The opening week of the 2023 Big Ten football season is in the books.

There weren’t a ton of surprises, perhaps save for Purdue stubbing its toe in Ryan Walters’ coaching debut. Nebraska has a new coach, but still finishes games Nebraska-style. Iowa has a new quarterback yet looks pretty familiar on offense. And so on.

But there were still some things that we learned about each B1G team in Week 1.

Illinois: The Illini are a West contender if…

They cut the crap.

As Luke Altmyer demonstrated on the game-winning drive, the Illini have a playmaking quarterback with some moxie. And if there’s one group of people keeping the word moxie alive, it’s quarterbacks who make plays in the fourth quarter.

The reason Altmyer needed to demonstrate moxie? Because Illinois kept keeping Toledo drives alive by committing 10 penalties for 100 yards.

If the Illini avoid self-inflicted wounds in the future, they have the pieces to contend for the B1G West title.

Indiana: Has the right idea

Indiana’s scheme last year was, frankly, stupid. The Hoosiers used an uptempo offensive scheme that rarely succeeded, putting untold pressure on a defense that was on the field way too often.

Tom Allen and offensive coordinator Walt Bell wised up this year. The Hoosiers did a very good job of playing complementary football against Ohio State, unveiling a ball-control, option-heavy offense that allowed the defense to give the Buckeyes fits.

The execution wasn’t there — IU scored 3 points and gained 153 yards. Yet the Hoosiers still held the ball for 28 minutes despite only 54 snaps.

The blueprint for upsets is in place if Indiana’s quarterbacks can start making some plays.

Iowa: Brian Ferentz is in trouble

Everyone knows Iowa needs to average 25 points per game for Brian Ferentz to stay employed as offensive coordinator. Which makes a 24-point showing against Utah State the sickest of all jokes. Especially when Iowa scored 14 of those points in the first 8 minutes.

This won’t end well.

Maryland: There was nothing to learn

Nothing from a game against overmatched FCS foe Towson told us anything we didn’t already know about Taulia Tagovailoa and the Terps.

One minor concern, though? The defense didn’t force any turnovers. Maryland must be more opportunistic defensively if it wants to hang with the B1G East’s big dogs.

Michigan: JJ McCarthy is taking the next step

JJ McCarthy was good — and frequently very good — in his first year as Michigan’s starting quarterback. But rarely did he cross the threshold to great.

Sure, it may have been East Carolina, but McCarthy certainly crossed the threshold in the season opener. He completed 87% of his throws for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns and looked in total control from the onset.

Michigan State: Nate Carter revives the run game

Michigan State found Kenneth Walker III impossible to replace last year, but newcomer Nate Carter may have the Spartan run game moving back in the right direction. He opened his Michigan State career with 18 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown and was never tackled behind the line of scrimmage.

Minnesota: Mo Ibrahim isn’t running through that door

In its first game since workhorse Mohamed Ibrahim’s graduation, Minnesota gained 55 rushing yards on 25 carries. The Gophers may have some offensive issues this season.

Nebraska: There’s actually reason for optimism

Yes, Matt Rhule’s debut featured another soul-crushing blown lead in the fourth quarter. But there was definitely major progress on defense.

After finishing 13th in the B1G in run defense last year, the Huskers limited Minnesota to 2.2 yards per carry. And overall Minnesota averaged just 3.6 yards per play, which was the best showing for a Nebraska defense in 5 years.

Northwestern: 0-12 is possible, if not probable

Northwestern interim coach David Braun has talked a lot about how this offseason’s adversity has galvanized the Wildcats. And if this is what they look like when they’re galvanized… yikes. The Cats were outclassed in every facet of 24-7 loss at Rutgers.

If it’s possible to be worse than last year’s 1-11 squad, this team can do it. The lone game that looked like a gimme — FCS Howard in Week 6 — is no longer a sure W after the Bison outgained Eastern Michigan by more than 100 yards in a tough season-opening loss.

Ohio State: Kyle McCord is QB by default

It says a lot — maybe — that Devin Brown couldn’t catch Kyle McCord in Ohio State’s quarterback competition. And also that McCord couldn’t pull away from Brown.

McCord was ordinary against Indiana — 20 of 33 for 239 yards and an interception — yet Brown could only be trusted to play 1 drive before garbage time. And he didn’t throw a pass on that drive.

McCord needs to improve, because he’s only giving up this job if he regresses.

Penn State: The Nittany Lions are the real deal

Inevitably, every season features teams in the preseason top 10 who fall short of expectations. And though there’s a lot of football in front of us, No. 7 Penn State showed no indication that it will be 1 of those teams in its 38-15 win over West Virginia.

Drew Allar was spectacular in his first start, completing 21 of 29 attempts for 325 yards and 3 touchdowns. Allar and the Nittany Lions are worthy of the hype until proven otherwise.

Purdue: Uh-oh. There aren’t a lot of wins on that schedule.

The Boilermakers aren’t going bowling in Ryan Walters’ first season. Not because they’re especially bad, but because they have a perfectly disastrous schedule for a team with their level of talent and experience. Fresno State was a dangerous matchup, and the Bulldogs proved it by getting out of West Lafayette with a 39-35 win.

Now Purdue has to navigate games against 2 ACC opponents before the start of conference play. The Boilers may well begin 0-3 despite having some pretty solid offensive talent. And that would mean needing to go 6-3 in the B1G to make a bowl game — with both Michigan and Ohio State on the schedule.

Rutgers: This is peak Schianoball

Stifling defense? A pair of 16-play touchdown drives? The full power of Schianoball was on display in Rutgers 24-7 season-opening win over Northwestern. The Scarlet Knight finished just 19 seconds short of their first-ever shutout against a Big Ten opponent.

Now the Scarlet Knights just need to make it work against better opponents — which will be everyone they face with the exception of Wagner.

Wisconsin: Still a running back school

For all the talk of Wisconsin’s opening up the offensive playbook this year, Week 1 proved that Madison is still a running back’s paradise.

Chez Mellusi had 157 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 13 carries, and Braelon Allen did his typical damage with 17 carries for 141 yards.

The style may be different under Luke Fickell and Phil Longo, but the results aren’t.