The Big Ten is the new SEC. Think of it this way: Ohio State has taken over for Alabama as college football’s premier powerhouse. The conference also now boasts Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, a coaching rock star, not to mention playoff dark horse Michigan State and a host of other dangerous teams. Starting to make sense? In addition to predicting how each Big Ten team will finish in its division, RedEye assigned each school a power rating (can’t get any better than Ohio State) and buzz factor (doesn’t get any crazier off the field than Harbaugh’s Wolverines), both on a scale of 1-10. EAST 1. OHIO STATE Getty Images The Buckeyes are the first unanimous preseason No. 1 in the history of the Associated Press poll. Ohio State sees your “SEC speed” cliche and increases the stakes. Power rating: 10. There are a dozen players on this team who could be first- or second-round NFL draft picks. If Kentucky is a de facto NBA Developmental League franchise, OSU plays that role in football. …
Continue Reading: Big Ten football preview: Can anyone out-buzz Buckeyes?
