With Indiana’s national championship run starting with strong Big Ten play, what schools could make their way to Indianapolis? With one main factor potentially emerging. Which teams potentially make it to Lucas Oil Stadium?
UCLA
New head coach Bob Chesney is known for adapting and pushing forward. However, in Westwood, he will have the luxury of walking into a situation with an experienced quarterback. Nico Iamaleava returns to the Bruins. Chesney wants to run the spread, and Iamaleava has the experience and athleticism to make it happen.
Plus, with an appearance under his belt as the starting quarterback at Tennessee, the Bruins could sneak up on teams. Michigan and USC games for the last week of the regular season seem daunting, but if the Bruins can win one of those while staying undefeated the rest of the year, the Bruins will shock the league. Florida transfer Aidan Mizell brings a speed element to the team that they’ve lacked in recent years.
Ohio State
Outside of an early trip to Austin to play Texas on September 12, the Buckeyes will enjoy a large plate of home cooking. Playing Ohio State and Michigan in Columbus should energize a team that lacked answers in the second round of the College Football Playoff. Julian Sayin led the nation with a 77% completion percentage.
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The possible fly in the metaphorical ointment exists with a trip to Bloomington on October 17. Other than that, given that the team returns 80% of its starting offensive line, the Buckeyes will keep moving.
Minnesota
The Gophers enjoy a bye on October 17. The last two weeks in October see them play Iowa and Indiana. A split of those two games could result in a ten-win season and a shot at the conference title. Three of the team’s last four games will be played within 4 hours of Huntington Bank Stadium. As a result, the Gopher faithful will travel well.
Plus, the out-of-region game is at Penn State. Cold, late-season games do not bother Minnesota. As a result, a springboard to the Big Ten championship doesn’t appear far-fetched.
Indiana
For as long as Curt Cignetti demonstrates the will to win and Mark Cuban flashes the will to spend, IU should be a contender. To repeat as national champions, the Hoosiers do not need to go undefeated. However, they will need to survive the middle of October, where they face Ohio State and Indiana in consecutive games.
Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza left to pursue his NFL dream. Former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover steps in. If they can rely more on their defense, a return trip to Circle City is well within reach.
Iowa
As in-state nemesis Iowa State rebuilds, Kirk Ferentz’s defense remains the Hawkeyes’ saving grace. Remember, the unit held eventual national champion Indiana to 18 points. If the UI can put any substantive points on the board, this season could become one for the history books.
Most importantly, seven home games and one game outside of the Midwest set Iowa up for a strong season. If the Hawkeyes can build upon the No. 33 slot on the PFSN CFB Offense Impact Rankings, they could make a mad dash at the end of the season.
Oregon
In all honesty, the Ducks, by the schedule, have the easiest path. While games like Illinois and Washington could trip them up, their focus should be on Ohio State. The Ducks return Dante Moore as he looks to rebound from a brutal loss to Indiana. Boise State, Oklahoma State, and Portland State will allow the Ducks to jump-start their season.
If a late-season trip to Columbus is the only thing stopping the Ducks from Indianapolis, you can book their flights now. Can they get over the hump and keep recent history intact?
