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Big Ten Football: 20 burning questions for August 2019

By Ryan Kay

MADISON, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 24: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball while being chased by Blake Cashman #36 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 24: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball while being chased by Blake Cashman #36 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 01: Running back Reggie Corbin #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini run from cornerback Joshua Kalu #10 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Illinois 31-16. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 01: Running back Reggie Corbin #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini run from cornerback Joshua Kalu #10 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Illinois 31-16. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

5. Is there hope for Illinois and Rutgers this season?

Yes, but it all depends on your specific definition of hope. There is a reason why the athletic directors at Illinois and Rutgers did not fire their head coaches in the offseason after another disappointing year for both teams.

Illinois’ Lovie Smith did not forget how to coach. He lead the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl appearance and was a head coach in the NFL for eight years. Rutgers’ head coach Chris Ash was the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin and Arkansas before taking the same job at Ohio State where he helped the Buckeyes win a national title.

Both men inherited tough jobs in programs that have not had recent success on the football field. Illinois and Rutgers have not won many games the past three seasons but both teams are doing better on the recruiting trail and both programs have attracted transfers from big-name programs.

If both programs can get to 5-6 wins this season, the fanbases will be more optimistic going into 2020.

4. Will the Big Ten title look like 2014, 2015 or neither? 

To quote the one and only and fictional character Chazz Michael Michaels, “No one knows what it means.”

Actually, what the question means is will the 2019 Big Ten Championship be as many are predicting as it was in 2014 with Wisconsin vs. Ohio State or will it be two underrated, but not totally surprising, teams like it was in 2015 when Michigan State faced off against Iowa? Or will it be a Big Ten Championship of first-timers in Purdue vs. Michigan?

Based on schedules, it looks like Wisconsin and Ohio State have the easiest paths to Indianapolis but this is the year that actually no one really knows.

3. Which team from each division has nothing to lose?

Minnesota from the West and Indiana from the East.

Both teams’ fanbases, for the most part, are patient enough to wait until 2020 to expect real progress. However, both programs have head coaches who are recruiting, on paper at least, better every season they’ve been in charge and if things go well, can exceed preseason expectations.

Indiana has a really good quarterback situation to go with an easy non-conference schedule. Minnesota has momentum, winning three of their last four games last season by beating Purdue, Wisconsin and Georgia Tech in their bowl game.

If either or both can win seven games plus their bowl, 2020 is looking really good.

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