Flipping The Field’s tour through the Power Five continues with a look at the Big Ten, which will produce a double-digit win Iowa and is therefore condemned to eternal damnation.

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Timestamps:

Intro – 0:21-7:46

Northwestern – 7:46-21:49

• The Wildcats return plenty of experience on either side of the ball and would see improvement if the only change from last season is improved tackling. However, the offensive system is so limited in Evanston and hopes around DC Jim O’Neil are so low, making it very difficult to generate much of any excitement about Northwestern. We can always hold onto increasingly large Pat Fitzgerald for strength in these trying times.

Indiana – 21:49-30:21

• Homefield Apparel is run by a pack of bloodthirsty Indiana fans, and they sponsor the show. That’s the only positive thing we’re going to say about Indiana.

Rutgers – 35:34-45:07

• Greg Schiano might be slowly picking off beloved mafia character actors, but he has managed to get Rutgers near bowl contention in short order, and returns a decent chunk of his 2021 roster. The outlook for the offense if it doesn’t turn to young QB Gavin Wimsatt is very bleak, though it’s easy to become more optimistic if he gets the nod opposite an aggressive and fairly experienced defense.

Minnesota – 45:07-49:05

• F.J. Pleck.

Illinois – 49:05-57:15

• What can we say, we love Bret. Barry Lunney Jr. was a great hire for the vacancy at offensive coordinator. He’ll work brilliantly with halfback Chase Brown and a decent offensive line, while Ryan Walters’ defense should be in for more improvement. If Illinois isn’t a bowl team this season, it’ll be damn close.

Maryland – 57:15-1:06:26

• Maryland is going to score a ton of points behind the arm of Taulia Tagovailoa, and that’s really all that we can ask for. There’s no real way to split this season’s team and the bunch that played last year, but Maryland shouldn’t really want to. Another bowl berth would be great news for the Terps.

Purdue – 1:06:26-1:11:41

• Purdue loves to build around its stars. Jeff Brohm’s tenure has been defined by transcendent players like David Bell, George Karlaftis and Rondale Moore. The former two carried the Boilermakers to an excellent season in 2021, and both have departed for the NFL. Brohm is good at finding playmakers and he does have quarterback Aidan O’Connell back, but projected star receiver Milton Wright is no longer with the team and breakout defensive coordinator Brad Lambert is off to Wake Forest. A season without stars wouldn’t bode well for the Boilermakers, and that appears to be in the cards for 2022.

Nebraska – 1:11:41-1:24:31

• Ryan loves Nebraska this year because he recently suffered a head injury that made him forget the entirety of Scott Frost’s tenure at Nebraska.

Penn State – 1:24:31-1:31:51

• Do you love football teams with immense skill position talent on either side of the ball, several first-round caliber prospects throughout the team and absolutely no interest in fielding an offensive line? Do you yearn for Sean Clifford? Late-stage James Franklin and the 2022 Nittany Lions would be perfect for you.

Michigan State – 1:31:51-1:40:14

• The transfer portal paid out in a major way for Mel Tucker and the Spartans in 2021. Without Kenneth Walker to hold up a bad offensive line and without any real answers for a dreadful secondary, can the good times keep rolling for Michigan State?

Wisconsin – 1:40:14-1:48:03

• If you or a loved one has watched Graham Mertz play football, you may be entitled to compensation. Please call Paul Chryst for more information.

Iowa – 1:48:03-1:53:06

• Iowa can’t move the football, promoted Kirk Ferentz’s moron son while lowering his salary, and saw the best part of its offense – center Tyler Linderbaum – depart for the NFL. Yet, the Hawkeyes are easily the favorites out of the West, returning much of a stingy defense in a division that can be won by any team with a pulse.

Michigan – 1:53:06-2:03:21

• Michigan has holes to fill defensively – especially with the departures of Daxton Hill, Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo – and needs to replace Hassan Haskins offensively, along with both coordinators. Yet, after knocking off Ohio State for the first time under Jim Harbaugh and qualifying for the CFP, the energy is high around Ann Arbor. Cade McNamara looks ready to lead what could be one of the best offenses in program history, and the defense is filled with exciting young talent itching to take over those starting roles. Barring any unforeseen results, it’s a one-game season for the Wolverines.

Ohio State – 2:03:21-2:17:32

• And who else would that game be against if not the Buckeyes? Ohio State has the nation’s best pass attack on tap with QB C.J. Stroud and wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a great young running back in TreVeyon Henderson, and very high hopes for new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. An elite defense may not be built in a day, but anything less than an unbeaten season and a playoff berth for the Buckeyes may spark an insurrection in Columbus – led by our own Ryan Donnelly.