3. Ohio State (5)
When the final whistle blew on spring practice, the question of who takes over at quarterback for Justin Fields remained unanswered. C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller and incoming freshman Kyle McCord all had an opportunity to showcase their skills. The competition will continue in the fall. The surprise decision of wide receiver Chris Olave to return will only help whomever wins the starting role. He will team with Garrett Wilson to form one of the best pass-catching tandems in the country. Key losses along both lines can be filled as the Buckeyes have stockpiled enough pieces to remain the class of the Big Ten, although they might be pushed more than usual.6. Iowa State (6)
If the returning Cyclones were at Auburn, Penn State or another big-name program that has yet to make the playoff, then doubters of this team would have to find a different conversation point. Yes, Iowa State isn't typically a place associated with big-time football, but it has everything needed to be the top contender among teams seeking their first final four. Most of the important contributors on both sides of the ball return, led by quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Breece Hall. Mike Rose and Jake Hummel give the defense two standouts at linebacker with All-Big 12 safety Greg Eisworth leading the secondary. The biggest challenge — besides Oklahoma — for coach Matt Campbell will be handling the big expectations for a team that has never started higher than No. 24 in the preseason poll.13. Wisconsin (14)
The Badgers will be looking to bounce back after a stop-and-start season that limited them to just seven games. Much will be on the shoulders of quarterback Graham Mertz. He showed flashes of his ability after being unexpectedly pushed into the starting role, but there also were moments of inconsistency after he tested positive for COVID-19. How much he develops with a full offseason will play a critical role. Improvement with the running game and better health at wide receiver also are key. The defense, like previous seasons, will again be one of the best in the country with Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal anchoring the linebackers. It won't take long to see where the season is headed with Penn State, Notre Dame and Michigan among the first four games.15. Iowa (18)
When you think of the Hawkeyes, you don't think of offense. However, they were second in the Big Ten in scoring at 31.8 points per game last year against a schedule only featuring conference opponents. There's the possibility the production is better this season with quarterback Spencer Petras returning after a solid first season. Someone has to emerge at receiver, however leading rusher Tyler Goodson should have a big campaign. The defense — one of the best in 2020 — again should be the backbone of the team's success.16. Penn State (16)
It's hard to make sense of the Nittany Lions after they started with five losses last year and then finished with four consecutive wins. It would be easy to overreact to the lows given the loss of their two best players — Micah Parsons and Journey Brown — right before the season. Quarterback Sean Clifford had a major slump that coincided with the arrival of offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca. New coordinator Mike Yurcich is tasked with rebuilding Clifford's confidence. A deep stable of running backs and wide receiver Jahan Dotson’s decision to forgo the NFL draft gives the offense some major pop. Two transfers — Temple defensive end Arnold Ebiketie and South Carolina cornerback Johnny Dixon — bolster a unit that should be closer to the usual high standard of the James Franklin era.17. Indiana (12)
The benefit of quarterback Michael Penix being sidelined with a knee injury was the extra reps for backup quarterback Jack Tuttle this spring. Tuttle started the final two games last season when Penix was lost for the year after the Hoosiers had breakthrough wins against Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan. Ty Fryfogle and Florida State transfer D.J. Matthews could form an explosive receiving combination for whichever player is behind center for the opener against Iowa. The defense looks positioned to repeat as one of the Big Ten's best.Iowa has one heck of a 1-2 punch to kickoff 2021. On Iowa!
