Ranking the top 5 big ten teams
By: Adam hipsky
1: Michigan Wolverines
HC: Jim Harbaugh
Last Season Record: 10-3
Key Losses: Jake Rudock, Willie Henry, Graham Glasgow
Key Returns: Jabrill Peppers, Jourdan Lewis, Jehu Chesson
This powerful Michigan squad looks to go big time this year getting #1 recruit Rashaun Gary. Jim Harbaugh led this team to a first year 10 win season. I see the Michigan Wolverines on top of the B10 this year.
Prediction: 12-1
2: Ohio State Buckeyes
HC: Urban Meyer
Last Season Record: 12-1
Key Losses: Ezekiel Elliot, Joey Bosa, Eli Apple
Key Returns: JT Barrett, Raekwon McMillan
This Ohio state team won the national championship in the inaugural College Football Playoff. You still think of there best players and think oh the powerful defense with Eli Apple and the strong D Line with Joey Bosa and the overflowing offense with Braxton Miller, Ezekiel Elliot, and Cardale Jones. Well there gone. Now you have JT Barrett and that’s about all on offense. I really think this team isn’t a powerhouse this year. I think they will beat Michigan St but lose to the team in Ann Arbor.
Prediction: 10-3
3: Iowa Hawkeyes
HC: Kirk Ferentz
Last Season: 12-2
Key Losses: None
Key Returns: CJ Bethard, Desmond King
This team looks to win the weak Big Ten West division. The Hawkeyes were a strong team last year going 12-0 but showed they couldn’t contend with the big dawgs having blowout losses to Michigan St and Stanford. They didn’t lose anyone key so I see Iowa having themselves a solid year.
Prediction: 11-3
4: Michigan State Spartans
HC: Mark Dantonio
Last Season: 12-2
Key Losses: Connor Cook, Aaron Burbridge, Jack Conklin
Key Returns: Riley Bullough, Malik McDowell, LJ Scott
The Michigan State Spartans won 12 games last year. That’s very good for a team with Michigan and Ohio State in there schedule. But were they really that good? They lost to Nebraska in an easy game they should have won. They made the college football, did they truly deserve compared to a Stanford team that blew out the same team the spartans beat by 3 in the Big Ten Championship game. Bottom line I think this team has a straight up and down season. They will win the ones there supposed to and win the ones there supposed to.
Prediction: 10-3
5: Nebraska Cornhuskers
HC: Mike Riley
Last Year Record: 6-7
Key Losses: Vincent Valentine, Maliek Collins, Alex Lewis
Key Returns: Tommy Armstrong, Jordan Westerkamp
This team was definitely not the best last year but they were by far not the worst. They had a beautiful win against Michigan St which showed this Cornhusker team a good sign of hope. Tommy Armstrong is a wonderful mobile QB in Tommy Armstrong who threw for 22 touchdowns and 7 rushing touchdowns. I really like this team I think they make a solid bowl game and are going to give Iowa a fight in the Big Ten West.
Prediction: 9-4
HC: Jim Harbaugh
Last Season Record: 10-3
Key Losses: Jake Rudock, Willie Henry, Graham Glasgow
Key Returns: Jabrill Peppers, Jourdan Lewis, Jehu Chesson
This powerful Michigan squad looks to go big time this year getting #1 recruit Rashaun Gary. Jim Harbaugh led this team to a first year 10 win season. I see the Michigan Wolverines on top of the B10 this year.
Prediction: 12-1
2: Ohio State Buckeyes
HC: Urban Meyer
Last Season Record: 12-1
Key Losses: Ezekiel Elliot, Joey Bosa, Eli Apple
Key Returns: JT Barrett, Raekwon McMillan
This Ohio state team won the national championship in the inaugural College Football Playoff. You still think of there best players and think oh the powerful defense with Eli Apple and the strong D Line with Joey Bosa and the overflowing offense with Braxton Miller, Ezekiel Elliot, and Cardale Jones. Well there gone. Now you have JT Barrett and that’s about all on offense. I really think this team isn’t a powerhouse this year. I think they will beat Michigan St but lose to the team in Ann Arbor.
Prediction: 10-3
3: Iowa Hawkeyes
HC: Kirk Ferentz
Last Season: 12-2
Key Losses: None
Key Returns: CJ Bethard, Desmond King
This team looks to win the weak Big Ten West division. The Hawkeyes were a strong team last year going 12-0 but showed they couldn’t contend with the big dawgs having blowout losses to Michigan St and Stanford. They didn’t lose anyone key so I see Iowa having themselves a solid year.
Prediction: 11-3
4: Michigan State Spartans
HC: Mark Dantonio
Last Season: 12-2
Key Losses: Connor Cook, Aaron Burbridge, Jack Conklin
Key Returns: Riley Bullough, Malik McDowell, LJ Scott
The Michigan State Spartans won 12 games last year. That’s very good for a team with Michigan and Ohio State in there schedule. But were they really that good? They lost to Nebraska in an easy game they should have won. They made the college football, did they truly deserve compared to a Stanford team that blew out the same team the spartans beat by 3 in the Big Ten Championship game. Bottom line I think this team has a straight up and down season. They will win the ones there supposed to and win the ones there supposed to.
Prediction: 10-3
5: Nebraska Cornhuskers
HC: Mike Riley
Last Year Record: 6-7
Key Losses: Vincent Valentine, Maliek Collins, Alex Lewis
Key Returns: Tommy Armstrong, Jordan Westerkamp
This team was definitely not the best last year but they were by far not the worst. They had a beautiful win against Michigan St which showed this Cornhusker team a good sign of hope. Tommy Armstrong is a wonderful mobile QB in Tommy Armstrong who threw for 22 touchdowns and 7 rushing touchdowns. I really like this team I think they make a solid bowl game and are going to give Iowa a fight in the Big Ten West.
Prediction: 9-4
The dynasty in north dakota
by owen noland
Who is the best team in College Football over the past five years? Most people would say it's Alabama. I would beg to differ. I would say it's North Dakota State. They have won 5 national championships in a row and another one this year could be six in a row. This past April they saw there quarterback go number two in the draft to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The past five years they have a win loss record of 72-5. They hold records for longest win streak in the FCS with 33 wins in a row from 2012-2014, most consecutive weeks atop the FCS coaches poll with 30, and currently have a five game winning streak against FBS opponents. The Bison have never lost a home playoff game going 16-0 in their time playing in the Fargo Dome.
As for this years team they got a season opening win against Charleston Southern in overtime last night (Saturday August 27th). The Bison are a unanimous number one in the FCS coaches poll to begin the 2016 season. Although they lost Carson Wentz their star quarterback to the NFL draft they still have Easton Stick leading the offense. He threw for 12 touchdowns to only four interceptions last year when Wentz was sidelined with a broken wrist. Coming into the season it is safe to say that the Bison are poised for yet another run at the national championship and one can only wonder if and when will the Bison come to the FBS?
The past five years they have a win loss record of 72-5. They hold records for longest win streak in the FCS with 33 wins in a row from 2012-2014, most consecutive weeks atop the FCS coaches poll with 30, and currently have a five game winning streak against FBS opponents. The Bison have never lost a home playoff game going 16-0 in their time playing in the Fargo Dome.
As for this years team they got a season opening win against Charleston Southern in overtime last night (Saturday August 27th). The Bison are a unanimous number one in the FCS coaches poll to begin the 2016 season. Although they lost Carson Wentz their star quarterback to the NFL draft they still have Easton Stick leading the offense. He threw for 12 touchdowns to only four interceptions last year when Wentz was sidelined with a broken wrist. Coming into the season it is safe to say that the Bison are poised for yet another run at the national championship and one can only wonder if and when will the Bison come to the FBS?
Early Heisman trophy Favorites
By: Marlin Jordan
As the start of the college football season is right around the corner we look to the best players in the nation. A big question surrounding this year is. Who will bring home the Heisman trophy this season? These players are believed to be the front runners.
The group is led by big back out of LSU Leonard Fournette. Fournette had a great Sophomore season while rushing for almost 2000 yards and 22 touchdowns. Many thought he could have won the award last year but a couple bad games kept him from the trophy. With Derrick Henry gone Fournette is believed to be the best back in College football and a favorite for the heisman. This year he is expected to step up his game and finish with even better numbers.
The next player to be labeled as a heisman favorite is Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. He led the Tigers all the way to the Championship game where they lost to Alabama. Last year Watson came off a torn ACL in his freshman year and threw for 4104 yards and 35 touchdowns. He is a dual threat player and also ran for 1105 yards and ran in 12 touchdowns. He finished third in the voting last year and will most likely look to rise to the top spot.
The next spot belongs to another running back. Florida State running back Dalvin Cook. Cook finished 7th last year in the Heisman voting. However last year he suffered from a couple injuries that held back his numbers. He finished the season with good numbers. He ran for 1,691 yards and added 19 touchdowns. Cook is not the favorite to win but definitely is capable of winning as he could surprise some people.
Other notable Heisman candidates are Stanford running back Christian McCaffery, Ohio State quarterback JT Barrett, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and Georgia running back Nick Chubb. The winner of the Heisman trophy could be on this list or it could not. You never know who will play the best and bring home the coveted Heisman Trophy.
The group is led by big back out of LSU Leonard Fournette. Fournette had a great Sophomore season while rushing for almost 2000 yards and 22 touchdowns. Many thought he could have won the award last year but a couple bad games kept him from the trophy. With Derrick Henry gone Fournette is believed to be the best back in College football and a favorite for the heisman. This year he is expected to step up his game and finish with even better numbers.
The next player to be labeled as a heisman favorite is Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. He led the Tigers all the way to the Championship game where they lost to Alabama. Last year Watson came off a torn ACL in his freshman year and threw for 4104 yards and 35 touchdowns. He is a dual threat player and also ran for 1105 yards and ran in 12 touchdowns. He finished third in the voting last year and will most likely look to rise to the top spot.
The next spot belongs to another running back. Florida State running back Dalvin Cook. Cook finished 7th last year in the Heisman voting. However last year he suffered from a couple injuries that held back his numbers. He finished the season with good numbers. He ran for 1,691 yards and added 19 touchdowns. Cook is not the favorite to win but definitely is capable of winning as he could surprise some people.
Other notable Heisman candidates are Stanford running back Christian McCaffery, Ohio State quarterback JT Barrett, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and Georgia running back Nick Chubb. The winner of the Heisman trophy could be on this list or it could not. You never know who will play the best and bring home the coveted Heisman Trophy.
The little 12
By: rYan miller
In past years when you heard big 12 it stroke fear into your heart. The thought of a great Mack brown Texas squad or dominant Oklahoma team or more recently the electric offense of Baylor. When I hear big 12 now I think of sadness and memories of greatness. The Baylor program has been embarassed this offseason through scandal and the execution of there savior head coach art briles. The once great Texas team is now a sad team who hopefully can win 6 games a year if there lucky. Awful low teams such as Kansas and Iowa state who seem to be constantly winning 1 game a year. And constants mediocrity from Texas tech Oklahoma state and West Virginia. Growing up I used to admire the big 12 and there teams and now I feel as the big 12 is no threat to any other power five conference this year. Oklahoma could change this image this year but only time will tell if the big 12 will ever become BIG again.