Big Ten Football: Post-spring power rankings heading into 2022

13. Indiana

Northwestern had it bad last season winning just one Big Ten game but Indiana didn’t win any and that’s after being ranked in the preseason top 25. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. got hurt and was never really healthy. He transferred and the defense, just like Northwestern’s fell apart.

The Hoosiers have added seven transfers that should be starting next season including former Missouri quarterback Connor Bazelak, who was solid with the Tigers last season and averaged over 200 yards a game through the air.

Head coach Tom Allen has to hope the transfer portal works because that’s where the Hoosiers projected wide receivers, QB and RB are all coming from.

12. Rutgers

The Scarlet Knights were better than expected last year under Greg Schiano but that shouldn’t shock anyone. Schiano was a great hire and while the Scarlet Knights were 5-7 last year, they got to play in a bowl and five wins was still a step forward.

Noah Vedral should be the starting quarterback once again, however, Gavin Wimsatt, who was part of the 2022 class originally but came on campus last fall, should push for playing time. He’s a legit top-100 QB and the best passer Rutgers has signed in a long time.

If Schiano can keep the defense at a respectable level, and Wimsatt is the real deal, Rutgers could be better than expected in the Big Ten Football’s East division over the next few years.