CFB: Big Ten East Teams Most Season-Defining Games in 2021

Let me be clear, this article is regarding teams featured in the Big Ten East, and it goes over each team’s biggest game. The focus is not on the game that is considered a trap game or a game that a team could potentially get upset. It is about what game will set the tone for the season and these particular games could make or break the 2021 season for particular programs. A big win or devastating loss defines leads to either having a successful year or it can create a snowball effect to where the program struggles.

Indiana - Week 3 Cincinnati

The Hoosiers are among the most talked-about teams in the conference, and people believe that they can potentially upset the Buckeyes with the pieces they are returning. With that being said, the game that will set the tone for the Hoosiers is in week three when they face Cincinnati. Both Cincinnati and Indiana had phenomenal 2020 seasons and they will want to continue that trend but this game stands as an obstacle. For the Hoosiers, they will deal with a tough task against the bearcats. Desmond Ridder is the real deal at quarterback and after a tough loss against Georgia in the Peach Bowl they will want revenge this year. The game is at home for the Hoosiers and if they win they can go into conference play with confidence but a loss could make the rest of the year seem like an uphill battle. 

Maryland - Week 5 Iowa

The Terrapins are coming off a 2020 season that was riddled with COVID-19. They finished with a record of 2-3 and are looking for more consistency in 2021. They will have Taulia Tagovailoa back and healthy along with skilled returners between Rakim Jarrett and Dontay Demus Jr. The Terps have a tough opener against West Virginia and I can see that game going either way. After that, they play Howard, Illinois, and Kent State meaning that they should open the seasons at 3-1 or 4-0 depending on the West Virginia game. In week 5, the season-defining game comes around when they play Iowa. The game is on a Friday night meaning it will be under the eyes of the nation and it is a home game for Maryland. Iowa is a legit team, they possibly will be the winners of the Big Ten West but they should be on upset watch here. If the Terps start 4-1 or 5-0 with a win against Iowa to open conference play we will know the legitimacy of their team. 

Michigan - Week 5 @Wisconsin

The Wolverines have plenty of games in the 2021 season that can make or break their season. I would say the season-defining game for the Wolverines would be in week two against Washington but that game is out of conference and is early in the season, it is a loss they can afford. While beating Ohio State is the most influential game of the year with all its implications, it would be unfair to say that game is season-defining because Ohio State doesn’t lose in conference all too often. The game I have circled is in week five when the Wolverines travel to Camp Randall and take on the Wisconsin Badgers. Michigan needs to prove themselves in the conference, they have not won in Madison since 2001 and they will want to get revenge for what Wisconsin did to them in the big house last year. If they can beat Wisconsin they will start to gain more attention and respect overall.

Michigan State - Week 4 Nebraska

The Spartans open up the 2021 season with a couple of tough games. They begin with the season against Northwestern who is coming off an appearance in the Big Ten Championship game and they will be good again. Following that they play a Youngstown State team that they should easily take care of. In week three they play Maimi and they will have their hands full with potential Heisman Trophy candidate D’Eriq King. I believe they will start the year at 1-2 and week four will be the game that defines the rest of their season. The Spartans face Nebraska on September 25 in East Lansing. This is one of those games that either team can win, for the Spartans, it can set the pace of the rest of their season. Following Nebraska, Michigan State faces a Western Kentucky team that they should beat to go from 1-2 to potentially 3-2 heading into week six.

Ohio State - Week 2 Oregon

Ohio State should end the regular season by not losing a single game as they are more talented than every team they face. That being said, they face an Oregon team in Week two and this game will capture the eyes of the nation. It will be the Pac-12 champion against the Big 10 champion. Oregon has some talent that will cause Ohio State fits and future projected number one overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux will bring the pressure on Ohio States’ inexperienced quarterback, C.J. Stroud. Ohio State should win this game easily and even a loss won’t necessarily derail their chances at winning the conferences or even a college football playoff spot. A win will solidify what we know and it is that Ohio State is here to dominant again in 2021.

Penn State - Week 5 Indiana 

Penn State has one of the tougher schedules in 2021 as they play against a lot of respectable programs including a non-conference game against Auburn. They open the year with a game against Wisconsin in Madison which they easily can lose, following that they play Ball State which they should easily win. In week three, things get interesting with a game against Auburn in Happy Valley. I can see this game going either way, in conclusion, they could head into week four with a record of either 1-2, 2-1, or 3-0. In week four, the Nittany Lions host a solid Indiana team that is filled with returning talent. The Hoosiers will be hungry to win this game and if the Nittany Lions lose it will cause a spiral effect, especially after they might already be unstable with a brutal opening schedule. They follow that game with a tough matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes so they will want to have a strong victory under their belt against Indiana to build momentum. 

Rutgers - Week 6 Michigan State

Rutgers is a program that is slowly trending up under the coaching of Greg Schiano. The Scarlett Knights open up the year with a couple of opponents that they should beat in Temple and Delaware. In week two, they play Syracuse away which is a game they can win but a loss won’t make or break their year. IN weeks four and five they play Michigan and Ohio State which should correlate to two more losses so they can head into week six at either 3-2 or 2-3 setting up a game they can get them to a .500 winning percentage or they can fall to 2-4. In 2020, Rutgers beat Michigan State and they can do it again in 2021. A win will get them closer to bowl potential which will be a successful season for Rutgers. 

Writer

-By: Justin Howard