Way-too-early rankings of Big Ten defensive units ahead of the 2024 season

Oregon's Bryce Boettcher, 28, celebrates a defensive stop against Hawaii during the first half.
Oregon's Bryce Boettcher, 28, celebrates a defensive stop against Hawaii during the first half. | =Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA
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Speaking of transfer Ru'Quan Buckley, the Cornhuskers had a handful of losses from their defensive unit this offseason but they should still have a talented squad this fall.

To fill the gaps left behind by portal departures, Matt Rhule recruited Stefon Thompson and Blye Hill to beef up his defensive line and secondary.

Rhule also had zero players selected in the NFL Draft and while that doesn't reflect well on his coaching, it does mean that he has a lot of experienced players returning for the 2024 season.

Schedule

Schedule