By Adam Hensley
1) Ohio State (0-0):
Shocker.
2) Penn State (0-0):
Better duo than peanut butter and jelly? Try quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Saquon Barkley.
3) Michigan (0-0):
Jim Harbaugh on not wearing a suit at Big Ten football media days: “I packed light. I packed a toothbrush and a good attitude.” Never change, Jim, and
neither will your winning ways.
4) Wisconsin (0-0):
Who even needs a signal caller when you’ve got the Badgers’ O-line and running-back unit?
5) Northwestern (0-0):
The Wildcats are a dark horse to represent the Big Ten West in the conference title game. Remember this.
6) Minnesota (0-0):
P.J. Fleck speaks a mile a minute, but he’s the hype coach Minnesota needs. He inherits a nine-win team from 2016, something most new coaches can’t claim.
7) Iowa (0-0):
Is this the year that Iowa will finally snap its bowl game losing streak?
8) Nebraska (0-0):
New faces fill the Cornhusker offense, but a strong defensive core keeps some consistency on a team facing a decent amount of turnover.
9) Indiana (0-0):
New head coach Tom Allen, formerly Indiana’s defensive coordinator, wants to change the culture of Hoosier football. It might take him more than just this season.
10) Maryland (0-0):
Unlike its mascot, Maryland brings speed in its dynamic ground game; there’s nothing slow about tailbacks Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison.
11) Michigan State (0-0):
Spartans, meet the bottom of the Big Ten. Bottom of the Big Ten, meet the Spartans.
12) Purdue (0-0):
Quarterback David Blough can sling the ball. Purdue might win six games if he throws it to his receivers and not the opposing secondary.
13) Illinois (0-0):
Lovie Smith and his staff share optimism about this season. I’d be optimistic, too, if the goal was to surpass last season’s three wins.
14) Rutgers (0-0):
The Scarlet Knights gave up 78 points in a game last season (no, this was not in a basketball game).