brady Hoke has this program continuing on the right path.
Isn’t it about time that Pat Fitzgerald starts getting recognized as one of the best coaches in the country? Northwestern isn’t an easy job to get top notch recruits, so Fitzgerald had to start off winning games with far less talent than almost any other team in the Big Ten.
Jerry Kill has done an amazing job with this Minnesota Golden Gophers program. Someone looking on from the outside may not be terribly impressed by a 6-7 record last year, but those who have followed this team know just how much progress the Golden Gophers have made since Kill took over as the head coach.
The Michigan State Spartans were so close to having a big season in 2012, but their inability to come up with big plays in crunch time cost them in many games. Five of their six losses came by a grand total of 13 points.
It’s tough to figure out the Iowa Hawkeyes. Kirk Ferentz was seen as one of college football’s top coaches a few years ago when the Hawkeyes were shocking the Big Ten and playing like one of the nation’s top teams.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers went 10-4 last season, but it’s hard to consider their season much of a success thanks to the way it ended. Nebraska was absolutely embarrassed 70-31 by Wisconsin in the Big 10 Conference Championship Game.
Ohio State and Michigan might have the most tradition in the Big Ten conference, but no one has been better in the last few years than the Wisconsin Badgers. If you were to pick a team that has been the most consistent at the top of the heap in this conference of late, you’d have to select Wisconsin. Michigan and Ohio State are gaining steam with great new coaches. Can Wisconsin stay on top?
Pat Fitzgerald still isn’t 38 years old, but he now has the second longest tenure of any Big Ten coach (behind Kirk Ferentz at Iowa). Fitzgerald is a young spirited coach who has gotten the most out of his teams. He recently signed an extension that keeps him in Evanston until 2020.
It’s hard to label Brady Hoke’s first season with the Michigan Wolverines as anything but a major success. Hoke led the team to an 11-2 record and a BCS bowl win over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. Last year showed that Hoke knows how to win in the Big Ten.
Nebraska fans expect a lot. Tom Osborne really spoiled the Cornhusker fans back in the 1990’s. The Huskers haven’t won a title since 1997, but Bo Pelini has done a good job coaching this team. The team has put together four straight seasons of at least nine wins.
Jerry Kill’s first year with the Minnesota Golden Gophers was a tough one, but that was to be expected. Kill experienced health problems that brought several scares last year, but he actually did a very good job with a team that was severely undermanned in the Big Ten.
Kirk Ferentz is 96-66 in his 13 years at Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have had some special seasons, but sometimes this is a tough team to figure out. After a disappointing 8-5 year in 2010, the Hawkeyes only went 7-6 in 2011. Both years the team has finished at 4-4 in the Big Ten. Still, Iowa has had plenty of close calls in the past couple.
Big 10 Conference 2012-2013 College Football Previews: Iowa Hawkeyes
Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz
2011 Record: 7-6
Iowa Gambling Odds from JustBet to win BCS Championship: +9,000
Iowa Gambling Odds from JustBet to win Big 10 Conference: +1,000
Iowa Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2012 Schedule –>
This is a team that isn’t too far away from another breakout season.
The 2011 Hawkeyes were as inconsistent as ever. A win over Michigan made the team look great, but a loss to lowly Minnesota was extremely confusing. Iowa changed things up a great deal in the offseason. Defensive coordinator Norm Parker retired and offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe took a job with the Miami Dolphins. The schemes might look a little different on both sides of the ball in 2012 for the Hawkeyes.
James Morris and Christian Kirksey are two defensive leaders for the Hawkeyes at the linebacker position. Both of those guys finished the 2011 season with 110 tackles. Kirk Ferentz loves having leaders at the linebacker spots, and these guys fit the bill very well.
Micah Hyde is one of the best cornerbacks in the Big Ten. Hyde has scored two defensive touchdowns in his career, and he has extremely impressive footwork. He is the leader of a strong secondary. B.J. Lowery is a terrific cover corner, and he’ll start opposite of Hyde. Tanner Miller and Nico Law are solid physical safeties that should do a great job for the Hawkeyes.
Tight end is a position of strength for the Hawkeyes heading into 2012. C.J. Fiedorowicz has the potential to be a major matchup problem for the opposition because of his size and foot speed. Zach Derby is another solid tight end, and I expect Iowa to use double tight ends quite a bit this year.
The position that has been a glaring weakness for Iowa over the last few years is running back, and this year is no different. This team has tried all kinds of guys at tailback over the last few years, but they haven’t been able to get anyone to stick. Damon Bullock and De’Andre Johnson appear to have the top two spots on the depth chart, but they are completely unproven. This could be a major problem again in 2012.
The defensive line has been the team’s strength in recent years, but there are major concerns surrounding this unit in the year ahead. Only a couple starters are set, and the Hawkeyes have some real depth issues along the line. This defensive front might be bullied by some of the Big Ten offensive lines this season.
The Hawkeyes start the season against Northern Illinois at Soldier Field in Chicago. After that one, Iowa will face Iowa State and Northern Iowa. Iowa’s first tough test of the season comes October 13th at Michigan State. The Hawkeyes got a great break inside the Big Ten this year as they’ll avoid both Wisconsin and Ohio State. Iowa is a good team, but I don’t think they have enough talent to be among the best in the Big Ten. Look for this team to get to eight wins thanks to an easier schedule in 2012.
9/1/12 3:30 PM ET @NOILL
9/8/12 3:30 PM ET IOWST
9/15/12 3:30 PM ET NIOWA
9/22/12 TBD CMICH
9/29/12 12:00 PM ET MINN
10/13/12 12:00 PM ET @MCHST
10/20/12 8:00 PM ET PENST
10/27/12 12:00 PM ET @NWEST
11/3/12 TBD @IND
11/10/12 TBD PURD
11/17/12 TBD @MICH
11/23/12 12:00 PM ET NEB
