Each Big Ten program has now played at least 3 games this season. Not all teams have played an equal amount of “quality opponents,” but there’s enough data to paint a legitimate picture in certain aspects of the game.

Such as penalties. We’re 1/4th of the way through the regular season and some teams have started well while others have failed miserably in that regard.

So, who’s done well at staying out of penalty trouble and who has not? Earlier in the preseason we ran a piece going over exactly that across the past 5 seasons, so let’s take a relook at the totals and compare for the start of 2023.

Here’s the Big Ten ranked by penalty yards per game through Week 3:

  1. Iowa: 18.1 yards per game
  2. Minnesota: 22.3 yards per game
  3. Northwestern: 23.7 yards per game (4 games)
  4. Michigan: 25 yards per game
  5. Rutgers: 36.7 yards per game
  6. Penn State: 43.3 yards per game
  7. Ohio State: 48.7 yards per game
  8. Wisconsin: 49.3 yards per game
  9. Indiana: 51.7 yards per game
  10. Nebraska: 55 yards per game
  11. Maryland: 61.3 yards per game
  12. Michigan State: 64.7 yards per game
  13.  Illinois: 68.3 yards per game
  14. Purdue: 70 yards per game

And here are all B1G teams ranked by penalty flags thrown per game:

  1. Iowa: 2.7
  2. Minnesota: 2.7
  3. Northwestern: 2.7
  4. Michigan: 3.3
  5. Rutgers: 3.7
  6. Penn State: 5
  7. Wisconsin: 5
  8. Ohio State:  5.3
  9. Maryland: 5.7
  10. Nebraska: 6
  11. Indiana: 6.3
  12. Illinois: 7.3
  13. Purdue: 7.3
  14. Michigan State: 8

Iowa is one of the least penalized teams in the country, leading all of FBS in the least penalty yards per game at 18.1. Minnesota, Northwestern and Michigan are not far behind.

Purdue and Michigan State rank among the worst at committing penalties in the conference.