The Ohio State football program is a monster in recruitment, but that’s not always the most important thing when you look at the outlook for the next season when it comes time to turn the page. Sometimes it has more to do with what’s left in the cabinet that has a greater impact on winning shiny items and trinkets that will remain in trophy cabinets for years to come.
ESPN has been looking at recurring production for all teams in the FBS (subscription required), and since we’re more interested in what’s happening nearby, OSU has been the bully – the Big Ten – for quite some time now we’re giving you a preview of all fourteen teams in the conference.
We must remember that returning talent does not always equate to a better team or one that can compete (see Michigan), but it can often be an indicator of improvement and stability.
This is how things look with all the Big Ten football teams when it comes to returning talent according to the global leader in sports programming.
14 Northwestern Wildcats – No. 125 overall)
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The low point
Not only does Northwestern lose its veteran defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz, but it also has to replace several starters, including most on that side of the ball. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald still remains, but only BYU is losing more production in the country than the Wildcats.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 34% | 29% | 127th | 39% | 125th |
13 Ohio State Buckeyes – No. 121 overall
Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The low point
Normally you’d be concerned if a team is bringing back as little production as what Ohio State does, but the Buckeyes have shown they reload with the best of them. But if you’re the rest of the Big Ten, this could be the year you can catch OSU early before all those four- and five-star recruits start getting their sea legs, especially in terms of defense.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 50% | 55% | 99th | 44% | 119th |
12 Rutgers Scarlet Knights – No. 82 overall
Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
The low point
Rutgers took a big competitive step under Greg Schiano last season, and he has some players back to build around. The problem is, the rest of the Big Ten do too. We’ll see if the program takes the next step and starts winning at a higher clip in 2021.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 64% | 67% | 74th | 61% | 96th |
11 Michigan State Spartans – No. 64 overall
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The low point
The Spartans are still unsettled about the quarterback, but there’s a lot to work with otherwise offending. The problem comes on the defensive side of the ball, where a barrel has to be adjusted. No problem for a team that wants to turn the corner under sophomore head coach Mel Tucker.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 69% | 80% | 37th | 59% | 99th |
10 Illinois Fighting Illini – No. 62 overall
Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
The low point
Weren’t sure if it’s a good or bad thing that new head coach Bret (Bart) Bielema has a mediocre selection back. On the one hand, a full turnover in culture might be good, but on the other, it might not be bad to build with a few returning guys to work with. Quarterback Brando Peters and most of the offending production returns, so I think we’ll wait and see.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 70% | 80% | 38th | 61% | 94th |
9 Nebraska Cornhuskers – No. 60 overall
(Steven Branscombe / Getty Images)
The low point
Nebraska will need to get better for senior quarterback Adrian Martinez in a hurry, but the defense is turning almost everyone back. For an offensive-minded coach like Scott Frost, that’s probably the reverse of what he’d like, but old school Nebraska culture says it might be necessary to finally change this thing in Lincoln.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 72% | 56% | 96th | 88% | 9th |
8 Iowa Hawkeyes – No. 57 overall
Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The low point
Iowa played the best of any team not called Ohio State at the end of the 2020 campaign, and there’s enough back on both sides of the ball to expect the Hawkeyes to continue that trend in 2021. America needs farmers, and Iowa usually has a great defense to fight for a league title. That seems to be the case next season.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 72% | 69% | 70th | 76% | 48th |
7 Michigan Wolverines – No. 49 overall
Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The low point
We’re running out of jokes about where this Michigan program is, but if you’re a Wolverine fan, at least some pretty good production is coming back for returning rescuer Jim Harbaugh. The good news is that there is no rebuild on either side of the ball. The bad news is that there is no rebuild on either side of the ball.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 73% | 77% | 46th | 70% | 69th |
6 Purdue Boilermakers – No. 38 in general
Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The low point
Looks can be deceiving here. Purdue returns a lot at the offensive end, but is unsettled over the quarterback, and losing all-everything receiver Rondale Moore is a big hit. Still, there are guys who know what they’re doing, so maybe the fortune of a limping to the finish line in 2020 will turn around in 2021.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 78% | 85% | 17th | 70% | 68th |
5 Penn State Nittany Lions – # 37 overall
Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The low point
I’m almost ready to name a COVID-19 anomaly for the Nittany Lions last season, but even if not, there’s still a lot coming back in Happy Valley. Look for a big improvement with quarterback Sean Clifford this fall with lots of guns around him, and a much better defense with so many pieces coming back.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 78% | 74% | 58th | 82% | 24th |
4 Minnesota Golden Gophers – No. 25 in general
Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The low point
Again, a bit deceiving. Minnesota loses starting quarterback Tanner Morgan and one of the country’s top receivers to Rashod Bateman in offense. Those are huge shoes to fill. Look for PJ Fleck to try and lean on a defense that knows what he’s doing and should be better.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 80% | 75% | 53rd | 84% | 18th |
3 Indiana Hoosiers – No. 24 in general
Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The low point
Indiana made huge strides in 2020, playing Ohio State closer than any other team in the league. Tom Allen has this program on the rise and has plenty in the closet this fall. As quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. can come back completely healthy, the Hoosiers could be the biggest threat to dethroning the Buckeyes this fall.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 80% | 80% | 39th | 81% | 26th |
2 Wisconsin Badgers – No. 14 overall
Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
The low point
It’s been a weird year for Wisconsin, even more so than other teams in a COVID-19 world. The Badgers seemed to have enough talent, but couldn’t put it all together. Expect UW to recover in 2021 with all returning production on both sides of the ball, including five-star quarterback Graham Mertz who should have learned from an inconsistent season this year.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 83% | 84% | 24th | 82% | 22nd |
1 Maryland Terrapins – No. 10 overall
Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
The low point
If this is the year Maryland stops its inconsistent ways, this might be it. Recruitment has been good and with everything on either side of the ball, the Terrapins may be ready to take on some of the big boys in the league. Look for quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa to make a difference.
The ranking according to ESPN
| All in all | Violation | Rank | Defense | Rank |
| 85% | 86% | 14th | 85% | 17th |
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