Big Ten Preview: 3 teams that look scary ahead of 2024 season ft. Oregon Ducks

The Big Ten conference is going to begin a new chapter this year. Following the recent conference alignment, four new teams have joined the conference. These include the Oregon Ducks, the Washington Huskies, the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins.

This upcoming season will be the Big Ten's first campaign with 18 teams in the conference. Let us look at the top three teams to watch out for in the new era of the conference.

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3 Big Ten teams that look scary ahead of 2024 season

#1. Oregon Ducks (head coach Dan Lanning)

The Oregon Ducks had a great campaign last season in the Pac-12. It was the team's third campaign under head coach Dan Lanning. The Ducks made quite an impact, making it to the Pac-12 championship where they lost to Washington.

The Ducks will be making their Big Ten debut this year, and they remain a threat to other teams aiming for a berth in the new 12-team playoff. After QB Bo Nix left for the NFL in this year's draft, Dillon Gabriel is expected to lead the team as QB1 on the field.

Syndication: The Register Guard | Picture credit: Imagn

Lanning also added more options in the WR room, bringing in Evan Stewart from Texas A&M, an O-line that allowed just five sacks last season. Apart from this, the team has also been working on its defense. Expect the Ducks to be a tough competitor for the Big Ten title and a playoff berth this upcoming season.

#2 Ohio State Buckeyes (head coach Ryan Day)

The Ohio State Buckeyes took the second spot in the preseason AP Poll Top 25 rankings. Head coach Ryan Day is yet to win a national title with the program. Last season, they missed out on making it to the Big Ten title game and the playoffs, drawing much criticism.

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch | Picture credit: Imagn

However, Day and the Buckeyes have revamped the roster to a great extent this offseason. They have added more firepower to their offense with the addition of Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss. They have several talented playmakers on both sides of the ball, giving QB Will Howard plenty of options on the field.

The Buckeyes are considered strong favorites to emerge as national champions this upcoming season. It now depends on how the revamped team performs in a season that could bring home its first national championship since 2014.

#3 Michigan Wolverines (head coach Sherrone Moore)

The defending champions lost a lot of key contributors during their last season's undefeated natty run. Apart from losing head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Michigan Wolverines also saw QB J.J. McCarthy and RB Blake Corum leave for the NFL in this year's draft.

Apart from this, they also lost most of their players in the O-line. However, new head coach Sherrone Moore is confident about his team still competing at the highest level despite the massive changes. He brought in several new additions to his coaching staff like Wink Martindale and Tony Alford, bolstering the overall NFL experience in the program.

NCAA Football: Big Ten Football Media Days | Picture credit: Imagn

When it comes to offense, Alex Orji and Davis Warren are considered the top two competitors for the starting QB job. The Wolverines boast a run-heavy offense on the field, so the QB just needs to focus on creating chances with steady and accurate passes.

Donovan Edwards also returns as a reliable veteran on the field for the team. The defense boasts the likes of Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham, one of the top D-line duos in the country.

Moore will aim for another Big Ten title after three-peating the conference title. But will the Wolverines be able to showcase the same success they had last year and win back-to-back national championships? Nevertheless, they are a formidable force to look out for in the Big Ten this upcoming season.