Big Ten football: Predicting the final 2022 standings

Who is in contention for the Big Ten title?

When it comes down to the Big Ten championship, there are four teams that I see as legit contenders for the Big Ten championship: Michigan and Ohio State in the East, and Wisconsin and Iowa in the West.

There is one key difference between these three teams, though. Ohio State is a clear favorite for the Big Ten east and even the national title this season. The Buckeyes are loaded all over, experienced, and bloodthirsty after falling short last season. This year they get the Wolverines at home and their only real road test will be at Penn State — which will likely be a noon game instead of a night game — and as stated earlier Penn State is a total toss-up this year.

Michigan will also presumably be pretty good this season. Although we aren’t sure if Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, or someone else will dethrone the 2021 conference champs before Ohio State gets to them, there is a good chance that Michigan’s easy schedule will play to their benefit.

The Wolverines going 10-2 or 11-1 this season is a real possibility, and if Ohio State somehow fumbles the division title to Michigan, the Wolverines may see a repeat title for the first time in nearly 20 years.

In the West are the usual players: Wisconsin and Iowa. Both will likely be pretty good this season, so it will come down to every game for these two. I do not see anyone else in the West making a run for the division title this year, so the Wisconsin vs. Iowa game on Nov. 12 will be one to keep an eye on.

Either way, per usual, I have the Big Ten East champion winning the whole thing regardless of who wins it. Since the divisions were turned into East and West, the west has come up short every single season. Meanwhile, the Big Ten East has crowned four champions: Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, and Penn State.

These are only first-look predictions. Injuries, roster changes, etc., could easily change these and ruin my entire ranking system — but for the time being this is how I believe the Big Ten will look when the 2022 season comes to a close.