It almost seems like the Big Ten season is an afterthought to some.
Sure, Ohio State must get past Virginia Tech in its season opener — the team that served as its lone bugaboo in 2014 — but the Buckeyes are overwhelming favorites to take Indianapolis by storm once again come December and win the Big Ten title.
The talent pools are deep wherever you look on Urban Meyer's squad, as big a representation as any to the reason Ohio State withstood injuries to two star quarterbacks, a death of a teammate and other adversities to annihilate Wisconsin, 59-0, the last time it visited Indy.
The Buckeyes get arguably their three toughest conference opponents at home this season — Penn State, Minnesota and Michigan State — and after the Hokies, the non-conference schedule hardly possesses any world beaters. However, a slip up could derail Ohio State's quest to hoist the Big Ten Championship trophy for the second time in as many seasons at Lucas Oil Stadium.
East Side Heavyweights
As was the case one year ago, Ohio State's path to a Big Ten title appears to be met with the most resistance from the gauntlet known as the Big Ten East.
At Big Ten Media Days in July 2014, Meyer called the East "one of the toughest divisions in college football" and he certainly wasn't wrong.
"It’s a rugged conference. We’re going to do our best to be prepared for it," Meyer said.
Michigan State proposes the toughest challenge once again, turning into a perennial power under Mark Dantonio. It's also year two for James Franklin at Penn State and Jim Harbaugh is scheming as only he can in Ann Arbor, Mich., in prep for his first year as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.
Power head coaches are outline the picture in the East, and teams must avoid bad losses against lesser known quantities in Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers to ensure their best chance at competing for the divisional crown.
The Spartans pay a visit to Ohio Stadium Nov. 21, while the Nittany Lions do the same Oct. 17. Ohio State is set to entertain the Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in the rivalry's first installment of Meyer-Harbaugh, fittingly taking place in it's rightful place at the end of the regular season.
J.T. Barrett battled through an MCL sprain to lead OSU to a double OT victory at Penn State.
Michigan State was on top of the conference before Ohio State and a brilliant J.T. Barrett took over last November in East Lansing, Mich. Even though the rematch takes place in Columbus this season, the game with Spartans is still likely to serve yet again as a de-facto Big Ten East Championship game. Harbaugh is on his way to bringing Michigan back to respectability in the same way Franklin is at Penn State, but the Spartans and Buckeyes are the conference's heavyweights right now.
Ohio State has all sorts of talent back from the team that won it all in 2014, a confidence booster that has fans primed for a repeat and some forgetting how good Michigan State is as a football team. Quarterback Connor Cook and defensive end Shilique Calhoun are stellar players who returned for their senior seasons with unfinished business. The loss of linebacker Ed Davis for the season will hurt, but an experienced and equally talented offensive line led by center Jack Allen will be tough to handle for a Buckeye defensive line short two starters from a year ago.
The Buckeyes can ill afford to look past the Wolverines, either. It is doubtful that would happen due to the buzz circulating around Harbaugh and the Big House, but Meyer must have his troops on point for another bloodbath in the rivalry. The last time Ohio State visited Michigan Stadium, it needed a late interception by Tyvis Powell to seal a 42-41 victory in a game the Buckeye defense allowed more than 600 total yards.
Michigan State, Michigan and Penn State all will provide more than formidable opponents provided the circumstances of each game.
Optimistically, the depth Meyer's added with now four superb recruiting classes and magnificent talent on offense coupled with an improved defense should keep any challengers at bay in 2015. That, of course, is barring any massive string of injuries to Ohio State, which proved that didn't exactly matter when it won the title last season.
On the other hand, the woeful feeling of complacency that Meyer and his staff are working so hard to stave off from their players isn't going to go away. Plus, the Buckeyes don't even know who their starting quarterback is going to be come Sept. 7 against Virginia Tech.
The rest of the East Division leaves something to be desired, but road games at Indiana (odd things happen there) and a new one under the lights on behalf of Rutgers provide some barriers to Ohio State.
Western Foes
Early returns have Wisconsin, Nebraska and Minnesota as favorites to win the West Division. However, the Badgers and Cornhuskers are dealing with transitions to new coaching staffs after Gary Andersen bolted from Madison, Wis., to Oregon State and Bo Pelini was fired. Somewhat remarkably, for the second season in a row, Ohio State avoids too many road contests against the top teams in the West: It only plays one of those three teams in the regular season, when the Gophers come to Ohio Stadium Nov. 7.
Again, the West looks like the lesser competitive of the two divisions within the conference specter. Adjustments and new faces in two of the three top contenders provide additional intrigue to the race to Indianapolis, but don't count either of them out.
The Buckeyes fought through snow to top the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis in 2014.
Nebraska's always had a strong talent level of players and Wisconsin seems to be in every game with the way it runs the football. Big Ten Coach of the Year Jerry Kill will have the Golden Gophers charged up for another run, but have to replace the departed David Cobb at running back.
Northwestern is still trying to find consistency under Pat Fitzgerald and Jim Tressel disciple Darrell Hazell has Purdue moving in the right direction. Illinois, however, is another story. Unless there is some major improvement shown by the Fighting Illini, it's hard to see a scenario where Tim Beckman returns after the 2015 season.
Iowa seems to always possess veterans under Kirk Ferentz, but has only one season of at least 10 wins in the last decade (2009). In 2015, The Hawkeyes avoid playing Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State and Michigan in the regular season.
2015 Outlook
To put it simply, the 2015 season would be a disappointment for Ohio State if the Buckeyes don't win the Big Ten for a second consecutive season.
Ohio State's depth chart rivals any top team in the country and is also a favorite to repeat as national champions.
Even without knowing who will start at quarterback between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, it doesn't appear like it should matter much. Four of five starters return on the offensive line in addition to a truckload of skill players that now include two-time Big Ten Player of the Year Braxton Miller at H-back.
The Big Ten is better than it has been in recent years, especially with such a strong showing in the postseason. Not only did Ohio State win the national championship, Michigan State beat Baylor in one of the best games of 2014 at the Cotton Bowl, Wisconsin topped Auburn, Penn State pushed past Boston College and even Rutgers downed North Carolina.
The momentum was spearheaded by the Buckeyes, though, who possess more than enough skill and experience to take the conference once again. Michigan State poses the biggest hurdle, but outside of the first game against Virginia Tech, there doesn't look like many other true loss possibilities for losses on Ohio State's regular season schedule.
