Week 1 Big Ten previews: Badgers head to Lambeau Field to take on LSU

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It's finally here.

Opening weekend in the Big Ten will allow us to see all 14 teams in action. While most are taking on relatively easy opponents, there are a few noteworthy matchups, especially Wisconsin heading north to Lambeau Field to take on fifth-ranked LSU.

Here's a look at each and every Big Ten game this weekend. As always, all times are Central. Rankings are from the preseason AP poll.

Thursday, Sept. 1

Indiana at Florida International, 6:30 p.m., ESPN U

The Hoosiers open up the season’s Big Ten slate with a road trip to take on the Golden Panthers. Like most opponents, Ron Turner’s team had plenty of success against the Indiana defense last season when these two teams met. The Hoosiers needed a 17-point fourth quarter for a comeback win and allowed 406 yards of offense.

Oregon State at Minnesota, 8 p.m., Big Ten Network

The Gophers have some low-key high expectations, with several media members pegging them as a dark horse in the West Division. Mitch Leidner has a chance to show that offseason NFL Draft buzz was deserved against one of the few Power Five conference Big Ten foes this week. Former Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen’s first season at Oregon State was a 2-10 disaster.

Friday, Sept. 2

Furman at No. 12 Michigan State, 6 p.m., Big Ten Network

Things should be pretty easy for Sparty in this opener against an FCS opponent. It gives Mark Dantonio’s team plenty of wiggle room as it breaks in new quarterback Tyler O’Connor and three new starters apiece on the offensive and defensive lines. Pay attention to how Dantonio utilizes his three co-starters at running back. Or don’t because he might not want to give Notre Dame study material in an expected rout of Furman.

Saturday, Sept. 3

Eastern Kentucky at Purdue, 11 a.m., ESPNEWS

Darrell Hazell has won six games during his time in West Lafayette, and three have come against FCS opponents. The Colonels provide another opportunity for a rare Purdue victory, but wins are what Hazell needs to extend his tenure so it would be unwise to scoff at any of them.

Howard at Maryland, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network

DJ Durkin gets an FCS team in his first game as head coach, and that should be a welcome sight for the Terps, who struggled on offense last season. Perry Hills is once again the team’s starting quarterback, and Maryland needs to cut down on interceptions if it wants to win many games during Durkin’s first year.

Western Michigan at Northwestern, 11 a.m., ESPN U

Pat Fitzgerald compliments his opponents without fail, no matter who the team is, and typically a MAC foe would earn an eye roll of sorts to Fitzgerald’s concern. But not Western Michigan, which has blossomed into a quality MAC program under head coach and Illinois native P.J. Fleck, winning the conference title last season. The Broncos will certainly provide an early test for the Cats, who will be looking to tune up what was an abysmal passing game last year before conference play.

Hawaii at No. 7 Michigan, 11 a.m., ESPN

The poor Rainbows have to fly all the way from Honolulu to Ann Arbor a week after flying all the way from Honolulu to Sydney, Australia, and what awaits them is a pack of Wolverines hungry to get its season of high expectations going. Most notably we’ll find out who Michigan’s starting quarterback is when, you know, the game starts. Hawaii was shellacked by Cal, and Michigan should fare similarly against the ‘Bows.

Bowling Green at No. 6 Ohio State, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network

Urban Meyer will take on his former program, providing storylines, but this game is all about the first taste of game experience for many of the new starters on this Ohio State team. We know what J.T. Barrett can do, so this game will give us a glimpse into what Mike Weber can do at running back, what a true freshman starter in Michael Jordan can do on the offensive line and what a defense emptied by the NFL Draft can do with so many new faces. The answer to all those questions is: probably a lot.

Rutgers at No. 14 Washington, 1 p.m., Pac-12 Network

Washington might not be too kind to Rutgers and new head coach Chris Ash, but at least it will provide us with a quality opponent for a Big Ten team, something not in ample supply over the season’s first two weeks. The Huskies are a contender for the Pac-12 crown, meaning they could blitz the Scarlet Knights.

No. 5 LSU vs. Wisconsin (at Lambeau Field), 2:30 p.m., ABC

The game of the week pits the fifth-ranked team in the country against a Badger team facing just the first of many tests on a grueling schedule this season. Former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is now part of Les Miles’ LSU staff, and the Bayou Bengals boast one of college football’s best players in Heisman-candidate running back Leonard Fournette. How the Badgers defense will handle both of those facts should be the most intriguing aspect of Saturday’s game, but there’s also a new quarterback for Wisconsin and the return of a healthy Corey Clement at running back. So, yeah, there are plenty of reasons to make sure you’re watching this one.

Kent State at Penn State, 2:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

The Lions do play Temple again this season, but it’s against Kent State where Penn State will look to avoid a second straight season-opening loss to a MAC opponent. The Golden Flashes were roughed up by Illinois and beaten by Minnesota last season, so they haven’t fared too well against Big Ten teams lately. Saquon Barkley should run all over Kent State in a game that should provide a good boost for a retooled offense under new coordinator Joe Moorhead.

Miami (Ohio) at No. 17 Iowa, 2:30 p.m., ESPN U

Iowa’s schedule is better than it was last season, though Miami (Ohio) isn’t the frightening part. The Hawkeyes are still looking to find explosiveness, but an offense packed with names like C.J. Beathard, LeShun Daniels and George Kittle should be able to find its footing in the opener.

Murray State at Illinois, 2:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

Lovie Smith will take the field as a college head coach for the first time against FCS opponent Murray State. The Illini have had great success in non-conference bouts against non-Power Five teams in recent seasons, with Wes Lunt in particular running up the numbers against those defenses. And here’s a fun fact: The Illini have won 18 straight home openers, the second longest streak in the Big Ten. Only one of those 18 wins came against a team now playing in a Power Five conference, but Murray State doesn’t either so how about 19?

Fresno State at Nebraska, 7 p.m., Big Ten Network

The Huskers will obviously be working through things far more important than football when they take the field in the wake of the tragic offseason death of punter Sam Foltz. But there are games to be played, and the Nebraska offense has enough firepower to rain points down on the Bulldogs for days. Whether the defense is in a state enough to stop Fresno, though, is what we’ll be looking for.

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