Anticipation builds ahead of the Big Ten Media Days later this July in Indianapolis as the expanded conference welcomes its new West Coast members. The All-Big Ten preseason team will soon be released with players from top contenders Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon expected to litter the roster of superstars.
Transfer portal additions played a huge part in the bolstering of rosters throughout the Big Ten, along with elite signing classes with some true freshmen expected to make an immediate impact. The conference is a bit top-heavy with the national championship contenders garnering much of the attention as kickoff for the 2024 season approaches. Still, the other members of the new 18-team league should see a fair representation on both the preseason and postseason All-Big Ten lists.
While the SEC might be the most-talented conference overall, the Big Ten is not far behind as it welcomes Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington to the mix.
RELATED: Ohio State, Michigan boast top Big Ten 2024 player of the year award candidates
Below the projected players to lead the league’s all-conference teams in 2024.
First Team
Dillon Gabriel, Sr., Oregon
Second Team
Will Howard, Sr., Ohio State
The Big Ten is full of new quarterbacks in 2024. Two veterans take over at Ohio State and Oregon, which could lead the FBS in scoring offense this season. Dillon Gabriel enters his sixth year of college football and first as the Ducks’ starter. He has four seasons with at least 3,000 yards passing, totaling 125 touchdown passes with another 26 scores on the ground. He is without question the most-proven passer in the Big Ten and should thrive in the Oregon offense. Meanwhile, there is a lot of pressure on Will Howard to provide a much-needed spark to the Buckeyes’ offense. The dual-threat quarterback earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors during his final season at Kansas State despite throwing for less than 2,200 yards.
First Team
Quinshon Judkins, Jr., Ohio State
Kyle Monangai, Sr., Rutgers
Second Team
Donovan Edwards, Sr., Michigan
TreVeyon Henderson, Sr., Ohio State
Ohio State may have one of the best backfields in college football this season, but do not forget who led the Big Ten in rushing yards a year ago — Kyle Monangai from Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights’ star is back aiming to build on his breakout 2023 campaign in which he rushed for 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are a scary duo for the Buckeyes as they shift toward a more power run offense. Will Donovan Edwards establish himself as one of the top running backs in the country now that he is the feature back at Michigan?
First Team
Emeka Egbuka, Sr., Ohio State
Tez Johnson, Sr., Oregon
Second Team
Tai Felton, Sr., Maryland
Evan Stewart, Jr., Oregon
Much of the attention on the Ohio State receiver room this offseason has been on five-star freshman Jeremiah Smith, but former No. 1 ranked wideout Emeka Egbuka is primed for a big year now that he is WR1 in Columbus. Oregon went to the transfer portal to replace its leading receiver from last season, adding former Texas A&M standout Evan Stewart to pair alongside Tez Johnson. Maryland needs to figure out its quarterback situation, but Tai Felton is back as one of the top returning Big Ten wideouts after hauling in 723 yards last year.
First Team
Colston Loveland, Jr., Michigan
Second Team
Luke Lachey, Sr., Iowa
Colston Loveland is arguably the best tight end in the nation. The Michigan standout projects to be a key figure in the Wolverines offense as the top returning pass-catcher from the reigning national champions. Luke Lachey has a chance to push for All-America status if he can remain healthy. The Iowa tight end missed nearly all of last season due to injury, but has 662 yards on 46 career receptions with four total touchdowns.
First Team
Ajani Cornelius, Sr., Oregon
Aireontae Ersery, Sr., Minnesota
Donovan Jackson, Sr., Ohio State
Logan Jones, Sr., Iowa
Josh Priebe, Sr., Michigan
Second Team
Connor Colby, Sr., Iowa
Josh Conerly Jr., Jr., Oregon
J.C. Davis, Sr., Illinois
Jonah Monheim, Sr., USC
Sal Wormley, Sr., Penn State
The Big Ten is known for having some of the best offensive lines in college football and that is no different in 2024. Conference newcomer Oregon features a veteran group anchored by Josh Conerly Jr. and Ajani Cornelius. And so is Ohio State as it looks to continue its improvements into this season. Aireontae Ersery started each of the past 26 games for Minnesota at left tackle and could be a 2025 NFL Draft pick next spring. Michigan has a revamped offensive line, but returns starting left guard Josh Priebe.
First Team
Abdul Carter, Jr., Penn State
Mason Graham, Jr., Michigan
J.T. Tuimoloau, Sr., Ohio State
Tyleik Williams, Sr., Ohio State
Second Team
Jordan Burch, Sr., Oregon
Kenneth Grant, Jr., Michigan
Nash Hutmacher, Jr., Nebraska
Jack Sawyer, Sr., Ohio State
The new-look Big Ten is loaded with fierce defensive linemen — both off the edge and in the interior. Ohio State should have the best overall defensive line in the country with a stacked group of returning veterans. Michigan should not see much of a drop off with big men Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant back in the middle. Abdul Carter moved down from linebacker to edge rusher for Penn State — a decision that was mutual between he and the coaches.
First Team
Jeffrey Bassa, Jr., Oregon
Jay Higgins, Sr., Iowa
Nick Jackson, Sr., Iowa
Xander Mueller, Sr., Northwestern
Second Team
Cal Haladay, Sr., Michigan State
Ruben Hyppolite, Sr., Maryland
Cody Lindenberg, Sr., Minnesota
Mohamed Toure, Sr., Rutgers
The leading tackler in the FBS last season is back as Jay Higgins returns for a fifth season as part of an impressive Iowa duo alongside Nick Jackson. Xander Mueller should see even more opportunities to wrack up tackles after making 110 stops last season. The Northwestern veteran is one of only 35 players in the FBS to reach that mark a year ago. Jeffrey Bassa was a leader for one of the most improved defenses in the nation at Oregon and has a physical style that should translate well to the Big Ten.
First Team
Denzel Burke, Sr., Ohio State
Caleb Downs, So., Ohio State
Will Johnson, Jr., Michigan
Dillon Thieneman, So., Purdue
Second Team
Sebastian Castro, Sr., Iowa
Ricardo Hallman, Jr., Wisconsin
Jabbar Muhammad, Sr., Oregon
Hunter Wohler, Sr., Wisconsin
This Big Ten position group might be the hardest to predict in 2024 because of the depth across the board. Ohio State made a massive upgrade to its secondary by landing SEC Freshman of the Year Caleb Downs as a transfer from Alabama. Dillon Thieneman had a breakout 2023 campaign for Purdue, earning 247Sports True Freshman of the Year honors with six interceptions. Will Johnson must take over an increased leadership role for Michigan with Rod Moore out indefinitely with an injury suffered this spring. Each of the defensive backs on the second-team predictions — and plenty more not listed — possess the capabilities to earn first-team honors.
All-Purpose: Zachariah Branch, So., USC
Place Kicker: Dragon Kesich, Sr., Minnesota
Punter: Ryan Eckley, So., Michigan State
Zachariah Branch is among the most electrifying players in college football, earning several All-American honors as a return specialist last season at USC. He averaged 18.4 yards per kickoff return, taking one back for a touchdown, while also averaging 30.8 yards per punt return with another score. The reigning All-Big Ten First Team kicker is back in 2024. Dragon Kesich hit 3 of 4 from 50-plus yards for Minnesota last season. Ryan Eckley earned All-Big Ten second team with an average of 46.83 yards per punt — eighth best nationally.
The race for Big Ten Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year should be relatively open in 2024 with a mix of impact transfers and established veterans in the expanded conference. Dillon Gabriel likely has the best chance given the numbers he could put up in the Oregon offense, but Ohio State has plenty of candidates that could emerge as the top star of the Buckeyes. Defensively, Mason Graham might have the greatest impact for a Michigan defense looking to prove it is still superior with new coordinator Wink Martindale taking over. Iowa is not changing its identity as a defensive power in the Big Ten and boasts several players worthy of recognition as the best in the conference by season’s end.
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