Big Ten football will look a lot different in 2024, and not just because it welcomes four new West Coast programs. Jim Harbaugh’s departure from Michigan to the NFL to coach the Los Angeles Chargers means the three-time reigning conference champions — and, you know, the reigning national champions as well — will have a new leader next season. While offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore was promoted to replace Harbaugh, the former Wolverines coach will be taking members of the Michigan staff with him to Los Angeles. So, not only will Michigan’s roster look significantly different (primarily on offense), but it will also deal with plenty of turnover on its coaching staff.
Now there’s even more pressure on Ohio State to end its Big Ten title drought next season. The Buckeyes were already feeling that heat before the Harbaugh left. With everything the Ohio State has returning next season, it’s already seen as the clear-cut favorite to win the conference.
But, is this an Ohio State or The Field situation in 2024? What better way to figure it out than by looking at The Field and breaking it down by tiers.
Will be playing Big Ten football
Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers
Do not jump down my throat because your school is listed here. While you may look at your team and think, “you know, if these thousand different things all go our way, we’ve got a shot,” nobody else is looking at these teams as legit threats to win the Big Ten in 2024. Of the seven schools in this tier, only Purdue, Northwestern and Indiana appear on Ohio State’s 2024 schedule. Ironically enough, they’re all in consecutive weeks between a road trip to Penn State and the regular-season finale against Michigan. So, it’s possible one of them could…
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