2015-16 College Football Preview: BIG 10 (West Division)

The 2015-16 College Football Preview continues with a look at the BIG 10's West Division.....

The Ultimate Sports Blog's

2015-16 College Football Preview

BIG 10

West Division

1. Wisconsin Badgers

2014 Record: 11-3 (7-1)


Head Coach: Paul Chryst (0-0 all-time at Wisconsin, 19-20 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 118 (148.7 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 4 (320.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 29 (34.6 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 17 (20.8 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Joel Stave (1,350 passing yards, 53.4% completions, 9 TD's, 10 INT's)

Rushing - Melvin Gordon (343 carries, 2,587 rushing yards, 29 TD's)

Receiving - Alex Erickson (55 receptions, 772 receiving yards, 3 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Joel Stave (QB), Corey Clement (RB), Derek Watt (RB), Alex Erickson (WR), Austin Traylor (TE), Dan Voltz (C), Tyler Marz (OT), Chikwe Obasih (DT), Vince Biegel (LB), Joe Schobert (LB), Darius Hillary (CB), Sojourn Shelton (CB), Michael Caputo (SS), Rafael Gaglianone (K), Drew Meyer (P)


Top Incoming Players: Alex Hornibrook (QB), Jordan Stevenson (RB), Bradrick Shaw (RB), Andrew James (WR), Kyle Penniston (TE), David Edwards (TE), Kevin Estes (OL), Jon Dietzen (OL), David Moorman (OL), Olive Sagapolu (DL), Kraig Howe (DL), Arrington Farrar (LB), Nick Thomas (LB), Zack Baun (LB), Titus Booker (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Alabama
vs. Miami (OH)
vs. Troy
vs. Hawaii
vs. Iowa
vs. @ Nebraska
vs. Purdue
vs. @ Illinois
vs. Rutgers
vs. @ Maryland
BYE WEEK
vs. Northwestern
vs. @ Minnesota
BYE WEEK


BIG 10 Title Game: vs. Ohio State (L)

Early Prediction: 10-3 (7-1)

2. Iowa Hawkeyes

2014 Record: 7-6 (4-4)


Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz (115-85 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 56 (237.0 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 63 (163.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 71 (28.2 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 51 (25.6 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Jake Rudock (2,436 passing yards, 61.7% completions, 16 TD's, 5 INT's)

Rushing - Mark Weisman (213 carries, 812 rushing yards, 16 TD's)

Receiving - Tevaun Smith (43 receptions, 596 receiving yards, 3 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Tevaun Smith (WR), Jake Duzey (TE), Austin Blythe (C), Jordan Walsh (RG), Sean Welsh (LG), Drew Ott (DE), Nate Meier (DE), Bo Bower (LB), Josey Jewell (LB), Desmond King (CB), Greg Mabin (CB), Jordan Lomax (FS), Marshall Koehn (K), Connor Kornbrath (P)


Top Incoming Players: Ryan Boyle (QB), Drew Cook (QB), Nate Vejvoda (TE), James Daniels (OL), Landan Paulsen (OL), Levi Paulsen (OL), Jake Newborg (OL), Brady Reiff (DL), Angelo Garbutt (LB), Jack Hockaday (CB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Illinois State
vs. @ Iowa State
vs. Pittsburgh
vs. North Texas
vs. @ Wisconsin
vs. Illinois
vs. @ Northwestern
BYE WEEK
vs. Maryland
vs. @ Indiana
vs. Minnesota
vs. Purdue
vs. @ Nebraska
BYE WEEK

Early Prediction: 9-3 (5-3)

3. Nebraska Cornhuskers

2014 Record: 9-4 (5-3)


Head Coach: Mike Riley (0-0 all-time at Nebraska, 93-80 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 82 (212.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 19 (240.2 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 13 (37.8 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 60 (26.4 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Tommy Armstrong Jr. (2,695 passing yards, 53.3% completions, 22 TD's, 12 INT's)

Rushing - Ameer Abdullah (264 carries, 1,611 rushing yards, 19 TD's)

Receiving - Kenny Bell (47 receptions, 788 receiving yards, 6 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Tommy Armstrong Jr. (QB), De'Mornay Pierson-El (WR), Jordan Westerkamp (WR), Cethan Carter (TE), Zach Sterup (RT), Alex Lewis (LT), Maleik Collins (DT), Vincent Valentine (DT), Greg McMullen (DE), David Santos (LB), Daniel Davie (DB), Nathan Gerry (FS), Drew Brown (K), Sam Foltz (P)


Top Incoming Players: Dedrick Young (RB), Devine Ozigbo (RB), Stanley Morgan (WR), Lavan Alston (WR), Matt Snyder (TE), Jalin Barnett (OL), Christian Gaylord (OL), Michael Decker (OL), Carlos Davis (DL), Khalil Davis (DL), DaiShon Neal (DL), Adrienne Talan (LB), Mohamed Barry (LB), Eric Lee (DB), Avery Anderson (DB), Aaron Williams (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. BYU
vs. South Alabama
vs. @ Miami (FL)
vs. Southern Mississippi
vs. @ Illinois
vs. Wisconsin
vs. @ Minnesota
vs. Northwestern
vs. @ Purdue
vs. Michigan State
vs. @ Rutgers
BYE WEEK
vs. Iowa
BYE WEEK

Early Prediction: 8-4 (5-3)

4. Northwestern Wildcats

2014 Record: 5-7 (3-5)


Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (60-53 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 78 (216.5 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 103 (136.6 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 101 (23.0 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 48 (25.2 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Trevor Siemian (2,214 passing yards, 58.2% completions, 7 TD's, 11 INT's)

Rushing - Justin Jackson (245 carries, 1,187 rushing yards, 10 TD's)

Receiving - Kyle Prater (51 receptions, 535 receiving yards, 2 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Justin Jackson (RB), Cameron Dickerson (WR), Dan Vitale (WR), Matt Frazier (RG), Eric Olson (RT), Geoff Mogus (LT), Deonte Gibson (DE), Dean Lowery (DE), Greg Kuhar (DT), C.J. Robbins (DT), Anthony Walker (LB), Nick VanHoose (CB), Matthew Harris (CB), Traveon Henry (FS), Jack Mitchell (K)


Top Incoming Players: Lloyd Yates (QB), John Moten (RB), Flynn Nagel (WR), Cameron Green (WR), Jared Thomas (OL), Jordan Thompson (DL), Joe Gaziano (DL), Trent Goens (DL), Tommy Vitale (LB), Nathan Fox (LB), Simba Short (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Stanford
vs. Eastern Illinois
vs. @ Duke
vs. Ball State
vs. Minnesota
vs. @ Michigan
vs. Iowa
vs. @ Nebraska
BYE WEEK
vs. Penn State
vs. Purdue
vs. @ Wisconsin
vs. Illinois
BYE WEEK

Early Prediction: 8-4 (5-3)

5. Minnesota Golden Gophers

2014 Record: 8-5 (5-3)


Head Coach: Jerry Kill (25-26 all-time at Minnesota, 48-42 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 121 (141.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 30 (215.5 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 69 (28.4 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 34 (24.2 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Mitch Leidner (1,798 passing yards, 51.5% completions, 11 TD's, 8 INT's)

Rushing - David Cobb (314 carries, 1,626 rushing yards, 13 TD's)

Receiving - Maxx Williams (36 receptions, 569 receiving yards, 8 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Mitch Leidner (QB), K.J. Maye (WR), Josh Campion (RG), Jonah Pirsig (RT), Ben Lauer (LT), Theiren Cockran (DE), Steven Richardson (DT), De'Vondre Campbell (LB), Jack Lynn (LB), Eric Murray (CB), Briean Boddy-Calhoun (CB), Damarius Travis (S), Ryan Santoso (K), Peter Mortell (P)


Top Incoming Players: Demry Croft (QB), Jonathan Femi-Cole (RB), Shannon Brooks (RB), Bryce Witham (TE), Quinn Oseland (OL), Tyler Moore (OL), Jaylen Waters (LB), Charles Rogers (DB), Dior Johnson (DB), Ray Buford (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. TCU
vs. @ Colorado State
vs. Kent State
vs. Ohio
vs. @ Northwestern
vs. @ Purdue
vs. Nebraska
BYE WEEK
vs. Michigan
vs. @ Ohio State
vs. @ Iowa
vs. Illinois
vs. Wisconsin
BYE WEEK

Early Prediction: 6-6 (3-5)

6. Purdue Boilermakers

2014 Record: 3-9 (1-7)


Head Coach: Darrell Hazell (4-20 all-time at Purdue, 20-30 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 103 (187.4 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 73 (157.2 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 98 (23.8 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 99 (31.7 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Austin Appleby (1,449 passing yards, 52.9% completions, 10 TD's, 11 INT's)

Rushing - Akeem Hunt (173 carries, 949 rushing yards, 6 TD's)

Receiving - Danny Anthrop (38 receptions, 616 receiving yards, 4 TD's)


Top Returning Players: David Blough (QB), DeAngelo Yancey (WR), Danny Anthrop (WR), Robert Kugler (C), Martesse Patterson (RG), Jason King (LG), Jordan Roos (RT), David Hedelin (LT), Ryan Watson (DL), Jake Replogle (DT), Danny Ezechukwu (LB), Ja'Whaun Bentley (LB), Jimmy Herman (LB), Anthony Brown (CB), Frankie Williams (CB), Paul Griggs (K), Thomas Meadows (P)


Top Incoming Players: Elijah Sindelar (QB), Markell Jones (RB), Richard Worship (RB), Evyn Cooper (RB), Anthony Mahoungou (WR), Brycen Hopkins (TE), Jess Trussell (TE), Matt McCann (OL), Larry Wells (OL), Wyatt Cook (LB), Markus Bailey (LB), Sawyer Dawson (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. @ Marshall
vs. Indiana State
vs. Virginia Tech
vs. Bowling Green
vs. @ Michigan State
vs. Minnesota
vs. @ Wisconsin
BYE WEEK
vs. Nebraska
vs. Illinois
vs. @ Northwestern
vs. @ Iowa
vs. Indiana
BYE WEEK

Early Prediction: 4-8 (2-6)

7. Illinois Fighting Illini

2014 Record: 6-7 (3-5)


Head Coach: Tim Beckman (12-25 all-time at Illinois, 33-41 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 49 (249.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 114 (117.5 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 87 (25.9 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 109 (34.0 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Wes Lunt (1,763 passing yards, 63.5% completions, 14 TD's, 3 INT's)

Rushing - Josh Ferguson (146 carries, 735 rushing yards, 8 TD's)

Receiving - Mike Dudek (76 receptions, 1,038 receiving yards, 6 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Wes Lunt (QB), Josh Ferguson (RB), Malik Turner (WR), Geronimo Allison (WR), Mike Dudek (WR), Joe Spencer (C), Ted Karras (RG), Christian DiLauro (RT), Jihad Ward (DE), Rob Bain (DT), Mason Monheim (LB), T.J. Neal (LB), V'Angelo Bentley (CB), Eaton Spence (CB), Taylor Barton (SS), Taylor Zalewski (K)


Top Incoming Players: Jimmy Fitzgerald (QB), Ke'Shawn Vaughn (RB), Henry Enyenihi (RB), Dre Brown (RB), Sam Mays (WR), Desmond Cain (WR), Andrew Davis (TE), Gabe Megginson (OL), Connor Brennan (OL), Zach Heath (OL), Jamal Milan (DL), Justice Williams (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Kent State
vs. Western Illinois
vs. @ North Carolina
vs. Middle Tennessee
vs. Nebraska
vs. @ Iowa
BYE WEEK
vs. Wisconsin
vs. @ Penn State
vs. @ Purdue
vs. Ohio State
vs. @ Minnesota
vs. Northwestern
BYE WEEK

Early Prediction: 3-9 (0-8)

BIG 10 West Division's Potential NFL Talent:

(These are guys playing in the conference this year who are already on NFL team's radars)

Wes Lunt - QB (Illinois)

Corey Clement - RB (Wisconsin)

Derek Watt - RB (Wisconsin)

Dan Vitale - RB (Northwestern)

Jake Duzey - TE (Iowa)

Dan Voltz - C (Wisconsin)

Austin Blythe - C (Iowa)

Robert Kugler - C (Purdue)

Ted Karras - OG (Illinois)

Tyler Marz - OT (Wisconsin)

Alex Lewis - OT (Nebraska)

Drew Ott - DE (Iowa)

Jihard Ward - DE (Illinois)

Theiren Cockran - DE (Minnesota)

Maliek Collins - DT (Nebraska)

Vincent Valentine - DT (Nebraska)

Vince Biegel - LB (Wisconsin)

Mason Monheim - LB (Illinois)

Eric Murray - CB (Minnesota)

Briean Boddy-Calhoun - CB (Minnesota)

Nick VanHoose - CB (Northwestern)

Frankie Williams - CB (Purdue)

Jordan Lomax - FS (Iowa)

Michael Caputo - SS (Wisconsin)

Taylor Barton - SS (Illinois)

Peter Mortell - P (Minnesota)