Dan Mullen makes 2023 Big Ten East predictions
Ahead of Week 1, ESPN’s Dan Mullen is locking in his prediction for the Big Ten East in 2023.
The former Florida Gators and Mississippi State Bulldogs leader is putting himself out there this season, projecting how each conference will shake out. On Tuesday, it was the Big Ten’s turn, as Mullen stated the teams he believes in most.
Many believe it’s a three team race in 2023, between the Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions. Here’s who Mullen believes will win the division, and get to the Big Ten title game.
1) Michigan Wolverines
2) Ohio State Buckeyes
3) Penn State Nittany Lions
4) Maryland Terrapins
5) Rutgers Scarlet Knights
6) Michigan State Spartans
7) Indiana Hoosiers
Evidently, Mullen believes Michigan will be the class of the Big Ten East once again in 2023. While Ohio State is out for revenge, and Penn State is hoping to crash the party, it’s the Wolverines tickling Mullen’s fancy this season.
Afterwards, Mullen believes Maryland will be the fourth-best team in the Big Ten, following by Rutgers, who’s entering a pivotal season under Greg Schiano. Then, Mullen has Michigan State coming in sixth, which would be a more than disappointing finish for the Spartans, followed by Indiana bringing up the rear.
Regardless, the Big Ten East figures to be one of the most exciting divisions in the entire nation this season, and Dan Mullen can’t wait to see how it shakes out. Whether his predictions come true or not remain to be seen, but the competition will be stiff.
Dan Mullen explains excitement to follow PAC-12 in 2023
Meanwhile, Dan Mullen needs to be counted as one of the biggest supporters of PAC-12 football this fall.
Many would expect Mullen to be excited to watch the SEC slate over the next couple of months. While he’ll certainly be tuned in for those games, it’s the PAC-12 that’s ticking his fancy at the moment, and the conference he’s most excited to watch take the field.
“There is not a league I’m more excited to watch than the PAC-12 this year,” said Mullen, via The Matt Barrie Show. “… I think USC’s a legitimate Playoff contender, a legitimate Playoff contender, and they’ve got to deal with Utah, who’s the two-time defending (champions), and then they have to go to Oregon and deal with Oregon and Washington, who are two explosive teams with veteran quarterbacks and play-makers all over the place. And don’t forget about Oregon State.
“They found a way to win with a great offensive line, DJ Uiagalelei coming in at quarterback. The running back’s coming back. And better than all of that, they all play each other.”
Some may be thinking Mullen’s crazy for that statement, as the SEC is loaded with the usual suspects, like Georgia, LSU and Alabama, and some up and coming squads are looking to make some noise once again, like Tennessee and Ole Miss. Still, Mullen is choosing the PAC-12, mainly because of their schedule, and the unpredictability within the conference.
“They all — like, I’m looking at you saying, ‘Okay, the SEC this year,’ well Georgia’s going to represent the East, that’s already done, and probably, it’ll be either LSU or Alabama you assume in the West, and that’s done. But imagine if they all — everybody is playing each other,” added Mullen. “It is going to be the most entertaining conference, in it’s final year, the swan song of 100 years of PAC-12 footballs, could be one of the most exciting years in the league.”