The 2017 season is still several months away. But we never stop looking forward here at the Big Ten blog.
It may be ridiculously early, but we’re examining what will be the must-win game and the potential trap game for each league team this fall. Up next: Illinois Fighting Illini.
Must-win game: Oct. 14 versus Rutgers. Lovie Smith and company beat two Big Ten teams during their first season at Illinois -- Rutgers and Michigan State. The Spartans aren’t on the 2017 schedule, but a repeat performance against the Scarlet Knights would be a good way to keep the program from the bottom rung of the league.