Big Ten football win total predictions for 2023 college football season
Expect another two-team race at the top of the Big Ten standings this coming season as Ohio State and Michigan are once again poised to battle for the top spot in the conference and likely for at least one of the final four positions in the College Football Playoff, while a closer race is expected in the West Division title contest.
The preseason has moved to the summer stage after the conclusion of spring football and following the second wave of players on the move in the latest transfer portal window with position battles set to take place leading into the 2023 fall kickoff.
Related: Georgia, Michigan top preseason 2023 college football rankings
DraftKings recently announced its preseason win total projections for all 133 FBS schools, including its updated picks for where things stand in the Big Ten.
Big Ten football win total predictions for 2023 college football season
Michigan State (5.5 wins). Sparty lost key personnel this offseason including quarterback Payton Thorne and receiver Keon Coleman and is looking at another tough schedule that includes a date with Washington. This looks like a 6-win team.
Northwestern (3.5 wins). It's tough to find a lot of wins on the Wildcats' schedule a year after posting one of college football's worst offenses, but the opener at Rutgers could be one, as could a date at home against Purdue near the end of the season.
Purdue (5.5 wins). First-year coach Ryan Walters opens up with a tough non-conference slate against Fresno State, at Virginia Tech, and against Syracuse in addition to dates at Michigan and against Wisconsin and Ohio State.
Iowa (7.5 wins). Don't expect the Hawkeyes to be favored at Penn State or at Wisconsin but otherwise there's no Ohio State or Michigan on the schedule and the team brings on transfer quarterback Cade McNamara to help resurrect an offense that was one of college football's least productive a year ago.
Minnesota (6.5 wins). One of the three credible Big Ten West contenders right now, the Gophers get Michigan and Wisconsin at home and go to Ohio State while new play-caller Matt Simon looks to break in new contributors at quarterback and running back with important pieces leaving the team this year.
Nebraska (6 wins). An expected eight starters return on defense but the Cornhuskers need to replenish their rotation near the line of scrimmage while first-year head coach Matt Rhule reloads an offense that should feature Jeff Sims at quarterback but still has to identify difference-makers at wide receiver to really get into bowl contention.
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Indiana (3.5 wins). There's a lot of work to do on a Hoosiers offense that posted under five yards per play and scored 17 points or fewer in five Big Ten games a year ago and on a defense that surrendered almost 34 points per game and brings back two starters.
Illinois (6.5 wins). Bret Bielema has to replace much of his talented secondary unit while finding the right options at quarterback and running back, as well, while facing an early test on the road at Kansas with Penn State right after that, setting up a tough schedule that will test if Illinois can become bowl eligible again.
Maryland (7 wins). The return of Taulia Tagovailoa, one of the Big Ten's most athletic quarterbacks, is vital for the Terps offense to maintain its production from a year ago, but Mike Locksley has to fill holes at receiver and beef up both lines of scrimmage.
Wisconsin (9 wins). Expect a more wide-open approach from first-year coach Luke Fickell and coordinator Phil Longo as they implement a more aggressive offense with transfers at quarterback, in Tanner Mordecai, and receiver to pair up with lead back Braelon Allen with dates at Washington State and against Ohio State at home.
Penn State (9.5 wins). Five-star quarterback Drew Allar steps in for the first time as starter with plenty of help around him including a talented running back rotation and arguably the Big Ten's most athletic pass rush. The solid No. 3 in the conference right now, the Nittany Lions can make an impression by beating either OSU or Michigan.
Ohio State (10.5 wins). Ryan Day has work to do re-working his offensive line and inserting a new quarterback to get the most from the Buckeyes' elite wide receiver corps, maybe the best in college football with road games at Notre Dame, at Wisconsin, and at Michigan.
Michigan (10.5 wins). The two-time Big Ten champs return the bulk of what got them there including tailbacks Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards and quarterback J.J. McCarthy, both behind the top offensive line in college football.
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