Out Big Ten college football roundtables come to an end today as TSS Associate Editors Bart Doan and Terry Johnson join staff writer Kevin Causey and a special rotating guest in our weekly roundtable discussing all things college football.
Earlier this week we discussed the most improved teams and the most intriguing games. For the final part of our Big Ten roundtable we look at possible challengers to Ohio State as we are joined by Ken Kohlof The Buckeye Battle Cry and Kevin McGuire of Nittany Lions Den.
Question: Ohio State is the clear favorite to win the Big Ten but to get to the playoff the Buckeyes will likely have to win all their games. Who represents the biggest challenge for the Buckeyes?
Ken Kohl
On Twitter @KenKohl1
By far, the biggest challenge to going undefeated this season will be the game against Michigan State. The Spartans present another stout defense led by LB Riley Bullough and DE Shilique Calhoun, The offense will be led by who I think is the best passer in the conference, Connor Cook. I think that when the Spartans and Buckeyes match up, both will be undefeated in Conference play, so this game will be for the de facto B1G East crown.
Kevin McGuire
On Twitter @KevinonCFB
Ohio State will be the favorite in every game they play this season, barring significant injuries to key players of course. Until proven otherwise, the answer to this question remains Michigan State. The Big Ten is a little top heavy between the Buckeyes and Spartans, so right now the Big Ten likely comes down to these two (I am willing to entertain throwing Wisconsin in the mix). Michigan State’s defense has been the strong core of the program in recent years, but it was not quite its dominant self last season. Michigan State’s defense experienced some turnover at key positions and got exposed by Oregon early on and later by Ohio State. The Spartans return seven starters on defense this season and of course bring back quarterback Connor Cook along with four members of the offensive line protecting him. The Spartans can likely hang with the Buckeyes in Columbus on November 21, but Ohio State should manage to get out of the late November Big Ten clash with the win.
Bart Doan:
On Twitter @TheCoachBart
It’s Michigan without question. Even with miserably coached and lesser talented teams over the last several years, Michigan has managed to play above it’s talent water level in The Game. The one season Michigan won and had a decided advantage all over the place, Ohio State did the same.
It’s all part of the emotion of rivalry, which is one of those things unique any more to college sports that is the X-factor in things like this. Couple that in with the fact that The Game is at the end of the season, which OSU would likely need one win to seal a playoff spot or be one loss from being knocked potentially out of it, and you have an incredible amount of story lines that will follow that game.
Realistically, Michigan will need to prove it’s gotten markedly better for other people to jump on board with this call and pretend it’s 1969 all over again, but the hunch here is that they do just that. So if you don’t like The Game … well … actually, that’s just insane. Forget it.
Kevin Causey:
On Twitter @CFBZ
Under Mark Dantonio, the Michigan State Spartans have become the most dependable team in the Big Ten. Over the last five years they are 53-14. Over the last two years they are 24-3 overall and 15-1 in the Big Ten.
Somebody else could knock off the Buckeyes this year (it almost happened a couple times in Big Ten play last season) but if I was a betting man I would lay my money on the Spartans. Outside of the Buckeyes, they have the best overall team and if the defense bounces back from a disappointing 2014 (disappointing for Michigan State is realtive as they finished fourth in the Big Ten in total defense). The Spartans have the best combination of offensive/defensive line play in the conference and that’s the type of team it’s going to take to knock off the Buckeyes.
Terry Johnson:
On Twitter @SectionTPJ
As I wrote in yesterday’s roundtable, Michigan State – Ohio State will be the most intriguing game in the Big Ten this season. With both teams likely to be ranked in the Top 5 when November 21 rolls around, it could be the most intriguing game of the year.
Since I picked the Spartans yesterday, I’ll say that Michigan represents the next biggest threat to the Buckeyes. While there’s no disputing that Ohio State is the better team on paper, the Wolverines have a couple of things working in their favor. For starters, Michigan has the advantage of playing at the Big House, which is where it registered its last two victories in the series (2003 & 2011). In addition, the Wolverines play OSU the week after it plays Michigan State, increasing the likelihood of an upset (see: 2013 Big Ten Championship Game).
Let’s also not forget what happened during Harbaugh’s first season at Stanford. Playing on the road with a backup quarterback, the Cardinal defeated No. 1 USC 24-23. Some college football experts consider this stunning victory to be one of the greatest upsets in the sport’s storied history.
Adding the last two paragraphs together, it’s easy to see why the Wolverines are a legitimate threat to derail Ohio State’s quest for a perfect season. While I don’t think the odds are very good, they’re certainly better than those of Lloyd Christmas.
