We’re still months away from Ohio State and the rest of the college football teams breaking the seal on another season of intrigue. However, if you follow us, you know by now that we like to talk about football every hour of every day and then some. In fact, as we go through the offseason, we’ll continue to look ahead to what might be in store for the football Buckeyes in 2023.
One of the things that often determine which teams have a shot at some really special things, including a conference championship and College Football Playoff appearance is the experience and returning production on a team. At a place like Ohio State, there’s always young talent expected to be the next to roll off the football assembly line. However, returning talent and experience do indeed matter.
There are other things that go into the ingredients to baking a memorable season such as injuries, luck and more. But a group that has marinated together for longer tends to be better. Of course, there is always some turnover — especially nowadays with the transfer portal and name, image and likeness considerations — but you get the idea.
So how does OSU stack up with the rest of the Big Ten when it comes to 2023? Which teams have the most returning production? Which programs might be building a house of cards from scratch?
Maybe it’s good for all of us that the fine folks at ESPN (subscription required) have devised a formula for these sorts of things, and we’re checking it out for a second straight year.
The sausage was made using a formulaic equation that resident ESPN analytics expert Bill Connelly has devised. It takes into account returning production, including yards, snaps, tackles and other such stats across various position groups.
Here’s how conference teams stack up from least returning production to most experienced across in the Big Ten.
14
Northwestern Wildcats
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 96 (56%)
Offense | 46% (No. 115)
Defense | 66% (No. 52)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
65% – No. 69 overall
Final 2022 Record | 1-11
13
Iowa Hawkeyes
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 94 (57%)
Offense | 64% (No. 72)
Defense | 49% (No. 102)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
76% – No. 27 overall
Final 2022 Record | 8-5
12
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 87 (58%)
Offense | 59% (No. 91)
Defense | 57% (No. 78)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
70% – No. 50 overall
Final 2022 Record | 9-4
11
Illinois Fighting Illini
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 71 (63%)
Offense | 64% (No. 71)
Defense | 62% (No. 70)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
51% – No. 122 overall
Final 2022 Record | 8-5
10
Maryland Terrapins
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 65 (64%)
Offense | 64% (No. 68)
Defense | 63% (No. 66)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
72% – No. 40 overall
Final 2022 Record | 8-5
9
Purdue Boilermakers
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 57 (65%)
Offense | 71% (No. 49)
Defense | 59% (No. 76)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
70% – No. 47 overall
Final 2022 Record | 8-6
8
Penn State Nittany Lions
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 56 (65%)
Offense | 55% (No. 102)
Defense | 75% (No. 24)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
64% – No. 72 overall
Final 2022 Record | 11-2
7
Ohio State Buckeyes
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 48 (67%)
Offense | 57% (No. 97)
Defense | 77% (No. 20)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
76% – No. 24 overall
Final 2022 Record | 11-2
6
Michigan State Spartans
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 45 (68%)
Offense | 80% (No. 11)
Defense | 56% (No. 83)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
72% – No. 42 overall
Final 2022 Record | 5-7
5
Indiana Hoosiers
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 41 (69%)
Offense | 65% (No. 63)
Defense | 72% (No. 34)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
67% – No. 55 overall
Final 2022 Record | 4-8
4
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 39 (69%)
Offense | 72% (No. 45)
Defense | 66% (No. 51)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
57% – No. 104 overall
Final 2022 Record | 4-8
3
Wisconsin Badgers
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 27 (72%)
Offense | 75% (No. 30)
Defense | 68% (No. 48)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
61% – No. 85 overall
Final 2022 Record | 7-6
2
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 23 (73%)
Offense | 73% (No. 37)
Defense | 72% (No. 31)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
67% – No. 54 overall
Final 2022 Record | 4-8
1
Michigan Wolverines
Total Returning Production Numbers
Overall: No. 5 (81%)
Offense | 84% (No. 4)
Defense | 78% (No. 16)
Last Year’s Overall Returning Production
65% – No. 67 overall
Final 2022 Record | 13-1
