Big Ten East Division Preview
Aug. 27—BIG TEN EAST DIVISION
Indiana
Last year: 2-10, 0-9 Big Ten, seventh in the East
Coach: Tom Allen (26-32 all at Indiana)
Returning starters: 12 (3 offense, 7 defense, kicker, punter)
Players to watch: QB Jack Tuttle, QB Connor Bazelak, CB Tiawan Mullen, CB Jaylin Williams, LB Cam Jones, DT Charlton Elliott.
The big questions: Can the Hoosiers bounce back from a nightmare season in 2021 that came after IU's best season since the 1960s in 2020? Who will start at quarterback after flashy but fragile Michael Penix transferred to Washington? Penix played in only five games last season before a shoulder injury ended his season and never played more than six games in a season in four years at Indiana. Will his replacement be last year's backup, Jack Tuttle, or Missouri transfer Connor Bazelak or someone else? Is coach Tom Allen on the hot seat if the Hoosiers don't show some improvement on both sides of the ball from last season when IU was last in the Big Ten in total offense and last in the Big Ten in takeaways?
Maryland
Last year: 7-6, 3-6 Big Ten, fifth in the East
Coach: Mike Locksley (15-49 overall, 13-23 at Maryland)
Returning starters: 14 (7 offense, 6 defense, punter)
Players to watch: QB Taulia Tagovailoa, WR Dontay Demus, WR Rakim Jarrett, DT Mosiah Nasili-Kite, LB Ruben Hyppolite, CB Jakorian Bennett.
The big questions: Is Maryland ready to compete with the big boys in the East Division? The Terrapins are 1-22 in their last 23 games against Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State and gave up 66 points, 40 points, 31 points and 59 points to those teams last season. Do the Terrapins have a receivers group that could be among the best in the Big Ten if everyone stays healthy? Rakim Jarrett caught 62 passes last season. Dontay Demus caught 28 passes before a knee injury ended his season. Jacob Copeland, who led Florida with 41 catches, has transferred to Maryland, and Shaleak Knotts is a 4-star freshman. Is Taulia Tagovailoa, who threw for 3,860 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, an elite quarterback with an NFL future, like his brother Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins?
Michigan
Last year: 12-2, 8-1 Big Ten, first in the East, Big Ten champion
Coach: Jim Harbaugh (90-45 overall, 61-24 at Michigan)
Returning starters: 14 (7 offense, 5 defense, kicker, punter)
Players to watch: QB Cade McNamara, QB J.J. McCarthy, RB Blake Corum, RB Donovan Edwards, WR Ronnie Bell, WR Cornelius Johnson, TE Erick All; DT Mazi Smith, LB Junior Colson, CB D.J. Turner
The big questions: Will there be a positive carryover from beating Ohio State for the first time in 10 years, winning the Big Ten championship and playing in the College Football Playoff for the Wolverines? Who will be the starting quarterback — last season's starter, Cade McNamara, or J.J. McCarthy, who backed up McNamara last season as a freshman? Where will the pass rush come from with last year's leaders in that category, Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, in the NFL? Twenty-eight of Michigan's 34 sacks last season came from players not on this year's roster. Are Michigan's receivers, including two pretty good tight ends, sometimes overlooked?
Michigan State
Last year: 11-2, 7-2 Big Ten, third in the East
Coach: Mel Tucker (18-14 overall, 13-7 at Michigan State)
Returning starters: 12 (5 offense, 6 defense, punter)
Players to watch: QB Payton Thorne, RB Jarek Broussard, RB Jalen Berger, WR Jayden Reed, WR Tre Mosley, DB Xavier Henderson, CB Ronald Williams, LB Aaron Brule.
The big questions: Did anybody work the transfer portal better than Michigan State last year? Who will replace running back Kenneth Walker, who was the gem of the transfers when he ran for 1,636 yards and was an NFL second-round draft choice? Will Michigan State be able to fix a defensive backfield, which allowed 324.8 yards a game, the worst in major college football, last season? Will quarterback Payton Thorne have back-to-back seasons of passing for 3,000 yards? Can wide receiver Jayden Reed have back-to-back seasons of 1,000 yards receiving?
Ohio State
Last year: 11-2, 8-1, tie for first in the East
Coach: Ryan Day (34-4 all at Ohio State)
Returning starters: 14 (6 offense, 6 defense, kicker, punter)
Players to watch: QB C.J. Stroud, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR Marvin Harrison Jr., WR Emeka Egbuka, WR Julian Fleming, OT Paris Johnson Jr., DE J.T. Tuimoloau, DE Zach Harrison, DE Jack Sawyer, DB Denzel Burke
The big questions: Can the Buckeyes avenge the loss to Michigan, win the Big Ten championship, return to the College Football Playoff and win the national championship? Will OSU put up ridiculous and maybe record-breaking offensive numbers if everyone stays healthy? Will C.J. Stroud win the Heisman Trophy? Can new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and two other new defensive coaches fix OSU's defense? Which of Ohio State's young receivers will emerge to fill the hole left by Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson going to the NFL? Is there enough depth on the offensive line?
Penn State
Last year: 7-6, 4-5 Big Ten, fourth in the East
Coach: James Franklin (91-49 overall, 67-34 at Penn State)
Returning starters: 12 (7 offense, 5 defense)
Players to watch: QB Sean Clifford, RB Keyvone Lee, WR Parker Washington, WR Michael Tinsley, DT P.J. Mustipher, LB Curstis Jacobs, CB Joey Porter Jr., DB Ji"Ayir Brown
The big questions: Has Penn State slipped a little in the last two years when it has had an 11-11 record? With six years in the program and in his fourth year as the starter, is quarterback Sean Clifford the most experienced quarterback in Penn State history? Is the offensive line a work in progress, which seems to be a recurring theme year after year at Penn State? The Nittany Lions struggled to run the ball last season and allowed their quarterbacks to be sacked a Big Ten-worst 34 times.
Rutgers
Last year: 5-8, 2-7 Big Ten, sixth in the East
Coach: Greg Schiano (76-81 overall and at Rutgers)
Returning starters: 11 (5 offense, 5 defense, punter)
Players to watch: QB Gavin Wimsatt, QB Noah Vedral, RB Kyle Monangai, WR Aron Cruickshank, WR Taj Harris, WR Chris Long, DT Ifeanyi Maijeh, CB Max Melton
The big questions: Could Rutgers have a winning record for the first time since 2014? Will redshirt freshman quarterback Gavin Wimsatt beat out two-year starter Noah Vedral for the starting quarterback job? Will transfers like Taj Harris from Syracuse and Sean Ryan from West Virginia upgrade Rutgers' receiving corps?
