Kickoff is creeping closer.

This weekend is the appetizer to the college football buffet. Nebraska and Illinois kick things off on Saturday in Champaign, providing us with a tasty introduction to the B1G campaign. Then, the main course arrives with all 14 conference teams in action from Thursday, Sept. 2 through Saturday, Sept. 4.

Tailgating returns. Fans will be back in the stands. Tradition will be restored. It’s going to be one of the greatest college football seasons in recent memories.

Before we dive head-first into the 2021 college football season, we still have some preseason business to address. Bold predictions.

Heading into the 2021 season, I’ve got one bold prediction for every B1G team in 2021:

Illinois Fighting Illini

Bold prediction: Bowl bound in Bret Bielema’s first season

That might be a little optimistic, but with Illinois returning over 20 super seniors, having a sixth-year quarterback under center in Brandon Peters, an experienced offensive line and several returning contributors on defense, I like the potential of this team. Bielema already has the Illini playing better in the trenches and added some nice pieces from the transfer portal. Illinois is hitting six wins in 2021.

Indiana Hoosiers

Bold prediction: A defensive player wins a B1G award for the first time in history

Maybe it’s surprising (or maybe it’s not given Indiana’s history), but the Hoosiers have never produced a winner of a major defensive award in the B1G. That’s going to change this year. Linebacker Micah McFadden and cornerbacks Tiawan Mullen and Jaylin Williams are the top candidates to bring some hardware back to Bloomington. I won’t predict the winner, but I think history changes for Indiana this year.

Iowa Hawkeyes

Bold prediction: Tyler Goodson is the first Iowa RB to hit 1,000 yards since 2017

For as much as everyone talks about Iowa’s ground-and-pound offense, the Hawkeyes really haven’t had much success on the ground in recent seasons. It should be a strength this year with more solid offensive line play and one of the B1G’s top backs in Goodson. He has all the necessary tools in the kit to be a 1,000-yard rusher, which would be Iowa’s first since Akrum Wadley in 2017.

Maryland Terrapins

Bold prediction: Multiple WRs earn All-B1G honors

One position group in the B1G that isn’t getting enough attention is the wide receiver room in College Park. The Terrapins have a ton of talent with Dontay Demus Jr., Rakim Jarrett, Jeshaun Jones, Brian Cobbs and Darryl Jones all wearing a Maryland uniform. With Taulia Tagovailoa under center, the Terrapins are going to be throwing the football a lot. A few of these guys should put up some major numbers and receive All-B1G honors at the end of the year.

Michigan Wolverines

Bold prediction: Donovan Edwards is in the B1G Freshman of the Year conversation

Nobody really knows what to expect from the former 4-star running back. What we do know, though, is that both Jim Harbaugh and Josh Gattis really like the freshman. Edwards is going to see touches in Week 1 and could carve out a pretty substantial role in Michigan’s rushing attack early in the season. If he’s as talented as coaches say, he’s easily going to be one of the top freshmen in the B1G.

Michigan State Spartans

Bold prediction: Both Anthony Russo and Payton Thorne start at points this season

Mel Tucker has been reluctant to name a starter which probably means the competition is really close in East Lansing. Considering the struggles the team endured at the position a year ago, that’s a good sign. I do think the Spartans will endure some hard times this fall and that lends itself to seeing multiple quarterbacks starting. I’m not sure whether or not the MSU staff will implement a two-quarterback system but I’d be surprised if both Russo and Thorne don’t earn a few starts each.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Bold prediction: Minnesota has the best offensive line in the B1G

Why can Minnesota’s offensive be one of the best in the B1G this year? The guys up front. The Gophers have 140 combined starts returning on the line, led by guys like Connor Olson, Blaise Andries, Daniel Faalele, Curtis Dunlap Jr., Sam Schleuter and plenty of other names. Places like Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan traditionally have the best offensive lines in the conference, but this year that title belongs to Minnesota.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Bold prediction: Adrian Martinez (finally) takes that next step

Entering his fourth year as the starter at Nebraska, Martinez finally has the talent at wide receiver, experience and depth on the offensive line and skill in the backfield to be able to feel comfortable in the pocket. There are no more excuses. I think he’ll answer the call and prove to be one of the more accurate passers and eliminate the turnovers that have plagued him throughout his career in Lincoln. It should give the Huskers a great opportunity to hit six wins, too.

Northwestern Wildcats

Bold prediction: For the first time in over a decade, Northwestern beats Michigan

This has been a frustrating matchup for Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats. Michigan has won the last six meetings, four of which were decided by one possession. The last victory for Northwestern was in Ann Arbor in 2008. The Wolverines will probably be favored in this game, but Fitzgerald’s team always seems to win a game or two (or three or four or five) that they’re not supposed to win. Chalk that up to a road victory in the Big House this year.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Bold prediction: Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson both post 1,000-yard seasons

Here’s a crazy stat: Ohio State has only had five receivers eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in its illustrious history. My money is on Olave and Wilson to add their names to that prestigious list this year. Both are incredibly skilled and they were each on pace to hit 1,000 yards a year ago, totaling 729 and 723 yards respectively. In a full, 12-game season, Olave and Wilson will have more than enough targets to pile up the yardage and make Buckeye history.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Bold prediction: The Nittany Lions get back to a double-digit win total

Last year’s 4-5 record was a mirage. Things spiraled out of control after that season-opening loss to Indiana, but this is a Penn State team that is still incredibly talented and is seeking revenge. Adding Mike Yurcich should yield great results offensively and Brent Pry’s defense is always full of stalwart players. Maybe Penn State doesn’t dethrone Ohio State in the B1G East, but it’s still the second-most talented team in the conference. Whether it comes in the regular season or in a bowl game, the Nittany Lions are capable of hitting 10 wins or more.

Purdue Boilermakers

Bold prediction: Purdue pulls off one upset

There are a lot of questions surrounding Purdue on both sides of the ball this year. Somehow, though, the Boilers have seemed to be a thorn in the side of some B1G programs. That’ll be the case again in 2021. Purdue’s offense is just unique enough and the defensive should see adequate improvement to upset one of the five ranked opponents currently on the schedule. Who will it be? That’s the question I’m not ready to answer.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Bold prediction: The defense ranks in the Top 5 of the B1G in points/yards per game

Everyone can agree that Rutgers’ defense looked a lot better in Schiano’s first season. Statistically, there wasn’t a huge difference in scoring defense and yards allowed actually got worse. There’s a lot of reason to believe it could be a lot better, though. Schiano had a full spring and fall camp to implement his defense, a luxury he didn’t have a year ago. Olakunle Fatukasi, Tyshon Fogg and Tyreek Maddox-Williams make up a solid linebacker corps. Christian Izien, Avery Young and Tre Avery are rising stars in the secondary and Mike Tverdov, Julius Turner and CJ Onyechi can cause problems on the defensive line. Rutgers defense could make a big leap in Year 2 under Schiano.

Wisconsin Badgers

Bold prediction: The rushing attack is back at the top of the B1G

Wisconsin saw a dip in rushing production a year ago. For the first time since 2015, the Badgers averaged less than 200 yards per game on the ground. Adding Chez Mellusi to the backfield with Jalen Berger and a stout offensive line paving the way should allow things to open up for the Badgers in the rushing attack. This is going to be one of the more difficult running back duos to stop for B1G defense and the result is Wisconsin back at the top of the conference in ground production.