B1G Takeover Pod

This week on the Big 10 Takeover is a season preview of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. When you look at the 2021 season for Nebraska, it was a season truly defined by potential. Despite finishing 3-9 overall, and with a 1-8 conference record, they outscored their opponents by 63 points on the season and had a net-zero point differential in conference play. Some questioned whether Scott Frost had one more chance to get it right, but it seems even after a 3-9 record, the team, athletic department, and school is still bought in, especially after a restructured contract that could keep him in Lincoln until 2026. Can Nebraska finally turn the corner in 2022?

This episode of The Big 10 Takeover Pod is brought to you in partnership with Prize Picks. Use the link https://bit.ly/TSNxPrizePicks or go to Prize Picks and enter promo code TAKEOVER to receive a 100% deposit match on all deposits up to $100. Daily Fantasy made easy. Pick against the numbers and have a ton of fun on Prize Picks.

2021 Season Review

Nebraska was such an interesting team in 2021.

They finished the season with a 3-9 overall record, and a 1-8 record in conference play. 

The saying of “Nebrsaka might have been the most talented 3 win team in CFB history” might be true, and some might think of that as insulting, but I think it shows Nebraska’s potential. 

They outscored their opponents by 63 points, and had a point differential of zero in conference play. What does this mean? They were so close to flipping their record around, and it was all due to one-score games. 

Illinois 30 Nebraska 23
Oklahoma 23 Nebraska 16
MSU 23 Nebraska 20
Michigan 32 Nebraska 29
Minnesota 30 Nebraska 23
Purdue 28 Nebraska 23
OSU 26 Nebraska 17
Wisconsin 35 Nebraska 28
Iowa 28 Nebraska 21

The constant theme of their season last year was not being able to finish games out. My second & third year at Miami in 2017 / 2018  we had a similar issue, finishing 5-7 and 6-6 both years, but once we figured that out in 2019, we closed out those close games in conference play time and time again, and won a conference championship and made it to a bowl game. Typically when teams have this issue, it’s not a talent problem, it’s not a buy into the culture problem, it’s just something that needs to shift mentally in the athlete’s heads to close those games out. 

Head coach Scott Frost and Nebraska agree to a restructured contract that adds 2 years to his deal, which signals some level of trust with his vision, but it also does give some better avenues for him and the university. The AD even said that when both parties have skin in the game, they’re both incentivized to succeed. So while the university has a better out to fire him if needed, Frost has some outs as well. ​​The cost for Nebraska to fire Frost is the same amount of money Frost would owe Nebraska if he decided to return.

2022 Preview

Departures
QB Adrian Martinez
OL Cam Jurgens
CB Cam Taylor Britt
WR Samouri Toure
TE Austin Allen

Key Returners
DE Caleb Tannor
OL Turner Corcoran
WR Zavier Bets (6’2 200) 286 yards 
WR Omar Manning (6’4 225) 380 yards 2 TDs
RB Rahmir Johnson 500 yards 4 TDs 

New Additions
QB Casey Thompson, Texas
DL Devin Drew, Texas Tech

Schedule

Northwestern → W
North Dakota → W
Georgia Southern → W
Oklahoma → W
Indiana → W
@ Rutgers → W
@ Purdue → L
Illinois → W
Minnesota → L
@ Michigan → L
Wisconsin → L
@ Iowa → L

Overall → 7-5 
nebraska football sechedule 2022 
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2022 big ten football predictions

This week on the Big 10 Takeover is a season preview of the Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans entered the season without wildly high expectations, but whatever they were, Mel Tucker and company certainly eclipsed them. The Spartans finished the season ranked in the top 10, which included wins against Penn State, Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl, and a thrilling win against their rival, Michigan. After the departures of multiple starters on the offensive line, star running back Kenneth Walker III, and stud wide receiver Jalen Nailor, can Michigan State replicate their success in 2022? #Big10 #MichiganState 

This episode of The Big 10 Takeover Pod is brought to you in partnership with Prize Picks. Use the link https://bit.ly/TSNxPrizePicks or go to Prize Picks and enter promo code TAKEOVER to receive a 100% deposit match on all deposits up to $100. Daily Fantasy made easy. Pick against the numbers and have a ton of fun on Prize Picks.

Michigan State started the season off unranked entering Mel Tucker’s 2nd year 

The Spartans ripped off hot, starting the season 6-0, which included wins against then top 25 Miami Hurricanes, and wins over Northwestern, Nebraska, and Rutgers

They entered Ann Arbor ranked in the top 10, and after a dramatic, come from behind win against the Michigan Wolverines, they debuted at #3 in the initial CFP rankings 

The very next week, they fell against Purdue, which hampered their playoff hopes slightly after they dropped from #3 to #7

They took care of business against Maryland, which set the stage for a massive game in Columbus versus Ohio State, where they were absolutely blasted 56-7 by the Buckeyes

The closed the regular season out with a win against Penn State, and ultimately defeated Pitt in the Peach Bowl (albeit without Kenny Pickett)

They finished the season ranked in the top 10, their highest since 2015, and the Spartans agreed to a 10 year, $95 million contract extension with Mel Tucker

The NFL draft has come and gone, and this week on the Big 10 Takeover Podcast, I sat down with draft EXPERT Josh Taylor, host of the Draft Takeover Podcast, to talk about the top Big 10 players selected in this year's NFL Draft. From Chris Olave going to New Orleans, David Ojabo getting stashed away by the Ravens, or David Bell off to Cleveland, we'll break down all the Big 10 players taken in round one, as well as some of our favorite mid to late-round selections. 

This episode of The Big 10 Takeover Pod is brought to you in partnership with Prize Picks. Use the link https://bit.ly/TSNxPrizePicks or go to Prize Picks and enter promo code TAKEOVER to receive a 100% deposit match on all deposits up to $100. Daily Fantasy made easy. Pick against the numbers and have a ton of fun on Prize Picks. #NFLDraft #Big10

Show Notes

Aidan Hutchinson → Lions
Seemed pretty certain he would land here if he didn't go #1 overall. Love the fit as a whole. Hometown kid comes in to be an anchor point on a team that needs an infusion of talent, and he fits the mold of Dan Campbell's culture

Chris Olave → Saints
This move just feels savvy. Chris Olave on one side and Michael Thomas on the other? Sign me up. Even if Jameis throws a million interceptions again, he's going to equal that in TDs with those two on offense. Whenever the Saints do get a true franchise QB, Olave will be a staple for him.

Garrett Wilson → Jets
I hope this works out for Garrett Wilson, but I'm not completely sold on Zach Wilson yet. Maybe it's just the old Jets paranoia, but I hope this isn't where his career goes to die.

Jahan Dotson → Washington
I think this is a great fit for Dotson. Not at all expected to be the #1 receiving option, and will have openings because of Terry McLaurin catching the attention of the defense. And if Curtis Samuel is healthy? Those 3 make for a scary trio.

Tyler Linderbaum → Ravens
Fantastic pick by the Ravens. I'm still confused by the Hollywood Brown trade, but a strategy of dominating the draft and bolstering your team in about every position other than WR can at least try and mask that loss. 

George Karlaftis → Chiefs
In a division with Justin Herbert, Russell Wilson, and Derek Carr, the Chiefs needed to add another player who can rush the passer. Having Chris Jones, Frank Clark, and now Karlaftis can go a long way against the other divisional QBs. 

Daxton Hill → Bengals
I;m quite surprised the Bengals didn't try to trade up a couple spots and swing for Tyler Linderbaum considering the drop off in talent past the first round for OL. Nonetheless, bolstering the defense can have a similar effect of taking pressure off of Joe Burrow, and for a division who just added Deshaun Waston and Kenny Pickett, a high caliber safety will be helpful. 

Other Interesting Selections

David Ojabo → Ravens
Talk about stealing away talent. A top 20 pick had he not torn his achilles on Pro Day, the Ravens got a future stud.

David Bell → Browns
I love this pick (hate that it had to be for the Browns). The Browns needed to add weapons alongside Amari Cooper, and David Bell has the potential for a nice NFL career. 

Hassan Haskins → Titans
I think this was a steal. Talk about a nightmare pairing with him and Derrick Henry in the backfield. 

Jailen Nailor → Vikings
I think Nailor could be one of the steals of the draft. I think being in a system with a limited QB and an offense that relied on Kenneth Walker may have suppressed some of his skillset. 

Of all of these picks, who has the best chance to be a future All Pro? Rookie of the year?

During the offseason, Big 10 Takeover is going to explore each Big 10 team's 2021 performance, as well as what to expect of those teams in 2022, and the Big 10 conference as a whole. 

#wisconsin #big10 #collegefootball

This week is focused on the Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin had some high hopes coming into 2021 after serious potential was shown by QB Graham Mertz in 2022. After losing in week one to Penn State, and getting blasted by Notre Dame and Michigan in consecutive weeks, Wisconsin was 1-3, and the season was looking dark. 

But, in Wisconsin fashion, they slowly but surely rose back. They won seven games in a row, spearheaded by freshman running back Braelon Allen, who finished the season with over 1,200 yards rushing, and 12 touchdowns. They finished the season at 9-4 overall with a bowl win against Arizona State. Now the question is - what can the Badgers do to take the next step, and earn their first-ever CFP playoff berth?

Wisconsin added several key pieces in their secondary via the transfer portal, but need to replace linebackers Leo Chenal and Jack Sanborn, but their defense stays mainly intact. On offense, Allen returns, along with running back Chez Mellusi, who will be rehabbing a season-ending injury he suffered in November. Will Graham Mertz step up and elevate the Wisconsin offense and team to a Big 10 crown, or will Wisconsin have another single digit in the win column for 2022?

Big 10 Takeover reviews the 2021 season of the Michigan Wolverines, and previews their upcoming season.

#goblue #michiganfootball #harbaugh

During the offseason, Big 10 takeover is going to explore each Big 10 team’s 2021 performance, as well as what to expect of the teams in 2022, and the conference as a whole.

This week is focused on the Michigan Wolverines. After many pundits picked them to have a mediocre year, and have a potential departure of Jim Harbaugh as a result, the Wolverines proved everyone wrong. They started off unranked, but slowly moved their way up into the elites of the 2021 season, finishing 12-2 with a dominant win over their rival, a rout of Iowa to crown them conference champions, and the school’s first College Football Playoff berth, the Wolverines made themselves heard.

Former OC Josh Gattis led their offense with college football’s best offensive line, leading the way for a nightmare running back duo in Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum. 

Former DC Mike Macdonald led a Michigan defensive that produced a Heisman trophy finalist in DE Aidan Hutchinson, and two more likely 2022 NFL draft first round picks in David Ojabo and Daxton Hill.

Despite the success, rumbles of an NFL departure for Harbaugh, parting shots by Gattis, and a questionable DC hire in Jesse Minter plagued the offseason talk for Michigan. Can their favorable 2022 schedule get them back to the playoffs?

Host Donovan White gives a brief introduction to the show on the Takeover Sports Network that covers all of the latest news, notes, and analysis from the Big Ten, the B1G Takeover Pod.