This includes Florida State transfer Jarrett Jackson and Liberty transfer Dre Butler, who will contribute on the interior. The Spartans will try to reboot the defensive line with several impressive newcomers. The issue could be line play: Maryland has to rebuild up front on both sides of the ball, with the defense taking another hit this spring with the transfer of projected starter Tank Booker. There are reasons to highlight the Terrapins as a possible breakout team in 2023, including of the Big Ten's top collections of skill talent headlined by veteran quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. Look for transfers Corey Crooms (Western Michigan) and Elijah Spencer (Charlotte) to contribute from the start, with Crooms on track to grab the starting role in the slot. But the Gophers need much more from the position to balance out the offense. Minnesota also brings back Daniel Jackson after his strong close to 2022, which included 159 receiving yards and three touchdowns in wins against Wisconsin and Syracuse to end the season. MinnesotaĬhris Autman-Bell is expected to return this summer after suffering a season-ending leg injury last September. But will there even be a blending of styles, or will Wisconsin run an undiluted version of Longo's scheme? Indications from the spring suggests there will be drastic departure from the norm. There's obvious interest in seeing how Fickell, Longo and the Badgers marry this new approach with the physicality that has defined the program for three decades. Will the Badgers go all-in on the Air Raid?Īfter years of success relying on an old-school approach, Wisconsin will embrace an offense with Air Raid concepts under new coach Luke Fickell and coordinator Phil Longo. While it's unlikely that Ferentz and Iowa reinvent the wheel offensively, the Hawkeyes will be boosted by the arrival of Michigan transfer Cade McNamara at quarterback. The mandate makes sense: Iowa has allowed more than 24 points in a game four times in the past two seasons, losing each game. That's the magic number for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, at least, after he agreed to a reworked contract that requires a minimum of 25 points per game in 2023. IowaĬan the offense average 25 points per game? LOOKING AHEAD: Georgia, Michigan lead way-too-early college football Top 25 4. NEW ARRIVALS: The 10 biggest transfers during the college football offseason He represents the possible missing piece for an offense and broader program that has made multiple runs at the playoff but been edged out by Ohio State and Michigan. Penn StateĪllar will be the Nittany Lions' replacement for Sean Clifford after tossing four touchdowns in reserve duty as a freshman, even if James Franklin might not name an official starter until closer to the season opener. One contender to replace Ruggles has already transferred in Jake Seibert, leaving two options heading into the summer: Parker Lewis, a former Southern California transfer, and walk-on Jayden Fielding. Two-year starting kicker Noah Ruggles connected on 37 of 41 field goals for the Buckeyes, though his reliability after transferring from North Carolina has been overshadowed by his 50-yard miss in the final seconds of last season's loss to Georgia. SURPRISE STORIES: Who can mimic TCU's run to College Football Playoff? 2. SPRING STOCK: Power rankings and the biggest questions for SEC teams Stanford transfers Drake Nugent and Myles Hinton are also in the mix, with Nugent the favorite to take over for Oluwatimi at center. One is left tackle LaDarius Henderson, though he's yet to arrive on campus from Arizona State. This year's offensive line could have three Power Five transfers in the starting lineup. The Wolverines hit a home run last season with the addition of Virginia transfer Olusegun Oluwatimi, one of the nation's top centers as a junior and senior. With spring football almost complete, here's how the Big Ten stacks up with one lingering question for each team: 1. Meanwhile, the Big Ten has a third major player in Penn State, which is back on the national map after last year's Rose Bowl win and could be lifted to new heights by projected starting quarterback Drew Allar given his potential to open up the offense with a more dynamic passing game. Stroud and return to the top of the conference? Michigan is a key player in two of the biggest questions this spring in the Power Five:Ĭan the Wolverines take the next step and win the national championship? Or can Ohio State rebound without star quarterback C.J. The Wolverines have won two in a row in the series, riding these wins to back-to-back Big Ten championships and College Football Playoff berths. The annual game of the year in the Big Ten has become even more impossible to miss given the stakes at play following Michigan's revival under coach Jim Harbaugh. It'll only be another 200 or so days until Michigan meets Ohio State, this time back in Ann Arbor.
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