2024 Big Ten football capsules

Illinois

Last year: 5-7 overall, 3-6 Big Ten

Coach: Bret Bielema (18-19 at Illinois, 115-77 overall)

Returning starters: 11 (5 offense, 5 defense, punter)

Players to watch: QB Luke Altmyer, OT J.C. Davis, WR Pat Bryant, RB Kaden Feagin, LB Seth Coleman, LB Gabe Jacas, CB Terrance Brooks, S Matthew Bailey

The big questions: Can quarterback Luke Altmyer, who passed for 1,878 yards in the nine games he played last season, improve his touchdown to interception ratio (13 TDs, 10 picks last season)? Who will replace three starters from last year on the defensive line, including Jer’Zhan Newton, a second-round selection of the Washington Commanders? Can Illinois avoid finishing in the lower half of the Big Ten in the first season of the conference’s return to not having divisions?

Indiana

Last year: 3-9 overall, 1-8 Big Ten

Coach: Curt Cignetti (0-0 at Indiana, 119-35 overall)

Returning starters: 5 (3 offense, 1 defense, punter)

Players to watch: QB Kurtis Rourke, RB Kaelon Black, WR Donaven McCulley, WR Elijah Sarratt, DE Lanell Carr Jr., DE Jacob Mangum-Farrar

The big questions: Will the drastic roster makeover after Curt Cignetti was hired as the Hoosiers coach achieve his goal of making IU faster and more athletic or did it rely too much on players who might need some time to adjust to the Big Ten, like the 13 athletes he brought with him from James Madison University? Will former Ohio University quarterback Kurtis Rourke be this year’s starter for Indiana? Can the Hoosiers tighten up their defense, which has ranked No. 98, No. 97 and No. 109 nationally the last three seasons?

Iowa

Last year: 10-4 overall, 7-2 Big Ten

Coach: Kirk Ferentz (196-123 at Iowa, 218-144 overall)

Returning starters: 15 (6 offense, 8 defense, kicker)

Players to watch: QB Cade McNamara, RB Leshon Williams, TE Luke Lachey, WR Kaleb Brown, LB Jay Higgins, LB Nick Jackson, LB Sebastian Castro, S Xavier Nwankpa

The big questions: Will Iowa’s offense be more productive under new coordinator Tim Lester, a former Western Michigan head coach, than it was last season when it averaged only 15.4 points a game in Brian Ferentz’s final season as coordinator? Will quarterback Cade McNamara, whose backups are all inexperienced, be fully recovered from the ACL tear that ended his season after five games last year? Can the Hawkeyes’ defense be even better than last season when it held its opponent to fewer than 17 points in 11 of its 14 games? Will tight end Luke Lachey be the next in a long line of Hawkeyes tight ends to be selected early in the NFL draft?

Minnesota

Last year: 6-7 overall, 3-6 Big Ten

Coach: P.J. Fleck (50-34 at Minnesota, 80-56 overall)

Returning starters: 14 (5 offense, 7 defense, kicker, punter)

Players to watch: QB Max Brosmer, RB Darius Taylor, RB Sieh Bangura, WR Daniel Jackson, OT Aireontae Ersery, DE Jah Joyner, LB Cody Lindenberg, CB Justin Wallery, S Koi Perich.

The big questions: Will quarterback Max Brosmer, who threw for 3,464 yards and 29 touchdowns last season at FCS New Hampshire, be an upgrade over Athan Kaliakmanis, who completed only 54 percent of his passes in 2023 for the Gophers before transferring to Rutgers? Can the Gophers develop some depth at receiver where second-team All-Big Ten wideout Daniel Jackson is the only proven threat? Will late September and early October tell the story of Minnesota’s season when it faces Iowa, Michigan, USC and UCLA on consecutive Saturdays?

Maryland

Last year: 8-5 overall, 4-5 Big Ten

Coach: Mike Locksley (29-33 at Maryland, 31-59 overall)

Returning starters: 12 (5 offense, 6 defense, kicker)

Players to watch: QB M.J. Morris, RB Roman Hemby, WR Kaden Prather, WR Tai Felton, DL Jordan Phillips, DE Quashon Fuller, DE Donnell Brown, Ruben Hyppolite, S Dante Trader

The big questions: Who will be the starting quarterback now that Taulia Tagovailoa’s career is over? Is the defensive front seven the Terrapins’ No. 1 strength? Can running back Roman Hemby return to the level he played at in 2022 when he rushed for 1,287 yards before dropping to 680 yards last season?

Michigan

Last year: 15-0 overall, 9-0 Big Ten, National Champion

Coach: Sherrone Moore (4-0 overall, 4-0 at Michigan)

Returning starters: 5 (1 offense, 3 defense, punter)

Players to watch: RB Donovan Edwards, WR Tyler Morris, TE Colston Loveland, DT Mason Graham, CB Will Johnson, S Rod Moore.

The big questions: Can Michigan contend for the Big Ten title even with massive departures from last year’s team, including coach Jim Harbaugh? Who will start at quarterback? Are there NCAA penalties in the Wolverines’ future for Connor Stalions’ alleged undercover sign-stealing escapades?

Michigan State

Last year: 4-8 overall, 2-7 Big Ten

Coach: Jonathan Smith (0-0 at Michigan State, 34-35 overall)

Returning starters: 10 (3 offense, 5 defense, kicker, punter)

Players to watch: QB Aidan Chiles, RB Nate Carter, TE Jack Velling, OT Brandon Baldwin, LB Cal Haladay, LB Jordan Hall

The big questions: Can new coach Jonathan Smith duplicate the way he built a winner at Oregon State at Michigan State, which has a lot of similarities to the way Marc Dantonio won Big Ten championships at MSU? Can quarterback Aidan Chiles, who played for Smith at Oregon State, energize an offense that ranked No. 128 nationally in scoring at 15.9 points a game, one spot ahead of Iowa, last season? Who, other than Montorie Foster (42 catches last season), will play wide receiver?

Nebraska

Last year: 5-7 overall, 3-6 Big Ten

Coach: Matt Rhule (5-7 at Nebraska and 52-50 overall)

Returning starters: 17 (7 offense, 7 defense, kicker, punter)

Players to watch: QB Dylan Raiola, RB Emmett Johnson, OT Bryce Benhart, DT Ty Robinson, CB Tommi Hill

The big questions: Will 5-star freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, who once verbally committed to Ohio State, become the starter and live up to the hype? With four returning starters on the offensive line and three on the defensive line, could Nebraska be one of the surprises in the Big Ten this season? Can the Cornhuskers find ways to win close games, which was a problem last season when three of their losses were by three points?

Northwestern

Last year: 8-5 overall, 5-4 Big Ten

Coach: David Braun (8-5 all at Northwestern )

Returning starters: 12 (5 offense, 5 defense, kicker, punter)

Players to watch: QB Mike Wright, RB Cam Porter, WR Bryce Kirtz, WR A.J. Henning, DL Najee Story, LB Xander Mueller, CB Theran Johnson

The big questions: Can Northwestern continue the unexpected success of last season when it won eight games after being predicted to win one or two in the preseason amidst the turmoil of longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald being fired? Will transfer portal quarterback Mike Wright, formerly of Mississippi State, be the right person to lead the Wildcats’ offense? How much will change about Northwestern’s approach with a new offensive coordinator, a new defensive coordinator and two other new assistant coaches?

Ohio State

Last year: 11-2 overall, 8-1 Big Ten

Coach: Ryan Day (56-8 all at Ohio State)

Returning starters: 15 (6 offense, 8 defense, kicker)

Players to watch: QB Will Howard, RB Quinshon Judkins, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Emeka Egbuka, WR Jeremiah Smith, WR Carnell Tate, DE J.T. Tuimoloau, DE Jack Sawyer, CB Denzel Burke, CB Davison Igbinosun, S Caleb Downs

The big questions: Can Ohio State end its three-game losing streak against Michigan? Can it go undefeated and win the national championship? Will the much-criticized offensive line be improved? Will Ryan Day settle on one quarterback or will more than one play? How much of a change might there be in OSU’s offense with Chip Kelly taking over as offensive coordinator?

Penn State

Last year: 10-3 overall, 7-2 Big Ten

Coach: James Franklin (88-39 Big Ten, 112-50 overall)

Returning starters: 12 (5 offense, 6 defense, punter)

Players to watch: QB Drew Allar, RB Nick Singleton, RB Kaytron Allen, WR Julian Fleming, TE Tyler Warren, DE Abdul Carter, LB Kobe King, S Jaylen Reed, S K.J. Winson

The big questions: Will quarterback Drew Allar improve his accuracy (five games under 50 percent completion percentage last season) and get past a seeming aversion to throwing deep? Will former OSU receiver Julian Fleming or someone else emerge as a replacement for last year’s No. 1 receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who transferred to Auburn? Can coach James Franklin, who is 1-12 against Top 10 teams since 2016, knock off one of them this season and change that narrative?

Purdue

Last year: 4-8 overall, 3-6 Big Ten

Coach: Ryan Walters (4-8 Purdue, 4-8 overall)

Returning starters: 9 (4 offense, 5 defense)

Players to watch: QB Hudson Card, RB Devin Mockobee, WR T.J. Sheffield, TE Max Klare, WR Kam Brown, WR Tra’Mar Harris, DE Kydran Jenkins, /OLB Khordae Sydnor, S Cam Allen

The big questions: Will quarterback Hudson Card (15 touchdown passes, 8 interceptions) become more consistent in his second season at Purdue? Who will Card be throwing to after six receivers and the starting tight end last season entered the transfer portal? Will Devin Mockobee, who rushed for 807 yards last season, become the Boilermakers’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2008?

Rutgers

Last year: 7-6 overall, 3-6 Big Ten

Coach: Greg Schiano (87-95 overall and at Rutgers)

Returning starters: 14 (5 offense, 8 defense, kicker)

Players to watch: QB Athan Kaliakmanis, RB Kyle Monangai, WR Dymere Miller, WR Christian Dremel, OT Hollin Pierce, DE Aaron Lewis, LB Mohamed Toure, DB Desmond Igbinosun, DB Robert Longerbeam

The big questions: Will the addition of former Minnesota starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis to the starting lineup give Rutgers a dual-threat offense instead of the one-dimensional attack it had with Gavin Wimsatt in that position last season? Can running back Kyle Monangai have another season like last year when he gained 1,262 yards on the ground? Is this the best schedule Rutgers has had in years, with no games against former Big Ten East Division foes Ohio State and Michigan?

UCLA

Last year: 8-5 overall, 4-5 Pac-12

Coach: DeShaun Foster (0-0 at UCLA, 0-0 overall)

Returning starters: 10 (6 offense, 4 defense)

Players to watch: QB Ethan Garbers, RB T.J. Harden, WR J. Michael Sturdivant, WR Rico Flores Jr., TE Maliki Matavao, DL Jay Tola, LB Kain Medrano

The big questions: Will the Bruins’ offensive line, which allowed 42 sacks last season, show some improvement this season in its first year in the Big Ten? Will the defense go from a strength to a question mark with only four returning starters and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn leaving to become USC’s coordinator? Can UCLA revive fan interest after several seasons of the Rose Bowl sometimes being half-empty for its home games?

USC

Last year: 8-5 overall, 5-4 Pac-12

Coach: Lincoln Riley 19-8 at USC, 74-18 overall

Returning starters: 8 (3 offense, 3 defense, kicker, punter)

Players to watch: QB Miller Moss, QB Jayden Maiava, RB Woody Marks, WR Ja’Kobi Lane, WR Kyron Hudson, Duce Robinson, WR Zachariah Branch, WR Jay Fair, DE Jamil Muhammad, CB Jaylin Smith

The big questions: Could coach Lincoln Riley’s job be in jeopardy if new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn can’t fix the Trojans’ defense and they win fewer than 10 games? Does USC have the toughest schedule in the Big Ten with league games against Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State and Washington and non-league matchups against LSU and Notre Dame? Will Miller Moss be the starting quarterback after three seasons of backing up Caleb Williams or will Jaden Maiava, a transfer from UNLV, win the job?

Oregon

Last year: 12-2 overall, 8-1 Pac-12

Coach: Dan Lanning 22-5 at Oregon, 22-5 overall

Returning starters: 11 (6 offense, 4 defense, punter)

Players to watch: QB Dillon Gabriel, RB Jordan James, WR Tez Johnson, WR Evan Stewart, TE Terrance Ferguson, OL Ajani Cornelius, DE Jordan Burch, LB Jeffrey BassaEthan Garbers, RB T.J. Harden, WR J. Michael Sturdivant, WR Rico Flores Jr., TE Maliki Matavao, DL Jay Tola, LB Kain Medrano, CB Jahlil Florence, P Ross James, K Atticus Sappington

The big questions: Will Oregon get into the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2014? Do Oregon’s transfer portal additions rank a close second to Ohio State in the Big Ten? Could inexperience on the interior of the defensive line be the Ducks’ Achilles heel?

Washington

Last year: 14-1 overall, 9-0 Pac-12

Coach: Jedd Fisch (0-0 at Washington, 17-21 overall)

Returning starters: 4 (0 offense, 2 defense, kicker, punter)

Players to watch: QB Will Rogers, RB Jonah Coleman, WR Denzel Boston, WR Jeremiah Hunter, DL Sebastian Valdez, LB Alphonzo Tuputala, CB Elijah Jackson

The big questions: Is there a more inexperienced team in major college football than Washington with only two returning starting non-specialists from last year’s College Football Playoff runner-up? Can former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers, who is top 5 in SEC history in passing yards and touchdowns, match those stats in the Big Ten? Will Washington’s young players have grown up by the time the Huskies play Michigan, Iowa, USC, Penn State and Oregon in five of their last seven games?

Wisconsin

Last year: 7-6 overall, 4-5 Big Ten

Coach: Luke Fickell (7-6 at Wisconsin, 71-31 overall)

Returning starters: 12 (5 offense, 5 defense, kicker, punter)

Players to watch: QB Tyler Van Dyke, RB Chez Mellusi, WR Will Pauling, OT Jack Nelson, DL James Thompson, S Hunter Wohler

The big questions: Will quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, a transfer from Miami, be the upgrade the Badgers need from Tanner Mordecai, who had only nine touchdown passes in 10 games last season? Who can replace running back Braelon Allen, who rushed for 984 yards last season before being drafted by the New York Jets? Does Wisconsin have the toughest schedule in the Big Ten? It avoids Ohio State and Michigan but plays Alabama, USC, Penn State, Iowa and Oregon.

ONLY ON LIMAOHIO.COM

Keep up with the Buckeyes all season long at LimaOhio.com/BuckEyes.