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Big Ten Football 2015 season preview and predictions

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 6, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Vonn Bell (11) and linebacker Joshua Perry (37) hold up a Big 10 sign after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Football Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Ohio State defeats Wisconsin 59-0. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Vonn Bell (11) and linebacker Joshua Perry (37) hold up a Big 10 sign after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Football Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Ohio State defeats Wisconsin 59-0. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin gestures from the sideline during the third quarter against the Temple Owls at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Temple 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Nov 15, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin gestures from the sideline during the third quarter against the Temple Owls at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Temple 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /

Coach of the Year – James Franklin

Besides being quite possibly the second-best recruiter in the Big Ten, Penn State head coach James Franklin is a solid overall coach who knows how to relate to his players. Kids love playing for the guy and there will be no shortage of talent in Happy Valley while he’s in charge.

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    • Franklin reeled in one of the top recruiting classes in 2015, headlined by four-star running back Saquon Barkley and top JUCO offensive lineman transfer Paris Palmer. The head coach knows how to attract talent, and that will help him in the long run.

    In his second year at the helm, nine wins is not out of the question for Franklin. Really, 10 victories is extremely realistic when looking at the Nittany Lions’ schedule.

    Give Christian Hackenberg another year of experience under Franklin and you may have yourself one of the top quarterbacks in the country. Couple that with seven returning starters to a defense that was ranked second nationally in total yards allowed and seventh in points allowed last season and you have a solid squad.

    This one was a toss-up between Minnesota’s Jerry Kill and Franklin, but in the end, Franklin has a better shot at leading the Nittany Lions to a surprise conference title than Kill does.

    If Franklin wins nine games, he will likely receive the Big Ten Coach of the Year crown, barring some type of miracle in Ann Arbor.

    Next: Most important game of the season

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