Michigan State was the best of an impressive group of contenders in the Big Ten last season, but Ohio State’s presence, Michigan’s ascension and Iowa’s arrival means it will be even tougher for the Spartans to repeat as conference champions in 2016. All four teams have the talent to contend in the Big Ten this season (although many people are expecting Iowa to take a step back this season) and each will continue to work towards the ultimate goal of winning a conference championship as preparations for the year continue over the next couple of months. Here is a look at the top summer goal for each of the top four projected Big Ten teams.
Michigan: Solidify The Linebacker Position
The Wolverines’ defense is absolutely loaded both up front and in the secondary and if they can solidify their linebacker core they will have a legitimate claim as the best unit in the entire country. Jabrill Peppers, Rashan Gary and Ben Gedeon are expected to wreak havoc on opposing defenses but Michigan will need its linebackers to step up with Mike McCray a big part of the equation. McCray had just two tackles in 2014 and missed 2015 with an injury but he had a team-best seven tackles in the spring game and the coaches raved about his potential. The key could be staying healthy long enough to make an impact and the Wolverines need two more players to step up and fill the voids around him. Michigan has all of the tools to be a legitimate contender in the Big Ten this season but first they need to solidify the linebacker position.
Ohio State: Development At Skill Positions
No team was hit harder than the Buckeyes this offseason as they lost an incredible amount of talent including nine underclassmen declaring for the NFL Draft. Michael Thomas, Braxton Miller and Jalin Marshall were the biggest losses at the wide receiver position and that will be a major area of focus for Ohio State as they look to develop some capable replacements at the position. Noah Brown, Curtis Samuel, Corey Smith and Dontre Wilson will factor in to the equation along with young receivers Torrance Gibson, K.J Hill and Paris Campbell. The Buckeyes don’t have much experience at the position but they do have a considerable amount of talent and they need to spend the remainder of the offseason focused on development at the skill positions and in particularly at wide receiver.
Michigan State: Wide Receiver Help
Connor Cook will be missed at the quarterback position but in order to help bridge the gap the Spartans need somebody to step up at wide receiver. Aaron Burbridge and Macgarrett Kings Jr. accounted for more than 50 percent of the pass-catching production a year ago but both are gone, and R.J. Shelton is the only returning player with significant experience. That means four-star prospects Donnie Corley and Cam Chambers will be called on to step up with the potential for both of those young players to have a significant impact. Neither is expected to be able to hold down a No. 1 role in their freshman season but it would really help bridge the gap if they can both find a way to contribute as regulars in the Michigan State offense.
Iowa: Allow C.J. Beathard As Much Time As Possible To Recover
The Hawkeyes turned a lot of heads last season when they posted an 8-0 record in conference play and won the Big Ten West division. Now they will look to defend their division title and perhaps even provide a stiffer challenge for whichever team emerges from the East in the Big Ten championship game. The key will be the health of quarterback C.J. Beathard, who underwent groin surgery in January but is expected to be ready for the start of the season. The Hawkeyes can’t afford to rush Beathard back before he is ready and have him get injured again so patience will be the most important thing for Iowa when it comes to their star quarterback this summer.
