Iowa Football: Ranking Hawkeyes’ 2020 opponents by toughness

Wisconsin is the early favorite by some to win the Big Ten West, but I see the Badgers as the second or third-best team in the division heading into the season. People don’t realize just how devastating of a loss Jonathan Taylor will be — let alone Quintez Cephus, Chris Orr and Zack Baun.

This team will be going through a rebranding phase with a new running back and there’s no telling who that will be to fill Taylor’s shoes just yet.

Plus, the quarterback position hasn’t been a strength for years and that will be no different unless Graham Mertz steps up to replace Jack Coan in 2020.

In my opinion, Minnesota is the team to beat in the Big Ten West. The Gophers bring back eight offensive starters from a squad that finished 11-2. They’re led by 3,000-yard passer Tanner Morgan and potential All-American receiver Rashod Bateman.

PJ Fleck has done a fantastic job at Minnesota in just a few years and there’s a strong feeling that we’ve yet to see the best of the Gophers.

Gone are the days of sleepwalking to a win over Minnesota as the Gophers might be the only team from the West that could take down Ohio State.