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2021-2022 Big Ten East preview
It's hard not to mention the Big Ten conference when talking about competitive conferences in college football. The Big Ten is broken into two divisions: an East and West division. Winners of both divisions meet in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium to determine the conference championship winner.
The Big Ten East is arguably one of the toughest divisions in college football. There's an argument to be made that five out of the seven teams in the Big Ten East can go toe-to-toe with any outfit in the country.
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Ruling the Big Ten is Ohio State, which has won four straight Big Ten championships. The Buckeyes have made six appearances in the Big Ten championship game since 2011.
Seven teams round out the Big Ten East.
Big Ten East
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Maryland Terrapins
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Michigan Wolverines
- Michigan State Spartans
Ohio State may be the favorite to win the Big Ten in 2021, but it's not going to be smooth sailing for the Buckeyes. Indiana, Penn State and Michigan are the biggest threats to Ohio winning its fifth straight Big Ten championship.
The Michigan Wolverines have won the most Big Ten championships with 42 championships. That said, they haven't won a Big Ten championship since 2004 and haven't won the conference outright since 2003.
Indiana has only won the Big Ten conference championship twice in the history of its program. The last time Indiana won the Big Ten outright was the 1945 season. They won a share of the championship in 1967.
The Penn State Nittany Lions have had the most success outside of Ohio State, winning the Big Ten championship in 2016. Before Penn State, Michigan State won the Big Ten championship in 2013 and 2015.
Only three Big Ten East teams have won the championship, but the West division has only seen three teams make the championship game: Wisconsin, Iowa, and Northwestern.
Wisconsin is the only team from the West to win the championship.
With fans permitted to be in attendance this season, college football is heading back to normalcy, just like the NFL.
Penn State will bring back the "white-out" for their big night games. Michigan and Ohio State will reignite their historic rivalry. College football is back, and the Big Ten East is ready to put on a show.
Here's a look at the Big Ten East conference preview.
Indiana Hoosiers: Big Ten East preview
Indiana is coming off its best season, finishing second in the Big Ten East division in 2020. The Hoosiers ranked inside the top ten for the first time since 1969. Tom Allen has changed the look of the Indiana program and is on a mission to build a winning outfit.
Here's a look at the Indiana Hoosiers' strengths and weaknesses heading into the 2021-2022 season.
2021-2022 Big Ten East Conference preview: Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana's strengths: Indiana will head into the season with the best quarterback in the conference and the top secondary. The Hoosiers also have the third-best receiving group in the Big Ten.
Indiana's weaknesses: Indiana's talent is its big strength but, unfortunately, it ranks 14th in the Big Ten when it comes to their offensive line and 11th in the Big Ten for defensive line play. The Hoosiers' most significant weaknesses are critical pieces to success in the conference.
Indiana Hoosiers key players: Offense
QB: Michael Penix Jr. - Indiana will be led by talented QB Michael Penix Jr. The Hoosiers signal-caller is coming off a great 2020 season where he threw for 1,645 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
Penix Jr. threw for 491 passing yards and five touchdowns against the Ohio State Buckeyes last season.
WR: Ty Fryfogle - Michael Penix Jr. will have a big boost at wide receiver with Ty Fryfogle returning for the 2021 season. Fryfogle is coming off a season where he caught 37 receptions, 721 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The Hoosiers are the third-best receiving group in the Big Ten, and Ty Fryfogle has a lot to do with that ranking.
Indiana Hoosiers key players: Defense
CB: Taiwan Mullen - Football runs deep in Taiwan Mullens' bloodline. His brother and cousin both play in the NFL. Trayvon Mullen is the starting cornerback for the Las Vegas Raiders, while his cousin, Lamar Jackson, needs little introduction as a former NFL MVP.
LB: Micah McFadden - The Hoosiers welcome back one of the best off-the-ball blitzing linebackers in college football. McFadden registered 45 solo tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, six sacks and two interceptions in 2020. His six sacks led the Big Ten in 2020.
2021-2022 Indiana Hoosiers schedule
Week 1: Saturday, September 4, at Iowa Hawkeyes
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs. Idaho Vandals
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Week 5: Saturday, October 2, at Penn State Nittany Lions
Week 6: Saturday, October 16, vs. Michigan State Spartans
Week 7: Saturday, October 23, vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, at Maryland Terapins
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, at Michigan Wolverines
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, vs. Minnesota Golden Golphers
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, at Purdue Boilermakers
2021-2022 Indiana Hoosiers Prediction (8-4 overall, 6-3 Big Ten)
The Hoosiers have a great shot at making their first trip to the Big Ten championship game in 2021. Michael Penix Jr. will determine the success of the Hoosiers in 2021. Indiana will lose hard-fought battles against Iowa, Penn State, and Ohio State. They'll also lose a close game against Cincinnati.
Maryland Terapins: Big Ten East preview
Maryland played a total of five Big Ten games out of a possible nine in 2020 after the Terapins saw four games canceled. Maryland's key victory came against a struggling Penn State football team during Week 3 last season.
Maryland has a lot to look forward to heading into the 2021-2022 season. Here's a look at the Maryland Terapins' strengths and weaknesses heading into the campaign.
2021-2022 Big Ten East Conference preview: Maryland Terapins
Maryland's strengths: The success of the Maryland Terapins is their passing offense. Taulia Tagovailoa was entering his second season as the starting quarterback and showed promise last season. The former Alabama quarterback will look to take his game to the next level in 2021. Tagovailoa has the fourth-ranked receiving group in the Big Ten heading into the season.
Maryland's weaknesses: It's hard to believe that the Terapins' strength is also a weakness heading into the upcoming season. Taulia Tagovailoa looks likely to be a boom-or-bust prospect in 2021. The Terapins have the 11th-ranked running back position and the 11th-ranked offensive line in the Big Ten conference.
Maryland Terapins key players: Offense
QB: Taulia Tagovailoa - In the four games Tagovailoa played in 2020, he threw for 1,011 passing yards and seven touchdowns. Unfortunately, the seven touchdowns were trumped by Tagovailoa's seven interceptions.
WR: Dontay Demus - Maryland returns its top pass-catcher from the 2020 season. Dontay Demus caught 24 passes for 365 yards and four touchdowns last season. He has come into his own over the last two seasons, catching 65 passes for 990 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
Maryland Terapins key players: Defense
S: Nick Cross - Maryland's top defender from the 2020 season was junior safety Nick Cross, who appeared in 15 games and registered 44 solo tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions. One of the more impressive stats from Cross' career at Maryland is the eight pass breakups from his safety position.
Edge: Durel Nchami - Maryland's defensive line is a positive heading into the 2021 season. Durel Nchami is a massive piece of that line and has put together three successful seasons with the Terapins. Nchami has registered 20 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks for Maryland's defense.
2021-2022 Maryland Terapins schedule
Week 1: Saturday, September 4, vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs. Howard Bisons
Week 3: Friday, September 17, at Illinois Fighting Illini
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs. Kent State Golden Flashes
Week 5: Friday, October 1, vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, at Ohio State Buckeyes
Week 7: Saturday, October 23, at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, at Michigan State Spartans
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, vs. Michigan Wolverines
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2021-2022 Maryland Terapins Prediction (4-8 overall, 2-7 Big Ten)
Taulia Tagovailoa will have one more year before the Terapins start to see his true talent. Tagovailoa isn't his older brother, Tua, but he also doesn't have the talent around him that Tua had at Alabama. There are too many holes in the Terapins' offense and defense to compete in the Big Ten this season.
Michigan Wolverines: Big Ten East
Michigan is coming off a 2020-2021 Big Ten season that will never be forgotten. Jim Harbaugh's position as head coach was in jeopardy for some time, but he ended up receiving an extension this off-season.
With a lot riding on the 2021-2022 season, it's a boom-or-bust year for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines. Here's a quick look at the strengths and weaknesses of the 2021 Wolverines.
2021-2022 Big Ten East Conference preview: Michigan Wolverines
Michigan's strengths: Michigan enters the 2021 season with a solid group of safeties. Daxton Hill and Brad Hawkins have the potential to break out this fall. Michigan's most significant strength outside of the safeties is at running back.
Michigan's weaknesses: The Wolverines lack depth on their defensive line. Jim Harbaugh's defense ranks eighth in the Big Ten at defensive line and cornerback. Michigan's only positive is the edge rusher, Aidan Hutchinson.
Michigan Wolverines key players: Offense
QB: Cade McNamara - If there's one thing Jim Harbaugh can point towards as a success from the 2020 Big Ten season, it's quarterback Cade McNamara. The Wolverines wilofed a repeat from the four games that McNamara featured in last season in which he completed 60.6% of his passes for 425 yards and five touchdowns. The most significant stat from Cade McNamara's season was that he didn't throw a single interception.
QB: Alan Bowman - Michigan also signed former Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman. Reports are leaning towards Bowman seeing more game time, but his accuracy issues could land Cade McNamara the starting job. The Wolverines are heading into the 2021 season with both McNamara and Bowman. Jim Harbaugh could go either way with this one.
Michigan Wolverines key players: Defense
Edge: Aidan Hutchinson - Michigan's defensive front is anchored by its edge rusher, Aidan Hutchinson. Entering the 2021 season, Hutchinson is one of the top defensive talents in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hutchinson put together a successful sophomore season with the Wolverines in which he registered 35 solo tackles, ten tackles for loss and three sacks.
S: Daxton Hill - Daxton Hill has put together two successful seasons with the Michigan Wolverines and enters his junior season with 54 solo tackles, three tackles for loss and two interceptions. If Michigan wants to see success on defense, they'll need Hill and Hutchinson to have significant years in 2021.
2021-2022 Michigan Wolverines schedule
Week 1: Saturday, September 4, vs. Western Michigan Broncos
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs. Washington Huskies
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Week 5: Saturday, October 2, at Wisconsin Badgers
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Week 7: Saturday, October 23, vs. Northwestern Wildcats
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, at Michigan State Spartans
Week 9: Saturday, November 9, vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, at Penn State Nittany Lions
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, at Maryland Terapins
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
2021-2022 Michigan Wolverines Prediction (6-6 overall, 4-5 Big Ten)
The Michigan Wolverines have another down year in 2021. It will also be the final season with Jim Harbaugh as their head coach. Cade McNamara will be the only positive for the Wolverines in 2021. McNamara will give the Wolverines hope for their future, heading into the 2022-2023 season under a new head coach.
Michigan State Spartans: Big Ten East
Michigan State was one of the top teams in the Big Ten. However, the Spartans are entering a rebuild for the first time in a long time. This will be Michigan State's second season under Mel Tucker, who will look to find some success during the 2021-2022 season.
Here's a look at the Michigan State Spartans' strengths and weaknesses heading into the 2021 season.
2021-2022 Big Ten East Conference preview: Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State's strengths: Michigan State has the second-best defensive line in the Big Ten with edge rusher Drew Beesley anchoring down that line. The one area on offense that stands out is the running back position. The Spartans rank third in the Big Ten at running back.
Michigan State's weaknesses: Unfortunately, the Spartans struggle at almost every offensive position outside of running back. Their defensive secondary is ranked 12th in the Big Ten heading into the 2021 season. The Spartans may not be at the top of the Big Ten, but they have a shot at finishing in the middle.
Michigan State Spartans key players: Offense
RB: Kenneth Walker III - The Wake Forest transfer will hand a massive boost to the Spartans' run game heading into the 2021 season. Things are going to be different for Kenneth Walker III coming from the ACC to the Big Ten, though. In the two years he spent at Wake Forest, Walker III ran for 1,158 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 217 carries.
WR: Ricky White - Pro Football Focus has Ricky White as a potential breakout player for the Spartans this fall. White appeared in three games during the Big Ten season. He caught ten passes for 223 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Michigan State Spartans key players: Defense
Edge: Jacub Panasiuk - Defensively, the Michigan State Spartans are strong up front. Jacub Panasiuk adds to that strength with four successful seasons with the Spartans. Panasiuk has registered 46 solo tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks entering his final season at MSU.
DT: Jacob Slade - The interior section of the Spartans' defensive line is anchored by junior defensive tackle Jacob Slade. He may not have eye-popping numbers like the Spartans' edge rushers, but he impacts the game in his own way. Slade has 26 total tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack in two years.
2021-2022 Michigan State Spartans schedule
Week 1: Friday, September 3, at Northwestern Wildcats
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs. Youngstown State Penguins
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, at Miami Hurricanes
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Week 5: Saturday, October 2, vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Week 7: Saturday, October 16, at Indiana Hoosiers
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, vs. Michigan Wolverines
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, at Purdue Boilermakers
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, vs. Maryland Terapins
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, at Ohio State Buckeyes
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
2021-2022 Michigan State Spartans Prediction (7-5 overall, 5-4 Big Ten)
Michigan State will have success against the bottom-of-the-barrel teams in the Big Ten in 2021. They'll have a couple of tune-up games in their non-conference schedule. Unfortunately, the Spartans play in the Big Ten East and play Indiana, Ohio State, and Penn State.
Ohio State Buckeyes: Big Ten East
Ohio State is coming off its fourth straight Big Ten championship. The Buckeyes have questions at quarterback, but they have the best wide receiver group in the Big Ten. Since his appointment as head coach at Ohio State, Ryan Day has done great things and will look to continue his success.
Ohio State is entering the 2021 season as a heavy favorite to repeat as Big Ten champions. Let's look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
2021-2022 Big Ten East Conference preview: Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State's strengths: Ohio State has the best wide receiver room in the Big Ten. There's an argument to be made that the Buckeyes have the top receiver group in the country. Even with all the questions at quarterback, the Buckeyes have a ton of talent catching the football.
Ohio State's weaknesses: For the first time in a long time, the Buckeyes have multiple weaknesses heading into the season. Ohio State doesn't have a clear-cut starting quarterback with the season just two months away. Ryan Day knows the quarterback position better than most college coaches and will likely figure it out. The biggest weakness is that Ohio State tends to play to the level of its opponents.
Ohio State Buckeyes key players: Offense
QB: C.J. Stroud - The Buckeyes may not have made a decision at quarterback, but all signs point towards C.J. Stroud being the starter. Stroud is a former four-star recruit and has a lot in common with Buckeyes QBs gone by. Coming out of high school, Stroud was just behind Bryce Young and D.J. Uiagalelei in the recruiting rankings.
RB: Master Teague - The Buckeyes play their best football when they run the ball effectively. Master Teague has shown glimpses of greatness but has failed to get over the hump. Teague has since taken the backseat, but he has an opportunity to shine. The Buckeyes running back has rushed for 1,409 yards and 13 touchdowns on 256 carries over the last three seasons.
Ohio State Buckeyes key players: Defense
CB: Sevyn Banks - Ohio State will leaning on its top cornerback to lead the defense in 2021. Sevyn Banks is coming off a successful season, registering 19 solo tackles. However, Banks will need to show his ball-hawking ability in 2021 to improve his draft stock.
DT: Haskell Garrett - The Buckeyes lost their top defensive tackle in Tommy Togiai. Stepping in for Togiai is his running mate Haskell Garrett, and the Buckeyes should feel comfortable on their defensive line with him in the fray. Garrett has registered 23 solo tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception from his defensive tackle position.
2021-2022 Ohio State Buckeyes schedule
Week 1: Thursday, September 2, at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs. Oregon Ducks
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs. Akron Zips
Week 5: Saturday, October 2, at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, vs. Maryland Terapins
Week 7: Saturday, October 23, at Indiana Hoosiers
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, vs. Michigan State Spartans
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, at Michigan Wolverines
2021-2022 Ohio State Buckeyes Prediction (11-1 overall, 9-0 Big Ten)
Ohio State will lose a hard-fought battle against the Oregon Ducks at home in Week 2. The Buckeyes will win critical games against Penn State and Michigan. Ryan Day will bring another Big Ten championship to Ohio State but will fall short, losing to Alabama in the CFP semifinals.
Penn State Nittany Lions: Big Ten East
Penn State had one of the worst starts to its Big Ten season in 2020. The Nittany Lions lost five straight games to open the season. James Franklin did turn things around by winning the last four games, but there's work to be done in 2021.
Penn State has a lot of questions that need answering heading into the 2021 season. First, let's look at Penn State's strengths and weaknesses heading into 2021.
2021-2022 Big Ten East Conference preview: Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State's strengths: The Nittany Lions are entering the 2021 season with the best running back duo in the Big Ten. Noah Cain and John Lovett are going to be the focal points of Penn State's offense. The Nittany Lions don't just have the best running back combo in the Big Ten, but all of college football.
Penn State's weaknesses: Penn State enters the 2021 season with quarterback Sean Clifford maxed out at his ceiling. Clifford has underperformed since becoming the starting quarterback for the Nittany Lions. As a result, Penn State currently has the 88th-ranked quarterback rooms in the country.
Penn State Nittany Lions key players: Offense
WR: Jahan Dotson - Sean Clifford has one of the top wide receivers in the Big Ten in Jahan Dotson. Penn State's offense will run through their backs, but Dotson will play the most significant role in their passing attack. Dotson is coming off a 2020 season where he caught 52 passes for 884 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
TE: Brenton Strange - Pat Freiermuth has taken his talents to the NFL, and his replacement will be Brenton Strange. Freiermuth has left massive shoes to fill for Strange. The 6-foot-3 tight end will receive his opportunity to shine in 2021 after catching 17 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns in 2020.
Penn State Nittany Lions key players: Defense
CB: Joey Porter Jr. - Penn State will turn to Joey Porter Jr. to lead the secondary in 2021. Porter, the son of former NFL linebacker Joey Porter Sr., has football genes coursing through his body. Porter Jr. posted 24 solo tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack in 2020.
DT: Derrick Tangelo - Penn State lost a lot on its front seven with Micah Parsons taking his talents to the NFL. Derrick Tangelo comes over to Penn State through the transfer portal after spending the last four seasons at Duke. Tangelo has registered 59 solo tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks for the Blue Devils defense.
2021-2022 Penn State Nittany Lions schedule
Week 1: Saturday, September 4, at Wisconsin Badgers
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs. Ball State Cardinals
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs. Auburn Tigers
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs. Villanova Wildcats
Week 5: Saturday, October 2, vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, at Iowas Hawkeyes
Week 7: Saturday, October 23, vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, at Ohio State Buckeyes
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, at Maryland Terapins
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, vs. Michigan Wolverines
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, at Michigan State Spartans
2021-2022 Penn State Nittany Lions Prediction (6-6 overall, 4-5 Big Ten)
Penn State has one challenging non-conference game when the Auburn Tigers travel to Penn State on September 18. The Nittany Lions will struggle against the top teams in the Big Ten East. They also open their 2021 Big Ten season against the most formidable team in the Big Ten West in the Wisconsin Badgers.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Big Ten East
Rutgers finished its 2020 Big Ten season with a 3-6 record. The Scarlet Knights went toe-to-toe with the Michigan Wolverines. They also had big wins against Michigan State and Maryland.
Greg Schiano is trying to turn things around at Rutgers.
The road back to success is a long way for Schiano, but he's up for the challenge. Here's a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights heading into the 2021 season.
2021-2022 Big Ten East Conference preview: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers strengths: As the road towards the rebuild begins for the Scarlet Knights football program, they have a sneaky good cornerback room heading into the 2020 season. Defensively, the Scarlet Knights rank fifth in the Big Ten in defensive line play and secondary play.
Rutgers weaknesses: The Rutgers offense is a not a pretty picture. It ranks towards the bottom of the Big Ten in all their offensive positions. The Scarlet Knights are ranked 11th at quarterback, 13th at running back, 9th at wide receiver, and 12th at offensive line in the Big Ten.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights key player: Offense
WR: Aron Cruickshank - After spending two years with the Big Ten West's Wisconsin Badgers, Cruickshank came over to Rutgers through the transfer portal. His first season with the Scarlet Knights was a success. Cruickshank caught 25 passes for 671 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
QB: Noah Vedral - Rutgers is the third and final stop for senior quarterback Noah Vedral. After spending a year at UCF, Vedral transferred to Nebraska before joining the Scarlet Knights in 2020. Vedral's 2020 season was average, throwing for 1,253 yards, nine touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights key players: Defense
CB: Patrice Rene - Rutgers is putting a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of former North Carolina corner Patrice Rene. Before his torn ACL, Patrice Rene was one of the top corners in the ACC. Rutgers will hope he repeats his 2018 performance where he registered 25 solo tackles and two interceptions.
CB: Tre Avery - Senior Tre Avery leads the Rutgers corner. His 2020 season was remarkable, and the Scarlet Knights are hoping 2021 will be even better. Avery registered 21 solo tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one interception last season.
2021-2022 Rutgers Scarlet Knights schedule
Week 1: Thursday, September 2, vs. Temple Owls
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, at Syracuse Orange
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs. Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, at Michigan Wolverines
Week 5: Saturday, October 2, vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, vs. Michigan State Spartans
Week 7: Saturday, October 16, at Northwestern Wildcats
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, at Illinois Fighting Illini
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, at Indiana Hoosiers
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, at Penn State Nittany Lions
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, vs. Maryland Terapins
2021-2022 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Predictions (3-9 overall, 1-8 Big Ten)
Greg Schiano knew the job at Rutgers wasn't going to be an easy task, but the Scarlet Knights will take a step back in 2021. The two non-conference wins that Rutgers will accomplish will be against Syracuse and Delaware. Rutgers will steal a victory against Illinois on October 30th to fight off a winless Big Ten season.
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