By Ryan Mayer, CBS Local Sports Remember the narrative that Big Ten football was dead? That was actually a conversation being had last season. Yeah, that was incorrect. The Big Ten came out as the big winner of the inaugural College Football Playoff as the Ohio State Buckeyes and Coach Urban Meyer took home the national title. It was Meyer’s 3rd national title and the school’s 8th. The scariest part about their run isn’t the fact that the Buckeyes were able to do it with their 3rd string QB (Cardale Jones), but rather that the victory came a year before the Buckeyes were expected to seriously contend for the national title. The Buckeyes have returned all three QB’s (Braxton Miller has reportedly switched positions), top running back Ezekiel Elliott, and a core of talented defensive stars led by DE Joey Bosa. So, the main question heading into the season is: Can anyone unseat the Buckeyes? Pre-Season Media Poll East Division 1) Ohio State (unanimous) 2) Michigan State 3) Penn State 4) Michigan 5) Maryland 6) Rutgers 7) Indiana West Division 1) Wisconsin 2) Nebraska 3) Minnesota 4) Iowa 5) Northwestern 6) Illinois 7) Purdue Conference Contenders Ohio State- We covered some of the reasons the Buckeyes are considered to be the favorite above. Add to those guys an offensive line that returns multiple starters, plus play makers like S Vonn Bell and LB Raekwon McMillan and it’s going to be hard to knock off Urban Meyer’s squad. Their biggest enemy might be themselves and the pressure that comes with attempting to win back-to-back titles. That’s evidenced by the fact that Bosa and 3 others are suspended for the opener against Virginia Tech. That said, a big test looms when they hit the road in the penultimate week of the season to take on Michigan State…
Continue Reading: NCAA Football Preview: Who’s Stopping The Buckeyes?
