The 2022 Big Ten conference football season was the 127th season of college football play for the Big Ten Conference and part of the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This was the Big Ten's ninth season with 14 teams. This was the Big Ten's final season broadcasting on ABC Sports properties.
Coaching changes There were no head coaching changes amongst Big Ten programs before the 2022 season. On September 11, Nebraska fired head coach Scott Frost three games into the season and named Mickey Joseph the interim for the remainder of the season.
On October 2, Wisconsin fired head coach Paul Chryst, five games into the Badgers' season and named defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard as interim head coach.
Nebraska named Matt Rhule the 31st head coach in program history on November 26, 2022, one day after finishing their 2022 season.
On November 27, 2022, one day after finishing their respective season, Wisconsin announced the hiring of Luke Fickell to become the Badgers' 31st coach in program history.Fickell ushers in new era of Badger football
On December 8, 2022, Jeff Brohm announced he was leaving Purdue to return to his alma mater, Louisville.Brohm named 24th head coach at the University of Louisville On December 13, the Boilermakers announced the hiring of Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters as their next head coach.
Preseason
Recruiting classes + Rankings Team ESPN Rivals Scout & 24/7 Signees Illinois 54 38 46 26 Indiana 24 15 21 22 Iowa 47 28 30 18 Maryland 39 35 31 21 Michigan 8 9 9 22 Michigan State 16 22 23 23 Minnesota 45 49 49 18 Nebraska 61 38 41 18 Northwestern 46 54 47 16 Ohio State 4 4 4 21 Penn State 6 6 6 25 Purdue 38 32 37 20 Rutgers 27 43 33 19 Wisconsin 42 46 45 15
Big Ten Media Days
Preseason Media Poll
The annual Cleveland.com Preseason Big Ten Media Poll.
East 1 Ohio State 252 (36) 2 Michigan 203 3 Penn State 169 4 Michigan State 162 5 Maryland 104 6 Rutgers 60 7 Indiana 58 West 1 Wisconsin 246 (31) 2 Iowa 198 (3) 3 Minnesota 162 (2) 4 Purdue 153 5 Nebraska 123 6 Illinois 65 7 Northwestern 61 Media poll (Big Ten Championship) 1 Ohio State over Wisconsin 31 2 Ohio State over Iowa 3 3 Ohio State over Minnesota 2
Preseason Player of the Year Below are the results of the annual Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year awards conducted by Cleveland.com.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year 1 C. J. Stroud QB Ohio State 101 (32) 2 Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio State 42 (2) 3 Braelon Allen RB Wisconsin 37 4 Blake Corum RB Michigan 8 5 Aidan O'Connell QB Purdue 7 6 TreVeyon Henderson RB Ohio State 5 7 Taulia Tagovailoa QB Maryland 4 (1) 8 Mohamed Ibrahim RB Minnesota 3 9T Rakim Jarrett WR Maryland 1 9T Payton Thorne QB Michigan State 1 9T Jayden Reed WR Michigan State 1 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year 1 Jack Campbell LB Iowa 74 (20) 2 Nick Herbig LB Wisconsin 55 (10) 3 Zach Harrison DE Ohio State 26 (4) 4 Riley Moss CB Iowa 20 (1) 5 Joey Porter Jr. CB Penn State 8 6 Ji'Ayir Brown S Penn State 7 7T Denzel Burke CB Ohio State 3 7T Tiawan Mullen CB Indiana 3 7T Garrett Nelson LB Nebraska 3 7T JT Tuimoloau DE Ohio State 3 11T Junior Colson LB Michigan 2 11T Ronnie Hickman S Ohio State 2 11T P. J. Mustipher DT Penn State 2 14T Xavier Henderson S Michigan State 1 14T Adam Korsak P Rutgers 1
Preseason awards All−American Teams
AP1st TeamAP2nd TeamAS 1st TeamAS2nd TeamWCFF1st TeamWCFF2nd Team ESPNCBS1st TeamCBS2nd TeamCFN1st TeamCFN2nd TeamPFF1st TeamPFF2nd Team SN1st Team SN2nd TeamAdam Korsak, P, RutgersBlake Corum, RB, MichiganBraelon Allen, RB, WisconsinCharlie Jones, WR/PR, PurdueC. J. Stroud, QB, Ohio StateDawand Jones, OT, Ohio StateJack Campbell, LB, Iowa Jacob Slade, DL, Michigan StateJake Moody, K, Michigan Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio StateJayden Reed, WR/PR, Michigan StateJohn Michael Schmitz, OL, Minnesota Noah Ruggles, K, Ohio StateNick Herbig, LB, Wisconsin Olusegun Oluwatimi, OL, MichiganParis Johnson Jr., OL, Ohio State Peter Skoronski, OL, NorthwesternRiley Moss, CB, IowaRyan Hayes, OT, MichiganTory Taylor, P, IowaTreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio StateZach Harrison, DL, Ohio State
Individual awards
Lott TrophyJack CampbellIowaLBJr. Riley MossDBSr.Xavier Henderson Michigan StateSLuke Reimer NebraskaLBJr.Ronnie HickmanOhio StateSZach HarrisonDESr.Joey Porter Jr.Penn StateCBJr.Nick Herbig WisconsinLBDodd TrophyKirk FerentzIowaHC—Jim HarbaughMichigan Mel TuckerMichigan StateRyan DayOhio StateMaxwell AwardChase Brown IllinoisRBJr.Blake CorumMichiganPayton ThorneMichigan State QBJayden ReedWRSr.Mohamed IbrahimMinnesotaRBEvan HullNorthwesternRBC. J. Stroud Ohio StateQBSo.Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWRJr.TreVeyon HendersonRB So.Sean CliffordPenn StateQBSr.Aidan O'Connell Purdue Braelon Allen WisconsinRBSo.Davey O'Brien AwardTaulia TagovailoaMarylandQB Jr.Payton ThorneMichigan StateC. J. Stroud Ohio StateSo. Sean CliffordPenn StateSr.Aidan O'ConnellPurdueDoak Walker Award Chase Brown IllinoisRBJr. Shaun ShiversIndianaSr.Blake CorumMichiganJr.Jarek BroussardMichigan StateSr.Mohamed IbrahimMinnesotaTreVeyon Henderson Ohio StateSo.Evan HullNorthwesternJr.Keyvone LeePenn StateSo.Braelon Allen Wisconsin Chez Mellusi Sr.Biletnikoff AwardRakim JarrettMarylandWRJr. Jayden ReedMichigan StateSr.Jaxon Smith-NjigbaOhio StateJr.Mitchell Tinsley Penn StateSr.Parker WashingtonJr.
John Mackey AwardLuke Ford IllinoisTESr.Erick AllMichiganLuke Schoonmaker GraduateBrevyn Spann-FordMinnesotaSr.Brenton StrangePenn State Jr.Theo JohnsonSo.Payne Durham Purdue Sr.Rimington Trophy Olusegun OluwatimiMichiganOL GraduateJohn Michael SchmitzMinnesotaSr.Luke WyplerOhio StateJr.Juice ScruggsPenn State Sr.Gus Hartwig Purdue So.Joe Tippmann WisconsinJr.Butkus AwardJack CampbellIowaLB Sr.Jestin Jacobs Jr.Seth BensonSr.Calvin Hart Jr. IllinoisJr.Luke Reimer NebraskaMariano Sori-MarinMinnesota GraduateJim Thorpe AwardRiley MossIowaDBSr.Xavier Henderson Michigan StateDenzel BurkeOhio StateSo.Ronnie HickmanSr.Bronko Nagurski Trophy Jack CampbellIowaLBJr.Riley Moss DBSr.Xavier Henderson Michigan StateSOchaun MathisNebraskaLB Jr.Ronnie HickmanOhio StateSJr.Zach HarrisonDESr.Joey Porter Jr.Penn StateCBJr.P. J. MustipherDTSr.Keeanu BentonWisconsinNick HerbigLBJr.Outland TrophyAlex Palczewski IllinoisOLSr.Olusegun OluwatimiMichigan GraduateZak Zinter Jr.John Michael SchmitzMinnesotaSr.Peter SkoronskiNorthwesternJr.Dawand JonesOhio StateSr.Paris Johnson Jr.Jr.Joe Tippmann Wisconsin
Lou Groza AwardChad RylandMarylandPKSr.Ray Guy AwardTory TaylorIowaPJr.Brad RobbinsMichigan GraduateBryce BaringerMichigan StateBrian BuschiniNebraskaSo.Adam Korsak RutgersSr. Andy Vujnovich WisconsinPaul Hornung Award D.J. Matthews Jr.IndianaWR GraduateTarheeb StillMarylandDBJr.Blake CorumMichiganRBJayden Reed Michigan State WRSr.Trey PalmerNebraskaJr.Jonathan SutherlandPenn StateLB Sr.Charlie Jones Purdue WR Graduate Aron Cruickshank Rutgers Sr.Wuerffel TrophyTailon Leitzsey IllinoisDBSr. Jack TuttleIndianaQBAnthony PecorellaMarylandPBlake CorumMichiganRBJr.Tre MosleyMichigan StateWRSr.Tanner MorganMinnesotaQBEthan PiperNebraskaOLJr.Kam BabbOhio StateWRSean CliffordPenn StateQBSr.Aidan O'Connell Purdue Mayan Ahanotu RutgersDLWalter Camp AwardBlake CorumMichiganRBJr.Payton ThorneMichigan State QBC. J. Stroud Ohio StateSo.Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWRJr.TreVeyon Henderson RB So.Sean CliffordPenn StateQBSr.Aidan O'Connell Purdue Braelon Allen WisconsinRBSo.Bednarik AwardMazi SmithMichigan DTSr.Xavier Henderson Michigan StateSRonnie HickmanOhio StateDEJr.Zach HarrisonSSr.Ji'Ayir Brown Penn StateJoey Porter Jr.CBJr.Nick Herbig WisconsinLBRotary Lombardi AwardJack CampbellIowaLBSr.Sam LaPortaTEJohn Michael Schmitz MinnesotaC Jacob Slade Michigan State DT Sr.Peter Skoronski NorthwesternOTJr.Dawand Jones Ohio StateSr.Paris Johnson Jr.Jr.Zach HarrisonDESr.P. J. MustipherPenn StateDTNick HerbigWisconsinLBJr.Patrick Mannelly Award Sean Wracher IndianaLSSr. Bradley RobinsonOhio State Graduate Chris StollPenn State SeniorEarl Campbell Tyler Rose AwardCasey WashingtonIllinoisWRJr.Dylan Wright MinnesotaJaxon Smith-NjigbaOhio State Parker WashingtonPenn State King DoeruePurdueRBSr.Polynesian College Football Player Of The Year AwardSio Nofoagatoto'aIndianaDL Ami FinauMarylandMosiah Nasili-Kite Sr.Taulia TagovailoaQB Jr.Chuck FiliagaMinnesotaOL GraduateNoa Pola-Gates NebraskaDBSo.JT TuimoloauOhio StateDESione FinauPurdueOLSr.Semisi FakasiieikiLB GraduateManning AwardTaulia TagovailoaMarylandQB Jr.Payton ThorneMichigan State Jr.C. J. StroudOhio StateSo.Sean CliffordPenn State Sr.Aidan O'ConnellPurdueJohnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardTommy DeVito IllinoisQBSr.Connor BazelakIndiana Jr.Spencer PetrasIowa Sr.Taulia TagovailoaMaryland Jr.Cade McNamaraMichigan GraduatePayton ThorneMichigan State Jr.Tanner MorganMinnesotaSr.Casey ThompsonNebraskaJr.Ryan HilinskiNorthwesternC. J. Stroud Ohio StateSo. Sean CliffordPenn StateSr.Aidan O'ConnellPurdueGraham MertzWisconsin Jr. Ted Hendricks Award
Rankings
Pre Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Final Illinois AP RV 24 18 17 14 21 RV RV RV RV RVC RV RV 20 18 13 20 RV RV RV RV CFP Not released 16 21 Indiana AP C CFP Not released Iowa AP RV RV RVC RV RV RV RV RV CFP Not released Maryland AP RV RV RV RV RV RVC RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV CFP Not released Michigan AP 8 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 (5) 2 (1) 3C 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 (1) 4 (1) 4 3 (2) 3 (1) 3 (1) 2 (3) 2 (2) 3 CFP Not released 5 3 3 3 2 2 Michigan State AP 15 14 11 RV C 14 11 9 21 RV CFP Not released Minnesota AP RV RV RV RV 21 RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RVC RV RV RV RV 23 RV RV RV RV RV RV RV CFP Not released Nebraska AP RV C CFP Not released Northwestern AP C RV CFP Not released Ohio State AP 2 (6) 3 (2) 3 (1) 3 (1) 3 (4) 3 (10) 2 (20) 2 (17) 2 (18) 2 (15) 2 2 (1) 2 (1) 5 4 4C 2 (5) 3 (2) 3 (1) 3 (1) 3 (4) 3 (7) 3 (10) 2 (17) 2 (17) 2т (13) 2 2 (1) 2 (1) 5 3 4 CFP Not released 2 2 2 2 5 4 Penn State AP RV RV 22 14 11 10 10 16 13 16 14 11 11 8 9 7C RV RV 23 15 12 10 10 16 13 16 15 12 10 7 7 7 CFP Not released 15 14 11 11 8 11 Purdue AP RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RVC RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV CFP Not released Rutgers AP C CFP Not released Wisconsin AP 18 19 RV RV C 20 18 RV RV CFP Not released
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week No change in ranking from previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol
Schedule Index to colors and formattingBig Ten member wonBig Ten member lostBig Ten teams in bold All times Eastern time.
† denotes Homecoming game
Regular season schedule
Week 0
Week 1
Date Bye WeekSeptember 3 Northwestern
Week 2
Week 3
Date Bye WeekSeptember 17 Illinois
Week 4
Date Bye WeekSeptember 24 Nebraska
Week 5
Week 6
Date Bye WeekOctober 8 Minnesota No. 10 Penn State
Week 7
Date Bye WeekOctober 15 Iowa Northwestern No. 2 Ohio State Rutgers
Week 8
Date Bye WeekOctober 22 #18 Illinois #4 Michigan Michigan State Nebraska
Week 9
Date Bye WeekOctober 29 Indiana Maryland Purdue Wisconsin
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Big Ten Championship Game
Postseason Bowl games
For the 2020–2025 bowl cycle, The Big Ten will have annually eight appearances in the following bowls: Rose Bowl (unless they are selected for playoffs filled by a Pac-12 team if champion is in the playoffs), Citrus Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl, Music City Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Quick Lane Bowl, and Outback Bowl. The Big Ten teams will go to a New Year's Six bowl if a team finishes higher than the champions of Power Five conferences in the final College Football Playoff rankings. The Big Ten champion is also eligible for the College Football Playoff if it's among the top four teams in the final CFP ranking.
Legend Big Ten win Big Ten loss