The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 131 Predicted Order Of Finish EAST DIVISION 1. Michigan (8-1 Big Ten record): We're not sure which one the Wolverines will drop, but going unscathed through the gauntlet of road games that includes Michigan State, Iowa and Ohio State will be a chore. There's plenty of talent and star power in the 14 returning starters, but quarterback and offensive line play will be the key to a championship. 2. (tie) Ohio State (7-2): The Buckeyes lose 15 starters, many of them to the NFL, but they've recruited as well as most teams in the country under head coach Urban Meyer. Returning a veteran QB in J.T. Barrett and veteran preseason All- American Pat Elflein at center helps, but games at Wisconsin and Michigan State will be tough. So will the regular-season finale against a Michigan team stung by last year's blowout. 2. (tie) Michigan State (7-2): The Spartans must replace All-American quarterback Connor Cook and most of their of - fensive and defensive lines, and they're extremely thin on the latter. MSU gets Michigan and Ohio State at home, though, and have the easiest divisional road slate with Indiana, Maryland, Illinois and Penn State. 4. Penn State (5-4): The Nittany Lions return 14 starters from a team that went 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten. Penn State returns sophomore standout running back Saquon Barkley, but replacing quarterback Christian Hackenberg will be challenging. Trace McSorley will probably be the guy, and he played well in the spring. Other than a game at Michigan, the toughest contests — Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan State — are at home, though PSU might not be favored in any of them. 5. Indiana (3-6): Indiana returns 16 starters — that's the Hoosiers' good news. Losing quarterback Nate Sudfeld and running back Jordan Howard from arguably the Big Ten's most explosive offense from a year ago hurts, though, and the defense finished last in every statistical category but one … rush defense, in which it finished second to last just ahead of Purdue. It's hard to see it being much better in 2016. 6. Maryland (2-7): DJ Durkin inherits a team that went 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the Big Ten last year, and the rebuild won't be easy. There are nine returning starters on offense (which finished 10th in the Big Ten in scoring last year) and a legit All-America candidate in defensive back Will Likely, but quarterback remains a huge question mark — and that's where it all starts. The Terrapins might only be favored in two games, home contests with Purdue and Rutgers. 7. Rutgers (1-8): The Scarlet Knights return 14 starters from a 4-8 team (1-7 Big Ten), but they need to improve on defense to have a shot to surprise. They gave up 34.9 points per game last year and must replace the entire linebacker corps, their defensive strength last year. WEST DIVISION 1. Iowa (8-1): Head coach Kirk Ferentz went from hot seat to hero in leading the Hawkeyes to an undefeated regular season and the Big Ten championship game. Quarterback C.J. Beathard returns after throwing for 2,809 yards and 17 scores, and a defense that finished fourth in the conference in rushing yardage allowed (121.4 yards per game) brings back seven starters. Iowa has returned to its physical roots. 2. (tie) Wisconsin (6-3): Twelve starters return from a team that won 10 games last season, but the quarterback position is a big question mark. The Badgers do return four starting offensive linemen, however, and a running back in Corey Clement who could become one of the best in the conference. The defensive front seven should be solid, led by linebacker Vince Biegel, but the road slate includes Michigan, MSU, OSU, Iowa and Northwestern. 2. (tie) Nebraska (6-3): The Cornhuskers could be the league's surprise team if they cut down on the turnovers — 16 interceptions by starting quarterback Tommy Armstrong alone last year — given they have nine starters back from a squad that finished second in the conference in total offense (446.9 yards per game). They also have a difficult road slate with games at Northwestern, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa. 4. Northwestern (5-4): The Wildcats need to replace their entire receiving corps, but they return their entire offensive line, quarterback Clayton Thorson and 1,000-yard rusher Justin Jackson. This team could be better than last year's 10-win squad, but a road schedule that includes Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State could make the record hard to duplicate. 5. Minnesota (4-5): The Gophers took a hit when they lost head coach Jerry Kill last year (illness), helping sabotage a promising season. The 2-6 league record made them one of the league's biggest disappointments. New head coach Tracy Claeys has 12 returning starters, but it's hard to find more than four wins on the schedule — especially if quarterback Mitch Leidner is as inconsistent as he was last year when he threw 11 picks. 6. Illinois (2-7): Lovie Smith is the big-name coach Illini fans have coveted, but he faces a rebuild in Champaign. Quarter - back Wes Lunt completed only 56.1 percent of his passes last year, and the entire linebacker corps has to be replaced. The defense, in fact, only returns four starters from a team that finished 2-6 in conference play. 7. Purdue (1-8): No school in the Big Ten returns more offensive and defensive starters than Purdue (19), but that was the case last year, too, and the Boilermakers still finished 1-7 in conference play for the second straight season. The defense gave up 35 or more points eight times — improvement needs to start there. Big Ten Championship Game Prediction Michigan over Iowa: Ohio State has plenty of talent, and the Buckeyes should be very good again by the time the Wolverines come to town at the end of November, but Michigan has veteran talent and what should be the league's best defense. If U-M gets good quarterback play and stays healthy up front offensively, then the Wolverines are the team to beat. Iowa, meanwhile, seems to have recovered nicely from some lean years and should be the cream of the crop in the West Division behind quarterback C.J. Beathard. A neutral site for a rematch between the two in Indianapolis is advantage, U-M. Michigan 24, Iowa 16 Head coach Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines re- turn 15 starters from last year's team and are among the 2016 national title favorites, but must navigate road contests at Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Fifth-year senior signal-caller C.J. Beath- ard led Iowa to an undefeated Big Ten regu- lar season a year ago, throwing for 2,809 yards and 17 touchdowns with just five interceptions. PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF IOWA