Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin all won at least 10 games last season.
While all four of those schools can be considered traditional powerhouses, with college football histories that date back to the 19th century and more than 3,000 all-time wins between them, 2016 was the first time that the Wolverines, Buckeyes, Nittany Lions and Badgers all reached double-digit victories in a single season.
All four schools have a real shot at winning 10 games or more again in 2017.
While Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes are widely considered to be the team to beat in the conference, James Franklin’s Nittany Lions were last year’s conference champions and have enough star power returning to defend their title. Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines lost 17 starters from last season, including 11 NFL draft picks, but they too still have enough talent to compete for a conference title.
The rest of the Big Ten East will likely be looking up at those three teams. Rutgers coach Chris Ash admitted as much when asked about them at Big Ten Media Days.
"Those three teams, they’ve got more history, tradition and they’ve been at an elite level for a long, long time," Ash said.
No Big Ten team has been more consistently successful since the start of the decade since Wisconsin, which has won at least eight games in eight straight seasons and has qualified for four of the first six Big Ten Championship Games, more than any other team. Paul Chryst’s Badgers are favored to make it back to Indianapolis again this year, though there are a few dark horses in the West division with a shot at upsetting the balance of power.
As part of our 2017 Season Preview here at Eleven Warriors, we take a look at where each Big Ten team should stack up in the conference this year and what that all means for the local team.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS
The following four teams, as aforementioned, are the most likely teams to play for a Big Ten championship and contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State
The Buckeyes have the most complete team in the conference, led by an experienced quarterback in J.T. Barrett and a roster full of four- and five-star recruits. Ohio State’s offense is expected to improve under the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, while a loaded defensive front seven should help make up for an inexperienced secondary.
Offensive Player to Watch: QB J.T. Barrett
Defensive Player to Watch: LB Jerome Baker
Penn State
Saquon Barkley is arguably the best running back in college football, while Trace McSorley could be the Big Ten’s best quarterback. With those two leading the way along with one of college football’s best tight ends in Mike Gesicki, Penn State should have the Big Ten’s best offense. The Nittany Lions should be one of the conference’s two or three best teams if their defense can keep enough points off the board.
Offensive Player to Watch: RB Saquon Barkley
Defensive Player to Watch: S Marcus Allen
James Franklin's Nittany Lions could again be Ohio State's top competition in the Big Ten.
Michigan
It’s easy to write the Wolverines off due to their lack of experience, but like Ohio State last year, Michigan has enough talent to potentially overcome that. The Wolverines will be relying on a lot of players who have never started a game before, but that group includes players like former No. 1 overall recruit Rashan Gary and five-star freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones who have the potential to be immediate difference-makers. It helps that they return third-team All-Big Ten quarterback Wilton Speight, though he is still competing with John O’Korn for the starting job this year).
Offensive Player to Watch: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
Defensive Player to Watch: DE Rashan Gary
Wisconsin
The Badgers look to be the most talented and well-rounded team in the Big Ten West once again. As is usually the case at Wisconsin, a strong offensive line and solid defense should lead the way. Quarterback Alex Hornibrook was inconsistent last season but showed potential, while wide receiver Jazz Peavy and tight end Troy Fumagalli are among the conference’s top pass-catchers.
Offensive Player to Watch: TE Troy Fumagalli
Defensive Player to Watch: LB T.J. Edwards
SECOND-TIER TEAMS
It’s unlikely that any of the following four teams will win the Big Ten title, but none of them should be counted out, especially in individual games where they might have chances to upset the conference’s power teams.
Northwestern
The sleeper contender in the Big Ten West could be Northwestern, which returns eight starters on both sides of the ball and could have its most talented team to date of Pat Fitzgerald’s coaching tenure. Justin Jackson gives the Wildcats a game-changer on offense, while Godwin Igwebuike does the same on defense. Third-year starter Clayton Thorson gives the Wildcats stability at the quarterback position.
Offensive Player to Watch: RB Justin Jackson
Defensive Player to Watch: S Godwin Igwebuike
Pat Fitzgerald could have his best team yet at Northwestern in 2017.
Iowa
Kirk Ferentz’s team looks primed to be its usual middle-of-the-pack self, but the Hawkeyes could still be the most dangerous team Ohio State plays in the Big Ten outside of Michigan and Penn State. Nathan Stanley is a question mark at quarterback, but Akrum Wadley is dangerous with the ball in his hands while the offensive line should be solid as usual. The Hawkeyes’ defense should also be among the better units in the Big Ten, led by one of the nation’s best linebackers in Josey Jewell.
Offensive Player to Watch: RB Akrum Wadley
Defensive Player to Watch: LB Josey Jewell
Nebraska
Nebraska can also be considered one of college football’s traditional powerhouses, with 889 all-time wins to their name, but the Cornhuskers have been a middle-of-the-pack team since joining the Big Ten. That doesn’t appear likely to change this year, as the Cornhuskers lost most of their top players from last season, though they’ll have the potential to shake things up if transfer quarterback Tanner Lee performs up to expectations.
Offensive Player to Watch: QB Tanner Lee
Defensive Player to Watch: CB Lamar Jackson
Michigan State
Michigan State won the Big Ten just two seasons ago and has been a thorn in Ohio State’s side in recent years, but the Spartans’ time as a conference power might be over now that Michigan and Penn State have rejoined the Buckeyes at the top of the Big Ten East. Coming off a 3-9 season last year, the Spartans are more likely to be battling for bowl eligibility than seriously challenging for a conference title.
Offensive Player to Watch: RB L.J. Scott
Defensive Player to Watch: LB Chris Frey
TRYING TO RISE
Each of the following six teams have either a first- or second-year coach and have the potential to be better than last season, but it is unlikely any of them will be serious contenders in their divisions this season.
Minnesota
The Golden Gophers have an argument for being in the second-tier category, having gone 9-4 last season, while new coach P.J. Fleck should energize the program with a new culture. They’re not among the Big Ten’s more talented teams, but should compete hard and be a threat to pull an upset or two later in the year.
Offensive Player to Watch: RB Rodney Smith
Defensive Player to Watch: DT Steven Richardson
Minnesota doesn't project to be a major contender in the Big Ten this year, but P.J. Fleck could make this interesting.
Indiana
Indiana has some highly talented playmakers on both sides of the ball, including wide receivers Nick Westbrook and Simmie Cobbs, linebacker Tegray Scales and cornerback Rashard Fant. Second-year starting quarterback Richard Lagow has talent. That said, the Hoosiers haven’t finished a season with a winning record since 2007 and still have a long way to go to become a serious contender under first-year coach Tom Allen.
Offensive Player to Watch: WR Nick Westbrook
Defensive Player to Watch: LB Tegray Scales
Maryland
The Terrapins appear to be headed in the right direction with second-year coach D.J. Durkin, but they still don’t have the talent to pose a serious threat to the Big Ten’s top teams. Running back Ty Johnson and wide receiver D.J. Moore give the Terrapins a pair of quality playmakers, but the quarterback position is a question mark while the defense was one of the Big Ten’s worst last year.
Offensive Player to Watch: RB Ty Johnson
Defensive Player to Watch: LB Jermaine Carter Jr.
Illinois
Lovie Smith might be the most qualified coach Illinois has ever hired, but his attempts to rebuild the Fighting Illini has a long way to go entering the former NFL coach’s second season in Champaign. The Illini have some solid offensive playmakers, including wide receivers Malik Turner and Mike Dudek, but simply don’t have enough overall talent to be a Big Ten contender this year.
Offensive Player to Watch: WR Mike Dudek
Defensive Player to Watch: LB Tré Watson
Purdue
Purdue hasn’t won more than three games in a season since 2012, so first-year coach Jeff Brohm’s job for 2017 will be just to get the Boilermakers back to respectability. Brohm should make the Boilermakers more competitive, but they shouldn’t pose much threat to the Big Ten’s top teams.
Offensive Player to Watch: RB Markell Jones
Defensive Player to Watch: LB Markus Bailey
Rutgers
Ash’s first season at Rutgers couldn’t have gone much worse, as the Scarlet Knights were shut out four times and lost all nine of their conference games. The Scarlet Knights have a minimal chance of beating any of the Big Ten’s top teams this year, but need to prove they can at least score a point against them.
Offensive Player to Watch: WR Janarion Grant
Defensive Player to Watch: S Kiy Hester
OHIO STATE OUTLOOK
Look Aheads: Ohio State's Big Ten Opponents
The Buckeyes should only have to seriously worry about two other teams in the Big Ten East, but both Penn State and Michigan should give Ohio State tough games and be serious contenders for the conference crown.
Outside of the Nittany Lions and Wolverines, the biggest threats to hand the Buckeyes a regular-season conference game loss are Iowa and Nebraska, both teams Ohio State will travel to play. Michigan State can’t be ruled out either, as the Buckeyes have gone 3-3 in their last six games against the Spartans, but Ohio State plays them at home and should be the significantly better team between the two this year.
If the Buckeyes can get out of the East division and advance to the conference title game, they’ll likely be headed for a rematch of the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game with Wisconsin, who the Buckeyes don’t play in the regular season. A second game against Iowa or Nebraska is possible, though, while Northwestern and Minnesota are also sleepers to come out of that side of the conference.
Ohio State has more than enough talent to win the Big Ten and advance to its third College Football Playoff in four years, but the rest of the conference should provide some real challenges along the way.
