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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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December 31, 2022; Glendale, Ariz; USA; Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy (9) throws a pass during the pregame before the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium.Ncaa Fiesta Bowl Game
December 31, 2022; Glendale, Ariz; USA; Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy (9) throws a pass during the pregame before the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium.Ncaa Fiesta Bowl Game /

No. 1 Michigan Wolverines (12-0 overall, 9-0 B1G)

  • Prediction

And the top spot in the Big Ten East will go to the Michigan Wolverines. Despite their head coach getting suspended for three games, the Wolverines will win the East once again.

I have Michigan, again, running the table. They should go 12-0 overall and 9-0 in the Big Ten. I honestly don’t see a possibility for a hiccup until the last few weeks of the season.

  • Reasoning

I think you first have to start off with the Michigan schedule. The Wolverines only play two ranked opponents this season, and I think they will have the biggest trouble against No. 3 Ohio State. The Buckeyes come to Ann Arbor, though.

Michigan also returns quarterback JJ McCarthy. He continues to improve every season, and I think he is a legit Heisman Trophy candidate in 2023. Most of the production from the offensive side of the ball returns as well.

Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards might be the best one-two punch at running back in the country. Michigan also returns five out of the top seven players in receiving yards from the team last season.

A Wolverines defense that gave up 16.1 points per game, which ranked No. 6 in the nation, returns a ton of talent as well. They are getting back the top five players in tackles, five out of the top seven players in sacks, and the top four players in interceptions from 2022’s squad.

This is the best Michigan football team I have seen in the last 20 years, and I would argue they might be one of the best in program history.

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