With nine of the top-30 ranked defenses in the country in 2015, the Big Ten hung its hat on limiting opposing offenses last season. Five of those units ranked inside the top-15 defenses in all of college football.
Wisconsin was the Big Ten’s highest-ranked defense in 2015 as the Badgers were No. 2 nationally allowing just 268.5 yards per game. Michigan (No. 4, 280.7 ypg.), Ohio State (No. 9, 311.3 ypg.), Northwestern (No. 13, 318.9 ypg.), Penn State (No. 14, 324.5 ypg.), Iowa (No. 22, 341.0 ypg.), Minnesota (No. 24, 345.9 ypg.), Michigan State (No. 26, 349.9 ypg.) and Illinois (No. 30, 350.8 ypg.) were also all inside the top-30 nationally in total defense.
Some of those units lost quite a bit of talent from their 2015 defenses, but plenty also restocked talent with highly-rated recruiting classes and the Big Ten figures to be a strong defensive league yet again in 2016.
The Buckeyes certainly fall into that category of restocking talent as they lost eight starters from a 2015 group that included three first-round NFL Draft picks in defensive end Joey Bosa, cornerback Eli Apple and linebacker Darron Lee. Ohio State also lost the likes of defensive tackle Adolphus Washington, linebacker Joshua Perry and safeties Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell.
There will be a lot of new faces for Ohio State in 2016; this much is known. But how do the Buckeyes stack up defensively against the rest of the Big Ten East? Let’s examine by ranking the defenses in Ohio State’s division:
7. Indiana
The Hoosiers seem to have the offensive thing figured out, but Indiana’s defense was woeful in 2015, ranking 121st nationally out of 128 teams, allowing 509.5 yards per game. The Hoosiers were also 117th in the country in scoring defense, allowing 37.6 points per game.
In theory, those numbers should improve a bit as Indiana brings back 84 percent of its defensive production, according to Bill Connelly of SB Nation. But again, the Hoosiers were so bad defensively a year ago, even if there’s an improvement it still may not make things much better.
The Hoosiers also lost their best defensive player in Darius Latham so they have a massive hole to fill up front. But Indiana’s leading tackler, linebacker Marcus Oliver, is back as is sophomore defensive back Jonathan Crawford, who recorded a team-high four interceptions as a freshman in 2015.
6. Maryland
The Terps had a brutal season in Randy Edsall’s final year as head coach, finishing just 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the Big Ten. And it probably shouldn’t come as a huge surprise Maryland was poor defensively, too, as it ranked 91st in the country allowing 421.2 yards per game. The Terps allowed 34.4 points per game, as well, which ranked 103rd nationally.
But even though Maryland returns just 46 percent of its defensive production in 2016, there’s reason to believe there could be some defensive improvement from the Terps as they hired former Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin as head coach.
Maryland brings back its leading tackler in linebacker Jermaine Carter and it also has one of the most explosive defensive playmakers in the Big Ten in defensive back William Likely, but the Terps lack a ton of experience outside of that.
5. Rutgers
Like Maryland, Rutgers made a coaching change in the offseason and hired a former defensive coordinator to lead its team by poaching Chris Ash away from Ohio State. Like Durkin, Ash is expected to significantly improve his team’s defense given his background, but the Scarlet Knights — like the Terrapins — have their hands full.
Rutgers ranked 112th in the country last season in total defense allowing 462 yards per game and was also 104th nationally in scoring defense surrendering 34.9 points per game. The good news for the Scarlet Knights is they bring back 90 percent of their defensive production so there isn’t a ton of turnover.
4. Penn State
The Nittany Lions had the nation’s 14th-ranked defense in 2015, but key losses along the defensive line give Penn State quite a few holes to fill. The Nittany Lions return 63 percent of their defensive production, but defensive linemen Carl Nassib, Anthony Zettel and Austin Johnson are all gone and Penn State’s front four is going to look awfully different in 2016.
Bob Shoop, the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator a year ago, also moved on to take the same position at Tennessee. Brent Pry was promoted to be Shoop’s replacement.
Penn State tends to have one of the Big Ten’s best defenses every season so 2016 probably won’t be much different despite the losses to a dominant defensive front.
3. Ohio State
The Buckeyes are, without question, one of the hardest teams to peg in 2016 not only in the Big Ten but in all of college football. It’s well-documented Ohio State has a wealth of talent on its roster, but it is largely unproven at the collegiate level.
Greg Schiano takes over for Ash as the Buckeyes’ co-defensive coordinator and hopes to continue the rapid improvement Ohio State’s defense had under Ash. In 2015 the Buckeyes ranked second nationally in scoring defense (15.1 ppg.) and ninth in total defense (311.3 ypg.).
But Ohio State brings back just 36 percent of its defensive production after losing eight starters. Middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan returns as does cornerback Gareon Conley and defensive end Tyquan Lewis, but the Buckeyes will need additional production from the newcomers. Breakout seasons from the likes of defensive end Sam Hubbard and safety Malik Hooker are expected.
2. Michigan State
The Spartans’ defense wasn’t what it had been in previous seasons under Mark Dantonio last year, but with 64 percent of its production returning Michigan State could improve once again to become one of the Big Ten’s best. The Spartans were 26th nationally a year ago in total defense (349.9 ypg.) and were 24th in scoring defense (21.7 ppg.), but those numbers ranked just eighth and sixth, respectively, in the Big Ten.
Defensive end Shilique Calhoun is no longer wreaking havoc up front, but Michigan State does return Malik McDowell along the defensive line and linebacker Riley Bullough will be one of the Big Ten’s best at the position.
1. Michigan
The Wolverines lost Durkin, but their replacement could make an already very good unit even better in 2016. Don Brown is Michigan’s new defensive coordinator and his aggressive style could pay off big time.
With 73 percent of its defensive production returning, the Wolverines have a strong core led by Jabril Peppers, Jourdan Lewis and Willie Henry, plus it’s widely expected true freshman Rashan Gary makes an immediate impact. Michigan does have some holes on defense, specifically at linebacker, but the Wolverines should be the top-ranked group in the conference heading into the 2016 season after returning the majority of what was a really strong defense last season.
