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Big Ten football standings predictions for the 2023 season

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 12: A detailed view of a Big Ten end zone pylon seen before the Illinois Fighting Illini and Michigan Wolverines game at Memorial Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 12: A detailed view of a Big Ten end zone pylon seen before the Illinois Fighting Illini and Michigan Wolverines game at Memorial Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Purdue Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters instructs players on where to position themselves during Purdue football practice, Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.
Purdue Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters instructs players on where to position themselves during Purdue football practice, Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. /

No. 4 Purdue Boilermakers (7-5 overall, 4-5 B1G)

  • Prediction

The good old Purdue Boilermakers. Half of their coaching staff consists of Illinois coaches from 2022. Purdue was able to finish the 2022 campaign 8-4 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten. I think they take a little step backward this season, though.

I have the Boilermakers going 7-5 overall and 4-5 in the Big Ten in 2023. This doesn’t seem like a bad record after losing their head coach and a quarterback who is now with the Las Vegas Raiders. I do have Purdue starting 3-0, then dropping four straight games. They will win four out of the final five games to secure the 7-5 record.

  • Reasoning

Purdue has a weak non-conference, which will help bolster the record. Fresno State lost their starting quarterback, and Virginia Tech and Syracuse are average to below-average programs right now. The middle of the schedule is daunting, as the Boilermakers play four ranked teams in a span of six games.

The Boilermakers did a great job adding talent this offseason, which is another reason I think they could be decent in 2023. Hudson Card is taking over for Aidan O’Connell at quarterback. He has put up good numbers in limited snaps with Texas.

As far as weapons go, Purdue returns their top two running backs. Devin Mockobee has talent, as he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards at 5.0 yards per carry in 2022. The thing that will hurt Purdue is the pass-catching talent on the roster. They lost Charlie Jones and Payne Durham, the top wide receiver and tight end from last season.

Purdue gave up 29.5 points per game in 2022, which ranked No. 84 in the country. They return three out of the top five players in tackles and sacks from that unit. The Boilermakers are only returning one out of the top five players with interceptions, though.

The hope for Purdue fans should be that Ryan Walters came in and was a part of building an Illinois defense that was one of the best in the nation. I think this team is going to be pretty good in a year or two, but getting to seven wins in 2023 would be an accomplishment.

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