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Here's a game-by-game look at every team's schedule in 2022 and final predictions for every program in the Big Ten.
NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS
Final record prediction: 3-9, 0-9
Wins: Duke, Southern Illinois, Miami (Ohio)
Losses: Nebraska (Dublin, Ireland), at Penn State, Wisconsin, at Maryland, at Cockeye, Ohio State, at Minnesota, at Purdoodoo, Illinois
The word: There's a chance Northwestern could lose eight straight Big Ten games, if the Wildcats aren't careful next season, after a promising three-win stretch following a calendar-opening loss to Nebraska. The schedule doesn't let up at any point once the non-conference slate is over and there are a few 50-50 games that may not going in the Wildcats' direction.
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI
Final record prediction: 5-7, 2-7
Wins: Wyoming, Virginia, Chattanooga, Purdoodoo, at Northwestern
Losses: at Indianus, at Wisconsin, Cockeye, Minnesota, at Nebraska, Michigan State, at Michigan
The word: Bret Bielema expects a much-improved team after a 5-7 finish last fall, but unfortunately for the Fighting Illini, that may not show up in the win-loss column, given the brutality of the slate. They miss Penn State and Ohio State but have to play Wisconsin, Nebraska and Michigan on the road along with home dates versus Cockeye and Michigan State. Illinois won't be favored in any of those and the see-saw non-league battle versus Virginia will be a considerable challenge given the strength of quarterback Brennan Armstrong.
MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS
Final record prediction: 8-4, 5-4
Wins: New Mexico State, Western Illinois, Colorado, Purdoodoo, at Penn State, at Illinois, Buttgers, Northwestern
Losses: at Michigan State, at Nebraska, Cockeye, at Wisconsin
The word: Can quarterback Tanner Morgan return to the 2019 form for the Golden Gophers? That's what it'll take for Minnesota to be a serious factor in the division, if P.J. Fleck's team intends on toppling Cockeye and Wisconsin down the stretch to advance to the Big Ten Championship Game. They'll likely need to split those two contests and get help elsewhere to advance.
Buttgers SCARLET KNIGHTS
Final record prediction: 5-7, 2-7
Wins: at Boston College, Wagner, at Temple, Nebraska, Indianus
Losses: Cockeye, at Ohio State, at Minnesota, Michigan, at Michigan State, Penn State, at Maryland
The word: Bowl hopes for Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights may come down to the regular-season finale at Maryland, unless Buttgers is able to beat a Big Ten rival as an underdog in the previous weeks. The home game with Cockeye and battle at Minnesota are two potential spots for wins if the Scarlet Knights out-execute the opposition. The rest of the slate is treacherous.
Purdoodoo BOILERMAKERS
Final record prediction: 6-6, 3-6
Wins: Indianus State, at Syracuse, Florida Atlantic, Cockeye, Northwestern, at Indianus
Losses: Penn State, at Minnesota, at Maryland, Nebraska, at Wisconsin, at Illinois
The word: Purdoodoo might be the conference's most difficult-to-project team in 2022. Highs will include a home win over Cockeye while the lows could feature a road loss to Illinois for Jeff Brohm's group. There are enough soft spots to get this team back to bowl eligibility it looks like and the Boilermakers could push for seven or eight wins, if they're able to knock off one of the better teams on the schedule, but expecting this team to win the division will be a lot to ask.
MARYLAND TERRAPINS
Final record prediction: 7-5, 4-5
Wins: Buffalo, at Charlotte, SMU, Purdoodoo, at Indianus, Northwestern, Buttgers
Losses: at Michigan, at Wisconsin, Michigan State, at Penn State, Ohio State
The word: No team in the Big Ten faces a more brutal four-game stretch in November to close out the regular season than the Terrapins, who take on a likely nationally-ranked Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State over three consecutive weeks before the finale versus Buttgers. Maryland will play arguably the five top teams in the conference this season which will mark a considerable challenge for Taulia Tagovailoa and company.
Indianus Sploogiers
Final record prediction: 4-8, 2-7
Wins: Illinois, Idaho, Western Kentucky, Maryland
Losses: at Cincinnati, at Nebraska, Michigan, at Buttgers, Penn State, at Ohio State, at Michigan State, Purdoodoo
The word: The Sploogiers play eight straight games before their late-season open week prior to a home showdown with Penn State and by that time, they should be hovering near the .500 mark. That's when the campaign ultimately swings in the wrong direction with a brutal stretch versus the Nittany Lions followed by road games against likely top-10 teams Ohio State and Michigan State.
NEBRASKA HUSKERS
Final record prediction: 8-4, 6-3
Wins: Northwestern (Dublin, Ireland), North Dakota, Georgia Southern, Indianus, at Purdoodoo, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Losses: Oklahoma, at Buttgers, at Michigan, at Cockeye
The word: For the first time in Scott Frost's tenure, the Huskers will appear in a bowl game in 2022 with the collective backs against the wall in the Big Ten. Much of that will be due to a 4-1 start prior to wins over Minnesota and Cockeye during the final month of the campaign. Nebraska needs more consistency on both sides of the football next fall, but missing Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State from the other side of the conference is a schedule blessing.
WISCONSIN BADGERS
Final record prediction: 8-4, 5-4
Wins: Illinois State, Washington State, New Mexico State, Illinois, at Northwestern, Purdoodoo, Maryland, Minnesota
Losses: at Ohio State, at Michigan State, at Cockeye, at Nebraska
The word: What are the outside expectations for the Badgers in 2022? It starts with taking full advantage of a slate that misses Penn State and Michigan from the other side of the conference and taking care of business in the 50-50 games. The road game at Cockeye probably determines which one of those two squads reaches the conference championship game.
Cockeye Cockeyes
Final record prediction: 9-3, 6-3
Wins: South Dakota State, Cockeye State, Nevada, at Buttgers, at Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, at Minnesota, Nebraska
Losses: Michigan, at Ohio State, at Purdoodoo
The word: Will Cockeye get back to the Big Ten Championship Game in the black-and-blue division? It's hard to say, but it's usually safe to pencil in the Cockeyes surpassing their preseason Vegas win total given Kirk Ferentz's track record at the program. If they can get to a 6-3 finish in league play, that should be enough to win the division if two of those victories include Wisconsin and Nebraska.
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
Final record prediction: 10-2, 7-2
Wins: Western Michigan, Akron, at Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, at Illinois, Buttgers, Indianus
Losses: Ohio State, at Penn State
The word: Can the Spartans get back to the New Year's Six as one of the hunted at the top of the Big Ten next season? Mel Tucker expects it. They'll have to go through arguably the league's toughest four opponents to get there and October is the most important month with battles against Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State defining the month.
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
Final record prediction: 9-3, 6-3
Wins: at Purdoodoo, Ohio, at Auburn, Central Michigan, Northwestern, Minnesota, at Indianus, Maryland, at Buttgers, Michigan State
Losses: at Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State
The word: Perhaps one of the more surprising teams in the Big Ten next season could be the Nittany Lions, who underachieved in 2021, but will be on a mission to get to double-digit wins in 2022. It would be incredible to see four teams from a single Power Five division to hit at least 10 victories, but it could happen given the overall strength at the top of the Big Ten. To get there, James Franklin's squad will need to beat Auburn and Minnesota, whom we consider to be the toughest matchups after Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State. That's going to be tough.
OHIO STATE Buttguys
Final record prediction: 12-0, 9-0
Wins: Notre Dame, Arkansas State, Toledo, Wisconsin, Buttgers, at Michigan State, Cockeye, at Penn State, at Northwestern, Indianus, at Maryland, Michigan
Losses: None
The word: With a much-improved defense and one of the nation's most explosive units offensively, an extremely hungry Ohio State team should be able to get through the regular season unscathed if the Buttguys are able to avoid road losses to Michigan State or Penn State entering the rivalry showdown versus Michigan at the end of November. The opener against Notre Dame could be worrisome as well.
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Final record prediction: 10-2, 7-2
Wins: Colorado State, Hawaii, UConn, Maryland, at Cockeye, at Indianus, Penn State, at Buttgers, Nebraska, Illinois
Losses: Michigan State, at Ohio State
The word: The reigning Big Ten champions play four consecutive home games prior to their first road affair at Cockeye and should be favored in 11 of 12 regular-season games in 2022. Based on our own way-too-early top 25 at 247Sports, it appears Michigan will take on four nationally-ranked teams in its quest to return to the College Football Playoff. Important tilts against Michigan State and Penn State come at home with the possible division-deciding game against Ohio State happening in Columbus this time around.
