2024 Big Ten football predictions: Projections and players to watch preview-ZoomTech News

In what many describe as essentially the most anticipated school soccer season of all time, the Large Ten convention will get pleasure from a sequence of noteworthy firsts this fall.

For the primary time since Jan. 12, 2015 — and for simply the third time this century — the Large Ten lays declare to the defending nationwide champion after Michigan roared by way of an undefeated season to offer the capstone for head coach Jim Harbaugh’s illustrious profession. 

For the primary time since 2014 — and for simply the second time this century — the Large Ten is welcoming new members into the fray, with USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon increasing the convention’s footprint from one coast to the opposite. 

And for the very first time — barring some type of unexpected, all-but-unfathomable collapse — the Large Ten will ship a couple of of its members to the School Soccer Playoff due to an expanded 12-team format that’s designed to favor groups from the Energy 4 leagues. It’s not unattainable to suppose the Large Ten might have three, or probably even 4, bites on the cherry come December and January. The Large Ten hasn’t produced back-to-back nationwide champions since Michigan State gained shares of the title in 1965 and 1966. 

Right here’s what to anticipate from the Large Ten this season.

High 5 convention video games to observe:

1. Michigan at Ohio State (Nov. 30, midday ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app)

At all times among the many most anticipated video games of the school soccer season, this 12 months’s model of The Recreation might have large ramifications for Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who has stumbled towards the Wolverines three consecutive instances. Not because the late Eighties and early Nineties has Michigan notched a four-game profitable streak over the Buckeyes, and shut observers of this rivalry will know the final stretch of Maize-and-Blue dominance any longer than that got here within the Twenties underneath head coach Fielding Yost. The strain on Day stays extremely thick regardless of the departure of Jim Harbaugh for the Los Angeles Chargers.

2. Ohio State at Oregon (Oct. 12)

Take into account this a present from the convention realignment gods, because the second-ranked Buckeyes will face the third-ranked Geese in a recreation that ought to have important Large Ten and CFP implications. That is the form of marquee matchup that possible had convention officers — and tv executives — salivating throughout an growth course of that additionally introduced Washington, USC and UCLA into the fold. It has every little thing that makes the brand new Large Ten so fascinating to observe: cross-country journey, large nationwide manufacturers, a terrific residence discipline benefit and two of essentially the most proficient rosters within the nation. This is likely to be a preview of the league title recreation come December. 

3. Ohio State at Penn State (Nov. 2)

Although the Buckeyes have defeated the Nittany Lions seven consecutive instances, and 11 of the previous 12 general, any matchup between these two behemoths stays appointment viewing for Large Ten followers throughout the nation. Penn State head coach James Franklin has a desultory 1-9 document towards Ohio State since he arrived in Comfortable Valley forward of the 2014 marketing campaign, however now his margin of error for reaching the CFP will widen due to the league’s elimination of divisions and an expanded format. Nonetheless, the Nittany Lion trustworthy yearn for his or her first win over the Buckeyes since 2016.

4. Oregon at Michigan (Nov. 2)

If the prospect of an Ohio State-Penn State conflict wasn’t sufficient for Large Ten followers to mark Nov. 2 on their respective calendars, then certainly the addition of an Oregon-Michigan showdown that very same day will do the trick. That is the third of three seismic residence video games for the Wolverines and new head coach Sherrone Moore on a schedule that features earlier high-profile dates towards Texas on Sept. 7 and USC on Sept. 21. The chess match between an explosive Oregon offense led by switch quarterback Dillon Gabriel and a Michigan protection that’s anticipated to provide a number of first-round picks within the 2025 NFL Draft is a mouthwatering prospect.

5. USC at Michigan (Sept. 21)

A tough season opener towards No. 13 LSU in Las Vegas ought to function an honest barometer for the place the Trojans stand with out former Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, who was the primary general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft. Head coach Lincoln Riley advised reporters at Large Ten media days that his aim is to compete for league titles and nationwide championships yearly given this system’s lofty expectations and wealthy custom. However a cross-country journey to Michigan Stadium for USC’s welcome-to-the-Large Ten second is an extremely troublesome problem through the first month of the common season. 

High 5 gamers to observe: 

1. Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon

By the point December rolls round, it would look fairly foolish that Gabriel was ranked because the No. 12 quarterback within the switch portal following his standout seasons at Oklahoma and UCF. Most of the signal-callers rated forward of Gabriel have youth on their aspect — with gamers like Julian Sayin (Ohio State), Aidan Chiles (Michigan State) and Dante Moore (Oregon) all nonetheless possessing a number of years of eligibility — however none of them can match his expertise (49 begins) and manufacturing (14,865 yards). If issues go effectively for the Geese in 2024, Gabriel might make a run on the NCAA profession data for passing yards (19,217) and passing touchdowns (155) set by former Houston quarterback Case Keenum.

2. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

For an inside defensive lineman to make this checklist displays each how dominant Graham was as a sophomore en path to the nationwide championship and the way extremely he’s considered in NFL Draft circles getting into the 2024 marketing campaign. Graham earned first-team All-Large Ten honors from the coaches after ending with 36 tackles (7.5 for loss) and three.0 sacks. He led Michigan’s defensive linemen with 29 quarterback pressures, together with 5 within the title recreation towards Washington alone, based on Professional Soccer Focus. At 6-foot-3 and 320 kilos, Graham must be one of the dominant trench gamers within the nation. He and fellow defensive deal with Kenneth Grant (6-foot-3, 339 kilos) kind an elite tandem for brand new defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale.

3. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

Judkins arrived at Ohio State because the No. 9 general prospect within the switch portal and the No. 1 participant at his place after two great seasons at Ole Miss. He ran for 1,476 yards and 16 touchdowns as a real freshman in 2022 to earn SEC Freshman of the 12 months honors from the coaches. Then he rumbled for 1,052 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore to turn out to be a first-team All-SEC choice. Judkins has essentially the most dashing yards (2,725) of any participant from the Energy 5 conferences during the last two seasons and may flourish underneath new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, whose UCLA groups ranked among the many high 20 in dashing every of the final 4 years. The operating again tandem of Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson is the most effective in school soccer. 

4. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

As with Graham, whom many count on will depart following the 2024 season, Johnson is equally seen as probably the greatest cornerbacks within the nation and a high-level draft prospect. He was a consensus first-team All-Large Ten choice as a sophomore final fall and completed second on the staff with 4 interceptions, one in every of which he returned for a rating. Opposing quarterbacks accomplished simply 45.9% of the 37 passes they threw in Johnson’s course, based on PFF, and he didn’t enable a single landing all season. Johnson was chosen because the Defensive MVP of the CFP title recreation vs. Washington and was chosen because the Large Ten Preseason Defensive Participant of the 12 months in a media ballot over the summer time. 

5. Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa 

In 2023, Higgins was the point of interest of one other elite Iowa protection that ranked fourth nationally in scoring (14.8 factors per recreation), fifth in passing (170.7 yards per recreation) and seventh general (282.5 yards per recreation) to shoulder a lot of the burden on an offensively challenged staff. Higgins earned first-team All-America honors from a number of publications after main FBS with 171 complete tackles, tying a single-season faculty document. He reached double-figure tackles in 10 video games — together with a profession excessive 18 towards Penn State — whereas additionally chipping in 2.0 sacks, one pressured fumble, one interception and 5 passes defended. Higgins and fellow linebacker Nick Jackson (100-plus tackles in 4 consecutive seasons) are among the many finest duos within the nation at their place.

High 5 freshmen to observe:

1. Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska

In some respects, Raiola’s recruitment got here full circle when the Nebraska legacy decommitted from Georgia (after beforehand decommitting from Ohio State) to signal with the Cornhuskers, a program for which his father starred as an All-American middle and for which his uncle is the present offensive line coach. Raiola tossed 88 passing touchdowns and solely 11 interceptions throughout a winding prep profession that included stops in Texas, Arizona and Georgia. He completed because the No. 21 general prospect and No. 3 quarterback within the 2024 cycle to turn out to be the highest-rated signing by Nebraska within the recruiting rankings period. Now, Raiola is anticipated to win the beginning job over incumbent Heinrich Haarberg, who posted a 5-3 document in eight begins final season however endured important struggles with ball safety and downfield passing.

2. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

The following nice receiving prospect on Brian Hartline’s meeting line is Smith, a five-star recruit from Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Florida and the No. 1 general participant within the 2024 cycle. Ohio State withstood late pushes from in-state powers Miami (Fla.), Florida State and Florida to safe a wideout who’s already being described as a generational expertise in Columbus. Smith caught 88 passes for 1,376 yards and 19 touchdowns final season to be named the state’s participant of the 12 months by MaxPreps. He enrolled at Ohio State in January to take part in spring follow and has drawn rave opinions from coaches and teammates ever since. The expectation is that Smith will contribute instantly because the staff’s No. 3 wideout behind Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate. 

3. Elijah Speeding, EDGE, Oregon

A local of Tucson, Arizona, the place he starred for Salpointe Catholic Excessive Faculty, Speeding initially dedicated to the hometown Wildcats in July 2023 in what represented an enormous recruiting win for then-head coach Jedd Fisch. However the verbal pledge solely lasted just a few months, and Speeding finally flipped his dedication to Oregon in late October of that very same 12 months. He signed with the Geese two months later and enrolled in time to take part in spring follow, finally ending because the No. 45 general prospect and No. 5 edge rusher within the nation. Speeding could not see instant taking part in time at Oregon, the place the Geese are pretty loaded alongside the defensive position, however his 6-foot-6, 255-pound body will make it troublesome to maintain him off the sphere for very lengthy.

4. Carter Nelson, WR, Nebraska

Nelson was a extremely recruited in-state prospect from Ainsworth, Nebraska, lower than an hour from the South Dakota border. He was the No. 55 general participant within the 2024 recruiting cycle and the No. 3 tight finish within the nation, with an official go to checklist that included journeys to Georgia, Notre Dame and Penn State earlier than the Cornhuskers obtained the ultimate phrase. Head coach Matt Rhule advised reporters that Nelson has since been transformed from tight finish to large receiver to get him on the sphere as rapidly as potential this fall. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Nelson is anticipated to be utilized within the slot, the place his measurement and velocity might trigger issues for opposing linebackers or safeties. Nelson caught 32 passes for 658 yards and 14 touchdowns whereas additionally dashing for 1,148 yards and 19 extra scores final fall.

5. Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State

Although he initially signed with Alabama final December and enrolled in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 10, Sayin was solely a member of the Crimson Tide for just a few quick weeks. The No. 6 general participant within the nation and the No. 1 quarterback within the 2024 cycle wasted little time getting into the switch portal after head coach Nick Saban unexpectedly retired, rapidly committing to Ohio State roughly 48 hours later. Touchdown one other five-star quarterback was an enormous boon for the Buckeyes, who had already secured four-star signal-caller Air Noland (No. 56 general, No. 4 QB) in the identical class. Sayin impressed teammates and coaches from the minute he arrived in Columbus and is firmly in competition for the backup job behind Kansas State switch Will Howard.

Convention champion: Ohio State over Oregon

The reply to who wins the Large Ten possible boils down to 2 issues — general expertise and quarterback play. The groups which are most constant in these two areas will tangle at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for a Large Ten title recreation.

From an general expertise perspective, the selection is sort of actually Ohio State. The Buckeyes are returning 14 starters from final 12 months’s staff, led by a handful of motivated veterans who bypassed the 2024 NFL Draft to return to highschool: RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Emeka Egbuka, DT Tyleik Williams, DE JT Tuimoloau and DE Jack Sawyer. They landed a number of the most impactful transfers within the nation, headlined by Judkins and former Alabama security Caleb Downs. And so they added one of the revered offensive minds in soccer by plucking then-UCLA HC Kelly to be the offensive coordinator. That must be greater than sufficient to get them to Indy.

By way of quarterback play, Oregon appears poised to have the steadiest manufacturing at that place following the switch addition of Gabriel, now in his sixth season. Gabriel has essentially the most profession begins (49), wins (33), passing yards (14,865) and passing touchdowns (125) of any energetic quarterback. He has elite weapons on the perimeter in wideouts Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart, and he’ll be protected by arguably the most effective offensive deal with mixture within the convention, with Josh Conerly Jr. and Ajani Cornelius. Count on the Geese to contend for the title of their debut season, although they’re going to finally fall quick towards the Buckeyes.

Michael Cohen covers school soccer and basketball for FOX Sports activities with an emphasis on the Large Ten. Observe him at @Michael_Cohen13.

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