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Illinois Football: How the Big Ten will shake out for the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 21: The Big Ten logo on a yardage marker at the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 21: The Big Ten logo on a yardage marker at the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 27: Nathan Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in action against the Boston College Eagles during the second half of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Iowa Hawkeyes won 27-20. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 27: Nathan Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in action against the Boston College Eagles during the second half of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Iowa Hawkeyes won 27-20. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

2. Iowa Hawkeyes 10-2

The Iowa Hawkeyes are always a tough team to gauge every season. They had an okay year in 2017 going 7-5 but they did take down Ohio State by 31 points. That was an impressive victory.

Some of the same crew is back from last year. Iowa returns their starting quarterback, Nate Stanley. He threw for 2,437 yards, 26 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 2017. Look for him to take another step forward. I do worry a little about the running attack and defense for Iowa, though. They lost some talent in both of these areas.

Despite the loss of talent, I do think Iowa has a pretty good season. Their non-conference should be pretty simple. They play Northern Illinois, Iowa State and Northern Iowa. These games should be victories.

The first hiccup for the Hawkeyes will come against Wisconsin. The Badgers have a great team returning and will have too much firepower for Iowa. This will be a close one for a while, but I believe Wisconsin will eventually pull away.

Iowa then hits a simple stretch of Minnesota, Indiana and Maryland. All three of these games should be wins. But, another touch matchup follows those three contests. Iowa has to take on Penn State. The Nittany Lions lost some players from last season but still should be dangerous. This is where Iowa will lose their second game of the year.

Purdue, Northwestern, Illinois and Nebraska end the season for the Hawkeyes, and I have them winning all of these games. This would bring Iowa’s record to 10-2 on the season and a contender for a good bowl game.

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