The college football season is fast approaching, and it’s time to reveal the Last Word on Sports 2015 Big Ten preseason rankings.
2014 was a rollercoaster year for the conference. It was essentially left for dead early after a few ugly weeks in non-conference play but rebounded late in the year.
The Ohio State Buckeyes won the conference in emphatic fashion, blowing out Wisconsin 59-0 in the conference title game due in part to stellar offensive performances from running back Ezekiel Elliott and third string quarterback Cardale Jones. They then snuck into the College Football Playoff as the four-seed and defeated Alabama and Oregon to put together as unlikely a national title run as you’re going to see.
Add to that some other high-profile bowl wins over SEC and Big 12 foes and the season most definitely ended on a high note for the conference as a whole. Wisconsin’s thrilling overtime win over Auburn and Michigan State’s dramatic fourth quarter comeback against Baylor come to mind in that regard.
2015 sees the Bucks as favorites to repeat as conference champs and make a run to be the first school to win back-to-back national titles since Alabama did so in 2011 and 2012. They’ll have to be at their best week in and week out, though, as the target on their back will be as big as it’s ever been during the Urban Meyer era.
The methodology of the poll is fairly simple. Seven of our college football writers (myself, Tony Siracusa, Donald King, Mike Loveall, Lindsay Higgins, Scott Habiger and Connor Ferguson) ranked the teams one through seven in each division. The highest-ranked team received seven points while the lowest team received one. Each writer then picked who they think will come out as conference champs.
Without further ado, let’s get to the rankings!
LWOS 2015 Big Ten Preseason Rankings
Big Ten East Division
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (49 points, all seven first-place votes)
The defending national champions won their last three games in 2014 (Big Ten Championship, National Semi, and National Championship Game) by a combined score of 143-55. They return arguably the three best quarterbacks in the country (one of whom is switching positions in Braxton Miller) and eight starters on defense. In a weak Big Ten this is about as safe of a bet as there is in college football. Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes are the prohibitive favorites for both the Big Ten championship and to repeat as national champs. -Mike L
2. Michigan State Spartans (42 points)
Quarterback Connor Cook leads the Spartans in 2015 in what may be the best chance of any Big Ten team to stop the powerhouse that is Ohio State. Head coach Mark Dantonio also features multiple non-skill players that should get the job done for MSU. -Connor F
3. Penn State Nittany Lions (33 points)
The defense has been the benchmark for the Nittany Lions the last few years and will need to carry the team again in 2015. The offense has tons of question marks though. Veteran quarterback Christian Hackenberg returns, but the offensive line was the worst in the conference last year. If there is significant improvement up front, with a soft schedule, Penn State could get to nine wins. -Tony S
4. Michigan Wolverines (30 points)
Jim Harbaugh and Michigan fans are skipping the honeymoon. Rich Rod and Brady Hoke seem like distant memories in Ann Arbor and there is already plenty of fodder for a generational Harbaugh-Urban Meyer feud. The quarterback situation will have to be stabilized, but Harbaugh’s Wolverines will be ready. Their defense will be tough and look out for USC transfer running back Ty Isaac. -Scott H
5. Maryland Terrapins (20 points)
The Terps are widely expected to take a step forward in 2015, and they have seven home games on their schedule. If they can get decent quarterback play from a new starter, the Terps might finish in the top half of the B1G East division. -Donald K
T-6. Indiana Hoosiers (11 points)
Year five of the Kevin Wilson era in Bloomington has to have a make or break feel to it since the Hoosiers have yet to play in a bowl game during his tenure. Quarterback Nate Sudfeld returns from injury and though they lose prolific running back Tevin Coleman, they return four of five starters on the offensive line. If IU can take advantage of an easy non-conference schedule and squeak out a few conference wins, they may yet reach just their second bowl game since 1994. -John B
T-6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (11 points)
Senior wideout Leonte Carroo, one of just three returning starters on the Rutgers offense, is probably one of the more underrated players in the conference. However, it remains to be seen whether the Scarlet Knights will be able to get in ball in his hands, as they’ll be breaking in a new quarterback for the first time in quite awhile. The defense will have to tighten up after giving up at least 21 points 10 times in an 8-5 campaign a year ago. -Lindsay H
Big Ten West Division
1. Wisconsin Badgers (43 points, four first-place votes)
The Badgers will rely on returning quarterback Joel Stave and a relatively weak Big Ten West to defend their divisonal championship from last season. There are a lot of unknowns in this division, and some are in Madison: a new head coach in Paul Chryst, replacing Melvin Gordon, and only returning 11 starters. We’ll get some answers in week one as Wisconsin plays Alabama at AT&T Stadium. Even with a tough non-conference opener, the Badgers are still the clear favorites to repeat in the West. -Mike L
2. Nebraska Cornhuskers (39 points, one first-place vote)
New head coach Mike Riley has to figure out how to make the inherited pieces fit into his pro-style offense. He has returning quarterback Tommy Armstrong, but has to figure out how to replace leading rusher Ameer Abdullah, with no obvious candidates jumping out just yet. New defensive coordinator Mark Banker runs a system that should allow his young unit to be better utilize their athletic skills. Non-conference games against BYU and Miami are ones to watch. -Tony S
3. Minnesota Golden Gophers (37 points, two first-place votes)
Despite losing tight end Maxx Williams and leading rusher David Cobb to the NFL, the Gophers look to be in good shape. Quarterback Mitch Leidner has reportedly had a strong camp, and they have several quality players returning on defense. However, the Gophers are clearly still a notch behind Big Ten West powers Wisconsin and Nebraska, and have a brutal six-game stretch to end the season. -Lindsay H
4. Iowa Hawkeyes (28 points)
Perhaps as big a wildcard team as any in the conference, Kirk Ferentz guides the Hawks in his 17th season as the head coach. Iowa will have to find a breakout player on the offense to be able to keep up with the rest of the division. -Connor F
5. Northwestern Wildcats (26 points)
Pat Fitzgerald’s crew was inconsistent in 2014, finishing 5-7 and out of the postseason. That said, the Wildcats knocked off Wisconsin last season and will be capable of surprising other good teams in 2015. -Donald K
6. Illinois Fighting Illini (13 points)
The hot seat is burning for head coach Tim Beckman. After a fast start with a marginal non-conference schedule last season the Illini failed to impress in the Big Ten and off-season controversy brewed. Oklahoma State transfer quarterback Wes Lunt could find redemption in 2015 after an injury put him on the sidelines for a good portion of last year. Look for sophomore wide receiver Mikey Dudek to improve on his impressive Big Ten debut. -Scott H
7. Purdue Boilermakers (9 points)
The success of the Joe Tiller days seems like a distant memory in West Lafayette. The Boilers have one winning season over the last five and have won just four of 24 games in head coach Darrell Hazell’s two seasons in charge. Nevertheless, they return the most starters of any team in the conference this year. If they can somehow get consistent quarterback play from whoever wins the job between redshirt freshman David Blough and junior Austin Appleby, they could surprise to the upside in 2015. -John B
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Ohio State Buckeyes (unanimous vote)
What do you think? Feel free to comment below and reach out to us on Twitter @LastWordonCFB to give us your thoughts.
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